So, here I am at the end of another year, and I feel like it’s zoomed by. It’s been a mix of highs and lows with most of the highs being film related, and social times with friends. And the lows have mostly been work related. (Though not bad lows, just that they were challenging times, rewarding in the end though.)
I’m not even sure how to really describe this year, so instead I will share with you my annual “Best Of…” lists.
So, here goes…
Best of 2021
NB: Any music/TV shows/films mentioned here may have been released in prior years, but this is based on whether I newly discovered them this year, or they have had a big impact on me this year.
Book of the year: Once Upon a Time in the North – Philip Pullman Being able to dig deeper into Lee Scoresby’s story was such a joy, such a moving piece of work within the His Dark Materials universe.
Album of the Year: Tick Tick Boom/Encanto These two albums tie for different reasons.
Creative of the Year: Lin-Manuel Miranda – does this even need an explanation?
Band of the Year: Simple Plan (just) – to be honest they would always be band of the year…
Song of the year: Shiver – Ed Sheeran – This song is just so darn catchy
Worship song of the year: Hope of the Ages – Hillsong Worship, Reuben Morgan, Cody Carnes – this song came out at just the right time.
Christian Song of the Year: Jesus is Coming Back – Jordan Feliz – Amen!
Soundtrack of the Year: Tick Tick Boom/Encanto – I can’t choose between them as they sing to me in different ways.
Christmas Song of the Year: Merry Christmas – Ed Sheeran & Elton John – this song is just so much fun
Most Anticipated Release of the Year: Tick Tick Boom/Spider-Man No Way Home – TTB for reasons & No Way Home because I love spider-man.
Concert of the year: Johnny Young, Normie Rowe & Narelle Belle (as Karen Carpenter) – 17.12.2021
Movie of the year: Tick Tick Boom
Runner Up: Encanto
Honourable Mentions: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Spider-Man: No Way Home
Movie Character of the year: Jonathan Larson
Actor of the Year: Andrew Garfield – for more reasons than one 😉
TV Show/Streaming Show of the year: The Falcon & The Winter Soldier/The Mandalorian/Home After Dark/Hawkeye
TV Character of the year: Hilde Lisko/Bucky Barnes/Mando
Sporting Moment: Sports was a thing?
Personal moments: Our new pastor and his family arrived safely in Perth at the end of November. I helped my bestie with her driving and she passed and got her Ps!
Memorable hashtags: #loveforLin #marlysinstaweek #adopteelife
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Top 25 songs of the year
1. Shiver – Ed Sheeran
2. 30/90 – Cast of Tick Tick Boom
3. My Own Drum (Remix) – Ynairaly Simo feat. Missy Elliott
4. The Antidote – Simple Plan
5. Carnaval Del Barrio – Cast of In The Heights Film
6. Bad Cinderella – ALW & Carrie Hope Fletcher
7. Hope of the Ages – Hillsong Worship, Reuben Morgan & Cody Carnes
8. Surface Pressure – Jessica Darrow
9. One Name (Ek Naam) – Selah
10. Undeniable – Josh Wilson
11. Keep the Beat – Lin-Manuel Miranda & Ynairaly Simo’
12. Jesus is Coming Back – Jordan Feliz
13. One More Song – Lin-Manuel Miranda
14. Louder Than Words – Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens & Joshua Henry
15. Running Out of Time – Cast of Vivo!
16. [wonder working] – All Creatures
17. Therapy – Andrew Garfield & Vanessa Hudgens
18. Weirdo – Beckett
19. The Family Madrigal – Stephanie Beatriz, Olga Merediz & Encanto Cast
20. House of the Lord – Phil Wickham
21. Visiting Hours – Ed Sheeran
22. Swimming – Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens & Joshua Henry
23. We Don’t Talk About Bruno – Encanto Cast
24. Scars in Heaven – Casting Crowns
25. Merry Christmas – Ed Sheeran & Elton John
Bonus: Save The City – Adam Pascal & The Cast of the Rogers! Musical from Hawkeye!
The books I’ve read this year
1. Re-read – His Dark Materials 1: Northern Lights – Philip Pullman [17.12.2020 – 9.01.2021]
2. Re-read – His Dark Materials 2: The Subtle Knife – Philip Pullman [9.01.2021-5.02.2021]
3. Re-read – His Dark Materials 3: The Amber Spyglass – Philip Pullman [21.03.2021]
4. Evangelism – J. Mack Stiles [3.04.2021-4.04.2021]
5. Science in Early Childhood [5.04.2021-25.04.2021]
6. How to read the Bible for all it’s worth [2.05.2021-8.05.2021]
7. Lyra’s Oxford – Philip Pullman [9.05.2021]
8. Once Upon a Time in the North – Philip Pullman [9.05.2021]
9. Spirits of the Ghan – Judy Nunn [18.05.2021-30.05.2021]
10. Bad Clowns – Benjamin Radford [4.06.2021-5.06.2021]
11. The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova [13.06.2021-2.07.2021]
12. Where is God in a Coronavirus World? – John Lennox [11.07.2021]
13. Killer Children – Danielle Tyning [17.07.2021]
14. Serial Killers – Nigel Blundell [17.07.2021-19.07.2021]
15. Narrative Apologetics – Alister E McGrath [30.07.2021-4.08.2021]
16. Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Joanna Weaver [5.08.2021-7.08.2021]
17. The Bible Down Under – Meredith Lake [21.09.2021]
18. Finding God in the Lord of the Rings – Kurt Bruner & Jim Ware [10.10.2021]
19. The Story of Son – JR Ward [23.10.2021]
20. Prisoner of Night – JR Ward [23.10.2021]
21. Live Like a Narnian – Joe Rigney [3.11.2021]
22. The Royal Society – Adrian Tinniswood [6.11.2021-14.11.2021]
23. Seeing Further – Bill Bryson [14.11.2021-27.12.2021]
24. The Dogs that Made Australia – Guy Hull [28.12.2021-]