I knew you'd approve of LMFAO Daniel :P Doubt anybody else does!

70. Misty Miller - Remember (#5)

69. Agnes - Don't Go Breaking My Heart (#4)

68. Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts (#6)

67. Rachel Platten - 1000 Ships (#3)

66. Rizzle Kicks - Down With The Trumpets (#6)

65. Swingfly - Me & My Drum (#10)

64. Take That - Love Love (#5)

63. Lena - Taken By A Stranger (#5)

62. Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (#4)

61. Spiritchaser - These Tears (#4)

 

Swingfly - Me & My Drum

 

 

Spiritchaser - These Tears

 

 

The quality gets ever better here and kicks off with a fantastic BJSC discovery courtesy of Jonjo (Ojnoj) in Misty Miller's Remember, bittersweet lyrically but charming musically. After Release Me was my 2008 xmas #1 and topped my EOY 2009 chart, it could be expected that long awaited comeback single Don't Go Breaking My Heart might do better for me. A great little pop song in its own right but I still can't get past that jarring amateurish sounding intro and it sadly hindered me from ever having the same relationship with it as I did with Release Me, replace it with a string intro for the UK release please! Christina Perri's beautiful ballad Jar Of Hearts is next up, sadly never quite made my weekly top five but it will definitely go down as a modern classic and deserves to be here. Another BJSC discovery next and it's the most recent winner, courtesy of Freeze (Greenfroze), Rachel Platten's Owl City meets Regina Spektor-esque 1000 Ships.

 

Coming from my hometown, Brighton duo Rizzle Kicks launched their assault on the charts with Down With The Trumpets, of which I was an early adopter - it debuted and peaked at #6 for me when it was still hovering in the low end of the top 100 on iTunes...a great summer anthem, and they've had a fantastic year already but this is their highest entry here. Over to Melodifestivalen for #65 and if anything from that contest could have feasibly been a huge UK hit then it's Swingfly's rap/pop chorus combo Me & My Drum, the melody of which sort of reminded me of Flip & Fill's Discoland. A lowly #10 peak for me in a very competitive time, it didn't quite reflect how much I adore it, particularly the female middle eight rap 'hot like a fresh baked bun, it's hot like the sun, it's hot like a smoking gun'. Give it a listen if you don't know it already, it's so feel good!

 

The lead single from Take That's EP Progressed, Love Love was an electro-pop stomper, quite unlike anything they've released as a single before but incredibly likeable. And another former EOY chart topper falls early at #63. Lena Meyer-Landrut's Satellite was comfortably my favourite song of 2010 but her 2011 ESC entry, Taken By A Stranger can only make it this far. Nevertheless, it was a great choice of entry, hypnotic, fresh and contemporary and most importantly completely different to Satellite and she managed a second consecutive top ten finish for Germany in the contest. My favourite album track from the Teenage Dream era accompanied by my favourite video of the year was only going to end one way - a respectable placing for Katy Perry's Last Friday Night, pure perfect pop - hindered only by the fact that it's now a year and a half old to me. And finally, a dance act hailing from Sussex with a song that was a #1 hit in South Africa - Spiritchaser's subtle yet effective piano house song These Tears is another one that deserves to be heard, although only if you like your dance music less in your face than the likes that make it into the UK charts.

Love Jar Of Hearts, I think its one of those tracks that never gets old, for some reason I expected it a little bit higher in your chart.

Love Jar Of Hearts, I think its one of those tracks that never gets old, for some reason I expected it a little bit higher in your chart.

 

Same here, it's probably my favourite piano ballad ever - I'm glad we had the ADELE soundalike invasion because this wouldn't be a hit if it wasn't for her :heart: Martin you can expect JOH really high in my chart :yahoo:

The problem with Jar Of Hearts, like so many others is that is IS so old to me, and hence had a great chart run but a relatively low peak in the end. I find it very hard to get back into songs that I've known for a year or more when they eventually get a UK release...I've known of Jar Of Hearts since mid 2010...

60. Brittany McDonald - Strawberry Shake (#3)

59. Amaury Vassili - Sognu (#4)

58. Taio Cruz feat Kylie Minogue - Higher (#8)

57. Anna Abreu - Hysteria (#3)

56. Emeli Sandé - Heaven (#5)

55. Gotye feat Kimbra - Somebody That I Used To Know (#2)

54. Hilltop Hoods feat Sia - I Love It (#2)

53. Ria - Over You (#2)

52. Lady Gaga - Scheiße (#3)

51. Yasmin - On My Own (#4)

 

Brittany McDonald - Strawberry Shake

 

 

Hilltop Hoods feat Sia - I Love It

 

 

Next up is another of my BJSC entries, the Katy Perry-esque Strawberry Shake by US singer Brittany McDonald, instantly catchy but perhaps it was too bubblegum for some? Nevertheless, despite 'only' finishing 12th in its contest, it's reached the semis of the Best Of so it can't be all bad! France's much hyped Eurovision entry, the operatic Sognu finished a lowly 15th on the night after failing to really connect with either the juries or the public. Still, I do still really like it musically! The king of generic Taio Cruz gets an appearance here no doubt courtesy of queen Kylie Minogue with their catchy top ten hit Higher. Also representing Australia in this section are my current top three hits, I Love It by rap collective Hilltop Hoods and Sia and soon to be UK smash Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye feat New Zealand's Kimbra. Speaking of New Zealand, another of my BJSC entries, Ria's Over You also appears here. Stepping out of the bubble of the contest and being more objective, perhaps it wasn't one of my strongest entries but I was too won over by the strings throughout to care - and I do still love the song personally, hence its near top 50 showing here!

 

Elsewhere in this section, Finnish singer Anna Abreu's 2011 album Rush wasn't quite good enough for a place in my EOY top 40 but the lead single 80s influenced Hysteria was up there with her best (although no match for the mighty Music Everywhere, my 2009 EOY #3!) and gets a good position here. Lady Gaga gets her second of three entries in the top 100 with album track Scheiße, which is Gaga and RedOne moving up a few notches creatively, and really should have been a single. I can see why Born This Way was the lead single but it's no favourite of mine and I'd have started the era with The Edge Of Glory before moving onto this as the second single. And finally, bringing the sound of the early 90s back into the UK charts were Scottish singers Emeli Sandé and Yasmin, the latter originally introduced to me in BJSC thanks to Martin (Kylienips), with Emeli's #2 UK hit single Heaven and Yasmin's gorgeous top 40 SMASH On My Own...though how one is doing SO much better than the other with the same type of music I'm not quite sure.

Poor Yasmin just missed the top 50, Kylienips approves :D

I didn't realise Goyte is old as well, the track is getting released next week in the Official chart

And I'm only just getting into the Hilltop Hoods track.

Aaaand the final ten before I go more indepth with my official top 40 of the year, which will include chart runs (excitement I know!)

 

50. The Pierces - Glorious (#5)

49. Florence + The Machine - Breaking Down (#4)

48. Beyoncé - Best Thing I Never Had (#4)

47. Agnes Obel - Riverside (#3)

46. Wynter Gordon - Dirty Talk (#3)

45. The Pierces - You'll Be Mine (#19)

44. Freak Asylum - You Better Leave (#2)

43. Jessie J feat B.o.B. - Price Tag (#5)

42. Lykke Li - Sadness Is A Blessing (#2)

41. Sak Noel - Loca People (#3)

 

The Pierces - You'll Be Mine

 

 

Lykke Li - Sadness Is A Blessing

 

 

Two songs here from US duo The Pierces. I liked but didn't love their album, however the singles from it were all top notch. Criminally, in one of the biggest WTF moments ever in my personal chart, I peaked the lead single You'll Be Mine at #19. I have however rectified this, and in the biggest turnaround ever in an EOY chart of mine, a #19 peaker finishes top 50. You'll Be Mine is an absolutely sublime modern day interpretation of the sounds of The Mamas & the Papas and Fleetwood Mac. Meanwhile, second single Glorious lived up to its name and almost was as glorious as the lead single. Both deserve their place in my top 50 of 2011, what a stunning pair of songs.

 

Florence + The Machine's great second album Ceremonials had a number of highlights, but my ultimate pick from the album would be the atmospheric Breaking Down, which finishes at #49. Beyoncé has always been very hit and miss with me but it's safe to say that classic ballad Best Thing I Never Had was a hit, my favourite single of hers since the double whammy of Irreplaceable/Beautiful Liar from the B'Day era. Another BJSC discovery at #47, courtesy of debuting nation Batidas (Hitstastic) an what an opening splash it was as they won their first contest with the gorgeous Riverside by Danish singer/songwriter Agnes Obel. Wynter Gordon's club anthem Dirty Talk may never have made the UK top 20 but it had a very good chart run in the top 40 and went all the way to the top three of my chart.

 

A welcome return for Kelly Llorenna at #44, even though all traces of the song appear to have been removed from the internet, You Better Leave is an 80s style pop-a-thon with a killer chorus. One of the biggest selling singles of the year, Jessie J's excellent second single Price Tag finishes just outside the top 40, although considering it will feature in almost every EOY top 40 to appear on this forum, I'm sure she'll cope. And onto another BJSC entry of mine at #42, and a winner no less (the second in a row!) Swedish indie singer Lykke Li provided me with my 6th win back in March and was always my instant highlight from Wounded Rhymes, being far more melodic than anything else on there with a 60s Phil Spector-esque sound to it. Perhaps it will look quite shameful then that it was edged out by #41, Spanglish dance anthem Sak Noel's Loca People, but I have to be true to my taste! A top ten hit for me in the summer having first heard it back in May, it eventually topped the UK charts in September and swiftly became a figure of hate across Buzzjack. Whatever BJ, it's an anthem!

Is will young in your top 40 with jealousy Rich?

Is will young in your top 40 with jealousy Rich?

 

Yes ;)

The Pierces aren't really my thing but I quite like 'You'll Be Mine' after lots of listens to it on R2, however I don't like Glorious and their other song It Will Not Be Forgotten is an average R2 song. I wanted to get into 'Dirty Talk' after it hit #1 in the Australian charts but it never clicked with me enough to buy it.

 

Much love for Jessie J and especially Sak Noel :wub: Why is that all the tracks I love BJ hates??? OK, maybe I'm overexaggerating - but most of the reviews of Loca People on iTunes are negative which is never a good thing :( Really lucky to hit #1 that song was, but now I wish it went to #2 so people would stop hating on it for "giving MLJ another week at #2" :drama: same with Example's "Stay Awake" which I really love too

I like pretty much everything so far :D Some comments:

 

77. Lady Gaga - Judas (#4) :w00t: EASILY the best single this era!

68. Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts (#6) Totally stunning, it charted for a while in 2010 and ages in 2011 too for me :o

57. Anna Abreu - Hysteria (#3) My fave single from her actually, Rush is brilliant too!

55. Gotye feat Kimbra - Somebody That I Used To Know (#2) As I said in RFL's thread, I'm saving this for 2012 :P

From this list I Like Rich :D

 

69. Agnes - Don't Go Breaking My Heart (#4)

68. Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts (#6)

66. Rizzle Kicks - Down With The Trumpets (#6)

64. Take That - Love Love (#5)

62. Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (#4)

 

Really awesome lot here :)

 

58. Taio Cruz feat Kylie Minogue - Higher (#8)

56. Emeli Sandé - Heaven (#5)

52. Lady Gaga - Scheiße (#3)

48. Beyoncé - Best Thing I Never Had (#4)

46. Wynter Gordon - Dirty Talk (#3)

43. Jessie J feat B.o.B. - Price Tag (#5)

 

:D Shame to see Price Tag so low but I suppose you probs got bored of it :lol:

Price Tag was never that massive with me in the first place, a #5 peak with only a few (three?) weeks in the top ten, so to finish that high in the EOY chart is actually quite impressive :o

50. The Pierces - Glorious (#5) - NOT HEARD

49. Florence + The Machine - Breaking Down (#4) - NOT HEARD

48. Beyoncé - Best Thing I Never Had (#4) - Decent, but I've certainly not been very impressed with Beyonce this era.

47. Agnes Obel - Riverside (#3) - Meh.

46. Wynter Gordon - Dirty Talk (#3) - WOO, I love this.

45. The Pierces - You'll Be Mine (#19) - NOT HEARD

44. Freak Asylum - You Better Leave (#2) - NOT HEARD

43. Jessie J feat B.o.B. - Price Tag (#5) - I forgot how much I loved this, til it came on a music channel the other day. I got a bit bored with it, but hearing it after a short break has reminded me how good it is!

42. Lykke Li - Sadness Is A Blessing (#2) - This was one of your better entries this year, but still only about 6.5/10 (sorry! Eric has grown on me massively? :kink:)

41. Sak Noel - Loca People (#3) - This dead get old after a while, but was still quite special at the time, good song.

Oh dear Rob, our tastes have moved poles apart in the last couple of years haven't they :(

 

Even looking at my full top 100, I guess I've gone more MOR than ever this year. I appreciate that my BJSC entries during 2011 haven't exactly been as poptastic as they used to be, which reflects my maturing (?)/increasingly Shoat-esque music tastes. I can't carry on sending the generic in your face pop that I used to always send when I barely listen to much stuff like that anymore :lol: Oh well, at least The Last Time is still to come!

 

Of all people I was actually expecting you to really like Om Sanningen Ska Fram and was rather surprised when you didn't, so I'm glad that you do now, it's an absolute dance monster which demands an English translation and release!

Lets have a look at the best albums of the year, numbers 11-20!

 

11. Rihanna – Loud (5-5-1-1-3-3-4-4-5-6-8-9-10-14-16-17-12-17-17-18-18-20-20)

 

Key tracks: What's My Name, California King Bed, Cheers (Drink To That), Only Girl (In The World), Love The Way You Lie (Part II)

 

12. Rihanna – Talk That Talk (1-1-1-2-4-5)

 

Key tracks: We Found Love, Where Have You Been, Farewell, You Da One

 

13. Take That – Progressed (4-1-3-9-11-6-8-8-9-10-13-15-17)

 

Key tracks: Love Love, When We Were Young, Beautiful, Wonderful World

 

14. Will Young – Echoes (1-3-2-5-5-4-5-6-7-7-7-10-16-19)

 

Key tracks: Jealousy, Come On, Runaway, Lie Next To Me, Silent Valentine

 

15. The Saturdays – On Your Radar #1 (2-4-1-1-2)

 

Key tracks: White Lies, All Fired Up, Notorious, The Way You Watch Me, Faster

 

16. September - Love CPR (1-1-3-5-7-8-9-14-17-14-15-11-15-18-19-20)

 

Key tracks: Me & My Microphone, Resuscitate Me, Kärlekens tunga, My Emergency, Teddybjörnen Fredriksson

 

17. Caro Emerald - Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor (15-18-19-OUT-18-19-12-8-5-4-9-7-9-16-14-16-4-5-8-9-14-16-18-OUT-17-OUT-16)

 

Key tracks: A Night Like This, Riviera Life, Stuck, That Man, Back It Up

 

18. Andrea Corr – Lifelines (2-1-3-6-12-16-18-11-4-5-11-17)

 

Key tracks: Tinseltown In The Rain, They Don't Know, State Of Independence, No 9 Dream

 

19. Nicola Roberts - Cinderella's Eyes (1-1-3-6-10-11-15)

 

Key tracks: I, Beat Of My Drum, Sticks + Stones, Say It Out Loud

 

20. Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (2-2-3-7-9-11-16-12-14-10)

 

Key tracks: Mr Know It All, Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You), I Forgive You, Breaking Your Own Heart, Let Me Down

 

Kicking off the top twenty is Kelly Clarkson's fifth album Stronger, I do prefer it to All I Ever Wanted but it's still not a rival for Breakaway or My December - very good nonetheless though. Nicola Roberts debut solo album came and went rather quickly in my affections but when I loved it, I LOVED it, so much more of the Girls Aloud personality here than on anything by any of the other girls' solo careers. Andrea Corr's long awaited (by me) second solo album Lifelines was better than I expected considering that it's a covers album whilst Caro Emerald, which finished 21st in my end of year 2010 chart, manages to improve by four places this year - in the process it's somehow sold 300k in the UK, very very well deserved - those five highlights that I've picked are contemporary jazz infused pop at its very finest.

 

September's Love CPR was strong from start to finish and I especially appreciated the inclusion of the cover bonus tracks! The Saturdays' On Your Radar was perhaps released a tad too late to challenge for a higher position but it's an incredibly strong pop album, perhaps my favourite of theirs to date all things considered - maybe this was helped by the fact that I saw them live recently though and that they performed the whole thing (apart from White Lies, criminally). I've never been a particular fan of Will Young although have liked the odd song (Who Am I, Grace) but his move into coffee table dance was a welcome one. Echoes is absolutely excellent, so classy. It's just a shame that Amazon free track The Way I See was left off the main tracklist.

 

Take That's repackage of Progress, the imaginatively titled Progressed added eight brand new tracks and whilst not quite as good as Progress, it still had its highlights. Moving even further into the 'extra terrestial' electro-pop they dabbled with on Progress it made for a very interesting yet often unexpected listen. And just before the top ten are two Rihanna albums. Current album Talk That Talk, which has all the hallmarks of a 'rush job' (not least the 1 minute cut of Birthday Cake included) but is not without its highlights. Whilst Loud, which finished at #6 in my EOY 2010 chart has remained in my affections throughout 2011 and narrowly misses out on making the top ten two years in a row!

Oh dear Rob, our tastes have moved poles apart in the last couple of years haven't they :(

 

Even looking at my full top 100, I guess I've gone more MOR than ever this year. I appreciate that my BJSC entries during 2011 haven't exactly been as poptastic as they used to be, which reflects my maturing (?)/increasingly Shoat-esque music tastes. I can't carry on sending the generic in your face pop that I used to always send when I barely listen to much stuff like that anymore :lol: Oh well, at least The Last Time is still to come!

 

Of all people I was actually expecting you to really like Om Sanningen Ska Fram and was rather surprised when you didn't, so I'm glad that you do now, it's an absolute dance monster which demands an English translation and release!

They have quite, haven't they!

 

I'd love to be a bit more versatile with my tastes, but I just can't help being the pop whore that I am! I do go into your entries everytime wanting to like them, thinking THIS IS GONNA BE THE CONTEST. It was only the other day I was listening to my iPod on shuffle, and Don't Wait For Me came on! It's a shame Sheelah have split up, both their songs were amazing discoveries.

 

I don't really know WHY I didn't connect with Om Sanningen Ska Fram? It's one of those songs, where once I liked with it, I couldn't understand why I didn't like it in the first place?! It's so me..

49. Florence + The Machine - Breaking Down (#4)

47. Agnes Obel - Riverside (#3)

42. Lykke Li - Sadness Is A Blessing (#2)

 

Breaking Down must be the 3rd track in your personal chart of the year, there must be 2 more tracks inside the 40