Today we conclude our list of best songs of 2014, as voted by the AU’s amazing group of contributors… in case you haven’t been keeping up to date on where we’ve gotten to so far, you can check out 40-31, 30-21 and 20-11.
10. Kingswood – ICFTYDLM (I Can Feel That You Don’t Love Me)
Sose Fuamoli: Hands down one of the sexiest rock tunes I’ve heard in 2014. It’s all about the vocals and the guitar. Alex Laska takes lead on one of Micro Wars‘ stand out tracks and it’s no real surprise as to why it’s taken off as well as it has with radio and live crowds.
9. TV On The Radio – Happy Idiot
Dan Turner: I saw this song on rage a couple of months ago and instantly liked it. The video itself is extremely clever and the lyrics had a sad surrealism to them which drew me in and now I can’t get it out of my head!
8. Kimbra – 90s music
Bree Cohen: This song is by far and away the most unique song of the year. Kimbra has always been a little quirky, but this is taking it to a whole new level. Amazing track.
7. Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar – Never Catch Me
Chris Singh: Drawing upon Kendrick’s left-centre rapping style, Flying Lotus upholds the Compton emcee with a complex composition that draws on everything from jazz to electronica with something entirely innovative and commanding of respect, for both artists.
6. Spoon – Inside Out
Philippe Perez: Lushness, weird beats & all bouncy rhythm all together wrapped in full ball of joy of five minutes…
5. Chet Faker – Talk is Cheap
Nazia Hafiz: Can’t get this one out of my head, it’s so smooth and sultry, that funky heartbeat hammering combined with a languid saxophone melody is soul melting. Also Chet Faker’s sexy warble and coaxing lyrics make this a song that’ll send most ladies and maybe some lads to the fainting couch to recover.
4. Future Islands – Seasons (Waiting On You)
Michael Lean: Ok so the David Letterman performance may be the best thing to happen on late night television since Leno retired. Seasons is a mighty song in itself. Samuel T Herring channeling Morrissey on hoping and waiting upon someone to change, seeing that potential and fighting for it to come true and losing a part of yourself in that battle. A theme anyone who has ever cared for another can easily embrace.
3. Sia – Chandelier
Chris Singh: That chorus makes me shudder every single time. Sia sings so high that her voice starts to shake, taking us through her battle with alcoholism with a song which reinforces the behind-the-scenes genius that is behind many of pop’s biggest recent hits. She dominated the U.S with this song, and that’s both critically and commercially.
2. The War on Drugs – Red Eyes
Justine McNamara: At a time when everyone was praising Future Islands for their Letterman appearance, The War on Drugs showed them up with a performance equally as good, with a song about a million times better. The contrast, build and emotion in this song shows struggle and overcoming adversity. It’s beautiful.
Nicholas Langley: Red Eyes will no doubt top a number of Best Of lists this year, with its unmistakable hooks and palpable energy. The restraint of the opening third of the track makes the pay off chorus all the more rewarding.
1. FKA twigs – Two Weeks
Chris Singh: Not only was “Pull out the incisor, give me two weeks, you won’t recognize her” the best line of 2014, FKA Twigs delivered a sound that flips the whole resurgence of airy R&B on it’s head with something that defies genre, undercutting all it’s luring sensuality with swirling synths and stuttering drums as FKA pulls everything from Portishead to Prince into her dynamic vocals. I cannot wait to see this live at Laneway.
Sose Fumaoli: This song has been played a ridiculous number of times, and the film clip has been watched an equal amount. The breakout single of FKA twigs’ LP1 album, “Two Weeks” is a near perfect slice of this ‘alternative R&B’ music she’s now well-associated with making. The lyrics are upfront, but the edginess of them are smoothed out by the beats permeating beneath. “Give me two weeks, you won’t recognise her,” she sings and as a listener, you’re taken by the song’s hypnotic quality almost instantly.
Lauren Connelly: “Song to have sex to 2014”.
Isabella Fowler: It’s breathy, oh-so-sexy and addictive.
Look back on the rest of the countdown: 40-31, 30-21 and 20-11.
