Songs you slept on in 2017

Getting into the Top 40 isn't as easy as you'd think - and many a megstar has missed out. While we’re usually all about the songs that hit the top tier of the Official Singles Chart, some big tracks, for whatever reason, don’t quite make it.

Obviously, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad song. Sometimes an artist is just unlucky, the timing is off and the stars never quite align in the way they might have hoped.

We look back at some songs that you might be surprised missed the top flight. This one's on you, tbh – how could you?

Haim – Want You Back

Released: May
Chart peak: 56

We'd been eagerly awaiting new material from pop's coolest trio of sisters and I Want You Back didn't disappoint. Showcasing their trademark harmonies, super-catchy melodies and raw emotion, the track led off the band's sophomore album Something to Tell You. 

While the album reached Number 2, I Want You Back hovered round the lower reaches of the Official Singles Chart, but couldn't break through. 

MORE: Track the progress of all Haim's singles and albums in the archive

Bruno Mars – Versace on the Floor

Released: July 
Chart peak: 59

Bruno's silky tones? Romantic lyrics? Check. Following up two hits from 24k Magic, you'd think Versace on the Floor was a shoo-in for the Top 40. Alas, no.

A David Guetta remix – which gave the slow jam a disco edge very reminiscent of Michael Jackson's Rock With You – helped give the song some fresh attention, but in the end Bruno had to settle for watching from the middle of the Top 100 rather than being in the middle of it all.

Raye – The Line

Released: July 
Chart peak: 65

We have all paid our dues and spent time queuing for a club watching so-called "guest list" chancers strolling in ahead of us. Despite raising awareness of this very relatable issue, Raye's retro dance track The Line didn't make it past the velvet rope and into the Top 40.

Raye may have been turned away from the best club in pop on that occasion, but she did score her first Top 40 hit as a lead artist before the end of the year with Decline, so all's well that end's well.

Arcade Fire – Everything Now

Released: July 
Chart peak: 50

After a gap of almost four years, Arcade Fire returned with this sweeping, monumental track, which looked certain to end their 12-year drought of Top 40 singles – their last being Rebellion (Lies) in September 2005.

However, it was close but not close enough, and Everything Now had to make do with a Number 50 placing. Our hearts were heavy.

MORE: Arcade Fire's complete UK chart history

John Gibbons – P.Y.T.

Released: May 
Chart peak: 48

Hang on, surely this made the Top 40? It was everywhere! Nope, we checked, and this throbbing banger of a reworking of the Michael Jackson classic missed out on the top flight. Dance beats? MJ's lyrics? Soaring vocals? And yet no Top 40 placing? We're baffled. It did spend 12 weeks in the Top 100, though, which is more than many tracks manage.

Imagine Dragons – Believer

Released: February
Chart peak: 42

Despite being bold, brassy and undeniably banger-y, the lead single from the US band’s third album landed at Number 42 in its debut week back in February and again in July - argh!

It’s since spent 27 weeks in the Top 100, though it looks like it’s going to have to settle on just missing out on the top tier on this occasion. 

Lana Del Rey – Love

Released: February 
Chart peak: 41

Lana brought some much-needed love to the world when she unveiled the lead single from her upcoming album Lust For Life back in March. However, the love wasn’t reciprocated quite as strongly; the song entered at a frustrating 41 in its first week and slipped to 42 the following week. Sob.

MORE: Lana Del Rey's complete Official Chart history

Louisa Johnson – Best Behaviour

Released: March 
Chart peak: Number 48

Released back in March, Louisa’s third single Best Behaviour debuted just outside the Top 40, landing at 48. You might remember, it was the same week that every song from Ed Sheeran’s Divide album entered the Top 40.

The track hung around the Top 100 for another 12 weeks – in itself pretty impressive - though it never quite managed to sneak higher than its initial peak. We’re just throwing this out there, but we reckon this fizzy electro-pop banger would have cleaned up at Eurovision.

Kasabian – You’re In Love With A Psycho

Released: March
Chart peak: 62

The psychedelic rockers returned in March with what is possibly one of their most radio friendly songs in recent memory. But while You’re In Love With A Psycho went down well with critics and radio, it didn’t set the charts alight, topping out at Number 62.

Still, the song did its job on selling its parent album For Crying Out Loud, which went on to become their fifth Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart in May.

DJ Khaled ft. Beyonce & Jay Z – Shining

Released: February
Chart peak: 71

Proving big names on the bill doesn’t always equal chart smash, DJ Khaled’s megastar collaboration with the world’s ultimate power couple didn’t manage to break the Top 40, peaked at Number 71 in March this year and spent just two weeks in the Top 100.

One reason for this is likely to be because it was exclusive to Tidal for the first few weeks of its release, drastically limiting its chances of impacting the chart.

Sigrid – Don’t Kill My Vibe

Released: February
Chart peak: 62

Norwegian singer Sigrid has been the artist to watch since arriving on to the scene with Don’t Kill My Vibe in February. After a slow build, the song started to impact the Top 100 in May and peaked at 62 in early June. We've got a sneaking suspicion she's got plenty more bangers up her sleeve yet.

Sampha – (No One Knows Me) Like The Piano

Released: February
Chart peak: 92

Despite its heavy rotation on radio, the emotional trailer single for Sampha’s highly anticipated debut album didn’t take off in the charts, topping out at Number 92 in February. It didn’t harm his album though, which landed straight in the Top 10 at Number 7 later that month.

Stargate ft. Sia and Pink – Waterfall

Released: March
Chart peak: 47

On paper, this track should have been huge. Even if you’re aware of Stargate (makers of 30-plus huge hits over the last 18 years), Sia is proving unstoppable at turning out hits of late, and there’s a thirst for new music from Pink following an extended break after giving birth in December.

Still, the song never quite caught on in the way you might have expected, and topped out at  Number 47 in March. Possibly a case of too many cooks?

Dave & J Hus – Samantha

Released: January
Chart peak: 63

British rapper Dave teamed up with afrobeats star J Hus on this slow burner of a track back in January. It never climbed higher than its opening week debut at Number 63, though it’s since logged an impressive ten weeks in the Top 100, making it the third biggest selling single to miss the Top 40 so far this year.

Which songs do you think have been overlooked so far this year? Leave your comments below.