TOP 20

 

Alyssa Reid

Atomic Kitten

Carrie Underwood

Cheryl

Cody Simpson

Delta Goodrem

Girls Aloud

Greyson Chance

Justin Bieber

Kate Nash

Lily Allen

Lucie Silvas

Natalie Imbruglia

One Direction

S Club 7

Taylor Swift

The Saturdays

The Vamps

Tom Odell

Ulrik Munther

 

Any predictions??

NO to Katy Perry higher than Gaga in this. Just NO

16 Natalie Imbruglia (album: Counting Down the Days // song: Shiver)

17 Alyssa Reid (album: Time Bomb // song: Alone Again)

18 Greyson Chance (album: Hold On 'Til the Night // song: Running Away)

19 Atomic Kitten (album: Ladies Night // song: Someone Like Me)

20 Cheryl (album: Only Human // song: Call My Name)

 

So time for our second Girls Aloud member of two to feature in this countdown. Cheryl (not a Cole in sight) launched herself into the spotlight, outside of the group, as a judge on The X Factor from 2008. She featured on will.i.am's top 5 hit Heartbreaker (best forgotten), before releasing her debut hit as a lead artist Fight For This Love following the Girls Aloud hiatus in 2009. It rocketed to #1 and was very instant for me, I was hooked on it :heart: Album-wise, Cheryl can be a bit hit and miss, with both 3 Words and Messy Little Raindrops having their good and bad moments. She stepped it up HUGELY for third album A Million Lights, which is an album I revisit all the time despite not originally being in my top 10 albums of the year (what was I thinking???). Recent album Only Human sees a confident Cheryl, knowing exactly what direction she wants to go in, and it makes for a fantastic listen and her most cohesive record yet.

 

Girl group Atomic Kitten are up next, the third highest girl group out of four in the countdown. The Kittens were the third music act I ever got into, after S Club 7 and Girls Aloud in that order, so I've been a fan of theirs for a long time! I rediscovered their albums around 2010 and got re-hooked on everything, especially the Ladies Night album which is full of mature pop songs (as opposed to, say, the more racy Girls Aloud tracks, or a Saturdays dance-pop song), and is definitely an album I'd rank in my top 5 girl group albums! Each album was better than the one before for me, so it was a huge shame that they decided to call it a day following Ladies Night. I love how they're back together now but I'd rather this apparent new material didn't surface - I can only see it tarnishing their fantastic discography :(

 

Greyson Chance was discovered by Ellen DeGeneres in 2010 following his cover version of Lady Gaga's Paparazzi, and subsequently got a record deal, releasing three singles - Waiting Outside the Lines, Unfriend You and his debut album's title track Hold On 'Til the Night. The album itself is incredible, it's wonderfully mature for a then-13 year old who did have a hand in the writing process for several tracks on there, and I'd rank it in my top 3 albums of all-time. Each and every song is one I'll go back to. I bought the album on a whim, I saw it there and thought "why not?", but I'm so glad I did that because I've never looked back. One of the highlights is just an Asian bonus track - Running Away, my first ever BJSC entry. The way it builds is fantastic and his voice is SO GOOD. Following the album, he released the EP Truth Be Told, Pt 1, in late 2012, alongside new single Sunshine & City Lights. The EP wasn't quite as good as the album but it left me excited for the album nonetheless. Sadly, during this time, Greyson got dropped and has been working on new material for his second album independently. The album is now titled Planet X, and features the single Thrilla In Manila. Which isn't that good. Oops. Oh Greyson :(

 

She might be a one-hit wonder in the UK charts but Alyssa Reid has released two full albums of pop greatness. Debut album The Game includes her only hit Alone Again, as well as flop follow-up The Game (and Canadian single Talk Me Down). Second album Time Bomb has singles Running Guns, Satisfaction Guaranteed and Hurricane included. Both albums follow a similar structure really - an intro, a few upbeat pop tracks, an interlude, a few more tracks, then another interlude which instead of being its own track, is actually tagged onto the end of one of the tracks. How odd. Both albums also close with a ballad section. Why change a formula that works so well tbh? Both albums also include an updated version of an old classic. Alone Again of course is a re-interpretation of the Heart smash hit Alone. For Time Bomb, Alyssa updated theatre track Defying Gravity, renaming it to just Gravity. Alyssa doesn't exactly break the boundaries of music, but Alone Again came around at the right moment for it to have a HUGE impact for me, I still love it so much to this day. She makes solid pop tracks and I really hope we get a third album one day.

 

Natalie Imbruglia hasn't released a single song since 2009, but she's still one of my favourite artists. Shiver was the first song of hers I heard, and I fell in love right away, it's in my top 20 songs of all-time. I bought both the Shiver single and its parent album Counting Down the Days on the same day, in two different shops :lol: I enjoy all four of her albums, each have some really huge highlights (and their low moments too), and I really hope that one day she returns with some fab material. Supposedly, a covers album is in the works. Better than nothing I guess? Anyway, I rediscovered Natalie in around 2010 when adding all my CDs to my iPod, and this surfaced again when she had her guest stint on The X Factor, covering for Dannii Minogue who was on maternity leave. I remember listening to her greatest hits album, Glorious, on repeat all day :lol:

Natalie. :wub: Such a shame her singing career fizzled out.

 

'Counting Down The Days' was the first album I bought of hers, and it became one of my most played albums of 2005. I haven't heard it in an age, really should do at some point... shall we have a listening session together? :lol:

 

I can't believe it's 10 years since 'Shiver'! I thought that single would be absolutely huge for her, but it only managed #8 and total sales of under 69,000 in 2005.

 

I've still not got around to listening to her other albums, but I like most of the singles from her first two.

 

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Great to see Atomic Kitten rather high up your list. I must admit they're towards the bottom of my "main girl groups of the last 20~ years" list behind the likes of Sugababes, Girls Aloud, Spice Girls, All Saints etc, but nevertheless I really liked them and they had a great run of singles. There's so many groups I wish I could have seen live in my childhood and Atomic Kitten are one of those. I at least managed to get to see them on the Big Reunion tour, but it would have been fantastic to see them in their heyday.

 

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Cheryl out already, is Sarah still to come?

 

http://i61.tinypic.com/2ephr2b.png

http://i61.tinypic.com/2ephr2b.png

 

Thanks for the comment Jay! :D YES we must do a Natalie sesh at some point in the future :o Get Ball in too ny2

Is Bal ready for that experience after making it through "Girls Aloud: The Listening Session"? :o I hope so! *.*

^i will be cutting my toenails again when you have that session, so sorry! :(

 

Shaking my head at 'Britney Jean' being your favourite album from her! Either you haven't given the others enough listens or you just a silly bean. Explain yoself x

 

'Teenage Dream' is my favourite album from Katy Perry.

'Teenage Dream' is my favourite song from Katy Perry.

 

^_^

Joseph is a silly bean, we all know that. ^_^

 

Joseph, if you'd included the Spice Girls here (which you should have done http://chatslang.com/images/shortcuts/skype/angry.png ) then what would your fave single & album be of theirs?

I can confirm that I've not heard most of Britney's other albums in YEARS, or at all in the case of a couple! :o Britney Jean is just helped by being released more recently than the others really ~

 

Jay, I've not heard their albums yet! :o What a flop I am! Spice Up Your Life would be my fave track though :heart:

 

Oh and are you free any time from 9 to 12 tonight? *.*

You picked the correct single! :wub:

 

I'll be on at 10 I think, 9pm is Broadchurch!

You picked the correct single! :wub:

 

I'll be on at 10 I think, 9pm is Broadchurch!

 

:wub:

 

OK, 10pm is booked for NatImb *.*

11 Justin Bieber (album: Believe // song: As Long As You Love Me)

12 Carrie Underwood (album: Carnival Ride // song: Two Black Cadillacs)

13 Kate Nash (album: Made of Bricks // song: Foundations)

14 The Vamps (album: Meet The Vamps // song: Can We Dance)

15 Tom Odell (album: Long Way Down // song: Another Love)

 

This section kicks off with the last two remaining one-album artists. Tom Odell rose to fame at the tail end of 2012 as he was nominated for and then won the BRITs Critics' Choice award, as well as making the longlist for BBC Sound of 2013. He is one of only three Critics' Choice winners on my list - Ellie Goulding and Adele being the other two. I first heard Tom sing when Another Love's music video got played in the arena before Paloma Faith's concert began, and it clicked with me instantly. It became a huge hit in my chart and it led to his album being a huge surprise for me, ending up as the longest runner in my album chart history to date. Tom's song for last year's John Lewis advert, Real Love, was absolutely stunning and just cemented his place in the top 15 here. One album only, but one bloody good album at that.

 

The Vamps are the highest artist to only have released one album. I'd heard of them during 2013 through Calum actually, although I wasn't particularly keen to hear their YouTube covers as I'd have preferred an original song. Hence why I was keen to hear Can We Dance when it premiered. And boy was it good. It feels like such a long time ago that hearing it on the album feels a bit weird :lol: But it's still their best, despite stiff competition from all the singles that followed. Five perfect singles from one of the best pop albums in years. I've met at least two of them at a time on three occasions (so I've met Connor 3 times, Brad twice, Tristan twice and James once :lol:). I'm beyond excited to see where they go next anyhow, especially excited for their tour in May, which will be the third time I've seen them live!

 

Foundations by Kate Nash was recommended to me back in 2007 and I kinda forgot but I stumbled across it on a music channel and liked it right away. I couldn't wait to buy the song on CD, and did so at the first opportunity. The track is what I would consider my favourite song of all-time now, with her debut album, Made of Bricks, being my #1 album. The album is what I would absolutely call flawless, not a single skippable track and I can connect to several tracks in different ways. Kate's second album was almost as good for me, despite doing nowhere near as well in the UK chart. Third album Girl Talk, however, was considerably worse than both of those albums, mainly down to her huge change in sound which isn't really my kinda thing. I enjoy Girl Talk but nowhere near as much as the first two albums so it kinda drags her down in my rankings. I'll always be excited to hear what she has to offer though!

 

It was our very own Liam that got me to listen to Carrie Underwood back in 2012. I can't remember the first song I heard by her but it was between Before He Cheats, Temporary Home and Jesus, Take the Wheel. Whatever it was, it was enough for me to check out more of her material and I really enjoyed it. This was my first proper taste of country music. something I'd never really explored before then. I bought Carnival Ride on my birthday in HMV, mainly because it was the cheapest of all her albums they had :lol: And I gave it a listen, enjoying it a lot. I ordered her other two albums (this was before Blown Away was released), and fell in love basically. Each and every one of her albums shows a different side to her, which is part of why she's so good, she changes things up but manages to keep her style very much in tact. Really can't wait for the fifth studio album once she's had her baby!

 

One of the biggest turnarounds I've had now. I used to HATE Justin Bieber with a passion, mainly due to overexposure, he was everywhere and I didn't get the fuss at first. I saw him perform One Time on Blue Peter before I'd heard anything else by him and it sounded decent but I grew sick of him and his name being everywhere. I then thought that I'd give him a fair chance and downloaded the album to listen to. I was very pleasantly surprised. I remember staying up late, listening to his album each night, and I really did get hooked quickly. He rapidly became one of my favourite artists, something that was cemented further with second (proper) album Believe. He's slipped a bit recently due to the Journals tracks being very samey and a bit crap in comparison to what he usually does but hopefully he can bring it back up to scratch soon.

TOP 10

 

Cody Simpson

Delta Goodrem

Girls Aloud

Lily Allen

Lucie Silvas

One Direction

S Club 7

Taylor Swift

The Saturdays

Ulrik Munther

All these mentions *.*

 

famous for ensuring you have at least *some* taste http://i61.tinypic.com/2ephr2b.png

 

actually a lot of people I like here too :o Although I'm not sure I can figure out who the #1 will be here :o

Bieber "only" #11 is quite surprising, although your commentary explains a little why.

 

'Believe' is a very good pop album and that's my favourite track from him too. I have major love for 'She Doesn't Like The Lights' so that'd be my album track of choice ~

Carrie slaying *.* Should be top 10 but my impact is real :kink:

In all honesty, Justin, Carrie and Kate are all top 10 worthy really! It was quite tough ranking this end of things. Justin especially, it feels odd for him to be so low when he's made two absolutely amazing albums.

6 Delta Goodrem (album: Mistaken Identity // song: I Can't Break It To My Heart)

7 Cody Simpson (album: Surfers Paradise // song: Wish U Were Here)

8 Ulrik Munther (album: Rooftop // song: Heroes In Defeat (Change Your Mind))

9 S Club 7 (album: Sunshine // song: Don't Stop Movin')

10 Taylor Swift (album: Speak Now // song: Enchanted)

 

Taylor ACTUAL Swift :jameela: kicks things off at #10 now. Taylor was another one I had a turnaround on, not being a fan of Love Story at first and not actually checking anything else out. I ended up listening to Fearless on a whim during summer 2012 and it converted me. I remember listening to Speak Now, the album, for the first time on the beach in Cornwall :heart: When new single We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together premiered, I heard it 100 times in the first day. Then 100 times in the second day. It's a PERFECT pop track, second only to the gorgeous Enchanted for me. Taylor keeps excelling as she transitions into pop from country, with recent album 1989 being my second favourite of hers to date. Speak Now really is almost flawless though, only three skippable tracks on the standard and even then, I'm happy enough to listen through them still!

 

Now to the first band I ever liked :wub: S Club 7's third album Sunshine was the first CD I ever received, as a present from a family member, and I was totally obsessed from around the age of 4. I knew all the words (and still do) to most of their songs. They aren't even a guilty pleasure for me, it's pure fun pop. There's the classics like Bring It All Back, Reach and of course Don't Stop Movin', plus the hidden album track gems like Show Me Your Colours, Stand By You and Let Me Sleep. I'm beyond excited to see them live in May this year and I've been hyping myself up for it for the past few months by hammering their material :lol: I've even rewatched all their TV shows and the movie, so much fun and they absolutely made my childhood. I find it impossible to be unhappy when listening to their songs, if I'm feeling shitty then any S Club song will automatically cheer me up. Pop would be a less fun place without these guys.

 

The newest artist in the top 10 for me is Ulrik Munther. The Swedish singer/songwriter is known to many on here for competing to represent Sweden in Eurovision twice (and stalling in third place both times). He was recommended to me in early 2013 by our very own Robot, who linked Soldiers to me. I enjoyed it and checked out a couple more songs, before hunting high and low for a download link to the album. I finally got there in the end :lol: and fell in love with the whole thing, but no track more so than Heroes In Defeat (Change Your Mind). It wasn't my initial *favourite*, but it stood out to me from the beginning so I kept going back for another listen, then another, then another, and it ended up being my EOY 2013 #1. Despite being a 2011 track. Slay. Second album Rooftop got released in March 2013 and that's even better than his self-titled debut for me, although both are really strong. Ulrik's third album will be in Swedish rather than English, something I was initially sceptical about but the lead single Jag vet inte hur man gör totally proved me wrong.

 

From one young singer/songwriter to another, we now have Cody Simpson. The Aussie flopstar rose to mild fame in mid 2010 with debut hit iYiYi, featuring Flo Rida. I first heard of him in February the following year, listening to his EP following a last.fm recommendation on Justin Bieber's page. I was sold instantly, loving his voice and how catchy the songs were. iYiYi is quite ridiculous really but I still love it. It wasn't until late 2012 when Cody released his first studio album, Paradise, but it was well worth the wait, a great pop album infused with Cody's acoustic guitar. Second album Surfers Paradise just built on this imo. Sadly he never got to release a third album with his label as they parted ways last year and now Cody's insisting on going all acoustic on us, inferring that he hates all his old material. This for me is quite gutting to see, being a huge fan and supporter of that material, but he's still ridiculously talented and I'll continue supporting him as long as I can, he seems like such a lovely gentleman too. And he's only 2 months (exactly!!1!) older than me. Wow.

 

Finally, Australian songstress Delta Goodrem is at #6. In the past, Delta would've been as high as #2, and unlike the drops for artists like Justin Bieber and Kate Nash, it's not because she's made some slightly crap material recently, it's more that I've listened to her less than the artists above. Delta's music remains sublime, she has one of the finest voices I've ever heard and has such a great way with words in her songs that she can carry off so many emotions. Lost Without You was the first Delta song I heard, so I've been a long-term fan of Delta's. She peaked for me with her second album, Mistaken Identity, much of which was inspired by her ordeal with cancer, which she thankfully overcame. My ONE issue with Delta is that she takes so long between albums!! In just over 11 years, she's "only" put out 4 albums, so I tend to kinda drift away during the long wait, although it is of course worth it each time. Having said that, I've waited not far off 11 years for a certain artist in my top 5 to release something so I can't really moan :kink:

Queen Taylor Swift :cheer: She's my favourite artist ever, I love her so much so great to see her top 10 here :wub:

What are the 3 skippable songs on speak now for you? (There is only 1 for me)

:wub: she really is phenomenal! The three I'd skip are Dear John, Last Kiss and Long Live, but I don't dislike any of them as such, they just kinda drag on a little too long. Which one would you skip?