Well, the next set might CONFUSE YOU ALL. But first, Merry Christmas! (And a happy Hanukkah to you, Edward.)
60 . Dodos - Fools
A debut that never stops climbing, until its exuberant climax. A track I first heard in April, and have loved ever since.
59. Janet - Rock Wit U
58. Solange - Sandcastle Disco
56. Jennifer Hudson - Spotlight
Closetcase ugly troll finally does something wrote! Someone on Popjustice likened this song to Call the Shots, and I agree. Solid verses, beautiful bridge and uplifiting chorus - all guided by a superbly modulated performance by Ms. Hudson.
57. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
unfortunately, no pictorial assistance with this stunner of a track. I've never heard her sing like this before.
55. Animal Collective - Water Curses
Unexpected surprise! A bonus track off of their epochal 2007 album, Strawberry Jam, it sounds more pop than anything I've heard from them? But it's so distinctly Animal Collective
54. Tilly & The Wall - Beat Control
Unbelievable - the best dance (as in, get up and dance!) song of the year!
53. Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why
The best new band of the year. A ballad sung with heartwrenching exactness, by a band of hairy, young, angels.
52. Radiohead - Nude
The best top 40 hit of the year.
51. Friendly Fires - Paris
One day, we're gonna live, in Paris
.... I promise, I'm on it
A song I discovered a little too late. Friendly Fires share a sentiment that I wholeheartedly possess, and one that's reflected with the same ironic yet sincere attitude that my number one has. The exclamatory bridge -- they'll be all for us, they'll be all for us -- really gets me, and makes me wish I had put it a lot higher.
Next Up: The sexiest - and campiest - songs of 2008.
And now, two songs by two (thoroughly mediocre!) acts that didn't make my list (or even the close calls, come to think of it...) but that summon an ...urge whenever I hear them.
THE SEXIEST SONGS OF THE YEAR!
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
Sam Sparro - Black 'n' Gold
I think Ryan's writeup of SOF really rings true to what makes both of these songs so special: it's not really the subject matter that titillates, but the delivery. There's so much conviction behind each and every word - a thought process, a deeper meaning than just what's on the surface. Neither act has impressed me outside of these songs (LMAO 21st Century Life what is this a 1990s Chelsea house party? AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE OTHER "ARTISTS."), so they didn't make my list - but I thought I'd honor them here.
Next up: 50-41, and if Youtube cooperates, the five campiest songs of the year!
camp
2 /kæmp/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kamp] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. something that provides sophisticated, knowing amusement, as by virtue of its being artlessly mannered or stylized, self-consciously artificial and extravagant, or teasingly ingenuous and sentimental.
2. a person who adopts a teasing, theatrical manner, esp. for the amusement of others.
kitsch
/kɪtʃ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kich] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
something of tawdry design, appearance, or content created to appeal to popular or undiscriminating taste.
It's been a tough year for camp/kitsch/unintentional humor, as most songs have been so bad they have no other qualities (hello Katy Perry!); there have been no I Belong to Mes, no Beautiful Liars, no Total Eclipse of the Heart 2005s - but one song managed to the be the campiest thing that probably has been created throughout the decade.
10.
Bionda - Forget Me, Forget Me Not
At least Heidi doesn't look like a tranny! Just hideous. OH BIONDA!
9.
Paula Abdul - Dance Like There's No Tomorrow
NO WORDS.
8.
Heidi Montag - Higher
i have impersonated Heidi's "choreography" in real life! IT HAS BEEN A SPECTACULAR HIT! Why is there electricity at the beginning and the end?!!?!?!?
7.
Cassie featuring Lil' Wayne - Official Girl
LMAO! WHAT?!?!?
6.
Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown - No Air
I especially love the last part of the song, where they scream at each other for thirty seconds. I WANT TO KARAOKE TO THIS SO BADLY!
5.
Various Artists Stand Up to Cancer - Just Stand Up
LOOK AT THE COLLAGE. Mimi's purposeless whispers! Melissa barking like a transient! Fergie's REGGAE BREAKDOWN.
And, as a bonus - It's not as campy as I would've liked (I really wanted more diva standoffs), it has NICOLE SCHERZINGER (!!!) the Queen of Camp! And, I think after this, Rihanna and Miley should star in a buddy sitcom! CHEMISTRY.
4.
Aggro featuring Dalisay Buena - What's Yo Name?
LMAO this looks like it was made during the dinner rush hour. LMAO They just snuck a camera into a restaurant and pressed play! I didn't know that British people could be so ghetto, but thanks to Mutya (and Amelle's) families, I know realize the error of my ways. Sisters robbing graves! And now this?!?!? LMAO DALISAY.
3.
Nadiya and Kelly Rowland - No Future in the Past
WHAT THE ****. This is like word soup! LMAO WTF I never thought she could sink this low .... NICK WHERE ARE YOU?!?!?!? The part where she sings about the "ghetto in [her] heart" is enough to boost this up to #3! But I've had more time with the top two.
2.
Mariah Carey - Bye Bye
LMAO. The perfect combination of horrible, cynical, deeply terrible song and thrown together, cheap video. (LMAO Mimi stay away from cornrows!)
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1.
VANESSA HUDGENS - SNEAKERNIGHT
ARE YOU READY? DID'YA EAT? DO YOU HAVE THE ENERGY? WE' GO'IN KEEP GOIN' AND GOIN' YEAH CUZ. ..
BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS DANCE! IT'LL COME EASILY WHEN YOU HEAR THE BEAT!
I love how she sounds like a gay black man from 1987! THAT OPENING!! THE NEON SNEAKERS?!?!?!?!? GENIUS.
Why is there electricity at the beginning and the end?!!?!?!?
I just lost respect for you, Bart.