I’m particularly struck by the concentration of material from the second quarter of the year, which – perhaps not surprisingly – more or less coincides with my spell on the Stylus Singles Jukebox. That aside, there did seem to be a sharp reduction in decent new releases towards the end of the year. Choosing a #1 was difficult, but I’ve opted for the song which I’ve consistently enjoyed the most over the last few months, and the song which I’m most likely to remember 2005 by. Finally, those of you who have known me a long time may well be gobsmacked by the appearance at #3 of an act who have always left me cold…
1 Hard To Beat – Hard-Fi
2 Side Streets – Saint Etienne
3 Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own – U2
4 I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys
5 Hope There’s Someone – Antony & The Johnsons
6 Negotiate With Love – Rachel Stevens
7 Oh My Gosh – Basement Jaxx
8 Signs – Snoop Dogg ft Justin Timberlake
9 Hung Up – Madonna
10 Ooh La La – Goldfrapp
11 Do You Want To – Franz Ferdinand
12 Appropriation (By Any Other Name) – The Long Blondes
13 1 Thing – Amerie
14 In My Arms – Mylo
15 Push The Button – Sugababes
16 Be Mine – Robyn
17 Only U – Ashanti
18 Stay With You – Lemon Jelly
19 Goodies – Ciara ft Petey Pablo
20 Black & White Town – Doves
21 My Friend Dario – Vitalic
22 Hounds Of Love – The Futureheads
23 So Much Love To Give – The Freeloaders ft The Real Thing
24 Giving You Up – Kylie Minogue
25 Avalon – Juliet
26 What Else Is There? – Röyksopp
27 Je Hebt Me Duizend Maal Belogen – Laura Lynn
28 Graffiti – Maxïmo Park
29 Juicebox – The Strokes
30 The One You Love – Rufus Wainwright
31 Taste The Last Girl – Sons And Daughters
32 Crazy All The Time – 33hz
33 Emily Kane – Art Brut
34 Give It – X-Press 2 ft Kurt Wagner
35 We Belong Together – Mariah Carey
36 Love’s A Game – Magic Numbers
37 You Are My Sister – Antony & The Johnsons
38 Fallen Leaves – Teenage Fanclub
39 Love And Pain – Clor
40 Love Is A Deserter – The Kills
41 22: The Death Of All The Romance – The Dears
42 Grass – Animal Collective
43 It’s A Hit – Rilo Kiley
44 Make Things Right – Lemon Jelly
45 Random – Lady Sovereign
46 Lose Control – Missy Elliott
47 Hollaback Girl – Gwen Stefani
48 It’s Like That – Mariah Carey
49 Decent Days & Nights – The Futureheads
50 Love Me Like You – Magic Numbers
51 Join Me In The Park – Nathalie Nordnes
52 Tied Up Too Tight – Hard-Fi
53 Biology – Girls Aloud
54 Don’t Cha – Tori Alamaze
55 I Said Never Again (But Here We Are) – Rachel Stevens
56 Angel Eyes – Raghav
57 Long Hot Summer – Girls Aloud
58 Number 1 – Goldfrapp
59 Harvey Nicks – The Mitchell Brothers ft Sway
60 Wait And See – Tiefschwarz ft Chikinki
61 L.i.p.s.t.i.c.k. – Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band
62 Itch U Can’t Skratch – Junior Senior
63 Changes – Tahiti 80
64 Blue Orchid – White Stripes
65 It Ended On An Oily Stage – British Sea Power
66 Switch It On – Will Young
67 Crazy Chick – Charlotte Church
68 Believe – Chemical Brothers ft Kele Okereke
69 Chicken Payback – The Bees
70 Wake Me Up – Girls Aloud
71 So Good – Rachel Stevens
72 No Sleep Tonight – The Faders
73 Future – Cut Copy
74 Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
75 Love Is An Unfamiliar Name – The Duke Spirit
76 1-2-Step – Ciara ft Missy Elliott
77 Snowden – Doves
78 Lazer Beam – Super Furry Animals
79 Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat) – Les Rythmes Digitales
80 Move In My Direction – Bananarama
2 Side Streets – Saint Etienne
3 Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own – U2
4 I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys
5 Hope There’s Someone – Antony & The Johnsons
6 Negotiate With Love – Rachel Stevens
7 Oh My Gosh – Basement Jaxx
8 Signs – Snoop Dogg ft Justin Timberlake
9 Hung Up – Madonna
10 Ooh La La – Goldfrapp
11 Do You Want To – Franz Ferdinand
12 Appropriation (By Any Other Name) – The Long Blondes
13 1 Thing – Amerie
14 In My Arms – Mylo
15 Push The Button – Sugababes
16 Be Mine – Robyn
17 Only U – Ashanti
18 Stay With You – Lemon Jelly
19 Goodies – Ciara ft Petey Pablo
20 Black & White Town – Doves
21 My Friend Dario – Vitalic
22 Hounds Of Love – The Futureheads
23 So Much Love To Give – The Freeloaders ft The Real Thing
24 Giving You Up – Kylie Minogue
25 Avalon – Juliet
26 What Else Is There? – Röyksopp
27 Je Hebt Me Duizend Maal Belogen – Laura Lynn
28 Graffiti – Maxïmo Park
29 Juicebox – The Strokes
30 The One You Love – Rufus Wainwright
31 Taste The Last Girl – Sons And Daughters
32 Crazy All The Time – 33hz
33 Emily Kane – Art Brut
34 Give It – X-Press 2 ft Kurt Wagner
35 We Belong Together – Mariah Carey
36 Love’s A Game – Magic Numbers
37 You Are My Sister – Antony & The Johnsons
38 Fallen Leaves – Teenage Fanclub
39 Love And Pain – Clor
40 Love Is A Deserter – The Kills
41 22: The Death Of All The Romance – The Dears
42 Grass – Animal Collective
43 It’s A Hit – Rilo Kiley
44 Make Things Right – Lemon Jelly
45 Random – Lady Sovereign
46 Lose Control – Missy Elliott
47 Hollaback Girl – Gwen Stefani
48 It’s Like That – Mariah Carey
49 Decent Days & Nights – The Futureheads
50 Love Me Like You – Magic Numbers
51 Join Me In The Park – Nathalie Nordnes
52 Tied Up Too Tight – Hard-Fi
53 Biology – Girls Aloud
54 Don’t Cha – Tori Alamaze
55 I Said Never Again (But Here We Are) – Rachel Stevens
56 Angel Eyes – Raghav
57 Long Hot Summer – Girls Aloud
58 Number 1 – Goldfrapp
59 Harvey Nicks – The Mitchell Brothers ft Sway
60 Wait And See – Tiefschwarz ft Chikinki
61 L.i.p.s.t.i.c.k. – Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band
62 Itch U Can’t Skratch – Junior Senior
63 Changes – Tahiti 80
64 Blue Orchid – White Stripes
65 It Ended On An Oily Stage – British Sea Power
66 Switch It On – Will Young
67 Crazy Chick – Charlotte Church
68 Believe – Chemical Brothers ft Kele Okereke
69 Chicken Payback – The Bees
70 Wake Me Up – Girls Aloud
71 So Good – Rachel Stevens
72 No Sleep Tonight – The Faders
73 Future – Cut Copy
74 Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
75 Love Is An Unfamiliar Name – The Duke Spirit
76 1-2-Step – Ciara ft Missy Elliott
77 Snowden – Doves
78 Lazer Beam – Super Furry Animals
79 Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat) – Les Rythmes Digitales
80 Move In My Direction – Bananarama
troubled diva 