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Mark J Wray

@markjwray.com

130 followers 120 following 720 posts

Writes about music and sometimes other stuff at markjwray.com He/him

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Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · Jun 27

Haven’t written much recently, but here’s a double header of two songs I love (Hyperballad by Björk and Freak by LFO) that combined to make one of the greatest music moments of my life.

Hope you enjoy.

markjwray.com/2025/06/27/e...

Every Song I Love : 23. Björk – Hyperballad & 24. LFO – Freak

A double header of songs that I love, with Hyperballad by Bjork, and Freak by LFO, which for a glorious moment became one.

markjwray.com

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Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 6h

#TheTwen2ie5 - Day 10

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s, in reverse order

41
Cardi B (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
WAP
2020
USA

youtu.be/hsm4poTWjMs?...

Cardi B - WAP feat. Megan Thee Stallion [Official Music Video]

YouTube video by Cardi B

youtu.be

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 17h

Only just realised this should be 42

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 1d

#TheTwen2ie5 Day 9

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s in reverse order.

41
Beyoncé
16 Carriages
2024
USA

Overall, I prefer Renaissance to Cowboy Carter, but 16 Carriages is my favourite individual song from either record.

youtu.be/f6puVdKNvNI?...

Beyoncé - 16 CARRIAGES (Official Lyric Video)

YouTube video by BeyoncéVEVO

youtu.be

1 13

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 1d

“Going to Saudi Arabia is not endorsing a regime”

I mean, it kind of is, if you’re performing at a show funded by that regime.

I would also ask Omad Djalli whether he would have performed under the apartheid regime in South Africa

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I have been criticised for being part of the Riyadh comedy festival. This is why I did it | Omid Djalili

The headlines focus on money, but the gigs were great and I think there are different ways to achieve progress. Art, especially comedy, can be part of that, says stand-up comedian, Omid Djalili.

www.theguardian.com

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 2d

#TheTwen2ie5 Day 8

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s in reverse order

43
Kendrick Lamar
Not Like Us
2024
USA

Loses focus a little after the first couple of mins, which stops it being higher up my list, but still a great track as well as being one of the cultural moments of the decade.

Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

YouTube video by KendrickLamarVEVO

youtu.be

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 2d

I voted for it! Great track, and a new one to me

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 3d

She used to be in a grunge/punk band called Helen before she was famous (the bass player went to my school so saw them live a few times)

This one is very much going back to those roots.

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 3d

#TheTwen2ie5 - Day 7

My favourite 50 songs of the 2020s in reverse order

44
Lice, Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman
Ask Anyone
2021
USA

A slightly sentimental choice as it’s a tribute to MF DOOM who will be cropping up in my 00s & 10s lists no doubt, but also a great track in its own right.

Lice (Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman) - Ask Anyone (Official Audio)

YouTube video by Rhymesayers Entertainment

youtu.be

1 1 10

Reposted by Mark J Wray

Melissa Nadia Viviana @resistrebelrevolt.net · 3d

Pt1 🧵: Greta Thunberg deported to Athens says, "There's a live-streamed Genocide in front of our eyes in Gaza. No one will be able to say they didn't know this was happening. The Global Samud Flotilla only existed because our leaders failed. Our international systems are betraying Palestinians."

16 660 1.8K

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 3d

Lots of love for Aretha, Marvin & Stevie, but none of these particular songs are amongst my favourites of theirs, so my vote went to Sun Ra

Reposted by Mark J Wray

Peoples Pop Polls: Black Pop History 82-85 @peoples-pop-polls.bsky.social · 3d

OK let's do this! #BPHM8285 NEW POLL!

BLACK POP HISTORY 1982-1985

Hip-hop, pop, disco, post-disco, soul, electro, black rock, reggae, and a host of global musics, nominated and voted on by YOU

Vote in the matches, use your TWO bonus votes, deadline Friday!

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Black Pop 1982 Round 1 Part 1

Welcome to the Black Pop History 1982-1985 poll, where we're polling the best Black music of the early 80s to determine the ULTIMATE TRACK of that era. As usual with the Black Pop History polls I've ...

docs.google.com

4 13 30

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 4d

Whoops, should be #TheTwen2ie5 of course

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 4d

#TheTwen2ies - Day 6

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s in reverse order.

45
Adeline Hotel
Whodunnit
2024
USA

One of those songs that surprises me each time I hear it

youtu.be/AbVxn6M3MqI?...

Whodunnit

YouTube video by Adeline Hotel - Topic

youtu.be

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Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 5d

Didn’t make my list, but I am fond of this one

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Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 5d

#TheTwen2ie5 - Day 5

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s in reverse order.

46
U.S. Girls
Overtime
2020
USA

One of surprisingly many songs on my list released in the first 2 weeks of the decade, this is yet another U.S. Girls song where I don’t understand why it isn’t more well known.

U.S. Girls - Overtime (Official Video)

YouTube video by 4AD

youtu.be

Reposted by Mark J Wray

Helen 🏳️‍⚧️✊🏻💕 @mimmymum.bsky.social · 9d

🚨 Consultation survey launched on whether trans people should be able to access Hampstead Heath ladies' pond following Supreme Court ruling

The consultation is open until 12:00 on Tuesday 25th November 2025.

(Survey link in next post)
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...

Survey launched on trans access to Hampstead Heath ladies' pond

The ladies’ pond at Hampstead Heath currently admits biological women and transgender women

www.standard.co.uk

9 54 100

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 6d

#TheTwen2ie5 - Day 4

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s in reverse order.

47
Djrum
Codex
2024
UK

No-one else has been putting out such consistently good electronic music in the 2020s. Only difficulty was which track to choose.

youtu.be/u-RoduWI9Uc?...

Djrum - Codex [Houndstooth]

YouTube video by Houndstooth

youtu.be

Reposted by Mark J Wray

Sophie Molly @sophiemolly.co.uk · 9d

The Gender Critical have already inundated this survey with their disgusting views on banning trans people from using the ponds.

Would be a shame if we inundated with trans positive views on not banning trans people.

hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds.commonplace.is/en-GB/propos...

Public Consultation on Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds | Commonplace

hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds.commonplace.is

22 220 280

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 7d

Was close to making my list, maybe a HM

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Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 7d

Great song, I’m posting in reverse order but will definitely be appearing in November!

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 7d

#TheTwen2ie5 Day 3

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s, in reverse order.

48
Emily Breeze
Ordinary Life
2022
UK

youtu.be/bkmK4sAtnXw?...

EMILY BREEZE - ORDINARY LIFE

YouTube video by Emily Breeze

youtu.be

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 7d

We’ll be seeing her again in the 2010s, that’s for sure (at least on my list)

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Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 8d

Could well appear again in my tens

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 8d

Love this! Will also be appearing on my list

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Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 8d

#TheTwen2ie5 - Day 2

Rank - 49
James Holden
In The End You’ll Know
2023
UK

James Holden is a perpetually underrated artist (including by me!) and this is, I think, his finest track of all.

youtu.be/eHsqkhz4AOg?...

James Holden - In The End You'll Know

YouTube video by Border Community

youtu.be

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