35. Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know

 

 

 

 

34. Alex Clare - Up All Night

 

 

 

 

33. Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

 

 

 

 

32. Gotye (ft. Kimbra) - Somebody That I Used to Know

 

 

 

 

31. Ed Sheeran - The A Team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30. Nero - Promises

 

 

 

 

29. Katy B - Broken Record

 

 

 

 

28. Fleet Foxes - Bedouin Dress

 

 

 

 

27. Tinie Tempah (ft. Ellie Goulding) - Wonderman

 

 

 

 

26. Patrick Wolf - The City

 

Edited January 31, 201213 yr by SevenSeize

 

25. Everything Everything - Photoshop Handsome

 

 

 

 

24. Chase & Status (ft. Liam Bailey) - Blind Faith

 

 

 

 

23. Justice - Civilization

 

 

 

 

22. Clare Maguire - The Last Dance

 

 

 

 

21. Lana Del Rey - Video Games

 

 

 

Onto the Top 20 next :D I know I've been a bit lazy not really talking about any of the songs, I was kinda rushing through this countown to FINALLY get it finshed. In fact, I'll probably have this done by the end of today, so let's keep going :P

 

Oh, and Jonathan Higgs' vocal style on 'Photoshop Handsome' is awesome. Just sayin'.

Edited January 31, 201213 yr by SevenSeize

 

20. The Wombats - Techno Fan

 

 

The Wombats sneak in the Top 20. This was a song that never really caught my attention much at first listen, it was only after hearing it elsewhere (on the Easyjet advert, in a shop) that got me into this. Probably the "poppiest" single I've heard from them, although it may not be the most groundbreaking or unique-sounding song they've released, I couldn't help but enjoy this one.

 

 

 

19. Joe Goddard (ft. Valentina) - Gabriel

 

 

I always found this song to be a real oddity. Hot Chip's Joe Goddard brought out this great electronic piece back in the summer from his 'Gabriel EP'. An electro-house anthem which may take a while to grow, but it's certainly worth the time.

 

 

 

18. Owl City - Alligator Sky

 

 

I can't quite figure out why I liked this song so much at first. I've always had a weird soft spot for Owl City, which was further explored with this awesome lead single from 'All Things Bright & Beautiful'. It's a shame his music is no longer popular with the mainstream, I genuinely believe this could've been a hit if Radio stations/TV had given it a chance, but it wasn't to be. -_-

 

 

 

17. Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out

 

 

One of the main singles taken from her No.1 album 'Ceremonials', 'Shake It Out's majestic production slowly builds throughout the song, leading into an epic chorus. Shame it needed an X Factor performance (albeit the best XF guest performance of the year) to reach it's peak, I'm not sure why the public never truly caught on with this. Nearly as good as 'Dog Days Are Over' in my opinion.

 

 

16. Take That - Kidz

 

 

 

Never thought I'd be putting Take That in my Top 20 at the start of year, but there you go. Stomping Electro beats, along with a killer hook, provides us with the one of the best pop tunes of the 2011. Should've charted alot higher than #28, but there you go...

 

 

Edited January 31, 201213 yr by SevenSeize

 

15. Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall

 

 

 

After looking forward to Coldplay's return this year, Every Teardrop eventually met my expectations. Haven't got much to say about this one, other than it has a really euphoric and "summery" feel to it. So in other words, it's a great summer anthem for me.

 

 

 

14. Foster The People - Call It What You Want

 

 

 

Seeing the (rather brilliant) video on TV some time ago, I thought "hm, this is a pretty good song". So of course, it ends up on top of my chart for 3 weeks not long afterwards. Maybe it's questionable sticking this song nearly 20 places higher than 'Pumped Up Kicks', it wasn't something I was expecting to do. After hearing the album, surely these guys have to be more than just a "one-hit wonder" (god I hate that phrase)? Don't Stop (Color On the Walls) is maybe there only chance of avoiding it. Although I suppose having an indie song become popular in the UK is surprising enough these days, so...

 

 

 

13. Labrinth (ft. Tinie Tempah) - Earthquake

 

 

 

Labrinth's production work shines through on this explosive hit, where he ventures through an assortment of loud electrohop beats, while Tinie is as good as ever before. It's still selling well in the charts, so people must still be catching on with it (the UK Public seem to love having #2 singles that easily outsell the songs that beat them to the top. Meh, you can expect alot of that in 2012 <_< )

 

 

 

12. Nero - Guilt

 

 

 

Me & You got me interested in hearing more from this new dubstep duo, and they certainly delivered it with the follow-up single 'Guilt'. Not sure why, but I found Alana's soaring high-pitched voice sending chills down my spine, earlier this year. "You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all" she repeats, before the assortment of d'n'b/dubstep beats kick in. What else is there to say?

 

 

 

11. Adele - Someone Like You

 

 

 

When Rolling In the Deep peaked at #2 (like Chasing Pavements), I sorta had the feeling Adele would never score a #1 hit after that. One amazing BRITs performance later, and she tops the chart for five weeks. Didn't see that coming. But it can't really be denied that Adele is the success story of music in 2011. At least we can thank the BRIT awards for something then, right?

 

 

 

 

10. DJ Fresh (ft. Sian Evans) - Louder

 

 

Easily one of my favourite #1 hits of the year, a loud and authentic drum 'n' bass anthem, complete with a fist-pumping sing-a-long chorus and an adrenaline-rushing finale. This is the summer hit of 2011, people.

 

 

 

 

9. Friendly Fires - Live Those Days Tonight

 

 

UNDERRATED....but then again, there's hundreds of song that are underrated...

 

Anyway, Friendly Fires make a return with a funky and vibrant 80/90's-influenced tune. What else did you expect from them? Best song I've heard from them so far. Listen and enjoy.

 

 

 

8. Example - Changed The Way You Kiss Me

 

 

Okay, so lyrically it certainly isn't up there with the best, but I can't help but love this song. The second time that dance beat drops, you just wanna get up and jump around it, if that makes any sense. Would probably sound great in a club (although I never really go clubbing, so I wouldn't know, would I?)

 

 

 

 

7. James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream

 

 

A follow-up to the amazing 'Limit to Your Love', a song which saw James' vocal taking the spotlight, contrary to his earlier EP's. 'The Wilhelm Scream' starts off rather calmly, "I don't know about my dreamin' anymore. All that I know is, I'm fallin', fallin', fallin', fallin'. Might as well fall in." he sings, before his voice begins to fade into a blurry wave of electronica, and doesn't let up until the end. JUST BRILLIANT (and so is the album!).

Edited January 31, 201213 yr by SevenSeize

 

6. Maroon 5 (ft. Christina Aguilera) - Moves Like Jagger

 

 

Anyone else see this as 2011's answer to "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"?. Just feels like it to me. Despite M5 and Christina's 2010 album releases making no real impression on the public (or in Christina's case, a slightly negative impression?), and therefore flopped in comparison to their earlier work. But after the two artists collaborated for the catchy-as-hell dance-pop hit "Moves Like Jagger", they were surprisingly propelled straight back toward the top of the charts. It won't be easy to follow up such a huge song, but at least they're relevant again, which it more than they could say in 2010.

Edited January 31, 201213 yr by SevenSeize

 

5. Adele - Rolling In The Deep

 

 

I don't really feel the need to explain Adele's success any further, since you already know. "We could have had it all" she bellows, in a strong and faultless vocal performance, along with some powerful lyrics as well as those chants from the backing singers, which is a nice touch. A future classic, by all means.

 

 

 

4. Fenech-Soler - Demons

 

 

Their previous two singles 'Stop and Stare' and 'Lies' left a good impression on me in 2010, but this song it just amazing. An infectious synth-pop track that deserved FAR more recognition than it got. If you haven't heard this song, LISTEN TO IT NOW :P.

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 201213 yr by SevenSeize

 

3. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

 

 

So after releasing one of my favourite albums with their self-titled 2008 debut LP, that apparently wasn't enough, so they decided to release quite possibly the best song they've ever done. Once the guitars kick into life, the song does the same. Fantastic songwriting effort as usual. Half-way through, it almost seems to split into a completely different song, which they've also done a few times on their first LP. While the follow-up album may not be quite as good as the first (that's alot to live up to though, surely?), but with three songs (this, along with Bedouin Dress and Battery Kinzie) making my End of Year list, it's certainly a job well done.

 

 

 

2. The Vaccines - If You Wanna

 

 

Wow. While I was definitely interested in how good their music would be at the start of the year, I wasn't really expecting to hear something this good from them. Forget Kings of Leon, here's an anthemic rock song to get behind! Although it's more indie-rock or alternative, BUT I DON'T CARE. ALL I KNOW IS THAT CHORUS IS BRILLIANT, AND THIS SONG WOULD BE MASSIVE IF MORE RADIO/TV STATIONS SUPPORTED IT. END OF STORY. :kink:

 

 

AND MY SONG OF 2011 IS...

 

 

1. Bombay Bicycle Club - Shuffle

 

 

Was this really any surprise? Well it shouldn't be. I'm actually starting to run out of words to praise these songs. Kicks off with a looping piano sample that delves straight into a fantastic bass. This song is alot catchier than I ever expected, and solely convinced me into purchasing the album. But since no one really cares about what I'm saying, I can only finish off by acclaiming this...BEST SONG OF 2011 and anyone who doesn't think so can go straight to hell.

 

 

Great rundown! Not mad keen on your #1 but there's some brilliant stuff further down. In my head Vaccines should have gone stratospheric with "If You Wanna", the "Yellow" to "Post-Break Up Sex"'s "Shiver" in a way. And then maybe the even better "Norgaard" might have been a bigger hit :(

Great rundown! Not mad keen on your #1 but there's some brilliant stuff further down. In my head Vaccines should have gone stratospheric with "If You Wanna", the "Yellow" to "Post-Break Up Sex"'s "Shiver" in a way. And then maybe the even better "Norgaard" might have been a bigger hit :(

 

Thanks Charlie!

 

It's a real shame The Vaccines aren't bigger, but since the genre isn't that popular, there wasn't much chance of it happening :( I can sorta see the Coldplay comparison there too (It would've been bloody fantastic for If You Wanna to get the same success as 'Yellow' though :P)

 

 

 

Good finish! If You Wanna is easily my favourite Vaccines song, so good there, and Shuffle is quite... catchy, considering it's not my kind of music normally.

 

:wub: The Wilhelm Scream, really wish it could have been big. Also suitable love to Guilt and Changed The Way You Kiss Me.

 

And while Alligator Sky is great, and still one of my favourites from that amazing album, I think he should have just gone with Deer In The Headlights as the first single, that's brilliant and would have fitted in with his fans and the music scene far more (or he could have just gone crazy and gone for Kamikaze :lol:). Nice to see him up so high in any case, I'd resigned myself to being the only fan of his left on here.

Good finish! If You Wanna is easily my favourite Vaccines song, so good there, and Shuffle is quite... catchy, considering it's not my kind of music normally.

 

:wub: The Wilhelm Scream, really wish it could have been big. Also suitable love to Guilt and Changed The Way You Kiss Me.

 

And while Alligator Sky is great, and still one of my favourites from that amazing album, I think he should have just gone with Deer In The Headlights as the first single, that's brilliant and would have fitted in with his fans and the music scene far more (or he could have just gone crazy and gone for Kamikaze :lol:). Nice to see him up so high in any case, I'd resigned myself to being the only fan of his left on here.

 

Thanks Eyes!

 

I suppose James Blake was never going to be commercially successful, but I'm glad the album was so well received.

 

Now that I think about it, Deer In the Headlights would've been a good lead single. Still not sure it would've got much exposure though :(