I know, my 2012 countdown starts with a song from 2011! But it didn't become relevant in America until 2012, so I include it. I took me a while to warm up to this song. The first few times I heard it, the instrumental chorus felt really unsatisfying. However, there is a law in pop music which states that if you listen to a mediocre song enough times, then it will eventually become great. The law is proven by this song. During the 2012 Olympics, I watched a lot of the coverage online. Whenever there was a break in the action, they would play music from a playlist. "Titanium" was on that playlist, and I ended up hearing this song A LOT over those two weeks. Eventually, it grew on me. Sia gives a solid vocal performance, and the lyrics, which are kinda cheesy and cliché, somehow "inspire" me for some reason. All in all, I think this is a pretty good song to start off the countdown.
I guess this is my indie hipster song for the countdown? I knew I wanted to have a song by The xx in my countdown, and this was the song that stood out the most to me on their new album,
Coexist. It starts out kinda slow and samey to their other songs; it's that "xx" sound we all know. But around the two minute mark, the song changes tempo and this sorta-tribal beat comes in. That's the part that really sets this song apart from the rest and ends the monotony. The beat isn't intense or anything; it's just a nice, steady beat that lasts just long enough for me to want to play the song on repeat.
I mean, duh. It's the biggest song of the year; it has to make the countdown. IT HAS TO. However, I don't listen to radio very much, so I was able to avoid most of the song's impact. Accordingly, the song still sounds "fresh" every time I listen to it. It's just so cutesy, which some people may find annoying, but I find it endearing. I love the disco tribute by the inclusion of the magnificent strings during the chorus. The instrumental after the bridge really reminds me of "Teenage Dream" by Katy P, but I'll let it slide since it's a pretty common tool that is used in pop music. I have yet to listen to Carly's debut album, but if it contains the same amount of awesomeness as "Call My Maybe", then I may have to give it a listen!
It's crazy they both went #1!
"Moves Like Jagger" followed the law, so obviously Maroon 5 follows the law religiously!
), so I'll just pick Whistle without listening to either. 
