#ThrowbackThursday: 2015 Year in Review

by Sean Smith

Today marks the very last day of 2015. This past year has been a great one for me in regards to writing this column. The songs we have taken time to remember have spanned both a number of genres as well as decades. And while I can’t wait to get started writing nostalgically about more great music in 2016, I thought a recap of what we covered in 2015 was in order. So if you are a new reader who started reading the column sometime later in the year or perhaps would just like to have easy access to re-read an article you enjoyed this year; here is a list of links of all the #ThrowbackThursday articles from the past year.

January

8th- “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley– The first post of 2015 focused on the King of Rock & Roll, on the occasion of what would have been his 80th birthday.

15th- “Piano Man” by Billy Joel– When Billy Joel was announced as a headliner for the 2015 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, we had to take a moment to remember one of his most brilliant songs.

22nd- “Sugar, We’re Going Down” by Fall Out Boy– Fall Out Boy released their sixth studio album American Beauty/American Psycho, which included the smash hit “Centuries” during this week. So we took a look back at the band’s 2005 breakthrough single.

29th- “So Sick” by Ne-Yo– Ne-Yo also released his sixth studio album in January of this year, so we took a look back at one of his early successes as well.

February

5th- “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” by Missy Elliott– Missy made headlines when she performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Katy Perry, so we used that as an excuse to recall her 1997 debut single.

12th- “Loser” by Beck– When Beck surprisingly won the Grammy for Album of the Year, and Kanye West had some choice words about the decision, we took the opportunity to recall Beck’s first commercial hit “Loser”.

19th- “It’s My Party” by Lesley Gore– The music industry lost one of the original teen pop sensations when Lesley Gore passed away on February 16th of this year. Craig Clizbe filled in for me on this one to remember her huge radio hit as well as her relationship with the great Quincy Jones.

26th- “Lose Yourself” by Eminem– When Common and John Legend took home an Oscar for Best Original Song, Craig Clizbe filled in once again to remember the first rap song to ever win an Oscar award.

March

5th- “You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain– As Shania Twain announced a 2015 tour, we took a look back at one of her many successful hit songs.

12th- “Vogue” by Madonna– The “Material Girl” released her 13th album Rebel Heart and we remembered her 1990 #1 hit “Vogue”.

19th- License to Ill by the Beastie Boys– The Beastie Boys classic album was remembered as the news come out that the record had officially gone Diamond.

April

2nd- “Dreaming of You” by Selena– On the somber 20th anniversary of Selena’s murder, we recall a posthumous single from the Latin pop star.

9th- “Hook” by Blues Traveler– The 1990’s Jam Band Blues Traveler released a new record, so we took a look back at their meta pop song “Hook”.

16th- Remembering Percy Sledge– We take a look back at the life and career of the great Percy Sledge after learning of his passing.

23rd- “Bring Me To Life” by Evanescence– When Netflix renewed Marvel’s Daredevil for another season, we remembered a hit from the 2003 film Daredevil.

30th- “Rhythm of the Night” by DeBarge– Thirty years after DeBarge’s hit song was released, we took a closer look at the Diane Warren penned classic.

May

7th- “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana– HBO aired a documentary about Kurt Cobain and we took a look back at his band’s most popular single.

14th- “Drive” by Incubus– The California rockers released new music, so we took a “Drive” down memory lane with a look back at their breakthrough single.

21st- “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield– On Memorial Day weekend we recalled a song that had nothing to do with war, but was re-appropriated for the anti-Vietnam War movement.

28th- Remembering B.B. King– We recalled the life and career of Blue’s legend B.B. King, on the somber occasion of his passing.

June

4th- “One Week” by Barenaked Ladies– The Barenaked Ladies released a new record, so we  took the opportunity to recall the song that put the band on the musical map.

11th- “Til Kingdom Come” by Coldplay– We remembered this Coldplay track after Chris Martin performed it at the funeral of Vice President Joe Biden’s late son, Beau Biden.

18th- “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan– For Father’s Day, we focused on this sentimental track by the great Bob Dylan.

25th- “Good Vibrations” by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch– Craig Clizbe filled in for me once again, and recalled Mark Wahlburg’s big musical hit, prior to the release of his new film Ted 2.

July

2nd- “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen– When Kanye West performed a cover of this song while performing at the Glastonbury Festival, we had to take a moment to relive the greatness of the original.

16th- “MMMBop” by Hanson– We remembered this radio smash hit when Owl City released new music featuring the boy band of brothers.

23rd- “Opposites Attract” by Paula Abdul– This classic pop song was revisited when Paula re-enacted the video with late night host James Corden.

30th- “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly– Bugs Bunny turned 75, so we took a look back at the Space Jam single from R. Kelly.

August

6th- “Super Freak” by Rick James– On the eleventh anniversary of Rick James death, we recall some crazy stories involving James as well as his monstrous hit single.

13th- “Express Yourself”  by N.W.A.– With the release of the N.W.A. biopic, we remembered a track by the group that personifies them.

20th- “3 am” by Matchbox Twenty– Rob Thomas released his third solo album The Great Unknown. The title track talked about his wife’s struggle with medical issues, so we took a look back at a track he wrote while fronting Matchbox Twenty which had a similar theme centered on another member of his family.

27th- “Tie My Hands” by Lil’ Wayne featuring Robin Thicke– On the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we focused on a rare sentimental track by rapper Lil’ Wayne about his native New Orleans.

September

3rd- “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis– The British singer released new music, giving us a reason to re-experience this powerful pop ballad.

10th- “You Were Meant For Me” by Jewel– The folk-pop songstress went back to her roots a bit on her new record this year, reminding us of songs like this from her early career.

17th- “Brenda’s Got a Baby” by Tupac Shakur– Nineteen years after the rapper was slain, his music lives on with positive classics like this one.

24th- “Hallelujah” by Various Artists– The Pope’s visit to America this year led us to rediscover this classic song filled with biblical references and symbolism.

October

1st- “Rhythm Nation” by Janet Jackson– Ms. Jackson released a new album with dance influences leading us reminisce about this 1989 Janet Jackson hit.

8th- “We Trying to Stay Alive” by Wyclef Jean– News broke that Wyclef was working on a new record, so we took a look back at this song from his debut solo record.

15th- “I Love You” by Faith Evans– A Puff Daddy performance at the BET Awards influenced the decision to write about this ballad from the First Lady of Bad Boy.

22nd- “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart– The British rocker released his 29th album in October, an outstanding feat, making him well deserving of being the focus of a throwback post.

29th- “Rehab” by Amy Winehouse– On the ninth anniversary of Amy Winehouse’s tragic overdose death, we take a look at the problem of substance abuse in America as well as remember this ominous track by Winehouse.

November

5th- “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles– We recalled this track with the release of Sara’s new album, an album based on a musical which Sara Bareilles composed the music for.

12th- “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins– With Phil Collins announcing he was returning to music, we took a look back at this classic and dispelled some rumors about the origins of the track.

19th- “Chasing Pavements” by Adele– Adele finally released her new record 25, leading us to spend some time listening to this single from her debut record 19.

December

3rd- “Tyrone” by Erykah Badu– The Queen of Neo-Soul released new music with a heavy phone theme giving us the perfect excuse to spotlight this live track by Badu.

10th-  “The Chanukah Song” by Adam Sandler– In order to celebrate Chanukah, we revisited the many versions of this Jewish holiday classic.

19th- “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by John Lennon– In light of the Christmas holiday, and the anniversary of Lennon’s death, we recall this holiday song with a social message.

I hope you enjoyed reading #ThrowbackThursday here on Clizbeats in 2015 as much as I have loved to research and write it for you each and every week. I want to thank you all for your readership, and I look forward to embarking on another great year of remembering great music with you in 2016. Enjoy the New Year!