Easily my favorite country song of the year, and probably one of my instant favorite country songs of all time. The lyrics to this are beautifully personal and real, and everything she says is accurate as to how people judge others. This is an inspirational anthem without being preachy, and perfectly balances between humor, honest advice, and country twang. I instantly gravitated to this song the first time I heard her album, and it also instantly became my favorite. I feel she will continue to grow as a songwriter, but if this what she's writing on her debut... woo we're in for an epic discography.
One of my favorite Britney songs in her entire 16-year career. The most important thing about Work Bitch is to not take it seriously and have fun with it. It's so campy and over the top, but everything just works. The production is literally insane,and I start moving everytime. It sounds like something that would be played on a runway in the year 3005 where everyone is being put to #werkQ and doing some Janet-level choereography. Anyway, I don't care about anything, this song is amazing. Now let me werq. Bitch.
Ellie Goulding & Ryan Tedder are back! I'm obsessed with this, and it's my favorite track from Halcyon Days. I'm really glad it ended up being a hit for her (and the video has 150 million views! ). It's insanely catchy and a radio earworm, yet it remains true to Ellie's sound and artistry, even though I know that this song wasn't originally hers but Leona Lewis's. Ryan Tedder's sound is also all over this one, but seeing as I love his work, that's no problem. Perfect song for Fall/Winter.
Probably my second favorite Katy song to date (my absolute favorite is coming up later in this countdown). It's a really unexpected sound from her, but she pulls off in an amazing way. Katy's vocals are really sexy & light here, and the chorus is kind of subdued for her. But, that makes it perfect and fitting for a "dark horse". It's such an atypical sounding song and I feel like that's why everyone loves it. Not to mention, that beat... THAT BEAT. YES. Katy really shines on this track, and it's one of the many examples on PRISM of how much her music has grown since Teenage Dream. PRISM is definitely her best album.
21 Justin Timberlake - Suit & Tie (featuring JAY Z)
If I'm being honest, I was so disappointed with Suit & Tie at first. I was super hyped for a JT-dancepop comeback that I didn't look for any other possibility. It took about a day for this to click with me though, and I felt like a fool after I'd trashed it. It's a very elegant and experimental song, but the mood of it is why it's such a phenomenal track on The 20/20 Experience. His falsetto and voice sounds perfect, and the Timbaland production is top of the line. I absolutely love the breakdown at the end and the standard JT "slow it down" moment. People tend to look over this song in preference of Mirrors, but I prefer this way more than Mirrors.
The best moments on 20/20 Experience Part 1 are the darker, more experimental ballads: including this & one other track that will be on the countdown later (it's pretty easy to guess which song it is based on my description). There's something very menacing and kind of obsessive about the lyrics, and it's really surprising coming from Justin Timberlake. It has the classic JT/Timbo sound & the beatbox breakdown, but it's clearly different from what they've offered in the past despite all of this. I would say it's an artistic evolution forward.
This song is literally crazy, and I've never heard another like it. Black Skinhead is the defining track of Yeezus: angry, in your face, abrasive, polarizing, and ultimately amazing. Kanye completely owns his flow and lyrics over a beat many people would not have been able to handle. Basically, only Kanye could pull off this song like Kanye did. It's an extremely dark song, and his music has continued to get darker post-Graduation (starting with 808s & Heartbreak). This song really shows him off as not just a rapper, but as an artist period.
Royals took about a month to sink in for me, as I actually didn't like it at first. However, it's easily one of the best songs of the year. Again, like many of the upcoming songs, it blends genres, and this one in particular blends alternative, r&b & hip hop. Lorde is clearly an amazing musical talent with her own style, and Royals is the song that best displays it. The lyrics are phenomenal and I'm amazed she wrote this at 16, considering I would have never even gotten close to something this amazing at the age (where I was personally a mess and not getting a 9 week US #1 ). She continues to amaze me with rest of Pure Heroine as well, and I will love to see where the rest of her long upcoming career will take her.
17 Justin Timberlake - Gimme What I Don't Know (I Want)
I'd been waiting for a track like this on the 20/20 Experiences, and he finally delivered it on 2 of 2. And wow, did he deliver. The beat is instantly addictive, and I loved everything about the song after the first listen. It's a perfect introduction to the 2nd experience, and gets a fraction of the recognition it deserves. It's in your face, again, kind of menacing, and it's confident. I love a strong, confident pop song with a big hook and an infectious beat. Basically, he delivered one of the best jams of the year. I really want this as a future single.
I've technically known about this song for almost 2 years now, but it's still as amazing as the first time I heard the leaked 1:30 snippet for the then-titled One Woman Army. This is a perfect pop song - perfect hook, perfect chorus, perfect beat, PERFECT. Ciara sounds amazing and like a true pop queen. I honestly want her music to move in more of this direction in the future, and it's my personal favorite from her 5th album. It's an absolute blast to listen to.
15 Daft Punk - Get Lucky (featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers)
Two things came back really hard in 2013: funk music and Pharrell. I've always thought Pharrell was an incredible musician, and his singing voice is underrated amazing. I would've never expected Daft Punk to come back with a song like this, but it was the perfect move on their part. Everything about Get Lucky screams a laid-back, chill, hot summer night out. This was my song of the summer, and I loved hearing it on the radio. I'm also a sucker for funk music like this. Whatever that guitar sound is in the background, I'm addicted to it. Not to mention the "Daft Punk breakdown" after the second chorus - my personal favorite part of the song, where past & future kind of meet in this cool moment.
To me, this is undeniably Katy Perry's best song. It's beautiful, unexpected, epic & experimental. I know people don't usually describe her music as experimental, but I think it's fair to say that this song is. The lyrics are very thematic, describing third eyes, mantras, rivers, blood orange suns, scriptures, etc. Very beautiful imagery. My personal favorite is the pre-chorus where she has some of the coolest rhythm & style of the year. Of course, the chorus is a typical Katy Perry explosion. It's pop music, but shows it doesn't have to follow a formula to sound like a #1 hit. I'm obsessed with this one.\
I absolutely love 808s & Heartbreaks, and there were a lot of elements of Yeezus that were throwbacks to that album. Everything about Blood On the Leaves is autotuned, but there is still emotion in every bit of his voice. He's an artist that uses autotune really tastefully and to a really good effect that captivates the listener. Of course, he still delivers a great rap verse about halfway through. The beat goes all out, with trumpets, huge bass and piano, and sounds quite fantastic on headphones. This was my instant favorite from Yeezus, and it still is.
Ci, what kind of slayage is this? This is the quintessential R&B song of 2013, and it's arguably the best song she's ever done. Her voice is so perfect for this song over the Mike Will beat. The beginning is my absolute favorite part, when her vocals first come in (and the following first verse). I was so glad this smashed this year, and get the recognition it deserved. I have nothing else to say but IT'S FLAWLESS.
The best song on 20/20 Experience Vol 1. It has some similarities to Tunnel Vision, but it differs by having a more tribal, experimental beat and is even more dark and ominous in my opinion. Timbaland did a stunning job on the production side of things. JT completely rides this beat, singing in a kind of fast paced mid-range voice that sounds relaxed, but kind of with an urgency that I couldn't really describe well. I can't fully figure the topic of this song out, but that's kind of the brilliance of it. I would love him to continue in this direction, musically. Also, it's easily the best long song on both versions of 20/20E, as the sped-up outro really adds a lot to the feel of the song.
Most people don't know this song, but it's brilliant. It has such a cool vibe, and Dawn is great at delivering the jams. This was always one of my favorites from Goldenheart. Enjoy it if you haven't heard it yet (it's the second song that plays in this music video).
My favorite non-single from ARTPOP for sure (one other track is above it and you can probably guess what it is). Lyrically, this song covers a lot of concepts and ideas, but for me at least, it works really well. I think the lyrics are really smart and show is the best case of Gaga trying to present somewhat complex ideas on ARTPOP. Sometimes, this doesn't work, but it does brilliantly in this instance. Sonically, it's a rather simple pop song with a lot of synths, crunching-signature Zedd noises and a catchy as heck chorus. Gaga really delivered with this one.
This IS the best song on The 20/20 Experience... both parts. The hot beat, lyrics and vibe of the song is through the roof. The beat is kind of chopped and screwed, and JT & Drake both have to phrase their lines really fast to ride it. The verses and chorus are amazing though. I've wanted a JT/Drake collabo for a long time, and this delivered in the best way possible. Drake's verse is stellar. JT's r&b falsetto really shines on here. All in all, this really defines the good of 20/20: classy, suave, r&b, pop, hip hop.
Such a beautiful song. Drake & Jhene sound so perfect together, and their styles vibe together in the most amazing way. Jhene sounds vulnerable, emotional and serene in her chorus, with the beat really extenuating the beauty of her soft-spoken vocals. Drake's rapping on this track is at the strongest on NWTS - personal, perfect rhythm, at times vulnerable, at times tough... all the things that much Drake a great rapper & a great musician. I consider this the spiritual sibling to "Take Care" from his last album.
I would have never expected Bey to make a song this explicit in years if you'd asked me before mid-December. However, she pulls it off so effortlessly: she sounds confident, amazing, in control... sexy. What really elevates this song for me is Bey's unapologetic swagger, that beat (THAT beat ), and the stellar Yoncé intro. Bey is an amazing rapper! "Yoncé all on his mouth like liquor" is kind of legendary.
Stunning song, and easily the most underrated R&B gem of the year. Haunting beat, stellar smooth vocals from Dawn. An excellent, well-rounded track & the best from her album. It should've been properly promoted to urban/rhythmic radio.
[SIZE="3"]4 Drake - Hold On, We're Going Home (featuring Majid Jordan)
Back in 2010 when Drake released his debut album, Thank Me Later, Find Your Love was one of my favorites from the record. It was a smooth, wonderful R&B/Pop track. It's amazing that was only 3 years before we got this track, the evolved version of Find Your Love. It has the same idea, but it has even more replay value and has an even stronger melody. His voice and the throwback beat match really perfectly together. It's truly one of Drake's finest works.
There's so much emotion and beauty in this highlight of Queen's new album. It's one of my favorite ballads of all time. I nearly cried when I first heard the "noooo" notes. She really did a perfect job of capturing the sadness of loss.
Honestly, my favorite Lady Gaga song ever. Her voice sound incredible, and I love the empowering lyrics. It really is everything I love about her already, mixed with a great crossover appeal. Since I love r&b, it's no surprise I kind of gravitated to this the most off of ARTPOP. Despite my opinions of R. Kelly, he sounds incredible as well, and their vocal blend is surprising and stunning. His verse adds a lot to it.
The best moments on 20/20 Experience Part 1 are the darker, more experimental ballads: including this & one other track that will be on the countdown later (it's pretty easy to guess which song it is based on my description). There's something very menacing and kind of obsessive about the lyrics, and it's really surprising coming from Justin Timberlake. It has the classic JT/Timbo sound & the beatbox breakdown, but it's clearly different from what they've offered in the past despite all of this. I would say it's an artistic evolution forward.
This song is literally crazy, and I've never heard another like it. Black Skinhead is the defining track of Yeezus: angry, in your face, abrasive, polarizing, and ultimately amazing. Kanye completely owns his flow and lyrics over a beat many people would not have been able to handle. Basically, only Kanye could pull off this song like Kanye did. It's an extremely dark song, and his music has continued to get darker post-Graduation (starting with 808s & Heartbreak). This song really shows him off as not just a rapper, but as an artist period.
Royals took about a month to sink in for me, as I actually didn't like it at first. However, it's easily one of the best songs of the year. Again, like many of the upcoming songs, it blends genres, and this one in particular blends alternative, r&b & hip hop. Lorde is clearly an amazing musical talent with her own style, and Royals is the song that best displays it. The lyrics are phenomenal and I'm amazed she wrote this at 16, considering I would have never even gotten close to something this amazing at the age (where I was personally a mess and not getting a 9 week US #1 ). She continues to amaze me with rest of Pure Heroine as well, and I will love to see where the rest of her long upcoming career will take her.
17 Justin Timberlake - Gimme What I Don't Know (I Want)
I'd been waiting for a track like this on the 20/20 Experiences, and he finally delivered it on 2 of 2. And wow, did he deliver. The beat is instantly addictive, and I loved everything about the song after the first listen. It's a perfect introduction to the 2nd experience, and gets a fraction of the recognition it deserves. It's in your face, again, kind of menacing, and it's confident. I love a strong, confident pop song with a big hook and an infectious beat. Basically, he delivered one of the best jams of the year. I really want this as a future single.
I've technically known about this song for almost 2 years now, but it's still as amazing as the first time I heard the leaked 1:30 snippet for the then-titled One Woman Army. This is a perfect pop song - perfect hook, perfect chorus, perfect beat, PERFECT. Ciara sounds amazing and like a true pop queen. I honestly want her music to move in more of this direction in the future, and it's my personal favorite from her 5th album. It's an absolute blast to listen to.
Two things came back really hard in 2013: funk music and Pharrell. I've always thought Pharrell was an incredible musician, and his singing voice is underrated amazing. I would've never expected Daft Punk to come back with a song like this, but it was the perfect move on their part. Everything about Get Lucky screams a laid-back, chill, hot summer night out. This was my song of the summer, and I loved hearing it on the radio. I'm also a sucker for funk music like this. Whatever that guitar sound is in the background, I'm addicted to it. Not to mention the "Daft Punk breakdown" after the second chorus - my personal favorite part of the song, where past & future kind of meet in this cool moment.
To me, this is undeniably Katy Perry's best song. It's beautiful, unexpected, epic & experimental. I know people don't usually describe her music as experimental, but I think it's fair to say that this song is. The lyrics are very thematic, describing third eyes, mantras, rivers, blood orange suns, scriptures, etc. Very beautiful imagery. My personal favorite is the pre-chorus where she has some of the coolest rhythm & style of the year. Of course, the chorus is a typical Katy Perry explosion. It's pop music, but shows it doesn't have to follow a formula to sound like a #1 hit. I'm obsessed with this one.\
I absolutely love 808s & Heartbreaks, and there were a lot of elements of Yeezus that were throwbacks to that album. Everything about Blood On the Leaves is autotuned, but there is still emotion in every bit of his voice. He's an artist that uses autotune really tastefully and to a really good effect that captivates the listener. Of course, he still delivers a great rap verse about halfway through. The beat goes all out, with trumpets, huge bass and piano, and sounds quite fantastic on headphones. This was my instant favorite from Yeezus, and it still is.
Ci, what kind of slayage is this? This is the quintessential R&B song of 2013, and it's arguably the best song she's ever done. Her voice is so perfect for this song over the Mike Will beat. The beginning is my absolute favorite part, when her vocals first come in (and the following first verse). I was so glad this smashed this year, and get the recognition it deserved. I have nothing else to say but IT'S FLAWLESS.
The best song on 20/20 Experience Vol 1. It has some similarities to Tunnel Vision, but it differs by having a more tribal, experimental beat and is even more dark and ominous in my opinion. Timbaland did a stunning job on the production side of things. JT completely rides this beat, singing in a kind of fast paced mid-range voice that sounds relaxed, but kind of with an urgency that I couldn't really describe well. I can't fully figure the topic of this song out, but that's kind of the brilliance of it. I would love him to continue in this direction, musically. Also, it's easily the best long song on both versions of 20/20E, as the sped-up outro really adds a lot to the feel of the song.
Most people don't know this song, but it's brilliant. It has such a cool vibe, and Dawn is great at delivering the jams. This was always one of my favorites from Goldenheart. Enjoy it if you haven't heard it yet (it's the second song that plays in this music video).
Amazing last two sets: Tunnuel Vision, Overdose, Royals, Legendary Lovers, Get Lucky, Blood On The Leaves, Body Party, Don't Hold the Wall.
How more compatible can we be?
Gimme What I Don't Know (I Want) is perfection, people don't understand its greatness :shakeno;
My favorite non-single from ARTPOP for sure (one other track is above it and you can probably guess what it is). Lyrically, this song covers a lot of concepts and ideas, but for me at least, it works really well. I think the lyrics are really smart and show is the best case of Gaga trying to present somewhat complex ideas on ARTPOP. Sometimes, this doesn't work, but it does brilliantly in this instance. Sonically, it's a rather simple pop song with a lot of synths, crunching-signature Zedd noises and a catchy as heck chorus. Gaga really delivered with this one.