Originally posted by MusicLoverDude Nick you are so damn lucky I'm actually friends with you But to be quite fair, Come & Get It actuallys puts the WOMAN in charge unlike Blurred Lines. Come & Get It is like sexual empowerment tbh and I feel fired up when I listen to it. And Avril's diss to hipsters was more insulting than Taylor's tbh.

Originally posted by Ghostlysnaker Worst Songs: I have three of them in my Top 30 The question is "Where is Miley Cyrus?"

Originally posted by K$Ellie I love half the songs on you worst list how could ACH top your worst list last year

Passion Pit
"Take a Walk"



This one had plenty of hype and promotion during the later part of 2012, but I still feel like it kinda flew under the radar, which is a shame. It's a wonderful, joyous tune that would have placed higher if its countdown run hadn't gotten split between two years (and two Best Ofs). Also, I gotta commend the guys for singing about an issue that is relevant in today's society. Life is hard for immigrants trying to live the "American Dream", especially with the current economic state. This immigrant in particular experiences a multitude of financial problems that lead to irreconcilable divisions within his family. Yet when he goes to "take a walk" (literal or metaphorical! you pick), he can forget all his troubles and feel at peace, hence the upbeat nature of the song. How many Americans could this apply to? Probably more than you think. Sometimes that "walk" is the only thing that keeps them sane and convinces them to keep working for their dream. And the video is really cool! It's like a tour of Philadelphia from atop a giant bouncing ball. This is the last of two songs by Passion Pit in the list.


The Summer Set
"Boomerang"



For those of you who don't know TSS, they're a great underrated pop-punk band from Arizona. You'll like them if you like Boys Like Girls, The Cab, and/or The Downtown Fiction. Well they released their third studio album this year and gave it the ambitious title of Legendary. Did they live up to it? Hmmmm. There's nothing on the album that's quite as perfect as Chelsea, but some tracks like Jukebox, Lightning in a Bottle, and Someday come pretty close. In fact, I would readily say that the better half of the tracks are deserving of the "Legendary" title. This one is probably in the worse half, because of its lyrics. I mean, what girl in their right mind could actually be wooed by such cheesy pop culture references? If I was Jay-Z, you'd be my Beyoncé? If I was Da Vinci, you'd be Mona Lisa? *cringes*. That being said, the song is still super catchy and fun, like all the other upbeats on the album. And I've admitted before that I kinda have a guy crush on Brian, so I always love seeing TSS videos. The lyric video is awesome too though. Definitely worth your time to check out. This is the only song by The Summer Set in the list.


Parachute
"Can't Help"



My favorite "old song" that I just discovered this year would have to be Parachute's Something to Believe In. It's epic, in every sense of the word. The trumpets, the gospel choir, the inspirational lyrics, and Will's falsetto all combine to create an uplifting anthem that is truly unlike any other. I knew I couldn't let such a masterpiece slip through my fingers again, so I vowed to keep careful track of Parachute as they prepared to release their third studio album Overnight. However, I was extremely disappointed by Hearts Go Crazy, because it was a generic mess. Thankfully, they scrapped that one as the lead single and released the upbeat rock-tinged Can't Help instead. And let me just say, it features some of the best harmonies I've ever heard in my life. "Anybody else...BETTAH WAIT IN LINE." These guys didn't even need the gospel choir in STBI; they sound amazing on their own. The song is very catchy, much more than Parachute's previous efforts, so some might argue that they sold out. But if they did, they f**king did it in style. This is the only song by Parachute in the list.


Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/Ray Dalton
"Can't Hold Us"



Macklemore is actually the artist with the most entries on this list. That may seem weird, since he's by no means my favorite artist of 2013. But since I only chart singles here, no one else could quite match his consistency. Every one of his singles this year was good; they all stand out in their own unique way. Some showcase strong lyricism, while others focus on catchiness and instrumentation. This one in particular demonstrates rapping skill. I mean, even if you don't like Macklemore, you've gotta admit the guy has some serious talent. A novice, or even a proficient rapper would get helplessly lost in this song. Only someone with a pretty insane flow could pull it off. And the video just has to be mentioned, because it's the one to beat for 2014. It was filmed on six different continents and comes complete with kangaroos, camels, and a pirate ship. The nomination for Video of the Year was certainly deserved and I hope it wins. This is the third of four songs by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in the list.


Chris Brown
"Fine China"



Yes, Chris Brown is an arrogant jerk. He's abused women in the past and has recurring temper problems. Some people are so disgusted by his actions that they refuse to even hear any of the music he puts out. I understand that point of view, and it's definitely a valid one. However, I like to judge artists based on their music rather than their personalities. And this is an excellent, excellent single. It picks up right where She Ain't You left off, with the slinky pop/R&B production and the tight choreography in the video. (Maybe Chris just wanted to forget Fortune ever happened, lol.) Its sound is similar, but not overly similar, to the early 80s work of Michael Jackson, and I feel like it set the tone for all the funky throwback hits this summer. Sadly it was only a moderate success, falling just short of the top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. And nine months later, the album still hasn't come out, because Chris is in rehab for "anger management issues". Jesus Christ dude, get it together. You're a talented guy, don't let your career go down the drain like this. This is the only song by Chris Brown in the list.


Demi Lovato
"Heart Attack"



When GYHAB became a major hit, I just knew that on the next album, Demi would veer away from her rock roots and even her newfound R&B sound to pursue greater mainstream pop success. I hoped that the lead single wouldn't be too overproduced and annoying, but the snippet didn't give me much reassurance (it featured that part in the beginning where she goes "I think I'd have a heart atta-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-au-aua-iaao-o-a-ao" with the electronic edits to her voice). Therefore, it was a nice surprise to hear the full song and find no other parts with noticeable voice edits. I thought it was a strong effort overall. But people on ATRL (and in the rest of the music critiquing world) found two major problems: 1) poorly written and 2) screaming. Well honestly, I think y'all are overreacting in both cases. There's only a couple of cheesy lyrics, and they're not repeated throughout the song. In terms of screaming, there's a tiny bit in the the bridge and the last chorus. I really don't see how either of these could ruin the entire song for someone. This is the first of two songs by Demi Lovato in the list.


Sara Bareilles
"Brave"



*insert corny Roar joke here*
Lol. In all honesty, I think this song would have performed well even without the Roar comparisons. Sara, like Christina Perri and Colbie Caillat, has built up a strong fan following by doing what she does best: sticking to her piano rock roots and writing great meaningful songs. I really love the message of this one; instead of going for the typical, overdone female empowerment theme, it aims to empower the LGBT community. Not by pushing for their equal rights in society, but by encouraging expression of self. After all, to be in the closet is to hide who you truly are. Sara wants gays to embrace their personalities by just "being brave" and "letting the words fall out" (i.e. coming out of the closet). And that's why I think the video is so brilliant. It focuses on four different locations: a bus stop, a library, a fitness center, and a mall. In each one, a random actor or actress gets up and begins to dance. The onlookers have absolutely no clue what's going on, but many choose to join the fun and dance along. The idea is that if you express yourself, you can inspire others around you to do the same. Personally I think that's much more genuine than a cliché lion comparison. This is the only song by Sara Bareilles in the list.


Plain White T's
"Should've Gone to Bed"



The GP probably thinks the PWT's are only capable of creating schmaltzy adult contemporary tunes about love. After all, their one hit Hey There Delilah and their other two half-hits 1,2,3,4 and Rhythm of Love perfectly fit that bill. But they actually have a surprisingly authentic rock side as well, as evidenced by lesser-known singles like Hate, Our Time Now, and Natural Disaster. This one falls somewhere right in the middle. It's upbeat and energetic, but also perfectly suited for AC radio. In fact, it's the closest the PWT's have ever gone to the pop-punk genre. And since I'm a huge pop-punk fan, it caught my interest immediately. The chorus is so catchy and cute. Sadly, as I've mentioned before, pop-punk is dead right now. Not even Hot Chelle Rae's big comeback single (which is coming up in not too long!) could make a significant impact. So I guess these guys chose a bad time to make a foray into my favorite genre. Oh well, the music's great and that's all that matters. This is the only song by Plain White T's in the list.


Jake Miller
"A Million Lives"



Jake is an interesting new pop-rap artist who broke onto the music scene in 2013 with his debut album Us Against Them. His quickly growing fanbase is somewhat deceiving; a lot of teenage girls only like him because he's (arguably) hot. But he is very talented as well. The rapping in this particular song is nothing exceptional; I like to focus on the lyrics instead. Each of the three verses starts by detailing the story of someone who is going through tough times. There's a cancer patient currently in remission, a 7th grade boy who gets severely bullied at school, and a young girl who recently lost her brother. At the end of each verse, we hear how Jake's music has given each of them the willpower to persevere and enjoy life despite all the struggles. And I love how Jake chooses to thank the fans at the very end. It's not about him and the lives he saved; it's about the humbling experience of having such dedicated supporters. Fame won't change him; he's a home-grown Florida boy with his feet firmly on the ground, and I respect him for that. This is the only song by Jake Miller in the list.


Bastille
"Pompeii"



2013 had its fair share of alternative crossover hits. Some of them (not giving any names) were boring and undeserving. But some of them were quite intriguing. Case in point: Bastille's Pompeii. It's a song about an Italian city by a British band with a French name. Did that just blow your mind a little? I hope so. The chanting during the chorus is so anthemic. I've always thought it sounds like something that might play in a movie when the characters are approaching a huge monument, so I'm glad to see Mr. Peabody and Sherman putting it to good use. And the lyrics, while clearly based on the story of the aforementioned Italian city, seem to have lots of additional hidden meanings and metaphors. For example: "where do we begin, the rubble or our sins", "how am I gonna be an optimist about this", and most interestingly "if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all". Could Dan be talking about the refusal to accept a major failure in life? That's my best guess, but I don't think we'll ever really know. Maybe America can ponder the mystery with me when this song becomes a certified Top 10 smash. *crosses fingers* This is the only song by Bastille in the list.