Jessie J may take a minute for people to like. In fact, she did for me. However, I gave her several listens and ended up really liking her. I love what she stands for and I love that she isn't afraid to be unique. She's getting it alright where GaGa took "individuality" wrong. She has had one mildly successful hit in the US with "Price Tag." Despite other incredible singles such as "Who You Are," she has yet to have another smash....but the time is upon us. Her new single "Domino" has been making airplay gains something fierce. I hope this song smashes its way to #1 on Billboard for her.
The track is so much fun. I find myself listening to it 2 or 3 times in a row when I put it on. I adore the lines "I can't taste potential like a cloud of smoke in the air, now I'm breathin' like I'm runnin' cause you're taking me there, don't you know, you spin me outta control." Check it out. It was definitely one of the best songs I have heard in some time! It can definitely bring some competition to Rihanna's reign at the top of the charts, though Katy or Bruno will snatch it before then. Overall, the song by itself is a 5/5.
The music video is unique, I love the direction and production of it. Some of her outfits were a bit awkward, but, hey, it's Jessie J. I absolutely dig the green background in the video. The video gets a 5/5 as well! Get it Jessie! Check out the video below:
Okay, there is massive hype for Lana Del Rey's upcoming album on Twitter. Being the music buff I am, I figured I better check her out and see a new pop star was about to emerge. You know, I hate being left out of stuff. I listened to the "Lana Del Rey - EP" that was uploaded to iTunes this week and was only impressed by one track, and impressed is almost an overstatement.
The track is quite monotone but a little catchy regardless. The self-proclaimed "gangster Nancy Sinatra" seems, to me, to be Interscope's attempt at popping out another Adele. This track is just so monotone that I can't even focus on the words for the whole song, rather I lose focus after about a minute and listen to the music. Many will disagree with me and that's their right, however, I give "Born to Die" a 2/5. I'm not hyped for this record, but I will give it a listen and possibly a full review once it is out. The video was visually stunning, except the graphic ending. It helped me comprehend the lyrics better, but I tuned in and out still.
If you aren't in on the hype, as I wasn't, check out the track below:
Natalia Kills burst onto the scene last year with her debut album, Perfectionist. Though the album did not take off in the United States, I found love in several of the songs. Once it finally saw its US release, it included the new track "Kill My Boyfriend." The track is fun and quite catchy, despite it's grim content. I hailed Natalia as the beginning to be the next Lady GaGa. In the video for "Kill My Boyfriend," which she just released, she seems to channel some of the "The Fame" era GaGa, the era that GaGa herself needs to start over again. One notable similarity I saw was the sunglasses in the video. I am not implying that Kills is a GaGa knock-off in anyway. They both are vastly different.
"Kill My Boyfriend" is upbeat, which makes it instantly loveable. It gets stuck in your head and you can't help but chant "kill, kill, kill!" with her. If you haven't checked it out yet, you're missing out. It lands among her best beside "Wonderland" and "Acid Annie." The song itself earns a 4/5.
The video takes a unique twist, at least in my opinion. For one, it seems to replace blood with milk. Is this a hint that the boyfriend she killed was lactose intolerant? Just kidding! However, the neat idea, as it came across to me, was that she made it seem like she was schizophrenic by having herself in the driver seat and the passenger side of the car, as well as several other scenes where she appears more than once in the frame. The video was good. Do I think it could have been better? Definitely. As it stands, the video receives a 3/5. Check it out below:
Florence + the Machine never really got my attention when she released The Dog Days Are Over like she did with many people. It just wasn't something that really grabbed my attention. Her new song Shake It Out has however and I have found myself jamming along like every other song I listen to. I heard it the first time shopping at American Eagle and it stuck in my head. I feel like the lyrics are something I can relate to at this point in my life. To me, the song is about exorcising demons and personal weakness. It's about leaving behind the people that hold you back. "It's hard to dance with the devil on your back so shake him out." You can only propel people along so much until they need to do so for themselves or they are hopeless. I am currently dealing with this. But, guess what! Tonight, I'm going to bury that horse in the ground!
Overall, Florence provides electrifying vocals that are so powerful including one long note that potentially could have run Xtina out of breath. This song is amazing! I'm going to check out her album Ceremonials this weekend. Let's hope it keeps up with my expectations! Below is the somewhat mediocre video for Shake It Out:
The time has come to do the final tally of my most played songs of 2011. To begin with, let's revisit the #1's of the previous years that I have been doing these year-end lists. 2008: So What - Pink (52 plays) 2009: Just Dance - Lady GaGa (42 plays) 2010: Raise Your Glass - Pink (57 plays)
So, let's see if any of our former #1's make an appearance in this year's top list!
This list is compiled based on the number of plays the song has earned in my iTunes library. This will eliminate any personal bias or feelings I may have when trying to rank them. It solely shows my favorites based on the amount I have jammed to it, whether on my iPod in the gym or driving in the car to simply sitting at my computer, it's all been logged. Each song has a video attached if you have the urge to check out the songs you don't know! Hopefully, you will find some new music to enjoy! Here are the results:
My Top 100 Most Played Songs of 2011
100. Honestly - Kelly Clarkson
99. We R Who We R - Ke$ha
98. LaserLight (with David Guetta) - Jessie J
97. Who's Laughing Now - Jessie J
96. It Girl - Jason Derulo
95. Till I Collapse - Eminem
94. We Came to Smash - Dev
93. Gimme Dat - Ciara
92. Fighter - Christina Aguilera
91. You Wouldn't Know Love - Cher
90. Someone Like You - Adele
89. Turning Tables - Adele
88. Fool in Love - Rihanna
87. So What - Pink (#1 - 2008)
86. Give Me All Your Love - Madonna
85. Give - LeAnn Rimes
84. Tell Me a Lie - Kelly Clarkson
83. Who Am I Living For - Katy Perry
82. Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
81. Titanium (feat. Sia) - David Guetta
80. Repeat (feat. Jessie J) - David Guetta
79. Maybe We're Already Gone - Daughtry
(Video to be added. None found at the moment) :(
78. How I Roll - Britney Spears
77. Nothing - The Script
76. Hurts to Think - Miranda Lambert
75. Open Your Heart - Madonna
74. Hate on Me - Jill Scott
73. Lighters (feat. Bruno Mars) - Bad Meets Evil
72. Defeated - Anastacia
71. Farewell - Rihanna
70. You Da One - Rihanna
69. Raining Men (with Nicki Minaj) - Rihanna
68. You and I - Lady GaGa
67. Einstein - Kelly Clarkson
66. Sleazy - Ke$ha
65. Unbroken - Demi Lovato
64. Who's That Boy (feat. Dev) - Demi Lovato
63. We All Want Love - Rihanna
62. Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO
61. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
60. Marry the Night - Lady GaGa
59. Dark Side - Kelly Clarkson
58. The One That Got Away - Katy Perry
57. Monster (with Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, & Bon Iver) - Kanye West
56. Lightspeed - Dev
55. Mistake - Demi Lovato
54. Look at Me Now (with Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne) - Chris Brown
53. Y.U.Mad (with Nicki Minaj & Lil Wayne) - Birdman
52. I Was Here - Beyonce
51. Best Thing I Never Had - Beyonce
50. Set Fire to the Rain - Adele
49. A Little Bit Stronger - Sara Evans
48. I'm the Best - Nicki Minaj
47. The Fastest Girl in Town - Miranda Lambert
46. You Can't Win - Kelly Clarkson
45.Disaster - JoJo
44. In My Trunk - Dev
43.Crawling Back to You - Daughtry
42. Watch n' Learn - Rihanna
41.Where Have You Been - Rihanna
40. Crazy Women - LeAnn Rimes
39. Let Me Down - Kelly Clarkson
38. Blow - Ke$ha
37. Firework - Katy Perry
36. Getaway - Dev
35. All Night Long (with Missy Elliott & Timbaland) - Demi Lovato
34. T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) (with Jennifer Lopez & Mick Jagger) - will.i.am
33. Kill My Boyfriend - Natalia Kills
32. Make Me Proud (with Nicki Minaj) - Drake
31. Rolling in the Deep - Adele
30. Do Ya Thang - Rihanna
29. Drunk on Love - Rihanna
28. The War is Over - Kelly Clarkson
27. Over You - Miranda Lambert
26. Roman in Moscow - Nicki Minaj
25. Fly (with Rihanna) - Nicki Minaj
24. Baggage Claim - Miranda Lambert
23. Mr. Know It All - Kelly Clarkson
22. Hustle Like a Lady - Dev
21. Turn Me On (feat. Nicki Minaj) - David Guetta
20.Ours - Taylor Swift
19. Birthday Cake - Rihanna
18. Domino - Jessie J
17. Roc Me Out - Rihanna
16. Skyscraper - Demi Lovato
15. Mama's Broken Heart - Miranda Lambert
14. Super Bass - Nicki Minaj
13. Born this Way - Lady GaGa
12. You Haven't Seen the Last of Me - Cher
11. F**kin' Perfect - Pink
10. Dance (A$$) (with Nicki Minaj) - Big Sean (25 plays)
9. Don't Be a Girl About It - Kelly Clarkson (26 plays)
8. Cockiness (Love It) - Rihanna (27 plays)
7. Raise Your Glass - Pink (#1 - 2010) (27 plays)
6. Talk that Talk (with Jay-Z) - Rihanna (29 plays)
5. Red Lipstick - Rihanna (31 plays)
4. Who You Are - Jessie J (33 plays)
3. S&M - Rihanna (34 plays)
2. What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) - Kelly Clarkson (36 plays)
1. We Found Love - Rihanna (62 plays)
In 2011, Rihanna takes #1 with We Found Love with an unprecedented number of plays, leaving Kelly Clarkson in the dust even at #2. The following are number 150-101, also know as the honorable mentions:
150. The Harold Song - Ke$ha
149. Cannibal - Ke$ha
148. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) - Katy Perry
147. Price Tag - Jessie J
146. Stand Up - Jessie J
145. Don't Want to Go Home - Jason Derulo
144. What You Want - Evanescence
143. Princess of China (with Rihanna) - Coldplay
142. F.U.S.S. - Christina Aguilera
141. Slow Down Baby - Christina Aguilera
140. I'm a Star - Chrisette Michele
139. Talkin' That - Cher Lloyd
138. If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher
137. Believe - Cher
136. Don't Keep Me Waiting - Britney Spears
135. Seal It With a Kiss - Britney Spears
134. I Wanna Go - Britney Spears
133. Dreaming - Beyonce
132. Hit the Lights - Selena Gomez & the Scene
131. Lemon Drop - Pistol Annies
130. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies
129. Funhouse - Pink
128. Hello Cold World - Paramore
127. I Don't Wanna Stop - Ozzy Osbourne
126. Better in the Long Run (with Blake Shelton) - Miranda Lambert
125. All Kinds of Kinds - Miranda Lambert
124. Moves Like Jagger (with Christina Aguilera) - Maroon 5
123. Turn It Up - Kelly Rowland
122. Breaking Your Own Heart - Kelly Clarkson
121. Fingerprints - Katy Perry
120. Crazy Possessive - Kaci Battaglia
119. My Shadow - Jessie J
118. Do It Like a Dude - Jessie J
117. Fight for You - Jason Derulo
116. Coming Home - Gwyneth Paltrow
115. Bug A Boo - Destiny's Child
114. Soar - Christina Aguilera
113. Playa Boi - Cher Lloyd
112. Countdown - Beyonce
111. Love on Top - Beyonce
110. 1+1 - Beyonce
109. Upgrade U (with Jay-Z) - Beyonce
108. Deja Vu (with Jay-Z) - Beyonce
107. Beautiful Messed Up World - Anastacia
106. Paid My Dues - Anastacia
105. Fireball (with Nicki Minaj) - Willow
104. Uncharted - Sara Bareilles
103. Bridge of Light - Pink
102. 16 Tons - LeAnn Rimes
101. I Forgive You - Kelly Clarkson
Based on the top songs (including honorable mentions), here are the most listened to artists of the year:
1. Rihanna - 18 songs
2. Kelly Clarkson - 12 songs
3. Nicki Minaj - 11 songs
4. Beyonce & Jessie J - 8 songs
5. Miranda Lambert - 7 songs
6. Katy Perry - 6 songs
7.Pink, Demi Lovato, Dev, Christina Aguilera - 5 songs
9. LeAnn Rimes, Lady GaGa, Anastacia, Jason Derulo - 3 songs
Albums with the Most Tracks on the Top Songs
1. Talk That Talk - Rihanna - 14 songs
2. Kelly Clarkson - Stronger - 11 songs
3. Jessie J - Who You Are - 8 songs
4. Four the Record - Miranda Lambert - 7 songs
5. Beyonce - 4 - 6 songs
6. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream - 5 songs
Demi Lovato - Unbroken - 5 songs
Ke$ha - Cannibal - 5 songs
7. Adele - 21 - 4 songs
Britney Spears - Femme Fatale - 4 songs
This concludes the year-end charts of my most played music. I hope this has given you some new tracks to listen to or revisit. Feel free to discuss in the comments!
