Well, the sixth month of 2011 has almost come to a close, which means the year is basically halfway over (if my math is correct). And that means it’s time to look at my completely biased opinion on the best pop or Top 40 songs released to this point in 2011. There is no real criteria to what was eligible for this list, only that the song was released in 2011 and either hit the charts or was performed by an artist that has charted this year. That way, I actually get to choose my favorite songs! Enjoy!
Adele- “Set Fire To The Rain:” Everyone knows “Rolling in the Deep,” the lead single off Adele’s latest album, 21, but this is unquestionably the best song from the album. This is the only track on the album where the instrumentation challenges Adele’s vocals for supremacy, and it works so well that it’s a mystery to me why more songs on 21 don’t sound like this.
Blake Shelton- “Honey Bee:” There isn’t too much to say about this simple country love song. It’s just a pleasure to listen to, especially on a warm summer day. So hopefully there will be many opportunities to listen to it in the next few months!
Britney Spears ft. Ke$ha & Nicki Minaj- “Till The World Ends (Remix):” I could have easily put the more well-known Britney-only version of this song on the list, but this version is much, much better. Nicki Minaj adds a nice set-up verse, then Ke$ha, the song’s writer, enters with her take on the chorus. To be honest, if I were a record exec, I would have just given this song to Ke$ha, but either way it’s one of the year’s best party jams.
Chris Brown ft. Benny Benassi- “Beautiful People:” Although this song has yet to be released as a single (no idea why), it has taken hold in my mind as the single catchiest song of 2011 thus far. My predictions are rarely right, but look for this to be a late-summer addition to radio rotations. I can’t see it being a bust.
Chris Brown ft. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne- “Look At Me Now:” Hard to believe former teen-heartthrob Chris Brown has released the best mainstream rap song of 2011 to this point, but it’s true. Granted, Busta Rhymes and Lil’ Wayne completely carry the song, but it’s Brown who gets the main credit (and royalties, presumably) for the hardest-hitting lyrical whirlwind of the year so far.
Kelly Rowland ft. Lil’ Wayne- “Motivation:” Pretty much every song to this point in our Top 10 has been the best at something, and this one is no different: it’s far and away the best sexy R&B song of the year, and you don’t need to look any farther than its multiple star-studded remixes to see how hot it’s gotten in the R&B world. Babies are undoubtedly being made to “Motivation” all over the world this summer.
Lady Gaga- “You & I:” Lady Gaga’s latest album, Born This Way, was mostly a disappointment, coming up well short of The Fame Monster in terms of overall quality of its songs. But this is the one track that stood head and shoulders above the rest. It strikes me as sort of a countrified follow-up to the piano-ballad “Speechless,” my favorite song from The Fame Monster. Once again, if it doesn’t get released as a single at some point, America will be missing out.
Lupe Fiasco- “Beautiful Lasers:” A lot of people were bitterly disappointed with Lasers, the long-awaited and much-tampered-with most recent album from Lupe Fiasco. It certainly had its share of radio-ready hip-pop, and a dearth of the politically-minded lyrics Fiasco’s fans have come to expect. But naturally, I had the exact opposite reaction: I loved all the lush beats and Auto-Tuned choruses of Lasers, exemplified by the urgent-sounding “Beautiful Lasers.”
Lupe Fiasco- “Coming Up:” Once again, the production value here is almost perfect. Lupe’s flow sounds as good as it ever has on “Coming Up” and the up-and-coming singer MDMA delivers a perfectly crafted chorus to put the whole thing together. This is just pure toe-tapping music, and there’s nothing better. Once again, it ought to be released as a single sometime soon.
The Script- “For The First Time:” Power-pop piano ballads have long left me defenseless, and this one is no exception. It happens to also incorporate my other weakness, a soaring, wordless hook, and thus it makes an appearance in the Top 10 of 2011 so far.
So there you have it. I wonder what the second half of 2011 will hold? Will any of these songs reach the year-end Top 20 list? I hope the next six months are so awesome that none of them do, but we’ll just have to wait and see…
*Songs listed in alphabetical order, in case you're a dumbass and didn't figure that out until just now.
I'd say that "I'll Be Waiting" is another example of a track where instrumentals challenge the vocals. It also happens to be another highlight on an already-fantastic sophomore effort.
ReplyDeleteI was talking about Adele's 21 by the way.
ReplyDelete"Look at me now" is not a lyrical whirlwind. Its just the beat and chris brown saying goofy shit that makes it fun to listen to. The End.
ReplyDeleteAlso, post more posts.
ReplyDelete