This house inspired smash sounds like it comes straight out of the 90s. Clean Bandit did a great job on the beat and Jess Glynne’s vocals are lovely – they could have been a little more powerful. I hope they continue to work together in the future as their new single Real Love is just as great. Would love to see a collaboration album.
82) L.A.Love (la la) - Fergie
#82
The DJ Mustard produced L.A.LOVE (la la) from Fergie was not the big comeback we all hoped for after The Duchess – but it was still pretty damned good. With her classic rapping during the verses to the shout-out earworm chorus made for vacation dancefloors like Ibiza and Rio, this song would have been perfect during the summer. The YG remix also bops.
83) Do It Again – Robyn & Royksopp
#83
This EDM banger from the EP of the same name reached moderate success earlier this year. The flawless production and infectious chorus deserved more attention but as dance is a dying genre, it didn’t. Robyn sounds amazing as always and her slightly vocodered vocals make her sound otherworldly.
84) You’ve Got Time – Regina Spektor
#84
Although released in 2013, this song arguably rose to prominence this year with the second series debut of Orange Is The New Black, of which it is the theme for. As the shows fame increased, so did the song, which is a driving alternative rock song featuring exploding drums and wavering guitars. The slower chorus gives the song a moment’s reflection, before thundering on – much like life itself. Regina’s use of metaphor is once again incredible and her vocals are stellar as always.
85) Yellow Flicker Beat – Lorde
#85
The lead single from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Soundtrack was hyped to be Royals or Team 2.0. It wasn’t, but what we did get was a progression from Lorde that no one expected. The chorus is huge, not instant, and she’s even going fully acapella in the intro and using her own vocal as an instrument. This is very promising for her future material, in my opinion.
86) You’re Mine (Eternal) – Mariah Carey
#86
Like the rest of it’s parent album, You’re Mine (Eternal) is very much a throwback to the 90s, and in this case, 90s ballads. Simple, earworm verses followed by a catchy chorus with yearning vocals make this one of the most underrated songs of 2014.
87) A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
#87
Coldplay’s branch into EDM is certainly interesting, catchy and lovable. The same cannot be said for the album (in my opinion of course), but the song was a great addition to my summer. It isn’t the most original of EDM tracks but it’s great to party to and Chris Martin sounds pretty great over the beat. They should do more electronic music.
88) Yasss Bish (feat. Soulja Boy) – Nicki Minaj
#88
One of tracks Nicki dropped earlier this year to generate hype for The Pinkprint, and more importantly, the lead single Pills N Potions. ‘Dropping my single in two weeks, The Pinkprint album, a movie’ she spits over a beat that incorporates bells to give a feeling of importance. Soulja Boy echoes all our sentiments towards this track on the chorus. Yas bish yas!
89) Crying for No Reason – Katy B
#89
This electro-ballad from UK underground artist Katy B smashed here earlier this year but failed to make any waves in America. The powerful chorus is guaranteed to be stuck in your head for weeks, and the production is perfect for the subject matter. Great vocals from Katy too (not often you’ll see that written )
90) Walk The Line – Iggy Azalea
#90
The opening track to Azalea’s debut LP The New Classic is one of the only tracks on the album to feature her on the chorus, and it’s all the better for it. It’s one of the few tracks I listen to from the album and is a look at what could have been. I hope she considers more introspective tracks like this on her second album, and used more of the flow she shows on the verses here.
91) Burn The Pages – Sia
#91
Originally planned as the second single from Sia’s critically acclaimed 1000 Forms of Fear, Burn The Pages is an airy, tropical pop mid-tempo song about leaving the past behind and letting your future self out. Sia definitely has better songs, even on 1000 Forms of Fear, but I challenge you to not get addicted to that hook.
92) XSCAPE – Michael Jackson
#92
As the title track from Michael Jackson’s second posthumous release, the song has a big legacy to live up to – and it does. With it’s dark, pounding beat produced by Darkchild, and eerily prophetic lyrics about longing to get away from the press and live a life for himself, this is one of the best songs that has come to light since his untimely death in 2009.
93) 23 – Shakira
#93
Shakira’s guitar driven ode to boyfriend Gerard Piqué from her 2014 album Shakira. harkens back to her ballads from Laundry Service, and is just as lovable. She uses religion and faith to describe how her footballer baby daddy changed her life for the better. The song continues the trend for popstars using their babies voices in their song, with gargling Milan making an appearance at the end of the record.
94) Cheek to Cheek – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
#94
The title track from Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga’s smash jazz project opens with Gaga cooing about being in heaven. The classic Irving Berlin-pinned song is an incredible piece of work and this version keeps that record standing. Both performer’s vocals and personalities shine through and their chemistry is particularly evident on this track.
95) To Love & Die (feat. Cocaine 80s) – Jhené Aiko
#95
The lead single from Jhené’s Souled Out is a chilled RnB record, with her soothing vocals repeating the mantra ‘we live for the love, die for the love’ during the chorus. A great introduction to the record, it’s not for everyone though.
96) Hours – FKA twigs
#96
A haunting ballad with whispery vocals and cutting percussion from LP1. Emile Haynie and Devonté Hynes, Clams Casino and Arca’s production is exceptional, with help from twigs of course, and they know how to use space in a song to give impact without overwhelming the listener.
97) Ice Princess – Azealia Banks
#97
A cool, dark house record from Broke With Expensive Taste, with a thumping, sampled chorus - which harkens back to Kylie's Can't Get You Out Of My Head - that Banks joins in on, and a strangely typical set of verses about stealing men and wearing diamonds. Azealia’s idea of generic rap however, is still far above her contemporaries, and in situations like this where you can tell she is effortless, you can see that she’s equalling her peers more try-hard efforts.
98) Spark The Fire – Gwen Stefani
#98
A classic Pharrell/Gwen Stefani collaboration that mimicks the spoken bridge and obnoxious beat of Hollaback Girl. It doesn’t quite match it, but is still a solid Gwen song and a great pop song. Pharrell is on fire once again on production.
99) i – Kendrick Lamar
#99
The funky lead single from Kendrick’s upcoming 2015 LP is a departure from the dark, synthy hip-hop found on Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City. The groovy beat – which changes midway into a darker side of the sound - evokes a summery feeling as Kendrick rides the beat – which samples the song That Lady by The Isley Brothers.
100) I Prefer Your Love – St Vincent
#100
I Prefer Your Love is an unconventional love song from St. Vincent’s self titled effort. The song’s production is similar to the popular remix of Old Cape Cod, with ethereal vocals and percussion that is muted but still very prominent.
Make sure to come back around the same time tomorrow for my #20-#17 Singles of 2014! And feel free to discuss my choices above and the way I've set out the post (constructive criticism is welcome).
Ice Princess is really good love Rather Be as well. Yay for Gaga making an appearance, I'm not a fan of Kendrick's song though, I found it really lacklustre compared to his stuff of good kid m.a.a.d city
Ice Princess is really good love Rather Be as well. Yay for Gaga making an appearance, I'm not a fan of Kendrick's song though, I found it really lacklustre compared to his stuff of good kid m.a.a.d city
Quote:
Originally posted by SpinThatShhh
Your taste!!
Yas. I love this.
Quote:
Originally posted by K$Ellie
11/20
LA Love and Crying For No Reason are my favorite they should be higher
Coldplay, Sia, Iggy, Lorde and Clean Bandit