And with these last ten songs - the recent songs that only appeared in the final edition of the book. Let's get this done!
The one thousand and twenty-second song: Drone Bomb Me - Anohni
While it has an electronic backing, there is the feeling of a pop ballad in Anohni's vocals, a darkness in a love song that's otherwise filled with desire. It leaves an incredibly strong impression that feels visceral even when there are a lot of effects that might lean the other way.
The one thousand and twenty-third song: You Want It Darker - Leonard Cohen
Looking at the gap between entries, this feels like one of the longest ranges of appearance on the list. Leonard Cohen shows how he stays relevant, the darker tone to his music and back up vocals pushing his songs to a modern height that works incredibly well. It's at times menacing and dark and while it's recognisably his, it's also a track that works as a modern song.
The one thousand and twenty-fourth song: The Numbers - Radiohead
I feel like I've mostly been hearing Radiohead in more thoughtful performances. Numbers isn't a hard rock track, it is a pop rock track that focuses on the lyrics, with a beautifully arranged track supporting thoem. It's lovely in the way it sets up and builds itself.
The one thousand and twenty-fifth song: We the People... - A Tribe Called Quest
As a clear reaction to the rise of right wing politics at this point, it's a clear anthem that hits close enough to send a political message. But while the structure and rapping feels like it refers back to earlier times, the music, like the message, is modern, a fusion of rock and rap that feels more common and a sound that has clearly been rising. Here, the track works.
The one thousand and twenty-sixth song: Man - Skepta
There is an odd side to English rap - while the lyrics clearly reference the same violence as American, the lyrics can feel very British while the sound sets itself apart, a clear rap set over a modern electronic backing track. This feels like a good example of it, but it's also a style that doesn't grab me and leaves me wanting a bit more of something else.
The one thousand and twenty-seventh song: Formation - Beyonce
I remember the impact of the release of Lemonade had. This is not a song I heard referenced a lot from it. For me, it mostly shows Beyonce's talents, whose vocals and sounds are great. The raps are fine, but the bouncy electronic effects that go through the song are distracting and off putting in a way that really stops me wanting to hear more.
The one thousand and twenty-eighth song: Lazarus - David Bowie
A clear headed farewell, from a man who knew what was coming, introduces a rock song that feels melancholic and downbeat. There's something inevitable in the track, a delay that hurts, and the effect of his biography is still powerful.
The one thousand and twenty-ninth song: Ultralight Beam - Kanye West
Kanye West's songs feels tainted by his more recent antics, and a song about his religion and life are hard to separate. There's something really emotional and personal in this song, an insight into a person I otherwise feel quite detached from.
The one thousand and thirtieth song: Tilted - Christine & The Queens
There's something perfectly measured in a lot of French pop songs. The music is precise and strong, the vocals on point and sung with just the right emotion to help the message - emotionally good but not quite balanced. It's a nice bit of art as a song.
The one thousand and thirty-first song: Million Reasons - Lady Gage
We're closing out the list with Lady Gaga at her best - a powerful ballad iwth a simple but deep enogh message, focusing on her magnificent voice without needing to use many other tricks. It sounds really good and feels that personal.