My Favorite Songs of 2019

Better late than never to post my favorite songs of the last year of the decade! I love making song lists because it allows me to look back on a year of music and memories. This year was dominated by powerful female artists.

In fact, my top is entirely women or women-fronted bands (except the National, but that track has the incredible Lisa Hannigan heavily featured, so it counts 😊)

For the full Spotify playlist of my 100 Best Songs head this way.

Here are my top ten favorites:

1.           All Mirrors – Angel Olsen

Olsen has been one of my favorite female vocalists for a while now – the raw, emotive quality of her voice grabs me. On her latest album, Olsen pulls out all the stops with a dense orchestral backdrop. “All Mirrors” allows Olsen’s powerful energy to pierce through the music.

2.          Not – Big Thief

Big Thief put out two great albums this year and both of them blew me away. “Not”, however, stands out as a perfect song. The combination of emotional lyricism, Lenker’s vulnerable and unpolished vocals and the intense, skilled guitar instrumentation on this track make it undeniably their best song to date (and they have put out A LOT of great songs). Lenker is a formidable talent and skilled vocalist; on this track, her voice cuts straight to the heart.

3.          Movies – Weyes Blood

When I first listened to this track early last year, I had to stop what I was doing, lie down on the floor, and just take it in. This song is an emotional gut punch in the best possible way. Listening to it is like entering a dream as it unfolds in waves: dense and surreal and, as the tension builds, trippy, chaotic and pleading.

4.          hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have – but I have it – Lana del Rey

Lana del Rey at her best. Her latest album is filled with incredible songs, but my heart belongs to last track: simple and evocative with references to Sylvia Plath. Her stripped down vocals paired with the solo piano as the only instrumentation makes for a poignant end to her best album yet.

5. Digger – Great Grandpa

Great Grandpa is a band I only just discovered this year — and I am so glad I did. In “Digger”, the melody is on point, as are lead singer Alex Minne’s anguished lyrics. Each chorus is another jolt of musical crescendo and crooning vocals that beg for you to sing along.

6.          cellophane – FKA twigs

The vocals on this track simply soar. Ghostly, strong and emotional lyrics lead the disorienting and punctuating instrumentation through this dreamscape of a song. This track also has one of the best music videos I’ve seen, so be sure to check it out.

7.           Seventeen – Sharon Van Etten

Another artist who I’ve loved watching as her career took off. I first saw Van Etten play at Pitchfork Fest in Chicago back in 2011, and I love how her voice, tone and image have sharpened over time. “Seventeen” demonstrates Van Etten’s prowess as a vocalist and unleashes an inner rawness that is met with thick and clashing instrumentation.

8.          So Far So Fast – The National (feat. Lisa Hannigan)

It was tough picking my favorite song off of The National’s latest album since it tells an emotional narrative that begs not to be interrupted. One of my favorite things about this band is how their sound is always evolving, experimenting and transforming. This album feels deeply personal despite being punctuated with heady poetry. The whole record is accentuated with talented female vocalists to counter Matt Berninger’s deep and beautiful vocals. Instead of listening to this one song, I would advise going for a drive and putting on the whole album. You won’t be disappointed.

9.          Juice – Lizzo

“Juice” is a shot of pure joy. Lizzo definitely took the world by storm last year and the amount of spontaneous dance parties I’ve had has spiked due to her infectious music. While I adore many of her songs, “Juice” is a perfect balance between attitude-filled vocals, a snappy melody and her signature clever and self-affirming lyrics. It all comes together for the perfect pop song to get your confidence up.

10.     Fallingwater – Maggie Rogers

I just can’t stop listening to this! I have loved Maggie Rogers for a while, but this is by far my favorite of her songs. Percussive instrumentation and melodic keys provide a backdrop to Rogers’ lush yet haunting vocals as she invites you into her world.

To check out all 100 Songs, hop on over to my 2019 Favorite Songs Playlist on Spotify. Happy listening!