THE BEST SONGS I HEARD THIS YEAR
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| Cutie Rae Jepsen: 1-Hit-Wonder? |
<!--[if !supportLists]-->01. CALL ME MAYBE – Carly Rae Jepsen / This song is just pure pop
perfection. Will Jepsen be a super
star? No. As witnessed by her TV
performances, there is no stage presence, no charisma, no “it” factor, hence,
no solid fan base (beyond Beiber followers), and sadly, no future. Her follow-up, the cute “This Kiss,”
tanked. But trust me, when we look
back on the decade of 2010-2020, this tune will be in the top 10 of the best
pop records of it’s time.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->02. WE ARE NEVER EVER
GETTING BACK TOGETHER – Taylor Swift / She flipped the script, shocking most,
but not many. Those keen to the
fact that all this time Swift was essentially a Pop act, weren’t surprised to
hear her go full tilt poppy on this perfectly crafted tune.
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03. DON’T RUSH – Kelly Clarkson (f/Vince Gill) – Tipping her toe into the Nashville waters, as
she’s done over the last two years, it comes as no surprise Kelly tackled this
pop-country ditty for her Greatest Hits album. If you loved Country-Pop of the 80’s, this song is for
you. I am still obsessed with
it. I think it should have been
huge for her on Country radio.
(More on her miss-guided releases later when I get to the Albums of the
Year.) While some will connect the
tune to Islands In The Stream, it’s also very similar to the recent 2008 Billy Currington hit, “Don’t.”
<!--[if !supportLists]-->04. SOME NIGHTS –
fun. / This one took a while to build on the charts. It’s as if radio wanted to lump the very talented group into
One Hit Wonderville with Gotye.
But the label worked to push it through and didn’t give up. It’s different
enough to be original, familiar enough to be compared to Queen, and catchy
enough to keep you up at night!
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05. EVERYBODY TALKS – Neon Trees / This is very non-Jerry, but I thought this was perfectly produced
and rode the line of harder rock and pop rock – much like the Killers used to
do. The verses are very 80’s. The
choruses make this a powerful fist pumping, driving anthem.
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06. MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION – Gossip / This one just didn’t stick – at all! I’ve never been into Beth Ditto &
Co., but I stumbled onto this after reading a review. If there was one tune to break this band here, this would
have been it. Sadly, it was a
non-starter. But trust me, it’s a
damn good single.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->07. GIVE YOUR HEART A BREAK – Demi Lovato / It seemed inescapable,
but oddly, this tune only reached #16 on Billboard Hot 100. I immediately though this would have
been the comeback tune for JoJo.
And, bless my “golden ears,” the tune was written by the guys who did
her “Too Little Too Late.” One of
the writers, Billy Steinberg, gave us some of the best pop moments ever: Like A
Virgin, So Emotional, Eternal Flame, True Colors and Heart’s Alone.
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08. <!--[endif]-->BROKENHEARTED – Karmin / Hyped as the latest, greatest
internet-find, this cute duo couldn’t get past this first single. Stalling at #16, the lyric of “Finish
what you started – Don’t you leave me brokenhearted tonight,” was simple but
infectious.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->09. TITANIUM – David
Guetta with Sia / Clearly Rihanna-inspired, this dance ditty rose above the
tiresome EDM of late to be a damn good, feel good pop tune. Featured in “Pitch Perfect,” it was
apparently offered to Katy Perry first, then Mary J recorded a demo of it until
Sia, the song’s co-writter, ultimate took the lead. Sia, a 37 year old, white Australian woman, also sang and
co-wrote FloRida’s “Wild One.”
Looking older than her 37 years, interestingly (or not) Sia’s never seen
in those music videos.
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10. COUNTRY SINGLES – Yes, I’m clumping these together because I
listen to a lot of country and didn’t want to make a separate list. So here goes: ALONE WITH YOU/Jake Owen
(my favorite country single of the year); OVER YOU/Miranda Lambert; CHRIS
YOUNG/You; KEEP ME IN MIND/Zac Brown Band; PONTOON/Little Big Town; DRUNK ON
YOU/Luke Bryan; WANTED/Hunter Hayes; POSTCARD FROM PARIS/The Band Perry (Their
5th single from their 2010 debut album, hit #6 Country earlier in
2012. THAT’S how you work an
album!)
Others: 50 WAYS TO SAY GOODBYE/Train; I WON’T GIVE UP/Jason
Mraz; NOT OVER YOU/Gavin DeGraw; LOVE YOU LIKE A LOVE SONG/Selena Gomez; WIDE
AWAKE/Katy Perry; CANDY/Robbie Williams and of course, singles from P!nk, Kelly, Maroon 5, and Carrie
– but more of that in my Albums of the Year.
MY 6 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
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| Maroon's "Voice" Adam Levine |
<!--[if !supportLists]-->01. <!--[endif]-->MAROON 5/Overexposed – They’re 3 singles deep (Payphone, One
More Night and now the brilliant Daylight) – and I think they can go for two
more. I’m hoping “The Man Who
Never Lied” follows. “Love
Somebody” and “Doin Dirt” are highlights as well. They have just crafted perfect pop – structured, simple,
fun, structured songs with production sprinkled with disco, club-thumping and
80’s.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->02. TAYLOR SWIFT/Red – Technically, not released in time for
Grammy consideration, so it shouldn’t be on my 2012 list, but I’m so obsessed
with it, I had to include it. With
“We Are Never” and now, “I Knew You Were Trouble,” Taylor has told pop queens
Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson to make some room. Yet her country leaning “Begin Again,” keep her Nashville
fan base in tact. Yes, the
juvenile simplicity of “Stay” and “22,” show her age, but others like “State of
Grace,” the gorgeous “I Almost Do,” and the title track, show her growth and
potential. And that will keep her
around for a long time, if not forever.
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03. CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Blown Away – Unstoppable is how I’d describe
Carrie. She knows what her fans
want and she has yet to deliver a bad album, in my opinion. And while this one is a bit
ballad-heavy for my liking – and those ballads aren’t the “I Know You Won’t,”
Celine-like power vehicles of previous efforts, this album has the strongest and
best storytelling (with melodies) that she’s given. The title track (and it’s amazing video), “Two Black
Cadillacs” (now just taking off as the new single), the Coldplay’esque “See You Again,” and “Cupid’s Got A
Shotgun” are standouts. I really
felt the Blown Away track should have crossed her over again, like Before He
Cheats did, but the label didn’t even push it to pop.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->04. P!NK/The Truth About Love – The no-brainer “Blow Me (One Last
Kiss)” kicked off what could be her best effort yet. Often wrongly under rated or forgotten when rambling off today’s
lady hitmakers (Gaga, Katy, Rihanna, Beyonce), but there’s no denying the
hitfactory that is P!nk. “Try”
should be (and hopefully will be) bigger than it currently is. And I assume that “True Love,” and
God-willing “Just Give Me A Reason” with fun. lead singer, Nate Ruess, will
follow. That duet will be a missed
opportunity if RCA skips out on issuing it to radio. (And I worry about RCA, as
you’ll see below.)
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05. ADAM LAMBERT/Trespassing – It sold a strong-enough 78k albums
in it’s first (weak) week to enter at #1.
But singles like “Better Than I Know Myself” a copy of his “What Do You
Want From Me?,” and “Never Close Our Eyes,” a copy of his “If I Had You,”
failed to gain any radio interest.
While I certainly don’t know for sure, but I think RCA thought with
“Better,” they’d have the same success as the huge “What Do Want.” However, I wish they took a shot at presenting AL as what he is: a
dance-pop performer. On stage he
is a showman – much like the oft compared legendary rock-man, Freddie Mercury. And with the song “Trespassing,” being
released first (not third), they could have hit a homerun. On that track, Adam did
“cheerleader-pop” as well as Gwen’s Hollaback Girl and better than Madonna’s
“Give Me All Your Luvin’.” It’s
just a damn good, high energy album to kick start your night – or
gym-going. “Cuckoo,” “Shady,” and
“Kickin’ It” are standouts.
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06. KELLY CLARKSON/Stronger – One hot hit, “Mr. Know It All,”
followed by one monster-smash, “Stronger,” the album oddly stalled after what
was one of the biggest singles of the year. Why? Well,
clearly, 3rd single, “Dark Side” was the wrong choice. Lyrically, everyone might have a dark
side, but at the time this song was being pushed to radio, the dark side was a
shooting at the theatre showing Dark Knight Rises. Sometimes a tune can rub you the wrong way. And perhaps the unfortunate timing of
this one turned off radio programmers and listeners. But to abandon the album entirely? Yes, that’s just what RCA did. Regardless that “You Love Me” and “I Forgive You,” were
worthy to be hit-bound, the label packaged-up a Greatest Hits CD celebrating
her decade long career. Now, I’m
sure they thought they’d strike it rich as they did with P!nk’s collection, but
P!nk’s was released when her Funhouse album was done. And somehow, someone over there has decided to give Kelly NO
MONEY for any video efforts. P!nk
and Adam (both on RCA as well), have issued wonderful, polished, high-quality
videos but poor Kelly…? Have you
seen “Catch My Breath?” I feel as
if they don’t know what to do with her visual image (cute but plain,
girl-next-door, with some ups-and-downs on the weight-scale). But there is no better voice. Vocally she can sing a song like no
one. Performance-wise, her vocals
are outstanding and her pipes are right up there with Celine. She will go down in history as one of
the best pop vocalists ever. I
truly feel that. And while she may
not be a dancer, she also isn’t much of a live performer. Singing high-energy songs like
Stronger, Since U Been Gone and My Life Would Suck while just standing there –
or perhaps simply strutting the stage a bit – isn’t going to fly today. Closing your eyes while singing, conveying no message and not connecting to your fans at home through the TV or in concert, doesn't help either. She sang “Catch My Breath” on the
recent VH1 Divas, which was billed as a salute to dance acts. So she performs, looking beautiful in a
full-length Oscar-worthy gown, not moving from behind a mic stand. Can you explain that choice? Is the material not fitting the person? And as for the Stronger album, Kelly
deserves better ballads – and she certainly deserves better service from her
label. Perhaps it's her? Maybe she's surrounded by yes-men or people who know no better. (But I don't believe that angle.)
Things
that didn’t happen in music this year: comebacks from Brandy, No Doubt, Christina
Aguilera, Matchbox Twenty, Nelly Furtado, Mariah
(and her not-so “Triumphant,” single which thankfully halted an album release).
On the fence: Alicia Keys.
The single “Girl On Fire,” might have caught some iTunes sales due to a TV
commercial tie in, but I just don’t know what to do with this amazingly
talented woman. Is she trying to be too-cool for the room, and yet, she
really isn’t, so it’s inauthentic? Is she trying to prove to us that she
can really, really sing? (And while, yes, her vocals have improved since her
debut, I don’t need her shouting at me and singing in what seems to be a step
or two too high for her.) Let Christina do the over-singing and
shouting. There’s only room for one lady to bury her career every time
she opens her mouth. Also on the fence (at least when it comes to new music): Madonna. The biggest money making tour of the
year, but perhaps the biggest let down of an album. With all of the hype
including the Super Bowl, the album has, in it’s 9 months of release, sold just
over 500,000 copies. When millions upon millions see you sing at the
Super Bowl, and then buy tickets to your concert, but you only sell 500k
copies, something isn’t adding up. It could be her attitude (hydrangeas
and Gaga-bashing) or over all out-of-touch’ness with what
audiences want from her, but the Madonna I knew and loved started trends not
followed them. She brought William Orbit into the pop world (Ray of
Light). Now, she teams with a one-hit-wonder (LMFAO) in a sign of desperation
just to try to show she’s relevant...?
I'm
sure there are some I'm missed. I'm sure some will make most irate.
But these are my personal opinions. And I listen to pop (and
country), so you won't find Jack White or Springsteen here. Just not not
my thing. So, I hope you'll sample some of these, make 2013 amazing and be Just Like Jerry!
