Top 20 Albums Of 2013: 2-1

2. One Direction - Midnight Memories



They took the runner-up sot on my countdown and they’re back there again. The reason is simple: their albums are the most reliable source of high quality pop music in the world. Yes, they can afford the best songwriters and producers and managers, but I don’t want to belittle the band’s input or performance. They put more of themselves into this album than they ever have in the past, and it shows. They've also managed that tricky accomplishment--breaking through to a new audience and maturing in sound without becoming stale or irrelevant. This is a bold rock album, stuffed with skyscraper high choruses and energy. It may take some awhile to come around to it, but the guys have morphed into an actual rock band, complete with an army of the best in the business behind them. Manufactured? Maybe. But that doesn't mean the music isn't worth your time.

1. Lady Gaga - Artpop



To many, this will probably be my most controversial album of year since I started doing these countdowns. It’s national Hate on Gaga year, after all, and I've heard more undeservedly nasty comments being made about this album than any other this year, many from music critics who seem to prefer safe Gaga who writes with established, commercial producers and sounds like everybody else to the batty theater queen who I believe she really is. To me, this is Gaga's best work to date. I didn't go into it as excited as I’d been for her past two albums, and that’s just more testament to its quality that, even after having to win me over, I’m still putting it on top of my list. Sure, it’s not a perfect album. There are a couple of dubious moments and the lead single didn't do much for me, but the highs are so incredibly high. More than that, there’s a palpable excitement in the songs. She sounds recharged, and it’s definitely the best produced album of the year. It’s got an expensive, dense, theatrical sound throughout, marrying her rock, pop and dance influences better than on any other album she‘s released. Gypsy, in particular, needs to be heard by every single music fan.

Top 50 Singles Of 2013: 10-6

10. Lady Gaga - Do What You Want (with R. Kelly)



After the underwhelming Applause, this grower of a track stood out as exactly the type of thing Gaga needed in 2013. Sounds ever better as part of the album.

9. Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop



The song that transformed Cyrus' career, and one of the best pop songs of the year. It's just effortlessly cool and doesn't even seem to try.

8. One Direction - Best Song Ever



Is it their best single? If it's not, then it's definitely second best. If they can keep putting out big slabs of pop rock like this, I think they're in it for the long run.

7. Kang Seung Yoon - Wild & Young 



Perhaps the most surprising (and little known) inclusion in my top ten. This Korean rock track sounds a lot like The Ark to me. I played it out this year.

6. Nicole Saboune - Conquer Or Suffer 



Speaking of sounding like The Ark, I was instantly taken with this glam/punk/rock track by Saboune, an alum of Sweden's The Voice. I mean, that hook!

Track-by-Track: Lady Gaga - Artpop

It's been a long time since I've featured a track by track review, and I wish I could have been more consistent. It's a matter of time management more than interest, and I'm hoping to feature more reviews soon. But what better album to come back with than the excellent new Lady Gaga release? I can't say I was knocked over on the first listen, but when Artpop clicked with me, it clicked big time. And now, it might just be my favorite album she's released. As time goes by, we'll see how that holds up. For now, read on...

1. Aura - The album kicks off with what almost sounds like an extended intro. The vocal delivery isn't so much singing as it is spitting the lyrics with the type of full-on theatricality and bizzaro-ness we expect from Gaga. It leaves you want just a bit more, which is always a good thing. 9/10

2. Venus - This is the album at its most self-referential campiness. I realized from the beginning that this is not going to resonate with all fans, in particular those who want their music a little more "serious." But really who the hell cares when a track is as fun and interesting as this. A perfect pop song, though I'd advise against making it a single. 10/10

3. G.U.Y. - Of the three tracks so far, this sounds the most like a classic Gaga dance track. It definitely shares pieces of past classics like Bad Romance and Poker Face, but the sledgehammer beat, gorgeously anthemic middle eight, and aggressive outro make this an instant standout. The gender politics on display in the lyrics are also refreshingly blunt. It'd make a great single. 10/10

4. Sexxx Dreams - Another winner, this piece of plastic funk sounds like it would have been right at home in the 80's. It's one of the breezier pop tracks she's come up with in awhile -- devoid of the artier self-indulgent tendencies that get her in trouble with some listeners. Simply a great chorus, wonderfully delivered verses, and hook upon hook. 10/10

5. Jewels n' Drugs - The real oddball of the album, and something that I consider more of a palette cleanser than a real song. Part of the problem is that Gaga herself really isn't on the track as much as her rapper collaborators are. It feels more like a feature, and as such, it's an album lowpoint. What it does do well, though, is split the first suite of four tracks from the three that come next. 7/10

6. Manicure - And we're back! Manicure is some kind of weird rock/cheerleader chant hybrid that totally works. I'd say it's the most instantly catchy thing on the album, though I'm not sure it holds up quite as well as the best tracks on here. Still, a total triumph. 9/10

7. Do What U Want - The second single, and an excellent choice. What first seems like a kind of dull midtempo r&b track, it took me a few days until this clicked with me. Now, it's one of my favorites. Gaga and R. Kelly's voices blend so well together and the whole thing is so funky and sleek. Brilliant. 10/10

8. Artpop - A spacey, dreamy sort of track. It's got a real futuristic, electronic sound to it, I find that, among the bigger moments in the album, it kind of gets lost in the shuffle, but it's definitely a pleasant listen and a nice change of pace. 8/10

9. Swine - One of the more experimental tracks on the album, this EDM-influenced hissy-fit of a song took me awhile to get used to (mostly because of those long industrial instrumental breaks), but then I started looking at it as another palette cleanser before the next of the album's song suites and I really appreciated its place in the running order. And Iloved those rocky verses and hiccupy production from the first listen. 9/10

10. Donatella - This is where the "fashion" portion of the album kicks in, and of the two tracks referencing this side of Gaga (not my favorite side, btw), this is the weirder and sillier. I'm not in love with the lyrics, which are a sort of obvious satire, but the production's nice enough. 8/10

11. Fashion! - This reminds me of 80's era Bowie, and it's all the better for it. I wouldn't have suspected Will-i-Am and David Guetta as producers, as this sounds little like their music. It's laidback, summery and simple. 9/10

12. Mary Jane Holland - This is where the album enters its darker, more personal portion, with the first of two tracks concerning drug use. This is a dramatic rock/pop hybrid that reminds me heavily of the late 90's in its alt-pop sound. It's like a mini rock opera, with an amazing breakdown at the middle eight that may just be the album's highest (pun intended) moment. 10/10

13. Dope - The album's only real ballad, this Rick Rubin-produced dirge is a haunting, dramatic diary piece theatrical enough to be operatic. Instead of going for precision, though, the production ensures that this is every bit as rough and gritty as the subject matter. 10/10

14. Gypsy - My favorite track on the album. I'm a huge fan of Edge Of Glory-style Gaga, mostly because I live for anthemic, driving rock/electronic tracks with a sense of euphoria and bombast. This ticks all those boxes, and adds on top of that some fantastic personal lyrics chronicling the nomadic life of today's popstar. I don't see how anyone could dislike this. 10/10

15. Applause - The first single, and oddly enough, not one of the stronger tracks on here. Its sound just kind of feels out of place. Despite its success, I'm not sure it ever really worked as a fully-formed single in its own right, and sounds jarring coming out of the much-bigger Gypsy. Still a great pop song. Just not my favorite. 9/10

Album Grade: 9.2/10

Lady Gaga - Gypsy

"I don't wanna be alone forever"

The pop world kind of stops and takes a breath whenever Lady Gaga releases new music. There are few artists out there right now with her kind of pull, even if lately she's been more focused on the art and less on the obvious radio hits. Her newest album finds a middle ground between the two and, after a few listens, has really clicked with me. Still, there's the rest of the album and then there's... this song. Gypsy is my favorite kind of Gaga moment. Think of it as Edge Of Glory Pt. II -- another slice of gargantuan, driving rock/electro/pop. It's an anthem, with all the necessary bombast and vocal histrionics. For me, it's the absolute highlight of a terrific album, and really really really needs to be a single. In the future, I'd love an entire album in this type of sound. I mean, if she's capable of something like this, why not do it all the time?



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

Pop Explosion: Gaga vs. Perry

I'm surprised the pop world is still standing. Fans of both Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have been clamoring for each artist's comeback singles, and raising expectations sky high. Neither of these artists could have come up with something that would have satisfied everyone's hopes and wishes, so I feel like both are leaving their best material for the next single. A wise decision, probably, and one that stretches far back in the pop world (remember how Michael Jackson, riding high after Thriller, released the good--but by no means extraordinarily jaw-dropping--I Just Can't Stop Loving You as the first taster off Bad?). Knowing this, I eagerly await the next release from both ladies, but that doesn't mean I'm not loving Roar and Applause as well. After all, it's possible to be a member of both fan groups, and it makes this week even more exciting.


Somewhat surprisingly, Perry seems to be beating Gaga on itunes. I chock this up to more goodwill from Perry's record-breaking Teenage Dream campaign, though I am definitely in the camp that loved (ever preferred) Born This Way era Gaga. We'll have to wait to see what the sales numbers tell us, but to my ear Roar is definitely the safer, more radio friendly single, and should resonate with a wide variety of listeners. On the other hand, despite her massive popularity, Gaga's always been more of a niche artist. Many people just don't feel like they "get" her, and probably never will be truly won over. It's alright, though. Even as I write the "vs." in the title of this blog post, I'm thinking about how wonderful it is that we've got both of these different styles to look forward to. Some might want to choose. I'm happy having it all!

Lady Gaga - High Princess/Stache (ft. Zedd)

"Where's my stache?"

It's been awhile since we've heard new music from Lady Gaga. And even if this isn't an official solo track, it sounds like a weirder, looser continuation of her Born This Way era. What she's done here is add vocals to a track by producer Zedd, so this isn't anything that will appear on her next album (at least, I'm assuming it won't). What it is, though, is a return to the weird, experimental dance pop we love Gaga for. In all honesty, it wouldn't make for a bad single. I love how it manages to retain the gritty electro of underground dance music, but coat it in a super-catchy melody tailor made for radio. All with some truly bizarre lyrics. If this is a hint of the type of thing we'll be getting from Gaga next, I can't wait to hear the album.



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

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 5-1

5. Rihanna - We Found Love



Sometimes the most amazing songs are also the simplest. Rihanna's got a lot to thank Calvin Harris for. His production on this is just stunning, but it's the gutsy, battle-cry vocals that put this over the top. Her best single yet? Maybe.

4. Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me



An example (haha) of how to mash genres successfully and create something that's better than the sum of its parts. Electro, rap, pop... everything gets its fair share in this track, all tied together by some of the best production of the year.

3. Lady Gaga - The Edge Of Glory



Gaga goes full-out rock goddess. So good that listeners demanded it as a single. This is what happens when a mainstream pop star refuses to settle, going for something bigger and more majestic than anybody else.

2. Nightwish - Storytime



A symphonic goth-rocker from a Finnish band. I didn't see this coming, but I love surprises. This track meshes so many of my favorite things into just over five minutes. Catchy, Abba-esque vocals, symphonic bombast and a choir of rock angels.

1. Pnau - The Truth



Released at the very beginning of the year, this track takes the top spot because no other song represented everything I loved about 2011 music better than this. It wraps it all together. Drama, dance, rock, bombast, melody. It's all here, and it sounds new each time I listen to it.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 4-3

4. One Direction - Up All Night



After the massive success of their first single, the following album could've coasted on labored songwriting and lots of filler. After all, fans of the teen pop genre don't always have the most discerning of taste. What we got instead was an album where every track could be a single. Ranging from power pop to club to old school boyband ballads, I haven't been this excited about cheesy teen pop for years. I suppose you could call it a guilty pleasure (if I believed in such things).

3. Lady Gaga - Born This Way



Others might argue, but this is the album where Lady Gaga became a tried and true superstar. Expanding on her previous sound and offering track after track of bombastic pop/rock/dance, this album doesn't get the credit it deserves for its willingness to usher in new sounds to the pop landscape. She could have repeated the old tricks of the last album and a half, but she pushed for a bigger, more intricately layered brand of pop.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 30-26

30. Short Stack - Heartbreak Made Me A Killer



An album highlight and one of their best singles. It's like all of their best sounds thrown together into one song.

29. Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat (ft. Rizzle Kicks)



Represents his shift from X-Factor runner-up to proper popstar. This was inescapable this Summer, and rightfully so.

28. The Sound Of Arrows - Nova



After an extended break, The Sound Of Arrows returned with this taster from their debut album. It got me 1000% more excited.

27. Adele - Someone Like You



The year's most moving ballad. Even after being played to death in every country, it still carries its bite.

26. Lady Gaga - Born This Way




Her anthem, and undeniably a massive part of 2011. This is what happens when a pop song becomes more than a pop song and enters the public consciousness.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 40-36

40. Jedward - Lipstick



Jedward in the top 50? Yep, they finally released a song worthy of their bonkers brilliance. If only it had won Eurovision.

39. Britney Spears - I Wanna Go



When we're talking pop music, there's no denying the little earworms in this song. Honestly, it's less about Britney and more about the brilliant production.

38. Lady Gaga - Marry The Night



A triumphant dance track that brings Gaga's latest album full circle. It's one of her best videos, too.

37. Nero - Promises



Dubstep gone mainstream, with a wonderful La Roux-esque melody. An unexpected, deserved hit this summer.

36. Mika - Elle Me Dit



The first French track ever on one of my countdowns. It doesn't matter what the language is, though, when the melody is so persistent and uplifting.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 45-41

45. Olly Murs - Dance With Me Tonight



Olly really came into his own this year with a pair of great singles. This could have been a cheesy novelty track but somehow it just worked.

44. Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat



Now this is a cheesy novelty track. And, more than that, it's the best cheesy novelty track of the year.

43. Lady Gaga - You And I



A rootsy sidestep for Gaga. The Mutt Lange production and weirdo-awesome video totally made it.

42. Sanna Nielsen - I'm In Love



One of this year's Melodifestivalen highlights, it pretty much defines the word "catchy."

41. Ulrik Munther - Boys Don't Cry



The one man Hanson from Sweden broke through with this endearing ballad, released on his own before scoring a record deal.

Countdown to the Countdowns: An Alienhits Christmas!

Next week kicks off my annual year-end countdowns. Top 20 Albums and Top 50 Singles, here we come! But first, I've got a week-long countdown to my countdown, starting with this requested feature on Christmas music!

While Christmas is definitely one of my most favorite times of the year, when it comes to music I'm more of a Halloween songs kind of guy. Still, there are quite a few of lesser known tracks that I love to listen to around the holidays. Here, in no particular order, are a few of them:

Darren Hayes - Last Christmas
My favorite version of this track, captured during his Savage Garden days. It ups the tempo and pretty much perfects an already perfect pop song.

Melody Club - I Don’t Believe In Angels
The kind of Christmas track I could (and do) listen to all year long. It's got everything: bells, cheesy lyrics, a singalong chorus and that indelible Melody Club charm.

Girls Aloud - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday (or anything off their EP)
Leave it to Girls Aloud to camp up Christmas. This is them at the height of their powers.

The Who - Christmas
From the best rock opera ever, Tommy, it's not the happiest of tracks, but it's freaking brilliant. I've gotta say, though, I prefer the movie version to the Who's version.

Aqua - Spin me a Christmas
Christmas the euro-pop way! Aqua 2.0 basically can do no wrong, and this follows suit.

Lady Gaga - Christmas Tree
She may have a new, more traditional Christmas EP out now, but I prefer this smutty oldie recorded back when she was still hungry for fame.

Sparks - Thank God It’s Not Christmas
An epic song anyway you shake it, this is just ridiculous bombast. Not the cheeriest of lyrics, but they're amazing anyway.

Hurts - All I Want for Christmas is New Year’s Day
It's about as downbeat as you'd expect from these guys, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. The bells make it.

Billy Elliot Soundtrack - Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher
From the absolute best modern stage musical, this is the show's catchiest track. I listen to it all year, but it's especially festive (in a vitriolic, down-with-Thatcher way) this time of year.

Pikko - The Ghost of Christmas Future
An icy electro track by one of my favorite indie Swedish artists. It's not high on melody, but has a sound that compliments the chilly season.

The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)
Pretty much what you'd expect from a Christmas song by the Darkness. It's got everything stuffed into it. And it's highly melodic to boot.

And some songs that sample Christmas. Can you tell which classics these tracks use?

Prozzak - It's Not Me It's You
The Mo - Rats on the Radio
JLS - Do You Feel What I Feel

Lady Gaga - Yoü and I (Mark Taylor Remix)

"Sit back down where you belong"

RE: The MTV VMAs. Thank god for Gaga! Seriously, without her brand of craziness, the show last night would have been pretty boring. I found it kind of entertaining to count the number of the show's attendees who tried to dress "crazy" in the mold of Gaga and couldn't pull it off. I mean, I love Katy Perry, but she can't give the weird outfit thing the commitment it requires (the block of cheese... or whatever it was... on her head just looked stupid). Lady Gaga's choice to drag it up throughout the entire show may have been bizarre, but she committed to it fully (so much so, it was kind of scary!). As always, she was a compelling watch. Her performance, too, was utterly captivating in its sheer ambition and balls-to-the-wall nerve. She is IT. A complete star. And the more I hear this song, the more I like it as a single. I was particularly pleased that she decided to segue into what sounded like this remix for the dancing portion. It's an excellent uptempo transformation of the song. Who would have ever thought you could square dance to Lady Gaga? (Oh, and I haven't had a chance to mention it here yet, but the song's video is one of her best)

Lady Gaga - Yoü and I (Mark Taylor remix) by stefanmonster

(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.

Track-by-Track: Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Not much more can be said about this album, really. In the pop world, it's easily the most anticipated of the year. In fact, I can't remember an artist able to elicit such anticipation since the days of the Jacksons, Madonna, Prince, etc. That may sound like overkill, but there really hasn't been an event record like this in years. The closest thing would have been some of the releases of the late 90's, early 00's teen pop boom, but I think this is even bigger. So does the album hold up to the hype? Let's see.

1. Marry The Night - Opens with a theatrical, slow-burning vocal before blasting into an insanely unstoppable dance beat. As far as the album's concerned, it's one of the more traditional sounding tracks. It only descends into madness at the very end (which coincidentally is the best part) 10/10

2. Born This Way - The first single, which has experienced a resurgence in my eyes since it was released. The lyrics are simplistic, yet somewhat controversial because of it. This will end up as one of 2011's biggest singles and represents a shift in Gaga's music to something more universal and stadium ready. 10/10

3. Government Hooker - A departure from the first two tracks, this brittle number uses a simple casio beat as its base, upon which Gaga vamps and yells. It's rather experimental to be placed so early in the running order, but rewards with repeated listens. 10/10

4. Judas - The second single, which should have been a much bigger hit than it was. Essentially Bad Romance Pt. II, this improved the more I listened to it. Deceptively simple, yet with enough staying power to match that thunderous beat. 10/10

5. Americano - A complete shift in town, this Mexican-inspired track is probably the most theatrical on here. It's great (and slightly mental) in its own right, but I find myself skipping it in the context of the album. 8/10

6. Hair - The first of several rock/pop/dance hybrids, this is an enormous stadium belter with a similar message to the title track. As a song, it's even more successful. One of the best melodies on the album, with jackhammer production and a message that busts through the silliness of the lyrics. 10/10

7. Scheiße - One of the definite standouts, this pulsing club track segues between spoken German and English. It has one of the simplest melodies, but a wicked chorus and a general sense of craziness that pulls you back for more. 10/10

8. Bloody Mary - A demented semi-ballad with some truly unique production. This is that "avante garde" piece on the album, and comes just in time to slow things down a bit. 10/10

9. Black Jesus + Amen Fashion - The first of the deluxe version's three bonus tracks, and also my favorite. Moves between autobiographical lyrics and dance music nonsense, but benefits by fantastic, understated production and a great melody. 10/10

10. Bad Kids - Another standout. This was one of my initial favorites, and remains so. I love the use of guitar and the surging verses. Very 80's, but in the best way possible. 10/10

11. Fashion Of His Love - Even more 80's. The production's too cluttered, and this sounds far more like Madonna than the title track, but it's still pleasant filler. 8/10

12. Highway Unicorn (Road To Love) - A psychedelic, bombastic arena rocker that's more than a little silly. It's the kind of sound that I'd hoped she'd attempt, yet falls just a little short of what I think is possible. It's almost too brash and chaotic and could do with some finessing. Still, it's by no means a song to skip. 9/10

13. Heavy Metal Lover - Back to straight-up dance pop, though with a softer, more European flavor this time around. It doesn't stand out much amongst everything else on here, but it's a great track nonetheless. 9/10

14. Electric Chapel - This sounds a lot like Billy Idol's White Wedding, which is a huge complement. The synth/guitar combo is exactly the sound she's pushing throughout the album, and this is one of the best examples of that. An instant hit. 10/10

15. The Queen - The last "bonus track," and probably the weakest. I like the melody, but the lyrics are pretty weak. I'm not sure why "bitch" is censored in the bridge, as it sounds quite strange to me. The song does provide a fantastic segue into the next one, though. 8/10

16. Yoü And I - The only non-electronic track on the album, though it's given full stadium-stomper power ballad production thanks to Mutt Lange. It would be a great song no matter how it was produced, even though it feels a little out of place here. 9/10

17. The Edge Of Glory - Quite possibly Gaga's best song to date. This encompasses everything that works about this album in one track. The production is stellar, but it's the anthemic melody that really sets this apart. It's hard to imagine a better US single this year. 10/10

Album Grade: 9.5/10

Lady Gaga - The Edge Of Glory

"I'm on the edge with you"

It's been a strange pattern with me and Lady Gaga songs this go-round. It seems like, on first listen, I've loved both of the singles released from the upcoming album, then I go through a period where I'm underwhelmed until I see the music videos and I become obsessed again. Time will tell if it'll be the same with this new song, but for now I've gotta say I am pretty impressed. This is the kind of euphoric, synth-dripped anthem that's basically a modern 80's power ballad set to a disco beat song that I thought could only be released by my favorite Swedish singers/bands. To think that she's brought this kind of melodic, giant pop back to the States is highly gratifying. I hope that the album follows suit, because this is the exact kind of music she should be making right now. It's like Born This Way kicked up a notch. I hope this becomes an official single so that we can get a video as dramatic as the song.

Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory by eddylavish

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

Pop Blitz 4/19/11

Lady Gaga - Judas
Yes, it's basically Bad Romance Part Two, but you can't deny that the thing's catchy. A little more innovation would have bumped this up a notch, but Gaga by the numbers is still something to get excited about. A-

Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat
The latest European dance hit, sampling a saxophone loop. It's hardly original, and it's not as catchy as either We No Speak Americano or Stereo Love, two similar hits in this genre. It's just a little dull. C+

Jennifer Lopez - Papi
After On The Floor, which I loved, Jennifer Lopez suddenly got interesting again. This isn't quite up to that level, even though it strives for the same international appeal. Still, it's better than the stuff she's been releasing the past few years. B

Tinie Tempah - Written In The Stars
After hitting it big in the UK, this seems to be Tempah's American breakthrough. It's got a nice hook that reminds me of that Airplanes song from last summer. It's better than that, though nothing that's really knocking my socks off. The surging production is the best part. B-

Owl City - Galaxies
A couple years ago, I hated nothing more than Owl City and his whiny Fireflies song. The vocals in this are so much more tolerable and the melody and production is shockingly good. What ruins it are the cheesy religious lyrics. I wish they were in another language so that I could ignore them. B

LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
A hit around the world, this has (weirdly) yet to strike in America. Give it time. This will be everywhere. It's irritating, yet somehow it's almost impossible not to like. It's what BEP could sound like if they didn't take themselves so seriously. The video's better than the song, though. B-

Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
After a pair of strong singles, this Jason Mraz castoff is a misstep. I can't believe this was chosen as a single. It's a weak album track, at best, with annoying lyrics. I hope to god I don't have to hear this over and over on the radio. D+

Top 50 Singles of 2010: 50-46

50. Lady Gaga & Beyonce - Telephone



Two of the biggest popstars on the planet and an epic, long form video. It was a deliriously entertaining way to start the new year.

49. Elin Lanto - Funeral



An anthem if there ever was one. She set the chorus to “soaring” and never let up after that.

48. Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me



A deserved hit for its sleek electro shuffle and endearingly catchy hook. One of 2010’s best one hit wonders.

47. Yolanda Be Cool - We No Speak Americano



The year’s best novelty dance tune, it’s as stupid as it is catchy. Infuriatingly catchy, as a matter of fact…

46. Alphabeat - DJ (I Should Be Dancing/Le Kid - We Should Go Home Together




I can’t separate the two because the bands are so similar. Both deserved wider success than they got this year. Two of the happiest songs of 2010.