Top 50 of 2024 / #50-46: Summer Hits, Aussie Beats and Romantic Country

That’s right…it’s top 50 time again. After a somewhat down year last year, 2024 is very strong with some huge records hitting the top 10. There is even a top 10 first, but you will have to wait for that. All epic journeys begin with the first step, so here we go!

50. Chappell Roan: Good Luck, Babe!

This summer hit channelled Roan’s inner Kate Bush in this inarguably catchy, yet weird, pop hit. Roan brings that poppy theatrical Kate Bush vibe in a track that will live in your mind for weeks. The simple arrangement allows Roan’s complex vocals to take centre stage and that pitch / speed change at the end of the song is brilliant.

49. Cool Out Sun ft. Sampa the Great: Askin For More

Aussie roots jam band Cool Out Sun partners up with one of the best Australian artists in Sampa the Great for a fire track. Cool Out Sun’s organic African and Pacific Island inspired beats have a great improv jazz vibe, which is an excellent compliment to Sampa’s flow. This track has the vibe of musicians jamming around a campfire in the middle of the outback. There is a positive energy to this track that is infectious and requires multiple listens.

48. Rapsody: Asteroids

Rapsody has been on the top 50 before with her work with Robert Glasper. This is a track about identity, insecurities, being vulernable and of course…being one of the best rappers out there. She has a jazzy flow, which fits well with the background of hard bass contrasting against jazz piano. Don’t get it wrong, this track is all about how Rapsody can spit bars that put 90% of rappers in the grave. Like she says “you threw some rocks at me / I threw back asteroids.”

47. Orville Peck: Happy Trails

A frequent member of past top 50s, Orville Peck is back with his western country song. Peck was introduced to me by one Hector Alfonso on a past Jukebox show and I have been following his career ever since. His romantic 50s country throwback vocal has gained popularity year after year. His songs are a mix of traditional country, questioning gender roles and LGBTQI+ love songs. This is no different as Peck sings about watching his love ride away, but still cherishing the fact that he had love at all. This is a lush and gorgeous country song that both harkens back to tradition and pushes the genre forward.

46. Tyler the Creator ft. GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne: Sticky

The top 50 needs to get sexy. This is a classic hip hop track where you gather as many artists as possible and have each one drop fire bars and go for it. You can’t wait for each one to take the stage as we build to Tyler bringing it home at the end. New Orleans jazz horns jump in and out against thick bass lines and whistling. Tyler is at the top of this game, while GloRilla and Sexxy Red are not far behind. Lil Wayne is solid as the iconic hip hop pioneer bringing the track street cred. I love a fun hip hop track about sex and this track is a blast. Better find a mop.