#ThrowbackThursday: 2016 Year in Review

by Sean Smith

Happy New Year! As we prepare to embark on what we are sure will be another wonderful year of #ThrowbackThursday articles here on Clizbeats, we thought we would take the first post of 2017 to take a look back on what we covered in 2016. So if you are a new reader of the column and want to catch up on what you missed, or you are a loyal reader who would like to re-read one of your favorite post’s of the past year; here is what we covered in 2016.

January

7th- Remembering Natalie Cole– The first post of 2016 remembered the life of singer Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole, who passed away on the last day of 2015.

14th- David Bowie Favorites– Taking a look back at a couple of my David Bowie favorites in the wake of his untimely death.

21st- “At Last” by Etta James– Remembering Etta James’ classic on what was the fourth anniversary of her passing.

February

4th- “Your Song” by Elton John– Elton John and James Corden teamed up for a special post-Super Bowl edition of “Carpool Karaoke,” so we took a look back at the classic Elton John track “Your Song.”

11th- “Through the Wire” by Kanye West– When Kanye put out his new album in 2016, we took a look at his inspiring breakthrough single.

18th- “To Zion” by Lauryn Hill– Reviewing the performances at the 2016 Grammy’s, and looking back at a classic Lauryn Hill track.

March

17th- “Be Like That” by 3 Doors Down– Looking back on their Top 25 hit on the occasion of their sixth studio album release.

31st- “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel– When the heavy metal band released a cover of “The Sound of Silence,” we took the opportunity to take a look back at the Simon & Garfunkel original.

April

7th- “Okie from Muskogee” by Merle Haggard– When Country music lost one of its biggest stars, we took a look back at one of our favorites from the late legend.

21st- “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash– Taking a look back at one of The Man in Black’s biggest songs, and remembering his famous Nixon White House visit.

28th- “Cinnamon Girl” by Prince– With the passing of the incomparable Prince, we remember a socially conscious track he put out in the wake of 9/11 and the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

May

5th- “Dear Mama” by Tupac Shakur– When Afeni Shakur died, we thought it only right to feature the song her immortal son penned for her in 1995.

12th- “Baby Baby” by Amy Grant– Last year Amy Grant teamed up with Tori Kelly to revise her 1991 hit “Baby Baby,” so we took the time to recall the original.

19th- “Victory” by Puff Daddy & the Family– When Puff Daddy and the Bad Boy family reunited, we took a look back at “Victory.”

26th- “Stan” by Eminem– On the anniversary of the 16th anniversary of Eminem releasing The Marshall Mathers LP.

June

2nd- “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees– The Monkees put out a new album this past summer, so we took a fresh look back on “I’m a Believer.”

9th- “Miss Independent” by Kelly Clarkson– With American Idol ending this past year, we recalled the show’s first winner’s breakthrough hit.

16th- “Vision of Love” by Mariah Carey– Craig Clizbe filled in for me to write about Mariah Carey’s early career, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of her self-titled debut album release.

23rd- “Under the Bridge” by Red hot Chili Peppers– RHCP released their 11th studio album in 2016, and so we took the chance to recall a previous Top 10 track released by the band.

30th- “All the Small Things” by Blink-182– Taking a look back at the 1999 single from the alt-rock pop band who put out their sixth studio album.

July

7th- “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers– Celebrating Bill Withers birthday with a look back on his early career and his most known single.

14th- “As” by Stevie Wonder– Discussing the aftermath of the shooting of police officers in Dallas, Texas.

21st- “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley– Covering the Republican Convention, plagiarism and Rick Astley.

28th- “Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland– Celebrating the anniversary of Judy Garland recording “Over the Rainbow” in 1939.

August

4th- Batman Forever Soundtrack– Craig Clizbe fills in once again, and looks back on the 1995 soundtrack to the film Batman Forever in honor of the release of the Batman themed film Suicide Squad.

18th- “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi– On the 30th anniversary of Slippery When Wet, we recall a classic track from Bon Jovi’s third album.

25th- “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen– The Boss kicks off a tour and preps for the release of his autobiography, while we take a look back at “Born to Run.”

September

1st- “Where is the Love?” by The Black Eyed Peas– The Black Eyed Peas updated their 2003 hit and we looked back at the original.

8th- Posthumous Tupac Picks– On the anniversary of Tupac’s death, we recall a number of my favorite songs released after his passing.

15th- “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugar Hill Gang– Remembering the legendary hip hop group and their premier song 37 years after its initial release.

22nd- “Candle in the Wind 1997” by Elton John– One of the greatest selling singles in U.S. history remembered 19 years after its release.

29th- “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison– Van Morrison released his 36th studio record, so we took the time to look back on his most well known record.

October

6th- Remembering Rod Temperton– Looking back on the music career and songwriting credits of the great Songwriter Rod Temperton in the wake of his passing.

13th- “Against All Odds (Take a Look at me Now)” by Phil Collins– Craig Clizbe steps in to take an excellent deep dive into the singer’s career.

20th- “Mosh” by Eminem– Craig Clizbe writes for a second week in a row, this time looking back on an Eminem track that takes aim at a President. This after Eminem releases a freestyle sizing up future President-Elect Donald Trump.

27th- Remembering Bobby Vee– Taking a look back at the music life of teen idol Bobby Vee upon the news of his passing.

November

3rd- “How to Save a Life” by The Fray– With The Fray releasing a new album late last year we remembered the band’s most well known track.

10th- Post Presidential Election Edition– My immediate thoughts following the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States of America.

17th- “Hands” by Jewel– On the 18th anniversary of Jewel releasing her second studio album Spirit, we take the time to remember her socially conscious single from that album.

December

1st- “Happy Together” by The Turtles– After a big lawsuit win by members of The Turtles against SiriusXM, we remember the band’s first big hit.

8th- “Rockin’ in the Free World” by Neil Young– Neil Young released another new album late in 2016, so we took a look back at one of the singer’s most well known tracks.

15th- “I Don’t Like Mondays” by The Boomtown Rats– On the somber anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting, we took a moment to remember a song written by a British band about another mass school shooting that happened some decades earlier.

I hope that you enjoyed catching up on any articles you may have missed this past year, or re-reading some of your favorites from the past year. I hope that your 2017 is off to a great start, and I look forward to bringing you many more interesting musical reads in the year to come!