I've always been a huge fan of Kelly Clarkson and cannot wait for her next album. I normally do not really gravitate towards Christmas music, but Kelly's incredible vocals really made Wrapped In Red a favorite of mine. She has the perfect tone and the perfect amount of the classic Christmas sound. My memory is flooded with wonderful things when I listen to this. This song is the essence of why I love Christmas. I can't imagine someone better covering this as beautifully as her. The entire album deserves a shoutout, but this is my favorite, so it made this countdown.
99 Nelly - Get Like Me (featuring Nicki Minaj & Pharrell)
This song is a JAM. Pharrell is a phenomenal producer, and I'm so glad he had a comeback this year. Get Like Me is also Nelly's best song in ages. However, the highlight of this song is Nicki Minaj, who by far has the most memorable, funniest lines. They call her tha queen. Can't wait for her to comeback in 2014. Anyway, if you don't knock this beat yet, get on it. Love the video too. Should've been a big hit.
98 Kanye West - Bound 2 (featuring Charlie Wilson)
Yeezus is the most polarizing album of the year, but it has a lot of gems. This is one of many of them. I would consider Bound 2 kind of odd in the drastic key/beat change between the verses & the chorus. However, this makes it a unique listening experience. Lyrically, this is one of the best songs on Yeezus, on an album that was Kanye at not his lyrical best. It reminds me of Late Registration Kanye, so I'm sure old fans were in love with this song. I wish this would've been a huge single for him.
He's back (don't worry, there's more Yeezus later on). My only complaint is that this song kind of feels like an interlude; I wish there was more Kanye West in it. Besides that, an absolute JAM. It's very dark and menacing, but that's what I love about Yeezus in the first place. Kanye's flow on his verse is one of his best on the album. This could have been successful on radio & especially in the clubs. Production wise, this is insane. Industrial hip hop for the 21st century. No one could pull off this beat but Kanye.
Honestly, I did not like this song at first. My excuse was that I found it dull. However, I really, really love it now. Lyrically, it's one of the most unique, cool songs of the years. It's really smartly written. I always love Ryan Tedder's vocals & work overall, & I'm so glad this has taken off in the US. 1R has such a unique stamp on their sound, & it seems people have noticed it especially on Counting Stars. The chorus is always getting stuck in my head. Also love the video.
I've always been a huge fan of Kelly Clarkson and cannot wait for her next album. I normally do not really gravitate towards Christmas music, but Kelly's incredible vocals really made Wrapped In Red a favorite of mine. She has the perfect tone and the perfect amount of the classic Christmas sound. My memory is flooded with wonderful things when I listen to this. This song is the essence of why I love Christmas. I can't imagine someone better covering this as beautifully as her. The entire album deserves a shoutout, but this is my favorite, so it made this countdown.
99 Nelly - Get Like Me (featuring Nicki Minaj & Pharrell)
This song is a JAM. Pharrell is a phenomenal producer, and I'm so glad he had a comeback this year. Get Like Me is also Nelly's best song in ages. However, the highlight of this song is Nicki Minaj, who by far has the most memorable, funniest lines. They call her tha queen. Can't wait for her to comeback in 2014. Anyway, if you don't knock this beat yet, get on it. Love the video too. Should've been a big hit.
98 Kanye West - Bound 2 (featuring Charlie Wilson)
Yeezus is the most polarizing album of the year, but it has a lot of gems. This is one of many of them. I would consider Bound 2 kind of odd in the drastic key/beat change between the verses & the chorus. However, this makes it a unique listening experience. Lyrically, this is one of the best songs on Yeezus, on an album that was Kanye at not his lyrical best. It reminds me of Late Registration Kanye, so I'm sure old fans were in love with this song. I wish this would've been a huge single for him.
My only complaint is that this song kind of feels like an interlude; I wish there was more Kanye West in it. Besides that, an absolute JAM. It's very dark and menacing, but that's what I love about Yeezus in the first place. Kanye's flow on his verse is one of his best on the album. This could have been successful on radio & especially in the clubs. Production wise, this is insane. Industrial hip hop for the 21st century. No one could pull off this beat but Kanye.
Honestly, I did not like this song at first. My excuse was that I found it dull. However, I really, really love it now. Lyrically, it's one of the most unique, cool songs of the years. It's really smartly written. I always love Ryan Tedder's vocals & work overall, & I'm so glad this has taken off in the US. 1R has such a unique stamp on their sound, & it seems people have noticed it especially on Counting Stars. The chorus is always getting stuck in my head. Also love the video.
Also: shoutout to "If I Lose Myself"
95 Big Sean - You Don't Know (featuring Ellie Goulding)
It was hard to choose between this & Ashley as my favorite song from Hall of Fame, but this is easily one of the best songs Big Sean has done. The verses are strong, and the chorus is amazing thanks to the contribution from Ellie Goulding. It was a surprise for her to be on the track! The song has a dark atmosphere to it, and is unlike anything any other rapper is serving right now. This contrasts sharply from tunes on his first album. I would say this song best defines Hall of Fame, sonically.
Hit potential all over this one (takes notes: it was just released as a single). I enjoy this & You Don't Know about just as much, so I thought they should be together on my chart. This edges You Don't Know out thanks Miguel's super catchy, sing-along chorus. He really did a great job. Big Sean's most personal lines and best flow are for his Ashley, though. This song has a personal, sensitive to it that I like. This is up there with Big Sean's best songs and the highlights from Finally Famous.
Pop bliss right here. Cher Lloyd really knows how to carry a great catchy chorus and verses. I would say this is better than anything on Stick & Stones, honestly. T.I. is always a great rapper to contribute as a feature, and he doesn't fail here - his verse is one you're gonna wanna rap along with. He adds a lot to the song. It's super catchy and FUN. Would love to hear this all over radio in 2014 (it's Epic though lol).
92 Drake - Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2 (featuring JAY Z)
Pound Cake has a classic element I love about Drake - a haunting quality. The beat is hypnotizing and one of the best hip hop beats of the year (courtesy of an Ellie Goulding sample - you haven't seen the last of her in my countdown). The song is a little too long, but the lyrics are really great and classic Drake. I'm glad that this is the closer off of the incredible Nothing Was the Same, as it defines the purpose of the album well - for Drake to appreciate his fame and place in the industry.
The video is what elevates this song to me the most. It's a nice offering from Katy Perry's new album PRISM - my favorite album from her so far. Excellently produced and featuring pretty vocals from Katy on the verses and chorus, the track is sweet and will put you in a good mood. To me, it's one of the highlights of PRISM. I'm sad at its performance on the charts, because it deserves a lot more. Like I said, video may be her best yet.
Bound 2 is... strange. I don't know if I like it... or hate it
Counting Stars I loved that song, then it bored me, hated it... and loved it again Right now is amazing