Here's a decision you guys will eat me alive for:

 

#47 BEST: Pitbull f/John Ryan - "Fireball"

3rd Single, Globalization

US Peak: #23, UK Peak: #49

 

 

I admit that I am one of the few people on Buzzjack who actually like this song. Here's the reason why: after "Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)", he didn't have that many Latin fusion singles, so it was certainly refreshing to see this side of his discography once more. The classic "Pitbull sampling a song" is sorta there with the sped up "Tequila Song" in the chorus, which makes me want to break out into some sort of salsa dance :) While it does seem a bit trite, it was back to the classic Latin fusion Pitbull I grew up with. Now let's see how "Time Of Our Lives" does.

Fireball is incredible for all the reasons you stated. It's Pitbull at his best, without a doubt. And yes I am happy to see Latch on the 'best' side of the list :D

New day, let's get another entry in!

 

#46 BEST: Katy Perry - "This Is How We Do"

5th single, Prism

US Peak: #24, UK Peak: #33

 

 

From one song hated by most of Buzzjack to another, "This Is How We Do" was, for me, one of the standouts from Prism, and I was both surprised and ecstatic that this became a single. Katy, as we all know, is a hit tycoon, but this era seemed to have been hit-and-miss lately. But while this has been her most inconsistent era yet, she still knows how to crank out some amazing videos. The Mariah hologram thingy? Priceless. The Audrey Hepburn wig? Genius. The twerking ice cream cone? Meme-worthy. While it did underperform through Katy's standards, this is by far one of her most underrated singles.

 

Also, I can't scratch out the fact how well this sounds with Duke Dumont's "I Got U"...

#45 BEST: Rixton - "Me and My Broken Heart"

Lead Single, Let The Road

UK Peak: #1, US Peak: #14

 

 

For this to ONLY peak at #14 in the US is pretty much a crime. While I do get the cons of liking this track: "Lonely No More" meets "Thank You" meets "This Love", English pop band trying to not look like a one-hit wonder... It's just too damn catchy! This was one of my most played songs in the spring quarter of 2014, and... who can blame me? For me, this was one of those tracks that I was against at first, mainly because I thought this was too Hot Adult for me, but it did really make an appeal to me, and I'm glad this took #1 after the utter garbage that is "It's My Birthday" and over the underwhelming noise that is "Your Love".

 

Too bad "Wait On Me" had to ruin any momentum they had.

#44 BEST: Maroon 5 - "Animals"

2nd Single, V

US Peak: #3, UK Peak: #27

 

 

Baby I'm preying on you tonight, hunt you down, eat you alive...

 

About a year before this impacted, Martin Garrix released a song of the same name, and it was a breakthrough for him. While the Maroon 5 song wasn't as revolutionary, you damn bet it was catchy. It's usually their nitty-gritty singles that become my favorite singles, as with "Wake Up Call" and "One More Night". This was no different. It lays down a hard-hitting Melody at 96 BPM, and the wolf howl really got to me. Teen Wolf would be missing out on not putting this song in one of the show's promos.

 

The only bad this about this song is the video, which is hella disturbing and no, Adam, we don't want to see tattoos and glasses because it makes you look like a pedophile.

#43 BEST: Clean Bandit f/Jess Glynne - "Rather Be"

3rd Single, New Eyes

US Peak: #10, UK Peak: #1

 

 

We all know the story: "This was #1 for four weeks before being knocked off by Sam Smith's "Money On My Mind" :jameela:" Strangely, that was around the time I started getting into the song. In fact, I got into it so much that I wasn't able to fully appreciate this as a US hit when it peaked here (mainly due to oversaturation). This happened to also be the one song that got me into whatever this deep house revival has sparked within new material, next to "Latch". I love Clean Bandit's use of the cello so much more than the actual production, though, mainly because it's more natural than the typical house track.

#42 BEST: Lana Del Rey - "West Coast"

Lead Single, Ultraviolence

US Peak: #17, UK Peak: #21

 

 

Coming up at #42 is Ultraviolence's bridesmaid to his relentless stanning for Taylor. Now, I've had an interest in Lana since "Video Games" came into my radar in 2012, and both "Summertime Sadness" and its remix really got me into her the next year. "West Coast" for me was a mix of the typical and something new from her - mainly because it reminded me of "Sweater Weather". While I thought this was gonna be a sleeper hit on the radio, it eventually didn't impact on pop (unfortunately). This mainly got me through my Lana thirst during the spring of my first year in college, but lack of airplay and any sign of promo eventually got me out of it until the album release.

 

The remix with Zhu is also pretty cool.

#41 BEST: Iggy Azalea f/MØ - "Beg For It"

6th/Lead Single, The New Classic/Reclassified

US Peak: #27, UK Peak: #111

 

 

"Iggy, Iggy, Iggy can't you see? That everyone wants to put their hands on me.!"

 

This song is seriously infectious, and while this was one of her first worldwide flops, it still proves that she still has her flow, albeit her... problematic image right now. Whenever she includes features, they're pretty unique and unexpected. Bringing in Charli and Rita before was certainly two of the shocks that got her to the top of the charts. While I'm still aghast at this not making top 10 on Billboard while she's had so much success, I'm sure she can still pull ahead of the pack.

RECAP:

 

Worst:

41.) Eminem f/Sia - "Guts Over Fear"

42.) Nico & Vinz - "In Your Arms"

43.) Jacob Latimore f/T-Pain - "Heartbreak Heard Around The World"

44.) Nickelback - "What Are You Waiting For?"

45.) Jake Miller - "First Flight Home"

46.) Bobby Shmurda - "Hot N***a"

47.) Jason DeRulo - "Trumpets"

48.) Hot Chelle Rae - "Don't Say Goodnight"

49.) Jason Aldean - "Burnin' It Down"

50.) Union J - "Tonight (We Live Forever)"

 

Best:

41.) Iggy Azalea f/MØ - "Beg For It"

42.) Lana Del Rey - "West Coast"

43.) Clean Bandit f/Jess Glynne - "Rather Be"

44.) Maroon 5 - "Animals"

45.) Rixton - "Me And My Broken Heart"

46.) Katy Perry - "This Is How We Do"

47.) Pitbull f/John Ryan - "Fireball"

48.) Disclosure f/Sam Smith - "Latch"

49.) Calvin Harris f/John Newman - "Blame"

50.) Lady Gaga - "G.U.Y."

We now get to the point of the countdown where most of the best have had a lasting effect on me (bar "Latch" from the last part), and where the songs on the worst had some of the highest burn rates.

 

#40 BEST: Sheppard - "Geronimo"

Lead Single, Bombs Away

US Peak: #78 (still charting), UK Peak: TBA

 

 

I know what you're thinking: why can't this American wait for this song to smash in the US, as he has done many times over? Here's the reason: my old forum was full of Aussies who kept praising the song over and over and I just couldn't wait for it to smash on Pop, so the second it impacted a different format, I was all on it. Technically, I was all on it over the end of the summer. I regret not hearing this while it was big down under now. It's a very uplifting song, and during my first semester of my second year in college, it really pumped me up.

 

#40 WORST: Nicole Scherzinger - "Run"

2nd Single, Big Fat Lie

UK Peak: #46

 

 

This was one of those songs I never really cared for and I was burned out on it by the first 30 seconds of hearing it. I mean, it just sounds like Nicole is trying too hard to be Christina Aguilera or, God forbid, Leona Lewis. Just NO. While I would have liked for the song to pick up near the end, I also would have liked some consistency within the song itself. I don't think either of those happened, and this just became forgettable.

Edited February 18, 201510 yr by Cody Slayberry

#39 BEST: Asher Monroe f/Chris Brown - "Memory"

Lead Single, On My Way - Part 1

Highest Peak: #4 Billboard Dance/Club

 

 

So I looked at the BJSC and I was surprised to see "Here With You" on there. Sadly, that didn't make either of his EP's #oops, but the superior single of all of his appears on this countdown. I heard it back in December and I thought it was going to wane off like all of Asher's other singles (bar "Here With You" but that obviously had such high longevity for me), but somehow, the video appeared and it grew on me, and then when it was about to impact in the US, it grew on me again. Safe to say this song is unstoppable :P

 

#39 WORST: Sam Smith - "Like I Can"

4th Single, In The Lonely Hour

UK Peak: #9

 

 

I'm having serious issues with Sam Smith in general. I want to like him, he has amazing qualities in his live performances and interviews that make me want to like him, his songs are super relatable, but the one problem is this: BALLAD OVERLOAD. Tried as I might, I couldn't get into this, mainly because I barely care whenever he does his ballads.

#38 BEST: Ella Henderson - "Ghost"

Lead Single, Chapter One

US Peak: #22 (still charting), UK Peak: #1

 

 

Ella Henderson is definitely one of the year's most watched artists in the UK, and now she's become the US's next breakout star. She smashed into the top with this song, becoming one of the most successful artists in Season 9 of The X Factor UK (next to James Arthur but not like anyone cares about him now). It's such a euphoric and glorious track, and I'm wishing this talented young woman so much success in the future.

 

#38 WORST: Ben Haenow - "Something I Need"

X Factor UK Season 11 Winner's Single

UK Peak: #1

 

 

From one X Factor alum to another, this one is one of the worst for 1.) not being as good as the original, and 2.) being just as snooze-worthy as most of the coronation singles nowadays. He's like the typical contestant you would see on American Idol. There's nothing exciting about him. Obviously, I'm not British, but I know a few people on Buzzjack feel the same way.

#37 BEST: Zedd f/Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant - "Find You"

From The Divergent Soundtrack

US Peak: #101

 

 

I actually wish Zedd was liked more as his music came along, but obviously after making something like "Clarity" it seems to be physically impossible lol. Anyway, it was nice to hear Miriam and KING MATTHEW KOMA on a Zedd track again after their two features previously. The bad side is if you wanted to wait until the movie to listen to this, it played at the tail-end, right after "Beating Heart".

 

#37 WORST: Sam Smith - "I'm Not The Only One"

4th Single, In The Lonely Hour

US Peak: #5, UK Peak: #3

 

 

I also did try to like this, but it was too slow for me. Then it started picking up steam and I just couldn't take it anymore and just... I couldn't. Now everytime this comes on, I try to switch the station as fast as I could.

#36 BEST: Tinashe f/ScHoolBoy Q - "2 On"

Lead Single, Aquarius

US Peak: #24, UK Peak: #127

 

 

Are you Brits MAD?! This was what I can the perfect breakthrough hit from someone who I kept thinking was in the game for some time now! Tinashe is really talented and her album as a whole is pretty brilliant. I love the direction she's actually going, though. It's a way for her to make a sizable peak on Billboard despite the lack of pop radio support. :(

 

#36 WORST: MAGIC! - Let Your Hair Down"

3rd Single, Don't Kill The Magic

 

 

Kind of a waste of momentum releasing this forgettable, floppy and all around same-ish song. Really killed the magic there. "Rude" was... okay for the most part, if you get past the overplay and blatant one-hit wonder status :P, and the follow-up was a bit of an improvement, but this was kind of a let-down. So many puns within this entire statement :P

Edited February 24, 201510 yr by Cody Slayberry

#35 BEST: Naughty Boy f/Sam Smith - "La La La"

2nd Single, Hotel Cabana

US Peak: #19, UK Peak: #1

 

 

One last Sam Smith song and you won't get to hear me say much about him (preferably the shade) until I get to my "Future Hits 2015" list. This song introduced me to the now Grammy-winning artist, and Naughty Boy gave some kick-ass production for him. It obviously smashed in the UK and did fairly well in the US despite getting released next to "Latch".

 

#35 WORST: R5 - "Heart Made Up On You"

Lead Single, TBA

 

 

UGH, ROSS. "(I Can't) Forget About You" was bearable, but this one was pretty much when I found out that Ross can be a little SCREECH-y at times. Like I can't. His voice has gotten so annoying the more I listen to the band.

#34 BEST: Steve Aoki, Chris Lake & Tujamo f/Kid Ink - "Delirious (Boneless)"

Lead Single, Neon Future I

US Peak: #90

 

 

Probably the best rework of 2014, especially considering I had only heard of the song just months before this version came out. In all honesty, Steve Aoki and friends do a nice job with the overall production of the instrumental, but it's Kid Ink's additional rap that becomes the icing on the cake here. This song grew immensely on me over the summer, and although his follow-ups didn't produce the same spark, this lasted on me for a while. Shame it didn't perform better overall in the US. It had so much potential.

 

#34 WORST: Bombay Bicycle Club - "Luna"

3rd Single, So Long, See You Tomorrow

UK Peak: 78

 

 

While I will admit that the video is pretty innovative and interesting to look at, the song itself is a vast desert of utter nothingness. There was nothing that captured my attention, nor was there something that would make me intrigued to listen to it again.

Edited March 10, 201510 yr by Cody Slayberry

#33 BEST: Rita Ora - "I Will Never Let You Down"

Lead Single, O

US Peak: #77, UK Peak: #1

 

 

I was pretty excited to hear this as Rita's next US single after it topped the UK charts, and it's by far her most superior track, despite it flopping in the US due to breaking up with Calvin Harris. Like WOW, you could not have thought of a better way to kill a song's momentum. That said, his production is FIRE and her vocals really mesh well with the electronica sound.

 

#33 WORST: Band Aid 30 - "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Charity Single

UK Peak: 1

 

 

Okay, I get that this was for charity but it really overstayed its welcome and it's pretty overrated to the general public, no matter now much the whole of Buzzjack seems to hate it. Like I can't.

#32 BEST: Charli XCX - "Break The Rules"

2nd Single, Sucker

US Peak: #91, UK Peak: #35

 

 

On the brink of a giant single and an even bigger feature, you'd think that Charli would be able to command US airwaves once more? This flopping in both home country and the country that gave her the breakout in the first place was certainly a shock for me. Although the lyrics sound a bit too Icona Pop for most of the general public, that breakdown is EVERYTHING.

 

#32 WORST: Jason DeRulo - "Wiggle"

4th Single, Talk Dirty

US Peak: #5, UK Peak: 8

 

 

How in the hell did this get to the top 5 in Billboard? Such an utter disappointment to the world. Like I can't get into this song no matter how hard I try.

Edited March 12, 201510 yr by Cody Slayberry

#31 BEST: Calvin Harris f/Ellie Goulding - "Outside"

3rd Single, Motion

US Peak: #39, UK Peak: #6

 

 

Another amazing collaboration from Calvin and Ellie (who should pretty much just get together already), and it's the best off of his 3rd album IMO. It took a while for this to get to the US, hence the low Billboard peak, but it really hit the jackpot when it was decided as the next UK single. In all honesty, Ellie usually doesn't fail to deliver (bar "How Long Will I Love You"), so it's always refreshing to hear her voice :)

 

#31 WORST: The Independents - "UKIP Calypso"

Non-album Single

UK Peak: #44

 

 

This single has got to be a joke. In fact, it pretty much is. Won't even bother with this.

Edited March 12, 201510 yr by Cody Slayberry

#30 BEST: Tiesto - "Red Lights"

2nd Single, A Town Called Paradise

US Peak: #56, UK Peak: #6

 

 

One of the first songs that really escalated things for Tiesto, especially in my front. It was his first top 20 in US pop AirPlay, so it was a real game-changer for this EDM big league. Of course, his album is no different. However, this seems to be one of the most hated of the year due to its generic sound, but it's not like I care. Well... unless it's teeny-bopper.

 

#30 WORST: Florida-Georgia Line - "Sun Daze"

2nd Single, Anything Goes

US Peak: #44

 

 

Another utterly annoying song from this utterly annoying country duo. Yippee. :drama: :puke2: