25 December 2011
Best Of Music 2011: TOP 100 SONGS (#1 - #20)
1) Adele - Rolling In The Deep [Video Link]
At only 22, Adele sings with the authority and sense of life experience of a 40 year old. When she wails, "We could have had it all...rolling in the deep," you feel every ounce of pain and loss with her. However, it is not a pain that has left her frail or defenseless. In fact, the entire song sounds as if she is gathering strength to do something about the pain, and the palpable feel of impending doom becomes chilling by the song's end.
Co-songwriter and producer Paul Epworth, who has worked recently with the likes of Cee Lo Green and Florence and the Machine, provides a perfect backdrop for Adele's vocals on "Rolling In the Deep." Martial beats, pounding piano chords, and chanting backing singers all seem to just gradually ratchet forward and follow the emotion in the lead line. A broken down handclapping bridge is positively spooky. I’m just proud to see her progress so far since the ‘Chasing Pavements’ days.
2) Lady Gaga - Born This Way [Video Link]
Musically, there would be no "Born This Way" without Madonna's "Express Yourself" and "Vogue." However, this is no copy or retread. It is Lady Gaga's music brought to the next obvious level, and she knows how to take us with her in a full hands in the air party frenzy.
"Born This Way" is filled with bumper sticker worthy slogans that do not feel kitschy or trite. "I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes." "Don't be a drag, just be a queen." "I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way!" True enough, these statements have swept into mainstream pop culture.
3) Adele - Someone Like You [Video Link]
The story of the failed relationship that inspired Adele's album 21 has been widely covered and publicized. She was in love with an older man age 30 and thought they would get married. However, that turned out to not be the case and they endured a bitter breakup. When she received the news that he was engaged to another woman, she wrote "Someone Like You." It is her attempt to write something positive in the wake of the breakup. There is the sound of some healing beginning here, but the song is also heartbreaking.
The piano melody is gorgeous and combined with Adele's heartfelt reading of her words, the effect is highly emotional. She apologizes for re-entering the life of the past love with hopes that she is not forgotten while wishing him all the best. Emotions are laid bare with some hope for true, lasting love in the future, but Adele sings that it will be in the arms of someone like the lover she lost.
4) Rihanna - We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) [Video Link]
'We Found Love' is a club-ready number that, courtesy of Scottish DJ/producer/singer Calvin Harris, remains a classy affair. RiRi does manage to forgo her boozy and bondage tendencies this time out. "We found love in a hopeless place," she admits wistfully over shimmering synths, before Harris cuts loose on the lyric-less, exhilarating chorus.
5) Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera - Moves Like Jagger [Video Link]
A song that pays homage to a musical legend is often labeled a cynical ploy for an easy hit; even more so when it's a duet by singers who front a reality show and haven't bothered the charts for a while. That said, when it involves the eye-pleasing Adam Levine and long-time diva Christina Aguilera honouring something as iconic yet frivolous as Mick Jagger's stage moves, it's hard not to be taken in.
It's even trickier when the song is this addictive. "Take me by the tongue and I'll know you/ Kiss me till you're drunk and I'll show you," Levine insists over a funky, finger-clicking bassline and an irresistible whistle hook that immediately burrows deep into the recesses of your brain. "If I share my secret/ You're gonna have to keep it," Xtina says on her short, sweet and perfectly-formed cameo.
6) Britney Spears - Till The World Ends [Video Link]
From the schoolgirl ensemble, to her darker, head shaving days, to her eventual rise back to the top, Britney has become an expert in keeping the pop world waiting with bated breath. The hawkish sirens and swizzling bassline production that opens ''Till The World Ends' unquestionably has Dr Luke written all over it. "Watch me move/ When I lose, I lose it hard," Britney asserts in seductive verses built around a ludicrously catchy chorus-chant. The result is her most uplifting, comfortable and confident number since 'Stronger', which, for longtime Britney fans, is the comeback we've all been waiting for.
7) Ed Sheeran - The A Team [Video Link]
In an age where a star is born in a matter of weeks, we were beginning to think that the traditional path to success of hard graft and persistence had been wiped out. Thankfully, Ed Sheeran proved otherwise with his first mainstream release, 'The A Team'. His intelligent lyrics and softer-than-cream-cheese vocals that set him apart from the pack. The true story of a homeless drug addict who will "go mad for a couple grams" and whose face is "crumbling like pastries", Sheeran's frank honesty and lump-in-the-throat-like emotion are weighted by a folky melody and off-kilter acoustics.
8) Nicki Minaj - Super Bass [Video Link]
"Super Bass" carries a light, breezy tone that makes it a perfect summer song. There is a jaunty, bouncing opening figure followed by extended rapping that shows off her vocal talents. However, it is when that chorus kicks in that "Super Bass" is lifted to the status of outstanding pop song. Minaj doesn't simply rap the words with rhythmic power. She manages to masterfully manipulate the mood and the meaning of the words through shifts in emphasis, intonation and phrasing.
9) Lady Gaga - Marry The Night [Video Link]
"That record is about my husband, New York," Lady Gaga declared when recently speaking about her new single 'Marry The Night'. It's no secret that Mother Monster has a loyal passion for her home city, so it was only a matter of time before she penned an ode to her one true love. "I'm gonna marry the night/ I won't give up on my life/ I'm a warrior queen, live passionately, tonight," GaGa calls out over a suitably grand introduction of deistic bells and rumbling techno synths. Defiant and epic, the track feeds into Gaga's cult-focused fan base like a prophet calling upon their disciples.
10) Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks [Video Link]
Songwriter, producer and band leader Mark Foster says that the words to "Pumped Up Kicks" were written to draw attention to gun violence among youth and Columbine style disasters. It only takes seconds for that nimble bass line to kick in which drives "Pumped Up Kicks" relentlessly forward. Then the talk box vocals join with a story about "Robert" and the gun he found in his dad's closet. Just when all is sounding ominous, the hand clapping chorus erupts. It sounds chirpy in a sun-drenched slacker style, but in those occasional gaps and spaces in the mix your mind goes back to the need to run "faster than my bullet." What can the listener really do except dance and sing along?
"Party Rock Anthem" comes complete with its own accompanying dance, the Melbourne shuffle, which has been a part of club culture since the 1980s but is experiencing a rebirth in popularity. The music video for "Party Rock Anthem" amusingly presents a world in which no one can seem to stop shuffling. This track is pure pop party music that took the world by storm in 2011.
First time out she was doing it like a dude. This time around, she's doing it like Natasha Bedingfield, albeit with a hipper guest rapper and more vocal charisma. Truth be told, 'Price Tag' does come off a little bit corny, but thanks in no small part to Jessie's spunky likability, it's still the best sun-dappled, midtempo head-nodder since Miley's 'Party In The USA' - a tune which she coincidentally had a hand in writing.
Jennifer Lopez recruited RedOne and Pitbull this time around for her first single on new label Island. Built around a 'Lambada' sample, 'On The Floor' is a Latin-tinged electro-housey party tune that can very well land itself on a Black Eyed Peas record. The result is the antithesis of classy, and while it may not be particularly original, it is one club stomper that has made the charts.
At its heart "The Edge of Glory" is a simple, straightforward rock power ballad with a major kick. There is a poignant story behind "The Edge of Glory" about Lady Gaga and her father coping with the impending death of her grandfather. Once again very personal life experiences have generated pop magic for Lady Gaga. She utilizes the power of classic rock via a big saxophone solo from the late Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
Earthy beats, hypnotising hooks and militant drums pound relentlessly as Queen B declares it's "GRLZ who run this mutha". The uber-trendy Major Lazer 'Pon De Floor' sample is free to roam as it sees fit, adding up to an aggressive, head-spinning and ferocious club stomper.
16) Coldplay - Paradise [Video Link]
The looping, hi-gloss beats and swooping strings certainly suggest that Coldplay has struck a fine balance between commercial success and critical acclaim, reminiscent of Timbaland and Ryan Tedder's 'Apologise'. The chant-along chorus and "para-para paradise" hook do a great job at filling large arenas.
17) Kelly Clarkson - Mr. Know It All [Video Link]
Kelly Clarkson remains uncompromised on 'Mr Know It All' - the lead single from her fifth studio set Stronger. It’s certainly not the standard Kelly album trailer; substituting fast 'n' furious rawk guitars for a weighty piano riff - though her sentiments remain the same. "You think that you know me/ That's why I'm leaving you lonely," she tells her pompous and puffed-up beau, before insisting: "You don't know a thing about me."
18) Florence & The Machine - Shake It Out [Video Link]
“Shake It Out” is like Florence Welch’s version of Katy Perry’s “Firework”; it’s an anthemic pop song, bursting with as much hope and positivity as it is with catchy hooks and danceable beats. The enormous tribal drums that have become a Florence staple are present in the production, as well as a tambourine and a pious organ for that massive, Godly effect. The vocals are the standout, though, with Flo delivering another truly astonishing performance.
19) P!nk - F***'in Perfect [Video Link]
With his recent smash hits working with Katy Perry and Britney Spears, it does look like Max Martin is the route to a mainstream manufactured sound. However, this song is more distinctly Pink than it is anything else. The lyrics of "F**kin' Perfect" insist that we all remember, even in the bad times, we are perfect. The point of the music video is to shake up viewers in order to force them to see a problem that needs to be addressed.
20) Katy Perry - E.T [Video Link]
"E.T." is a strong effort at showing some versatility. It is a more adult sound for both Perry and producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin. The metaphor of sex with an extra terrestrial is potent lyrically, and added verses by Kanye West add an interesting perspective turning the song into a tense duet about an intense sexual encounter.
21) Florence and the Machine - What The Water Gave Me
22) Bruno Mars - It Will Rain
23) David Guetta - Without You (feat. Usher)
24) Lady Gaga - Judas
25) Lady Gaga - You And I
26) Rihanna - California King Bed
27) Beyonce - Best Thing I Never Had
28) Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
29) Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (TGIF)
30) Bad Meets Evil - Lighters (feat. Bruno Mars)
31) Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me
32) Demi Lovato - Skyscraper
33) Florence And The Machine - No Light, No Light
34) Adele - Set Fire To The Rain
35) Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend
36) Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat (feat. Rizzle Kicks)
37) Will Young - Jealousy
38) Jessie J - Who You Are
39) Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts
40) Adele - Rumour Has It
41) Katy Perry - The One That Got Away
42) Britney Spears - I Wanna Go
43) Drake - Take Care (feat. Rihanna)
44) David Guetta - Titanium (feat. Sia)
45) Ed Sheeran - Lego House
46) Avril Lavigne - What The Hell
47) Nicki Minaj & Rihanna - Fly
48) Cobra Starship - You Make Me Feel… (feat. Sabi)
49) Coldplay - Every Teardrop is a Waterfall
50) Red Hot Chilli Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
51) Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me
52) Lana Del Rey - Video Games
53) Rihanna - S & M
54) Enrique Iglesias - I Like How It Feels (feat. Pitbull)
55) Birdy - Skinny Love
56) Snow Patrol - Called Out In The Dark
57) The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness
58) Foster The People - Helena Beat
59) Nicola Roberts - Beat Of My Drum
60) Adele - Turning Tables
61) LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It
62) Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That)
63) Gym Class Heroes (feat. Adam Levine) - Stereo Hearts
64) Cher Lloyd & Mike Posner - With Ur Love
65) Professor Green - Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sande)
66) The Wanted - Glad You Came
67) Avicii - Levels
68) Beyonce - Countdown
69) The Band Perry - If I Die Young
70) Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing's Real But Love
71) James Morrison feat. Jessie J - Up
72) The Black Keys - Lonely Boy
73) Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)
74) M83 - Midnight City
75) Rye Rye - Never Will Be Mine (feat. Robyn)
76) Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know
77) Marina & The Diamonds - Radioactive
78) Lykke Li - Get Some
79) Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist
80) Rachel Yamagata - Starlight
81) Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer)
82) Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey)
83) Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
84) Kanye West & Jay-Z - Otis
85) Kelly Rowland - Down For Whatever
86) Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - The Lady Is A Tramp
87) Leona Lewis - Collide
88) Radiohead - Lotus Flower
89) Britney Spears - Criminal
90) James Morisson - I Won't Let You Go
91) Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
92) Example - Stay Awake
93) The Saturdays - My Heart Takes Over
94) Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
95) Feist - How Come You Never Go There
96) Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten
97) Birdy - People Help The People
98) Matt Cardle - Starlight
99) Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
100) Bjork - Crystalline
Labels: Best Of Music 2011
24 December 2011
Best Of Music 2011: TOP 100 SONGS (#21 - #40)
Taking the title from a surrealist painting by Frida Kahlo and lyrical inspiration from the suicide of Virginia Woolf (‘pockets full of stones’), Florence Welch delivers ethereal vocals and the ghost of British folk-rock with such soulful power. Her chosen collaborators are Eg White on songwriting (Chasing Pavements) and Paul Epworth on production (Rolling In The Deep).
Bruno Mars plaintively requests, "If you ever leave me baby, leave some morphine at my door..." Clearly, he is talking about true romantic pain here. He touches on the concept that it will rain every single day if a treasured relationship comes to an end. This may not be his most emotional piece (Grenade), but should be a huge pop single from the Twilight OST.
Usher has the flair of selling both romantic balladry and uptempo dance music in one, and he does it best on this track. Other than this track and ‘Titanium’ however, the songs from Guetta’s sophomore album ‘Nothing But The Beat’ are starting to feel more like production numbers from a star-studded TV special instead of like someone was concentrating on creating a truly memorable, durable pop record.
It takes a lot to be offended by a song before you've even heard it, but such was the case among Christian extremists when Lady Gaga released the lyrics to 'Judas' a couple of months ago. Proclaiming her love for a man who betrayed one of the world's most iconic religious figures was undoubtedly risky, but rather than gasping in dismay, what was produced was a RedOne-helmed, 'Bad Romance'-style sledge hammering beat with a sick bassline.
Opening with gentle acoustic strumming, ‘California King Bed’ tells the heart-wrenching story of the demise of a once-great relationship. Though ‘California King Bed’ follows a routine pop ballad arrangement, the song is a nice change of pace for the Barbadian hitmaker. As much as we love Rihanna’s dance club hits, it’s refreshing to hear a song built around her impressive voice.
This is the Beyonce millions of fans the world over loved when they made "Irreplaceable" and "Halo" into mega-hits. She is the powerful woman assertive in words but with a softer, distinctively feminine side represented by the beautiful piano accompaniment. Babyface lends his songwriting talents here, while Symbolyc One, producer behind Kanye West’s ‘Power’, works on production.
Bruno Mars is clearly a man of many musical moods. His first hit "Just the Way You Are" was a sweet, almost fawning, love tribute. He followed that with "Grenade," one of the most direct and cutting break-up songs in recent memory. Now he backs away from any relationship concerns to relax with friends and celebrate a day of leisure.
The unmistakable musical stamps of producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin are all over this song. Musically, it is relentlessly perky and upbeat, and there is a dose of cheerleader rock in the bridge that leads into a saxophone solo and a reprise of the chorus. She has some clever lyrics in this too, whether it is mentioning Ke$ha's ever-present glitter or detailing just what a mess the Friday night was, if only it could really be remembered.
31) Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me [Video Link]
The current fashionable trend among top female solo pop singers is the uplifting self-esteem anthem. Katy Perry's "Firework," Pink's "Raise Your Glass," and even Ke$ha's "We R Who We R" all fall firmly in that category. However, Britney stays true to herself and doesn’t jump on the bandwagon, for "Hold It Against Me" is purely about lust and seduction on the dance floor. There is also a thrilling dub step breakdown that takes us all straight into a contemporary, progressive dance club.
32) Demi Lovato - Skyscraper [Video Link]
"Skyscraper" is a complete change of pace from the current dominance of upbeat party tunes on the pop music landscape. This is a song of survival in the face of events that amount to efforts to "tear me down." However, the audio pictures painted by words like "You can break everything I am / Like I'm made of glass," coupled with Demi Lovato's bravura vocal performance, turn this into something truly special.
33) Florence & The Machine - No Light, No Light [Video Link]
On "No Light, No Light," Florence + the Machine exudes strength through pulsating tribal drums, a choir-led chorus, and a brash bridge of electronica. A dramatic opening note on the single ushers in a drum crescendo, followed by a "Like A Prayer"-style interlude. Lyrically, Florence Welch is on her knees, begging her lover not to go and poignantly declaring, "It's so easy to say it to a crowd, but it's so hard, my love, to say it to you out loud."
34) Adele - Set Fire To The Rain [Video Link]
"It was dark and I was over/ Until you kissed my lips and saved me," Adele admits over a gloomy piano riff, before launching into a hands-in-the-air chorus. "I set fire to the rain/ and I threw us into the flames," she belts with growly vocals against cinematic strings. Rounding out with a suitably breathtaking blast from her impressive pipes and the result is classic.
35) Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend [Video Link]
"Call Your Girlfriend" is deceptively simple, a buzzing rhythm, a few of banks of synths, a killer chord change, and Robyn sagely dishing out breakup advice to her new boyfriend. Unlike on other breakup tracks, nothing is truly ending on "Call Your Girlfriend", it's only changing, and with Robyn as the observer gently guiding each party into a hopeful tomorrow.
36) Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat (feat. Rizzle Kicks) [Video Link]
"I don't wanna go home/ Cause when you hold me like this/ You know my heart skips, skips a beat," Murs confesses over a ska-flecked melody, reggae beats and the cheeky vocal twang that grabbed Simon Cowell's attention first time out - while a skit from street-rapping duo Rizzle Kicks ensures the whole thing remains child and chart-friendly.
37) Will Young - Jealousy [Video Link]
"It feels like jealousy/ And it feels like I can't breathe," he confesses over a sad-pop disco beat and rousing piano chords helmed by electro-pop connoisseur Richard X. The tale of lusting for an otherwise engaged man, things steadily crescendo by the final chorus with a stirring, growly vocal as he laments: "I'm tired of waiting/ I'm tired of thinking".
38) Jessie J - Who You Are [Video Link]
Jessie J has an amazing voice, but unfortunately she suffers from the Aguilera Syndrome - she is an over singer. However, it worked for her in ‘Who You Are’. The ballad is very inspirational as she sings “Don’t lose who you are/In the blur of the stars/Seeing is deceiving/Dreaming is believing/It’s ok not to be okay” and she begs for the person she is singing to not to lose who they are and just be true to who you are.
39) Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts [Video Link]
"Jar of Hearts" is an autobiographical song for Christina Perri, recalling an ex-boyfriend who wanted to reconnect after a tough breakup, and the pain of that struggle comes across loud and clear from the opening line, "No I can't take one more step towards you / cause all that's waiting is regret." There have been countless "you did me wrong" songs through the history of pop music, but identifying a serial dater as a collector of broken hearts is one of the more unique ways of displaying both hurt and frustration.
40) Adele - Rumour Has It [Video Link]
This is the vengeful, pounding flip side of "Rolling in the Deep": Adele steals her man back from the other woman, then dumps him just for laughs, over the perfect number of funky hand claps.
41) Katy Perry - The One That Got Away
42) Britney Spears - I Wanna Go
43) Drake - Take Care (feat. Rihanna)
44) David Guetta - Titanium (feat. Sia)
45) Ed Sheeran - Lego House
46) Avril Lavigne - What The Hell
47) Nicki Minaj & Rihanna - Fly
48) Cobra Starship - You Make Me Feel… (feat. Sabi)
49) Coldplay - Every Teardrop is a Waterfall
50) Red Hot Chilli Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
51) Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me
52) Lana Del Rey - Video Games
53) Rihanna - S & M
54) Enrique Iglesias - I Like How It Feels (feat. Pitbull)
55) Birdy - Skinny Love
56) Snow Patrol - Called Out In The Dark
57) The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness
58) Foster The People - Helena Beat
59) Nicola Roberts - Beat Of My Drum
60) Adele - Turning Tables
61) LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It
62) Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That)
63) Gym Class Heroes (feat. Adam Levine) - Stereo Hearts
64) Cher Lloyd & Mike Posner - With Ur Love
65) Professor Green - Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sande)
66) The Wanted - Glad You Came
67) Avicii - Levels
68) Beyonce - Countdown
69) The Band Perry - If I Die Young
70) Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing's Real But Love
71) James Morrison feat. Jessie J - Up
72) The Black Keys - Lonely Boy
73) Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)
74) M83 - Midnight City
75) Rye Rye - Never Will Be Mine (feat. Robyn)
76) Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know
77) Marina & The Diamonds - Radioactive
78) Lykke Li - Get Some
79) Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist
80) Rachel Yamagata - Starlight
81) Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer)
82) Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey)
83) Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
84) Kanye West & Jay-Z - Otis
85) Kelly Rowland - Down For Whatever
86) Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - The Lady Is A Tramp
87) Leona Lewis - Collide
88) Radiohead - Lotus Flower
89) Britney Spears - Criminal
90) James Morisson - I Won't Let You Go
91) Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
92) Example - Stay Awake
93) The Saturdays - My Heart Takes Over
94) Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
95) Feist - How Come You Never Go There
96) Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten
97) Birdy - People Help The People
98) Matt Cardle - Starlight
99) Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
100) Bjork - Crystalline
Labels: Best Of Music 2011
23 December 2011
Best of Music 2011: The Winners
Winner: Adele - 21
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Best New Artist
Winner: Ed Sheeran
Anna Calvi
Foster The People
James Blake
Jessie J
Nicola Roberts
Best Male Artist
Winner: Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Enrique Iglesias
Example
James Morrison
Best Female Artist
Winner: Lady Gaga
Adele
Beyonce
Britney Spears
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Best Male Pop Vocal
Winner: James Morrison - I Won't Let You Go
Bruno Mars - It Will Rain
David Cook - The Last Goodbye
Ed Sheeran - The A Team
Will Young - Jealousy
Best Female Pop Vocal
Winner: Adele - Someone Like You
Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts
Demi Lovato - Skyscraper
Jessie J - Who You Are
Lana Del Rey - Video Games
P!nk - F***in' Perfect
Best Rock Song
Winner: Coldplay - Paradise
Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten
Paramore - Monster
Radiohead - Lotus Flower
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness
Best Alternative Song
Winner: Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out
Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist
Florence & The Machine - What The Water Gave Me
Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks
M83 - Midnight City
Rachael Yamagata - Starlight
Best Dance Recording
Winner: Rihanna - We Found Love
Beyonce - Run The World (Girls)
Britney Spears - Till The World Ends
Jennifer Lopez - On The Floor
Lady Gaga - Judas
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
Winner: Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera - Moves Like Jagger
Cher Lloyd & Mike Posner - With Ur Love
Cobra Starship & Sabi - You Make Me Feel...
Coldplay & Rihanna - Princess of China
James Morrison & Jessie J - Up
Nicki Minaj & Rihanna - Fly
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Winner: Bad Meets Evil - Lighters (feat. Bruno Mars)
David Guetta - Where Them Girls At (feat. Nicki Minaj & Flo Rida)
Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey)
Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayer)
Professor Green - Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sande)
Rye Rye - Never Will Be Mine (feat. Robyn)
Labels: Best Of Music 2011: The Nominees
2012: Soundmunches #2
Lana Del Rey - Off To The Races
Jessie J - Domino
Sunday Girl - Where Is My Mind
Lady Gaga - Stuck On Fuckin' You
Britney Spears - Strangest Love
Nicki Minaj - Stupid Hoe
Labels: 2012 Soundmunches
X Factor US: Live Finals Results
Melanie Amaro - All I Want For Christmas Is You
Chris Rene - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Josh Krajcik - Please Come Home Tonight
Justin Bieber and Drew - 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'
Leona Lewis - 'Run'
50 Cent & Astro - 'Wait Until Tonight' & 'In Da Club'
Pitbull & Ne-Yo & Marcus Canty - 'Give Me Everything' & 'International Love'
3rd place: Chris Rene
Melanie Amaro & Josh Krajcik - Heroes
Winner of X Factor US Announced!
Labels: X Factor (US)
22 December 2011
US X Factor (Live Finals #1)
W.I.N. Totally win. Epic. A++
Chris Rene - 'Young Homie' (Original Composition)
Performing this for the third time definitely doesn't help showcase his versatility, but I appreciate how this song narrates his life story, and his journey in this competition. He's vocally at his best here too, and this might miraculously tide him through to the Final Two. A
Josh Krajcik - 'At Last' by Etta James
This was by far his best performance. He did his own thing, stayed true to himself, and delivered a passionate piece. A
Melanie Amaro & R. Kelly - 'I Believe I Can Fly'
Of all duets, this was the only one that made sense, and put the contestant at an advantage. She wasn't at an advantage though, when the key was more suited to fit his range. This was what I call a Grand Final performance. A-
Josh Krajcik & Alanis Morissette - 'Uninvited'
So damn ecstatic when Alanis appeared onstage. Josh fumbled at 2:46, and he totally lacked chemistry with her. Her album's out next summer YAY! To be honest, I was more excited for her than Josh. B+
Chris Rene & Avril Lavigne - 'Complicated'
I anticipated this to be a major disaster. Once again, I love the guest star ten times more than the participant, so I was rather frustrated with Chris destroying the first few verses of the song in front of the original artist. B
Labels: X Factor (US)
2012: Soundmunches #1
Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf
Dry The River - Weights & Measures
Willy Moon - I Wanna Be Your Man
The Vaccines - Norgaard
Mona - Shooting The Moon
SBTRKT - Wildfire
Bombay Bicycle Club - Leave It
Adam Lambert - Better Than I Know Myself
Willow Smith - Fireball (feat. Nicki Minaj)
Noah & The Whale - Give It All Back
Javier Colon - As Long As We Got Love
Ren Harvieu - Through The Night
Lianne La Havas - No Room For Doubt (feat. Willy Mason)
Labels: 2012 Soundmunches
21 December 2011
X Factor US (Semi-Finals Results)
Total Cher Lloyd rip-off.
Florence & The Machine - Spectrum
Nicole Scherzinger - Pretty
One's amazing, one's a disaster.
Top 4 Results (Part I & II)
Contestants discuss their favourite and least favourite performances
Final Contestant Interviews: Chris Rene, Melanie Amaro, Josh Krajcik
Labels: X Factor (US)
Survivor: South Pacific (Season Finale)
The final redemption duel was a showdown between Ozzy and Brandon. The duel is just about holding onto a pole, and whoever stays on it longer wins.
OZZY WINS THE FINAL DUEL. Christine won the first five duels and Ozzy won the last six.
Coach claims he wants to take Ozzy to the end and will try his hardest to protect him. Ozzy wants to take Coach to the end, mostly because Ozzy knows he'll beat anyone at the end. For that same reason, Ozzy is very suspicious of Coach's honesty about wanting to keep him.
The First Immunity Challenge: They must balance a board with one arm while building a huge house of cards with the other.
The First Tribal Council: Ozzy clearly loves his position. Rick becomes the target because Coach delivers the most ridiculous theory ever that Rick is the biggest threat to win the game. I don't get how that is possible. I don't think the members of the jury even know who Rick is. Meanwhile, Ozzy correctly points out that Sophie is the sleeper threat, and she really showed her true colors during this latest challenge.
Sophie's argument is that she's the best competitor while Ricks argument is that he's worthless. Doesn't surprise anyone that Rick was voted out. Rick also makes it clear he has no respect for Coach and won't vote for him to win since he now thinks the honesty and integrity stuff is nonsense.
The Final Immunity Challenge: Ozzy's only strategy is to win the last challenge to make the finale. He admits he has no back-up plans. The last challenge is a giant obstacle course where they need to grab five puzzle bags and then put it together. Ozzy takes an early lead and never gives it up during the first part. But when it comes to the puzzles, Sophie steps it up.
SOPHIE WINS IMMUNITY.
She beat three athletic guys and this marks her third individual immunity win. At this point, the million dollar prize is pretty much hers.
The Final Tribal Council: Well, Ozzy's plan didn't work out, and since his only real plan was winning immunity, he's screwed and he knows it. Coach even dubs Sophie the new Dragon Slayer, since Ozzy was the dragon.
OZZY IS VOTED OUT.
Albert has no chance of winning, so it's just between Coach and Sophie, and they agree with me, except Albert who is delusional because he thinks he truly deserves to win.
The Jury
Albert's Opening Statement: He plays up the "social experiment" angle and panders to Brandon by talking about how a higher power brought them all together on the island.
Sophie's Opening Statement: She explains that she outplayed in challenges and outwitted with her alliance and social game. Now that's a speech to win Survivor.
Coach's Opening Statement: He talks about compassion and respect and plays up the concept of redemption and family.
Ozzy's Question: He calls Sophie a privileged, pretentious brat and Albert a useless and lucky guy. He essentially says Coach deserves to win just because they're both returning players. Coach then explains that he's sad he had to break his word at times.
Jim's Question: He wants to know why Coach and Sophie don't deserve to win, and Albert loses him immediately by throwing Jim a suck-up compliment. Albert's only argument is that he made stronger bonds to the jury.
Dawn's Question: She wants to know why Sophie chose to be in her alliance, and she explains that she chose to work with Coach because he's like a young girl who cares less about the game and more about integrity.
Rick's Question: He gets Coach to apologize for stabbing him in the back. He also points out that Albert's using God to get Brandon's immunity necklace was B.S.
Brandon's Question: Like Rick, he wants to know why Coach voted against him even though he swore on God that he wouldn't. Then he demands a "Yes or No" answer from Albert about whether he knew Brandon was going home. Albert obfuscates a lot until weakly saying "No."
Whitney's Question: Albert is sleazy, Coach used Christianity to instill fear and Sophie was condescending. Sophie explains that her stand-offishness is just how she is.
Edna's Question: She points out that using religion to manipulate and dupe people is as old as time, so no one should be surprised. Love her to bits.
Keith's Question: He wants to know if Coach had any intention of using his immunity idol. Sophie uses the opportunity to reveal the truth about how they staged the discovery of the idol, totally throwing Coach under the bus to Brandon.
Cochran's Question: He's the typical fanboy for Coach, except for the fact that all his talk of "honor" is just a big, fat lie. Coach tries to escape doing bad things all season under the guise of honor by apologizing. He pretty much says he's no good at this game.
Final Verdict:
SOPHIE CLARKE WINS!
She totally deserves it. She flew under the radar but still played hard, won more individual immunity challenges than anyone and did a great job.
Labels: Survivor
15 December 2011
Best of Music 2011: TOP 100 SONGS (#41 - #60)
41) Katy Perry - The One That Got Away [Video Link]
42) Britney Spears - I Wanna Go [Video Link]
43) Drake - Take Care (feat. Rihanna) [Video Link]
44) David Guetta - Titanium (feat. Sia) [Video Link]
45) Ed Sheeran - Lego House [Video Link]
46) Avril Lavigne - What The Hell [Video Link]
47) Nicki Minaj & Rihanna - Fly [Video Link]
48) Cobra Starship - You Make Me Feel... (feat. Sabi) [Video Link]
49) Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall [Video Link]
50) Red Hot Chilli Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie [Video Link]
51) Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me [Video Link]
52) Lana Del Rey - Video Games [Video Link]
53) Rihanna - S & M [Video Link]
54) Enrique Iglesias - I Like How It Feels (feat. Pitbull) [Video Link]
55) Birdy - Skinny Love [Video Link]
56) Snow Patrol - Called Out In The Dark [Video Link]
57) The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness [Video Link]
58) Foster The People - Helena Beat [Video Link]
59) Nicola Roberts - Beat Of My Drum [Video Link]
60) Adele - Turning Tables [Video Link]
Archives
61) LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It
62) Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That)
63) Gym Class Heroes (feat. Adam Levine) - Stereo Hearts
64) Cher Lloyd & Mike Posner - With Ur Love
65) Professor Green - Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sande)
66) The Wanted - Glad You Came
67) Avicii - Levels
68) Beyonce - Countdown
69) The Band Perry - If I Die Young
70) Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing's Real But Love
71) James Morrison feat. Jessie J - Up
72) The Black Keys - Lonely Boy
73) Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)
74) M83 - Midnight City
75) Rye Rye - Never Will Be Mine (feat. Robyn)
76) Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know
77) Marina & The Diamonds - Radioactive
78) Lykke Li - Get Some
79) Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist
80) Rachel Yamagata - Starlight
81) Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer)
82) Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey)
83) Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
84) Kanye West & Jay-Z - Otis
85) Kelly Rowland - Down For Whatever
86) Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - The Lady Is A Tramp
87) Leona Lewis - Collide
88) Radiohead - Lotus Flower
89) Britney Spears - Criminal
90) James Morisson - I Won't Let You Go
91) Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
92) Example - Stay Awake
93) The Saturdays - My Heart Takes Over
94) Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
95) Feist - How Come You Never Go There
96) Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten
97) Birdy - People Help The People
98) Matt Cardle - Starlight
99) Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
100) Bjork - Crystalline
Labels: Best Of Music 2011
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