Music You Need to Hear from 2020 (Exposing My Spotify Wrapped!)

Music You Need to Hear from 2020 blog post cover

Every December, Spotify signals the end of the year with personalized Wrapped playlists rounding up users’ most-streamed songs. Despite how well you may think you know your own music taste, Spotify’s data doesn’t lie! Surprises are always guaranteed—whether it’s a song you listened to for three days straight early in the year and have since forgot about, or you just didn’t realize how obsessed you were with an artist or album track.

Press play on my official Top Songs of 2020 playlist below, featuring 100 of the year’s best bops from Jessie Ware, Dua Lipa, Tame Impala, Chloe x Halle and more. I’ve loved having this on repeat as I reminisce on the past 12 months of music!

Now, for one of the most anticipated “Best Of” lists of the year, let’s break down the Top Albums of 2020!

My Top 10 Albums of 2020 (according to Spotify)

Rina Sawayama's Sawayama album cover

10. Rina Sawayama, ‘SAWAYAMA’

Most played track: “Comme Des Garçons (Like the Boys)”

Jessie Ware's What's Your Pleasure album cover

9. Jessie Ware, ‘What’s Your Pleasure?’

Most played track: “In Your Eyes”

Sam Smith's Love Goes album cover

8. Sam Smith, ‘Love Goes’

Most played track: “Diamonds”

Sevdaliza's Shabrang album cover

7. Sevdaliza, ‘Shabrang’

Most played tracks: “Darkest Hour,” “Oh My God”

Lady Gaga's Chromatica album cover

6. Lady Gaga, ‘Chromatica’

Most played tracks: “Rain On Me” (with Ariana Grande), “Sour Candy” (with BLACKPINK)

The Weeknd's After Hours album cover

5. The Weeknd, ‘After Hours’

Most played tracks: “Too Late,” “Blinding Lights,” “Alone Again”

Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia album cover

4. Dua Lipa, ‘Future Nostalgia’

Most played tracks: “Levitating” (feat. Madonna and Missy Elliott) [The Blessed Madonna Remix] (Club Future Nostalgia exclusive), “That Kind Of Woman” (Jacques Lu Cont Remix) (Club Future Nostalgia exclusive), “Fever” (feat. Angèle)

Selena Gomez's Rare album cover

3. Selena Gomez, ‘Rare’

Most played tracks: “A Sweeter Place” (feat. Kid Cudi), “Let Me Get Me,” “Look At Her Now,” “People You Know,” “Dance Again”

Tame Impala's The Slow Rush album cover

2. Tame Impala, ‘The Slow Rush’

Most played tracks: “Breathe Deeper,” “One More Year,” “Glimmer,” “It Might Be Time,” “Is It True”

Disclosure's ENERGY album cover

1. Disclosure, ‘ENERGY’

Most played tracks: “Reverie” (feat. Common), “Expressing What Matters,” “Ecstasy,” “Etran” (feat. Etran Finatawa), “Lavender” (feat. Channel Tres), “Get Close,” “Who Knew?” (feat. Mick Jenkins), “Douha (Mali Mali)” (feat. Fatoumata Diawara), “ENERGY”

Despite the music I highlighted each month in my Favourites playlist, here are some statistically-proven takeaways from my 2020 streaming habits:

  • My most streamed album of the year was 2019’s ‘Bubba’ by Montreal DJ-producer Kaytranada. Evidently, I was very excited to see his live show in the spring (RIP 2020 concert season.)
  • I was a big fan of dance remixes—anything to lift my spirits during long work days and workouts!
  • My favourite artists, including The Weeknd, Lady Gaga and Sam Smith, did what had to be done, contributing to the soundtrack of the year. But I was also thrilled to discover new artists like Sevdaliza and Rina Sawayama with fresh sounds and stories and I can’t wait to see what they bring in 2021.

The Best of the Best Albums of 2020

You know a great album as soon as you hear it—when each song flawlessly blends into the next and you want to sing, scream, shout, dance, cry, etc. the whole way through.

As I look back on the incredible bodies of work we were gifted this year, I’d firmly rank ‘After Hours’ (The Weeknd), ‘What’s Your Pleasure?’ (Jessie Ware) and ‘The Slow Rush’ (Tame Impala) as my top 3 albums of 2020. 😍

This year may have been dark, but thanks to so many incredible artists, music was a bright spot for all of us. Can’t wait to start building my 2021 playlist! 🎶

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July Favourites

Angela McLean July Favourites

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for SHEIN and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking these links.

Without a doubt, we can all say Summer 2020 is like no other. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, restrictions remain in place on travel, gatherings and so many other traditional summer pleasures. Concerts and festivals have gone virtual, including Chicago’s Lollapalooza (which I was finally set to attend!), and most amusement parks remain closed or are opening with highly limited capacity. But despite this summer looking unusual at best (and downright lonely and depressing at its worst), there are still plenty of ways to make the most of it.

Live out your best summer dreams responsibly with my latest fashion and skincare must-haves, streaming recommendations and playlist additions.

Fashion

Who says you can’t look your best during a pandemic?!
Swimsuits for Days
(Photo via @ardene/Instagram)

* Swimwear *

Assorted Styles from SHEIN, starting at $3 (snakeskin set, $9.50; two-tone one piece, $19) // Assorted Styles from Ardene, starting at $5 (floral top, $10; bold blue bottom, $17.43)

Raise your hand if, like me, you also want to restock your entire swimwear drawer every time summer rolls around. 🙋 While you likely don’t need a new poolside ‘fit for every day of the week, an extra bikini top or matching set is the perfect guilt-free pandemic purchase. I’ve linked some super affordable and trendy options from SHEIN and Ardene above for under $20! A nearby beach is surely calling your name — just remember to socially distance and leave if it gets too crowded.

Need a beach read? Head over to my blog post from last summer listing 5 hot titles!

Old Navy Face Masks

* Face Masks *

Old Navy, $15 for 5 // Gap, $20 for 3

In case you missed the memo, face masks are still the hottest (and, in many cities, must-have 😉) accessory of the summer. Check out my recent blog post where I proved this essential piece of PPE doesn’t have to sacrifice your personal style.

Poshmark and Depop Accounts to Follow

* Clothing Resale Apps *

Did you miss out on your favourite artist’s limited-run merchandise? Have shopper’s regret from a previous purchase? Still looking for the perfect basic tees and vintage jeans? Allow me to pass along my latest quarantine activity! I’ve fully hopped on the clothing resale app bandwagon, both to hunt down new wardrobe staples and make money selling old faves. Check out my profiles on Poshmark (shopangelaaaxo) and Depop (angelaaaxoxo) — I’ll be listing so many more pieces soon!

Skincare

Skincare = self-care — and this is more valuable than ever during a pandemic.
We all need to be in this together!
Clarisonic and Avon Cleansing Brushes
(Photos via Clarisonic *left* and Avon *right*)

* Face Cleansing Brush *

MIA PRIMA Sonic Cleansing Face Brush, Clarisonic, $69.50 // Anew Clean Cleansing Brush, Avon, $34.99

Cleansing is a key step in my daily skincare routine, so it’s surprising I took this long to try out a cleansing brush for some self pampering. I use one from Avon two to three times a week and noticed a difference in my face almost right away.

Cleansing brushes work well on all skin types and help products like your serums and moisturizers absorb better and faster. It’s also painless to set up and use, so why not give it a try?! Clarisonic, one of the original brands in the cleansing brush space, is shutting down at the end of September, so act fast to score 50% off their classic MIA PRIMA brush and save on other cleansing and massaging devices across their site.

Boscia Clear Complexion Blotting Linens flatlay
(Photo via Amazon)

* Blotting Papers *

Clear Complexion Blotting Linens by Boscia, Sephora, $14

Oily sisters, unite! Blotting papers are nothing short of a life saver all year round, but I can’t leave the house without them during the summer when a little extra face shine/beauty sweat is inevitable. Just be sure to dab lightly on any problem areas — and it doesn’t hurt to use setting spray in the morning and a refreshing mist like MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ throughout the day to keep your look extra secure.

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Pride Playlist

Pride Playlist

It’s time to get loud and be proud! June is Pride Month. Regardless of where and what you’re doing to celebrate, there’s no better time to let loose and be yourself. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Life is too short to be anything but in love with yourself and your life. If you’ve been slacking in that area, start now!

Amplify your Pride Month festivities with my 40-track playlist, linked below — and keep scrolling to preview some of my favourite Pride plays, new and old.

“Girls Like Girls” – Hayley Kiyoko

Girls can like girls, just like boys—and what about it? That’s the attitude “Lesbian Jesus” Hayley Kiyoko takes on in her smash single “Girls Like Girls,” which has amassed over 150 million listens online. From the start of her career, Kiyoko has been vocal about struggles faced by the LGBTQ community in her music, raising awareness of violence against transgender women on “One Bad Night” and highlighting self-doubt on “This Side of Paradise.” She’s described “Girls Like Girls” as a “female anthem for a girl stealing another guy’s girl,” contrasting the stereotypical girl-steals-girlfriend’s-guy/guy-steals-guy friend’s-girl themes.

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Playlist: September finds & faves

September finds & faves playlist cover

Am I the only one that thinks September is one of the weirdest months? You fall back into a routine at school or work (and I’m a lady who likes routines), reconnect with friends you lost touch with in the summer and get to enjoy the last of the nice weather – all good things! But then things start getting real busy real fast, everyone’s trying to juggle all their responsibilities and, most annoyingly, you may need a jacket and shorts in the same day. (Seriously, this is the reason I get sick every fall.)

What I’m trying to say is that there is a reason this month’s ‘finds & faves’ playlist has several upbeat summer songs in addition to some colder tracks, both in tone and theme.

If you’re new to my blog, every month I share a playlist featuring my top new music finds and older releases that are back on repeat (or I’m just late to the party on discovering!). Clocking in at just under two hours, scroll down for September’s playlist and a few highlighted listens.

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Playlist: May finds & faves

May finds & faves playlist cover - Angela McLean

Can we just take a minute to appreciate all of the incredible new music that came out this month? One of my favourite Canadian artists Felix Cartal dropped his new album ‘Next Season’ (more on that in our interview coming out soon!), Clean Bandit released their long-awaited single with Demi Lovato, Shawn Mendes released his near-perfect third album and that’s just scratching the surface.

Though I’ve loved the new music, I’ve also put some of my favourite bright, spring-summer tracks back into my playlists.

Scroll down for this month’s ‘finds & faves’ playlist and some of the must-listens.

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