Part 2 of our year in review explores the biggest songs at Beyond Radio, some Grammy commentary, and our first interview with an AJR superfan. You can follow the podcast on Spotify.

Beyond Radio Tim’s Top 200 of 2020

1              HANSON              In The City           1(4)        29

A 20 year old song took the top spot, sounding as fresh as can be. Hanson evokes shades of Jethro Tull on this track from the album “This Time Around”. Working on my retro blog posts led me to this gem that I don’t recall from the time. 8 songs from that appeared on my chart back in 2000, including multiple week #1’s with the title track and “Runaway Run”.

2              SHINEDOWN      Atlas Falls            1(3)        27

This is classic Shinedown, recorded in 2012 but released this year as a COVID-19 charity single. The uplifting power ballad eventually topped the Rock airplay chart in August.

3              LOTTERY WINNERS          Little Things        1(5)        23

This fun new Brit band scored 6 songs in my top 200 this year, 4 of those in the top 75. In addition to this song, “That’s Not Entertainment” and “Love Will Keep Us Together” reached #1.

4              HANSON              Where’s The Love ’18      1(6)        31

This orchestral version of their 1997 top 10 hit started the year at #1 and instead of going all acoustic it remained a pop-rock nugget. The additional of the Prague Symphony Orchestra certainly added emotional heft for me.

5              CAITLYN SMITH Long Time Coming           1(2)        24

Her 6^th #1 on my chart, Smith deserves to get more recognition. A bluesy but subtle rocker with a great fuzzy guitar break. She placed 2 more in my top 100 this year.

6              THE SIDE DEAL   Ghosts  1              25

One part Train, one part Sugar Ray, 2 parts Americana duo Pawnshop Kings. An energetic mid-tempo stomper, I’m looking forward to what else they put out.

7              5 SECONDS OF SUMMER              Wildflower          1(3)        21

I fell in love with this song after listening to the breakdown of the song on the podcast “Switched On Pop”. The song did well on the Beyond Radio year-end chart, clocking in at #57. It would have been a much better stateside single choice than “Old Me”. “No Shame” came in at #92 on my chart.

8              HARRY STYLES    Falling   1(2)        22

Styles album “Fine Line” placed as the #4 album of the year on the Billboard 200. A great accomplishment for a Pop album in this era. He has 5 songs in my top 200, but this plaintive ballad is the one that really got under my skin. We’ll see if it gets pushed to radio in the U.S. after “Golden’ runs its course.

9              MORRISSEY        Bobby, Don’t You Think They Know?        1              26

Wacky and wonderful with a killer assist by Thelma Houston. The instrumentation on this song is fantastic. Oblique lyrics, a Doors-y organ solo vamps into an alto sax break, so much going on here.

10           INTERRUPTERS  Bad Guy               2              28

I had no idea a ska version of the Billie Eilish tune that I didn’t care for would transform it into something I love. Duh.

11           THE GLORIOUS SONS     Pink Motel          1(10)      33

The most emotional gut-wretching song I have ever heard. Beautiful and blistering at the same time. This was was #1 song of the 2019-2020 mid-year cycle. And it’s assured a placement in my top 10 of all-time, perhaps top 5.

12           ROB DICKINSON               End Of The World             1(3)        22

I guess I was ready for some emotional music this year. I discovered this 2008 song from a playlist of my friend Tom. Dickinson has always been a fav, his ‘90s band Catherine Wheel placed 7 songs at #1 on my personal chart and he had a number of top 5’s from his solo album. This is gorgeous and heartbreaking, but in a different way than “Pink Motel”.

13           ERIC CHURCH     Stick That In Your Country Song 1(2)        20

Savage for a country song, Church is one of my favorite artists of the genre. He never stays in one lane and I love when he decides to rock out. It didn’t go top 10 or even top 20 at country radio, but at least they placed it. That’s progress.

14           WHITE REAPER  Headwind           1(2)        24

Power Pop came back to radio this year with the Reaper’s #1 Alternative song “Might Be Right”. That and “Real Long Time” made my top 50 of the 2019-20 cycle but this album track was their first #1 on my chart.

15           REAMONN          Promise (You And Me)   3              23

This is another older track, this time from 2006. The German band led by Irishman Rea Garvey hadn’t seen my chart since 2010. My retro blog posts have been leading me to discover things I missed in the past. I’m not complaining. This is their third song to hit my top 5.

16           A GREAT BIG WORLD & CHRISTINA AGUILERA     Fall On Me          4              26

Just a beautiful love song. This is the second time they have collaborated. It’s a shame it did not get more exposure.

17           DUA LIPA             Hallucinate          1(2)        22

18           DUA LIPA             Future Nostalgia               3              22

Lipa is another artist who placed 5 songs in my top 200. I so appreciate how she made great dance-pop without sounding trendy. It would be great if she could take home Album of the Year at the Grammys.

19           CLARE DUNN     Money’s All Gone            2(3)        23

This under the radar country guitar slinger almost scored her second #1 on my chart, after 2015’s “Move On”. This is a rollicking car song.

20           NOTHING BUT THIEVES  Is Everybody Going Crazy?           4(3)        22

According to Spotify this was my most played song of 2020. The band has had 7 top 10’s on my chart since 2015.

21           DOVES  Prisoners             1(2)        23

After an 11-year hiatus the band had a #1 album in Britain with “The Universal Want”. This track from the album is mesmerizing. Haunting and energetic, it’s currently on repeat even after peaking on my chart in late September.

22           KINGSWOOD     Bittersweet        2              22

This was my introduction to the decade old Australian band. The vibe of this song is somewhere between Royal Blood and Black Keys. The Keys are at #34 with “Shine A Little Light”, probably my favorite by the band. Royal Blood also found their best placement on my chart so far with “Trouble’s Coming”. That should make my top 100 for the 2020-21 cycle.

23           BROTHERS OSBORNE      All Night               4              20

A fun and clever country stomper. This makes 3 top 10’s for the bros (including a #1 with “Stay A Little Longer”). They just missed the top 10 with a fourth song at #11, “Shoot Me Straight”.

24           LOTTERY WINNERS          That’s Not Entertainment             1(2)        19

25           ALL TIME LOW   Wake Up, Sunshine         6              22

These pop-punkers have been on the grind for 15 years and finally reached #1 on the Alternative chart this fall with “Monsters”. I’m just waking up to that song but back in 2018 they have 2 #1’s on my chart with “Birthday” and “Everything Is Fine”.

26           BOSTON MANOR             Plasticine Dreams            4              26

A bit harder but from a similar genre pool, the Brit band clicked with this and “Ratking” at #78.

27           THE VAMPS        Married In Vegas              1(2)        18

This boy band has had 4 top 2 albums in the UK since 2014 and a slew of pop hits there. They impacted me in 2018 with “Just My Type” that made it to #3. The hook on this was enough to push it a bit farther.

28           ADELITAS WAY  Habit     9              25

These rockers from Las Vegas sometimes add a pop sensibility to their songs. This has a bit of a dance-y groove and could have found a home on Alternative radio 5 years ago.

29           THE LICKERISH QUARTET               Lighthouse Spaceship     1(3)        19

I was so excited to discover this band inadvertently from someone’s personal chart. The name intrigued so I gae it a listen and found out that they are past members of one of my favorites from the early ‘90s, Jellyfish. This song does not disappoint for a Jellyfish fan. And I started going down a rabbit hole and discovered the band Imperial Drag and solo work by Roger manning Jr. His “The Quickening”, at #65, just spent 3 weeks at #1 in November.

30           DMA’S  Criminals              2              19

This is the second time the Australian 3-piece has reached my top 10. There is a decided Oasis vibe with “Do I Need You Now” from 2018 and this song, though this one adds some current pop gimmicks.

31           SAINT MOTEL     A Good Song Never Dies               6              23

32           POETS OF THE FALL         My Dark Disquiet             2(3)        20

33           LOTTERY WINNERS          Love Will Keep Us Together         1              17

34           THE BLACK KEYS                Shine A Little Light           5              26

35           ROACHFORD      Love Remedy     5              22

36           SAINT MOTEL     Preach  3              21

37           ADAM LAMBERT               Stranger You Are              6              26

38           KENSINGTON    Island    10           26

39           GRACE POTTER  Every Heartbeat               10           25

40           ADAM LAMBERT               Loverboy             8              22

41           KID BLOOM        Sugarcoat            3              24

42           HARRY STYLES    Watermelon Sugar          9              28

43           CAITLYN SMITH Rare Bird              8              21

44           LABRINTH            Something’s Got To Give               6              20

45           CREEPER              Cyanide 5              19

46           KID BLOOM        Lemonhead        6              20

47           NOTHING BUT THIEVES  Real Love Song  9              22

48           DEXTER FREEBISH             Save The Last Dance       7              22

49           CREEPER              Annabelle           7              21

50           HARRY STYLES    Adore You           11           22

51           VOLBEAT             Die To Live          2(2)        18

52           EVANESCENCE  Wasted On You 6              16

53           GORD BAMFORD              Just Let Go          8              19

54           THE MAKEMAKES            Heyo     12           22

55           I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME          Leave Me Alone 5              18

56           TYRONE WELLS  Time Of Our Lives             12           22

57           ROYAL REPUBLIC              Superlove           1              14

58           SUNDARA KARMA           One Last Night On This Earth       11           21

59           ARKELLS               Years In The Making        9              20

60           MISTERWIVES   Coming Up For Air            9              22

61           CALLUM BEATTIE              Salamander Street           2              18

62           CAITLYN SMITH Fly Away              11           24

63           STEREOPHONICS              Bust This Town  18           26

64           THE KILLERS        My Own Soul’s Warning 8              23

65           ROGER MANNING JR.     The Quickening 1(3)        15

66           GREEN DAY         Meet Me On The Roof   7              18

67           SEMISONIC         You’re Not Alone              8              21

68           BRING ME THE HORIZON              Parasite Eve        4              16

69           DUA LIPA             Physical 17           21

70           JOHNNY HATES JAZZ       Spirit Of Love     10           20

71           SHRED KELLY      Underground    1              17

72           THE SNUTS         Elephants            10           19

73           ADAM LAMBERT               Closer To You     11           23

74           LOTTERY WINNERS          I Don’t Love You                16           22

75           POETS OF THE FALL         Moments Before The Storm        12           23

76           FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS            I Just Wanna Shine          5              21

77           STUCK ON PLANET EARTH             Higher Than The Drugs   8              17

78           BOSTON MANOR             Ratking 6              18

79           STRUTS f/ROBBIE WILLIAMS        Strange Days      5              15

80           JESSIE WARE       Spotlight              10           18

81           CREEPER              Be My End           13           21

82           THE GLORIOUS SONS     Spirit To Break   29           23

83           SCOTT STAPP     Face Of The Sun 7              18

84           DUA LIPA             Don’t Start Now 10           22

85           THE WEEKND     In Your Eyes       17           21

86           HANDS LIKE HOUSES       Through Glass    12           18

87           THE ZANGWILLS               Sunlight At Midnight       9              31

88           THE GLORIOUS SONS     Closer To The Sky             16           19

89           TAYLOR KNOX   Live It Up             19           23

90           THE ALLERGIES  Felony  13           17

91           WILDERADO       Surefire 21           26

92           5 SECONDS OF SUMMER              No Shame           12           18

93           BASTILLE F/ GRAHAM COXON    What You Gonna Do??? 7              16

94           HEY MAJOR        Wax And Wane 11           17

95           THE MAKEMAKES            Million Euro Smile            18           20

96           ELECTRIC ENEMY              Do What You Want          5              16

97           HEARTRACER     Darling  21           22

98           LUCIA & THE BEST BOYS City of Angels    17           17

99           JONAS BROTHERS            What A Man Gotta Do    11           16

100         ELBOW White Noise White Heat               28           24

101         MARTHAGUNN We Don’t Need Each Other          19           21

102         TRAVIS A Ghost 18           19

103         THE LUKA STATE               Feel It    12           17

104         WYN STARKS      Circles   22           19

105         SPITFIRES            Tear This Place Right Down!        17           22

106         ADAM LAMBERT               Superpower       10           23

107         WINNETKA BOWLING LEAGUE   Kombucha          14           21

108         HARRY STYLES    Treat People With Kindness        21           17

109         LOTTERY WINNERS          18 To 30’s            17           17

110         KEITH URBAN    Superman           18           18

111         TOTO     Running Out Of Time      23           20

112         BOY & BEAR       Suck On Light     24           20

113         THE JACKS           Threw It All Away             25           20

114         SEMISONIC         All It Would Take              9              16

115         EVANESCENCE  The Game Is Over            11           18

116         THE MAGIC GANG           Take Back The Track        27           21

117         BIFFY CLYRO       Instant History   20           18

118         WEEZER                Hero      33           21

119         THE BLACK MOODS         Whatcha Got     32           22

120         ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES Call Me 15           16

121         TENILLE TOWNES             White Horse       38           22

122         LUKE COMBS     Lovin’ On You     7              18

123         EVERY AVENUE Tell Me I’m A Wreck        30           19

124         ESKIMO JOE        Say Something  14           17

125         KENSINGTON    Uncharted          34           19

126         BT f/ ROB DICKINSON    Always  19           17

127         STEREOPHONICS              Don’t Let The Devil Take Another Day     30           20

128         YOLA     I Don’t Wanna Lie             32           18

129         GREEN DAY         Oh Yeah!             25           17

130         NIALL HORAN    Small Talk            29           19

131         KENSINGTON    What Lies Ahead              15           17

132         THE BIRD & THE BEE        Hot For Teacher 9              13

133         BEN HAZLEWOOD            Collateral             21           17

134         DOVES  Carousels            24           17

135         SHRED KELLY      Dead Leaves       19           17

136         WHITE LIES          Falling Out Without Me 19           18

137         LIVE LOUNGE ALLSTARS Times Like These              13           13

138         ALTER BRIDGE   Godspeed           22           18

139         BRANTLEY GILBERT          Fire’t Up               35           20

140         FRATELLIS            Six Days In June 35           19

141         DEXTER FREEBISH             Wide Awake      22           18

142         ALIEN ANT FARM             Everything She Wants    19           16

143         BADLY DRAWN BOY         Is This A Dream 27           18

144         JOSH GRACIN    Lucky Stars          3              21

145         THE STROKES     Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus           20           16

146         LADY GAGA        Stupid Love        24           16

147         ERASURE             Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling)                 24           16

148         THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT Unbroken           28           19

149         KYLIE MINOGUE               Say Something  3              19

150         ALPHABEAT        Goldmine            27           17

151         ELEPHANT STONE            Hollow World     42           19

152         HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH             Hold On                16           16

153         MERCYME           Almost Home     31           17

154         HARRY STYLES    Sunflower Vol. 6               55           18

155         KEITH URBAN    Out The Cage     9              13

156         JIMMY EAT WORLD         Criminal Energy 40           19

157         MEGHAN TRAINOR         Evil Twin              24           15

158         DECLAN WELSH AND THE DECADENT WEST           No Fun 11           21

159         THE GLORIOUS SONS     The Ongoing Speculation Into The Death Of Rock And Roll              37           18

160         ALL TIME LOW   Getaway Green 26           14

161         MENUDO            Lost        25           16

162         TEBEY    That’s Gonna Get You Kissed       32           21

163         DUA LIPA             Break My Heart 43           17

164         RAYE      Natalie Don’t      26           14

165         BLACK PUMAS   Fire        55           21

166         BLOXX   Off My Mind      17           16

167         HANSON              Something Going Round               18           14

168         DIAMANTE         Ghost Myself     28           16

169         KAISER CHIEFS   Golden Oldies    5              20

170         CHAZ CARDIGAN              Not OK! 40           16

171         JIMMY EAT WORLD         All The Way (Stay)           8              18

172         DELTA GOODREM            Paralyzed            31           16

173         CAIN      Rise Up (Lazarus)              54           18

174         OK GO  I Won’t Let You Down    30           16

175         PALM SPRINGSTEEN       Sister Sister        49           18

176         COREY TAYLOR  Black Eyes Blue 26           16

177         LOTTERY WINNERS          Hawaii   34           16

178         BROTHER FIRETRIBE        Bring On The Rain            36           16

179         SOPHIE AND THE GIANTS              Runaway             39           17

180         THE KILLERS        Fire In Bone        24           13

181         LIZZO     Boys      47           25

182         JANE HOLIDAY   All Yours              41           16

183         THE PALE WHITE               Swim For Your Life           44           16

184         WEEZER                Beginning Of The End     19           14

185         JAMES BAY          Chew On My Heart          35           19

186         MERCYME           Hurry Up And Wait          49           17

187         IMPERIAL DRAG Zodiac Sign          29           17

188         UPSAHL Smile For The Camera    47           16

189         FRIENDLY FIRES Offline  49           15

190         THE ALLERGIES  Since You’ve Been Gone 43           15

191         EMAROSA           Ready To Love   45           16

192         STATIC SHIFT      1965       56           18

193         NEEDTOBREATHE             You Are Here     47           17

194         LIME CORDIALE Inappropriate Behaviour               34           15

195         DAUGHTRY         Alive      37           14

196         HEARTRACER     Sound Of Fear   5              12

197         BEN KWELLER    Heart Attack Kid                69           17

198         LOLA LENNOX    Back At Wrong  33           17

199         ALMOST MONDAY           Broken People  51           15

200         JORDAN ALLEN  Never Give It Up               57           16