In recent years I’ve built a sort of favorite and/or found songs I fell for during the year playlist. They can be songs that came out in the current year or older songs I didn’t know about and discovered. I usually burn some copies and give it out as gifts to friends. This year, possibly because of the travel right before the holidays, I didn’t get it done. But, I’d built the list and have decided to put it here. I’ll post it, share it, and hopefully those who I’d usually give it to see it and give it a listen.

I love the funk of this. The beat. The sing-ability. It was played a lot on the radio, but somehow I didn’t get tired of it. It created many fun dancing moments for us around the house, which is always good.

Anderson East has soul. He has heart. It comes out in his songs. This one, a particular favorite is from his Encore album. The message is simple, you have me, and always will. I love a good love song. Who doesn’t?

I found this song accidentally on a compilation CD I’d gotten for other music. It was a surprise, which is always awesome. It resonated with me. Not just because I have younger siblings I love, but in just thinking about grandkids, K’s kids, etc. It’s a song of hope and love and says really simply that there is love, and that I’m here for you, always.

Glen Hansard appears nearly every year on my playlist. Either as a solo artist or with The Frames. I love his voice, his passion, his storytelling, his raw and emotional voice. This song had a lot of meaning for me this year. I know a lot of people who went through something or maybe even more than one something this year. This song is a message of healing, of knowing that things move, they change, and they get better.

This song is just enjoyable. Love the pairing, which was unexpected, and this video. Also, love the message of it. It’s another song that was played a lot, but I didn’t get tired of it. Sometimes the greatest way to say somethin’ is to say nothin’ at all.

This one is so catchy. I love it. Plus, I’m a huge fan of strings in a pop song. It’s also totally danceable. A big plus. These guys are brothers and know how to get a hold of you with a lyric.

Brandi Carlile is an amazing storyteller. There’s always truth in it. I was so anticipating the release of her album, “By The Way, I Forgive You”, this year and was not disappointed. It’s an album all about forgiveness, in all its forms. I could’ve picked a few off of it, like “Party of One” for instance, but this one is the first I heard and is about being who you are, and rising. About owning yourself. About not letting all the people who say no, or make fun, or try to hurt you… not letting them win. This song soars and lifts and rises, just like it’s message. And the video, well it makes me cry.

I just discovered the Bleachers this year. They’ve been around for a little bit, under the radar, not mainstream, but I’d not heard of them. This song sort of propelled them into the spotlight and hearing it I was hooked. Just listening to it makes me have to dance. It’s also totally fun to sing along to. I dare you not to.

This is the second appearance of Chris Stapleton on this list, he was up there with Justin Timberlake. I can’t say enough about this guy. His songwriting is off the charts good. He used to write for other people before finally doing his own thing. The feeling he exudes is phenomenal. This song actually came out last year, but I somehow overlooked it. There’s this segment of Country music now, kind of the modern outlaw, fringe country, that is led by the likes of Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Butch Walker, Robert Ellis, and the new guy, though he’s not so new, Travis Meadows. I can’t get enough of it. If you haven’t listened to Chris Stapleton, do. His songs appear on most of the playlists I make for us because he’s just that good.

I love this song for the throwback feel of it. It’s awesome. What can I say? It’s catchy, funky, and has a great vibe.

I’ve been a Ben Harper fan for a long time, in all his iterations. This one doesn’t disappoint either. Simple, funky, a great bluesy vibe. This is a great pairing as well, and just simply a good rainy afternoon song.

I’ve also been a fan of Jason Isbell for awhile. He and the 400 Unit, his band, had an album come out last year. I’d only heard his solo work, not his work with the 400 unit, so I did some exploring and found this song. I don’t really know what it is about it, it kind of makes we want to play the spoons. Seriously, I want to play them along with this song. Not sure why. I just love the production of it. Great storytelling, slightly gritty, slightly swampy, and fun.

This song is haunting and quiet, and all kinds of awesome. I love the lyrics, the songwriting, the structure. It gets to me, in all the right ways. “You’re lost at sea I’ll command your boat to me again”. Just really great writing.

I listen to all sorts of music. Most genres. Including, even though I’m not Christian, Christian music. There are some great messages and artists there. This song is one of those, and Lauren Daigle is awesome. So good. You could apply the message of this to a person, or God, or whoever your spiritual center is. It’s uplifting, centering, and her voice is rich and lovely.

I was watching a movie this year and heard this guy’s music in it. I used Shazam and found his name and started exploring his music. I like him a lot. He was a good discovery. Lots of grit in his voice. This one has a great toe-tapping beat to it. It wasn’t made this year, it’s one of those found tunes, but it’s fun and so catchy. I have no idea why more people don’t know about him. Why isn’t he more famous?

This song has a great feel to it. Slightly dark and brooding. It’s beat and rhythm stick and it’s hard to shake. I found this through a Netflix show. There’s some really good music used on television and film now. This is one of those.

OK, this song is from a couple of years ago. It’s a song from the Hamilton Mixtape. I play this often. Kelly Clarkson is stunning here. Just simple, beautiful, and very emotional. The line, “forgiveness, can you imagine” gets me every time. This song on the video is sung live. It’s perfection. I realized I don’t think I’d included it on the playlists from the last couple of years, so here it is.

This song is one of my favorites over the last year. I don’t even know how I found this guy. Mining, searching, exploring. The lyrics are amazing. He’s such a great heart-felt storyteller. It’s simple and true. I never tire of listening to it.

What a great beat. Good funk. I dare you to listen without swaying a little, or tapping your toe. A really great break as well. It’s just got good soul.

The Verve. I have an old CD of theirs. They’ve been around for a long time. I don’t even know why I started looking at them again and listening a little, but I did. I stumbled on this one. It’s haunting, and aches a little. It also has strings, and as we’ve mentioned earlier, I love that.

His voice is so pure sounding. It’s got a singsong swaying vibe to it that is great. It’s an older song as well, another I think I might have heard on a TV show, but possibly not. I don’t know why I’d never heard of him. I’m a sucker for singer songwriters. He’s a good one. As is this song.

Sugarland. Jennifer Nettles. Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift actually wrote this song and gave it to Sugarland. It’s very catchy. Plus, I just love Jennifer Nettles. Her voice is round and full and no matter what she sings she sings it with feeling and heart and passion. Taylor Swift does good background vocals as well. I was very happy to see Sugarland back together with a new album.

I’ll stop here. Carrie Underwood. What can you say? She’s powerful, soulful, and the message of this song is awesome. The build of this song is also great. No wonder she’s such a Country superstar.

I hope everyone is enjoying the end of 2018 and is looking forward to 2019. I know there will be a lot of good music to find and explore, which is always soul filling. I can’t wait to see what I find.