Browsing Category year-end chart
Your ‘All-Time’ Favourites (2017-2022)
The last six years, starting in 2017, I posted 10 musical recommendations per week on this blog. A total of well over 3.000 tracks, mostly by upcoming – often female (fronted) – artists from all over the world. As I explained yesterday, Carte Blanche Music is entering a new era. One in which I’ll focus my efforts on my constantly updated Spotify playlist.
For sure, that doesn’t mean the blog is closing down. It’ll continue to be the home of my ‘best of’ collection (Werner’s Weekly) on Monday mornings (CET) and my favourite new track (the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard), every Wednesday morning. Also, I’ll post the latest additions to my playlist on Saturdays. For updates, follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No better way to round up the last six years than by publishing the Your ‘All-Time’ Favourites, a chart compiling the 500 most popular (as in best-read) Carte Blanche Music recommendations from 2017 to 2022. You’ll find the Top 25 below, but click through for the full list. My original recommendations are behind the links. If you’re an artist, don’t be shy and search (Ctrl+F) to find out if you made the list. You might be surprised…
Enjoy and thanks for joining the ride so far. Follow the Carte Blanche Music playlist (click ‘♥’ in Spotify) for many more recommendations to come!
Your ‘All-Time’ Favourites (2017-2022)
- Videoclub – Roi
- Wildcard (week 7): Drew Sycamore – 45 Fahrenheit Girl
- Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu
- Wildcard (week 13): Placebo – The Prodigal
- Super db – Wait For Me
- Wildcard (week 12): Shanguy – Toukassé
- Japanese Breakfast – Paprika
- Saint Motel – A Good Song Never Dies
- IBE – Table Of Fools
- Angèle – La Loi De Murphy
- Wildcard (week 22): Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda
- Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
- Friedberg – Go Wild
- Wildcard (week 26): Videoclub – En Nuit
- Agnes – Here Comes The Night
- a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene Håvik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged)
- Angèle – Libre
- Temples – Paraphernalia
- Lola Le Lann – Portofino
- Pixey – Free To Live In Colour
- Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
- Videoclub – Enfance 80
- Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19
- Mina Okabe – Miss Those Days
- Just – Walk Slow Smile More Read More →

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Your Favourites (2021)
My container playlist Carte Blanche Music 2021 doesn’t only include all of the 998 songs I recommended last year. It also holds the 100 best tracks in my opinion, the Carte Blanche Music Top 2021, which I published last week. But that’s only my selection. Isn’t it more interesting to see which of my recommendations you read the most? In other words: which of them were Your Favourites in 2021?
Apparently, the Carte Blanche Music blog has a strong archive function. A quarter of the Top 100 below consists of blog posts from earlier years, which you find via search engines. ‘Google is your friend’, as they say… Also, I think it’s wonderful to see young and upcoming artists like Angèle, Aili x Transistorcake, Mina Okabe, Eyjaa and Videoclub having more than one track amongst your favourites. These are acts to keep an extra keen eye on!
Thank you for being such loyal visitors of Carte Blanche Music. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and you won’t miss a single recommendation. You’ll find all of these brand-new songs and more in my daily updated Spotify playlist.
And now, enjoy last year’s greatest chart of all: Your Favourites 2021!
- Drew Sycamore – 45 Fahrenheit Girl (WC)
- Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu (2020)
- Super db – Wait For Me
- Japanese Breakfast – Paprika
- Just – Walk Slow Smile More
- The Blue Stones – One By One
- Saint Motel – A Good Song Never Dies (2020)
- Mina Okabe – Miss Those Days
- Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda (2020) (WC)
- Agnes – Here Comes The Night
- Pixey – Free To Live In Colour (2020)
- Laura Mvula – Got Me
- Angèle – La Loi De Murphy (2017)
- Temples – Paraphernalia (2020)
- Who – Hey! Get Out The Way (WC)
- Julietta – Not Today
- Lola Le Lann – Portofino (2020)
- a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene Håvik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged) (2019)
- Eyjaa – Don’t Forget About Me
- Indochine x Christine & The Queens – 3Sex (2020)
- Me & My Toothbrush – Funking Around (2020)
- Jealous Of The Birds – Something Holy (2020)
- Saint Motel – Preach (2020)
- Izo FitzRoy – Red Line (2020) (WC)
- Videoclub – Enfance 80 (2020)
- Therapie Taxi – Eté 90
- Christopher – Fall So Hard
- Isaac Dunbar – Fan Behavior
- Mina Okabe – Walk Away
- Alfie Templeman – Things I Thought Were Mine (2020)
- Danilo – Bringing It Back
- Negramaro – Ora Ti Canto Il Mare
- Videoclub – En Nuit (2019) (WC)
- Good Health Good Wealth – Guinness
- Ivan & The Parazol – Mást Vártam
- Placebo – Beautiful James
- Super-Hi x Neeka – Following The Sun
- Trunky Juno – Daddy’s Gone For Cigarettes
- Shanguy – Toukassé (2019) (WC)
- Del Amitri – Close Your Eyes And Think Of England
- Raffaella – Ballerina (2019)
- Ali Barter – You Get In My Way
- The Roop – Discoteque
- Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19 (2019)
- Fear Of Tigers – Tiger Blood
- Grand Corps Malade – Pas Essentiel (WC)
- Olivia – Can’t Break A Broken Heart
- The Bamboos – Ride On Time
- Angèle – Balance Ton Quoi (2019)
- The Vices – In And Out (2020)
- The Academic – Not Your Summer
- Gotts Street Park feat. Flikka – Favourite Kind Of Girl (2020)
- Aili x Transistorcake – Pari Pari
- Mélodie Lauret – À Quoi Tu Penses Quand Tu M’adores ? (2020)
- Eyjaa – The Wrecking Crew
- Dubstar – Tectonic Plates
- Tom Jones – Talking Reality Television Blues (WC)
- AKA George – Manic Machine
- You Am I – The Waterboy
- Grand Corps Malade – Des Gens Beaux
- The Vices – Looking For Faces
- Kuzko – My Mama Says
- Alessia Cara & The Warning – Enter Sandman
- L U – Liquid Gold
- Ruby Waters – Blow
- IBE – Table Of Fools (2019)
- Banji – Listen
- Moby feat. Gregory Porter & Amythyst Kiah – Natural Blues [Reprise Version]
- Rori – The Same Way
- Gracie Abrams – Friend
- Said The Whale – Honey Lungs
- Clara Luciani – Respire Encore (WC)
- Papooz – Theatrical State Of Mind (2019)
- Lou Hayter – Time Out Of Mind
- Mia Nicolai – People Pleaser
- Why Don’t We – Slow Down
- Miss Machine – Regarder Les Choses
- Sitting On Stacy – Chest Hair
- Devon – Warning Signs
- Videoclub – Roi
- Kristiane – Wish I Could Be Your Girl (2020)
- Laura Mac – Garage Full Of Dreams (WC)
- Dopha – The Game (2020)
- Maty Noyes – New Friends
- Bugs – Old Youth Feeling
- Kailee Morgue – This Is Why I’m Hot
- Calby – Burnout (2019)
- Dry Cleaning – Scratchcard Lanyard
- Our Lady Peace (feat. Pussy Riot) – Stop Making Stupid People Famous
- Eelke – Too Much Too Soon
- Troi Irons – She Loves Me Not
- Niko Rubio – Bed
- Aly & AJ – Don’t Need Nothing
- Luz – Counting Houses
- Son Mieux – 1992
- Valeras – Rita
- Amen Mustang – (The Shit You Say) When You’re High
- Angèle – Libre (*)
- Milo – What’s The Matter
- The Hisunz – CNTRDCTNS
(WC) ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
(*) album track

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Carte Blanche Music Top 2021
Ahead of your favourites among this year’s Carte Blanche Music recommendations, which I’ll publish next week, these are my personal choices from the songs that came out in 2021. This list holds only 100 tracks, but you can find all of my 998 recommendations in my container playlist Carte Blanche Music 2021.
As always, I love to share some statistics about the Carte Blanche Music Top 2021. If there’s one – sad – common denominator to be found in this list, it’s that most of these songs have been criminally overlooked by radio stations outside the artist’s home countries. Radio playlists are growing more and more uniform, denying the diversity of the music available. Obviously, with over 60.000 new tracks added to Spotify every day the supply is kind of excessive, but more adventurous choices would be very welcome. Knowing this won’t happen, the best you can do is follow the Carte Blanche Music playlist, then I’ll keep you updated 😉. This is what you can expect, based on this year’s Top 2021:
- Mostly (young and) upcoming artists, many of whom release their music independently
- No less than 72% of the Top 2021 features female vocalists, up from 70% in our Top 2020 and 60% in the Top 2019
- We love pure pop songs, but with 40% guitar-based tracks, we’re more rock ‘n’ roll than average. According to Spotify Wrapped, our favourite genres last year were indie pop, modern alternative rock and dance pop, and we agree
- You can expect the best new tunes from all over the world, but even we have our preferences. We have extra warm feelings for music from countries like Australia, France, Canada and Denmark. Just so you know…
The Carte Blanche Music Top 2021 features 100 tracks, which are presented below in alphabetical order. You can listen to them all via the Spotify player. If you prefer another order, the shuffle button is your friend.
Meanwhile, you can read my original recommendations through the links below.
- Ali Barter – You Get In My Way
- Alice Merton – Island
- The Allergies – Move On Baby
- Ally Cribb – Bigger
- Alta Falls – The Fire
- Aly & AJ – Don’t Need Nothing
- Amy Shark – Baby Steps
- Angèle – Libre
- Anish Kumar & Barry Can’t Swim – Blackpool Boulevard
- Archie X – Fight Me
- Baby Queen – You Shaped Hole (WC)
- Bakermat (feat. LaShun Pace) – Ain’t Nobody
- Baxtr – In Pop We Trust (WC)
- beabadoobee – He Gets Me So High (*) (WC)
- Blu DeTiger – Blondes
- Buffalo Paradise – Buffalo Paradise
- bülow – Revolver
- Calogero – Centre Ville
- Camila Cabello – Don’t Go Yet
- Charlie Collins – Just My Luck
- Chloe Lilac – 19
- Clara Luciani – Respire Encore (WC)
- Clypso – On Our Way (WC)
- Coeur De Pirate – Tu Peux Crever Là-Bas (*)
- Cold War Kids – What You Say
- Coral Palms – Something In The Air (WC)
- Daði Freyr & Ásdís – Feel The Love
- Dead Anyway – Pigs In Blankets
- Drew Sycamore – 45 Fahrenheit Girl (WC)
- Dual – Wipe Your Tears Away
- Dua Lipa – Love Again (WC)
- Dubstar – Tectonic Plates
- Dylan Cartlidge – Hang My Head (WC)
- Eyjaa – Don’t Forget About Me
- Fear Of Tigers – Tiger Blood
- Foals – Wake Me Up (WC)
- Foo Fighters – Waiting On A War
- Foxes – Sister Ray (WC)
- Grand Corps Malade – Des Gens Beaux
- Haerts – Days Go By (WC)
- Halsey – Honey
- Harry Styles – Treat People With Kindness (WC)
- Hawke – Pinch Me (Am I Dreaming?) (WC)
- Hope Tala – Tiptoeing (WC)
- Jaguar Jonze – Who Died And Made You King? (WC)
- Japanese Breakfast – Paprika
- Jonas Brøg (feat. Lilian Vieira) – I’m Your Nr. 1 [Brazilian Version] (WC)
- Julie Zenatti – France Et Jojo
- Kacey Musgraves – There Is A Light
- King Stingray – Milkumana
- Kinishao – Always In My Head
- Laura Mac – Garage Full Of Dreams (WC)
- Lauran Hibberd – Bleugh (WC)
- Lights – Prodigal Daughter
- Lissie – Hey Boy (WC)
- Lizzie Esau – Bitter Weather
- Lou Hayter – Time Out Of Mind
- Lucy Spraggan – Heartbreak Suites (*)
- Madison Olds – If You Wanna
- mags – I Can’t Get Over You
- Maisie Peters – Psycho
- Marina – Purge The Poison (WC)
- May-a – Central Station (WC)
- Mazy – Flowers (WC)
- Mike Posner (feat. James Valentine & Jacob Scesney) – Amor Fati
- Miles Kane feat. Corinne Bailey Rae – Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be Good Enough (WC)
- Miss Machine – Regarder Les Choses
- Monowhales – He Said/She Said (I Wait) (WC)
- Montaigne – Technicolour
- Niko Rubio – You Could Be The One (WC)
- Olivia Rodrigo – Good 4 U
- Orla Gartland – You’re Not Special, Babe
- Palaye Royale – No Love In LA
- Parcels – Comingback (WC)
- Päter – Obstinate Brain
- Philippine – Bah Non. (WC)
- Placebo – Beautiful James
- The Ramona Flowers feat. Nile Rodgers – Up All Night
- Render Ghosts – Eye Rhyme
- RoseeLu – Playing Alone (WC)
- Saint Djuni – All Of My Friends (WC)
- Self Esteem – How Can I Help You (WC)
- Slothrust – Once More For The Ocean (WC)
- Smith & Thell – Pixie’s Parasol (WC)
- Stefanie Heinzmann – Labyrinth (WC)
- Super db – Wait For Me
- Telenova – Bones (WC)
- Thunder Fox – Not For Sale
- Torres – Thirstier (WC)
- Tove Styrke – Start Walking
- Troi Irons – She Loves Me Not
- Vistas – Start Again
- Who – Hey! Get Out The Way (WC)
- Who Parked The Car – Candle Dance
- Willow feat. Travis Barker – Transparent Soul
- Wilsn – You Know Better (WC)
- Wolf Alice – How Can I Make It OK?
- Yelle – Noir (WC)
- Youth Sector – Self Exile (WC)
- Yuke – Stranger Still (WC)
(WC) ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
(*) album track

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Your favourites (2020)
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:
- Shanguy – Toukassé (2019) (WC)
- Saint Motel – A Good Song Never Dies
- Dopha – The Game
- Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
- Lola Le Lann – Portofino
- Daði Freyr & Gagnamagnið – Think About Things
- Pyro – Come Back For You
- Rat Boy – Brave New World
- Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda (WC)
- Gotts Street Park feat. Flikka – Favourite Kind Of Girl
- Raye – Natalie Don’t
- Liela Moss – Atoms At Me
- Friedberg – Go Wild (2019)
- Lola Lennox – Back At Wrong
- Fixkes – Dardennen
- Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist (2019)
- Angèle – La Loi De Murphy (2017)
- Just Jack (feat. Melissa Jo Heathcote) – Long Grass
- The Magic Gang – What Have You Got To Lose
- Videoclub – En Nuit (2019) (WC)
- Jealous Of The Birds – Something Holy
- Casey Lowry – Psycho
- IBE – Perfect Storm
- IBE – Table Of Fools (2019)
- Lilly Hiatt – Brightest Star
- Angèle – Balance Ton Quoi (2019)
- Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19 (2019)
- Saint Motel – Preach
- Videoclub – Enfance 80
- The Wannadies – Can’t Kill The Musikk
- Tout Va Bien – This Is How We Say Goodbye
- The Mountain Goats – Get Famous
- Izo FitzRoy – Red Line (WC)
- Temples – Paraphernalia
- Inhaler – My Honest Face (2019)
- Kristiane – Wish I Could Be Your Girl
- Miss Machine – Tout Autour
- Calby – Burnout (2019)
- Child Of The Parish – Relic Of The Past
- Zola – Crystal Floors (2019)
- Raffaella – Ballerina (2019)
- Gin Wigmore – HBIC
- Calby – The Everyday Bit (2019)
- Elsa Birgitta Bekman – All ‘bout Love
- Just – Dark Days
- Pixey – Free To Live In Colour
- boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl (2019) (WC)
- Merci, Mercy – Fucked Myself Up
- Royal & The Serpent – MMXX
- The Vices – In And Out
- The Radar Station – Subtle Science [2020 Version]
- Charles – Far Gone
- Semisonic – Basement Tapes
- Parov Stelar feat. Muddy Waters – Soul Fever Blues (2019)
- The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light (2019)
- Papooz – Theatrical State Of Mind (2019)
- Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love (2019)
- Esteban – Suburban Paradise
- Pet Shop Boys – Monkey Business
- Sitting On Stacy – Chest Hair (2019)
- Grace Farriss – All The People (WC)
- Mélodie Lauret – À Quoi Tu Penses Quand Tu M’adores ?
- AKA George – Bad For You
- Joel Stoker (The Rifles) – Stuck Inside
- Ethel – Rubikscube (2019)
- The Big Moon – Barcelona
- Inge van Calkar – Spinning Around
- Lux Lyall – Mad With The Moon
- League Of Wolves – On The Run
- Charmless i – Superhero
- Maria Mena – Not OK
- Alex The Astronaut – Caught In The Middle
- Rhea – Under My Skin
- Helmut Fritz – Ça M’énerve [2020 Version]
- Don’t Bring Stacey – Waiting For It
- Nana Adjoa – She’s Stronger
- Stuck On Planet Earth – Ghosts On The Radio
- Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass (2019)
- The Man Who – Give Me Something (2019)
- Lead Pony – Soul Sucker (2019)
- a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene Håvik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged) (2019)
- Barry Moore – Hey Now (2019)
- Ellie Dixon – Space Out!
- Catherine Anne Davies & Bernard Butler – Sabotage (Looks So Easy)
- Gracie Abrams – Friend
- Roads To Roam – Firework
- Baxter Dury – I’m Not Your Dog
- Alfie Templeman – Things I Thought Were Mine
- Sunbather – Softly Spoken
- Eliza & The Delusionals – Swimming Pool
- Pyro – Your Love
- Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu
- Marble Waves – Caught In A Current
- Me & My Toothbrush – Funking Around
- Corine – Je Danse Le Mia (2019)
- Raye – Love Of Your Life
- Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions – Victory!
- Some Sprouts – At Full Capacity
- Papooz – Figs And Gorgonzola
- Fickle Friends – Pretty Great
(WC) ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Carte Blanche Music Top 2020
Ahead of your favourites among this year’s Carte Blanche Music recommendations, which I’ll publish tomorrow, these are my personal choices from the songs that came out in 2020. This list holds only 100 tracks, but you can find all of my 994 recommendations in my container playlist Carte Blanche Music 2020.
As always, I love to share some statistics about the Carte Blanche Music Top 2020. These findings are further evidence of the fact that the music radio stations play for you is far from representative of the wealth of great new music out there. Thankfully, there are blogs like Carte Blanche Music that are independent and unbiased, and don’t want to please everybody at the same time. We’re here to surprise you with great new music, no matter what genre or gender, origin or orientation. Just a few statistics:
- Judging from this Top 100 alone (let alone the full container playlist), 2020 was a great year for pure pop music, young artists, ‘80s influences, independent releases, the Australian music scene, queer pop-rock and female vocalists
- A whopping 70% of the tracks in this year’s list feature female lead vocals (and I thought the 60% in the Carte Blanche Music Top 2019 was impressive already)
- Overall, rock ruled. 54% of the tracks in my year-end chart is guitar-based (just over last year’s tally)
- The list clearly shows there are more countries that produce great artists than Great-Britain and the United States alone. This year, more nationalities than ever are represented in my Top 100. You’ll also find artists from Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland
- As a result, although most lyrics are in English, you’ll also hear songs (partly) sung in French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Swedish
The Carte Blanche Music Top 2020 features 100 tracks, which are presented below in alphabetical order. You can listen to them all via the Spotify player. If you prefer another order, just use the shuffle button 😉.
Meanwhile, you can read my original recommendations through the links below.
- A Is For Arrows – Every Now And Then
- Abbie Ozard – True Romance (WC)
- Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu
- Aitana – 11 Razones
- Alex The Astronaut – I Think You’re Great (WC)
- Alice & Moi – T’aimerais Que Ce Soit Vrai
- Altered By Mom – Better On The Page
- Amy Allen – Difficult
- Archie X – Loud Boy (WC)
- Ava Max – Kings And Queens
- Awolnation feat. Alice Merton – The Best
- Badflower – 30
- Baxtr – Bloom (WC)
- Bée – Nothing Alike (WC)
- The Beths – Mars, The God Of War
- Betty Who – The One
- Blossoms – It’s Going To Be A Cold Winter
- Bloxx – Off My Mind
- Bloxx – 5000 Miles (WC)
- Calogero – La Rumeur
- Charles – Far Gone
- Daði Freyr & Gagnamagnið – Think About Things
- Dagny – Coulda Woulda Shoulda (*)
- Don Diablo – Invincible
- Don’t Bring Stacey – Waiting For It
- Dopha – Anti Breakup Song
- Doves – Prisoners (WC)
- Dua Lipa – Physical (WC)
- Dua Lipa – Break My Heart
- Dua Lipa (feat. DaBaby) – Levitating [Single Version]
- Efecto Pasillo feat. Huecco – Funketón [2020 Version]
- Egoism – You You (WC)
- Ella Grace – Unfree
- Ellur – Alive
- The Flowers – You Don’t Say!
- Francesco Gabbani – Il Sudore Ci Appiccica
- Genes – Super Single
- Gin Wigmore – HBIC
- Grace Farriss – All The People (WC)
- Gracie Abrams – Friend
- Grand Corps Malade – Pas Essentiel (WC)
- Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda (WC)
- Harper Bloom – Walk My Way
- Hedda Mae – Madness
- The Hold Steady – Family Farm
- Hollie Col – She Knows (WC)
- Holy Holy (feat. Queen P) – Port Rd (WC)
- Hope D – Second
- Hoshi feat. Corine – Larmes De Croco (WC)
- Icona Pop & Sofi Tukker – Spa
- Indochine x Christine & The Queens – 3Sex
- Izo FitzRoy – Red Line (WC)
- Jaclyn – Energy
- Jake Bugg – Rabbit Hole
- Joan – Want U Back
- Joel Culpepper – WAR (WC)
- Julie Bergan – Commando (WC)
- Kailee Morgue – This Is Why I’m Hot (*)
- Keleketla! – International Love Affair (WC)
- Killboy – That’s OK I’ll Just Fuck Myself
- King Princess – Pain
- Kristiane – Wish I Could Be Your Girl
- La Oreja De Van Gogh – Te Pareces Tanto A Mí
- Lauran Hibberd – Boy Bye
- Lime – Fever
- Lola Lennox – Back At Wrong
- London Grammar – Baby It’s You
- The Lottery Winners – An Open Letter To Creatives (WC)
- Lova – Black Converse
- Lova – One Day Left
- Lucas Hamming – Falling
- The Magic Gang – Make Time For Change (WC)
- May-a – Apricots
- Miss Li – Therapy
- Miss Machine – Tout Autour
- MisterWives – Rock Bottom (WC)
- Monowhales – BL/FF (Fake Friends) (WC)
- Ocean Grove – Dream
- ONR (feat. Nile Rodgers) – Kill TV (WC)
- Palace Winter (feat. Penny Police) – Richard (Says Yes) (WC)
- Pixey – Just Move (WC)
- Pyro – Your Love
- Raave Tapes – Habitual
- The Radar Station – Zanzara [2020 Version] (*)
- Raye – Love Of Your Life
- Red Rum Club – The Elevation
- Ren – I Drive Me Mad (WC)
- Rinse feat. Hatchie – Back Into Your Arms
- Rooue – What You Want (WC)
- Sebu with Eraserfase – The Worst That Could Happen To Us (WC)
- Semisonic – Basement Tapes
- Sidonie with Delaporte – Mi Vida Es La Música
- Slum Sociable (feat. Kye) – You’re In My Head
- Super-Hi x Neeka – Following The Sun
- T99 vs. Youngr – Anasthasia [Youngr Bootleg]
- Temples – Paraphernalia
- Texas & Wu-Tang Clan – Hi
- Town Of Cats – Lemons (WC)
- Veronica Fusaro – Beach
- Videoclub – Enfance 80
(WC) ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
(*) album track

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Your Favourites (2019)
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.
- Videoclub – Roi
- IBE – Table Of Fools
- Friedberg – Go Wild
- Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
- Shanguy – Toukassé (WC)
- Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
- Calby – The Everyday Bit
- The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
- Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci – (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena
- Sir Notch – Gimme That Sunshine
- Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass
- Corine – Je Danse Le Mia
- Inhaler – My Honest Face
- boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl (WC)
- Sophie & The Giants – Waste My Air
- Barry Moore – Hey Now
- Angèle – Balance Ton Quoi
- SWMRS – Lose Lose Lose
- Videoclub – En Nuit (WC)
- Ethel – Rubikscube
- 900 Miles feat. The Kooks – Hold Tight
- The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light
- Parov Stelar feat. Muddy Waters – Soul Fever Blues
- Pyro – F.O.M.O.
- Claire Laffut feat. Yseult – Nudes
- a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene Håvik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged)
- The Twang – Everytime
- Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19
- Angèle – La Loi De Murphy
- Kesha – Best Day [Angry Birds 2 Remix]
- HÆLOS – End Of The World Party
- The Knocks (feat. Sofi Tukker) – Brazilian Soul
- Nona – It’s Alright
- Therapie Taxi – Candide Crush
- Jesse Hite – When It All Comes Down
- Chateau Chateau – Burn Me Alive
- Christon – Closer To A New Day
- Maggie Lindemann – Friends Go / Remix feat. Travis Barker (WC)
- Pat Dam Smyth – Last King
- Nona – Last To Know
- Vendredi Sur Mer – La Nuit
- Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love
- Narda – Love Me Long
- Ed Struijlaart – What I Like About You
- Caravan Palace – Supersonics
- Man & The Echo – A Capable Man
- Cat Pierce – Human Experience
- Yonaka – Death By Love
- Casey Lowry – Boyfriend
- Rex Orange County – Sunflower
- DRMS & L’Isle – La Vague
- eMMa – Fått Deg På Hjernen
- Gemme – Sweet Harmony
- Raffaella – Ballerina
- Lizzo – Good As Hell / Remix feat. Ariana Grande (WC)
- Model Depose – Damage Control
- Phil Collins – The Man With The Horn
- Bear Ghost – Haunt, The Cartoon Heart
- Parov Stelar feat. Lilja Bloom – Go Wake Up
- Prince – Holly Rock
- Isaac Dunbar – ferrari
- Au/Ra – Dance In The Dark
- Jonas Brøg – All Across The Sky
- Superbird – Cola Bottle Fizz
- Deacon Blue – City Of Love (WC)
- Otherkin – On And On
- Will Hutton – Silhouette
- Sheila & The Kit – Mike (WC)
- Vant – Propaganda Machine
- Countless Numbers – Twice As Hard (WC)
- Model Depose – Bombs Are Falling
- Client Liaison – The Real Thing
- Madame Psychosis – Kapow
- The Snuts – All Your Friends
- Self Esteem – Girl Crush
- She Drew The Gun – Paradise
- Maty Noyes – New Friends
- Call Me Loop – Self Love (WC)
- Skylar Grey – Shame On You
- Dirty Heads – Lift Me Up
- Kakkmaddafakka – Sin
- The fin. – Come Further
- Vant – Exoskeleton
- Sun Gods – Zanzara
- Jimi Charles Moody – Happy Song (*)
- Barry Moore – The Tide (WC)
- Lush Puppy – Ms. Grey (WC)
- Indigo – Distant Lullaby (WC)
- Virgins At Heart – Show Me
- Sebu – The Secret Is Out [Lucas Vidal Arrangement] (WC)
- Devon – I Don’t Want 2 B Ur Friend (WC)
- Ride – Jump Jet
- Hecht – Besch Ready Für Die Liebi Vo Mer?
- Bye Beneco – It’s Not True Love
- Retro Video Club – Addicted
- Dodgy – Staying Out For The Summer ‘19
- Zola – Crystal Floors
- Alfie Templeman – Tragic Love
- Yonaka – Lose Our Heads
- Picture This – Modern Love
(WC) ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
(*) album track

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Carte Blanche Music Top 2019
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

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Your Favourites (2018)
Happy New Year from ‘all of us’ (that’s me) at Carte Blanche Music! Like the past year, 2019 will undoubtedly be full of musical surprises. Especially when you’re open to let some new sounds into your life. And if you don’t have the time to find them yourself, please let me help! Simply follow the Carte Blanche Music playlist on Spotify for daily updates of great new music, or bookmark this blog.
Carte Blanche Music doesn’t intend to list all new releases. On the contrary: I make a strict selection and only give you the best new music, twice a day. Since last year, I restrict the number of recommendations to two per day: one around 9AM, and the other around 7PM (CET). This limitation provided for a 35% increase of the number of views per post in 2018.
This brings us to the question: which of my recommendations have been viewed the most throughout the year? In other words: what are your favourites of 2018? The answer is: a totally different set of songs than my year-end list, the Carte Blanche Music Top 2018 😉 and that’s totally fine!
Just a few statistics to kick things off:
- Your Favourites (2018) contain nine songs that were in Your Favourites (2017) already, and apparently stuck with you
- The full Top 3 of your list contains Dutch artists (in total, there are 21 tracks by acts from the Netherlands. Dutch fans are the best)
- 36% of the visitors are Dutch (like myself… Hi mom!)
- 19% of the visitors are Americans, 16% are from the UK; a total of 87 nationalities have come by in 2018 (dank je wel, thanks, merci, obrigado, danke schön, etc.!)
- 26% of all traffic comes from direct searches for specific titles, so Carte Blanche Music also seems to have an archive function
- Other important referrers are Facebook (22%), and Twitter (13%)
- Impressive: the relatively high position of Mokono’s debut single Signs, the final Carte Blanche Music Wildcard of 2018
Okay, I can hear you thinking: ‘Don’t bore us, get to the chorus’, so here they are… Just two more things: all of these great songs (plus 1.000 more) are in my Carte Blanche Music 2018 playlist, and the links below direct you to my original recommendations for more information. Now, enjoy the music! Read More →

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Carte Blanche Music Top 2018
Ahead of your favourites among this year’s Carte Blanche Music recommendations, which I publish on New Year’s Day, I round off 2018 with my personal choice.
The last year, I introduced you to 1104 great new songs via my container playlist Carte Blanche Music; over 65 hours of music. Exactly 500 of those translated into a written endorsement through this blog. In other words: only one out of each 11 suggestions (and one fifth of all of my posts) made it onto the Carte Blanche Music Top 2018.
I’m very proud of this year-end list, as it differs largely from the majority of charts you’ll find. Just a few statistics:
- 58% of the tracks feature female lead vocals (up from an already impressive 43% in the Carte Blanche Music Top 2017)
- 43% of the tracks are guitar-based (rock is dead? Think again!)
- Apart from British and American acts, my list contains artists from Australia, Norway, the Netherlands, Canada, Spain, France, Belgium, Ireland, Estonia, Germany, Sweden, Hungary and South Korea
- By consequence, you’ll not only hear lyrics in English, but also in French, Hungarian, Spanish, Portuguese and Korean
- Needless to say, my year-end list contains no proper hits whatsoever 😉
The Carte Blanche Music Top 2018 features 100 tracks by 100 different artists. As making that choice was hard enough, the songs are sorted alphabetically. Just use the shuffle button if you prefer another order 😉.
I hope you enjoy listening to the list via the Spotify player. Meanwhile, you can read my original recommendations through the links below.

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Your Favourites (2017)
After a radio career of nearly 30 years, I decided to continue my mission (bringing new music and bands to the attention of as many people as possible) through a blog. You’re staring at it right now… Carte Blanche Music started on 1 January 2017, and exactly one year later, I have dedicated 650 posts to the thing I love the most: great new music.
I can hear you think: ‘Good for you’. But you know what? Apparently , it’s good for you as well! 😉 .
Each month in the past year, I posted Your Favourites: my blog posts that you read the most. So now, inevitably, it’s time for the ultimate round-up. The result? A Top 100 that’s more fun and less predictable than any other chart you’ll see this year. What’s especially funny, is that you picked a totally different set of songs as your highlights as I did in my own Carte Blanche Music Top 2017.
Isn’t that the best thing about music? I can make a selection, but ultimately, you make your own choices. Based on taste, mood, weather, feelings… Or, when I look at it less romantically, perhaps the artists below are the ones with the largest families, the most active fan bases, or the best promotion teams. Whatever the reasons, the result is the same: a great list of 100 songs. Your Favourites of 2017.
All of them (and 840 more) are in my Carte Blanche Music 2017 playlist, and once again, each link below corresponds with my original blog post, obviously including the recommended song. Enjoy! May 2018 be as musically diverse and interesting as last year was.

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.