Now that Christmas is over...

Each year (two years now to be exact), I post my favorite 17 (favorite # here) singles/artists for you ATRL members to enjoy (also because Bart makes me). This year, you all are in for a special treat, cuz I have a variety of QUALITY music, as well as graphics provided by your local graphic designer, JGIFPEG. The countdown represents not just the best singles this year (there were singles that I listened to more that didn't make the list), but also the best artists and other random qualifications that will be made clear later. If things go well, this should be done and completed in time for the new year. Let us begin and please note that comments are very welcome (perhaps you'll see some surprises?).

17. Ne-Yo - Do You (feat. Utada)
- Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #26
- iTunes Japan Top Songs: #02 (only available as a digital single in Japan)



So I'm gonna be honest here and say that this song only caught my attention and made my list thanks to a woman named Utada Hikaru. Sounds biased, but the song was decent on its own, but made better as a duet. In fact, I didn't even recall it being a single in the United States and still to this day have not heard the original single without Utada.

16. Amerie - Take Control (feat. Se7en)
- Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: #66



Originally, this song was a major letdown after "1 Thing/Touch" on her previous album. I was anticipating a lot more from her first single back. I actually just threw the song aside and didn't "touch" it again until the leaking of the remix duet with Se7en, a very popular Korean artist. The song grew play in my books, however failed to chart on Billboard. Next year, we finally see the release of the rest of the album in America and hopefully a stronger 2nd single (hope she gets some success). "Gotta Work" was also a single off this album in Europe and was much better than the original "Take Control"...too bad there isn't a tasty remix. ;p

15. Linkin Park - What I've Done
- Billboard Hot 100: #07



I've always liked Linkin Park, however probably not enough to make a significant impact on my year-end charts. However, this song is an exception because it was the theme song for my all-time favorite movie "Transformers." Everytime I hear this song, I think of the movie, which makes me happy. I didn't care for the video they made for it (rather boring and "meaningful") or the next two singles which was sort of a letdown, but the rest of the general public did seem to enjoy the single as much as I, as it spent many weeks on top of the rock/alterna charts, as well as peaking inside the Top 10 of the mainstream Billboard Hot 100.

1.5/ 3 ^_^

No Japanese crap please.

3/3

Glad to see What I've Done on there!

We'll see Mazen, but it might not be helped.

2/3. Take Control and What I've Done are all good tracks. I'm kinda sick of Do You.

Low turnout.

14. Crystal Kay - Konna Ni Chikaku De...
- Oricon 100 Singles Peak: #14



I'm going to take this time to introduce you guys to a great artist I'm sure most are not familiar with. Crystal Kay is half Korean, half African American (just like Amerie) and is completely fluent in both Japanese and English (she has some good English material too, if you guys want to check it out). Anyways, although this single didn't peak as high as some of her previous material, it has a classical appeal to it that comes with a pleasant tone. The MV is great too, except for the odd lifesize Barbie version of her at the end that winks (creepily at that).

*Don't worry, this is the first of only 3 Japanese artists Mazen

13. Jordin Sparks - Tattoo
- Billboard Hot 100: #08 (current peak)



You guys don't know how happy I was when Jordin Sparks won this year's American Idol. Aside from Carrie Underwood, she was the only from all the seasons that I picked from the very beginning to win and did. She has a big voice and some youthful flair that she can bring to today's music industry. However, I was shocked to see that her winning single and debut album fell below the standards as far as sales. I hope that her future singles like ("No Air" & "Freeze") can continue to increase the sales of her album. Jordin is the first of many American Idol/X-Factor alumni to follow on this countdown.

12. Timbaland - The Way I Are (feat. Keri Hilson)
- Billboard Hot 100: #03



First off, let me say that it was difficult to choose which Timbo single I liked more between this and "Apologize." In the end, the infectious beat won out. Timbaland, with his signature fresh beats, teamed up with a virtual nobody in Keri Hilson and delivered perhaps the biggest dance track of the year. Also note that he was responsible for many other successful tracks for other artists, such as Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake...etc. He worked with Utada on her American debut and I thought that was awesome, so now I'm reassured that this man has got some talent (and hopefully he'll work with her again next year for her 2nd English album)! ;p

Till Tomorrow...I better see some comments today!

Tattoo

I expect to see Flavor Of Life up there.. and maybe Beautiful World (even though that didn't make my top 50)

2/3

Who is the first one?

I love Tattoo <3

"What I've Done" & "The Way I Are"

The rest I haven't heard or don't care about

^^The Way I Are^^

I mentioned that I had ALOT of the American Idol/X-Factor Alumni on here and today you will see evidence of that:

11. Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
- UK Singles Chart: #01



I heard about Leona Lewis because of all the hype surrounding her on this forum as well as the posts regarding her momentous success in the UK. I listened to the single and instantly loved it. She reminds me of a less gruff Toni Braxton who is more attractive and very mainstream. Also, it was odd to hear that Jesse McCartney wrote this song. Anyways, this single goes for adds next month in America and I hope it all the success.

10. Katharine Mcphee - Over It
- Billboard Hot 100: #29



Last year's year-end chart featured heavy play from JoJo's "Too Little, Too Late" and it's no surprise that this track, which is often compared to it, would also catch my interest. I was shocked (disgusted) that Taylor Hicks actually won the 5th edition of American Idol and was ready for Katharine to blow him out of the water. Sadly though, the single, which I thought was a surefire hit, peaked relatively low in the Top 30 and wasn't succeeded by a charting single ("Love Story" was great and popular on TRL, but didn't chart anywhere and had minimal play on the radio). I'm not sure about her future in the music industry, but her striking good looks has made her a staple on the front of magazines and I believe she's set to begin acting.

09. Carrie Underwood - Wasted
- Billboard Hot 100: #37



So it was difficult for me to choose which single I wanted Carrie to represent here on my charts. Technically, "Before He Cheats" was a single from '06, but it made the majority of it's run in '07, so I decided upon "Wasted." At first listen, it didn't quite catch my attention, but then I found myself actually repeating a country ballad (I HATE country). I'm not quite sure why it didn't do better on mainstream radio aside from the fact that it does have more of a country twinge to it than some of her more pop-based singles. I'd also like to point out that she was very classy and gorgeous in this video. She also had another song this year, "So Small," from her new album, which was also a grower. With two albums having a very successful chart run on Billboards, I'm sure Carrie has a long career ahead of her, both country and maintream. She is after all, one of the very few from the country genre that is able to successfully crossover.

Keep the comments rollin'.

7/9
Good stuff here. Hope to see even better

Over It and Wasted are both good songs. I'm waiting to see the rest of your list.

Oh you will. Hopefully, I've brought together a very eclectic list.

3/3
MCPHEE!
LEONA!

Over It!!!!

QFT.

Although, Jason, I think you're the only person alive who would think horsefaced Leona Lewis is more attractive than Toni Braxton.

08. Relient K - Must Have Done Something Right
- Top 40 Mainstream: #45



So we've already gathered how badly this did on about every single chart with about 0 promotion. I was completely disheartened by this because I expected some mainstream success after their last album, which I loved sooo dearly (this is my favorite band after all). They have great tracks on this album, such as "Forgiven" (a successful Christian radio single) and "The Best Thing," but no promotion has been done with any of these singles either, so the album remains in the dark. I really hope that this lack of success doesn't hamper their future efforts. For now, all I can say is that their best mark is sticking as my myspace song for about half a year.

07. Britney Spears - Gimme More
- Billboard Hot 100: #03



This song was a disaster waiting to happen, from the lackluster VMA performance where she strutted her overweight goodies on stage to the cheaply made music video, where again, we were overexposed to her pooch on a pole. Even the song itself, which starts off "It's Britney Bitch!" and loops over and over again with various orgasms and repetitive "gimme gimme more, gimme more, gimme gimme more...etc" pointed to a flop, HOWEVER I kept finding myself watching the videos and listening to the song...the way one would keep watching a car wreck. She was sooo bad, it some how turned out good. = X Anyways, her life as whole is a complete wreck, so I hope she channels all the rest of her attention into fulfilling her legendary status and less on the partying and trashiness she's known for. Her 2nd single is "Piece Of Me," which is really no better than "Gimme More," but if this is the way to keep her out of jail and hair on her head, then by all means, keep making this music. ;p

06. Kelly Clarkson - Never Again
- Billboard Hot 100: #08



After the HUGE success known as "Breakaway," I was almost sure that Kelly Clarkson would be ready to take over the world with her highly anticipated next album, but somehow, I was actually wrong. Upon first listen, I was a bit disappointed with the song, but it grew on me fast. However, the rest of the world didn't seem to think so. Her highly publicized fight with Clive, her producer, seemed to leave the project as a whole amidst dark shadows. People began to complain that the songs were too rock influenced (which is total BS to me...sounds like they are just trying to find something insignificant to pick at). To this day, we are still waiting for a 2nd single (if one is coming at all) and I am hoping to god that it does something and that her record company allows her to release another single. This album has sold nearly 800,000 copies and I'm sure it would be on its way to platinum easily with another single. The video for "Don't Waste Your Time" was a shot a while ago, but has not been officially released anywhere. I think this would be a great choice for a second single with catchy lyrics and a beautiful video. Do something, anything Kelly!

7/12

Brtiney, Linkin Park and Relient K ^____^