STOCKI'S FAV 10 SONGS OF 2020

 

1. I MISSED YOU - DOUG GAY

Doug's song about lockdown was put to a Fitzroy video and used in a service. I first watched the video while in hospital waiting an operation and cried like a baby... it is still my hope... "one day there will be such a gathering, we'll walk together again, we'll sing together again..."

Until it is released... EP... or next album... only available above or on Fitzroy's SOUL FM 

 

2. GRACE - BLACKIE AND THE RODEO KINGS

A Stephen Fearing song that beautifully expresses the theology of grace in song... I will turn to this one over and over. Stephanie Hall did a great version one Sunday morning in Fitzroy's online service.

"I look for grace when I am broken

A deep sea diver reaching for a pearl

One tiny light in all this darkness

Til the morning, til the morning

Until the morning shines upon the world."

 

3. TAXI - ARBORIST

Not just because it begins in Ballymena's People's Park where I scored a lovely double in a Cup Final but the entire tale pulled me in. Forgive the ending... Very funny though!

 

4. LETTING YOU GO - JASON ISBELL

Leaving my daughter to University, this one was the tear jerker. Oh my!

 

5. AND THE HEALING HAS BEGUN - BRONAGH GALLAGHER

Hot Press did an amazing series of Van Morrison covers by Irish artists leading up to his 75th Birthday. I watched every new video going live every night of our holiday in Ballycastle. Bronagh slow burns and then sets the whole thing ablaze with her Holy Lands reminiscing. My favourite by far. Check this one... and them all... on Youtube.

 

6. THE SINGULARITY - MALOJIAN & JASON LYTLE

Talk of sickness and healing... this one fitted 2020's mood.

 

7. PAINT IT BLUE - SAMMY BRUE

Blue rocks out like the teenager he is on Crash Test Kid and then closes with this deeply introspective beaut, that is so Joni Mitchell. This might be the best crafted song of 2020.

 

8. STONE COLD WINTER - ANDY THORNTON

Andy put a "best of" album together with his new Ages record. The remix of this brought it more alive than ever and Janice and I sang all summer long:

"I want to

Run to the ocean, run to the sea

Throw all the world away from me

Follow the voice that set me free

Like walking to sea again..."

 

9. IF WE GET THROUGH THIS - MARTYN JOSEPH

Martyn's song to help us through the first lockdown... it hot the spot and thrilled he allowed us to use it in Fitzroy.

 

10. ANTHONY TONER - SHE GIVES ME RELIGION

Love Anthony's stripped pack version of this old Van song... at times I needed something to refresh me, I often turned to this one... it brought some calm to my soul.