Top 5 R&B Songs Of 2011

I was just reading that mainstream R&B has stagnated and fallen well behind alternative R&B in terms of quality.  This made me realize that maybe I've been "doing it" wrong when it comes to finding good R&B tracks, because 2011 was indeed a barren year for quality mainstream R&B.  Hopefully 2012 will be better, but in the meantime, here are the Top 5 standouts from this past year.


5. Jason DeRulo- "Don't Wanna Go Home":

Yes, the world's least-inventive, most-sampling Auto-Tune specialist was back with a new album in 2011, and it contained all the stuff you thought it might contain.  This song, however, at least managed to entertain me somewhat.  And it sampled "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)," so it sneaks in at number 5 for the year.

4. Trey Songz- "Can't Be Friends":

At the dining hall at my school, the cafeteria ladies (for lack of a better word) always listen to the Sirius XM station "Heart And Soul," and there are certain songs the station (and the lunch ladies) seem to particularly enjoy.  We call these "Diner Jams."  Let's just say "Can't Be Friends" was a HUGE diner jam this year.  It's also, however, a pretty good song, so it gets number 4.

3. Chris Brown feat. Ludacris- "Wet The Bed":

There was perhaps no song more insinuating than "Wet The Bed" in 2011.  Chris Brown's gotten pretty good at these by now.  And who better to put on a track called "Wet The Bed" than Ludacris?  Maybe Plies, but that combo wouldn't be as awesome.  Nope, Chris Brown and Luda definitely made some beds wet in 2011.


2. Lloyd feat. Andre 3000- "Dedication To My Ex":

If "Wet The Bed" was the most insinuating song in 2011, this was the most outright dirty, yet with a smooth gloss, that I've maybe ever heard.  The video, also, was absolutely fantastic.  Don't think this one ever really got the heavy rotation, but it was genius nonetheless.

1. Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne- "Motivation":

Well, if "Wet The Bed" was the most insinuating song, and "Dedication To My Ex" was the dirtiest song, "Motivation" was the sexiest song, and the best R&B song, of 2011.  And it really was a blowout.  Not even close.  Not even close to close, actually.  And there really isn't much more for me to say about it.  But where will it go on the overall 2011 list?  You'll have to check back tomorrow.