elcome to our shortest mix since 2010! It has a running time of just about 2 hours and 10 minutes. We had a busy year, so let's just keep it short and simple, while keeping in mind what is important. Namely, this fragile planet of ours has experienced particularly trying times this year, and alas, things are only going to get increasingly worse for the foreseeable future. For those of us who have lived in the developed world, this type of political, environmental, societal, and economic instability takes plenty to get used to, if ever. Fortunately, pop music is here to make our collective descent into hell slightly more bearable. Or if you're an optimist who doesn't give up, music can fuel our fight for what's right.

Platitudes aside, the tradition of eclecticism of these surveys continues this year, but this collection feels more infused by Latin, hip-hop, and dancehall grooves. It's bouncier than last year, partly because of Diplo, who shows up here no less than six different times, and that has to do with the fact that pop music of the 2010s has been influenced by so much of his signature sounds. For better or worse, he helped defined the zeitgeist of our times.

Often appearing alongside Diplo, Sean Paul has appeared on our surveys since 2003, and in recent years his representation has only intensified, and this year is no exception. Madge and Anitta sing in Portuguese here, and we too are seduced by its allure, as we expect to be pulled into sexy Lisboa fairly soon.

Considering ever-dwindling popularity of guitar-based rock, it's somewhat surprised that old timers such as Weezer, Springsteen, and Bob Mould all still manage to put in respectable appearances this year. Prince has been dead for over three years, but thankfully, his estate still issues compelling material. Other usual suspects here again include P!nk, Pet Shop Boys, Lana Del Rey, Aimee Mann, Barbie Minaj, TayTay, and her ex-bf, Calvin Harris. We also feel that Posty is going become a regular around here for awhile. Not only does he show up on three tracks, but one other song is actually named after him.

his year's optics came from our recent trip to Sweden. More specifically, they were taken in December 2018 at Skogskyrkogården cemetery in Enskededalen, Stockholm. As in last year's featured setting, Skogskyrkogården was designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site, mainly due to its sublime design by Erik Gunnar Asplund.

'Systembolaget' is where you go first to get the party started.

For your convenience again this year, a m3u playlist file as been included in the zip package to ensure easy proper sequencing for the mp3 tracks. As usual, remember to click on each image displayed above here for its corresponding full-sized, hi-res version for your digital music player.

1. REX ORANGE COUNTY - 10-10 (02.26)
2. PRINCE - Sex shooter (1983) (03.06)
3. BIG FREEDIA, DIPLO, DJ SNAKE - Drop (03.04)
4. SEAN PAUL (with Major Lazer) - Tip pon it (03.42)
5. Taylor SWIFT - You need to calm down (02.51)
6. Calvin HARRIS and RAG'N'BONE MAN - Giant (03.49)
7. KYGO and Whitney HOUSTON - Higher love (03.50)
8. MEGAN THEE STALLION (featuring Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign) - Hot girl summer (03.20)
9. POST MALONE (featuring Roddy Ricch and Tyga) - Wow (remix) (02.50)
10. Sam FELDT (featuring Rani) - Post Malone (02.56)
11. BON IVER - Hey, ma (03.37)
12. PET SHOP BOYS - What are we going to do about the rich? (03.04)
13. James BLAKE - Are you in love (03.18)
14. MAJOR LAZER (featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR and Nicki Minaj) - Run up (Big Fish remix) (03.26)
15. P!NK - (hey why) miss you sometime (03.23)
16. TYLER, THE CREATOR - I think (03.32)
17. Richard BUCKNER - Straight (02.17)
18. Herve PAGEZ and DIPLO (featuring Charli XCX) - Spicy (02.39)
19. Carly Rae JEPSEN - Too much (03.18)
20. POST MALONE - Circles (03.35)
21. Tom WALKER - Just you and I (R3HAB remix) (02.20)
22. Billie EILISH - Bad guy (03.14)
23. DJ KHALED (featuring Cardi B and 21 Savage) - Wish wish (03.22)
24. Lana DEL REY - Looking for America (02.45)
25. Calvin HARRIS and Sam SMITH - Promises (03.33)
26. SEAN PAUL (featuring Ellie Goulding) - Bad love (03.35)
27. MAJOR LAZER (with Anitta) - Make it hot (02.49)
28. MADONNA (featuring Anitta) - Faz gostoso (04.06)
29. DJ SNAKE, SEAN PAUL, ANITTA (featuring Tainy) - Fuego (03.17)
30. MAJOR LAZER (featuring Sean Paul) - Come on to me (03.34)
31. DAVE RAWLINGS MACHINE - Bells of Harlem (04.07)
32. WRABEL - 11 blocks (03.42)
33. WEEZER - No scrubs (03.10)
34. MAJOR LAZER (featuring Tove Lo) - Blow that smoke (03.43)
35. POST MALONE - Myself (02.38)
36. Aimee MANN - Goose snow cone (03.36)
37. Bruce SPRINGSTEEN - Tucson train (03.31)
38. Taylor SWIFT - The Man (03.10)
39. Bob MOULD - Sunny love song (03.01)
40. LIZZO - Juice (03.21)

ou can now explore other years' pop survey compilations and their respective liner notes and artwork by hovering over the artwork displayed to the left-- this will identify the year of the compilation of each corresponding image. Clicking on each image will take you to that year's dedicated page.

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