We might have all had to watch civilisation collapse further during 2024, but at least we had music. Oh boy, did we have music. From a series of comebacks (Snow Patrol, Linkin Park, Shed Seven getting two blood number one albums) to Brat summers, to stunning newcomers (who’ve spent years grinding away) like Chappel Roan we were not let down sonically. The Supajam staff have had a chat and below are our top twenty songs of 2024.

Twenty: Home by Good Neighbours
Yes, yes, it was the Tik Tok song and may yet be an albatross around their necks but Good Neighbours exploded with this banger of a tune that has seen over 125 million streams around the world.

Nineteen: Too Sweet by Hozier
Take Me To Church never reached number one, and seemed destined to be Hozier’s career high point. Too Sweet wasn’t even chosen for the album, it came out later as a bonus… but became his number one and is almost as good, if as good, as TMTC. A warm velvety hug of a song.

Eighteen: Black December by Night Club
Night Club have a glorious career of dark electro-goth bangers and we urge everyone to check out their catalogue. But on this year’s Masochist album there was a surprise, as everything suddenly stops and what is essentially a piano ballad appears. Bleak, heart broken, stark, it was a huge change of pace but also massively cathartic.

Seventeen: Darkest Lullaby by Kasabian
Booting the domestic abuser has really let Serge flourish and this is such an upbeat song about facing total darkness it fits into multiple moods. Perhaps the most controversial inclusion in this list among the Supajam staff, we found that if it hits you, it really really hits you.

Sixteen: Midas by Wunderhorse
There is hope for guitar based angst rock after all. On this, the lead song from their second album, Wunderhorse cemented a grip as the new guitar hero for the year. Their live performances have built a rabid following and testament to that is their first headline show in Ally Pally in 2025. Coming soon to a stadium near you soon…

Fifteen: The Emptiness Machine by Linkin Park
Linkin Park waited until they were ready to return, and if we’re being honest their new choice of singer walked into some controversy… apart from in the musical realm, where she fitted in perfectly. This was just such a perfect, complete song and we had no right for them to return with such quality, such a successful move into a second era, such a hit.

Fourteen: Oh No :: He Said What? by Nothing But Thieves
An earworm of a song that’s simultaneously pumping and a musing on the destructive power of social media? Yeah, that’s not an easy thing to actually do without sounding like an old moaner, but Nothing But Thieves managed to match chilling social commentary with brilliant guitar music and make it work.

Thirteen: Rain Can’t Reach Us by Yannis and the Yaw
Though this was recorded in 2016 with legendary drummer Tony Allen, now sadly diseased, it was 2024 that Yannis + The Yaw exploded on the scene. Temporarily freed from the shackles of Foals, frontman Yannis Philippakis delivered a blistering 5 track EP of funk, guitar and banging tunes. If it sounded like it could have come from the late 70’s that was the intention and with an iconic gig at London’s Koko reaching epic status, a short run of Dec dates and some festival appearances already booked in, 2025 is theirs for the taking as well.

Twelve: Dig! By Big Special
We know – It’s not a single but the biggest buzz at this year’s Great Escape festival was by Black Countries finest. Wither their debut album mixing rap, punk and poetry it was this closing single that stayed with us the most. In their live shows it’s a closer proceeded by the rather stunning poetry of “For The Birds”. Sounding both urgent and desperate, we couldn’t love them more.

Eleven: Above The Clouds of Pompeii by Bear’s Den and Dermot Kennedy
This song is about the death of your mother. It’s the song we enjoyed least on this list, but only because it reduced us to floods of tears every time as it reached in and played havoc with our souls. If you’re lost yours too, you might not enjoy this or find this an easy listen, but you might also, like us, find yourselves touched in a way most music doesn’t.

Ten: Gary by Blossoms
This shouldn’t have worked. A bright song about a stolen model gorilla, it should have been awful. But the music was an absolute ear worm and suddenly you find yourself scanning the roadsides for any signs of the long lost Gary and really getting emotional about his fate. You utter bastards Blossoms.

Nine: Guess by Charlie XCX feat Billie Eilish
Grabbing a deserved No. 1 in the process this track was peak hysteria for Charlie XCX’s BRAT summer. Fun, dirty, fancy and downright delicious it had every right to catapult the singer into the premiere league. Altogether now “You wanna try it, bite it, lick it, spit it, Pull it to the side and get all up in it, Wear ’em, post ’em, might remix it, Send them to The Dare, yeah, I think he’s with it.”

Eight: Starburster – Fontaines DC
It’s like they’re writing their own pathway to indie stadium greatness. Idles may have got the bigger headline slot at Glastonbury but with this track Fontaines DC stuck their flag in the summit for the big time and with the next 2 tracks being equally as grand who would bet against them. Finsbury Park in the bag for next year and then surely that Pyramid stage headline is calling lads.

Seven: Kimbar by Barry Can’t Swim
Another standout performance from this year’s Glastonbury it was testament to Scottish DJ Joshua Mainnie that they had to close off The Park Stage 90 mins early as the first performer of the day on the Friday as some 45,000 punters + tried to cram their way in. Those that witnessed it saw the party of a lifetime. Rubber rings and armbands were flung high in the air and the finest performance of the weekend was nailed.

Six: Edge of Saturday Night by The Blessed Madonna and Kylie Minogue
Kylie appears in her second yearly best of list in a row, teaming with The Blessed Madonna for yet another floor filler. The beauty of Edge of Saturday Night is you don’t wait to put it when you’re on, it’s the perfect hype track for when you’re getting ready, for when you’ve got fifteen minutes left at your desk and it’s nearly time to go home and party.

Five: Idaho – Live by The Damn Quails
As far as we have been able to tell, the only recording of Idaho is on this year’s The Damn Quails live album. It’s not their song, they say they’re covering the work of a friend. Well, thank God this came out because Idaho is just a blistering take on the hypocrisy of the world and an anthem for everyone who’s had enough of both sides and just wants some peace for a (damn) while.

Four: Screamland by Father John Misty
If ever there was a worthy successor to Pure Comedy this was it. Dark, ethereal and hopeful this must surely be on over 1000 TV producers “Must Have” lists. By the time the steam train of a chorus hits you, you’re on your knees. Broken, bruised but somehow ready to face another day. Love must indeed find a way.

Three: Throw Some Ass by Sofi Tukker
Every summer needs a titanic banger you can dance to, and 2024’s need was filled by Sofi Tukker. They’ve been improving every year and this was just the most infectious yet slyly funny song we heard all year, designed with the singular purpose of getting you to throw that ass. We did. Oh we did.

Two: Black Friday Mahogany Special by Tom Odell
Somewhat of a surprise this one. Yes we had slightly written off Tom Odell as well but here we were one Friday night in early 2024 and on came Graham Norton with this stunning arrangement of an already pretty decent track. Minds shifted, opinions changed and such was the result this single briefly and deservedly flew into the charts. Stunning.

One: White Whale by Junodream
There was in the end no debate. The most played song by everyone involved in compiling this list, we absolutely adored Junodream’s past releases and found ourselves even more in love with White Whale. It’s now a cliché to describe something as a journey, but honestly, this song took us to far reaching places and let us enjoy that world.