Hey Theo. Sorry i've missed most of this, but i love literally 99% of these! :wub:

 

Great to see fun. sneaking into the album chart.

Hey Theo. Sorry i've missed most of this, but i love literally 99% of these! :wub:

 

Great to see fun. sneaking into the album chart.

Haha, it's fine - thank you! I'll try and return the favour at some point :)

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3. Rebecca Ferguson – Heaven (non-single highlight: "Fairytale (Let Me Live My Life This Way)")

 

 

Coming in bronze medal position is 2010 X Factor runner-up with her début album, Heaven, first released in November 2011 (and heard by me a month later - far too late to "count" as a 2011 album). The album shocked me in that it wasn't really similar to anything that she performed on the show, and there was a nice mix of genres too (with the aforementioned "Fairytale", "Glitter & Gold" and "Mr. Bright Eyes" all being mid-tempo R&B-tinged pop, whilst there was oldschool dance-pop in "Too Good To Lose", along with the ballads such as "Nothing's Real But Love"). The album was re-released in October of last year, with the tracks "Backtrack" (#41) and her live cover of Drake's "Take Care" tacked on, amongst others. She's got a stunning voice, and despite her quiet personality, she's definitely one of my favourite contestants to come out of the UK version of the show (and I hope for another stellar album from her in the coming year)!

Edited January 3, 201312 yr by THEO.

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2. Cheryl – A Million Lights (non-single highlight: "Last One Standing")

 

 

Perhaps a surprising second-place finisher (in that most people probably expected it to be #1) is Cheryl, with her third album, and first since leaving The X Factor judging position, A Million Lights. The album is of a completely different genre to her first two efforts, and I think it suits her vocals a lot more (despite loving the first two albums as well, naturally). It was lead off by the Calvin Harris-produced "Call My Name", and there are many other dance songs on there, including the infectious "Screw You" (#27), "Last One Standing" and "Sexy Den A Mutha". It's definitely my favourite of her albums to-date though, so it's a shame that it garnered the least commercial success.

Edited January 3, 201312 yr by THEO.

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1. Leona Lewis – Glassheart (non-single highlight: "Shake You Up")

 

 

So beating off all other competition and becoming my album of the year is the third album from the third winner (or the first that most people would remember) of The X Factor, Leona Lewis! Released in October of last year, the album quickly wormed its way into my favourites of the year, with many strong melodies and a new direction shown on a few of the tracks, namely "Come Alive" and "Glassheart", which both venture into dark-pop/dubstep, as well as "Trouble" (#15) which is a darker take on the R&B-pop ballad that we're so used to hearing from Leona. There's also the fun up-beat oldschool R&B-pop song, "Shake You Up", which features a cute Leona speaking the intro asking to 'turn the music up a little bit please'. Overall, it's a greatly crafted album, with not one song that I'd choose to skip, and it's a shame that it took so long to be released, as it's unlikely that she's going to get a commercial hit again. But if this is Leona's last album, at least I can know that she ended on a high!

Edited January 4, 201312 yr by THEO.

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10. David Guetta ft. Sia – “Titanium” – 20-15-21-29-37-x(15)-31-8-2-2-1-1-3-3-5-7-7-11-13-20-26-31-35-37-x

 

 

stone-hard machine gun, fired at the ones who run

 

Opening up my top ten is the fifth(?) single taken from David Guetta's 2011 album Nothing But The Beat; the incredible "Titanium". I first heard this song in August 2011, and found guest vocalist Sia's voice to be beautiful (it being one of the first songs of hers that I've heard). It was then released officially last January and quickly climbed to become a personal chart #1 of mine - it's by far and away my favourite single from David Guetta, an artist who until this song seemed to be in major decline. They released a follow up collaboration, "She Wolf (Falling To Pieces)", which charted in my top ten, but has been long-forgotten by me now. Hopefully he has a break before trying again, because as this song shows, he can produce the goods when he wants to!

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9. Katy Perry – “Wide Awake” – 14-15-6-2-2-2-1-1-1-3-5-8-13-16-21-24-30-39-x

 

 

and it's too late, the story's over now, the end

 

The seventh single taken from Katy Perry's Teenage Dream project was the beautiful "Wide Awake". It was originally released with The Complete Confection edition of the album last March, and was instantly my favourite of the... 2 new tracks! It was then announced as the single (replacing "Dressin' Up", which was previously announced), and a beautiful lyric video was released, telling the tale of Katy's success with this album and its singles (essentially the soundtrack to the film Katy Perry: Part Of Me 3D, which I still haven't seen!). It was the perfect single to close the album, with beautiful vocals from Katy, and it's one of her most emotional songs. 2013 shall hopefully bring her third album, complete with many-a-hit.

Edited January 3, 201312 yr by THEO.

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8. fun. ft. Janelle Monáe – “We Are Young” – 1-1-4-5-3-3-2-4-6-3-5-7-7-9-10-13-14-15-16-18-22-26-30-30-33-40-x

 

 

the angels never arrived but I can hear the choir

 

US indie rockers are at #8 with their début single, "We Are Young". I first heard this song as performed by the cast of Glee in December 2011, but it wasn't until February of last year that I heard the original after it was rising the US iTunes chart rapidly. It was an instant hit with me, being different to a lot of current music at the time, and it had an infectious chorus too which helps. It eventually reached the UK charts and I was still loving it, hoping that it would eventually become a #1 here like it had in their homeland. It did so and in the process became one of the biggest hits of the year - and one of mine, spending an impressive six months within my top forty! I wasn't sold as much on follow-up "Some Nights" (after liking initially upon hearing the album of the same name), and they failed to gain any success similar to this on my chart.

Ashamed to say i haven't heard your top 3 albums, but i love the singles that have been released from them!

 

Perfect top 10 so far :wub: (Conor and Tulisa to follow? :kink:)

Ashamed to say i haven't heard your top 3 albums, but i love the singles that have been released from them!

 

Perfect top 10 so far :wub: (Conor and Tulisa to follow? :kink:)

Cheryl's is probably more to your tastes - I'm surprised that I've got such a MOR top ten albums! :lol:

 

Haha keep dreaming ;)

CURVEBALL ALERT!

 

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7. Girls Aloud – “Something New” – 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-3-4-4-7-

 

 

cause we're the leaders of the pack, boy you better watch your back

 

So shocking everyone (maybe) by not finishing in the top two, it's my favourite girlband ever and a group who I have waited a long time to hear new music by: Girls Aloud! Their comeback single leaked in October of last year, a few days before the Girls were due to make their comeback announcement. I was adamant to listen at first, but eventually caved. The song has strong Calvin Harris influences on the production (despite the Girls staying true to their original producers, Xenomania) and is an infectious girl-power anthem. It's not quite my favourite song of theirs (that lies with "The Promise"), but after them being gone from the music industry as a band for so long, I'd have been happy with anything - luckily they gave us that and more! It was, unfortunately, a commercial failure and I really hope that despite that, the record label see that there is demand for a new full-length album (after this only being one of four new songs on their second compilation LP Ten). Kimberley is due to release a musical theatre album next year, so we'll see what happens after that!

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6. Katy Perry – “The One That Got Away” – 36-23-7-2-3-1-1-2-3-3-5-6-9-11-16-18-18-18-24-31-30-33-x

 

 

I was June and you were my Johnny Cash, never one without the other we made a pact

 

At #6 is the sixth single lifted from Teenage Dream, "The One That Got Away", which originally peaked at #1 for me in November 2011, following a performance on The X Factor. It made #17 on my year-end countdown of 2011 as well, but it still feels like a 2012 song for me, due to the release of an acoustic version in January 2012, which was then performed in Radio 1's Live Lounge. Lyrically, the song is one of Katy's most moving, and it feels like the unofficial follow-up to "Thinking Of You" from her début album One Of The Boys. Unfortunately, it was the worst-performing of the eight singles in the UK, charting at #18, although it still sold very well and was charting for the third-longest length of time.

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5. Gotye ft. Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used To Know” – 2-3-6-5-4-2-4-6-10-8-12-13-18-22-23-30-30-33-x

 

 

you can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness

 

Opening up the top five is the biggest song in the world from last year, "Somebody That I Used To Know". This song first came to my attention in December 2011, and after a couple of listens, I wasn't overly impressed and found Gotye's vocals grating. Come release, when seemingly all of Buzzjack were obsessing over it, I gave it another listen and it was as if it was a completely different song - it clicked and I fell in love with the gorgeous vocals of both Gotye and Kimbra (especially the latter's, whose voice is quite similar to Katy Perry. On further examination of her solo material, it wasn't anywhere near as good). Unfortunately the album, Making Mirrors, didn't live up to the quality of this song, and they will both probably remain one-hit wonders.

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4. Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – 1-3-4-3-3-6-6-5-6-6-4-4-7-8-12-18-17-27-27-30-

 

 

so he calls me up and he's like, "I still love you," and I'm like... "I just... I mean this is exhausting, you know, like, we are never getting back together. Like, ever"

 

Taylor Swift returned in 2012 with her fourth album, Red, which she lead with this single. It's completely different to anything she'd released before, and shocked me on first hearing it. It's an upbeat pop song, produced by Max Martin of legendary fame, and tells the story of Taylor's frustration at her ex (speculated by some as being actor Jake Gyllenhaal). It clicked with me instantly, whilst taking its time to grow on others, due to straying away from Taylor's usual mid-tempo pop-country numbers. It became her first Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit, as well as becoming her first #1 on my chart, before spending 20 weeks to-date on chart. Follow-up "I Knew You Were Trouble." (complete with dubstep breakdown) is currently at #2 in my chart, and will be a shoe-in to enter my 2013 end-of-year chart.

Edited January 3, 201312 yr by THEO.

No way. :o

 

Surely we won't have a 3rd shock and see "Call My Name" missing #1 though? I do love Leona's album (along with most of the albums in your top 15). Extremely pleased to see Taylor do so well and beat Gotye (I like the song itself but I just hate his version :lol: :().

No way. :o

 

Surely we won't have a 3rd shock and see "Call My Name" missing #1 though? I do love Leona's album (along with most of the albums in your top 15). Extremely pleased to see Taylor do so well and beat Gotye (I like the song itself but I just hate his version :lol: :().

I'm guessing that shock is at Girls Aloud? :lol:

 

#3 is coming up, so you'll find out... Glad to see you have great taste in albums! Red would be higher, but the last three months of 2012 gave some excellent albums, and that contained a fair bit more filler than others (mainly due to Taylor's obsession with releasing albums with 16+ tracks!) What's wrong with Gotye's "version"? :P And which versions do you like? :P

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3. Beyoncé – “Love On Top” – 22-23-18-25-29-31-26-19-19-28-25-33-27-5-2-4-4-1-1-1-1-1-3-5-8-10-16-21-23-27-30-31-34-x

 

 

when I need you make everything stop, finally you put my love on top.

 

Beyoncé is the second artist to have an entry chart two years' running. After appearing last year at #16, she also improves to a new position, as my 3rd best song of the year. "Love On Top" is a tale very much about Jay-Z and the conception (is that the right word) of their child, Blue Ivy Carter, which was born in January of last year, just as this song was becoming a hit. It's incredibly infectious as well, featuring old-school Motown/R&B vibes, as well as something ridiculous like five key changes! It's not even my favourite song from the album it was lifted from, 4, which just shows how ridiculously high quality the singles were. Bey only made #2 in 2011 on my year-end chart, so with new music due to be released this month, could she finally top my end-of-year chart in 2013?

I'm guessing that shock is at Girls Aloud? :lol:

 

#3 is coming up, so you'll find out... Glad to see you have great taste in albums! Red would be higher, but the last three months of 2012 gave some excellent albums, and that contained a fair bit more filler than others (mainly due to Taylor's obsession with releasing albums with 16+ tracks!) What's wrong with Gotye's "version"? :P And which versions do you like? :P

 

It is.

 

I do agree about "Red" having some filler, perhaps you should cut it out and pretend it's a fantastic 12 track album. :kink: Everything about Gotye's vocals! I find it pretty dull but this version from The Voice US is pretty great imo, helps to liven it up.

 

 

"Love On Top" :wub: My favourite from "4" but that was a great album overall, excited to see what she comes up with next and hopefully it won't flop as much.

It is.

 

I do agree about "Red" having some filler, perhaps you should cut it out and pretend it's a fantastic 12 track album. :kink: Everything about Gotye's vocals! I find it pretty dull but this version from The Voice US is pretty great imo, helps to liven it up.

"Love On Top" :wub: My favourite from "4" but that was a great album overall, excited to see what she comes up with next and hopefully it won't flop as much.

I might try and make a playlist if I'm bored :P I don't think his voice is dull at all! It leaves you hanging on waiting for the next note (despite obviously knowing what it is). I like that version, although she does sound like she's trying to shout over the instrumental during the chorus when it gets quite loud :lol: Have you heard of Frisky and Mannish? I went to see them in November and they did a parody version of how it was "supposed to sound" :lol: You can listen to it

from 2:25 (although the whole video is amusing). I don't think 4 was a flop - an underperformance, but definitely not a flop.

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2. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe” – 11-5-4-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-3-4-7-6-8-13-13-17-24-25-27-29-31-28-39-x

 

 

your stare was holdin', ripped jeans, skin was showin', hot night, wind was blowin'

 

Perhaps a surprising entry to the top two is Canadian Idol contestant and girl-next-door Carly Rae Jepsen. The song was one of my defining songs of Summer 2012, and was only stopped by reaching #1 in my weekly chart by the song above it on this countdown. It did, however, get four weeks at #1 in the UK charts, becoming a million-seller in the process! The song is a proud bubblegum pop song, and helped to bring that genre of music back into the UK charts. Lyrically, the song is one of the most iconic of the year, with nonsensical lyrics such as "before you came into my life, I missed you so bad" and "but here's my number, so call me maybe?". It's all part of the charm of her act though, and she went on to surprise me with her début album (or second, including 2008 independently-released Tug of War), which was my #5 album of 2012. Unfortunately she's had no singles success past this, excluding "Good Time" with Owl City (#31), but if the right songs were pushed from Kiss, they could be huge! We'll see what happens though...