And just like that, it’s the end of another month! I’m excited to share these songs with you. I always am, but this month’s feel like they trump last month’s.
I’m writing this whilst feeling quite yucky, to be honest (a triple infection – yay!), so as is often the case when I’m rundown, I’m feeling particularly grateful for music.
Thanks as always for visiting – hopefully you find it interesting and maybe you’ll even discover something new!
Read More » It’s the end of another month, which means it’s time to share my Top 20 most-listened-to songs once again. It’s a varied bunch!
This blog was written by me and lightly edited with the help of AI, just to polish things up.
Hope you enjoy, and as always, thanks for stopping by!
Marc
Cautious Clay – Tokyo Lift (5AM)
A smooth and dreamy pop-soul track with syrupy vocals and mellow R&B beats, perfect for late-night listening.
Young Gun, Silver Fox – Late Night Last Train
A lush, nostalgic yacht rock tune with soft guitar, heavenly harmonies, and a standout sunset-ready chorus.
Carol Ades – Dreams
A breezy, summery pop-rock song that channels late ’90s pop-punk to explore crushes and self-acceptance.
Antony Szmierek – Big Light
A feel-good spoken word pop-house track with poetic lyrics, funky basslines, and uplifting gospel-infused vocals.
Picture This – Let’s Try Love
An energetic, indie-pop-tinged anthem full of joyful guitars and a soaring, unforgettable chorus.
Cautious Clay – Tokyo Lift (5AM)
#PopSoul #LateNightVibes #ChilledRnB
I’ve liked Cautious Clay for a while now, and he doesn’t disappoint on this smooth and dreamy slice of pop-soul. His syrupy vocals glide effortlessly over mellow R&B beats. It’s got that perfect late-night feel – chilled but still uplifting – which makes sense, given the song was inspired by a karaoke night he attended. Dreamy!
Young Gun Silver Fox – Late Night Last Train
#YachtRock #RetroSoulPop #SunsetSounds
Young Gun, Silver Fox have done it again. Their new record delivers that signature dreamy yacht rock sound, blending elements of jazz, adult contemporary, pop, soul, and soft rock. This track is quintessentially them—gentle guitar strums, hazy electric guitar licks, heavenly harmonies, and crisp piano. The chorus stands out, with a gorgeously memorable melody that lingers long after the song ends. Pure driving-at-sunset vibes. Gorgeous.
Carol Ades – Dreams
#PopRock #QueerAnthem #PopPunkThrowback
This summery pop-rock track radiates those windows-down, singing-along-in-the-car vibes. It’s about navigating a crush and coming to terms with your sexuality. Channelling late ’90s/early ’00s pop-punk (think Avril Lavigne meets Paramore), breezy swirling verses give way to a big, shoegaze-tinged chorus.
Antony Szmierek – Big Light
#SpokenWordPop #HouseGroove #GospelVibes
I’ve loved Antony Szmierek ever since I discovered him on the telly. He was my gateway into spoken word music, and he makes it incredibly accessible—pairing poetic lyrics with wavy electronic backings. This track from his new album is a standout: a thumping pop-house tune with funky bass, glorious gospel-tinged vocals, and an effortlessly feel-good energy.
Picture This – Let’s Try Love
#IndiePopRock #FolkPop #FeelGoodAnthem
One of my most-played tracks of the past couple of months, this song from Irish rock band Picture This is bursting with layered, organic guitars and a bouncy rhythm. It’s a bit indie-pop, a bit folky, and full of joyful energy and has a wonderful, anthemic chorus. I love this so much!
Ultimate Kaos – Casonova (Rework Edit – Full Crew Mix)
#90sRevival #NewJackSwing #HipHopSoul
I discovered Ultimate Kaos through the BBC documentary Boybands Forever, and I’ve been loving their back catalogue ever since. This reworked version of their 1997 cover of LeVert’s ’80s New Jack Swing track is brilliant—updated with slick hip-hop beats and crisp piano chords. I’ve been absolutely rinsing this!
Obongjayar – Just My Luck
#AltPop #FunkyBeats #FOMOVibes
We all know Obongjayar from his unique, quivering vocals on Fred Again’s 2024 smash Adore U. Here, he shines solo on this quirky, slinky pop jam about loneliness and FOMO. Funky, wavy and full of character.
The Aces – Jealous
#DancePop #FunkPop #FeelGoodGroove
I came across The Aces a while back and have recently dived deep into their music. This track is a bouncy, slinky pop number with funky rhythm guitars and a prominent bassline layered over energetic dance-pop beats. Effortlessly catchy and huge fun.
Hotel Apache – Rewind
#BedroomPop #HousePop #IndieElectronica
I LOVE Hotel Apache. This California trio have been crafting dreamy bedroom pop for a decade, and it appears that they might finally be gearing up for their debut album. This latest track combines their trademark electronic elements with syrupy, slightly processed vocals from singer Ryan, building into an irresistibly catchy house-pop finish.
TOUCAN – Don’t Understand Why
#JazzPop #EasyListening #SoulfulSounds
This is a mellow, jazzy slice of easy-listening with soft twinkly keyboards, gorgeous harmonies and oragnic brass elements. Soulful, smooth and simply lovely.
BRONZE AVERY – ONLY U!
#HipHopPop #AltRNB #EmotionalGroove
I love this Hip-Hop/Pop fusion. Over detuned, off-key piano chords and a mesh of hip hop beats with electronic elements, Bronze Avery raps and sings of an intense connection with someone special.
Djo – Potion
#IndieFolkPop #VintageVibes #LushHarmonies
A beautiful blend of Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles, this track features acoustic folk guitar, subtle strings, lush harmonies, and organic instrumentation. It’s a wistful reflection on longing for a love that feels real. Lovely stuff.
Liv Dawson – Space
#DiscoPop #FunkyGroove #ModernRetro
A funky, fresh slice of disco-pop about subtly hinting at your feelings for someone. Full of vibrant rhythm guitars, slick production, and a confident groove—this one’s a winner!
CosperTheNomad – Never Let Me Go – Live
#LivePerformance #NeoSoul #ElectronicPop
This is brilliant. Drawing from pop, hip-hop, and soul, this live-only track features gorgeous piano chords, a pulsating bassline, and energetic percussion. Midway through, there’s a fantastic switch-up that takes it into a more electronic realm, building towards an intense, climactic ending. No studio version (yet!)—but this will do nicely.
Hedda Mae – Blow a kiss
#RetroPop #60sSoul #DooWopVibes
Hedda Mae, a Norwegian pop artist, performs in both English and Norwegian and draws from a wide range of influences—from 1960s girl groups to ’90s R&B. This track leans into rich ’60s soul with retro guitars, sweeping strings, irresistible pop melodies and doo-wop harmonies. Brilliant!
Lady Gaga – LoveDrug
#ElectroPop #80sRockVibes #PopDrama
Evoking arena rock and ’80s pop-rock, Lovedrug features an anthemic chorus and slick electropop production. It’s classic Gaga—dramatic, catchy, and heartfelt, using the metaphor of addiction to explore romantic obsession.
Lady Gaga – Zombieboy
#DiscoPop #FunkGlam #RetroTribute
Another favourite from Gaga’s latest album Mayhem. A tribute to her late friend Rick Genest, this disco-inspired track features funk guitars, a tight bassline, and a chorus made for karaoke. Retro in all the right ways!
Whitney Houston & Felix Jaehn – It’s Not Right But It’s Ok
#HouseRemix #ClassicRework #DancefloorReady
Reworks of classic songs can be hit or miss for me. Kygo’s rework of Whitney’s cover of ‘Higher Love’, whilst massive commercially, failed to hit for me. This, I LOVE, however! Felix Jaehn gives the original a tasteful house treatment – keeping its spirit intact while infusing it with modern beats and bright piano. Love it!
Tate McRae – Revolving door
#JerseyClub #MoodyPop #ToxicLove
I loved Greedy, and I’ve dipped in and out of Tate’s discography. She’s the ultimate 2025 pop star—from the over-processed, almost mumbled vocals to the polished visuals and choreography. Written with Julia Michaels, Grant Boutin, and OneReplublic’s Ryan Tedder, this moody Jersey Club-inspired track pairs skittish dancehall beats with lyrics about re-entering a toxic relationship. The production cleverly mirrors the feel of a revolving door. A clever and current pop moment.
Vacation Manor – You, in the Afternoon
#DreamPop #IndieChill #LateNightFeels
I loved Vacation Manor’s track You last year, and this one carries a similar vibe. Inspired by frontman Nathan Towles’ journey into fatherhood, it’s a dreamy, mellow tune filled with hazy synths, soft guitar riffs, and reflective late-night energy. Lovely.
Hey!
Hope you’re doing well and enjoying this glorious sunny weather, if you’re in the UK. It just makes everything feel that little bit brighter, doesn’t it?
I’m super excited to share these songs with you. It’s been another brilliant month of music, and the longlist was extensive. Going forward, I won’t be sharing the entire playlist—just the top 20 tracks I’ve been enjoying. That’s probably still quite a lot, but I couldn’t narrow it down any further!
I’m hoping there’s something here for everyone. Lots of Pop, of course, but also Soul, R&B, indie-pop, Country, and Folk.
I really, really appreciate every visit and read.
Love as always,
Marc
Annnddd we’re at the end of another month!
I’m really excited to share these tracks with you. There have been so many brilliant songs released lately, and I’ve been absolutely devouring music recently. Below, I’ve written about many of my favourites—but as always, I’ve included the playlist at the bottom, featuring a few extra tracks I’ve loved but didn’t feel the need to write about.
As ever, I know your time is precious—so whether you give this a proper read, a scroll through, or just check out the playlist, I massively appreciate it.
So, let’s dive in!
Read More »
It’s been an exciting time for early noughties pop fans with the news that the rough-and-ready, brilliant boyband Five are reuniting as a full five-piece for the first time since their 2001 split. While the band have had various line-ups over the years, this marks the first time all five members are back together.
I liked Five as a child, but as an adult, I’ve come to appreciate them even more. I’ve always loved their singles, but over the past few days, I’ve delved into their full discography, listening to and thoroughly enjoying all three of their albums—far more than I expected!
To celebrate their reunion, I’ve ranked some of their best songs. It’s a mix of singles and album tracks, with a few notable omissions—no ‘We Will Rock You’ here!—and some personal favourites that just missed the cut. But here are my Top 15 Five songs.
Enjoy!
Read More » We finally made it to the end of February! This month was largely spent lazing around, recuperating from illness, and devouring boyband documentaries… and I think that influence is clear here. However, this selection isn’t just about the classics. Instead, it highlights some of the more overlooked gems in boyband history. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
Read More » Happy New Year!
Excited to be sharing my listening habits with you again this year—if anyone’s interested, of course!
This month’s mix is a bit all over the place. January always feels musically odd to me—there’s a lingering hangover from last year’s hits, but not much new to get excited about yet. I think that’s reflected in my listening habits over the past few weeks—an eclectic collection of songs spanning different eras and genres.
Read More »
Time to Read: 14 minutes (whole post)
It’s one of my favourite times of the year—time to celebrate and share some of my favourite releases from 2024 with you!
As always, there’s a strong focus on Pop music, with a sprinkling of other genres for good measure.
I genuinely think this year has been brilliant for Pop Music, especially for women in the genre. I don’t say that purely to be inclusive – the Pop girlies deserve to be celebrated this year. From Beyoncé to Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande to Sabrina Carpenter (our new Pop Princess), we’ve been spoiled with phenomenal albums.
Read More »
Hi!
Over the years, I have often shared Christmas songs throughout December, with varying themes.
I’ve decided to return the feature this year.
Each day throughout December, I’ll be sharing two songs. One ‘Christmas Classic’ – a classic Christmas song and one ‘Hidden Gem’ – a song which might be buried away on a Christmas album or be too new to be a classic just yet.
Think of it as a gift from me to you!
Hope you enjoy.
Marc
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Hey Hey!
I’m back with my final Mixtape of the year. Sorry I’m late (as always!) – life’s been busy.
A short but sweet one from me for November, therefore there’s no ‘Essential 5’ in this post. Lots of songs on repeat but these were my standouts.
I’ll be posting music still but have something different planned for December… (watch this space!)
As always, I really appreciate every visit and read so thanks for being here, and let’s dive in!
Read More »
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