25. Hot Chelle Rae- Tonight Tonight
You may have noticed many times during September and October that I posted on how I didn't like this song, and how I wanted it to die more quickly. However, that was only because it became so overplayed when it was rising the chart, that when it started to peak, I was extremely tired of it and could barely stand to listen. After refraining from listening to it for a month or so though, I realized that it was very catchy with a great beat and I began to love it again. I hope they don't continue to make all their songs like this though; "Tonight Tonight" was just a one-time guilty pleasure.
This is the only song by Hot Chelle Rae on the chart.
24. Andy Grammer- Keep Your Head Up
Andy Grammer came out with one of the biggest surprise hits of the year, with the endlessly optimistic soft rock tune "Keep Your Head Up". I never expected it to become huge in the mainstream, because most great HAC songs by new artists fail to break through
. However, it reached the Hot 100, peaking at #53, and staying on for 20 weeks before being removed by the recurrent rule. The success of the song was possibly due to the entertaining video, which showcased Andy in a variety of very awkward situations, and even offered an interactive video in which the viewer gets to choose what happens.
This is the only song by Andy Grammer on the chart.
23. The Script- Nothing
The Script proved in 2011 that they weren't a one-hit wonder, with the smash hit "For the First Time" (coming up later
), and continued their success with the follow-up "Nothing". The song was one of my favorites on the album
Science & Faith, so I was very glad to see it selected as the second US single off of it. The message was something most people could relate to, breaking up with someone but still being in love with them and knowing you will never get them back. The soft, sad tone of the song complimented that very well, and as with all Script singles, it had a very catchy hook.
This is the first of two songs by The Script on the chart.
22. Gym Class Heroes feat. Adam Levine- Stereo Hearts
After going solo in 2010 and releasing the modern classic "Billionaire", Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy decided to regroup with his bandmates for a new album. I was mainly only here for the hook sung by Adam Levine, which I consider one of the best of the whole year, but the raps by Travie were on point as well, and I especially liked the many references to old-time music players. I often overlook this as being a rap song, for reasons I can't quite explain, but I do consider it one of the best blends of pop and hip-hop I've heard in a long time.
This is the only song by Gym Class Heroes on the chart.
21. Coldplay & Rihanna- Princess of China
Not very often will I include non-singles on my biweekly Top 40, and even less often on one of my year-enders, but "Princess of China" was such a great and haunting song that I just couldn't bear not to include it. The use of the Vietnamese music sample throughout the song was absolutely brilliant, and the sweet and sultry vocals by Chris Martin and Rihanna added to the mysterious and inspiring mood. I was so angry to find that POC was scrapped as the third single for the much lesser "Charlie Brown".
I feel like when it is released as a single, which it better be, it will not perform as well, because the label waited so long to release it (see Nicki Minaj's "Fly"), and that is a huge shame.
This is the first of two songs by Coldplay on the chart.
Amazing songs.
Calvin 
