Alexander Rybak - Into A Fantasy

"I will be with you every step"

When I want this specific kind of folksy-euro-old-fashioned pop music, I always know where to go. Alexander Rybak, even post-Fairytale, is always reliable. His music is earnest and irony-free, and very timeless. It just makes me happy. This track is from the Norwegian soundtrack of How To Train Your Dragon 2, which is really a perfect fit. I'm actually surprised he hasn't done more work for soundtracks. On first listen, I thought this was a little too Mumford and Sons-ish, but it's grown on me immensely, as most of Rybak's music does. His vocals are full of character and power, and the message is uplifting. It's perfect for kids, but also for those who will always be kids at heart (like moi).



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 50 Singles Of 2013: 45-41

45. The Fooo - Fridays Are Forever



Throwback to Ace Of Base-style 90's dance pop, delivered by the world's most promising new boy band.

44. Alexander Rybak - 5 To 7 Years



Not a "single" in the strictest definition, but I couldn't leave this melodramatic chest pumper off of my list this year.

43. Getty Domein - Dance With The Devil



A calypso blend of 2013 dance production and tribal hooks. I always say I want more African-hued pop music. This definitely fits the bill.

42. A Great Big World - This Is The New Year 



Their big Christina Aguilera duet is proving to be their breakthrough, but I much prefer this anthemic slice of piano pop.

41. Behrang Miri - Jalla Dansa Sawa 



A Euro pop hybrid that became the real surprise of this year's Melodifestivalen. It just feels like summer.

Alexander Rybak - 5 To 7 Years

"I hope our love will last forever"

It's always a treat when new music surfaces from Alexander Rybak. I can't wait to listen to his Christmas album (which I didn't know existed until several months ago) this holiday season, but this new "song for the fans" (aren't they all, technically?) is even better. I really enjoyed his stab at dance pop last year with the frantic Leave Me Alone, but this is a total left turn. It's a power ballad/pub singalong/broadway showtune hybrid that would've sounded completely at home on an Abba album. High praise, indeed. That Alexander is still churning out music this good is no small feat. Eurovision acts have a notoriously short shelf-life, but I've enjoyed a lot of Alexander's music post-Fairytale. A lot of that is down to his distinctive, pleasantly old-fashioned vocals. And I love that he keeps surprising us.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy his music here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Alexander Rybak - Leave Me Alone

"I'm begging you to stop and think this through"

One of my favorite Alexander Rybak recordings is a remix of his biggest hit, Fairytale, so it's kind of awesome that his new single sounds a bit like that. I never expected Alex to go dance, but if this track is any indication, that's exactly where he's headed. Leave Me Alone is really a bizarre single, but to be honest all of Rybak's songs have kind of existed in a parallel music universe, which is part of their charm. This particular track is a cool mix of classical strings, electro beats and Rybak's trademark croon. It sounds like nothing else out there now, while still managing to piggyback on everything else out there (if that makes any sense). I can't wait to see if this newfound experimentalism extends to the next album.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the song here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Alexander Rybak - Why Not Me

"Kathy, why not me?"

Unless you're willing to wade through some serious schmaltz (and some very... interesting lyrics), I don't recommend Alexander Rybak's new album. There's certainly nothing as strong as Fairytale, nor is the overall quality up to that of his debut. But, there is one standout worth noting. Why Not Me is an interesting rock/pop song, partly because it's so straight forward. There's no mention of magic dolphins or drowning horses or any of the other odd stuff he usually sings about. Instead, we get a slightly 80's sounding rocker with (gasp!) a synthy violin riff following the chorus. It stands out from the rest of the album's tracks like crazy, and I think it's the direction he needs to keep heading if he hopes to continue finding success. Less of the awkward tributes to fan mail (5000 Letters) and comeback singles that sound like they're about pedophilia (Oah), please!

Alexander Rybak - Why Not Me by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 50 Singles of 2009: 15-11

15. Shakira - She-Wolf



A defining moment in a career filled with them, this strange, seductive dance track ushered in a new era for Shakira.

14. Miley Cyrus - Party In The USA



Proving she’s more than a (sometimes obnoxious) TV personality, this was the song of the Summer, even if you weren’t a Cyrus fan. Just try to resist that chorus.

13. Cinema Bizarre - I Came 2 Party



One of the more unusual RedOne productions of 2009, the former Tokio Hotel soundalikes recorded this booming club track and instantly gained a new fan.

12. Bodies Without Organs - Right Here, Right Now



The aural successor to Chariots Of Fire, this started off the new album with a bang and possesses one of the group’s catchiest, poppiest hooks yet.

11. Alexander Rybak - Fairytale



An oddball on the countdown, just as it was in Eurovision. Sometimes oddballs are good, and in this case a fiddle played with the vigor of an electric guitar is even better than good.