My container playlist Carte Blanche Music 2020 doesn’t only include all of the 994 songs I recommended last year. It also holds the 100 best tracks in my opinion, the Carte Blanche Music Top 2020, which I published yesterday. But that’s only my selection. Isn’t it more interesting to see which of my recommendations you read the most? In other words: what were your favourites in 2020?

I think it’s funny to see the Carte Blanche Music blog has a strong archive function. That’s apparent from the number of older posts you still like to visit (and which you find via search engines). A good example is the best read article this year: Toukassé by Shanguy. It stems from 2019, just like 24 other entries in the list below. Even more impressing is La Roi De Murphy, Belgian songstress Angèle’s debut single from 2017 (also her break-through), which is still among the 20 most read blogs in 2020.

Thank you for being such loyal visitors of Carte Blanche Music. Don’t miss a single recommendation by following me on Twitter, Facebook or, new for 2021, Instagram! I’ll do my best to make sure those accounts will soon be your favourites too, just like the tracks below:

1. Shanguy – Toukassé (2019) ^(WC)
2. Saint Motel – A Good Song Never Dies
3. Dopha – The Game
4. Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
5. Lola Le Lann – Portofino
6. Daði Freyr & Gagnamagnið – Think About Things
7. Pyro – Come Back For You
8. Rat Boy – Brave New World
9. Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda ^(WC)
10. Gotts Street Park feat. Flikka – Favourite Kind Of Girl
11. Raye – Natalie Don’t
12. Liela Moss – Atoms At Me
13. Friedberg – Go Wild (2019)
14. Lola Lennox – Back At Wrong
15. Fixkes – Dardennen
16. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist (2019)
17. Angèle – La Loi De Murphy (2017)
18. Just Jack (feat. Melissa Jo Heathcote) – Long Grass
19. The Magic Gang – What Have You Got To Lose
20. Videoclub – En Nuit (2019) ^(WC)
21. Jealous Of The Birds – Something Holy
22. Casey Lowry – Psycho
23. IBE – Perfect Storm
24. IBE – Table Of Fools (2019)
25. Lilly Hiatt – Brightest Star
26. Angèle – Balance Ton Quoi (2019)
27. Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19 (2019)
28. Saint Motel – Preach
29. Videoclub – Enfance 80
30. The Wannadies – Can’t Kill The Musikk
31. Tout Va Bien – This Is How We Say Goodbye
32. The Mountain Goats – Get Famous
33. Izo FitzRoy – Red Line ^(WC)
34. Temples – Paraphernalia
35. Inhaler – My Honest Face (2019)
36. Kristiane – Wish I Could Be Your Girl
37. Miss Machine – Tout Autour
38. Calby – Burnout (2019)
39. Child Of The Parish – Relic Of The Past
40. Zola – Crystal Floors (2019)
41. Raffaella – Ballerina (2019)
42. Gin Wigmore – HBIC
43. Calby – The Everyday Bit (2019)
44. Elsa Birgitta Bekman – All ‘bout Love
45. Just – Dark Days
46. Pixey – Free To Live In Colour
47. boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl (2019) ^(WC)
48. Merci, Mercy – Fucked Myself Up
49. Royal & The Serpent – MMXX
50. The Vices – In And Out
51. The Radar Station – Subtle Science [2020 Version]
52. Charles – Far Gone
53. Semisonic – Basement Tapes
54. Parov Stelar feat. Muddy Waters – Soul Fever Blues (2019)
55. The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light (2019)
56. Papooz – Theatrical State Of Mind (2019)
57. Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love (2019)
58. Esteban – Suburban Paradise
59. Pet Shop Boys – Monkey Business
60. Sitting On Stacy – Chest Hair (2019)
61. Grace Farriss – All The People ^(WC)
62. Mélodie Lauret – À Quoi Tu Penses Quand Tu M’adores ?
63. AKA George – Bad For You
64. Joel Stoker (The Rifles) – Stuck Inside
65. Ethel – Rubikscube (2019)
66. The Big Moon – Barcelona
67. Inge van Calkar – Spinning Around
68. Lux Lyall – Mad With The Moon
69. League Of Wolves – On The Run
70. Charmless i – Superhero
71. Maria Mena – Not OK
72. Alex The Astronaut – Caught In The Middle
73. Rhea – Under My Skin
74. Helmut Fritz – Ça M’énerve [2020 Version]
75. Don’t Bring Stacey – Waiting For It
76. Nana Adjoa – She’s Stronger
77. Stuck On Planet Earth – Ghosts On The Radio
78. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass (2019)
79. The Man Who – Give Me Something (2019)
80. Lead Pony – Soul Sucker (2019)
81. a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene Håvik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged) (2019)
82. Barry Moore – Hey Now (2019)
83. Ellie Dixon – Space Out!
84. Catherine Anne Davies & Bernard Butler – Sabotage (Looks So Easy)
85. Gracie Abrams – Friend
86. Roads To Roam – Firework
87. Baxter Dury – I’m Not Your Dog
88. Alfie Templeman – Things I Thought Were Mine
89. Sunbather – Softly Spoken
90. Eliza & The Delusionals – Swimming Pool
91. Pyro – Your Love
92. Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu
93. Marble Waves – Caught In A Current
94. Me & My Toothbrush – Funking Around
95. Corine – Je Danse Le Mia (2019)
96. Raye – Love Of Your Life
97. Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions – Victory!
98. Some Sprouts – At Full Capacity
99. Papooz – Figs And Gorgonzola
100. Fickle Friends – Pretty Great

^(WC)    ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

So here it is… 2020 is upon us. Happy New Year! May it be a healthy and exciting one, both musically and otherwise. Just like the last three years, I intend to introduce you to the best new music, often by artists you probably didn’t know yet. Check the Carte Blanche Music Top 2019 for my personal picks. It’s on Spotify as well.

But looking back doesn’t end there. I think your preferences are as important as mine (if not more important). Therefore, let’s dive into which of my recommendations have been read the most. In other words: what have been your favourites in 2019? Enjoy the Top 100 below and find all of my musical tips of last year in the Carte Blanche Music 2019 playlist on Spotify.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. IBE – Table Of Fools
3. Friedberg – Go Wild
4. Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
5. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
6. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
7. Calby – The Everyday Bit
8. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
9. Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci – (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena
10. Sir Notch – Gimme That Sunshine
11. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass
12. Corine – Je Danse Le Mia
13. Inhaler – My Honest Face
14. boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl ^(WC)
15. Sophie & The Giants – Waste My Air
16. Barry Moore – Hey Now
17. Angèle – Balance Ton Quoi
18. SWMRS – Lose Lose Lose
19. Videoclub – En Nuit ^(WC)
20. Ethel – Rubikscube
21. 900 Miles feat. The Kooks – Hold Tight
22. The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light
23. Parov Stelar feat. Muddy Waters – Soul Fever Blues
24. Pyro – F.O.M.O.
25. Claire Laffut feat. Yseult – Nudes
26. a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene Håvik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged)
27. The Twang – Everytime
28. Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19
29. Angèle – La Loi De Murphy
30. Kesha – Best Day [Angry Birds 2 Remix]
31. HÆLOS – End Of The World Party
32. The Knocks (feat. Sofi Tukker) – Brazilian Soul
33. Nona – It’s Alright
34. Therapie Taxi – Candide Crush
35. Jesse Hite – When It All Comes Down
36. Chateau Chateau – Burn Me Alive
37. Christon – Closer To A New Day
38. Maggie Lindemann – Friends Go / Remix feat. Travis Barker ^(WC)
39. Pat Dam Smyth – Last King
40. Nona – Last To Know
41. Vendredi Sur Mer – La Nuit
42. Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love
43. Narda – Love Me Long
44. Ed Struijlaart – What I Like About You
45. Caravan Palace – Supersonics
46. Man & The Echo – A Capable Man
47. Cat Pierce – Human Experience
48. Yonaka – Death By Love
49. Casey Lowry – Boyfriend
50. Rex Orange County – Sunflower
51. DRMS & L’Isle – La Vague
52. eMMa – Fått Deg På Hjernen
53. Gemme – Sweet Harmony
54. Raffaella – Ballerina
55. Lizzo – Good As Hell / Remix feat. Ariana Grande ^(WC)
56. Model Depose – Damage Control
57. Phil Collins – The Man With The Horn
58. Bear Ghost – Haunt, The Cartoon Heart
59. Parov Stelar feat. Lilja Bloom – Go Wake Up
60. Prince – Holly Rock
61. Isaac Dunbar – ferrari
62. Au/Ra – Dance In The Dark
63. Jonas Brøg – All Across The Sky
64. Superbird – Cola Bottle Fizz
65. Deacon Blue – City Of Love ^(WC)
66. Otherkin – On And On
67. Will Hutton – Silhouette
68. Sheila & The Kit – Mike ^(WC)
69. Vant – Propaganda Machine
70. Countless Numbers – Twice As Hard ^(WC)
71. Model Depose – Bombs Are Falling
72. Client Liaison – The Real Thing
73. Madame Psychosis – Kapow
74. The Snuts – All Your Friends
75. Self Esteem – Girl Crush
76. She Drew The Gun – Paradise
77. Maty Noyes – New Friends
78. Call Me Loop – Self Love ^(WC)
79. Skylar Grey – Shame On You
80. Dirty Heads – Lift Me Up
81. Kakkmaddafakka – Sin
82. The fin. – Come Further
83. Vant – Exoskeleton
84. Sun Gods – Zanzara
85. Jimi Charles Moody – Happy Song ^(*)
86. Barry Moore – The Tide ^(WC)
87. Lush Puppy – Ms. Grey ^(WC)
88. Indigo – Distant Lullaby ^(WC)
89. Virgins At Heart – Show Me
90. Sebu – The Secret Is Out [Lucas Vidal Arrangement] ^(WC)
91. Devon – I Don’t Want 2 B Ur Friend ^(WC)
92. Ride – Jump Jet
93. Hecht – Besch Ready Für Die Liebi Vo Mer?
94. Bye Beneco – It’s Not True Love
95. Retro Video Club – Addicted
96. Dodgy – Staying Out For The Summer ‘19
97. Zola – Crystal Floors
98. Alfie Templeman – Tragic Love
99. Yonaka – Lose Our Heads
100. Picture This – Modern Love

^(WC)    ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
^(*)       album track

Ahead of your favourites among this year’s Carte Blanche Music recommendations, which I publish on New Year’s Day, I round off 2019 with my personal choices.

The last year, I introduced you to 979 great new songs via my container playlist Carte Blanche Music; almost 57 hours of music. Exactly 500 of those translated into a written endorsement through this blog. In other words: only one out of each 10 suggestions (and one fifth of all of my posts) made it onto the Carte Blanche Music Top 2019.

Just like the recommendations you can find here every day, this year-end list differs largely from the majority of charts you’ll find. The Top 100 below is filled with the finest pop and rock; and a much larger percentage of rock than you’ll hear on the radio. Most tracks were independently released by upcoming artists from all over the world, and feature female vocals. Just a few statistics:

• 60% of the tracks are sung by women (up from an already impressive 58% in the Carte Blanche Music Top 2018)
• 53% of the tracks is guitar-based (10% more than last year)
• Apart from British and American acts, my list contains artists from Australia (14 of them!), France (9), Canada (5), the Netherlands (5), Norway (4), Ireland (3), Belgium (3), Spain (2), Sweden (2), Denmark (2), Germany (1), Israel (1) and Brazil (1)
• As a result, you’ll not only hear lyrics in English, but also in French, Spanish and Swedish
• Apart from Dua Lipa and Lizzo, you won’t find any hits in this chart. It’s a great way to discover artists, some of which I expect to break through in the years to come

The Carte Blanche Music Top 2019 features 100 tracks. You can listen to them via the Spotify player. As compiling the list was hard enough, the songs are sorted alphabetically. Just use the shuffle button if you prefer another order 😉.

Meanwhile, you can read my original recommendations through the links below.

• Alex Lahey – Isabella ^(*)
• Ali Barter – January
• Alice Merton – Learn To Live
• The Allergies feat. Andy Cooper – 2 Much!
• boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl ^(WC)
• Alphabeat – Shadows
• Baker Grace – Sad Summer ^(WC)
• Barrie – Drag
• Barry Moore – The Tide ^(WC)
• beabadoobee – She Plays Bass ^(WC)
• Billie Louise – Like Machines ^(WC)
• The Bird & The Bee (feat. Beck) – Hot For Teacher
• Bishop Briggs – Champion
• The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light
• boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl ^(WC)
• Calby – The Everyday Bit
• Call Me Loop – Self Love ^(WC)
• Charli XCX feat. Christine & The Queens – Gone
• Circa Waves – Jacqueline
• Citizen Kay – Ego
• Clara Luciani – Ma Soeur
• Client Liaison – The Real Thing
• Con Brio & Lyrics Born – Mistakes
• Corine – Je Danse Le Mia
• Countless Numbers – Twice As Hard ^(WC)
• Cyn – Terrible Ideas
• Deacon Blue – City Of Love ^(WC)
• Devon – I Don’t Want 2 B Ur Friend ^(WC)
• Don’t Bring Stacey – Changed My Hair
• Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now
• Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
• Elliphant – To The End
• Enter Shikari – Stop The Clocks
• Evil Edna – Isle Of Dogs
• Field Music – Only In A Man’s World
• Fitz & The Tantrums – I Just Wanna Shine
• Frank Turner – Sister Rosetta ^(WC)
• Gemme – Sweet Harmony
• Georgia – About Work The Dancefloor ^(WC)
• Georgia – Never Let You Go ^(WC)
• Grace Lightman – Repair Repair [2019 Version]
• Grace Potter (feat. Lucius) – Back To Me
• Halie – Good Kids ^(WC)
• Hayley Mary – The Piss, The Perfume
• Hazel English – Shaking
• Hemliga Klubben – Asshole
• IBE – Table Of Fools
• Inge van Calkar – Get Out Of My Way
• Inhaler – My Honest Face
• Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love
• Jain – Gloria ^(WC)
• Jara – Don’t Drop The Funk
• Jay Som – Superbike ^(WC)
• Jealous Of The Birds – Blue Eyes
• Jonas Brøg – That Feeling
• Jon Tessier – For A Little Eye Candy ^(WC)
• Julie Zenatti – Tout Est Plus Pop ^(WC)
• Kakkmaddafakka – Baby ^(WC)
• K.Flay – Sister ^(WC)
• Lauran Hibberd – Hoochie
• Lily Moore – Over You
• Lizzo – Good As Hell / Remix feat. Ariana Grande ^(WC)
• Lizzo – Juice ^(WC)
• Lola Marsh – Echoes
• Lorelei – Skylight
• Lucy Spraggan – Today Was A Good Day
• Lush Puppy – Ms. Grey ^(WC)
• Madame Psychosis – Kapow
• Maggie Lindemann – Friends Go / Remix feat. Travis Barker ^(WC)
• Mat Kerekes – Diamonds
• Mélodie Lauret – 23h28 ^(WC)
• Middle Kids – Beliefs And Prayers
• Miki Núñez – Celébrate ^(WC)
• Nancie Schipper – Take Out The Trash
• Nicolah – Holiday ^(WC)
• Nikki’s Wives – Real Girl
• Owl Eyes – You And I / Le Soleil
• Palaye Royale – Hang On To Yourself ^(WC)
• Pet Shop Boys – What Are We Going To Do About The Rich? ^(*)
• Ride – Jump Jet
• Sebu – The Secret Is Out [Lucas Vidal Arrangement] ^(WC)
• Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
• Sheila & The Kit – Mike ^(WC)
• Sigrid – Don’t Feel Like Crying ^(WC)
• Skunk Anansie – What You Do For Love
• Skylar Grey – Shame On You
• Sofía Ellar – La Revolución
• Spacey Jane – Head Cold
• Stats – The Family Business ^(WC)
• Suns Up – Just Because ^(WC)
• Superbird – Cola Bottle Fizz
• Tape Toy – Sad Girl ^(WC)
• Terouz – Outstanding ^(WC)
• The Heavy – Fighting For The Same Thing ^(WC)
• The Heavy – Last Man Standing
• The Howl & The Hum – Hall Of Fame
• The Howl & The Hum – Human Contact ^(WC)
• The Mowgli’s – Fighting With Yourself ^(WC)
• Videoclub – En Nuit ^(WC)
• Zuzu – Get Off [2019 Version]

^(WC)    ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
^(*)       album track