Based on iTunes plays, how much I annoyed other motorists playing it very loudly, how often I sang it in the shower…
1: Rihanna – “We Found Love” feat. Calvin Harris
Uptempo R&B cuts were on life-support as artists, faced collapsing USA sales, roped in a combination of David Guetta, autotune and lyrics about clubbin’ for those vital Euro downloads. Rihanna jumped on the bandwagon and in true fashion eclipsed them all, with euphoric production from Calvin Harris, icy vocals that were just the ticket and an on-trend Brit-riot-chic video. Bow down.
2: Adele – “Someone Like You”
I tried, I really did. After about April this year there was absolutely no need to listen to Adele’s album given its omnipresence on TV, on the radio, in shops, in lifts, bloody everywhere. But Adele reminded us that a ballad should sound like pure heartbreak.
3: Teedra Moses – “Another Luvr” (Mixtape track)
Beguiling bhangra-inspired slick vocals, a loping hip-hop sample, and smooth backing vocals make this the perfect tune to bump in your car as you drive through the city at night
4: Christina Perri – “Jar of Hearts”
Epic balladry brought to our attention by way of Glee. Proved the theory that it’s all about the melody, stupid.
5: Melanie Fiona – “Gone And Never Coming Back”
A monster of a ballad, in a 90s classic style, with a crashing chorus and a smokily sublime vocal performance that strikes a fine balance between tone and bombast.
6.
6: Jill Scott – “So In Love” feat Anthony Hamilton
A duet that’s as uplifting as a breeze on a tropical beach. As soon as the infectious bridge kicks in, you’re hooked.
7: Kelly Price – “Not My Daddy” feat Stokely
Supremely talented vocalists come together for a relationship negotiation over some classic backing.
8. Jessie J – “Price Tag”
It’s not about the money, money, money…. and that one line sums up the incredible hookiness of this tune. A deserved number 1 hit.
9. Syleena Johnson – “My Shoes”
She called her album “Underrated” and she’s right. The burnished grit of her voice oozes the required angst.
10. Lady Gaga – “Edge Of Glory”
Despite the great build up suggesting that Born This Way was going to be the greatest album of all time, it proved to be just as fillertastic as the last one. Still, it had a few epic moments, and this is one of them.
BUT WHERE ARE THE MEN?
I dunno. NeYo was missing in action, Usher was recording duff euro dance tracks and Justin Timberlake is STILL doing Rom-coms. Get it together boys!
UBERFLOP OF THE YEAR
Beyonce – Run The World (Girls)
This single, on paper, has everything: It has Beyonce, it has her tried and tested theme of female empowerment, it has “Umbrella” and “Single Ladies” producer The-Dream. But before they spent zillions on the video, someone at the record company should surely have shut everyone up and said ‘Hold on a minute guys, this is an UNSEEMLY RACKET“. But apparently not. However the record buying public saw through the massive hype and voted with their feet – with embarrassing chart positions on both sides of the Atlantic for a lead Beyonce single. A massive fail.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Adele – 21
For an album that wears its heart on its sleeve, it’s the coldhearted quality control that makes this untouchable. Everyone else in the music industry take note – if you don’t want people to cherry-pick a few tracks off iTunes instead of shelling out for the whole album, then deliver a consistently excellent experience. Maybe one day I will listen to it again after the overexposure has finally died down.
