Bill's Music Blog: My Top 25 of the year 2014

I followed music a little closer this year. From the Eurovision song contest, to the Dutch charts, and a few peeks at the American ones, to listening to NPO Radio 2, I found a lot of songs actually palatable. Here's my top 25 of the year, enjoy!

Honorable mention:

Cake To Bake -- Aarzemnieki

Aarzemnieki is a band from Latvia who's name is hard to pronounce, but it means foreigner. Lead singer Jöran Steinhauer is German, but he fits right in. Alright, this song probably wouldn't make my top 40 of the year. For a few weeks around Eurovision, however, I couldn't stop myself from singing it. It's got corny lyrics (bonus points for Raiders of the Lost Ark and Sherlock Holmes being referenced in the same song, though) , no drums, and the base line doesn't kick in until late, but boy are they having fun with it. It's infectious. This is my Macarena like gift to you!

25.) Sing -- Ed Sheeran

Did you know acoustic was back? If not Ed would like to reintroduce it to you, along with other bands like Milky Chance, Dotan, who are following in the footsteps of Mumford and Son's success.

24.) Problem f/ Iggy Azalea -- Ariana Grande

Don't hate me for liking this song. I tried not to. I saw it on the Dutch charts in March and it didn't hit with me. Then in July while on vacation I heard it on the radio a few times while it was #1 in the US, and I was hooked. It has the one element that totally gets me in a song, big changes from soft to loud. This may be why I like a little dubstep every once in a while. I also never really got into Iggy Azalea, but I like her rap in this one. Again, don't hate me for liking this one. I blame the 80s.

23.) Something Better -- Softengine

Speaking of Eurovision songs, Finland's Softengine came with one of the few I actually liked. And surprisingly, they didn't make it to the finals. I don't think it was the song that hurt them, they lacked stage presence. It's just a nice little piece of pop.

23.) Calm After The Storm -- The Common Linnets

This song took second for the Netherlands in Eurovision this year, and the Dutch felt they won. Simply put, a guy with a beard in a dress won on a gimmick. And Calm After The Storm was the song of Eurovision, especially on the charts throughout Europe. Maybe it was the chemistry Ilse de Lange and Waylon showed on stage (they are childhood friends). Maybe it was the new-found popularity of Country music with the arrival of US TV hit Nashville on European TV. Or maybe it was the ring of lucky Guilders (old Dutch currency from before they started using the Euro in 2001) around Waylon's hat.

It was no fluke they did as well as they did. I don't like Country, and even I like it. It's a slow burner with a driving back beat and well played guitars. They even came to Nashville and enlisted the likes of Vince Gill while recording. Yes, a country song made my top 25. Hope it takes away from the hate I will get for the previous song.

22.) Geronimo -- Sheppard

This was another song that at first glance didn't impress. This time, it was when it became popular enough in the Netherlands to be played regularly by NPO Radio 2 that it hooked me. It gets into your head and won't let go. Maybe that's what this Australian band was going for. Bombs away, indeed.

21.) Am I Wrong -- Nico and Vinz

When Nico and Vinz hit the top 10 in the US this year, they became only the third Norwegian band to do so. A-ha did it almost 29 years earlier with Take on Me, Ylvis did it last year with What did the Fox Say? While a-ha and Ylvis were popular more for their videos than the song, for Nico and Vinz, it was all about the song. It was one of many this year going back to acoustic as well.

20.) Wigger -- Anouk

Start with a catchy Banjo riff, Add some hip-hop flavor, and this autobiographical hit from Dutch singer Anouk makes top 20 on my list. Yeah, the title is what it is, but she even makes light of it using one definition (born and raised in the suburbs) in the lyrics.

19.) Sunshine -- Ginger Ninja

Hey, look! It's a band from Denmark! Not only is the song interesting, but that band name. The opening guitar, the pounding drums, a real band playing real instruments, the falsetto chorus. It's a great mix that I find pleasing to the ear.

18.) Liar Liar f/ Pharrell -- Cris Cab

Cris Cab grew up in Miami of Cuban parents. He grew up in music, and had his first studio session when he was 14. He was discovered by Pharrell in 2008, and after touring with the likes of T-Pain, Matisyahu, Rebelution, Gym Class Heroes and O.A.R. gained a second mentor in Wyclef Jean. While he's been big in Europe, he only hit #60 in Canada, and hasn't hit the top 100 in the US. Such a shame, as this song has a great bass line that should do great on the radio here. Just another song we miss out on here in the states.

17.) Nothing Really Matters -- Mr Probz

Let's slow this thing down a little bit. My top 25 is a little dance heavy, to say the least. But here's a song from Dutch singer Mr. Probz that moves you in a totally different way. That voice. It's totally gangster, and he is featured in may rap stars videos because of it. But here it just works.

16.) Love Never Felt So Good f/ Justin Timberlake -- Michael Jackson

Once, while driving down a country lane in 1988, I had someone in a field yell something disparaging about my sexual orientation because I had Michael Jackson's Bad album blaring from my car as I drove by. I don't care who Michael Jackson is, was, or will be, I just like his music. Even putting Justin Timberlake in the song, and questioning whether this really is Michael didn't stop me from liking it. It has so much good going for it.

14.) Streets -- Kensington

Kensington is a Dutch band from the city of Utrecht. Like many others on this list, they are a real band, playing real instruments. This driving rock song is one of three I like from the band.

13.) Sunlight f/ Years And Years -- The Magician

Ever been to the beach? It has it's good points and bad. Looking at the beautiful people (whatever you find beautiful) in skimpy suits, and also seeing the not so desirable in questionable suit decisions. It's all there. Being a child of the 80s, I am also aware of how a good video can sway you in liking a song. Saying that, I think the video to this song is hilarious, and probably swayed me into adding it to my top 25. Only time and plays will tell me if the song has staying power, something I haven't had too much of either yet.

Stephen Fasano, Belgian DJ who goes by the stage name The Magician, put together this single with English electronica trio Years & Years. And it's catchy tune.

12.) Stay High f/ Hippie Sabotage [Habits Remix] -- Tove Lo

11.) Me and My Broken Heart -- Rixton

10.) One Night -- Matthew Koma

9.) Sexy als ik dans -- Nielson

In English, the title of this song would be Sexy When I Dance. And while I get some of the language, overlook the fact you can't understand the song, and just listen to it. This is infectious pop at its best. And it has become the only Dutch language song in my library. I believe it is that good.

8.) My Type -- Saint Motel