Oh...yeah 😅 I think the fact they're fictional and the song's mainly in English sometimes makes me forget that x

07. Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
4 weeks at #1 (entered 8^th April) 01-01-01-01-02-03-03-03-05-07-10-08-11-11-12-13-13-15-16-20-27-28-30-35-33{-40-38-39-46-51-50-60-54-52-67-67-70-56-33-25-41-53-59-73-62R(2)-62-70-75} (48 weeks)
Kept off #1: Sean Paul – She Doesn’t Mind, Justin Bieber – Boyfriend, Conor Maynard – Can’t Say No, Calvin Harris feat. Ne-Yo – Let’s Go
Sales: 106,657, 110,024, 114,993 & 99,569
EOY: #2 (1,142,995)

Onto the one song in the top 10 I wasn’t overly enamoured with at the time but have grown to love over the years, Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen, the biggest worldwide selling song of the year and #2 in the UK.

Carly first came to prominence in her native Canada on Canadian Idol in 2007 and released a debut album with a folk influence the following year, but failed to chart, whilst a couple of its singles were minor top 40 hits there and nowhere else. She didn’t exactly have the profile of a singer who would return three years later to have the biggest worldwide hit of the year. Originally released in 2011 in Canada, it entered the chart at #97 and would gradually climb its way to the top 17 weeks later, helped along by support by Canada’s then-biggest star, Justin Bieber.   

It came to the UK in April, it had been promoted but not massively so its success wasn’t completely obvious, it climbed 48-24 on the airplay chart in the week it was released before shooting up to #6, although it was another that had demand to have a fake version chart, as Carly Rae Jepsen Tribute Team charted at #49 the week prior. Being so immediately successful from relatively little promotion, it was perhaps likely it’d grow in popularity and its sales increased in its 2^nd and 3^rd weeks at the top, before being a few hundred copies short of four consecutive weeks selling over 100k. Its chart run doesn’t look anything unusual in the present day, but 8 weeks top 3, 20 weeks top 20, and 44 weeks top 75 was phenomenal in 2012.

Call Me Maybe is just a great pop song, exceptionally catchy, a great melody and decent lyrically too, a tale of describing someone you fancy is as old as pop music itself but the perspective felt modern and up-to-date for a 2012 audience and it’s no surprise it was able to appeal so widely to audiences of different ages. Great pop songs continued for Carly, though her relative lack of success I’ve found quite surprising – Cut To The Feeling and Run Away With Me make for a superb trio of pop songs as good as much bigger acts have.

I suspect that my reasoning for taking a while to truly appreciate Carly’s Call Me Maybe is that I’d spent most of the 2010s listening to a different version of the song. As it was knocked off the top of the chart by Tulisa, my favourite act of the first half of the 2010s covered the song in Radio 1’s Live Lounge, and it’s Ben Howard’s version I’ve played endlessly, and I still can’t help but feel it’s the definitive version of it.

In Carly’s four weeks at the top, there were four separate songs hitting #2, it was the third song Sean Paul got stuck behind before three new entries could only peak at #2, though in none of the four weeks was it a particularly close battle, 77k being the highest sale of any of them. No strong favourites here, Can’t Say No is boring and I’d forgotten about Connor Maynard’s existence entirely, Let’s Go amongst the more generic of Calvin’s offerings, making Bieber my preferred of the four. Still trying to find his way after the initial success being so young, definitely a decent song with a maturing sound.

Yeah Call Me Maybe is a little slice of pop perfection!

Elbow's is a masterpiece of orchestral indierockpop, and Carly Rae's is a great pop record, that may well be the best so far to drop out, it's all so delighfully infectious, and she continues to make good records, though as you say hits elude her. Current-ish single On Wires is an interesting one, nothing like Call Me Maybe!

Kind of unbelievable that Call Me Maybe was sent to BJSC a fair bit before release and only came 6th, in a contest that favours pop a lot, especially back then. It just felt for a long time like another 'blog pop' internet popular kind of song that would never have any commercial success. Because how many pop songs by Canadian Idol contestants from years back get a major global push and become mega No.1s?

But sometimes a great song speaks for itself so I'm glad it broke through the way it did, the punctuating strings work so well on it as as well as everything described above by RFC. Carly really became a pop giant of the 2010s, from unexpected beginnings.

A pop gem for sure though Carly would go on to better it with 'Run Away With Me' for me. That to someday do a 'Go' by Chemical Brothers would be great.

Looks like the 6 left are almost the same for me too.

"Call Me Maybe" comes to early - pure pop brilliance. My contender for #1 just falling short to "Diamonds". Have not thought that anyone would rank my #32 ahead of this.

01. Rihanna - Diamonds (18)

02. Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe (7)

04. Jessie J - Domino (28)

07. Florence + The Machine – Spectrum (Say My Name) (Calvin Harris Remix) (9)

08. Psy - Gangnam Style (12)

10. Sam and the Womp – Bom Bom (13)

11. DJ Fresh feat. Rita Ora – Hot Right Now (11)

12. Flo Rida - Good Feeling (16)

13. Katy Perry - Part Of Me (14)

14. will.i.am; Eva Simons - This Is Love (31)

15. Cheryl Cole - Call My Name (15)

16. Little Mix - Wings (20)

17. Tulisa - Young (29)

18. The Script, Will.I.Am - Hall Of Fame (19)

19. Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch – Sweet Nothing (8)

20. Cover Drive - Twilight (24)

21. Maroon 5;Wiz Khalifa - Payphone (32)

22. Rita Ora;Tinie Tempah - R.I.P. (30)

24. The Justice Collective – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (23)

25. Rita Ora - How We Do (Party) (26)

26. Labrinth Featuring Emeli Sande - Beneath Your Beautiful (10)

27. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) (27)

28. Olly Murs; Flo Rida - Troublemaker (17)

29. Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love (21)

30. Wiley, Djo Feat. Ms. D - Heatwave (22)

31. One Direction - Little Things (25)

33. Chris Brown - Turn Up the Music (34)

34. James Arthur - Impossible (33)

35. Robbie Williams - Candy (36)

36. Gary Barlow & The CommonwealthBand - Sing (35)

@DaTilt I’d rank all of the last 6 above Carly Rae. The remaining songs would easily be my top 6 too.

A bit curious what banger you would have at 32!

11 minutes ago, Jester said:

@DaTilt I’d rank all of the last 6 above Carly Rae. The remaining songs would easily be my top 6 too.

A bit curious what banger you would have at 32!

A generic pop-rock song from a band who had their best time in the early 2000's and became the definition of boredom from 2010 and beyond (a bit like the Wet Wet Wet of their time).

Just now, DaTilt said:

A generic pop-rock song from a band who had their best time in the early 2000's and became the definition of boredom from 2010 and beyond (a bit like the Wet Wet Wet of their time).

The song happens to be my favourite of theirs and is rightly a classic! It would also be my number 1 of the year.

Consider me clutching my pearls!

Just an utter classic and I have such memories attached to it. She's gone on to better it for me since though, but it's still a tremendous pop song in its own right.

I did think that would probably be the #32 as that act do attract the haterz, but I did think that my top 10 are all largely well regarded songs and its make up wouldn't be that different to a results of a rate/rank of the 36 songs.

Edited Friday at 08:092 days by RabbitFurCoat

06. Gotye feat. Kimbra – Somebody That I Used To Know
5 weeks at #1 (entered 15^th January, #1 12^th February) 36-21-07-03-01-03-01-01-01-01-03-05-03-03-06-07-10-09-10-09-17-17-16-19-20-17-16-17-25-27-30-46-44-42-48-53-51-51-54-60-50-66-59-62-69-56R(4)-55-60-{45-66-74-61R(4)-57} (53 weeks)
Kept off #1: Emeli Sande – Next To Me (2 weeks), Dappy feat. Brian May – Rockstar, Nicki Minaj - Starships
Sales: 83,625, 95,338, 87,057, 81,437 & 71,521
EOY: #01 (1.318,005)

And now to switch those end-of-year positions around, we move on to the UKs biggest selling single of the 2012 and the second biggest worldwide, Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye and Kimbra. In the UK, it would be the only chart entry for either act, becoming one of the biggest one hit wonders of all time.

Somebody That I Used To Know was a genuine slow-burning smash hit, originally released in Gotye’s native Australia in the summer of 2011, and released in the UK at the end of the year, before being properly picked up on radio and TV at the beginning of 2012, originally entering the chart at #97 before climbing into the top 40 and taking 5 weeks to reach the top where it spent 5 weeks, with a week in-between at #3 where its sales were higher than in four of its five weeks at the top, falling temporarily behind new entries from DJ Fresh and Emeli Sande.

I definitely remember it being something that was everywhere at the time, as the type of song that appealed to so many different audiences it would fit being played on a variety of radio stations and easy to have on in the background of any shop, café or bar, certainly unavoidable but it was something I always enjoyed and I began charting it myself in the first week of 2012.

Remarkably, given how much I’d have been exposed to it, it isn’t something I’ve ever really tired of it. If I did a little at the time that’s been completely worn away as it sounds great again in 2026. The opening chords, sampled from Brazilian jazz artist Luiz Bonfa, are so good and it makes it instantly recognisable. Gotye’s voice in it is great and Kimbra’s verse is delivered fantastically, it’s kind of surprising in a way at how little a part she actually has on the song as it feels like she’s key in it. Its lyrical content of descriptions of previous relationships were easy for listeners to relate to too, and its success was definitely helped by having a fantastic video.

In its second run at the top of four weeks, it held off #2 peaking songs in each of them. Next To Me I’ve already covered, then Dappy & Brian May’s Rockstar and Nicki Minaj’s Starships which was the biggest selling non #1 of the year, 11 weeks in the top 10 in total it ended as the years 7^th best seller. As well as those, the second biggest selling song that didn’t make the top also peaked during this run, Flo Rida and Sia with Wild Ones (EOY #10, Chart Peak #4) as it remained remarkably consistent, 11 weeks bouncing between each of the positions between #4 & #8. Rockstar is a predictably horrendous attempt at Dappy to mix his style with guitars, Starships definitely felt massive at the time and I like it as much as I’ve ever liked a Minaj song but that just makes it ok, whilst Wild Ones is great, the Sia and Flo combination works really well and was a deserved smash hit, and would’ve battled Beneath Your Beautiful for a position in the top 10.

Edited Friday at 11:551 day by RabbitFurCoat

What a song. Still adore it now and it’s quite rightly a classic.

Yeah - absolutely great song and very unique not sounding like any other #1 of that year. My #5:

01. Rihanna - Diamonds (18)

02. Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe (7)

04. Jessie J - Domino (28)

05. Gotye Feat Kimbra - Somebody That I Used To Know (6)

07. Florence + The Machine – Spectrum (Say My Name) (Calvin Harris Remix) (9)

08. Psy - Gangnam Style (12)

10. Sam and the Womp – Bom Bom (13)

11. DJ Fresh feat. Rita Ora – Hot Right Now (11)

12. Flo Rida - Good Feeling (16)

13. Katy Perry - Part Of Me (14)

14. will.i.am; Eva Simons - This Is Love (31)

15. Cheryl Cole - Call My Name (15)

16. Little Mix - Wings (20)

17. Tulisa - Young (29)

18. The Script, Will.I.Am - Hall Of Fame (19)

19. Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch – Sweet Nothing (8)

20. Cover Drive - Twilight (24)

21. Maroon 5;Wiz Khalifa - Payphone (32)

22. Rita Ora;Tinie Tempah - R.I.P. (30)

24. The Justice Collective – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (23)

25. Rita Ora - How We Do (Party) (26)

26. Labrinth Featuring Emeli Sande - Beneath Your Beautiful (10)

27. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) (27)

28. Olly Murs; Flo Rida - Troublemaker (17)

29. Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love (21)

30. Wiley, Djo Feat. Ms. D - Heatwave (22)

31. One Direction - Little Things (25)

33. Chris Brown - Turn Up the Music (34)

34. James Arthur - Impossible (33)

35. Robbie Williams - Candy (36)

36. Gary Barlow & The CommonwealthBand - Sing (35)

My #32 has nothing to do with hating that specific band. It is just that they went so boring and generic in the 2010's - particularly that remaining song is soooo boring and unoriginal - one of their worst.

I feel similar to you about 'Call Me Maybe'! I didn't particularly care for it at the time but it's aged really well. I agree with Rich that the strings are a highlight, on top of the ludicrously catchy chorus. I was immediately into her EMOTION era though surely TikTok will turn 'Run Away With Me' into a top 40 hit one day.

'Somebody That I Used to Know' is not only my favourite #1 of 2012 but of the whole 2010s <3 so unsurprisingly it got my top marks when we had that 'Buzzjack's Favourite UK No 1 Single Of The 2010s' event on here about 5 years ago. It was the eventual winner so I'm glad it's appreciated so much on the forum. Love the emotional depth of the lyrics. The way the song is presented feels so special too, with this delicacy that is also grappling with a darker rage, both in the production and vocals. The nuanced passion from both parties is wonderful and I love the harmonies. The music video is really simple but effective also. It's quite an idiosyncratic hit really so I remain amazed that it was so big! I suppose there is an earworm in there but it's a unique one all the same. Glad it's stood the test of time with over 2.5 billion streams and of course being sampled by Doechii.

I do like that Gotye song. I didn't appreciate it at the time but I do now.

It sounds different to a lot of the pop music released in 2012 which is why I put it high in my countdown. Gotye and Kimbra's voices go so well together. Shame they were a one-hit wonder.

I love the music video too. So creative.

Does anyone else think that Gotye sounds like Sting?

Edited Friday at 13:351 day by Charlielargepotatoes

I've always really enjoyed this, but funnily enough never really played it of my own volition. I think sometimes there are certain songs you just continually hear everywhere that you don't really need to.

Call Me Maybe is fantastic, a perfect precision engineered pop song!

I love Somebody That I Used To Know, such a unique number one, especially one that’s melody is essentially based on ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’! So rare for a EOY number one to be so left field too!

They would be my numbers 2 and 5. My #1 is still to come, will it be the same as yours?

05. Coldplay - Paradise
1 week at #1 (entered 30^th October 2011, #1 1^st January) {14-17-20-13-11-12-07-02-05}-01-02-07-10-17-20-21-24-23-31-27-37-37-40-30-39-55-54-50-45-59-61-60-58-64-65-68-66-62-67-72-49R(7)-72-62R(14)-41-54-67-61-67-62R(26)-49-69 (51 weeks)
Kept off #1: N/A
Sales: 108,390
EOY: #45 (#39 in 2011)

3 Psy – Gangnam Style (#12)
2 Carly Rae Jespen – Call Me Maybe (#7)
1 Coldplay – Paradise (#5)
For anyone who’s checked the list of songs at any point to see what’s to come, or has a much better knowledge and memory of chart toppers from specific years than I have, then you’ll realise that this is the highest non-collaboration song to appear here, with just three in the top 12.

Coldplay had long been one of the biggest and most successful acts in the UK by 2012, but they had always been more of an album seller than a single seller, lead singles from albums 2 and 3 both went to #2 but they were their only top 3 entries until their fourth album when Viva La Vida finally became their first chart topper. Paradise came from Mylo Xyloto, their fifth album released in 2011, following the underrated but not overly successful Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall. It was initially ineligible for the chart as it was an “instant grat” release, where anyone who pre-ordered the album download automatically got a copy of the song, so it didn’t chart until the album was released, and as a result missed the top 10. It had sold 118k in six weeks whilst ineligible.

Paradise had begun to rebound already when Coldplay performed it on the final of X-Factor, which saw it jump to #2 behind Little Mix’s winners single before dropping to #5 in Christmas week. It was largely behind campaign songs though, so was in prime position for the post-Christmas iTunes Gift Card rush. The gift card effect was so big by this point that the first chart of 2012 saw record breaking sales as 5 million singles were sold in a week for the first time ever. People tended to use them for their recent favourites and bigger hits of the previous year and there were loads of big climbs for that type of song, in part helped by stopping buying of Christmas songs, although there were only around a dozen in the chart back then.

The 2011 Christmas chart top 4 fell to 4, 6, 41 and one departed the top 100 altogether, and the songs that were immediately below them each climbed 4 places into the top 3, with Paradise hitting the top on its 10^th week in the chart, comfortably beating Olly Murs’s Dance With Me Tonight by 30k. Had it been eligible for its entire release period, Paradise would have broken the record for most weeks in the top 40 before hitting #1 with 16, but alas it stayed with Celine Dion’s Think Twice.

I had typically been a Coldplay fan, and the whole Viva La Vida project had dragged me back in after I thought X&Y was a much weaker album than their first two, but I think Mylo Xyloto was when I began to lose interest. That said, it was a strong album for singles and I still think Every Teardrop… is wonderful. Paradise was a slower burner for me and I can understand why it reached #1 four months after it was released, but I’d certainly rank it towards the top of my favourite Coldplay songs now (top 10 certainly, but perhaps not top 5). I would maybe say it’s a bit Coldplay-by-numbers to the extent it’s up there with Fix You as the Most Coldplay-like Coldplay Song, if that makes any sense, others may call it unoriginal and boring! But I don't mean it as a bad thing, they knew their audience and Chris Martin can write great anthems made for the stadium concert, and Paradise is certainly that, with some good sing-a-long Oh’s and Oooh’s for good measure.