Billboard Dance / Electronic Year-End Hot 100 - Review [Part 1] (feat. LUX 99)

Casper: EDM has been my favorite music genre for a long time. And while the peak years of Spinnin' Records and Trap Nation, both of which were very important in introducing me to EDM, are both long gone, I still love EDM in all its different forms. So I've been following the EDM charts throughout the years and this year I decided to go through the year end list.  But it wouldn't be as fun doing it alone. So welcome my EDM mutual, Lux!

LUX: Ayo this is Lux 99 (@luxtalks) and I'm very horny, let's discuss this YE list.

Casper: Let's go.


This is Casper x LUX 99's Billboard Dance/EDM Year-End Hot 100 Review: Part 1: Songs from #100 to #51 on the year end list.



100. Dennis Kruissen - Falling In Love
Casper: 0/5         LUX: 1/5

Casper: Ah. I thought we left this kind of scratchy, ear hurting future bass behind in 2016. The verses are bland and the drop is pure ear cancer. Why is this here.

LUX: I had no idea this song was big this year. I heard it back in 2016 and always thought it was a very bland and generic piece from a genre that had less annoying representatives even back then. I still do. Pick better stuff TikTok.

99. Disclosure, Kehlani & Syd - Birthday
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 4/5

Casper: I liked pretty much everything Disclosure made before Talk, but after that song it's like they lost all their talents.

LUX: Well I actually think this song is quite good! It's far from the best that Disclosure released this year, but it has a chill bouncy vibe to it that I'm a complete sucker for. Kehlani does good here too, one of their better performances in a while, i'd say.


98. Mr. Eazi x Major Lazer ft. Nicki Minaj & K4MO - Oh My Gawd
Casper: 3/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: This is awful    

Doesn't mean I don't like it though

LUX: For me this kinda bangs in a very odd way. I'll say tho that it's funny that i'm only talking about Nicki on this of all YE lists, and yet again she's only at #98. Slaps in the face and whatnot.

97. twocolors - Lovefool
Casper: 5/5         LUX: 1/5

Casper: Finally some Lithuanian Bass representation. 2020 was an incredible year for the genre, but the EDM year end list doesn't really show it well, as there are only 4 Lithuanian Bass songs. And while this is not the best one, it's still amazing. I really like how unlike some other lithuanian bass songs it does have more of a groove on the verses than just deep bass, and,      

LUX: Brazilian Bass.

Casper: What?

LUX: The genre is called Brazilian Bass.

Casper: Well we're on my blog, get used to it 😎😎😎

LUX: I don't hate this, it's perfectly serviceable background noise. But for me, even as someone who never loved the Cardigans' OG either, I really have no use for this one when: a) There are better covers for this song and b) There are other Brazilian Bass covers that slap harder.

Casper: Lithuanian Bass

LUX: Lithuanian Bass.

96. NOTD & Daya - Wanted
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 2/5

Casper: What even happened to Daya?

LUX: I'm not entirely sure if this song is about emotional trauma or just about a creepy stalker... musically it's kinda boring tho.

95. Porter Robinson - Get Your Wish
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 5/5

Casper: oh yeah it's good, probably should listen to Worlds or something

LUX: Woah Lux 99 loves a Porter Robinson song who would've fucking thought anyways where's Nurture.

94. Tiësto - The Business
Casper: 5/5         LUX: 2/5

Casper: THE BUSSYNESS LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

LUX: I'll admit that I was way too harsh on this one, but... still just,, just stream Resilient Remix.

93. Tekqoi & Aiko - You Broke My Heart Again
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 3/5

LUX: Okay, this one's an interesting case.

You see, this is actually a Lo-Fi hip-hop beat with a ballad-style vocal recorded over it. It charted because of TikTok and there was a bit of controversy regarding whether it should count for the EDM charts or the Rock/Alt charts. It had a very weird chart run, peaking outside the top 10 before getting removed altogether after the executives realized that it should, in fact, not be there. Yet it somehow managed to rack enough points to squeak at the bottom of this YE list.

This song itself is nothing all that special but it is a nice vibe, so I guess i'll take it.

Casper: It's literally a Bart Simpson Sad Lofi Edit song and yet i still like it


92. Topic & A7S ft. Lil Baby - Why Do You Lie To Me?
Casper: 5/5         LUX: 4/5

Casper: We are in desperate need of more Lil Baby EDM. Also we are in desperate need of more Topic singles I don't even care about the music that much I just want to see more of the teddy bear.

LUX: I actually think this song is pretty damn good but tbh if its drop was switched with the drop on the twocolors remix (just the drop and nothing else) it would be the banger to end all bangers.

91. VASSY - Trouble
Casper: 3/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: The buildup is so hype then the drop happens and. Nothing happens actually.

LUX: This is fine but it gives me... odd vibes. I feel like it tries to be way too clean and polished and it fails to do that, or maybe i'm just still not used to hear VASSY on a normal voice i'm not sure.

90. Sofia Carson & R3HAB - I Luv U
Casper: 1/5         LUX: 1/5

Casper: The first song I've heard from Sofia Carson was Love Is The Name, a big, anthemic, tropical banger with a huge interpolation of "Live is Life" by Opus. It's amazing.                          

What the hell is this?

LUX: Kinda nice at first but the more it builds the more every aspect of it sounds like shit. Also the fact that this was R3HAB's only EDM YE hit this year has a joke hidden in it somewhere.

89. Martin Garrix ft. John Martin - Higher Ground
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 4/5

Casper: good song i like it :)

LUX: John Martin is a king and this song would be amazing if the drop was stronger or more impactful instead of just... kinda showing up. Maybe it's true that nothing will ever top one of their other collabs "Together", music peaked with that song.

88. Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull - On The Floor
Casper: 5/5         LUX: 4/5

Casper: Wasn't expecting to see the legend Pitbull on this chart but I'm so glad he's here

LUX: I'm shocked that the Super Bowl gave this one enough clout to re-chart and rack enough points to be higher on the YE list than Higher Ground but eh fuck it this bangs.

Casper: Damn, based Lux finally seeing the light of God?

LUX: Yeah Pitbull's pretty goated, but I have another question for you Casper.

Casper: What


LUX: ...do you like Kygo?


Casper: Fuck



87. Kygo & Valerie Broussard - The Truth
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 3/5

LUX: Yeah we had to get here eventually, despite not making much movements on the mainstream Hot 100, Kygo had a nuts year in 2020, getting no less than 12 songs on the EDM YE list, some loose singles as well as deep cuts from his Golden Hour album. This is not among my favorites from the album but I still think it's quite nice, figures since I'm pretty much a Kygo fan. I don't feel bad.

Casper: Damn does this mean I enjoy a Kygo song more than you?

LUX: So it seems, and I'm glad you're enjoying this because the next song is also by Kygo.

Casper: Well I am so far, what's next-oh

86. Kygo & Zac Brown - Someday
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 5/5

Casper: I'm sorry this drop is so fast and everything in the verses and aaaaahhhhh it's just too much

LUX: This might actually be one of my favorite songs from the album, it's just so bright and epic, I love it. Between this and Broken Arrows by Avicii, I think Zac Brown should do more EDM collabs, would be way better than whatever other EDM shit he's trying to do under the Zac Brown Band name that's for sure.

85. deadmau5 & The Neptunes - Pomegranate
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 5/5

Casper: I guess it's kinda groovy, don't really like it though.

LUX: This is the best thing Pharrell Williams has released in like,, 6 years or so.

84. Sigala & James Arthur - Lasting Lover
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 4/5

Casper: James Arthur sounds awful as always, but it's still a good song. Just makes me feel happy inside.

LUX: Turns out this song was actually by Lewis Capaldi at one point, he even performed it live, so my initial theory about Capaldi fitting in an EDM song remains true. It kinda shrunk on me but it's pretty great still, no idea why the Time To Pretend riff sample is there tho.

83. Kygo & Donna Summer - Hot Stuff
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 3/5

LUX: Hey look more Kygo. Although one thing I didn't mention is that, out of those 12 YE hits he had in 2020, 3 of them were remixes for black female powerhouse vocalists from the 80s. This one was by far the least succesful but I think it's quite solid.

Casper: While Kygo's typical tropical house stuff is very hit or miss for me, his remixes of 80's songs are all surprisingly good.

82. Lady Gaga - 1000 Doves
Casper: 3/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: Call me a fake gay or whatever, but I didn't enjoy Chromatica too much. It was... fine. Not a single song from it is up there with her greatest hits. However, every single song from it made the EDM YE list. There are thirteen Lady Gaga songs here. A quarter of this list is made up of just 2 artists. The song itself though? Not much to say about it. Nice buildup, pretty generic house groove. It's alright

LUX: This is a song by Lady Gaga.

81. Gryffin & John Martin - Cry
Casper: 0/5         LUX: 3/5

LUX: This is pretty sweet.

Casper: but why does it SOUND like THIS

80. The Chainsmokers & Bebe Rexha - Call You Mine
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 1/5

Casper: The way Bebe Rexha sings "and you said I never regretted the day that I called you mine" is one of the most bizarrely awful moments in the history of music

LUX: It's frustrating to be a Chainsmokers defender when it comes to the music because in real life there's just no way to defend these jackasses. Fortunately I don't have to do it here because yeah this one's kinda shit.

79. David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 4/5

Casper: it's a whole ass vibe

LUX: For me this feels like more of an atmosphere than a song. It's a big chunk of the elements from the 80s aesthetic we're currently reviving combined. Honestly the way Sia's vocals are processed on this song makes it feel like she's just another element of the atmosphere more than her own thing. All of this can be good or bad depending on who you're asking tbh.

78. ILLENIUM, Excision & I Prevail - Feel Something
Casper: 1/5         LUX: 2/5

Casper: Illenium more like Lllenium

LUX: I'm aware that you don't like ILLENIUM very much and while I disagree with that... yeah this one's corny.

77. Silva Hound ft. Michael Kovach & Chi-Chi - Addict
Casper: 5/5         LUX: 0/5

Casper: Hazbin Hotel? Bronies? What are you talking about I just think the song slaps

LUX: ...yeah I feel bad every time I thrash this song knowing how important it is for other communities, but everything about it just,, drains me inside. I don't think this has any chances of charting on the Hot 100 anymore and i'm fine with that because if this is the song that brings this style of EDM back... that'd be disappointing.

76. Jax Jones & Ella Henderson - This Is Real
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 4/5

Casper: yeh this is cute

LUX: Slowly realizing that Ella Henderson is a queen and that's mostly because, thanks to her, the EDM YE list for 2020 now has a song that interpolates Never Gonna Give You Up.

75. Flume ft. Vera Blue - Rushing Back
Casper: 3/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: It just                                                                                                                           

Sounds like a cheap imitation of Flume

LUX: I was... disappointed, to say the least, with Flume's return. That's a shame because I always loved his music, but a lot of his new stuff, while decent, also feels like it lacks something, at least this one does.

74. Joel Corry - Lonely
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 3/5

LUX: It's funny how, of all the 3 hits Joel Corry has, this one is the one that gets overshadowed the most. Makes sense since it's not the most popular one nor is it the best nor the worst one, it just exists.

Casper: it's actually better than Head & Heart, stay woke

73. Diplo & SIDEPIECE - On My Mind
Casper: 3/5         LUX: 4/5

LUX: It's weird to me how Diplo's current career is based on either shitty country-trap-esque stuff or House songs with like,, top tier groove.

Casper: This is actually perfectly fine, but every time I listen to it I think about a song called Popstar by Formal Chicken which completely stole the bassline from this song, and then I'm stuck thinking about how hot Formal Chicken's penguin fur(?)sona is and then,

Please don't take it out of context, actually no the context doesn't make it better, you know just forget i said anything

LUX: Why did I agree to do this collab.

72. Louis The Child & Drew Love - Free
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 5/5

Casper: This is beautiful

Until the last drop, that is.

LUX: If it had better vocals it would be like,, top 5 on this list for me.

71. Gryffin, Seven Lions & Noah Kahan - Need Your Love
Casper: 3/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: Gryffin part 2. Except this one is actually pretty nice.

LUX: It's fine, I can hear the pieces that could've worked. Still a disappointing collab.

70. Lady Gaga - Babylon
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: Second Lady Gaga song here and it's actually pretty good! Nothing special but I enjoy it.

LUX: This is a song by Lady Gaga.

69. DVBBS ft. blackbear & 24kGoldn - Tinted Eyes
Casper: 5/5         LUX: 4/5

Casper: I heard about this song for the first time from a mean tweet Lux made about it, now I'm making him praise it with me on my blog, legendary move if I may say so myself.

LUX: Yeah the first time I heard this song I thought it wasn't very good but it grew on me a lot very quickly. Also, not only did DVBBS get an EDM YE hit in 2020, not only did blackbear get one as well, and not only did 24kGoldn get two, it ended up at #69. Sometimes the elements just perfectly fall into place.

68. Martin Garrix ft. Clinton Klane - Drown
Casper: 3/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: That drop is a vibe but I expected something way bigger.

LUX: I like this song but I always forget it exists.

67. Lady Gaga - Enigma
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: This sounds pretty awkward.

LUX: This is a song by Lady Gaga.

66. Loud Luxury ft. Morgan St. Jean - Aftertaste
Casper: 5/5         LUX: 3/5

LUX: This one instead of Cold Feet? Okay...

Casper: I actually like this more than Cold Feet. Not really sure why though.             

65. ILLENIUM & X Ambassadors - In Your Arms
Casper: 1/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: The X Ambassadors guy actually sounds pretty good on this, too bad Illenium ruins it with his typical drop.

LUX: I think this is a decent enough ILLENIUM song. The production could be better but it fits the vocals decently enough. Still mid-tier on ASCEND though.

64. Lady Gaga - Plastic Doll
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: It's the one song I forgot to rate while I was listening to the year end list, I think that says a lot about it.

LUX: This is a song by Lady Gaga.

63. Galantis x Ship Wrek x Pink $weats - Only A Fool
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 4/5

Casper: This could have been good, but some of the production choices are just... no

LUX: Eh, this is just a cute little song with a very catchy melody and, imo, a pretty good vocalist. The drop is a bit messy tho and that takes points from it unfortunately.

62. Dayvi & Victor Cardenas ft. Kelly Ruiz - Baila Conmigo
Casper: 3/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: Right, I think I should just leave this one to Lux.

LUX: I don't know what's funnier, the fact that a guaracha song is on the EDM YE list or that it's back to back with the Jennifer Lopez version.


61. Jennifer Lopez - Baila Conmigo
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 1/5

LUX: I don't know what's funnier, the fact that a guaracha song is on the EDM YE list, that it's back to back with the Jennifer Lopez version, or that the Jennifer Lopez version is higher.

Casper: Right, I think I should just leave this one to- wait wha-

60. Lady Gaga - Fun Tonight
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 2/5

Casper: Lux really cheated by writing his parts first, now I have to think about things to say about these mediocre Lady Gaga songs smh

LUX: This is a song by Lady Gaga.

59. Paul Woolford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking For Me
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 5/5

Casper: It's very cute

LUX: If I was an expert at analyzing music I'd say there's some sort of hidden genius to the way this song and its lyrics are structured, but I'm not so I'll just say that its vibes make me feel like I'm transcending into a new magical world of purple aesthetic when I listen to it and leave it at that.

58. Cannons - Fire For You
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: The vibe is pretty decent, but it's so monotonous I begin to hate my life the more I hear it

LUX: I'm constantly going back & forth in between kinda liking this one and not caring about it and I'm convinced it will be like that forever.

57. Tiësto & Mabel - God Is A Dancer
Casper: 3/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: So many songs tell us who God is, who are we supposed to trust? Don't they all know that Pitbull is God?

LUX: Good beat + Mabel proceeding to fully transition into a robot. The eternal balance, my friends.

56. Loud Luxury & Bryce Vine - I'm Not Alright
Casper: 3/5         LUX: 3/5

Casper: Lmao Bryce Vine

Song's decent though.

LUX: I've heard many House songs with a way too loud bass and about 99% of them do a great job with it not sounding like farts. Unfortunately this one does sound like farts.

55. Lady Gaga & Elton John - Sine From Above
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 4/5

LUX: This is a song by Lady Gaga (probably the best one).

Casper: Damn we actually agree on this one, I sure hope it's going to continue

54. Kygo & Avicii ft. Sandro Cavazza - Forever Yours
Casper: 1/5         LUX: 4/5

LUX: This song is good but Kygo literally just re-made an old Avicii ID as a tribute, released it as his own and attached the late Avicii's name to it despite him not actually being part of this new version. I still respect you dude but like,, why did you do that.

Casper: I did not know about this little detail, and it makes this already not-very-good-song even worse.

53. Lady Gaga - Replay
Casper: 2/5         LUX: 1/5

LUX: This is a song by Lady Gaga (probably the worst one).

Casper: Damn we actually agree on this one, I sure hope it's going to continue

52. Rasster - SAD! (Imanbek Remix)
Casper: 4/5         LUX: 1/5

Casper: Imanbek could put a Roses beat over my parents arguing and I'd still stream it

LUX: I gotta say, the fact that Imanbek reading this right now is not something out of the realm of possibility scares me lmao, anyways yeah I still think this sucks. No hard feelings homie I just don't want any more SAD! remixes, I've suffered long enough.

51. Robin Schulz ft. Alida - In Your Eyes
Casper: 5/5         LUX: 4/5

LUX: Pretty sure I would hate this one by now if I lived in like,, Germany or something but as it is it's still pretty neat.

Casper: Well, in Poland this song was played a looot and I still love it. Robin Schulz has been big in Europe for what, 7 years now? And he's still making bangers.



LUX: Hell yeah that was a fun first half, very hyped for part 2 where we talk about the best of the best!

Casper: Um... this is not a ranking.

LUX: Ah, right. Still I guess we're wrapping this up on my blog. See ya there buddy.

To be continued...



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