Rated: Ratedi's Top 5 Most Underrated Songs Since 2010

A lot of music gets squished out of the music industry womb every year. The last 3 years have seen a significant volume of underrated/underperforming songs find their way into my earshot and quite honestly, I'm appalled. You're about to be introduced or maybe reminded, of 5 said songs. These should have sold enough copies to climb into at least the top 10, alas no. Instead we are forced to listen, repeatedly, to the same shit day in day out on commercial radio stations which choose to overlook the music that is better because it just is and not because it's attached a name. Have a look, let me know what you think and if you feel as strongly about any of the following songs you damn well better exclaim it from on high!

FIVE.

Curtain Call - Aiden Grimshaw

It was a travesty that ol' Aiden didn't 'take off' with his debut solo album Misty Eye. He was by far the most talented and unique artist to come from his Xfactor alumni year & is perhaps one of the most authentic off casts from the show to date. His second single 'Curtain Call' is a gorgeous song featuring stunning chorus vocals from ShezAr, UK singer and producer Labrinth's sister. It's anthemic, powerful and at points overwhelming.

UK Chart Peak - #49

FOUR.

Stay Away - Charli XCX

Her debut album True Romance is a haunting collection, packed with dark 80s inspired synth work and echoey deep vocals. It's pretty incredible work from a 20 year old woman and like many brilliant albums it didn't receive half the reception it should have. 'Stay Away' was the first single back in May 2011 and from what I can gather didn't chart at all (correct me if I'm wrong). It's a dark, powerful ballad, backed by rumbling 80s electro synths and has a chorus that knocks you on your arse. 

UK Chart Peak - #N/A

Rated: Natalia Kills - Timeline

Since she's not that well known, which is frankly unjust, I thought I'd illustrate how good her new songs are through the medium of timeline. This is the journey of Verbalicious, who became Natalia Kills over 5 years. She's released a full album already and featured on an LMFAO track. Check it out below:

2005 - 'Don't Play Nice' (as Verbalicious)

I can't deny liking this song when it came out. I just can't.

2010 - 'Mirrors'

This is a brilliant single, which is totally underrated! The video is dark, sexy and when you watch the 2005 video first, you feel a bit 'illegal'.

Rated: Ciara - Ciara

Ciara's never been big news in the UK and personally I think it's a shame, considering she's more talented/likeable than many of the female pop stars filling airspace at the moment. Her last album Basic Instinct stumbled into the lower reaches of the charts after a lack of support from her management & label - paying for the promotion of lead single 'Gimme Dat' herself. After some reshuffling at her label Jive, she was released from their clutches and fell back under the bald wing of LA Reid. Now she's back with her fifth album Ciara, self titled, more experimental & sexier than ever before.

'Got Me Good' was one of the promo releases, a song akin to her trademark hyperactive bass sound and not disimilar to 'Gimme Dat' and 'Work'. It had a video and it's pretty tight, but it didn't make the final cut; this is a good thing. Ciara sees a very welcome change in sound for the chanteuse of r'n'b. The album has a darker, more brooding production than anything she's released. The likes of 'I'm Out' featuring Nicki Minaj showcase a rougher, more sassy Ciara, complete with its own Beyonce 'Run the World' lyrics about celebrating a break up and 'toasting goodbyes'. 'I rap for everyone' Minaj opens and closes the track, and for a change her contribution is actually semi-enjoyable, harking back to her 'Roman's Revenge' bite. 'Sophomore' is captivating and Ciara is commanding, as she sings over a thick bass line you'd hear in an underground car park party (someone please invite me to one of these?).

Things never go beyond mid-up tempo. Gone are the cocaine fuelled productions of her past albums and the perfect example is 'Super Turnt Up', a song that constantly threatens to explode into an array of rapid fire synths and beats so insane your ears would up & leave. However, it never does and it's this threat that keeps the song interesting. The song even features 'Ciara', giving her own supporting rap in the middle, a convincing turn that clearly separates her two personas. On 'Where You Go' featuring boyfriend Future, the production is subtle with some sweet bleeps and lilting acoustic riffs, behind Ciara's smooth vocals and Future's echoes of "Where you go-o-o". It's a class A track.

Ciara's no stranger to a Janet Jackson comparison. Her stage outfits, her slick dance moves and her smooth, modest vocal prowess all garner constant links to the stylings of the pop legend. While her voice isn't packed with the power of Whitney or Beyonce, it often makes the listen far easier. There's no over sing on the likes of 'Body Party', a smooth r'n'b jam where Ciara's vocals are authentic and non-jarring. 'My body is your party/baby' she coos on the lead single. It was a brave move releasing a song so laid back in production, but its sultry lyrics and mocha beats are inviting & enticing. 

What we're seeing here is Ciara's evolution. She's moved forward from her routine of predictable r'n'b synth insania and delved deeper into the sweat and heat of her very own underground r'n'b party. I don't think the album will make waves on UK shores, mainly because we've never really appreciated her talents before. That being said, I hope to be proven wrong as Ciara is an accomplished collection of r'n'b songs so chocolatey & smooth, it makes Nutella look like shit.

4/5

Download: Body Party / Where You Go / Super Turnt Up / Sophomore

Rated: Avicii - Wake Me Up!

It would have been impossible for Swedish DJ Avicii to pull out an even bigger cat than his massive dance anthem 'Levels'. The curse that afflicts so many dance acts is hard to be evaded, that is until they take a back route and squeeze out something so unexpected and different to their regular sound you can't help but stop and listen.

Avicii has done this with new track 'Wake Me Up!'. It's one of those "who the hell is this?!" tracks, backed by a folksy guitar, intertwined with the DJ's trademark dance production. This dance sound is intermittent and non invasive, allowing the catchy verses and chorus to ride high. It's the track's surprising sound that makes it so good, setting it apart from the barrage of summer 'dance anthems' we always get hammered by. 

4/5

Rated: MKS 'Flatline' - Full & Perfect

So it's here, at last. They took their sweet bloody time but the original Sugababes now renamed MKS (Mutya Keisha Siobhan) have finally debuted their new single 'Flatline' in full.

I haven't been this excited about a new song premier in a long time. This is a pretty special pop song, with stunning production and a perfect vocal arrangement. It's hypnotic and exhilarating at the same time. Those voices together is about as perfect as group vocals can get. What are your thoughts?

5/5