Hot ZV | 2014: #70-61
This is her highest entry this year, beating out her lead single by a few spots. This track has tons of quirky and witty lyrics which make it so enjoyable to bop along with. I love how this song sounds like it could be straight out of the baby boomer era but the material compares that era to today's when it comes to relationships and gender roles. Really a fun song.
Now here's an artist who made major waves on my chart this year; with just a three-song EP! That EP managed to place all of its track in my top five rather easily; which is especially great because they are all full instrumentals. The EP was actually available for free download; and I'm very glad that I checked it out! This is the title track, and I can see why. There's a lot of interesting things in this track; and I love the nod it plays to DDR in its video. You can definitely see he influences. The hook of this one gets into your head so easily, it's a total earworm.
And now, here's the song that got me to check out the EP in the first place! I heard this while tuning into MLG Anaheim and it was some of the background music, and I Shazam'd it and found out what it was. I looked it up and saw the EP was free and thought 'why not?' and it ended up being a great decision! Now this one isn't as much of an earworm, but it's definitely a grower with some higher highs and lower lows. This instrumental hits you a lot harder at points before backing off to get ready to blast the beat out again.
Now here's my #18 song of 2013! It ended up having great longevity; enough to place this high on 2014's list! This song is definitely easy listening and classic trance. You really can't go wrong with the entrancing beat and beautiful vocals.
And right next to it is my #50 track of 2013! This was also a #1, but this song's chart run was definitely much more divided between years allowing it to chart similarly both years. This is a great instrumental track which applies vocals without damaging its ability to be regarded as an instrumental track. Really great infectious club beat!
A really great track from Lana Del Rey who I normally do not check out much. This is easily one of her most accessible tracks to digest for Top 40 purposes. The production definitely has that 'western' feel; presented in classic Lana Del Rey form. Her lyrics are lot more forward this go around, and presented with some beautiful vocals.
A track we are all familiar with, one of the biggest hits of the year everywhere for sure. A lot of things on this track were just point blank: done right. This track is all about the little things, from the name drop at the beginning to the silly line at the end from the same girl. A lot of witty lyrics spiced behind an infectious horn that dominated the trends of the year in many songs. The rap verse thrown here kills the beat and makes this song an easy like.
Now let's explore a completely different stage in relationships with this song. This song is endearingly intimate with lyrics that just make you get all warm and fuzzy on the inside. The progression throughout this track are great; which very sing-songly verses followed by a couple of longing hooks and a chorus that infuses some beautiful female vocals in tandem with the male lead singer. The instrumental is just as intimate, and really strives to take a personal tone. Just a great love song all around.
Now here's an artist who is no stranger to my chart; having a couple #1s under his belt from the past few years. This was just a buzz single; but it ended up being a great hit anyway. There are a lot of great things done in this track; although it does burn more quickly than his usual. Of course, that horn that dominated this year was in this track as well. The chorus on this track gives you just pure energy and life. The video for this is super cute and enjoyable as well.
This is his highest ranking this year; and for good reason! This was the track that got me to explore his music, and it's really such a stand-out. An amazing instrumental, that's so low-key with some neat effects thrown throughout. Really, Lo-Fang's vocals in this track are so vulnerable and subdued that you can't help but be drawn in personally to his message. And that's what this track is all about, the lyrics and the theme. The instrumental and even the vocals themselves take a backseat to the material that's being sung. A beautiful story of yearning and need is told as the track progresses, and you just can't help but feel his pain as the track goes from beginning to end.
Hot ZV | 2014: #70-61
I hope you give these snippets a quick check to find what interests you! Expect some more flashbacks soon!