Lately, it's been getting increasingly frustrating to write online. Between the new YouTube policy of not allowing to share many of their videos on other sites anymore (even a lot of the old songs!) and Yahoo, from which I'm feeling very neglected lately, my desire to write has been overwhelmed by the problems.
Herein is a piece I wrote at the end of June for Yahoo which has yet to be published. I wrote a similar piece last year and it got plenty of page views, but suddenly someone over there thinks that linking the songs to the same website is a big no-no all of a sudden. I wrote them back on July 7th about the issue and have yet to hear back from them.
In the meantime, what was meant as a mid-year piece has now gone on for almost an extra month, and rather than scrap the whole thing I figured I'd at least try and get some page views here. For what it's worth, enjoy. As always, comments are always welcome.
The year 2012 has already been a great year for pop
music. With several songs from
established artists and a couple of ditties from newer ones, the year 2012 has
already added plenty of great tunes to the annals of pop music. Songs like Nicki Minaj’s “Starships,” Carly
Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill
You)” will be played on radio stations, dance clubs and iPods everywhere for a
long time to come, and we’re only half way through the year. Take a look at this writer’s picks for the
ten best songs of 2012, so far:
#10 - Set Fire to the Rain – Adele
This torchy ballad from Adele’s hugely successful “21” album
was the third official single and third straight #1 for the singer, breaking a
record
set by the “Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack” as having three straight #1’s
while the album has been in the top spot.
The song worked well as a dance remix, too, getting plenty of airplay in
clubs throughout the year so far. Check
out Adele’s video for the song right
here.
#9 - You Make Me Feel – Cobra Starship, featuring Sabi
Cobra Starship has been around for several years and four
albums now, and this shiny, happy song, featuring the guest vocals of singer
Sabi, has been one of their most successful songs to date. Take a look at the video to this catchy tune
right
here.
#8 - Where Have You Been - Rihanna
Rihanna is a hit-making machine, and she struck it big once
again with this, her fifth
Top
40 single off of “Talk That Talk.”
The song is another nice, synth-filled dance track that’s become the
trademark for this Barbadian born songstress.
Check out the video for “Where Have You Been” right
here.
#7 - Part of Me – Katy Perry
Katy Perry just keeps rolling with another catchy pop tune,
which she premiered at this year’s
Grammy
Awards. Check out the video for
“Part of Me”
here.
#6 – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)– Kelly Clarkson
Former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson made a successful
return to the music scene in October of last year with her fifth studio album,
“Stronger.” After hitting it big with
the first single, “Mr. Know It All,” the defiant title cut stormed the
charts in February
becoming her third #1 single. Take a
look at the video for Kelly’s “Stronger” right
here.
#5 - We Are Young – Fun, featuring Janelle Monae
This dramatic, coming of age
song was yet one of those sleepers hit of 2012, with a cover performance
of the song on the hit series Glee giving it the boost it needed to hit #1 on
the charts. Check out the video for “We
Are Young”
here and
the Glee cover
here.
#4 - Glad You Came – The Wanted
The sun goes down, the
stars come out
And all that’s left,
is here and now
My universe will never
be the same
I’m glad you came, I’m
glad you came
The year 2012 has seen the much heralded return of the boy
band, with two British groups, One Direction and
The
Wanted, vying for the attention of music lovers and young girls everywhere,
and it all started with this song. The
Wanted’s “Glad You Came” is a very sweet and very pleasing to the ears kind of
song, with catchy lyrics set to a nice, tropical island beat. Check the equally tropical video for the tune
right
here.
#3 - Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye
The combination of lyrics many can relate to and a smooth,
beatnik groove made this one a powerful radio force all over the world, and
countless remixes and covers of the song have gotten great airplay, as
well. Check out the video featuring
Australian-Belgian Gotye and sultry New Zealand songstress Kimbra right
here.
#2 - Starships – Nicki Minaj
Hot rapper chick Nicki Minaj is less of a rapper and more of
a pop/dance singer on this somewhat silly, yet very catchy and fun summer song. Check out the video for “Starships” right
here.
Now, lemme hear ya say Ray, Ray Ray...
#1 - Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepson
Hey I just met you, and
this is crazy
Here’s my number, so
call me maybe
Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepson has had the runaway hit of
the year with this pure bubble gum ditty that is catchy sing-along at its
best. Check out the equally cute video
for “Call Me Maybe”
here.
These ten songs aren’t the only notable songs from the year
2012. Honorable mentions for great songs
from the first half of 2012 include Katy Perry’s “Wide Awake,” Jessie J’s “Domino,”
Jennifer Lopez’ “Dance Again,’ and two hot Maroon 5 songs, “Moves Like Jagger”
and “Payphone.” Stay tuned to a radio
station near you too see what’s in store for the second half of what’s been a
great year so far.
