Throwback Thursday 29.12.16

For the last throwback of the year, we've got some of 2016's music highlights...

Well that's it for our 2016 throwbacks. For our last playlist of the year to delve into the past, we thought we wouldn't look back that far. This week it's all about the best of what this seemingly never ending year has bought us.

David Bowie - Lazarus

Before the iconic singer suddenly passed away, he released his final album, Blackstar. He was the accepted champion of transformation, whether it was glam rock or Ziggy Stardust, he owned it.

For his final hurrah, he took on a much more somber voice, still with his Bowie flare. The concept album, the artist's goodbye, is packed with secret artwork and messages. It was truly an extraordinary way to say goodbye.

Bastille - Good Grief

Leave them wanting more? It's an old trick, but it certainly does hold up. In 2013, it seemed this indie pop group was all anyone could talk about. Then along came something new, and they gracefully faded away. It seemed they'd gone for good at one point. 2016 proved to be the perfect time for the group to stage a come back.

Like The 1975, Bastille make clever pop music with big ambition. And like The 1975, this year they delivered a second album that improved on the debut in every way. Not so much a concept album as a concept campaign, with marketing via a sinister WWCOMMS corporation, the album dealt with the big things: life, death and politics.

Lady Gaga - Million Reasons

Yet another comeback. Lady Gaga has admitted she was "traumatised" by the success of her last album and has taken medication to help her "recalibrate".The 30-year-old singer revealed she "needed a moment to stabilise" after her record Artpop topped the charts around the world in 2013.

After a three-year pause, she returned to the music scene and kicked up a storm with her new album, Joanne. Not to mention she has been the voice for many social and political events around the world, including her moving speech at the Orlando shootings vigil.

Drake - One Dance

It would have been almost impossible to put this playlist together without a mention of Drake. This year, his name was permanently plastered all over the charts. Spending week after week at N0.1 in the UK, USA, Australia, and many others, this tune will get you dancing every time.

Sia - Cheap Thrills

After a career writing songs for other artists, Australian singer, Sia Furler, changed the game with her eighth studio album, 1000 Forms of Fear. She released the album in 2014 with singles Chandelier, Elastic Heart and Big Girls Cry.

The album received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented Sia’s vocals and deemed it a concept album. However, some criticised the impersonal and indirect nature of the songs.

Beyoncé - Hold Up

Well it only seems appropriate that the album that broke the internet gets a mention in the year's round up. Lemonade absolutely killed it all over the world and we were all asking, who is Becky with the good hair?

In an interview with 60 Minutes, she said when it comes to making new music she competes with herself. She goes through her old performances footage and thinks about what worked and what didn't.

I for one am curious to she how she improves on this masterpiece. Only her next album will tell.