Rated i: Top 25 Songs of 2012

The end of another year. Jesus Christina. 

So here we are, preparing our stomachs for the warmth and imminent agony of 'post Xmas dinner'. Figuring out what the hell we're doing at New Year, whether we're going to spend it getting pissed at a party or curled up on the sofa in our new slipper boots and long-johns, watching something uber violent and scary (just me?). One thing is certain, even if our festive plans aren't, 2012 has been an awesome year for music. It's been emotional, fun, surprising, revelationary (made up a word there) and camper than Louis Spence's underwear drawer.

We had the long awaited come back of Xtina with the epic 'Your Body', which didn't quite burn up the charts, but it's one of my top played songs of the year so far. There was the gorgeous revelation that is Jessie Ware and her mind blowing album Devotion; an album so perfect, I shit you not, it changed my year for the better. An Xfactor contestant released a 5 Star single and made my top 15. Rihanna is in there, of course, when wouldn't she be? She'll still be releasing singles when she's 65, probably still wearing a see through dress and getting soaked on the Xfactor live shows, now judged by 3 corpses and Louis Walsh (immortal). Rita Ora managed to get one on there, as did Leona Lewis who yet again flopped a bit. Poor cow. You're going to notice soon enough that there's a Eurovision entry on there too... I know good pop music when I hear it and it's one mother of a pop song.  Then we have the behemoth debut album by Scottish songstress Emeli Sande, Our Version of Events which has a single flying high in my countdown. Have a look below and let me know your thoughts, positive or negative. To be fair, I don't care if you think Sam and the Womp should be number one. Also, don't go expecting to see the ear torture that is 'Candy' by Robbie Williams. Over my dead body:

25. Aiden Grimshaw - Curtain Call

The first of the Xfactor alumni to appear on my countdown, and not one of them's a winner. Aiden surprised with his brilliant debut album, packed with dub-step and drum & bass influences all produced by the same dude who helped pull together Lana Del Rey's debut album. This was the second single from the album and although it didn't really see much of the charts, it's a stunning power ballad, brimming with cool and a huge chorus.

24. Girls Aloud - Something New

At first listen I despised this annoying little bitch of a song. Then once I realised how awesome the chorus was I let them off for having the 'G-g-g-go-go-go' stutter. It's not their best song but it is one of the catchiest mothers of 2012. Xenomania never falters.

23. Loreen - Euphoria

I've never liked a Eurovision entry/winner, let alone loved one. This song is instantly incredible and is Eurovision's finest moment to date.

22. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe

When I first heard this I thought it was a joke song, like 'Candy' by Robbie Williams. I thought, 'what is this pish? It's a bit like that joke song by Robbie Williams called 'Candy''. Then after a couple of listens and seeing the video I thought, 'This is actually amazing and so much better than 'Candy' by Robbie Williams, which is total shite'. This is the second biggest song in the UK this year and will remain one of the catchiest pop tunes of the next decade (I imagine).

21. Rita Ora - R.I.P (Feat. Tinie Tempah)

Rita Ora hasn't had 20 number one hits on the charts; she has had 20 number one hits between her legs though. Ooohhhh Boom. The best part about this debut single from 20 Ora, apart from the hotness that is Tinie Tempah, is that panting bridge. It's one of my favourite moments of 2012 and is the finest song from her debut album ORA, which I didn't review very favourably.

Rated: Rihanna - Stay

Like the bus in Speed, Rihanna continues to tear up the chart roads like a hot wheeling musical maniac. Following on from the wonderful 'Diamonds' from the not so wonderful album Unapologetic, new single 'Stay Ft. Mikky Ekko' is a gorgeous piano lead ballad and perhaps one of Rihanna's most accomplished moments. Both singers give emotive performances; Ri's vocals are on point and the piano riff is one of the most perfect I've heard this year. As far as Rihanna ballads go this is grown up, cool, authentic and packed with passion.

If you don't like the song you soon will, trust me.

5/5

Rated: Jessie Ware - 'Sweet Talk'

 Even though her debut album Devotion had me amending the tracklisting to play 'Wildest Moments' and 'Night Light' after every other song, the album is packed with gorgeous 80s synth inspired tracks just begging for release. New single 'Sweet Talk' is one of the more upbeat songs, with a retro feel and stunning vocal hooks. It's definitely an album highlight, not quite as affecting as WM or 'Taking in Water' but still perfect. This is a great example of why you need Devotion in your life. Fresh, inspiring, stunning. Album of 2012 for sure!

Check it:

5/5

Rated: Gossip - Recall

It's been a few months since we heard from the wonderful pipes of Gossip front woman Beth Ditto. So, feeling a little Gossip nostalgia this evening I played through Music For Men. When it ended I remembered how amazing their last single was/is. Have a listen below and roll about in its awesomeness:

'Move in the Right Direction'

Rated: Lulu James - Sweet Soul

If you haven't heard about Lulu James before, I'm sure you were going to soon enough, had I not just posted this. That was a mouthful. This North-East girl has one of the most intriguing voices I've heard this year, smooth, soulful and just damn gorgeous to behold. Check out her single 'Be Safe' below:

Rated: Rihanna + Xfactor = Poporgasm(s)

The Xfactor Live stage is used to ol' dirty Rihanna Fenty parading up and down its walkways with her buns out. She's belted out some impressive and, at times, iconic, performances on its fancy glowy surfaces. Her recent performance of 'Diamonds' saw her get totally drenched on stage and I am pretty certain that's never happened on the show before; well it did happen to Chris Maloney every week (nervous sweats). 

Tonight saw RiRi slow things right down with her beautiful new single 'Stay' from 7th album Unapologetic. It's one of the good songs from the album and she showed off some vocal ability many probably didn't expect her to have. It was lovely, really just lovely, but I wanted more... well fuck me did I get more?! She only blasted out 'We Found Love', which is only one of the best pop songs of all time. The joint was pumping. I was elated to the point of palpitation and my faith in her was once again restored. 

Rihanna, as much as I don't love your newest album, I still love you... almost as much as my mum and cat. Almost.

Click through below for some Rfactor highlights!

Rated: Leona Lewis - Lovebird

The third album from Xfactor revelation Leona Lewis, Glassheart, should have been a perfect 5; it wasn't. Then again, nobody's perfect right? Unless you're an artist known as Jessie Ware and you released a glorious debut called Devotion. I digress! Leona is immensely talented and Glassheart is good, but it's just good and not mesmerising which is really the kind of album she needed to release at this point in her career. A strong yet mildly disappointing chart debut of number 4, the album was expected to tear things up. It didn't; it didn't do a lot of what was predicted, actually.

New single 'Lovebird' is a grower, but it is instantly likeable. It's a big pretty ballad about breaking out of your cage and such, with big stunning vocals from Leona and easy-osy contemporary ballad production. The problem I have is not with the song, but with the selection of it as the 2nd single from an album that has hardly set the world alight. With 'shock factor' songs like 'Come Alive' and 'Glassheart', this could be a musically fatal move for the girl who was once unstoppable. 

3/5

Rated: Solange - Losing You

Solange Knowles is one of those artists whose under-ratedness is an utter travesty. Her second studio album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams was a triumphant record, so soulful and so funky it deserved far more success than it achieved. The singles lifted from the album, 'I Decided', 'Sandcastle Disco' and 'T.O.N.Y' were some of the best singles around at the time. Unfortunately due to little/no marketing and no presence in the UK, the album kind of floundered a bit. Shame.

Thankfully she's getting of that long overdue recognition. New single 'Losing You' is as classy as pop can get. Its smooth neo-soul groove is so hypnotic you'll be floated away on first listen. Check out the video below.

5/5

Rated: Girls Aloud - TEN

Girls Aloud have been away for what feels like forever (I think it's only 2 years...?) and when it was announced they would be making a comeback gay pulses were sent into a stratospheric beat frenzy all over the UK. If you don't love Girls Aloud you're an idiot. If you don't love Girls Aloud you're lying, because there's nothing to dislike. Over the past 10 years they've rebranded girl group pop, hell they've contributed to the reshaping of the female pop landscape along with their deceased rivals the Sugababes (God rest their souls). When 'Sound of the Underground' slipped onto airwaves it was the biggest surprise of the 00s. Uber-cool girl pop which actually did have an underground feel about it. Nobody expected it and it was that song that helped start the shift in British pop music for the 21st Century.

Follow up 'No Good Advice', like its mother, still holds its ground today. A gift of super producer Xenomania; his ability to put together timeless pop songs is unsurpassed. Basically, every artist in the world should work with him. True story. 

Right, so it's been 10 years since SOTUG and NGA. It's been 10 long, wonderful, poppy years. New track 'Something New', I was very hard on a few weeks ago (scoring it 1 out of 5). I was very hasty as in the weeks between the review and now, where I've heard it on the radio everyday, I've amended my rating to a 4/5. I guess I'm impressionable, but the more I listened to it the more I realised how brilliant the song is. It's timely, well produced and so Girls Aloud it hurts and that's not even mentioning how fantastic the chorus is. So yes, sorry about the bad rating, gays.