Here are the tunes that have been on heavy rotation this year. The music industry usually saves its biggest compilation releases to midyear or the first six months. From the very popular pop stars chart topping all over the world to brand new artists making a wave on the hit parade, the year has plenty of contenders for end-of-year best-of lists that defy easy categorization.

The Top 20 here are the best of the lot you have heard. The collection opens with the super smooth Living for Love from the super mom and ageing pop diva Madonna, followed closely with the ultra picky Sam Smith with his ever popular Like I Can. Take your pick of EDM and you have a lineup with Avicii with his mega single The Nights, Axwell ^ Ingrosso with Something New. A few steps away you have Alesso with Cool and Zedd in the ear piercing I want you to Know featuring Selena Gomez. The tempo cools down with sultry songstress Selena Gomez bringing her own material in The Heart wants what it wants.

The boys from Australia 5 Seconds to Summer come up with a dose of punk pop in Don’t Stop, while British singer – songwriter James Bay puts on his thinking cap and sings lovingly with Hold Back the River. In the same vein we add Canadian new comer Shawn Mendes to the list of must hears, when he croons effortlessly on his first single Stitches from his debut album.

Our list could go on and on, on the goodies this collection boasts of. The odd ones that don’t click are just a few, but here’s to songs that have that power to make you want to press the play button again. Year and Years with King is the memorable, while I Lived (One Republic), Love me Harder by Ariana Grande (Feat. The Weeknd) are the shakers, while Mika makes a comeback with Talk About you. Our collection ends with the simply monstrous voice of the hauntingly chilly Hozier Take me to Church.

With a playlist like this, there’s no searching for other toppers. This is it.

Rating: ****

-  Reviewed by Verus Ferreira