We've already explored the best bits about 2017 so far, so let's look at some of the things that have let down the year.
Frank Ocean Cancelling Shows
We got super excited when Frank Ocean started getting announced on International festival lineups, thinking that this would be the end of his elusive behaviour but it didn't quite happen as expected. He cancelled his first three appearances and while he's done two years since then, the future, as always with Frank, is shaky. In even worse news, he's yet to announced any Oz tour dates and he owes us a visit after he bailed on Splendour In The Grass a few years ago.
The Chainsmokers' Debut Album
It's a brave move to call your album Memories...Do Not Open because the directive is right there in the title. "Do not open," is the advice that everyone should've taken because this is a real stinker of an album. In fact, it was so poor that it's not even fun to hate on The Chainsmokers anymore which was one of our favourite activities circa 2016.
Katy Perry's Bizarre Road To Witness
Where do you even start with Katy Perry's 2017? She entered the year having one of the most anticipated returns to the scene as one of the biggest popstars in the world and then it all came apart at the seams. She declared herself to be "woke" but then made racist jokes about Obama and got Migos, who made homophobic remarks earlier in the year, on one of her singles with it all culminating in chart flop after flop. None of the singles on the album reached number one which is pretty huge for an artist who once managed five of one album. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse she locked herself in a house for 72 hours and broadcast it online.
DJ Khaled's Relentless Shouting
DJ Khaled has had a great year. He's somehow managed to maintain the virality that stemmed from his amusing Snapchat and he nabbed huge artists for his Grateful singles. Still, we can't help but feel that I'm The One and Wild Thoughts would be far less infuriating without his incessant tags. It just feels like the novelty is wearing off a bit.
The Lack Of Females In The Charts
It's been a pretty bad year for diversity on the charts. Both here and in the US there's been a distinct lack of females in the upper-echelons of the charts, despite some incredible releases. Last week Rihanna broke a 12 week drought of females in the top 5 in the US. Here in Oz, we've only had two females reach the top of the albums charts (Kasey Chambers and Lorde) and zero on the singles chart (you could count Anne-Marie's feature on Clean Bandit's Rockabye). In the US, Halsey, Katy Perry and Lorde have all clocked number one albums (compared to 14 males) and on the singles chart there has been a grand total of zero female-led number ones. Lorde, SZA, Paramore, Charli XCX, Lady Gaga, Carly Rae Jepsen and HAIM are all very deserved of the attention, and that's just naming a very select few.
Lil Yachty Confusing A Cello For A Flute
Somehow Lil Yachty managed to release a single Peak-A-Boo that confused a cello for a flute with the line, "blow that dick like a cello". For anybody who has tried, it's impossible to blow on a cello and it turns out that he thought a cello was a woodwind instrument. Obviously, he was roasted for it and he responded by saying, "I thought Squidward played the cello. He don't. That's a flute." Yeah, Squidward actually plays the clarinet. Keeping digging that hole Yachty.
JAY-Z's TIDAL Exclusive
JAY-Z released his new album 4:44 on Friday, which is great, but the rollout of it was a little bit of a mess. First of all, he made it a TIDAL exclusive which immediately limits how many people can listen to it but then he added another step. If you weren't subscribed to the service before the album was released you couldn't listen to it unless you were a customer of US telecommunications company SPRINT. In an era where music is the most accessible it's ever been, this is just plain silly.
Chris Cornell's Death
We lost another legend this year, farewelling Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell. He took his life while in the midst of a Soundgarden tour leaving a gaping hole in rock 'n' roll. Soundgarden were one of the final lasting '90s grunge pioneers and his loss will be felt for decades to come.
Fergie Leaving The Black Eyed Peas
Ok, you're all going to say that Black Eyed Peas were better before Fergie joined and from a critical perspective, yes they were. But, weren't they so much funner when Fergie Ferg was around? Boom Boom Pow, Shut Up, Meet Me Halfway, My Humps - all modern pop masterpieces, and all made when Fergie was a part of the group. Now she's gone and, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.
Miley Cyrus Returning To Her Roots
Miley Cyrus' Bangerz era was a shitload of fun. She made huge pop hits and did ridiculous things which seemed to be more of an extension of her wild personality than a publicity stunt. But this year she decided to undo all her hard work by going back to her "roots" with a country-tinged snoozefest called Malibu. She then had the hide to say that she regretted Wrecking Ball. Don't say anymore Miley, you've already hurt us enough.
The Weeknd And Sia's Australian Tours Clashing
The Weeknd's debut Aussie tour and Sia's homecoming are two of the most anticipated tours this year but for Sydneysiders, they're going to be forced to choose. They're both playing huge shows on the same night making it impossible to see them both unless you go to other cities. Given how rare these tours are, it seems like a strange decision.
Justin Bieber Not Learning The Words To Despacito
If we had a number one hit, we'd learn it in 10 languages. Maybe Bieber is getting complacent though because he couldn't even be bothered to learn the Spanish to his number one remix of Despacito. He's replaced the Spanish with jibberish and appropriately copped a shoe to the stage when he said that he didn't know the words to it the other day. The rest of us have attempted to learn it, why can't you?
Harry Styles' Very Vague Interviews
When Harry Styles announced his solo venture this year, we expected juicy details. He'd been in a manicured boy band for the better part of five years so surely he had a lot of things to say but apparently not. His promo trail before his debut album consisted of vague answer after vague answer. It all culminated in a NY Times interview where Harry was pressed on what Sign Of The Times is about. "Several different things," he replied. When he was asked for specifics he said, "just the state of the world at the moment." Uh-huh.
Nikki Webster's 2017 Reboot Of Strawberry Kisses
If it ain't broke don't fix it. Strawberry Kisses is an early '00s classic and Nikki Webster attempted to undo all her hard work this year with a redo of the track featuring radio presenter and TV personality Sam Mac. The whole thing is a bloody disaster to put it bluntly. If anything, it made us go back and listen to the original, so we guess that's a good thing.
We Still Don't Have A New Nicki Minaj Album
"'Bout to drop an album, this is my fourth," Nicki Minaj rapped on Major Lazer's Run Up but months later we have zero new about an album. She released three singles at once, seeing her reunite with Drake and Lil Wayne but we're still not sure whether they will be on the album or not. In the meantime, she's guested on just about everyone else's songs from Katy Perry to Calvin Harris. C'mon Nicki, let's have it.
