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My Top 105 of 2010!
ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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7. Active Child - When Your Love is Safe (Classixx Remix)
I think I've mentioned my lack of excitement about indie in 2010 (or, at least, the stuff I've heard lmao) - where are the tunes? Of the emergent trends of the year was a return to the 90s, and perhaps no genre saw as much of a nostalgic embrace as 90s R&B did. Active Child's "When Your Love is Safe" splits the difference, conjuring the warmth in many early 90s, why employing complex, gender-neutral lyrics of today's indie rock.
Classixx approaches the original, respects it, but enhances everything that makes it great. With their touch, the song would not be out of place on a slow, late-night ride through the streets of 1996 Summer. Better yet, he doesn't obscure the lead's pristine, big voice.
And the lead singer's really hot. Even better looking in person.
See also:Active Child, "When Your Love is Safe", "Body Heat (So Far Away)"
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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6. Taylor Swift - Enchanted
Truly epic, in every sense of the word. Taylor applies every fairy tale criticism she's been dealt over the past four years and makes something of it. Unfortunately for the haters - this track lives, breathes, moves effortlessly. Getting all the minutiae right, as she is wont to do, Taylor delivers her most full-bodied vocal yet.
And seriously, is there a more heartbreaking hook than "Please don't be in love with someone else/Please don't have somebody waiting on you?"
No, there isn't.
See also: Taylor Swift, "Long Live"
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/24/2009
Posts: 70,975
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Enchanted
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Rihanna, Kylie & Cheryl
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Member Since: 10/19/2004
Posts: 13,032
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Who are these people?
Bart, bring me the HITS!
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Quote:
Originally posted by Arith
Who are these people?
Bart, bring me the HITS!
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My top five consists of four singles that never charted.
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Member Since: 4/6/2007
Posts: 15,583
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ace Reject
So, my top ten, more than ever, consists of songs that resonated with me on a deeply felt level. I'll spare you the details (or try to), but here goes [hopefully TC doesn't leave before I'm done posting ...]
10. Rihanna - Complicated
It's been argued that Loud doesn't reach the same heights as Rated R, and on the first listen that seems true. But somewhere, after the loud party jams and boring b-side ballads, comes "Complicated." A tale of a relationship that exists in the gray area, its down to earth narrative makes it possible to imagine it as a Jordin Sparks track; in fact it was offered to her. But when Rihanna's belting at the top of her range, it's impossible to imagine anyone else approaching it like she does. Rih walks a tightrope, acting as an objective avatar for all her young listeners - but the utter passion she exhibits belies that, and gives hint to her personal connection to the lyric.
And what a lyric it is, mundane but full of life, and color. But perhaps the strongest part of the song is the production - it echoes the confusion of the narrative by being entirely unsure whether it wants to be a ballad or a trance number - it becomes both. And there's that bridge - Rihanna's never sounded so soft, so vulnerable, so human before. If this is a sign of where she's headed, I'm glad to be onboard.
See also:Rihanna, "Fading," "Man Down"
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Very nice review. The production is the highlight of that song for me.
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Member Since: 11/5/2007
Posts: 19,997
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Quote:
Truly epic, in every sense of the word. Taylor applies every fairy tale criticism she's been dealt over the past four years and makes something of it. Unfortunately for the haters - this track lives, breathes, moves effortlessly. Getting all the minutiae right, as she is wont to do, Taylor delivers her most full-bodied vocal yet.
And seriously, is there a more heartbreaking hook than "Please don't be in love with someone else/Please don't have somebody waiting on you?"
No, there isn't.
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That would be a write-up that everyone should agree with. Every word hits the mark. Enchanted is just epic. One of the best songs to come out last 2010.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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I guess there's no better time than today to finish this, huh? Be back with five - one.
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Member Since: 11/13/2009
Posts: 25,902
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Complicated! That's a game changer.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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5. Goldfrapp - Rocket
Someone on The Singles Jukebox compared this to My Life Would Suck Without You, and I think the comparison's apt - both songs that are shadows of previous work the artists have done, but both work SO WELL. I first heard this track 13 months ago, and it still pulls the same heartstrings it did then. Should have been a real hit.
See also: Goldfrapp, " Rocket (Richard X Remix), (Grum Remix)"
And really, the entire Head First album - entirely underrated.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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3. Miranda Lambert - The House That Built Me
I first heard "House" when I bought Miranda's last great work, Revolution. I didn't pay much attention to it, but repeated listens and reviews on the Internet made me appreciate it. It didn't connect to me fully, though, until I saw her perform it on television.
Picture this - I was sat at home, at the (almost) end of a very confusing, confounding year. I turned on Palladia and watched an Invitation Only with the current queen of country, Miranda effin Lambert. I was having fun, lying on the couch and singing along, and then she performed this. And I cried.
That's when I knew it would rank high.
See also: Taylor Swift, "Never Grow Up", Carrie Underwood, "Mama's Song"
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Member Since: 5/27/2010
Posts: 3,998
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Goldfrapp and Robyn
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 2/21/2005
Posts: 21,684
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5-3 is just beautiful, no matter what they say
The House That Built Me and Dancing On My Own were in my top 20 this year
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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2. Robyn - Hang With Me
As comforting as a warm hug, or a plate of freshly baked cookies. Patrick did a superlative job writing about this song, so check his thread out - but really, this obliterates the non-descript original s much, it's not even funny.
And "we could do whatever --- ooohooohoooh" is maybe me favorite bit of pop in 2010. Well, until ...
See also:Robyn, "Hang With Me (Acoustic)", Miranda Lambert, "Love Song"
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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1. Kylie Minogue - All The Lovers
Was there ever any doubt? My favorite pop star, ever, releasing something that felt so right for her. Those cascading synths almost sound heroic, like warriors off to battle. Kylie has not really sounded this ... at home in a very long time, owning each lyric and embodying it with a sense of coquettish purpose, if such a thing exists. But what really gets me are those background vocals; they border on a spiritual experience. In a year of terror, "All the Lovers" gave me everything I needed.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Don't forget about us. Stan for your boy.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 3/19/2008
Posts: 37,076
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All The Lovers, Hang With Me, and Dancing On My Own are all great. I hope Robyn would have taken the #1 instead though. Good list!
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/24/2009
Posts: 70,975
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Robyn
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