Wrapping up the present.
20 - "Carry On," fun.
19 - "Little Talks," Of Monsters and Men
18 - "22," Taylor Swift
17 - "Locked Out of Heaven," Bruno Mars
16 - "I Will Wait," Mumford and Sons
The second half opens with more fun. This time, it's another singalong, this time about moving on with life and ignoring one's mortality. It has kind of an Irish flavor. Their hits seemed designed to be played repeatedly during drunken nights out. There's a place for that, clearly.
Of Monsters and Men aren't the first act from Iceland to develop an American following. Before them were The Sugarcubes, their lead singer Bjork's solo career, and Sigur Ros. But I don't think either of those have scaled this height of the Top 40. It's folky pop with horns, and I think it's about a couple hoping to reunite. It's charming, but give me Bjork anyday.
Next is Taylor Swift with some Swedish-made pop about being happy and free and okay with not being cool. She writes for teenage girls, and that's okay. But unlike others like her who've come before, there's absolutely nothing in her music for anyone else. No killer hooks, no interesting lyrical insights, nothing. But she's hardly hurting for fans, so she doesn't need to do anything but what she's doing. For now.
Then it's Bruno Mars with a track that sounds like 80s new wave. There's a Police vibe to it in particular. It's about a woman whose "sex takes (him) to Paradise." Another fun, catchy winner. This guy, to my ears, is this MVP of modern Top 40 radio. Ooh!
This section closes out with Mumford and Sons, an English band influenced by American roots music and Shakespeare. Somehow, this combination has made them huge pop stars, and their biggest U.S. hit so far, a song about wanting to repair a broken relationship. Honestly, I think I like this less than I should. But I will say it's cool to hear banjo on pop radio again.
15 - "Scream and Shout," will.i.am featuring Britney Spears
14 - "Alive," Krewella
13 - "Troublemaker," Olly Murs featuring Flo Rida
12 - "Heart Attack," Demi Lovato
11 - "It's Time," Imagine Dragons
This section opens with more will.i.am, teaming up with Britney on another typical electrodance noisemaker. Brit's contribution is mostly a spoken-word part on which she sounds like Madonna after she moved to England. This does not make me want to "bring the action."
Chicago dance group Krewella make their first major pop impression with your basic modern uplifting techno number. Sorry you three, but the Swedes do this kind of thing much, much better.
Next is Olly Murs, yet another graduate of the British X Factor. His first American hit is a song about a girl so bad she's good. This sounds a lot like Maroon 5, only Murs' voice is slightly less annoying. Flo Rida's rap is bland and inoffensive.
Then it's Demi Lovato, the onetime star of such Disney creations as Sonny With a Chance and Camp Rock. Personal issues put her TV career on hold, but she's continued to have success in music with songs like this one about not wanting to fall in love even though she's really, really attracted to someone. She sings okay, but I prefer Selena Gomez between the two.
This quintet is anchored by Las Vegas' Imagine Dragons with a jaunty pop-rock song about not changing oneself for anyone or anything. The choruses remind me of their LV homeboys The Killers at their best, only not as good. But all in all, a decent song.
The Top Ten make the world go round.
10 - "Just Give Me a Reason," Pink featuring Nate Ruess
The latest from Her Pinkness finds her teaming up with the singer from fun. on this ballad about a relationship that may or not be salvageable. A timeless pop duet.
9 - "I Knew You Were Trouble," Taylor Swift
More from pop's current princess. A song about a relationship that was a mistake. Okay, I kind of like this one a bit. "Zippy" is the adjective that comes to mind. But my previous comment about her overall oeuvre stands.
8 - "Don't You Worry Child," Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin
The collective name of this trio of Scandanavian DJs sounds to me like the least intimidating organized-crime faction imaginable. But this song about fatherly advice getting one through tough times is pretty good. I don't know if John Martin sounds as much like Chad Kroeger on all of the stuff he sings as he does here, but regardless, it works in this context.
7 - "Feel This Moment," Pitbull featuring Christina Aguilera
Mr. Bull doesn't change my opinion of him on this track, in spite of employing the melody from A-ha's "Take on Me" and having Aguilera sing a solid hook. It's still a lot of boasting in his annoying delivery. Sorry, I don't get it.
6 - "Sweet Nothing," Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch
The scottish DJ has another hit with this song that features a haunting vocal from the lead singer of English band Florence + The Machine. The lyrics are about not getting what you need from a relationship. The beats are strong as usual. Harris remains one of the leading lights in the electronic wing of modern pop.
5 - "Stay," Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko
Miss Rhi racks up yet another hit with a tender piano ballad featuring previously unknown Louisianan Ekko. A reminder that when she sheds the big production and the "swag," the lady can sing.
4 - "Suit & Tie," Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z
Timberlake's "comeback" single is this slick, sharp number that contains more than a few echoes of the best disco had to offer. Jay-Z's rap accentuates the cool, adult vibe. Welcome back JT, we missed you. And does anybody remember the name of that group he was in back in the 90s anymore?
3 - "Thrift Shop," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
These guys' breakthrough is this odd little rap tune about shopping at the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and other used-goods outlets. A fun little novelty, but I'm most intrigued by their guest singer, 52-year-old Michael "Wanz" Wansley, a journeyman singer who was working fulltime as a software tester when he got the call to sing on this track. And now his voice is everywhere. I find that story fucking awesome.
2 - "Daylight," Maroon 5
Another big hit from these guys. This time, Adam Levine's singing about how he doesn't want to leave a lover but has to. His voice is exceptionally grating on this one. Still, I will once again proclaim how much I like "Harder to Breathe." But this isn't even close to being that good.
And the Number One song in America as I'm writing this is...
1 - "When I Was Your Man," Bruno Mars
The man seems to be making the top of the charts his home these days, and with songs like this regretful piano-soul ballad make, I don't begrudge him that at all. Quite simply, right now, the man is the best in the world at what he does.
Okay, so that ends the journey from 1989 to now. And it also ends the series of ten Ryan Seacrest countdowns I listened to for this. Obviously, he runs the show much differently than Casey did, with celebrity guests, frequent plugs for Idol and his other projects, and a looser manner overall. He's not my cup of tea, but I can't deny he's a pro, and he's the right man for the job right now. Can you see Casey talking about relationship gossip and Twitter feeds? Neither can I.
And so this phase of BGC is complete. Once again I'd like to thank Jimmy Delach for his huge role in making these entries possible. And of course, thanks to all of you for reading them.
So is this the end?
Well, yes and no.
I'm continuing this thing, but on a little less frequent basis. Instead of coming to you twice a week (or so, as the case has been lately), my two-part entries will be posted every three-or-four weeks.
And what will they be about, you ask?
Well, I've decided to go back to the pre-Casey era and cover one Billboard Top 40 for each of the years between 1960 and 1969. I'm ready to take on an extremely different pop landscape than the one I've been writing about lately. I think it'll be fun and interesting, and I hope you do too. I already have my 1960 chart picked out, and you should be hearing from me about it in a week or two.
And yes, I may also sprinkle in some 70s and 80s coverage. I know there are songs I haven't given my opinion on yet, and I have every intention of doing so at some point. You have been warned, "Superman" by Herbie Mann. You too, "I Do What I Do," by John Taylor.
So anyway, thank you for joining me on this leg of the journey, and you are quite welcome to stay aboard for the next one. See you again soon.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
April 20, 2013 Part One
Okay, we've landed in the present day. We've been through quite a bit of the popular music of the forty-two years before this, and at last, we take a look at what's happening on the old American Top 40 this year, this week, this day.
40 - "#thatPOWER," will.i.am featuring Justin Bieber
39 - "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)," Ne-Yo
38 - "Wings," Little Mix
37 - "I Cry," Flo Rida
36 - "With Ur Love," Cher Lloyd featuring Juicy J
35 - "Try," Pink
34 - "As Your Friend," Afrojack featuring Chris Brown
33 - "Some Nights," fun.
32 - "One More Night," Maroon 5
31 - "Next to Me," Emeli Sandé
We start with what we've come to know as "the featurers" First of all, we are immediately reminded that we are in the year 2013 because we are confronted with a song whose title is a Twitter hashtag. That such a thing would come from the human gimmick that is will.i.am and the tweeting machine that is The Bieb is hardly surprising. That it's yet more generic dance-pop is even less so. Brit Cher Lloyd, a grad of the U.K. X Factor, is here with more of that on her song about how good her boyfriend makes her feel. Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia shows up to rap about how "your girl look like Miss Piggy." That was necessary. And Dutchman Afrojack demonstrates terrible taste in collaborators.
Two solo men in this bunch. Ne-Yo made his return to the Top Ten after a mini-drought with this song about trying to help a lover see that she is more worthy than she thing she is. He's one of the better purveyors of this sort of thing. And Flo Rida is here with a dance track on which he raps about champagne, Rihanna, the 2011 Japanese earthquake, and a terrorist attack in Norway that same year. How these things are linked, I'm not sure. He's just putting stuff of varying levels of import in a blender and coming up who the hell knows? It's bizarre, it's off-putting, and just plain disconcerting. I'd rather just hear "Low" again.
Then we have groups. Little Mix is made up of four women who were brought together during yet another of the seasons of the British X Factor, and their first American hit is this jaunty, fluffy bit of "believe in yourself" inspiro-pop. Catchily inconsequential. Fun. followed up their huge breakthrough with another biggie, a pop-rocker with a bit of an African beat about not being sure about one's direction but keeping going anyway. More singalong goodness from these guys. And Maroon 5 show up again with some dance pop with a slight reggae feel. It's about how Adam Levine can't stay away from a woman he wants to leave. If I were her, I'd lock the doors so I'd never have to hear is nasal whine-singing again. But that's just me.
Wrapping up this first section are solo ladies. Pink continues her run of hits with this 80s-flavored rock ballad about taking chances in life in spite of the potential for heartbreak. Reminds me of Gwen Stefani's song from a few years ago, "Cool," except this is better. And Scotswoman Emeli Sandé scores her first American hit with this piano-driven, gospel-flavored soul number about an extremely loyal man. Or could it be God? Who knows? And who cares? This song is terrific no matter what, and Sandé instantly becomes one of the best voices on American pop radio.
30 - "Die Young," Ke$ha
29 - "Mirrors," Justin Timberlake
28 - "Catch My Breath," Kelly Clarkson
27 - "Can't Hold Us," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton
26 - "Madness," Muse
25 - "Beauty and a Beat," Justin Bieber featuring Nicki Minaj
24 - "All Around the World," Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris
23 - "My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light 'Em Up)," Fall Out Boy
22 - "I Love It," Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX
21 - "Ho Hey," The Lumineers
The first three spots in this section are all occupied by solo singers. Ke$ha keeps her career going with a song that has sonic similarities to Flo Rida's "Good Feeling" and lyrical similarities to every other Ke$ha song. That said, it's probably the best I've heard of her so far, though that rapping(?) style of hers is still fingernails on a chalkboard to me. And I'm guessing the power of the chorus is at least partially attributable to one of the co-writers, fun.'s Nate Ruess. Justin Timberlake is here with the second single from his third album, a midtempo synth-soul track about realizing one has found the love of ones life. A typically big production, with his usual solid vocals. I don't think it's in my top five of his, but still, good to have him back on the radio singing his own songs. And Kelly Clarkson enters her second decade of hitmaking with this sprightly pop song about being content and confident about her place in life. And she ceratinly should be.
Three more "featurers" in this batch. Washington state natives Ben "Macklemore" Haggerty and Ryan Lewis teamed up with singer Ray Dalton on their second major hit, a frenetic rap track about being confident and free. The use of horns and the Bob Barker reference are both reference, and Dalton's chorus performance makes me want to hear more of him. Justin Bieber gets assistance on back-to-back tracks. First he teams up with Nicki Minaj on a song on which he claims all he needs in life are an attractive woman and music he can dance to. These are apparently the requirements for him to "party like it's 3012." Really. Also, Minaj says, and I quote, "Buns out, wiener, but I gotta keep an eye out for Seleener." I'm not sure what that means, but I don't think she needs to worry about that anymore. But the track isn't that bad, actually. Later, he sings about another girl he likes. Ludacris raps, but not very memorably. This one, not so good. And Swedish dance duo Icona Pop got assistance from British singer Charli XCX on this dumb-fun floor-filler about carelessly crashing cars after breaking up. It also contains the chronologically intriguing diss "You're from the 70s, but I'm a 90s chick." I guess if you're talking about birth dates, that makes sense. I guess.
The first half finishes with groups. British rockers Muse are here with what could be their biggest American hit to date (replacing that "WE...WILL...BE...VIC...TOOOOOOOORIOOOOOOUS!" song). This one is a stuttery, spacey synth-rocker comparing love to insanity. I like this one quite a bit, and in addition, I'm making it an Uneasy Rider. Fall Out Boy return after a four-year break with this typically lengthily-titled song with lyrics that might be deep, or might be just nonsense. Musically, it's beat-heavy, and kind of catchy. But unlike the claim they make in the title of their new album, I don't think they're going to Save Rock and Roll. And Denver folk-rockers The Lumineers made their breakthrough with this song about trying to convince someone that they belong with you, and you with that person. That thought is pretty much drilled into your head. I like having this kind of music sneak in alongside all the dance-pop, but this particular song just annoys me.
Next time: the rest of now. Is this the end? You'll see.
40 - "#thatPOWER," will.i.am featuring Justin Bieber
39 - "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)," Ne-Yo
38 - "Wings," Little Mix
37 - "I Cry," Flo Rida
36 - "With Ur Love," Cher Lloyd featuring Juicy J
35 - "Try," Pink
34 - "As Your Friend," Afrojack featuring Chris Brown
33 - "Some Nights," fun.
32 - "One More Night," Maroon 5
31 - "Next to Me," Emeli Sandé
We start with what we've come to know as "the featurers" First of all, we are immediately reminded that we are in the year 2013 because we are confronted with a song whose title is a Twitter hashtag. That such a thing would come from the human gimmick that is will.i.am and the tweeting machine that is The Bieb is hardly surprising. That it's yet more generic dance-pop is even less so. Brit Cher Lloyd, a grad of the U.K. X Factor, is here with more of that on her song about how good her boyfriend makes her feel. Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia shows up to rap about how "your girl look like Miss Piggy." That was necessary. And Dutchman Afrojack demonstrates terrible taste in collaborators.
Two solo men in this bunch. Ne-Yo made his return to the Top Ten after a mini-drought with this song about trying to help a lover see that she is more worthy than she thing she is. He's one of the better purveyors of this sort of thing. And Flo Rida is here with a dance track on which he raps about champagne, Rihanna, the 2011 Japanese earthquake, and a terrorist attack in Norway that same year. How these things are linked, I'm not sure. He's just putting stuff of varying levels of import in a blender and coming up who the hell knows? It's bizarre, it's off-putting, and just plain disconcerting. I'd rather just hear "Low" again.
Then we have groups. Little Mix is made up of four women who were brought together during yet another of the seasons of the British X Factor, and their first American hit is this jaunty, fluffy bit of "believe in yourself" inspiro-pop. Catchily inconsequential. Fun. followed up their huge breakthrough with another biggie, a pop-rocker with a bit of an African beat about not being sure about one's direction but keeping going anyway. More singalong goodness from these guys. And Maroon 5 show up again with some dance pop with a slight reggae feel. It's about how Adam Levine can't stay away from a woman he wants to leave. If I were her, I'd lock the doors so I'd never have to hear is nasal whine-singing again. But that's just me.
Wrapping up this first section are solo ladies. Pink continues her run of hits with this 80s-flavored rock ballad about taking chances in life in spite of the potential for heartbreak. Reminds me of Gwen Stefani's song from a few years ago, "Cool," except this is better. And Scotswoman Emeli Sandé scores her first American hit with this piano-driven, gospel-flavored soul number about an extremely loyal man. Or could it be God? Who knows? And who cares? This song is terrific no matter what, and Sandé instantly becomes one of the best voices on American pop radio.
30 - "Die Young," Ke$ha
29 - "Mirrors," Justin Timberlake
28 - "Catch My Breath," Kelly Clarkson
27 - "Can't Hold Us," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton
26 - "Madness," Muse
25 - "Beauty and a Beat," Justin Bieber featuring Nicki Minaj
24 - "All Around the World," Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris
23 - "My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light 'Em Up)," Fall Out Boy
22 - "I Love It," Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX
21 - "Ho Hey," The Lumineers
The first three spots in this section are all occupied by solo singers. Ke$ha keeps her career going with a song that has sonic similarities to Flo Rida's "Good Feeling" and lyrical similarities to every other Ke$ha song. That said, it's probably the best I've heard of her so far, though that rapping(?) style of hers is still fingernails on a chalkboard to me. And I'm guessing the power of the chorus is at least partially attributable to one of the co-writers, fun.'s Nate Ruess. Justin Timberlake is here with the second single from his third album, a midtempo synth-soul track about realizing one has found the love of ones life. A typically big production, with his usual solid vocals. I don't think it's in my top five of his, but still, good to have him back on the radio singing his own songs. And Kelly Clarkson enters her second decade of hitmaking with this sprightly pop song about being content and confident about her place in life. And she ceratinly should be.
Three more "featurers" in this batch. Washington state natives Ben "Macklemore" Haggerty and Ryan Lewis teamed up with singer Ray Dalton on their second major hit, a frenetic rap track about being confident and free. The use of horns and the Bob Barker reference are both reference, and Dalton's chorus performance makes me want to hear more of him. Justin Bieber gets assistance on back-to-back tracks. First he teams up with Nicki Minaj on a song on which he claims all he needs in life are an attractive woman and music he can dance to. These are apparently the requirements for him to "party like it's 3012." Really. Also, Minaj says, and I quote, "Buns out, wiener, but I gotta keep an eye out for Seleener." I'm not sure what that means, but I don't think she needs to worry about that anymore. But the track isn't that bad, actually. Later, he sings about another girl he likes. Ludacris raps, but not very memorably. This one, not so good. And Swedish dance duo Icona Pop got assistance from British singer Charli XCX on this dumb-fun floor-filler about carelessly crashing cars after breaking up. It also contains the chronologically intriguing diss "You're from the 70s, but I'm a 90s chick." I guess if you're talking about birth dates, that makes sense. I guess.
The first half finishes with groups. British rockers Muse are here with what could be their biggest American hit to date (replacing that "WE...WILL...BE...VIC...TOOOOOOOORIOOOOOOUS!" song). This one is a stuttery, spacey synth-rocker comparing love to insanity. I like this one quite a bit, and in addition, I'm making it an Uneasy Rider. Fall Out Boy return after a four-year break with this typically lengthily-titled song with lyrics that might be deep, or might be just nonsense. Musically, it's beat-heavy, and kind of catchy. But unlike the claim they make in the title of their new album, I don't think they're going to Save Rock and Roll. And Denver folk-rockers The Lumineers made their breakthrough with this song about trying to convince someone that they belong with you, and you with that person. That thought is pretty much drilled into your head. I like having this kind of music sneak in alongside all the dance-pop, but this particular song just annoys me.
Next time: the rest of now. Is this the end? You'll see.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
April 7, 2012 Part Two
Ending 2012.
20 - "Sexy and I Know It," LMFAO
19 - "It Will Rain," Bruno Mars
18 - "Turn Up the Music," Chris Brown
17 - "Wild Ones," Flo Rida featuring Sia
16 - "Starships," Nicki Minaj
The second half begins with those LMFAO guys again with another dumb song about how hot they think they are. It was another #1 for them. I guess whatever they do works, but as for me, I don't even get a LOL out of them.
Bruno Mars continued his run of hits with ballad that contains a heck of an opening line: "If you ever leave me baby, leave some morphine at my door." That, and some melodic similarities to "Wild Horses" made me think of the Rolling Stones. I'm liking this guy more all the time.
Next is some jerkoff with some song he did.
Then it's Flo Rida with another meh track about partying. Aussie singer Sia Furler's contribution is nice, but still, nothing much.
Closing this bunch is Nicki Minaj with one of her biggest hits to date. The guitar and the opening rap are kind of interesting, but it just gives way to generic modern dance-pop. Disappointing
15 - "Tonight is the Night," Outasight
14 - "Feel So Close," Calvin Harris
13 - "We Found Love," Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
12 - "Take Care," Drake featuring Rihanna
11 - "We Are Young," fun. featuring Janelle Monae
This group is led off by New York singer-rapper Richard Andrew's only major pop hit to date. Again, very generic. This chart isn't impressing me at all.
Scottish DJ-singer Calvin Harris had been a star in the UK for a few years, but he finally broke through in America with this dance track about enjoying someone's company. His voice is charmingly different, and I like the guitar and piano lines on the song. Definitely better than many of its contemporaries.
Then Harris appears again, providing the beats for a Rihanna hit about discovering affection "in a hopeless place." Her singing is reliabale as usual, and once again, Harris' track gives you something more interesting to listen to than the average dancefloor fodder.
Then Rihanna joins Drake on his hit here, a song about a complicated yet passionate relationship. Good song, and it was cool hearing a modern rapper riff on Lesley Gore ("It's my birthday, I'll get high if I want to.")
Rounding out this section are New York indie-poppers fun. with their breakthrough hit. It starts out as a jittery song about partying, then it changes tempo and launches into that chorus, which is just huge and memorable and undeniable. Maybe one of the best ever. Guest vocalist Janelle Monae's contribution is nice, but really, it's all about that danm chorus. Still "fun." is an incredibly pretentious name.
Wherefore art thou, Top Ten?
10 - "Young, Wild and Free," Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg featuring Bruno Mars
Cameron Thomaz is almost assuredly the most successful rapper to be born in North Dakota, and here he teams up with Snoop and Bruno on this laid-back number about hangin' out and smokin' stuff. Solid stuff
9 - "Good Feeling," Flo Rida
More party rapping from Mr. Rida, but it's raised several notches because of a catchier backing track and a vocal hook sampled from a 1962 Etta James song. Easily his best non-"Low" song.
8 - "International Love," Pitbull featuring Chris Brown
Fuck these guys.
7 - "Domino," Jessie J
The Brit's biggest American hit to date is more Swedish-made dance-pop. Well-crafted, but not very exciting. Yawn.
6 - "Part of Me," Katy Perry
Katy vows to stay strong after a breakup. A mediocrity in lesser hands, but her voice and personality sell it.
5 - "Back Home," Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch
These guys teamed up with Brit female singer Hitch with this song about a wandering man and the woman who wants him to spend more time with her. I think that's it. I don't care enough to make sure.
4 - "Glad You Came," The Wanted
One Direction's closest rivals in the modern British boyband wave had their biggest American hit so far with this song about how much they appreciate your comfortable. It starts like a Coldplayish piano ballad, then it kicks into a dance track containing some vaguely accordion-like sounds. Not bad.
3 - "Set Fire to the Rain," Adele
Here she is again, applying that big awesome voice to a ballad about getting over a deceptive lover. She really is fantastic, isn't she?
2 - "Turn Me On," David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj
The Frenchman hooks up with Ms. Minaj on this track. She sings and raps robotically, he backs her up with his usual okay beats. Somehow, it's greater than the sum of its parts. A pleasant surprise.
And on top this time last year was...
1 - "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson
A decade after winning American Idol, in a musical landscape that had changed drastically, Clarkson proved that her talent was still great enough to top the charts with this pop cry of defiance and resilience. She really has put together a nice little career.
Next time: we're in the here and now.
20 - "Sexy and I Know It," LMFAO
19 - "It Will Rain," Bruno Mars
18 - "Turn Up the Music," Chris Brown
17 - "Wild Ones," Flo Rida featuring Sia
16 - "Starships," Nicki Minaj
The second half begins with those LMFAO guys again with another dumb song about how hot they think they are. It was another #1 for them. I guess whatever they do works, but as for me, I don't even get a LOL out of them.
Bruno Mars continued his run of hits with ballad that contains a heck of an opening line: "If you ever leave me baby, leave some morphine at my door." That, and some melodic similarities to "Wild Horses" made me think of the Rolling Stones. I'm liking this guy more all the time.
Next is some jerkoff with some song he did.
Then it's Flo Rida with another meh track about partying. Aussie singer Sia Furler's contribution is nice, but still, nothing much.
Closing this bunch is Nicki Minaj with one of her biggest hits to date. The guitar and the opening rap are kind of interesting, but it just gives way to generic modern dance-pop. Disappointing
15 - "Tonight is the Night," Outasight
14 - "Feel So Close," Calvin Harris
13 - "We Found Love," Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
12 - "Take Care," Drake featuring Rihanna
11 - "We Are Young," fun. featuring Janelle Monae
This group is led off by New York singer-rapper Richard Andrew's only major pop hit to date. Again, very generic. This chart isn't impressing me at all.
Scottish DJ-singer Calvin Harris had been a star in the UK for a few years, but he finally broke through in America with this dance track about enjoying someone's company. His voice is charmingly different, and I like the guitar and piano lines on the song. Definitely better than many of its contemporaries.
Then Harris appears again, providing the beats for a Rihanna hit about discovering affection "in a hopeless place." Her singing is reliabale as usual, and once again, Harris' track gives you something more interesting to listen to than the average dancefloor fodder.
Then Rihanna joins Drake on his hit here, a song about a complicated yet passionate relationship. Good song, and it was cool hearing a modern rapper riff on Lesley Gore ("It's my birthday, I'll get high if I want to.")
Rounding out this section are New York indie-poppers fun. with their breakthrough hit. It starts out as a jittery song about partying, then it changes tempo and launches into that chorus, which is just huge and memorable and undeniable. Maybe one of the best ever. Guest vocalist Janelle Monae's contribution is nice, but really, it's all about that danm chorus. Still "fun." is an incredibly pretentious name.
Wherefore art thou, Top Ten?
10 - "Young, Wild and Free," Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg featuring Bruno Mars
Cameron Thomaz is almost assuredly the most successful rapper to be born in North Dakota, and here he teams up with Snoop and Bruno on this laid-back number about hangin' out and smokin' stuff. Solid stuff
9 - "Good Feeling," Flo Rida
More party rapping from Mr. Rida, but it's raised several notches because of a catchier backing track and a vocal hook sampled from a 1962 Etta James song. Easily his best non-"Low" song.
8 - "International Love," Pitbull featuring Chris Brown
Fuck these guys.
7 - "Domino," Jessie J
The Brit's biggest American hit to date is more Swedish-made dance-pop. Well-crafted, but not very exciting. Yawn.
6 - "Part of Me," Katy Perry
Katy vows to stay strong after a breakup. A mediocrity in lesser hands, but her voice and personality sell it.
5 - "Back Home," Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch
These guys teamed up with Brit female singer Hitch with this song about a wandering man and the woman who wants him to spend more time with her. I think that's it. I don't care enough to make sure.
4 - "Glad You Came," The Wanted
One Direction's closest rivals in the modern British boyband wave had their biggest American hit so far with this song about how much they appreciate your comfortable. It starts like a Coldplayish piano ballad, then it kicks into a dance track containing some vaguely accordion-like sounds. Not bad.
3 - "Set Fire to the Rain," Adele
Here she is again, applying that big awesome voice to a ballad about getting over a deceptive lover. She really is fantastic, isn't she?
2 - "Turn Me On," David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj
The Frenchman hooks up with Ms. Minaj on this track. She sings and raps robotically, he backs her up with his usual okay beats. Somehow, it's greater than the sum of its parts. A pleasant surprise.
And on top this time last year was...
1 - "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson
A decade after winning American Idol, in a musical landscape that had changed drastically, Clarkson proved that her talent was still great enough to top the charts with this pop cry of defiance and resilience. She really has put together a nice little career.
Next time: we're in the here and now.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
April 7, 2012 Part One
And now we're in 2012, the year the Mayan calendar supposedly ran out. The world didn't end, but back when we still weren't sure if our days were numbered, this is what people listened to.
40 - "Someone Like You," Adele
39 - "Breathing," Jason Derulo
38 - "Talk That Talk," Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
37 - "Somebody That I Used to Know," Gotye featuring Kimbra
36 - "Rumour Has It," Adele
35 - "Princess of China," Coldplay featuring Rihanna
34 - "A Thousand Years," Christina Perri
33 - "Give Me Everything," Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer
32 - "Stereo Love," Gym Class Heroes featuring Adam Levine
31 - "You Make Me Feel..." Cobra Starship featuing Sabi
We start with solo artists that don't feature anybody on their singles. And here is where we have our first encounter with one Adele Adkins, the British singer who I would say is undisputably the biggest music act in the world today by far. I mean, in today's music industry, going diamond in the U.S. and selling 27 million copies of an album worldwide seems practically impossible, but that's exactly what Adele has accomplished with her 2011 disc 21, from which her two entries in this section are taken. First, she bares her soul on a powerful piano ballad about coming to terms with the fact that an ex has found the happiness he couldn't find with her wih someone else. Then, she delivers an old-school soul raveup about how friends talk about her romantic life behind her. Both are dynamic in their own way, powered by her strong, versatile voice. She just has such personality and authenticity that no one can deny that her place at the top of pop has been well-earned. Jason Derulo is here with more R&B stuff about how he misses his ex constantly. It's pretty good. And Christina Perri returns with another Alanis-lite ballad from one of the Twilight movies. Watered-down angst for watered-down vampires. Sounds about right.
The rest are "featuring" songs. Half are by solo acts, the other half by groups. Rihanna teams up with Jay-Z on yet another sexy dance track. Her usual, enlivened by Jay's verse. She's a brand, and as such, you generally know what you're getting when her name is on the label. Belgian-born Australian Wouter "Gotye" de Backer made his American breakthrough with this weirdly catchy indie-pop ballad about a breakup, which features counterpoint vocals by New Zealander Kimbra Lee Johnson. It probably wouldn't have gotten noticed beyond his homeland without the animated video that went viral, but it was the strange power of the song that pushed it beyond just a mere YouTube senstation. It was so much different from everything else on the charts, so shockingly, it's this week's Uneasy Rider. And Pitbull teamed up with a Dutch DJ and two American singers for his first pop #1, a dance song about getting laid and such. Only significant thing to me is the line "I'm an American idol, getting money like Seacrest," which made me wonder if Casey ever got a shoutout in a Top 40 hit he played back in the day. I don't believe so, but you are all free to correct me if I'm wrong.
This section finishes with groups that employed assistance. In the decade since their debut, British band Coldplay had racked up multiple multiplatinum albums, toured the world multiple times, and had their share of hits. But still, they decided they needed to hook up with a pop diva to assure radio success in 2012, and so they enlisted the ubiquitous Rihanna on this bit of synth-heavy noise that sounds nothing like "Yellow" or "Clocks" or any of the other songs the band built their success on. In fact, Rihanna sings more on it than the band's singer, and if you'd told me that this was a Swedish-made Rihanna track "featuring Chris Martin." I'd have had no trouble believing it. Not a fan. Gym Class Heroes get Adam Levine to sing the hook on a rap that compares romance to a CD or an LP. I don't care. And dance-poppers Cobra Starship picked up a Top Ten with this noisy dance song featuring Rihanna soundalike Sabi. It just sounds like so many other songs these days. I'm not trying to be a grumpy old man here, but I have to be honest, some of these recent charts are getting to be a slog to get through, and songs like this are why.
30 - "So Good," B.o.B.
29 -"Love You Like a Love Song," Selena Gomez and the Scene
28 - "Party Rock Anthem," LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock
27 - "Without You," David Guetta featuring Usher
26 - "The One That Got Away," Katy Perry
25 - "Moves Like Jagger," Maroon 5 featuing Christina Aguilera
24 - "Drive By," Train
23 - "Brokenhearted," Karmin
22 - "What Makes You Beautiful," One Direction
21 - "Not Over You," Gavin DeGraw
This section is bookended by solo men. B.o.B offers to take his special lady on a world tour. More literate and less misogynistic that most popular rap, so a refreshing change. And Gavin DeGraw had his most recent hit with this song about romantic regret that has a cool little late-70s pop vibe to these ears. Ryan Tedder was involved in its creation, but I won't hold that against it.
Then we have a solo woman and a female-fronted group. Selena Gomez and her anonymous backup are her with a slickly funky bit of electropop. I'm not sure if it's studio effects, or if her voice sounds naturally more mature. Either way, I like it. Unfortunately, I don't think the title sentiment applies to the Bieb anymore. Poor kid. Katy Perry scored a sixth hit from her Teenage Dream album with this beat-heavy reminiscence of a past love that went wrong. She references Radiohead and June and Johnny Cash, but those allusions don't feel at all forced. To me, she's just interesting enough as a singer and songwriter to put her above the current pop diva crowd. And Boston duo Karmin had their biggest hit to date with this meh dance-popper dragged down by singer Amy Heidemann's Ke$ha-esque rapping. One Ke$ha is quite enough, thank you.
Only three "featurers" this time. LMFAO, a duo consisting of one of Berry Gordy's sons and his nephew, topped the charts with this now-ubiquitous bit of dancefloor idiocy. I don't know what Lauren Bennett and GoonRock do on this song exactly, and I don't care. Just brain-dead rapping, squggly keyboards, and other crap. It makes "I Gotta Feeling" sound like Mozart. David Guetta had another hit when Usher agreed to croon over some of his by-numbers beats. Really, with all the talent in French electronic music, it's a shame that this guy has become the superstar of the bunch. And Maroon 5 revived their flagging chart fortunes with this monster hit about having similar kissing abilities to a Rolling Stone ("Take me by the tongue and I'll know you") bolstered by the appearance of one of Adam Levine's then-co-judges on The Voice. I generally just turn it off as soon as I hear that opening whistle part, but I sat down and listened to the whole thing, and it's actually not too bad. They've done much, much worse.
Rounding out the first half are two groups. I didn't think Train could get any worse, but they did on this one. The song sounds more like generic pop than anything they'd put out before, and Patrick Monahan makes the mistake of attempting to rap. And even the lyrics hit new lows of forced currency ("My love for you went viral.") If they're not careful, I might start hating them even more than I do Matchbox Twenty. And One Direction, a boyband formed during a season of the British version of The X Factor, had their breakthrough U.S. hit with this catchy guitar-based pop song about a girl whose ignorance of her own attractiveness makes her even more alluring. Nothing world-changing, but as this kind of thing goes, well above average.
Next time: the rest of this thing.
40 - "Someone Like You," Adele
39 - "Breathing," Jason Derulo
38 - "Talk That Talk," Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
37 - "Somebody That I Used to Know," Gotye featuring Kimbra
36 - "Rumour Has It," Adele
35 - "Princess of China," Coldplay featuring Rihanna
34 - "A Thousand Years," Christina Perri
33 - "Give Me Everything," Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer
32 - "Stereo Love," Gym Class Heroes featuring Adam Levine
31 - "You Make Me Feel..." Cobra Starship featuing Sabi
We start with solo artists that don't feature anybody on their singles. And here is where we have our first encounter with one Adele Adkins, the British singer who I would say is undisputably the biggest music act in the world today by far. I mean, in today's music industry, going diamond in the U.S. and selling 27 million copies of an album worldwide seems practically impossible, but that's exactly what Adele has accomplished with her 2011 disc 21, from which her two entries in this section are taken. First, she bares her soul on a powerful piano ballad about coming to terms with the fact that an ex has found the happiness he couldn't find with her wih someone else. Then, she delivers an old-school soul raveup about how friends talk about her romantic life behind her. Both are dynamic in their own way, powered by her strong, versatile voice. She just has such personality and authenticity that no one can deny that her place at the top of pop has been well-earned. Jason Derulo is here with more R&B stuff about how he misses his ex constantly. It's pretty good. And Christina Perri returns with another Alanis-lite ballad from one of the Twilight movies. Watered-down angst for watered-down vampires. Sounds about right.
The rest are "featuring" songs. Half are by solo acts, the other half by groups. Rihanna teams up with Jay-Z on yet another sexy dance track. Her usual, enlivened by Jay's verse. She's a brand, and as such, you generally know what you're getting when her name is on the label. Belgian-born Australian Wouter "Gotye" de Backer made his American breakthrough with this weirdly catchy indie-pop ballad about a breakup, which features counterpoint vocals by New Zealander Kimbra Lee Johnson. It probably wouldn't have gotten noticed beyond his homeland without the animated video that went viral, but it was the strange power of the song that pushed it beyond just a mere YouTube senstation. It was so much different from everything else on the charts, so shockingly, it's this week's Uneasy Rider. And Pitbull teamed up with a Dutch DJ and two American singers for his first pop #1, a dance song about getting laid and such. Only significant thing to me is the line "I'm an American idol, getting money like Seacrest," which made me wonder if Casey ever got a shoutout in a Top 40 hit he played back in the day. I don't believe so, but you are all free to correct me if I'm wrong.
This section finishes with groups that employed assistance. In the decade since their debut, British band Coldplay had racked up multiple multiplatinum albums, toured the world multiple times, and had their share of hits. But still, they decided they needed to hook up with a pop diva to assure radio success in 2012, and so they enlisted the ubiquitous Rihanna on this bit of synth-heavy noise that sounds nothing like "Yellow" or "Clocks" or any of the other songs the band built their success on. In fact, Rihanna sings more on it than the band's singer, and if you'd told me that this was a Swedish-made Rihanna track "featuring Chris Martin." I'd have had no trouble believing it. Not a fan. Gym Class Heroes get Adam Levine to sing the hook on a rap that compares romance to a CD or an LP. I don't care. And dance-poppers Cobra Starship picked up a Top Ten with this noisy dance song featuring Rihanna soundalike Sabi. It just sounds like so many other songs these days. I'm not trying to be a grumpy old man here, but I have to be honest, some of these recent charts are getting to be a slog to get through, and songs like this are why.
30 - "So Good," B.o.B.
29 -"Love You Like a Love Song," Selena Gomez and the Scene
28 - "Party Rock Anthem," LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock
27 - "Without You," David Guetta featuring Usher
26 - "The One That Got Away," Katy Perry
25 - "Moves Like Jagger," Maroon 5 featuing Christina Aguilera
24 - "Drive By," Train
23 - "Brokenhearted," Karmin
22 - "What Makes You Beautiful," One Direction
21 - "Not Over You," Gavin DeGraw
This section is bookended by solo men. B.o.B offers to take his special lady on a world tour. More literate and less misogynistic that most popular rap, so a refreshing change. And Gavin DeGraw had his most recent hit with this song about romantic regret that has a cool little late-70s pop vibe to these ears. Ryan Tedder was involved in its creation, but I won't hold that against it.
Then we have a solo woman and a female-fronted group. Selena Gomez and her anonymous backup are her with a slickly funky bit of electropop. I'm not sure if it's studio effects, or if her voice sounds naturally more mature. Either way, I like it. Unfortunately, I don't think the title sentiment applies to the Bieb anymore. Poor kid. Katy Perry scored a sixth hit from her Teenage Dream album with this beat-heavy reminiscence of a past love that went wrong. She references Radiohead and June and Johnny Cash, but those allusions don't feel at all forced. To me, she's just interesting enough as a singer and songwriter to put her above the current pop diva crowd. And Boston duo Karmin had their biggest hit to date with this meh dance-popper dragged down by singer Amy Heidemann's Ke$ha-esque rapping. One Ke$ha is quite enough, thank you.
Only three "featurers" this time. LMFAO, a duo consisting of one of Berry Gordy's sons and his nephew, topped the charts with this now-ubiquitous bit of dancefloor idiocy. I don't know what Lauren Bennett and GoonRock do on this song exactly, and I don't care. Just brain-dead rapping, squggly keyboards, and other crap. It makes "I Gotta Feeling" sound like Mozart. David Guetta had another hit when Usher agreed to croon over some of his by-numbers beats. Really, with all the talent in French electronic music, it's a shame that this guy has become the superstar of the bunch. And Maroon 5 revived their flagging chart fortunes with this monster hit about having similar kissing abilities to a Rolling Stone ("Take me by the tongue and I'll know you") bolstered by the appearance of one of Adam Levine's then-co-judges on The Voice. I generally just turn it off as soon as I hear that opening whistle part, but I sat down and listened to the whole thing, and it's actually not too bad. They've done much, much worse.
Rounding out the first half are two groups. I didn't think Train could get any worse, but they did on this one. The song sounds more like generic pop than anything they'd put out before, and Patrick Monahan makes the mistake of attempting to rap. And even the lyrics hit new lows of forced currency ("My love for you went viral.") If they're not careful, I might start hating them even more than I do Matchbox Twenty. And One Direction, a boyband formed during a season of the British version of The X Factor, had their breakthrough U.S. hit with this catchy guitar-based pop song about a girl whose ignorance of her own attractiveness makes her even more alluring. Nothing world-changing, but as this kind of thing goes, well above average.
Next time: the rest of this thing.
Friday, April 5, 2013
April 2, 2011 Part Two
20 - "Till the World Ends," Britney Spears
19 - "We R Who We R," Ke$ha
18 - "Just Can't Get Enough," The Black Eyed Peas
17 - "Jar of Hearts," Christina Perri
16 - "Yeah 3X," Chris Brown
The second half begins with Her Britness, who wants to boogie until Armageddon comes. There are worse things to do be doing when everything comes crashing down, I suppose. But there are also many better songs to be doing it to.
Ke$ha kept doing her Ke$ha thing on this song where she talks about dancing like she's dumb with "Jesus on my necklace." That's appropriate for the just-passed Easter season, I suppose, except maybe fot the fact that Ke$ha is, well, Ke$ha.
Next it's the Black Eyed Peas with their most recent major hit. Nothing overtly awful, just rhymes about a hot girl, and Fergie sticks to singing. But another unnecessary tempo change. They do it because they can, I guess.
Then it's the first hit for Christina Perri, who sounds like a cross between Pink and Alanis Morissette on this piano ballad about getting her heart broken. It's fine, but I've heard too many better songs that are similar to this to really like it.
Last in this group is a song with an awful title.
15 - "Rocketeer," Far East Movement featuring Ryan Tedder
14 - "What The Hell," Avril Lavigne
13 - "Firework," Katy Perry
12 - "E.T.," Katy Perry featuring Kanye West
11 - "Hold it Against Me," Britney Spears
This section opens with Asian-American rap group Far East Movement, who followed up their #1 "Like a G6" with their only other Top Ten to date, which includes the title phrase of that previous hit. It's okay hip-hop-pop about wanting to fly around in a jet pack. No, they still don't have those available for mass consumption. Will they ever?
Avril Lavigne had her most recent Top Ten with this peppy, poppy number about taking life less seriously than her would-be boyfriend. I don't know, even though she was only 27 at the time, this song just seeme to young for her. Maybe that's just me though.
Then we've got back-to-back Katy Perry. First is her inspirational dance track encouraging outcasts and shy people to "let your colours burst." It's catchy, hooky, and has a nice message. Nothing wrong with it at all. Then, it's a slower, more ominous number about a lover who seems literally out of this world. Kanye's verses fit in perfectly with the vibe. It's a little different from the fluffier stuff she does, but it works in its own way. I just find myself liking her more than I thought I did.
This batch is rounded out by more Britney. This song's double entendre title completes the phrase "If I said I want your body now..." Of course, the Bellamy Brothers went to this well first, but Brit's version is showier and noisier. Does that mean better as well? You decide.
Top Ten, you are cleared for takeoff.
10 - "Blow," KeSha
Her again, with more oddly sung party music. "We're pretty and sick, we're young and we're bored," she says. Isn't that pretty much the thesis statement for all of her songs?
9 - "Coming Home," Diddy-Dirty Money featuring Skylar Grey
The biggest pop hit by this Sean Combs-fronted group reminds me a lot of Eminem, from Diddy's delivery to his uncharacteristically confessional rhyme to the "Stan"-esque ethereal white-girl vocal contributions of Skylar Grey. But it's still his own twist on it, and opening each verse with a comment on a classic song is an interesting motif that works well. Possibly the best track he's been a lead performer on.
8- "S&M," Rihanna
Taking a turn for the kinky on this one. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me," she sings. Whatever tickles your pickle, I suppose.
7 - "More," Usher
Apparently, dancing brings out the primitive side of Mr. Raymond: "I'm a beast, I'm an animal, I'm that monster in the mirror." I guess that's a good thing, which is more than I can say for this song.
6 - "Hey Baby (Drop it to the Floor)," Pitbull featring T-Pain
Our first encounter with the man born Armando Perez as a lead artist. As usual, he enjoys watching women dance. T-Pain approves, but I don't. I don't understand his appeal at all.
5 - "Grenade," Bruno Mars
Mr. Mars makes his third appearance this week on this ballad about an uneven relationship where he cares enough for his lover to be willing to put himself in harm's way for her, but she doesn't seem to reciprocate. I'm starting to see why this guy is a leading light in modern R&B. He's got the voice, he's talented musically and lyrically, and he knows his way around a hook.
4 - "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)," Enrique Iglesias featuring Ludacris
Julio's boy was riding a renewed wave of American success when he put out this straight-up declaration of his intentions toward a young lady. In the uncensored version, the verb in the parentheses is replaced by a, shall we say, stronger word. Oh Enrique, your dad didn't have to resort to such coarseness to get action, and I'm willing to guess that he got more of that in his five peak years than you will in your entire lifetime. Just a feeling I have.
3 - "Forget You (FU)," Cee-Lo Green
This Atlanta rapper, born Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, had some success in the 90s with the group Goodie Mob, then some more in the 2000s as half of the duo Gnarls Barkley (whose "Crazy" is in my Top Ten pop hits of that decade.) But his biggest hit came by himself in the form of this 70s-funk-styled kissoff to an ex that, like the song at #4, uses a different F-word in its original version. An earworm with a universal theme and a great vocal performance. No mystery why this was huge.
2 - "Born This Way," Lady Gaga
The title track from her second full album was another big, flamboyant statement about accepting who you are and asking the same from the world. Yes, there are similatities between this and Madonna's 1989 hit "Express Yourself," but it's so boisterous and propulsive that for those four minutes, it's hard to give a shit about that. So don't be a drag, just be a queen, I suppose.
And on top two years ago was:
1 - "Perfect," Pink
This ballad has common qualities with the songs around it in the upper reaches of this chart. Like "Born This Way," it's about learning to accept oneself as one is. And like songs #3 and #4, the title of its original version contains a variation of a certain four-letter word. The song itself is a well-constructed, well-intentioned production, but sorry, Ms.Pink, you probably shouldn't rap. Ever.
Next time: 2012. The end is near. In this case, for real.
19 - "We R Who We R," Ke$ha
18 - "Just Can't Get Enough," The Black Eyed Peas
17 - "Jar of Hearts," Christina Perri
16 - "Yeah 3X," Chris Brown
The second half begins with Her Britness, who wants to boogie until Armageddon comes. There are worse things to do be doing when everything comes crashing down, I suppose. But there are also many better songs to be doing it to.
Ke$ha kept doing her Ke$ha thing on this song where she talks about dancing like she's dumb with "Jesus on my necklace." That's appropriate for the just-passed Easter season, I suppose, except maybe fot the fact that Ke$ha is, well, Ke$ha.
Next it's the Black Eyed Peas with their most recent major hit. Nothing overtly awful, just rhymes about a hot girl, and Fergie sticks to singing. But another unnecessary tempo change. They do it because they can, I guess.
Then it's the first hit for Christina Perri, who sounds like a cross between Pink and Alanis Morissette on this piano ballad about getting her heart broken. It's fine, but I've heard too many better songs that are similar to this to really like it.
Last in this group is a song with an awful title.
15 - "Rocketeer," Far East Movement featuring Ryan Tedder
14 - "What The Hell," Avril Lavigne
13 - "Firework," Katy Perry
12 - "E.T.," Katy Perry featuring Kanye West
11 - "Hold it Against Me," Britney Spears
This section opens with Asian-American rap group Far East Movement, who followed up their #1 "Like a G6" with their only other Top Ten to date, which includes the title phrase of that previous hit. It's okay hip-hop-pop about wanting to fly around in a jet pack. No, they still don't have those available for mass consumption. Will they ever?
Avril Lavigne had her most recent Top Ten with this peppy, poppy number about taking life less seriously than her would-be boyfriend. I don't know, even though she was only 27 at the time, this song just seeme to young for her. Maybe that's just me though.
Then we've got back-to-back Katy Perry. First is her inspirational dance track encouraging outcasts and shy people to "let your colours burst." It's catchy, hooky, and has a nice message. Nothing wrong with it at all. Then, it's a slower, more ominous number about a lover who seems literally out of this world. Kanye's verses fit in perfectly with the vibe. It's a little different from the fluffier stuff she does, but it works in its own way. I just find myself liking her more than I thought I did.
This batch is rounded out by more Britney. This song's double entendre title completes the phrase "If I said I want your body now..." Of course, the Bellamy Brothers went to this well first, but Brit's version is showier and noisier. Does that mean better as well? You decide.
Top Ten, you are cleared for takeoff.
10 - "Blow," KeSha
Her again, with more oddly sung party music. "We're pretty and sick, we're young and we're bored," she says. Isn't that pretty much the thesis statement for all of her songs?
9 - "Coming Home," Diddy-Dirty Money featuring Skylar Grey
The biggest pop hit by this Sean Combs-fronted group reminds me a lot of Eminem, from Diddy's delivery to his uncharacteristically confessional rhyme to the "Stan"-esque ethereal white-girl vocal contributions of Skylar Grey. But it's still his own twist on it, and opening each verse with a comment on a classic song is an interesting motif that works well. Possibly the best track he's been a lead performer on.
8- "S&M," Rihanna
Taking a turn for the kinky on this one. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me," she sings. Whatever tickles your pickle, I suppose.
7 - "More," Usher
Apparently, dancing brings out the primitive side of Mr. Raymond: "I'm a beast, I'm an animal, I'm that monster in the mirror." I guess that's a good thing, which is more than I can say for this song.
6 - "Hey Baby (Drop it to the Floor)," Pitbull featring T-Pain
Our first encounter with the man born Armando Perez as a lead artist. As usual, he enjoys watching women dance. T-Pain approves, but I don't. I don't understand his appeal at all.
5 - "Grenade," Bruno Mars
Mr. Mars makes his third appearance this week on this ballad about an uneven relationship where he cares enough for his lover to be willing to put himself in harm's way for her, but she doesn't seem to reciprocate. I'm starting to see why this guy is a leading light in modern R&B. He's got the voice, he's talented musically and lyrically, and he knows his way around a hook.
4 - "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)," Enrique Iglesias featuring Ludacris
Julio's boy was riding a renewed wave of American success when he put out this straight-up declaration of his intentions toward a young lady. In the uncensored version, the verb in the parentheses is replaced by a, shall we say, stronger word. Oh Enrique, your dad didn't have to resort to such coarseness to get action, and I'm willing to guess that he got more of that in his five peak years than you will in your entire lifetime. Just a feeling I have.
3 - "Forget You (FU)," Cee-Lo Green
This Atlanta rapper, born Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, had some success in the 90s with the group Goodie Mob, then some more in the 2000s as half of the duo Gnarls Barkley (whose "Crazy" is in my Top Ten pop hits of that decade.) But his biggest hit came by himself in the form of this 70s-funk-styled kissoff to an ex that, like the song at #4, uses a different F-word in its original version. An earworm with a universal theme and a great vocal performance. No mystery why this was huge.
2 - "Born This Way," Lady Gaga
The title track from her second full album was another big, flamboyant statement about accepting who you are and asking the same from the world. Yes, there are similatities between this and Madonna's 1989 hit "Express Yourself," but it's so boisterous and propulsive that for those four minutes, it's hard to give a shit about that. So don't be a drag, just be a queen, I suppose.
And on top two years ago was:
1 - "Perfect," Pink
This ballad has common qualities with the songs around it in the upper reaches of this chart. Like "Born This Way," it's about learning to accept oneself as one is. And like songs #3 and #4, the title of its original version contains a variation of a certain four-letter word. The song itself is a well-constructed, well-intentioned production, but sorry, Ms.Pink, you probably shouldn't rap. Ever.
Next time: 2012. The end is near. In this case, for real.
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