10. GIRLS' GENERATION-TTS - "WHISPER"I'm weak and soft-hearted, but I'll strongly embrace you.
Welcome to Jungle Fever 2k14, everyone! I'm going to try and get through a lot of this is one hit, so stick around cause we're not going anywhere.
To start off, we have "Whisper", a slower midtempo jam by Girls' Generation-TTS, a subunit from iconic k-pop group Girls' Generation. The track fuses both pop and R&B influences and when the chorus sweeps through, the listener melts. It's pretty addictive, just like the caramel kisses the girls sing about.
09. KIMBRA - "90S MUSIC"Everyday be listening to 90s music!
I remember this record was pretty polarising when it dropped, and it probably still is. While I am a big fan of songs that are multidimensional and twist different directions into unexpected territory, it took me a little while to actually warm up to this one.
It actually reminds me a lot of Girls' Generation's "I Got a Boy" in 2013, and "Music" spawned a more accessible cousin later this year with Gwen Stefani's "Baby Don't Lie". Don't get me wrong, though, this track can easily stand on its own two feet. It's highly animated, a little bit all over the place, and just generally fun. A real great one in the car.
08. SZA - "SHATTERED RING" I know you'd rather just disappear now that I'm here.
I mean, this record isn't like the rest of SZA's Z. It really stands out sonically. From the very first listen, it just screams "Blue Jeans" by Lana Del Rey. Not surprising, considering the same producer did both tracks. In a year where Lana ventured away from her signature sound, there was a gap. So, naturally, "Ring" filled that spot quite nicely. I feel like this review hasn't given SZA her props as an artist but this song in particular is a clear carbon copy… a good one nonetheless.
07. TINASHE F/ SCHOOLBOY Q - "2 ON"And if you roll with me then you'll be winning now.
Ugh. A real jam, the hips are rolling and everything. DJ Mustard had a great year this year and he gave a great beat to Tinashe. Her voice is so silky, and I love that you can't hear her "v"s throughout the chorus. I luh to get on, I luh to get 2 on. As good as this song is, it's not a good representation of her album. But more on that later.
06. NEON JUNGLE - "BRAVEHEART"And the whole world stops its turning as the love fills up our lungs.
I think this song officially premiered last year, but it went on sale this year so I'm counting it as a 2014 track. I still don't get british release methods, but anyway. There's not a heap to say about this one, although it's nice to hear a girl group play around with grittier, harder EDM influences than what we've frequently heard over the past few years.
The best bit is the second chorus, when the synths go all crazy and swirl around like bees in that beat-break before the song continues on as if nothing ever happened.
05. VIXX - "ETERNITY"I wouldn't want to see me without you, even in a dream.
I was so obsessed with VIXX last year, and this year just felt underwhelming despite them not actually giving anything to be disappointed about. They're still probably one of the most talented k-pop groups around at the moment. So I don't know what happened, and I didn't think they were gonna make it into my Best Of at all, but here they are at #5 on the bubbling under list. This song is great, though, and this release is definitely more of a package deal rather than a standalone gem. What I mean by that is that this song really shines with performances, story videos, dance videos, and the like, as opposed to just the audio (some songs are better when they're just audio).
So here's the dance video. The choreography to this one is actually amazing. Actually, given some thought, this is potentially the best choreography of the year.
04. CALVIN HARRIS F/ ELLIE GOULDING - "OUTSIDE"There's a power in what you do, now every other day I'll be watching you.
When two artists come together and release a hit single, sometimes they try it again. Sometimes it's really obvious of what they're trying to do and the second version is nowhere as good as the original (Eminem and Rihanna come to mind), and fortunately Calvin and Ellie managed to outdo themselves on "Outside". It's like a harder, metallic cousin of "I Need Your Love" and despite the lack of versatile lyrics (which admittedly I didn't notice until I looked them up), there's a sense of artistic growth from the two. I should also note this is one of the few good songs that Ellie has released post-Halcyon. They're incredibly rare.
03. TAEMIN - "DANGER"I approach like a petal, I burrow like a thorn aiming at your heart.
I think Taemin surprised a lot of people with "Danger". There was a sense of his own identity, he made a statement that he wasn't the androgynous baby of the group anymore. Sure, there were clear influences (namely SHINee and Michael Jackson), but he made them his own and pulled them off in a way that others don't. The song itself is great, it's attention-grabbing and the "bam bam bam" sequences in the verses lodge themselves in the listener's mind for days on end.
02. TREY SONGZ - "NA NA"You been through the worst, lemme show you who the best.
Picking good lyrics for this one was really difficult. I didn't even notice this track had such bad lyrics because it's a really good jam. But yeah, another DJ Mustard track and he sure knows how to make 'em! I know a lot of people on ATRL mentioned this year how they got sick of his beats but they still have their magic to me. Trey's voice, like Tinashe's, works really well with Mustard's production as both are quite smooth and almost honey-like. I love his tone.
01. BEYONCÉ - "7/11"Hold that cup like alcohol, don't you drop that alcohol!
What a jam. It only just missed out on my proper songs countdown list by a few plays, but I need to stress this is a great track. It's not a lyrical masterpiece but the production is impeccable. It's so interesting to listen to, particularly in the "alcohol" section where you can hear a myriad of Beyoncé's screams in the background. I can't help but think to myself how awkward that would've been to record in front of people in the booth. It's little things like that, that make this track such a gem. Why? Because it proves that Beyoncé is just one of us. All this time she had been some untouchable deity figure in the media that exuded calculated perfection, but when she dropped self-titled, everything changed. She's gotten so much cooler and this song (and video!) highlight that so much.
Slay! Whisper and Outside have both grown on me - almost exponentially - since we last talked about each but even on a subjectively ranked list (without stats) I wouldn't place them higher than BU, so great choices. 90s Music is the same, since despite it being a fantastic song it's not necessarily got the highest replay value and doesn't actually sound the best.
I've grown to enjoy "90s Music" as well.
As good as this song is, it's not a good representation of her album. But more on that later.
Look at the quality of BEYONCÉ, it's so sluggish in comparison. 
