Ben Bartosik

Forty Songs

I turn 40 in December of 2025. As a celebration and to cope with my fading irrelevance, I've made a list of my favourite songs from every year I've been alive. I think they make for a pretty interesting playlist. Give them a listen, maybe you'll find a new favourite song. Prefer movies? I did that list too.

Note: this isn't the music I was listening to at the time (I wasn't cool enough to be jamming De La Soul at 4), they're the songs I most like now that were released in that year. Also, I had a hard time with this list. Certain songs could be swapped with others depending on my mood.

  • 1985 – Head Over Heels (Tears for Fears)

  • 1986 – The Queen is Dead (The Smiths)

  • 1987 – U Got The Look (Prince)

  • 1988 – Thousands Are Sailing (The Pogues)

  • 1989 – Eye Know (De La Soul)

  • 1990 – Nothing Compares 2 U (Sinead O'Connor)

  • 1991 – Diamonds and Pearls (Prince)

  • 1992 – Professor Booty (Beastie Boys)

  • 1993 – Cherub Rock (The Smashing Pumpkins)

  • 1994 – She (Green Day)

  • 1995 – Fantasy (Mariah Carey)

  • 1996 – In This Bed Eye Scream (Prince)

  • 1997 – Brick (Ben Folds Five)

  • 1998 – Refused are F*cking Dead (Refused)

  • 1999 – Nicotine & Gravy (Beck)

  • 2000 – Ms. Jackson (Outkast)

  • 2001 – Someday (The Strokes)

  • 2002 – Bowl of Oranges (Bright Eyes)

  • 2003 – Love is Only a Feeling (The Darkness)

  • 2004 – Please Please Please (Head Automatica)

  • 2005 – 10 Dollar (M.I.A.)

  • 2006 – Smile (Lily Allen)

  • 2007 – Fly Trapped in a a Jar (Modest Mouse)

  • 2008 – Lights & Music (Cut Copy)

  • 2009 – 11th Dimension (Julian Casablancas)

  • 2010 – Dance Yrself Clean (LCD Soundsystem)

  • 2011 – Beth / Rest (Bon Iver)

  • 2012 – Pat Pong Ladies (The Darkness)

  • 2013 – Elevate (St Lucia)

  • 2014 – Inspector Norse (Todd Terje)

  • 2015 – These Walls (Kendrick Lamar)

  • 2016 – Diddy Bop (Noname)

  • 2017 – LMK (Kelela)

  • 2018 – Lullaby of London (Lisa O'Neill)

  • 2019 – The Wild Rover (Lankum)

  • 2020 – All That Ever Mattered (HAIM)

  • 2021 – Holiday (Turnstile)

  • 2022 – Frost is All Over (The Mary Wallopers)

  • 2023 – The New York Trader (Lankum)

  • 2024 – Death Kink (Fontaines D.C.)

  • 2025 – ????

***

Favourites of all time: Lankum, The Smiths, The Pogues, & Prince.

Favourite guitarist: Johnny Marr (The Smiths).

Favourite drummer: David Sandström (Refused).

Favourite lead singer: Julian Casablancas (the Strokes).

Favourite melodies: The ends to both Head Over Heels and Pat Pong Ladies are infectious.