2015 has been an absolute stunner of a year for Taylor Swift. Releasing hit after hit from 1989, she has made sure the era will go down in history as one of the biggest and most memorable in modern history.
Coming in at number 20 on my countdown and opening the festivities with one hell of a mighty explosion, I present to you the blockbuster, VEVO-record-snatching #1 collaboration with Kendrick Lamar. This is Bad Blood
Bad Blood is placed very accurately Kendrick really makes the song, IMO. The original ranks pretty low on 1989 for me.
I agree with Kendrick!
Did Pop stations play the Kendrick version in America? Here in NZ, they played Taylor's solo version and it infuriated me so much as it's just nowhere near as good without Lamar's verses
We might as well rename the countdown the "Taylor Swift Top 20", as the pop superstar notches her second entry in the top 20 in as many reveals.
With a beautiful melody, beautiful production and an absolutely breathtaking video, this song had the perfect recipe for success on my chart, and comfortably takes the #19 spot on my countdown. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Wildest Dreams
Did Pop stations play the Kendrick version in America? Here in NZ, they played Taylor's solo version and it infuriated me so much as it's just nowhere near as good without Lamar's verses
Yes, all pop stations to my knowledge played the Kendrick remix, while most HAC stations opted for the solo version (as that format still isn't particularly comfortable with playing rap- though it is gradually becoming more receptive, with See You Again reaching #3 there earlier this year).
Yes, all pop stations to my knowledge played the Kendrick remix, while most HAC stations opted for the solo version (as that format still isn't particularly comfortable with playing rap- though it is gradually becoming more receptive, with See You Again reaching #3 there earlier this year).
Interesting... wonder why our stations held back from the remix then.
Interesting... wonder why our stations held back from the remix then.
I would argue that rap is more integrated into the mainstream music scene here than it is in New Zealand, or really anywhere else in the world. As such, pop stations here are very comfortable with playing rap (even if the pure urban songs typically don't end up going past the top 20-40 on pop radio), seeing as it's one of the most listened to genres of music in the country. After all, our 5 most streamed albums this year on Spotify were all hip-hop/rap.
I would argue that rap is more integrated into the mainstream music scene here than it is in New Zealand, or really anywhere else in the world. As such, pop stations here are very comfortable with playing rap (even if the pure urban songs typically don't end up going past the top 20-40 on pop radio), seeing as it's one of the most listened to genres of music in the country. After all, our 5 most streamed albums this year were all hip-hop/rap.
Yeah I've always had that belief and it makes perfect sense (though there is still a strong rap following - in particular amongst people of Māori and Pacific Island ethnicity). But I'd have thought Taylor would have been enough to let it happen.