From carefree pop ballads to tender ballads, there was plenty to appeal to in 2024.
From left: FKA Twigs, Sam Fender, Pet Shop Boys and JADE.
Illustration: Lyanne Natividad
If you were looking at the official UK Singles Chart for 2024, it might have made for grim reading. During the year, the only British artists to reach No. 1 was Charli XCX (assisted by Billie Eilish on “Guess”) and Chase & Status, a collaboration with rap titan Stormzy. Ireland's Hozier managed two weeks with his single 'Too Sweet', but other than that, the rest were pretty much imported almost exclusively from the US: Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, Benson Boone, Noah Kahan and more . dominated everywhere. The level of imported music in the UK is fast becoming the norm, not the exception.
Dig a little deeper, though, and there were seriously quality songs released by British and Irish artists throughout the year. Songs that pushed some of our best creators into new places both critically and commercially, or maybe said something essential about the human condition, revealing everything about love, friendship and loss. Whether they topped the charts or not felt somewhat irrelevant. they felt deeply and loved each other madly. Perhaps this was in sweaty clubs and bars, raucous festival grounds, commuting or even a period of solo reflection – the best songs often have a way of fitting into all these moods and moments.
Following our staff's picks for the best UK & Ireland albums of 2024, we now present the songs that told the scene's year, from superstar headliners to emerging heroes, in alphabetical order by artist.
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Charli XCX, “Sympathy Is a Knife”
As fans gushed over the tongue-in-cheek lyrics of this song, rumors started to take over. However, the real talking point wasn't about who it might be, but how Charlie was brave enough to describe complex, contradictory feelings while knowing that people would inevitably misinterpret her direct message of insecurity. It turned out that the artist who built an entire career in pop with great confidence can be just as skilled as the simple and vulnerable. – SOPHIE WILLIAMS
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Dua Lipa, 'Training Season'
After the start Radical OptimismComing off his 'Houdini' release, the British-Albanian star had a high bar to clear with the LP's second single. “Training Season,” a Kevin Parker-produced pop banger rose to the challenge and spent two weeks atop the Billboard Dance/Electronic Charts after its February release. – THOMAS SMITH
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FKA Twigs, “Eusexua”
The British polymath explained that “Eusexua” – the term coined for her upcoming third album – means reaching a heightened state of euphoria or sensuality, or, in her own words, “the pinnacle of human experience”. Heavily techno-inspired, the lead single builds steadily and then furiously to its climax. This is some of her best work to date, and quite a rush. – TS
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Fontaines DC, “Favourite”
In RomanceFontaines DC created a monumental record by doing what the hell they wanted: Adopting a neon, fantasy-inspired aesthetic. pushing their sound to the outer limits. The overwhelmingly emotional 'Favourite', however, saw the band land briefly – a soulful, sophisticated spin on a festival set that nevertheless landed with the intensity of an arrow to the heart. – SW
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Jade, “Angel of My Dreams”
Like a pop phoenix emerging from its slumber, the debut single from Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall showcased a fierce, focused artist ready to embrace every aspect of her new solo era. Feelings of relief and regained independence could be heard in the electro-clash song's thrilling swirl, while its studied reference points (Control-era Janet Jackson, early Lady Gaga) shone loud and proud. – SW
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Pet Shop Boys, “New London Boy”
The 15th studio album by Pet Shop Boys Nevertheless they were witty, emotional and fun all at once – after all, they've been setting the standard for British pop for over 40 years now. “New London Boy” from that record describes singer Neil Tenant's sexual awakening in the capital in the 70s, referencing Bowie, Roxy Music and the queer pioneers who resisted prejudice (“Skinheads will mock you, call fg/ Last laugh's yours, there's a brick in your bag'') Boy Harsher's remix – sparser yet euphoric – expands the possibilities of the song – TS
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Pozer, “Kitchen Stove”
Want to meet Pozer, the UK's most promising new drill? Press play on “Kitchen Stove” and crank it up to 11. Here, ominous lyrics about crooks and commuting between various 9-to-5 jobs are brightened by a propulsive Jersey club beat and diverging pop textures. Upon release, the track shot into the top 40 – confirming the arrival of a soon-to-be rap star. – SW
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Raye, “Genesis”
After scooping a record six awards at the 2024 BRITs – and letting the industry have it for a variety of reasons – RAYE still had some thoughts to get off her chest. “Genesis,” a three-part seven-minute odyssey through pop, R&B, big band jazz and gospel, touches on heartbreak, mental health and self-esteem. – TS
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Sam Fender, “People Watching”
The Geordie musician's comeback single arrived in November – which preceded a massive UK Arena tour – and has all the elements of his best work: the lost promise of youth, the alienation in a world spinning too fast, the desperation from the decline in living standards. Even if it's a familiar story (check out his 2021 project “Seventeen Going Under”), the self-titled single from his upcoming third album is powerful. – TS
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Soft Play, “Everything and Nothing”
It seems there is now room in the once rough and unforgiving sonic world of Soft Play (FKA Slaves) for deep reflection. Where the punk duo would once have gone over heavy emotions, “Everything and Nothing” showed they can subtly explore sadness and longing over a plaintive, finger-picking melody, unleashing those feelings on the world with a little more hope. – SW
