December 20, 201113 yr Author 24-01-03-10-25-32 The next of my number 1s to crop up, it's another one I was rather brash about assigning. But no, I don't regret it. I was obsessed with it for 1 week back in March, and I really didn't like it missing the top 30 in the UK. It's going quite close up against Take It Off for my favourite Kesha single. The track sounds really epic for Kesha, and I believe this is her at the top of her game, and I enjoy all 3 and a half minutes of the trashpop glory. 25-10-11-17-30-45 Speaking of trashpop... :P Oh, I went there. Shame on me. Seriously though, I really like this, it may not have hung around long, but it was the first Britney I put into the top 10 on my chart. I'm quite annoyed that the best singles from Femme Fatale are the ones which really flopped though, the rule of Femme Fatale is that they got better as they went on (as long as n 168. Rihanna - Love The Way You Lie Pt 2 04-04-05-05-08-15-25-26-32-33-45-50 Something from the beginning of the year here. I only put it this low because of arbitrary reasons, it's a beautiful followup to LTWYL, I don't quite prefer it to the original, but it's pretty damn emotional, and was one of my original highlights on Loud. Expect to see more tracks from Loud appearing soon, I put album tracks from Loud in this year (with the exception of Only Girl and What's My Name), just like I'll put album tracks from Talk That Talk in next year (w/ exception of We Found Love) I make exceptions for Rihanna. Anyway, beautiful from Rihanna there. Deserves that chart run. 21-31 A casualty from the messed up days of my chart early this year, Tinchy has a rather good hip-hop track here, with Melanie Fiona providing a stomper of a chorus. I feel it's underrated by many, even though it's rather generic, I liked it, in fact, I liked the whole Third Strike era in general, shame it flopped. That reminds me, there's a track with Alexis Jordan on that album that I haven't heard because it's NOT ON THE INTERNET ANYWHERE. I would really like to hear it in full, I've heard clips of it, but haven't managed to find the whole thing. Maybe I'll have to cherrypick it from iTunes. 48 One of the highlights of All Things Bright And Beautiful, I didn't chart it much, but it's a brilliant duet with Lights that is infectious and epic, as I've come to expect from Owl City. Expect to see quite a bit more of him as we move up. 19-06-05-04-01-04-08-13-26 Another entry, another #1 failing in the year-end chart. I only put it at #1 that week, as I recall, because I had no other strong options. So if I did sales, it would have had the lowest sales at the top all year. It's a fairly good RnB song, though. I don't find it generic, the build up to the chorus is rather epic, and the effects on it are rather good. I'm quite pleased that it's Loick's biggest hit, everything else I've heard from him has been utter trash, and really generic. I don't think it deserved that many weeks top 10 though in retrospect. 18-17-15-18-29-43 Ok, it's a bit generic, but it's FUN! The beat is so infectious, and the whole song is rather glorious. It's one of my chart runs I'm more proud of, shows a song I like doesn't necessarily have to go top 10. Reminder to self to get The Sea asap. The best Melanie C song this year for me. 163. Kirsty vs Igor Blaska - Green 32-24-25-42-50 An incredibly interesting track, that continued to grow on me after being entered to BJSC. The contrast of the indie vocals from Kirsty, the rhythmic rapping from Igor Blaska, and the beat make this a song I have to bob along to AND get a bit emotional to. It's like two songs in that respect, and I love it. 13-24 (still charting) A rather infectious, airy track from the tail end of the year, I really quite love this, Katie's vocals sound quite unique, the song is uplifting, and it shouldn't feel epic given the tweeness of the subject matter, but it does. 30-36-40-40-39-47-50 A little bit of a disappointment for me, I love Shakira normally, but I struggled to get on board with it, catchy as it is, it's nowhere near the standard of Don't Bother, Hips Don't Lie, Whenever, Wherever, Waka Waka, or any number of Shakira classics. It didn't help that she never got round to releasing it in the UK either. Still a rather enjoyable song, I kept it in for a long while, despite entering it low.
December 20, 201113 yr Rather weird considering some of the long charting songs are charting lower than songs which did considerably worse than the former :o
December 21, 201113 yr Author Rather weird considering some of the long charting songs are charting lower than songs which did considerably worse than the former :o It's unpredictable that way, I didn't take any notice of the chart runs, and just ranked everything that I'd entered in my chart and a few besides. Some I didn't chart enough, so this is redemption of a sort, some I charted for too long... 160a. Brittany McDonald - Strawberry Shake 25-39 (late charting) A 160a, because I hadn't put this in here, when I should have, and it was this miraculously qualifying for TBO that reminded me. It's a ridiculously catchy as hell pop song, with a really strong chorus, that I really like. Even the lyrics are pleasant, intriguing, a little sugary sweet, but on the funny side of that, congratulations gooddelta. 'Let's go somewhere they can't find us...' 48 Bah at that chart run! Stereo Hearts really grew on me on the weeks that it dropped through the official chart, it has some really clever rapping from Travie, it's this year's Billionaire, and while it's not as great, Adam Levine does a great job on the chorus, it's a great team effort from the both of them. Eyes' end of year chart, invalidating his weekly chart's decisions. :lol: 05-08-27 My first entry to BJSC, and one I still stand by, it was either that or Sojo - I Remember, and I think the latter is rather generic. It might have done better in the contest, and maybe I'd be without a DNQ, but I prefer this one. Middle And Between is a rousing example of Finnish rock that I'd encourage everyone to listen to, it's quite euphoric, epic, and fully undeserving of such a quick chart run. It regrew on me once I'd gotten over failing with it. Very glad I entered it though, and I really hope it gets through in the Rejects. 13-19-38 Another rather messed up chart run. Tonight would have definitely gone top ten had I'd been on top of my chart when it was released. I have good memories of it being played prominently at one of the best parties of my life. It's an amazing song from Enrique, not as great as I Like It or Heartbeat, the whole Euphoria era kind of went on a downward slope after this, but I'm pleased it managed to get as much success as it did, it's generic, but catchy, and with a little bit of balls. 07-17-24-33-15-22-26-32-43 A single from an artist I absolutely love, I thought this was actually a strong choice of second single, the only choice I could see on Goodbye Lullaby actually. So I was actually really surprised when it flopped. Push and Wish You Were Here have absolutely nothing on this, it's inspiring, fun and with the same amount of emotion that Avril puts into her more serious songs, which are almost always her best. I'm quite proud of the stabilisation this had in my chart, that would have been with the BGT performance, shame it didn't impact on anyone else... 12-23-36 (still charting) An absolutely soulful and wonderful song from the last BJSC. To say I was a bit devastated when this flopped.. well, I was a bit devastated. It deserved so much than that. The best bit is the last 'We are a pack of cards', it feels so.. otherworldly, but with emotion. I'm not sure how well it'll do moving ahead, but I do really like this. 44-27-22-23-29-38-41 The last single from This Modern Glitch that I bothered charting, I was quite surprised at the amount of backing this has had in the media (as in, I've heard it in a Doctor Who episode and a TV advert, and for a #60 hit...). It never really clicked with me like Jump Into The Fog or Tokyo did, and as such, never went top 20 for me. It's still one of the better tracks on This Modern Glitch, so I still rather like it. If I was to call a Wombats single generic, though, this would be the one. 30-28-41-40-43-x-38-45 No, All About Tonight will NOT be appearing. Overplay killed THAT 'thing' for me long ago. What Do You Take Me For is a career highlight for Pixie in terms of quality, it's actually quite interesting, and as such, lasted a while in my chart, despite a low peak. Not quite my favourite single of hers, she's ridiculously generic and I'm not a huge fan, but it's up there (probably behind Broken Arrow and Cry Me Out only). 153. Drake ft. Rihanna - Take Care 16-11-07 (still charting) Drake is very popular with the public, isn't he? I heard people playing this even before it made it's foray into the official charts. It's a real grower though, I didn't appreciate it until about last week or so. Now, it's really infectious, and in the process, moved up quite a bit on these rankings, almost into the top 150. Rihanna makes this song, but so do the backing vocals. My favourite with Drake as the lead artist easily, I do rather like Find Your Love though. 25-35-41 A track that has been everywhere in real life for me. I'm not the biggest fan of Mr Murs, but I can't deny this, it's a brilliant pop song through and through. I also rather enjoy Rizzle Kicks on their verse, expect to see them a bit further up. Even Dance With Me Tonight isn't too bad, ok, I do rather like his songs. Heart Skips A Beat is his second best song ever, and like I said, everyone I know knows it, and September time, I really couldn't go a day without hearing it. What's remarkable is that I never got that sick of it, so it deserveth better than that chart run. 10-12-16-24-33-47 Another act I profess not to like, mainly because they are male vocals doing pop. Ok, that's not true, but all these manufactured things that girls really like I pretend not to (boybands, really, w/exception of Take That). Except I rather enjoy The Wanted some of the time. Some of the time they really are dreck. This is one of their better offerings though, and their highest appearance here. This campaign saw a peak at Lightning, Glad You Came and Warzone were of about the same quality. Lightning isn't interesting per se, but it's a little euphoric, and I liked it enough to put it top 10 one week. At the top 150. Woo. We might be getting to tracks I love soon. ^_^
December 21, 201113 yr What Do You Take Me For? is SUCH a guilty pleasure, easily my favourite thing Pixie's done (not hard) even if she does sound like a chain smoker. There's just something unusual about it, I can never put my finger on it... Lightning is easily the nadir of this campaign for me, Glad You Came outstrips everything they've ever done. Though there are a few good ones on the album, Warzone maybe not the best choice...
December 21, 201113 yr Author ALL ABOUT TONIGHT NOT APPEARING BYT WDYTMF DID?!?!?!?!?! MADNESS All About Tonight not appearing??!! -_- Well.. when I was compiling this, (using the method where I eliminate those on the shortlist by typing the number left in onto the side, so I'm able to give positions throughout the shortlist of 452, even if they aren't particularly accurate), All About Tonight got eliminated at #321. A fairly easy decision for me. I only kinda liked it at first, and after hearing it loads everywhere, I began to hate just how vapid it was. It's not even fun, it's just a drag. I tried listening to it again, and I couldn't even get through the whole thing. What Do You Take Me For is quite fine though. What Do You Take Me For? is SUCH a guilty pleasure, easily my favourite thing Pixie's done (not hard) even if she does sound like a chain smoker. There's just something unusual about it, I can never put my finger on it... Lightning is easily the nadir of this campaign for me, Glad You Came outstrips everything they've ever done. Though there are a few good ones on the album, Warzone maybe not the best choice... Ah, a supporter! :D I like it partly because of the video, partly because of how her vocals sounds really different on it to everything else she's done (the chain smoker effect). :lol: I always found Glad You Came really overrated. It's nice enough, but it suffered from getting played everywhere. Warzone is quite good, maybe better then Lightning in the end, but I haven't let it grow on me in full yet, I haven't bothered listening to the album, since they don't seem to have a Lose My Mind this era (in my opinion). Then, I never listened to the first album either, that's not a valid reason, they're going to have to do something PRETTY special to top Lose My Mind for me.
December 22, 201113 yr Author 13-31-42-38 (still charting) A very good instrumental, much better, in my opinion than the Flo Rida track, so it's pleasing it's getting similar success. I find the chorus holding up the song rather weak, to be perfectly honest, but the music in between is so classy that I have to dance along to it when it comes on, and it has at a party, which is a great barometer for me liking songs. I tumbled it a bit too fast in my chart, expect it to hang around the lower levels well into the New Year. 23-02-01-05-14-28-45 A fourth number 1, but not my favourite entry from Eurovision this year, even though it was the only one to go to the top spot on my chart. Admittedly it might have been in a bit of patriotic fervour, but there's still a good song in there from Blue. I've barely listened to it since the contest though, and it isn't hugely great on reflection. It's very epic sounding, and I do wish it had done slightly better, out of ESC UK entries that are recent that I am familiar with, Blue>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Josh whathisname (the 2010 guy) by far. 07-02-04-04-09-16-22-28-36-45 The first of my #2 hits, I think, and with four #1s gone already... :lol: (I even said 3 originally, completely forgot about How We Roll) Anyway, this is a very well produced track with an infectious as hell beat. I was already thinking when it was still in my chart... Why did I put this at #2? But I do really like it, and I was pleased with the success it got. It's also far better than the followup Feels So Close, which I never really liked at all, to be quite honest. Can't touch I'm Not Alone or Flashback though. 29-46 (LATE CHARTING) And so... we come to the first of two entries by The Lonely Island for this year. A comedic rap troupe, they are exactly the sort of thing I'd rave about, and this is all kinds of epic. I think it's either a parody of how songs take themselves seriously, or a parody of popular culture references in songs (Mr D Contostavlos, take note). There's a brilliant contrast between the members of the Lonely Island and Michael Bolton's over-the-top singing, and I love it. I only found it after it had been and gone, so it didn't get a proper chart run in my chart. But it should have. 42-19-06-02-05-08-14-19-34-50 Another #2 for Nicki, and the first of 3 entries for her (this is incl. features btw). Super Bass being the song that got her big, it took a bit of time to grow on me, shot up the chart, then suffered from airplay and shot back down again. It's a very catchy tune, and I was in love with it at first, but not quite enough. She has better, but I'm pleased this ended up being so successful in the end. 145. Oh My! - Kicking And Screaming 26-37-48 A quite wonderful girlband (girl duo?) that have come to my attention this year, Kicking And Screaming is a strong entry for Oh My. The progression in this song is amazing, especially when they switch to semi-rapping up to the chorus. It's one of my favourites from the BJSC into which it was entered, and it will stay like that. Oh My! :wub: DNC Something that is quite epic, especially the drawled out chorus. I didn't expect to like this, but it's infectious. *generic comment*. I do remember hearing this on Radio 1 a few month ago, which did move it up in my affections a little bit. But yes, a fairly brilliant song, and exactly what I want from scandipop. 31-42 Something I charted rather late, but has continued to grow on me ever since is, is this brilliant song from Nicola. The backing instrumental that holds this song up is really glorious, and the lyrics do a lot to help it. At least it got to #40 officially. :( 26-44 The Saltwater Room of All Things Bright And Beautiful, as in, the duet with Breanne, Honey And The Bee is even superior to that great song. It took a long time to grow on me, in fact, it was the last track on the album for me to properly fall in love with, but when I did, well... :heart: The way Adam and Breanne swap their lines seamlessly makes this a brilliant song, one with a great feeling, and one I'd recommend to anyone who hasn't heard it. If it wasn't an album track, and if it had grown on me sooner, it might have been even higher, and it might have grown on me even more than some of the Owl City tracks left in the mix here. 41-49 Yeah, another chart getting messed up victim. And at the time, I really began to hate this because it was getting played everywhere. I like things getting played in public, as long as they aren't overdone. S&M was overdone. No obvious jokes, please. :P Rihanna doesn't sound as amazing on this as some of her other songs, and it isn't among my favourites on a very strong album, but it is still very good. I like the video :blush: . A lot of Rihanna still to come.
December 23, 201113 yr Author 140. Lana Del Rey - Video Games 23-22-24-20-17-19-35-40 A track that took an absolute age to grow on me. The BJSC it won was the first one where I looked at the tracks properly. I was preferring several other tracks to this when it won. Had I been in that contest, I likely would have given it no points. And fast-forward a month or two where it's getting released in the UK. Becomes exceedingly beautiful and I'm quite glad it got top 10. Born To Die is currently in the process of growing on me. This is happening a lot quicker, so I think I like it even more. It took a while for me to get bored of it, for a track I thought I disliked at first, very impressive. 08-13-20-42-48 While Night Of Your Life was the purple track from Nothing But The Beat (Adored that single cover BTW) this is the dark blue track. Those two are my second and third favourite colours. So, my 2nd and 3rd favourite tracks from the album... Anyway... Turn Me On has the most power behind it of any of Nicki's tracks, and this alone makes it awesome. It was only a brief foray into my chart. I wasn't hanging around for it to become a single. Some album tracks, however... DNC My favourite hip-hop track... that I've discovered through BJSC. The rhythm of this track and the powering through of the track, that never, never stops. Except when it briefly does. The rapping fits perfectly, and when Miss Amani comes in, the whole thing becomes a work of art and I have to sing along. 137. James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream 35-38-34-36-41 A pathetic chart run, but hey, at least it's stable. One of the most interesting tracks of the early year for me. I never thought much of Limit To Your Love, nor have I tried any other James Blake, but this, this is quite haunting. The title is such a good one, I think of it as the thoughts that instantly go through the mind of someone uttering 'The Wilhelm Scream' (as in they've just been killed and these are their final thoughts) stretched over 4 minutes. When you do that it becomes quite poignant, and I'm quite sure that was the intention. 12-08-13-11-18-23-18-26-49 What I actually thought was a rather good debut single from Mr Cardle. It's quite beautiful. There isn't a whole lot too it, but it certainly didn't deserve its miserable failure in the charts. It kept having random revivals with me, so I suppose it's a surprise to see it this low. Ah, well, Matt Cardle did something even better than this. He released Starlight. And it's a rule of X-Factor winners that their second single is better than their first (not counting winner's singles). It still tugs a little at my affections just listening to it now. 20-12-17-30-48 First of all, f*** Gotta Be You and all it stands for. That damp squib of a ballad has quite easily brushed aside ALL competition to become my most hated track of 2011. And that's all I'm doing regarding hate. I'm an optimist at heart. Back on to pleasanter things, this is a CHOON! You have to sing aloud to the chorus and I have done quite unashamedly at social gatherings. I'm still straight. Through it's utter euphoricness, and the fact I don't see it taking itself seriously, it's the best thing One Direction could have come out with. And while Gotta Be You has made me want to never hear another track from them again (Although I will take recommendations from their album), they can take pride in themselves by having made a good song. Baby you light up my world like nobody else... 134. Tinie Tempah - Simply Unstoppable 28-28-41 Just when I thought the DISC-overy era was over, Tinie went and released the only good unreleased track on the album. And I was very pleased, it's classic Tinie, sounds like all his previous singles combined into one, but it's pretty epic. Tinie is one of the most talented new rappers on the scene, it's just a shame that Til I'm Gone was largely rubbish in comparison to everything else. 133. Alexz Johnson - Trip Around The World 10-13-31-43-49 A track that is almost annoying in it's optimism and lightness, I love it. It gives off such a carefree vibe, I thought this was one of the stronger tracks in its monthly contest, so at the very least it's getting some form of redemption in the Rejects. I listened to it so much, so when it failed, I jumped it straight into my top 10. One of the more finely-crafted tracks I've come across through BJSC. 20-11-22-18-30-31-38-46 A very catchy track from Nicola Roberts, who pulled off a rather successful campaign, if not commercially, than critically. Anyway, she's pulled off an absolute floor stomper that I rather loved. Not quite enough to be in the top 100, but we're getting close to it there. 17-36-40 I DID give Give Me Everything a good chart run initially but unfortunately I find it unlistenable now, so I cannot in good conscience put it into an End Of Year chart. This however, I can. Marc Anthony produces a undeniably glorious chorus, not bad. And Pitbull's rapping gives the whole thing a good rhythm and holds it together. If this had gotten big instead of GME, I might have liked it a little less, but it's such a good chorus I don't think I could have grown bored of it. I think partly the bad chart run was in disgust at how well I'd charted Give Me Everything. I'd quite happily swap what I did to them in my charts. For reference, here is Give Me Everything's chart run. 40-x-39-42-19-17-21-33-46. Such an overplayed song doesn't deserve such a pretty run (Although Nayer's bits are quite alright, the rest is tiring as I listen to it now and I don't think it'll ever regrow). But they have the same peaks. However, Rain Over Me>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Give Me Everything. I think that was the point of this long-winded paragraph.
December 23, 201113 yr My favourite James Blake track is 'I Never Learnt To Share' - since you already like 'The Wilhelm Scream', I don't see why you wouldn't approve of it too, though it's very odd. Nicola didn't make my 100 either - a very late cut, and a sad one, but it didn't stick with me in the end. And praise be, at least 1D beat Cardle. :P
December 24, 201113 yr Author My favourite James Blake track is 'I Never Learnt To Share' - since you already like 'The Wilhelm Scream', I don't see why you wouldn't approve of it too, though it's very odd. Nicola didn't make my 100 either - a very late cut, and a sad one, but it didn't stick with me in the end. And praise be, at least 1D beat Cardle. :P Hmm, 'I Never Learnt To Share' is rather good, maybe a little less otherworldly like TWS is, but that sort of subtle stuff is fairly good. Very odd though, yes. I didn't actually realise that 1D were just on top of Cardle until I was writing the comments. :lol: But I think it's just a better song, in the end. I think IU won't show up at all :( Now now, young Oricon, do not give up hope yet. 01-08-20-25-39 Another #1 that I was obsessed with for only a very short time, Twenty Twenty gets a pass this high because it's actually aged rather well for me. Twenty Twenty are actually about the most euphoric boyband with instruments around, and I love them for it. Love To Life is an anthem, and I think it's a very deserved #1 for me. Not going in my top 100 though. 08-07-07-13-23-31 Another boyband track that HASN'T aged quite as well, but at the time, I thought it was one of the best works they'd ever done. I stick by saying that the video is their best. The track is again uplifiting, and it sets the tone of Progress rather well, but there's a couple of better tracks on the album. 29-13-11-16-21-37-45 Jessie J's best track. I, like a lot of others got rather bored of her antics rather quickly, but this, this is great. It didn't suffer from overplay, which has ended up being a defining factor in my EoY, ^_^ the track has a good rhythm to it, and the delivery of Jessie J's lines feel both impassioned and expertly well done. Most of the time she only does one or the other, which leaves her songs either feeling dry or hurting your ears. Who's Laughing Now has aged the best out of all the singles from Who You Are (I haven't heard Domino yet though), Do It Like A Dude might run it close, I'm not sure, but that doesn't matter since DILAD was 2010 for me. 04-08-09-23-32-47 My initial standout when first hearing the clips of All Things Bright And Beautiful, Dreams Don't Turn To Dust reminds me somewhat of Owl City's film soundtrack foray To The Sky, but a little bit more epic. And with a chorus that starts with 'This picnic will soon depart', you know you are in for a brilliant buildup. Don't worry, tiger eyes won't make you blush, not just by listening to it. *.* 23-38-48 (LATE CHARTING) A track that took a long while to grow on me, in fact, when it was getting success in the charts, I didn't get it at all. Of course, it's the second track in a row to feature tigers in some way. Woo. Beyond that, it's unique, has a bit of self-importance, and one of the best rock tracks I have heard this year. Far better than the Oasis copycat track The Death Of You And Me, it's pleasing that this seems to have become the lasting hit for Noel. 125. Roniit - Now Or Never 24-15-22-37 A track that took a while to grow on me, but when it did, it became glorious. It's quite a shame this didn't qualify in BJSC, as I think it would have grown on a lot of people by the final and done rather well. It's become one of my favourite tracks from the competition, and it most certainly has an ethereal feel to it, that enhances it hugely. Very atmospheric as well, I love the idea of Roniit. 23-21-17-30-46-46 I think, had I been participating in XXXVI and had the time to think about it, this would have been my 12-pointer. It's simply quite epic. Monarchy deliver a song that never stops, in fact, you are halfway through it, amidst all the sounds, before you've realised it. I think it stayed in my chart longer than any other song from that contest, meaning I had definitely fallen in love with it early. One thing I will say, XXXVI was strong, it didn't have a huge standout track in it though, everything was kind of equally strong. So all 4 of the songs I have so far given 12 points to are still to come. Also, two of my own entries... meh. 27-17-06-04-16-40-33-41-x-36-44-49 Yes, it was amazing for those first few weeks. I didn't really get sick of it either. It's one of the best songs to dance to over the whole of this year, and I can really see why it's been so successful. It stands out, because it's not generic. And LMFAO clearly aren't taking it seriously. This is their only good song though. Champagne Showers was alright, Sexy And I Know It is pretty awful. 30-41-49 (Late charting) Another beautiful track here, and I can see why it won the BJSC, although there is another track from that contest still to appear. Actually, Agnes is only my 6th favourite of the ten winners, and as Inescapable and Video Games have already been in my top 250... It's absolutely beautiful though, entrancing, takes you to another world. 18-16-22-41-48 (Late charting) Now that's a good chart run for a late charter. I didn't chart this until after I'd sent The Game. It's better. Mainly because the chorus samples one of my favourite songs of all time, maybe because the verses are simply a slower version of The Game. It was a big hit in Canada, and a version with Jump Smokers instead of P Reign is getting released in the UK in the New Year. I doubt it'll do anything, but wouldn't mind if it did. Only two more lots until the top 100. I don't think there's much BJSC left. I feel as though I've been talking about it too much. :lol: My favourite tracks are obviously still to come, but IMO all the tracks left are amazing.
December 24, 201113 yr Author I might get to the top 100 today... Then I'm taking a break to do the top 40 albums (believe it or not, that's my album tally for my first year of buying albums + one or two, with a few that I get for Christmas. The criteria, since I got them all in 2011, is that they must have had a singles campaign in progress this year. Otherwise I'd be including tons of old albums that I also bought this year) which will start after Christmas, and the top 100 singles will start after that's done. It's a lot, I know, and I will be repeating phrases and using as many synonyms for 'amazing' as I can get away with. 25-27-26-11-10-14-19-23-26-36-49 When I first heard this track, it was Greg James' record of the week. I said to myself something along the lines that it was nice to see Greg supporting yet another indie band that would get nowhere. Fast-forward about a month and everyone across the entire world is loving this track. And I am quite pleased. It's not the strongest, but Foster The People manage to create a good feeling with this track that makes one love it. 07-05-14-25-37 I've just checked, and there are still 20 (!) more tracks entered into BJSC to come after this. Not all of them I discovered through the contest, most of them though I did. Shows how influential it's been, even if only in the latter half of the year. Anyway, this is a beautiful ballad that I really love getting emotional to. I was honestly quite surprised when it didn't win, but it was only in my first contest, I had yet to get used to it. So why am I, still building sandcastles in the sky... 45-18-09-10-16-25-32-37-47 The first of 3 entries for the Sats in my top 200. With My Heart Takes Over narrowly missing the top 200 as well. Notorious was not the strongest comeback single for them, but over time, I grew to love it. It feels a bit artificial, but the video is brilliant, and with all the members having a big part, which is something I hadn't noticed before in their songs, it's a good middling quality hit for me. 35 (Late charting) This passed me by at the beginning of the year, but it's a CHOON. The rapping from Lonely Island is rather hilarious and has some brilliant flow in it, while the track is ridiculously happy. It doesn't even feel like a parody, it's a good song in it's own right. The video makes it, but it's still an enjoyable song on it's own. 24-30-18-20-24-29-35 I really like the formula of rapping surround by a big loud hook, so while it took me a while to get into this, I really liked it in the end. Emeli sounds amazing on the chorus, and the only thing is that I wish it hadn't deserted the charts so quickly, it quite deserved to be a massive #1, but it's chart run after that is rather shameful. One of the better British tracks this year. 115. Alexis Jordan - Good Girl 10-06-10-05-08-13-30-36-41 I suppose this might be a bit of a shock, this not making my top 100. While I loved it at the time of release, it hasn't aged as well as everything else on Alexis' album, and so I think this is rather fair for it. The 'you might mistake me for a heartbreaker' bit is heart-wrenching though. 14-10-09-12-20-39 A lovely slice of country-pop that I got introduced to by gooddelta, it really made a good impression on me, and while there isn't anything AS good on her EP, one of my favourite discoveries of the year. It's quite epic as well. 04-08-18-36-44 BJSC XXXVII entries are all here, aren't they. :P Anyway, this is a very strong atmospheric piece that I again, really loved, and was quite pleased it ended up doing so well. I was quite obsessed with it for a couple of weeks, it wore off a bit, but it was and still is one of my favourites. 25-15-19-17-36 Yes, this is here. Dappy knows how to make some good music. Well, at least, catchy music. All the cheesy pop culture references actually help it, even though on this song they feel literally shoehorned in. The best thing is the euphoric chorus, which is one of the better 'sung-by-a-rapper' choruses around. I still couldn't help laughing at the dire CiN perf though. 12-10-16-22-32-44 I RATHER like Charice. And so, Louder. It's not quite as good as one little remix of Pyramid (that almost completely eliminates Iyaz is), but it's the best Charice track in it's raw form. Charice gives a pure pop track that it's almost impossible to deny. One of the first few gems I came across through BJSC (I was only listening to the winners at that point) One more, then a break. I hope I'm not doing too much writing for people reading this.
December 24, 201113 yr Author 10-10-19-36 When I heard Flo M were coming back, I wasn't on the edge of my seat for material. I could barely tolerate You've Got The Love, and I didn't think that much of Dog Days Are Over (which I have changed my mind about since). This changed my mind. Surprisingly, I really liked it. It didn't last a very long time, it's a superb buzz single, but just that, a buzz single, and it's rather slow. A certain second single changed my mind about Florence and The Machine for good though.... 07-10-15-38-45 Similarly to the above, I wasn't on the edge of my seat for a 5th single from Gaga. The era had comparatively disappointed me, and I hadn't even got the album. This, especially after the X Factor performance, changed my mind a little about the era. Marry The Night is a little generic, but it's quite uplifting too, and easily the 2nd best track I have heard from Born This Way. 108. Oh My! ft. Scrufizzer - Dirty Dancer 14-18-26 (still charting) Kicking And Screaming is good, yes, but this, if possible, is more interesting. The rapping has a bit more life to it, and Scrufizzer's addition makes for an excellent flow through the bridge. It's incredibly infectious, and if it wasn't a busier time of year in Q4, I would have charted this far higher. :wub: 03-11-24-41 Quite an inspiring song. The 'one of a kind' bit, it evokes such great feelings in me, I had no choice but to give it my 12 in BJSC. Even though it's a little generic, it stood out from first listen, and I know it's absolutely brilliant. One XXXIX entry to come, however, also, one Greenfroze entry. ^_^ 07-17-10-15-23-32-37 Tinchy Stryder, oh you. Rochelle and Pixie? It's a very good hip-hop track though. Not quite Tinchy's best track, that has to be Number One, but it runs it quite close. The pair are quite talented, and I loved this when it first came out. 30-14-25-21-38-48 For a long while, until recently, this was Bruno Mars' best track. Grenade actually feels quite epic, and not soppy and or inconsequential and ridiculously sickly like much of his other work. Bruno works far better when he's doing serious and dark stuff, and I would love to see him continue doing so. While my chart was a bit messed at the time it was out, it was one of my favourite tracks of the first part of the year and not worth the massive hate that seems to come with it. 16-09-11-19-12-03-04 (still charting) Amazing. One of the best rap tracks I've heard this year. It's low because it's rather new, and I only really began to love it hugely a week or so ago, but I'm hoping this'll really blow up in 2012. I really didn't think much of this when I first heard it, in fact, I gave it no point in BJSC XXXIX semis, but 7 points in the final, and I would probably give it 12 now. The video makes it better than it already is. Azealia's facial expressions are amazing. 03-04-10-16-29-47 And the best that I've heard from Femme Fatale almost makes the top 100, but not quite. I got obsessed with this with for one week, and it's one of the better Britney ballads, so I do really like it. It fell rather quickly, probably even before she got the video out. :lol: 04-02-01-04-08-15-24-47 The second-highest of my entries, and the only one to make it to #1. It's an amazing slice of scandi-pop/dance with some slight crossover leanings. Clearly not a whole lot of people liked it, it underperformed what everyone said it would do, and while it should have left me disappointed with it, it doesn't really. Because it's still amazing and all that. There are a few tracks from that contest that are better though. 08-14-23-27-48 Like this one. *Oricon spontaneously combusts*. Actually, it's probably quite lucky it ended up being my 101, because I'm stopping the singles countdown after this to do my albums of the year, and I don't think you could have taken all that waiting, could you, Oricon :P? My favourite K-Pop discovery of the year, I believe, it's a genre I've begun to really like, and I've been drawn back to listen this post-contest so much. You did right by that. I believe the people of Korea have good taste as well. IU is lovely! :wub: And Good Day is a stomper of a track that I have to like. That's the singles done for now, I shall continue this after Christmas, and start with the albums. It's the halfway point, I need to do them at some point. :D Merry Christmas everyone reading!
December 25, 201113 yr IU!!!!! :yahoo: :yahoo: And how on earth did you call LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem not generic is just.... :o
December 25, 201113 yr IU!!!!! :yahoo: :yahoo: And how on earth did you call LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem not generic is just.... :o Because it isn't? When have you ever heard a song like it before?
December 25, 201113 yr Endless Storm! :D Really happy to see that here! Surprised at how low down Video Games is though! Loving the inclusions of Roniit (How did it fail to qualify?! :drama: ) and Agnes Obel however!
December 25, 201113 yr Because it isn't? When have you ever heard a song like it before? Is for me, the beat is generic imo :lol:
December 26, 201113 yr Author Endless Storm! :D Really happy to see that here! Surprised at how low down Video Games is though! Loving the inclusions of Roniit (How did it fail to qualify?! :drama: ) and Agnes Obel however! Video Games is a bit low, I do rather like it, but I was never massively in love with it. Riverside is better. :P So, kicking off the albums. I got 40 albums this year that I can say are related to 2011. I got far more older ones... Anyway, I also, near the end of the year, got a large amount of albums that will come into my life soon. I just haven't listened to them really, yet. So I can't rank them. These are: Kasabian - Velociraptor Caro Emerald - Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor The Black Eyed Peas - The Beginning Hurts - Happiness Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Rebecca Ferguson - Heaven Not bad albums per se, but unrankable. I shall be getting a few more with Amazon gift cards also. And so, into the first of the albums I've ranked. Which means that #40 is the worst. :( 40. Maroon 5 - Hands All Over Top.. 2: 1. Never Gonna Leave This Bed 2. Misery I got this album for my 18th. Unfortunately, this was at the time where turning on commercial radio, you were more likely to hear Moves Like Jagger than not. Adam Levine's whistling really began to grate on me. I didn't mind getting the album, as I thought Misery and NGLTB were both fairly good songs. Unfortunately, nothing else on the album really stood out. I know it's from last year, as a few here are also, but like I said earlier, the era continues into 2011, so it's justified, and I got all 40 of these in 2011 itself. 39. The Script - Science & Faith Top 5: 1. If You Ever Come Back 2. Nothing 3. Science & Faith 4. This = Love 5. For The First Time It's a decent effort, but only the top 3 on that top 5 really stand out as good tracks. The rest I don't really rate as anything more than nice things to listen to. If You Ever Come Back is lush though and about the best thing they've put their name to. 38. Last Night On Earth - Noah And The Whale Top 5: 1. Tonight's The Kind Of Night 2. L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N 3. Life Is Life 4. Give It All Back 5. Waiting For My Chance To Come I was honestly expecting more from this album. The first two singles had really grabbed my attention as both being rather amazing. Unfortunately, I didn't find myself being drawn back to listen to any of the other tracks. The tracks I've highlighted are rather good, but the others are generally skippable. It's a little samey throughout. 37. Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans Top 5: 1. Grenade 2. The Other Side 3. Talking To The Moon 4. Just The Way You Are 5. Runaway Baby This album is a strange one. It veers from being amazing and epic (as in The Other Side and Grenade) to being bloody terrible (Our First Time and Count On Me). It's really quite hit and miss. Considering it's filled with soppy love ballads, it's surprising I don't dislike it more. More songs in the vein of Grenade, The Other Side and It Will Rain for your next album please, Bruno. Of course, he won't listen, because he's made his name doing the other thing. 36. Nero - Welcome Reality Top 5: 1. Guilt 2. Doomsday 3. Scorpions 4. Promises 5. Innocence A patchy effort on the whole, Guilt is naturally quite amazing, Scorpions and Doomsday are two bloody brilliant tracks, but from there it all gets a bit average. I don't see the attraction of Me & You, for example. It has a nice feel to it though. 35. Scissor Sisters - Night Work Top 5: 1. Fire With Fire 2. Any Which Way 3. Invisible Light 4. Sex And Violence 5. Skin This Cat Barely counts, I suppose, but I only got it this year. It's good in places, I haven't let loads of the tracks grow on me though, so it's probably a bit low in all fairness. The top 3 tracks are all superb though. 34. Alyssa Reid - The Game Top 5: 1. Alone Again (ft. P Reign) 2. The Game 3. Talk Me Down 4. Live To Tell 5. The Dark Side Another rather patchy album, the only one of my 4 BJSC entries I've bothered to get an album from. Nomme and Before The Fall (Emmon and Wrecking Queens) should be on my list though. It's full of electropop ballads, and it's nothing amazing, but Live To Tell and Talk Me Down are real highlights beyond the singles. 33. Katie Cole - Lost Inside A Moment EP Top 5: 1. Sunrise 2. Always 3. Breakout 4. Lost Inside A Moment 5. Found You The only EP in here, I believe, so it might have been disadvantaged by there being so few tracks. It's a really good effort, even if Sunrise is the easy standout. The top 4 are all really quite enjoyable tracks. 32. Olly Murs - Olly Murs Top 5: 1. Please Don't Let Me Go 2. A Million More Years 3. Heart On My Sleeve 4. Busy 5. Don't Say Goodbye LOL. I'm cheating, I guess, but I have no plans to get the second one, even if this is rather good. Again though, I only really love about half the tracks. 31. Gorillaz - The Fall Top 5: 1. Revolving Doors 2. HillBilly Man 3. Amarillo 4. Phoner To Arizona 5. Little Pink Plastic Bags When Demon Days is my #1 album of all time, really, to come #31 here is disappointing. I like it a bit more than some other people do, but there's still not a whole lot to come back to. It feels a bit like a tour album, and it's nowhere near the masterpieces of Demon Days or Plastic Beach. Bye bye Gorillaz. :(
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