#24-#21

 

24. Little Mix - Cannonball

 

 

06-01-02-05-17-18-26

 

'so come on courage teach me to be shy'

 

AND WHAT. Yes I prefer it to their original songs so far, maybe it's just great to hear Cannonball sung by a female group but I really think it adds a whole pile of emotion, and I can never fail to tear up at the final chorus. I LOVE YOU LITTLE MIX.

 

This was a big beneficiary of me including last December into my tally for the year too, besides, I had barely any time to appreciate it last year - this year has added a whole load of new plays and it never fails to be lovely. Best X Factor winners single (Hallelujah and When We Collide not far behind, seriously like too many of these).

 

23. Ellie Goulding - Figure 8

 

 

06-10-07-02-01-01-02-05-04-05 (still charting)

 

'and lovers hold onto anything'

 

Before I get into Figure 8, I REPENT for ever hating Anything Could Happen, it deserves a place in my top 150 now. OK? This was an instant highlight when I tentatively listened to Halcyon and has never left my top 10 since, getting a spell at #1 with the announcement of it as a single. I do think Ellie Goulding can near do no wrong with her tones and production, and this is one of her best, which means it's incredible. Probably the highest for a song released in the last few months of the year, I think everything above it is slightly older.

 

22. PSY - Gangnam Style

 

 

24-22-13-11-16-20-10-01-04-07-06-12-23-20

 

'oppan gangnam style'

 

I'm sure this needs no introduction. It seemed to be a minor curiosity when I first heard it, a K-Pop novelty with a funny video that would get forgotten soon enough. Then it got big and I got swept up in the hype - there is nothing quite like being in a club and yelling 'OPPAN GANGNAM STYLE' to the person next you, it is an iconic song that I'm sure will be remembered for a generation. Maybe in the way Barbie Girl or something is remembered now but if it heralds the advance of K-Pop then I will love it for all eternity. As a BIG hit, it's one of the best this year - and as that rarity of a K-Pop hitting #1 in Séyetana but not Daehun, I can safely say this is my favourite Asian song of the year.

 

21. Azealia Banks - 212

 

 

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'I’m f***ing with you, cutie-q, what’s your dick like homie, what are you into'

 

I suppose it is fitting that this is at #21. In a way. This, one of the more fun hits of the year, and the one my chart was inspired by, is also one of the most quotable hits, things like 'imma ruin you c**t' and 'whatcha gonna do when I premiere' are now iconic. That I know all the words is also incredibly fun hearing it when I'm out. And I love the video, one of the best videos, if not THE best of the year for me, all down to Azealia's facial expressions and looking so CUTE while she's rapping out the profane lyrics faster than any of your faves ever could. It is the hits that premiered late last year than were in general best this year and 212 is no exception. Azealia, you living legend.

 

Well I did it, I got to the top 20. That can start tomorrow.

I'm a fan of Alone Again too, it was a #6 in my weekly chart but just missed out on my EOY top 100 at the unpublished #103! She was only every going to be a one hit wonder though, especially thanks to AATW. It's a VERY rare but amazing feeling when some random BJSC act that you've entered suddenly blows up out of nowhere, it's happened to me with Sara Bareilles, Pixie Lott, Example and Caro Emerald!

 

Yeah, seeing 'The Game' getting handled awfully by AATW was sad but expected - it sounds very much like Alone Again but without sampling Heart so it wasn't exactly going to win any points for originality in its release but less than top 600 on iTunes? :(

 

BJSC needs more of that, sometimes songs getting big means they lose some of their 'uniqueness' that I like in entries but it is awesome seeing them get big, makes me feel so hipsterish that I knew them prior (and proves we are tastemakers and that other more incredible songs in BJSC have dat hit potential). And some of yours are impressive, if I have my BJSC history right you entered Pixie a full year before she hit #1, not bad, not bad.

Get Free was 231st, so not far off the cutoff point at all. Which is good, I would be very hard pressed to keep to a top 100 and a top 50 would be impossible, I have so much love filling my heart. :D

 

What were the other two top 20s then? Titanium was my #1 last year, I'm never sure what year it really belongs to (but 2011 really). I do take all that as a compliment , it's not bad music snobbery when you have taste enough to send St. Lucia and Electrovamp in the same year.

They would be Sweet Nothing and Gotye I think!

 

I have completely forgotten about 212 being a 2012 song though, and your countdown has reminded me, so make that 5 really (really) good tracks.

212 and Figure 8 *.* AMAZING.

Putting "Water To Ice" high was one of many good things about my countdown. :angry:

 

"Cannonball" :o Quite pleasing, I think it gets too much hate, my favourite winners single as well.

20. Timoteij - Stormande Hav

 

 

01-04-07-16-28

 

'På ett virvlande stormande HAAAAAAAAV''

 

The second of three Eurovision-related #1s, and the second-highest song from Melodifestivalen this year, but not content with being beaten by Loreen in everything.. Stormande Hav is my highest foreign language song this year. The folky-sounding riff brings me in and I stay for Timoteij's delivery - again proving why they are one of the best girlbands around. This was actually my introduction to Timoteij and what an introduction it was, I still count this as my favourite among their songs. The drop into the chorus is one of the best girlband bridge-jumps in modern times. Seriously lovely.

 

19. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

 

 

45-05-02-05-09-13-11-13-24-36

 

'kiss me hard in the pouring rain'

 

Born To Die completely and utterly sold me on Lana Del Rey. Unlike Video Games, which still has something lacking, it has emotion, longing, and yes, the lyrics are towards the depressing side. That is what makes it utterly wonderful. Lana has accepted her fate that she will eventually die, her disinterested vocal makes this clear, and that is why you must take a walk on the wild side of life (and have fun in the meantime). INSPIRING. Added to this we have a wonderful video, crashing drums and interesting, changing vocals, and this is a triumph I thought Lana could never better (spoiler: she has).

18. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

 

 

03-05-09-15-15-23-09-09-14-15-16-20-25-22-34-40

 

'you would hide away and find your piece of mind, with some indie record that's much cooler than mine'

 

Autumn was coming and my new love for Taylor Swift was blossoming when she started off a fresh era with something that really wouldn't sound out of place on an Avril Lavigne album. This means good. Taylor doing pop-rock and moving into other styles of music is an excellent departure from being the queen of country-pop that she's normally recognised as being. I was initially hit by it a lot, but it held up far far better than I was expecting and ended up being one of the songs this year that I loved for the longest, it takes a LOT to tire on me. It honestly felt like it was never ever leaving my chart. :basil:

 

 

17. Florence & The Machine - Spectrum (Say My Name)

 

 

01-03-04-08-15-19-31-35-39-40-29

 

'when we first came here, we were cold and we were clear'

 

I paid no attention to this when I got Ceremonials. I'm awful with listening to album tracks, I will pick out one or two and then listen to only them and the singles. Hence I didn't listen to Spectrum properly until it was released as a single. I was bloody thankful that they had released it and Calvin had remixed it - bear in mind I've barely ever listened to the remix - as I think it might be my favourite Florence song now (and she's excellent for the most part too). The chorus is powerful, and awesome, and while it isn't my favourite #1, it was the number one this year I was genuinely the most pleased to see get there, as it seemed like such an outside bet before.

 

I do want to get as much done tonight as possible but I have a hacking cough and that's distracting. :(

18. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

 

It honestly felt like it was never ever leaving my chart. :basil:

 

And it never, ever, should!

 

Queen Taylor slaying PSY & Lana. :D Never got the fuss over "Spectrum", there's much better on the album.

16. Laleh - Some Die Young

 

 

21-02-03-04-06-12-18-30-42-70

 

'I will tell it to the children, if we have some, if we have some'

 

If you'd told me at the very beginning of the year that one of my favourite songs of the year would be a huge Norwegian song by a quirky-voiced songstrel... well yes, I would say that would be pretty plausible but the point is my love for this came out of nowhere. When it was entered into BJSC I had heard it before but it washed right over me. Now, it's one of the most addictive songs of the year for me, just by how happy and sad it sounds at the same time. It has a similar message to Born To Die but sings it far more positively, 'you'd better hold on' is just beautiful. Laleh has emotional tics in her voice which make you ready to cry at points, and it is the sort of song I would feel happy crying to. I have played it 81 times, enough to rank 7th in plays for the year and not counting my own entries or ones which have since become big (the one I'm referring to there is due to Tinnmark also) my most played BJSC entry this year - and the closest one to making #1. It's just stunningly beautiful - and my second favourite discovery of the year from that contest.

 

15. Labrinth feat. Emeli Sandé - Beneath Your Beautiful

 

 

03-05-07-23-38-x-25-19-08-04-02-09-17-21-30-23-17-12

 

'I'm gonna climb atop your ivory tower'

 

Listening to Electronic Earth - this was about the only new song on there worth keeping, a disappointment from an artist who had had a 100% hit rate for me prior to that. Interestingly, prior to this, Emeli Sandé had a near perfect hit rate, she hadn't quite turned as bland as she has now. Now, I would say this is both artist's best... and... a million times better than the rest of the shite they released in 2012. Something about the way this is sung appeals to me loads. The slightly imperfect way they sing feels real and not forced at all - and the song builds to a very tantalising climax. It's telling when I would happily listen to a big hit no matter how many times I've previously heard it, and enjoy it all the way through, and this is one of them.

And it never, ever, should!

 

Queen Taylor slaying PSY & Lana. :D Never got the fuss over "Spectrum", there's much better on the album.

 

But it has now. :(

 

I Knew Were Trouble has taken over from it as my favourite song of the last week of 2012. Woo.

My good friend Bré, this section is for you. See you in Reading tomoz bbz xx

 

14. First Aid Kit - Emmylou

 

 

25-10-07-04-09-24-x-30-40-36-31

 

'but I'm not asking for a storm'

 

My favourite BJSC discovery of the year, thank you Atonement. Like the rest of the top 3, I had heard it and knew of it's existence but it was only through being entered that I listened to and began loving it. I cannot express how good those vocals sound to me, like warm honey at just the right temperature, or something ready to give you a soft hug. It's of a sad nature but the emotions are running RIFE throughout the song - and they never let you go until the instant the song finishes. If First Aid Kit have anything like this on their first album I will race to that immediately, I need more folk-pop like this in my life. It cries out, longing to be loved, and I don't know how anyone could say no to such a sweet offer.

 

obligatory 'cry' emoticon :cry: :wub:

 

13. Cover Drive - Twilight

 

 

18-02-02-04-07-19-22-34-x-35

 

'but recently I don't know what to do, I'm losing it over you'

 

The highest song on my countdown not to reach #1, all of my top 12 have been at my top spot at one point or another, so if you look in my chart archive and take out all the songs that have already been on my last chart not in December, you should have all that's left. I think my love for Cover Drive this year has been almost as prevalent as my love for Alexis Jordan was last year, despite me only having ONE Cover Drive sig (Amanda is so so hot though, that's why).

 

You should know I regret all of this:

 

I saw this yesterday, I think? Either way, it's nowhere near as good as Lick Ya Down, and the chorus is annoying at worst and weak at best.

 

I thought they were an interesting act with quite a bit to offer, this isn't showing that though.

 

That can not have been me.

 

Two months later:

 

Certainly didn't expect it to be a grower, but it is.

 

Chorus is epic, it has far less potential to be annoying than Lick Ya Down, and it's Barbadian! 'I can feel this beat getting stronger' :wub:

 

I actually want to hear the album now, I'd marked Lick Ya Down as a one-off, hopefully this can get much bigger.

 

THAT is me. One of my favourite UK #1s of the year, and certainly my favourite 'floppy' one. I know no one who wouldn't laugh at this in real life (not in a good way, in a 'what is this shit' way :() but it's one of my favourite pop songs of the year, interesting progression, a chorus that just sounds cool, and singing about a time of day that normally produces good music. Fantastic stuff, I hope Cover Drive get a second album so we can get more of this. This isn't even their last entry, of course, they produced something even more beautiful than this.

12. Nightwish - The Crow, The Owl And The Dove

 

 

25-20-16-10-01-02-07-05-11-23-40-40-72-66

 

'An owl came to me, old and wise, pierced right through my youth, I learned it's ways, envied it's sense, but needed nothing it had'

 

The second-highest Nightwish song on my chart, and their 3rd #1 for their second single from Imaginaerum. The video was apparently done through a fan competition, that's why it's cartoony and all. It's a beautiful song, and the closest Nightwish will ever come to doing pop, I imagine most people here would like this, maybe even more than Turn Loose The Mermaids so if you are a pop fan, give it a listen, its meaning is beautiful and its style epic. Also probably the most tranquil you will ever ever ever hear a metal band so this song is really unique. Fantastic ballad, different from Nightwish's usual fare, and if radio had bothered giving it a chance internationally, it could have been a 'My Immortal' for the 2010s - yes, I am comparing it to that godly song, although it doesn't sound much like it. A lot of this commentary time was spent thinking what it sounds like, and I've concluded it sounds like nothing I know of, which just enhances its beauty. :wub:

 

11. Swedish House Mafia - Don't You Worry Child

 

 

03-04-02-03-09-01-02-06-08-16-12-15 (still charting)

 

'see heaven's got a plan for you'

 

Probably the dance hit of the year for me, and what an apt goodbye single from one of the best things to happen to dance in the 2010s so far. 'Heaven's got a plan for you' resonates strongly with me with an unusual volume of emotion for a dance hit, and it finished off a trio of fantastic number ones in October - also the number one on my 19th birthday. It's always the big hits I want to write more for, but everything's been said about them already and on things like The Crow.. I'm just trying to get you to listen to it. To conclude, Don't You Worry Child is inspirational, emotional, danceable, listening for both at home and in clubs and speaks to a generation. Literally everything that you could want in a song.

10. dream beats feat. The F▲CE - Love Stuck

 

 

39-11-09-02-02-01-03-08-04-04-04-02-01-01-04-06-19-32-x-23-35-36

 

'keep me hanging on a dream, I don't wanna be love stuck'

 

I'm still very personally proud of that top 10 run. As am I with its performance in BJSC, one of two Séyetana-defining hits. I could have sent this two months before I actually did, opting for flops instead and all the while expecting someone else to take this. I was REALLY surprised when nobody did, especially on 47, when I confirmed it in a hurry because I thought there was a confirmation battle with at least SOMEONE (and then changed to Porcupine and that went super well) so it was my only option for 48, and it turned out it was a huge hit in the waiting.

 

That video is incredibly cheap, but at least they are taking their clothes off so win-win (for the two girls that is, not the crossdresser). As for the song itself, which I've ignored so far, it is SUBLIME. Ticking, flowing instrumental to start us off before the song really kicks into gear with shouts of 'Love Stuck', and from there the song never slows down, alternating between rave anthem and pleading disco ballady stuff, all aided by the fabulous production from Dream Beats. It wouldn't sound too out of place on the top 40 show and would be perfect in a club (or maybe at a cheesy night if you want to get strict here) so success please (will never happen). This is the best thing to emerge from the underground British scene this year, helped along by some canny Scandinavian producers - so lets hear a bit more from The F▲CE fairly sharpish, although there's been nothing since this and 3 demos (and the extended mix of Love Stuck, which just adds to the joy of the radio edit *.*) so I'm not holding out too much hope. :(

9. Gotye feat. Kimbra - Somebody That I Used To Know

 

 

29-31-45-50-x-27-16-04-01-03-03-04-09-12-23-31-46-65-66-71-x-28-20-26-35-35-33

 

'you treat me like a stranger and it feels so rough'

 

If you don't know this then you live in a hole. It's also the biggest hit that I know that has never ever ever suffered from overplay - although I might be in a very small minority on that one. The progression is so interesting and unique, there are both male and female voices on here, and it is the most marvellous grower I know. Even if Gotye never gets a hit again (and he probably won't) he has made his mark on music with this genre-crossing song. Aside from a few people here on Buzzjack I have seen love for it seemingly everywhere I go, a masterpiece of modern music and the rightful best-seller of the year, it hasn't had the cultural impact that Call Me Maybe has but it is a more sublime song. This and Titanium defined the charts of early 2012 and as two songs to go down as classics, I find they compliment each other very well - one the skilled dance hit, the other the subtle indie hit.

 

Either way, will be happy to hear this on the radio any time and may commercial music move in this direction soon please.

 

Side note: The Star Wars parody makes my life worth living.

Ways to ruin a countdown #101: include Gotye.

8. Rihanna - Where Have You Been

 

 

04-04-08-10-12-11-18-47-57-74-x-10-15-11-14-12-17-13-06-01-01-01-03-05-06-12-19-29

 

'are you hiding from me, somewhere in the crowd'

 

Rihanna is no stranger to my top 10, in fact I'm such a fan of her that I haven't had a top 10 without her since 2006 (with fabricated lists in my mind for the earlier ones of course) - and so one of her better singles making it all the way up here should be no surprise. I got obsessed with Where Have You Been for a long while after getting Talk That Talk, near half the year in fact, and it eventually spent 3 weeks at #1. The video is probably her best unless I've forgotten anything obvious, so many different elements harmonising, and all of them classic Rihanna.

 

One thing unusual about Where Have You Been is that it is one of the few times I can tolerate an extended breakdown, the one here actually being fairly interesting and certainly not annoying. That the song is half RiRiBallad™ and half RiRi club song helps its case immensely, it's everything I want or need in an upbeat song and the line 'where have you been all my life' is perfect. One of her best songs ever yet it's not even her top song here. The absence of a certain single of hers up to now should have proved that but anyway.

This is a very nice countdown so far! Kinda encouraging me to diversify my tastes and explore a bit deeper into music for 2013. I just hope it isn't ruined by a shitty number one :P

 

(I never knew that the drummer in that 'Love Stuck' video was cross-dressing! Didn't even ring a bell when they were stripping :lol:)

7. Nightwish - Turn Loose The Mermaids

 

 

06-04-04-01-01-02-03-12-15-23-45-43-57-71-65

 

'at the end of the river, the sundown beams, all the relics of a life long lived, here weary traveller rest your wand, sleep the journey from your eyes'

 

For a long while, my best performing entry in BJSC. Still my favourite song I have ever entered to the contest and quite probably my most inspired. Turn Loose The Mermaids is one of the few songs I have listened to more than 150 times, and still sounds as amazing as it ever did - full of wonder, mystery and intrigue. Nightwish describe it as a Celtic ballad, and you can certainly see that, it feels ancient and grand, the mermaids/sirens calling out to the wandering man to lay down and sleep, for his life has been worth living. A confluence of beautiful vocals from Anette (she elevated Nightwish into an 11/10 band and it's a huge shame she's left) and timeless instrumentals,I was and am still addicted to the pure beauty of it, and if, in the roleplaying world of BJSC, if I could make any song my national anthem, this would be it.

 

It was an instant highlight on Imaginaerum and as soon as the idea came into my head I knew I had to send it, to get more exposure to this exquisite song, and finishing top 10 was a sign that it had been a good idea. MUCH LOVE to this.

This is a very nice countdown so far! Kinda encouraging me to diversify my tastes and explore a bit deeper into music for 2013. I just hope it isn't ruined by a shitty number one :P

 

(I never knew that the drummer in that 'Love Stuck' video was cross-dressing! Didn't even ring a bell when they were stripping :lol:)

 

Do, exploring new music can never ever hurt, and if you know where to look it can be amazing. Oh don't worry, my number one is AMAZING (naturally) although I don't THINK you hate anything left unless I've forgotten something obvious. (and you gave 12 points to Turn Loose The Mermaids so unless you've majorly gone off it that's included too)

 

I didn't notice until it got pointed out to me in a BJSC thread when I referred to them as a girlband. :lol: But it is fairly obvious once you know.

6. Rihanna - Diamonds

 

 

02-01-02-03-03-09-06-10-10-11-09-09-10-06 (still charting)

 

'i chose to be happy'

 

Never left my top 11 yet. That's longevity. From the moment I heard this, I knew Rihanna had done it again, this was going to be something special, and it was. Ballady midtempos from her are really what I live for, her vocals are to die for on them, and she has really matured from the past. Unapologetic may be full of references to that doomed relationship, but her singles so far are promoting a cleaner, radio-friendly image for Rihanna, and that's largely good when it produces things like this.

 

Listening to it through earphone speakers on full volume really gives me the impression that this is a song I am going to love for a long time and probably will not get bored of until the end of 2013 - it's beautiful and inspiring, and my favourite #1 of the year (if we ignore the two-year-spanning-Titanium). It's only due to the total life the top 5 give me that it's not quite up there. While I think Talk That Talk is more consistent, this eclipses anything on there and gets better with every listen - only time will tell if Stay has the same.. ahem.. staying power to reach the top 10 in 2013.

 

As I'm all whacked out now and am spending a lot of my weekend on a coach traversing the country, the top 5 will be revealed on Sunday evening - but any of my fanz may feel welcome to predict things - if you can work out any of the top 5 (which I won't confirm the identity of BECAUSE) but really if you've been paying any attention to either my chart or my music-related posts, you should be able to figure out most if not all of them - it just remains to be seen what order they are in. I do think I've dragged this out quite long enough, I'd finish it tonight if I didn't have to get some sleep.