Here's my top 20 songs of 2010 post continued (numbers 20 through 11 can be found here). Yes, I realise that there're actually 25 songs in total because I've posted two songs from several artistes, but, as I was trying to limit the appearance of each artiste to just once, that's why I've highlighted other songs I really like from the same artiste.
10. Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man - Simply fantastic folk-rock. Irrepressible banjos. Catchy chorus. What more could you ask for?
9. Vampire Weekend - White Sky / I Think Ur a Contra - White Sky is such a happy tune. Ezra Koenig's joyous yodelling just can't be beat. I Think Ur a Contra is a slower paced but no less beautiful song.
8. Rihanna - Only Girl (In The World) - I can't stand Rihanna. I like some of her songs, yes, but, I haven't forgiven her for the twin crimes of Umbrella (most annoying song ever) and Unfaithful (don't you dare get me started on how stupidly melodramatic the lyrics are). Still, I can't deny that this has been her year, between Rude Boy, Eminem - Love The Way You Lie, What's My Name and Only Girl. I prefer Only Girl because it's just incredibly danceable, and, yes, it has got the electronic beats which tend to dominate half the songs I love. It's like something David Guetta would produce.
7. Lady Gaga - Telephone featuring Beyoncé - A Lady Gaga song just had to appear on this list. I like Alejandro and all, but I much prefer Telephone because it's just so awesome. Firstly, it's more danceable, and, as you've guessed by now, that's one of my criteria for a good song - whether it makes me want to move - and, secondly, the battle between these two incredible singers makes for one hell of a powerful song.
6. Janelle Monáe - Tightrope featuring Big Boi / Cold War - Ms. Monae is one talented individual. From her vocal gymnastics and great dance moves in Tightrope to an emotionally-packed performance in Cold War (which also features a great, no-frills, raw music video), she's just wonderful.
5. Tinie Tempah - Pass Out - I've only just discovered the name of this heck of a CHOON. Mixing electro, grime, r 'n' b, drum 'n' bass... This song is just so deliciously filthy. I can't use any other word to describe it. It just makes you want to get down - and I mean down - on the dance floor and just... grind.
4. Cee Lo Green - F*** You - I don't really need to justify why this is here, do I? Great lyrics (rhyming "Ferrari" and "Atari"? Genius), catchy melody and, yes, not-at-all gratuitous use of swearing.
3. Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill / Superfast Jellyfish - It was a tough choice between which of these two songs I preferred. I mean, one's one of the happiest, most joyful songs I've ever listened to (in spite of its title), and the other's got De La Soul rapping, "Superfast Jellyfish / Goin' superfast / You can't even see 'em / But you wanna eat them." C'mon! In the end, the sheer joy of On Melancholy Hill, the simplicity of the melody and Damon Albarn's dreamy voice won out over the craziness of Superfast Jellyfish. Given the sheer quality of each and every one of the songs, Plastic Beach ranks among my top three albums of 2010.
2. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio / Conversation 16 - I can't recall how I got into The National. I think it's when I stumbled across Slow Show and Terrible Love some time this year and decided to buy a ticket to their concert in December just for the hell of it. One of the best shows I've ever been to, that's for sure. Between the brilliance of their lyrics - "I still owe money to the money to the money I owe" (Bloodbuzz Ohio - a brilliant ode to the difficulties of adulthood) and "I was afraid I'd eat your brains / I'm evil" (Conversation 16 - an anguished song about the singer's relationship difficulties) - and the way the Matt Berninger's admittedly limited voice blends so well with the melodies, this band has crafted some of the most finest songs I've ever listened to.
1. LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change / Dance Yrself Clean - James Murphy is a god among men, managing the difficult task of making emotionally-packed electronic music, prime examples of which include All My Friends and Someone Great. His latest and last offering, This Is Happening, is no different, containing such gems including I Can Change, a plaintive, desperate plea to a(n ex-)lover ("I can change, I can change, I can change / If it will help you fall in love") which, somehow, just manages to get me right there, and the epic Dance Yrself Clean, which is, in my opinion, the best song on the album. Listen closely to 3:08 when jamming guitars and loud percussions and James Murphy's wailing voice all kick in and elevate this song from 'meh' into 'oh dear gosh, this is WONDERFUL'.
So what do you think? What are your favourite songs of 2010? Any songs that I've missed out that I should really listen to? Think I should stick to just whining about my life rather than attempt to blog about music? I'd welcome any and all comments, though if they're really mean, I'd ask that you e-mail me instead. :)
2 comments:
I won't comment on the choices since our taste differs quite significantly, but I wanted to say that I know how much work it takes to come up with lists like this, and I wanted to give you kudos for doing it. I struggle with it every year, and I'm still struggling with mine.
Heya Michelle,
Yes, I originally started out just whimsically wanting to list my top ten songs and then I couldn't just keep it to ten so one thing led to another and it became 20 because I thought 12 was too odd a number. And it's tough to put into words why I like a song. It's all so personal after all.
Also, I fully admit to not having heard that much music last year. I haven't listened to Kanye West or Arcade Fire or Deerhunter and so on. Or maybe I have but just didn't know it. I hope to rectify that now I've got Shazam!
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