Welcome to my personal top ten songs of 2011! This was much harder than I thought, but I've managed to come up with a set that best represents my overall life of 2011 and my personal favorite hits. As always, please keep negative comments away, please. Things like 3/10, 5/10, etc. are perfectly fine. Besides, it's my personal top ten, not representative of all of ATRL Without further ado, here it goes...
Songs #10 - #6
#10 | Wale featuring Jeremih & Rick Ross | That Way Album: Ambition (2011)
I am not a big fan of Wale by the least, but I've always had an ear for great production and background beats. This song has just that! Very simple and mellow. I didn't discover it until earlier this fall, and I've played it over 100 times according to iTunes. Great track!
I enjoyed "Till The World Ends" and "I Wanna Go." Those are typical Britney dance-pop hits, but something about "Criminal" caught my ear. It was a different direction (and risk) for her, and I was impressed with how the video turned out. Max Martin and Shellback (the songwriters and producers for this track) didn't disappoint me at all!
#8 | Chris Brown featuring Benny Benassi | Beautiful People Album: F.A.M.E. (2011)
This had the potential to be a smash hit for CB! I don't think the video did the song any justice, but with more promo and a better themed video, this song could have been a standout track from F.A.M.E. Don't get me wrong, i still love the song no matter what. Great job!
#7 | Bruno Mars | It Will Rain Album: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2011)
I've grown to like Bruno Mars over the past year. I never really gave him a chance, but this song stood out to me. The chorus gives me a little "Chasing Pavements" teas, too! This was the perfect song to choose for the Twilight movie (which was GREAT, by the way). Hands down to Bruno for this song. I'm in love!
#6 | Kelly Clarkson | Mr Know It All Album: Stronger (2011)
When I first heard this on 8/31/11, I already knew it would be a hit. I was right ! Kelly Clarkson has been my favorite overall American Idol winner, and "Mr Know It All" just solidified that for me. I am happy she made a return this year, and the 300+ plays in my iTunes can vouch for that. Go Kelly!
#5 | ADELE | Set Fire To The Rain Album: 21 (2010/2011)
Rolling in the Deep was a GREAT song, and I wish it would have made my list, too! But I feel like this one speaks more to me from personal experiences this year. I cannot believe how much success she has had here in the states from her previous 2 singles (and now her current one). This song, just like her other two singles, will prove to be another crossover hit and keep her in good graces with more album/single sales in 2012!
#4 | P!nk | F*ckin' Perfect Album: The Greatest Hits... So Far! (2010)
This is a great anthem for ANYONE who is going through self-esteem issues. Of course, just like #5, this song speaks to me as well! I'm happy that P!nk was able to release a greatest hits album with two new smash hits. I hope we get more material from her once she's settled into motherhood!
#3 | Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris | We Found Love Album: Talk That Talk (2011)
Oh, Rih Rih. How you have slain me once again with this smash hit. 8 weeks at #1 has proven that. Never thought that such a recent release of a song would make it into my top 3, but for the number of times that iTunes have counted the plays for this song (well over 400 since September), I think it's appropriate that it goes here. The video was not to my expectations, meaning that I wasn't expecting a storyline video. I was expecting something like "Only Girl (In The World)," but she proved us all wrong! Great job to Calvin Harris for bringing this to the attention of Rihanna, because this song was made for her.
#2 | Katy Perry featuring Kanye West | E.T. Album: Teenage Dream (2010)
I absolutely LOVE Katy Perry and this song! Between Firework, this track, Last Friday Night, and The One That Got Away, I think this track is the best of all of them for 2011. I was not a big fan of Kanye's verses, but overall I still enjoyed the song for what it was. The video was phenomenal. I just can't wrap up all of the words to describe this song, but I do know that this is definitely a standout track from the 16-month-old "Teenage Dream" album.
#1 | Beyonce | Best Thing I Never Had Album: 4 (2011)
The song was released on June 1, which is the same day that I was going thru some relationship issues so this song has a special meaning to me. I could not stop playing it, and I still find myself playing it to this day. Beyonce's vocals >>>>>>>>>>>> (she puts her all into all of her songs, but I really connected with this one). I give this the #1 spot because of the emotion involved and excellent video that synced very well with the song. E.T. was a close run for #1, but in the end, BTINH was the main winner.