I'm Aozaki Shouhei, Klassic Note's only listener and judge. It's that time of the year again, where I sit down in front of my PC at the end of the year to commend and rank the songs I listen over the year. This year has definitely been different, as I desperately search for songs to listen to, often picking up from older releases as much as I'm also into the new artists that emerge from the bushes. Since not like the artists I've followed and liked over the years did any better, but as some of them came back to deliver great melodies with their new band structures, I do hope that moving forward we will see more from them. On the other hand, I have been trying to give new and prominent artists which do have staying power for some of them so I will look forward to more of them in the future. Meanwhile, as I continue to branch out even further towards styles of my interest, being more strict in reviewing releases and avoiding subpar songs here and then, as I have always did. I am still, or even its style, following our new motto of "Searching For The New Classic", and just like every other year, it is exciting as it is challenging, to say the least.

As a start, I state this every year and I will state it again, the results below will never fully represent the many songs I listen to for the year. Past year songs are typically suppressed since recommending them is not as trending as the ones who are presented for this year, so I will withhold in promoting them, though when they are, it's always because they have made more than impact in my life. New artists are still sprouting as they seem, sadly being critical of them unlike how the earlier artists I listen to, would not help in their cause, but as to stay with my motto and criticism, I will continue to find ones that I like, if they still stand to impress. Overall, this is just a fraction of what is to come, and what I think of them songs and artists for the year, so do take note on that.

(Results finalised on 31/12/2024)

Note: For a detailed explanation of the results, click/tap over the minimized detail bars you see throughout the post, like the one above.

[Click here to skip to "The Top 20"]

This year, I have given a total of 230 songs over the past 12 months, a stark decrease over last year. I have still been spending more time on each release longer compared to past years in recognition of their efforts even listening to them the second time in a year, but I ended up finding more comfort in giving familiar artists instead of new artists I picked up. The Internet as usual has helped with exposure and promotion of music, and with music streaming services it has become easier than ever to give any recommendation I see them on YouTube and/or Apple Music, hopefully providing than enough bandwidth to listen to newly found artists and their new songs too. Sadly, I also foresee that I get stuck on artists coming back from hiatus, impressing to different extent, and I will see that going into the new year too, which hopefully will deliver much more new stuff instead of living in the past, which is what I try to avoid.

Here is how the new songs fared this year:

>> Female Solo is the most popular vocal style in the songs of 2024.
>> Female Solo to Male Solo Ratio: 1.556

>> 4 Stars is the most common rating in Klassic Note 2024.
>> Song Integrity Survey reveals that 4C (Average) is the most common rating.

>> Japanese is the most popular language in songs of 2024.

>> 2024 is the most common year of release in songs of 2024.

>> Anime songs are 0.870% of 2024 songs, mostly on theme songs.

>> 16 out of 34 singles in 2024 are considered besides A-side.
>> 6 of all singles released are in Klassic Note Review 2024.

>> Average Monthly Growth: 19.2
>> Top Active Months: Sept (+27), Oct (+27)

Every day is unique as it is special; Songs that surface in our minds will set us in a mood and drive our everyday lives. From waking up to going to work, arriving home and going to sleep, there's always a different melody that will pop up in my mind from listening to the huge amount of songs within and in past years. I would confidently say that my mood for the year could be summarised with the songs I'm listening to every single day.

And that's why we have a tie this year so congrats ZuttoMayo for entering this with the one song which became the most memorable Songs of the Year in 2024!!

TOP SONGS OF THE YEAR 2024

TOP SONGS OF EACH MONTH

TOP SONGS TO START THE DAY

TOP SONGS TO END THE DAY

Klassic Note may be all about the songs, but what is with songs if they aren't released in some form? I say that though, but with the rise of digital singles and how music is distributed more often through digital platforms in smaller doses instead of coming up with physical releases, it's always in my comfort to listen to albums every once in a while then be committed to their constant promotions. Many releases performed better than ever as I spend more time with them this year, and I continue to give more songs beyond the one or two title songs with a music video, sometimes even without. Many artists are going for more than one good album in the year with the world opening up, and we do see this year some are adding a couple of singles and/or new songs from time to time within the year. Regardless of their approach, I will still give them due attention as long as I know of them. Limited Edition Only singles are great but sadly does not meet my requirement of Review, but I will still talk put them in just because they are worthy of mention.

Congratulations to Soko ni Naru's single for Anime "Majou to Yajuu" and Asakura Momo's 4th album for winning top releases for Klassic Note 2024!!

Top 10 Singles

Top 10 Albums

In Klassic Note there are Awards; And then, there are Commendations. Commendations are thing that are worth mentioning but not necessarily in competition since it can be unique in circumstance. That, or I want to credit them as many of them as possible and it doesn't exactly qualify as a regular award. Many listed may be repeats, but this is the place where I give proper recognition to certain things that stood out among the others.

Congrats to Dannie May for giving me music videos to remember they just stand out so much with all the standard stuff and above the animation-driven industry which has been an uprising recently, it's great to see something different. I'm also welcoming back Aqua Timez and Suchmos not with open arms but with an open mind, which I hope will translate to them releasing new and great songs to remember.

One of the most important things that built the foundation of this Song Awards are of course, the Awards themselves. They have also been historically the toughest to decide every year apart from the Top 20 itself, which shows how much thought is put into figuring out the distinct feels of all the songs I give for the year, and how important they are compared to all of the others above. As with previous years, it has always been a challenge to get the right songs to fit the Awards and what they should represent, and as much as I try I still hardly feel for some of these songs which are worthy of their titles, especially pertaining to certain emotions and moods. Regardless, I have made my decision, so here are the results.

Congratulations to Dannie for THE ARTIST award because they have only been striking on me the moment they arrived, and I could not regret giving the songs Kitou Akari has shared a chance, and here we are two albums later. w.o.d. wins THE CONTRIBUTOR as I continue to explore their style of songs that I have grown to love, and Soko ni Naru as THE NEWCOMER is just proof that their strong style can find a place to stay in my music library. That much, I will praise them for.

Last but not least, we have the song rankings. Every year, I try my best to showcase Klassic Note in the most diverse way possible, hopefully with a good balance of what I truly love and representation of what the year means for Klassic Note in 2024. And in these songs I recommend, many have left an impression, some I cannot miss putting them in just because, and others I think they are genuinely worth a mention. It was hard to come up with the list as with ever year, as there have been many dramatic changes to when I initially thought of this, but now that the results are out, I'm not going to think too much into it and hope this is adequate to show what Klassic Note 2024 is after a year in the making. 

Congratulations to SHE'S for finally taking the top spot after all these years, the competition has been beat down by tradition and emotion, as this shall be the #1 song in Klassic Note! This year has been a bumpy ride, but SHE'S did make their point and their album clear in emotion. I did compensate that with a more lively and positive list of tunes to remember, and that will still be the mood going forward, thought it might be getting more neutral over the past year.

Below is an audio preview with timestamps of The Top 20 of Klassic Note 2024, for your listening pleasure. (Tip: Click on any row on the table above to skip to that track!)

And that is all for Klassic Note this year; I hope you enjoyed looking through these results, giving some of them as listen, and enjoyed as much as I did. If you were here to give yourself a chance and listen to the above snippet of what I've listened to in 2024, you're welcome for the glimpse into my music listening experience for the year. If you have given any of them a listen afterwards - even just one of them - it will make me happy. The legacy of Klassic Note has moved ahead once again and with the world outside changing in perspective, I'm still happy to be able to share my thoughts about music every year, how much I have experienced in the world of music by the week, and dedicating the time and dedication to make all of this happen once again. With this, I conclude my recognition for artists, releases and songs I've listened over the year before I continue my journey into the new year.

I will see you again and have a happy new year! And I will ever, as I have always been I will be "Searching For The New Classic".

- Aozaki Shouhei, on the Klassic Note

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