Below is a list of my Top 30 favourite songs from 2012. This isn't the standard chart fare that you get with Billboard nor the underground stuff you get from NME of Hype Machine. These are just the tunes that captured my ears and really never let go. The tunes that I heard, got tired of, listened to and loved all over again. Like last year (if you read my now defunct music blog),the songs are in a nice and neat Spotify playlist for your enjoyment. Listen and enjoy!
[Spoiler alert: "Call Me Maybe" "Somebody That I Used To Know," and "Gangnam Style" didn't make this list!]
#30.Frank Ocean-Forrest Gump
#29.TVXQ-Catch Me
#27.Steve Aoki-Heartbreaker (Feat. Lovefoxxx)
#26.Alex Clare-Too Close
#25.Rizzle Kicks-Traveller's Chant
#24.Taylor Swift-I Knew You Were Trouble
#23.Marina and The Diamonds-Primadonna
#21.Ellie Goulding-Anything Could Happen
#20.Muse-Madness
#19.Sleigh Bells-End of The Line
#18.Electric Guest-This Head I Hold
#17.Florence+The Machine-Never Let Me Go
#15.Plan B-ill Manors
#14.Demi Lovato-Give Your Heart a Break
#13.Katy Perry-Wide Awake
#12.2NE1-I Love You
-10-01-
As many songs as the controversial performer has released, none has really captured that is Lana Del Rey more than "Ride" did. The singer channels Johnny Cash and sets aside her gangster Nancy Sinatra facade to give a glimpse of the real Lana, the Lana who just wants to be loved and accepted but is afraid so instead she just riiiiiiiidddddeeeesssss...
Avicii blew the minds of the house world when he released the Etta James-sampled "Levels" late last year, but "Silhouettes" easily makes that look like a Dr.Luke leftover. Oh wait... The euphoric prog-house tune dazzles and instills a massive sense of euphoria inside the listener, right down to the creepily performed lyrics, courtesy of one Salem Al Fakir.
Indie bands come a dime a dozen, but UK based Autoheart make it known that they don't want to be in the vein of those other bands. Their debut single grabs your attention from the start with its hot but cold dualism of a relationship ending. Even though the story may sound the same, "Control" maintains a Whole Foods/Trader Joe's like freshness to it. In other words, it's pure hipster, make your claim before it becomes too mainstream.
To most, Kendrick Lamar's Swimming Pools is a simple get wasted song, but if you listen closely it's his plea to avoid alcoholism at all costs, with his concience even making a guest appearance to help him in his mission (Okay, now open your mind up and listen to me Kendrick I am your conscience, if you do not hear me then you will be history Kendrick...), but really it's the bridge that really gets the people going (Pour up, DRANK! Head shot, DRANK!)
Rebecca puts her old school foot in this church hymn like tune, where she pleads for the love of her life to put all his worries to rest and trust in her, exuding an uncharacteristic amount of confidence as the song progresses.
Youth was just the beginning for the singer known as Foxes (Louisa Allen). She took the amount of epic that I assumed couldn't be reached again from Youth and multiplied it by 1000 with this 80s style synthpop song about a battle with mental illness or just being free (depending on how you interpret it).
When Calvin is good, he is really good. When he teams up with Florence Welch, he is unstoppable. His second collaboration this year with the singer proved to be one of his best musical decisions, almost recapturing the essence that made "We Found Love" the massive hit that it was via a blend of techno and synthesized guitar.
K-Pops Idol of idols returned to true form with this sad breakup ballad (all composed by herself nonetheless!). Using 90s era pop and R&B, BoA crafted a song one step above most K-Pop songs this year, while maintaining a sense of emotion that transcends a language barrier. Don't believe me? Take a look at both music videos and tell me you're not moved...
"Now if you're never gonna move, oh my love… you'll make me come to you
But I'm still dancing on my own, still dancing on my own" should have been the dance floor mantra of 2012. Jessie Ware wants her man to stop playing games with her and to bring his ass right here so they can play mind games with each other (I know you hear me, but can you reach me?). And over that minimal pop beat and that Big Punisher sample, who wouldn't want to?
Calvin Harris' last official single with him actually singing: a sad thing indeed. A song that makes you feel like you can do anything: ask that girl (or guy) that you've been crushing on to go on a date, ask your significant other to marry you, dance ballet in a shotty looking trailer park in the middle of the desert. Ok, maybe not that last one, but Calvin Harris knew how to capture the feeling of being youthful and full of wonder via six lines while it takes others complicated metaphors and ads to get theirs across (yes fun., I'm talking about you).
No comments:
Post a Comment