2012 Countdown: Top 20 Songs (#10-1)

10.) “Demonstrate”

JoJo

It may be another year past and STILL no new JoJo album, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t release new music! Here we have her embracing her inner goddess (being as how she was inspired by the book 50 Shades of Grey) and collaborating with Drake’s producer Noah “40” Shebib. They brought us sexy, seductive, and free.

9.) “Cherry Wine”

NaS & Amy Winehouse

Along with Aaliyah, Amy Winehouse came back to pay us a visit on her sweet collaboration with rapper NaS. In this beautiful song, NaS does the damn thing while Amy takes her time, reminding us all juts how much we miss that silky voice of hers.

8.) “Where Have You Been”

Rihanna

There’s no stopping Rihanna when it comes to dance songs, and this one was certainly no exception. Thank you Rihanna for getting us on our feet once again with this lovely dance track.

7.) “Somebody That I Used To Know”

Gotye & Kimbra

No need for any introduction here, this track is pure magic! And not to mention that the video is pretty extraordinary too. It’s nice to see and hear something so alternative and quirky make it so mainstream nowadays.

6.) “Climax”

Usher

Usher may not exactly be up to par in his career like he used to in the good ol’ days of My Way or Confessions, but he still knows how to bring the sexy swag to our ears. This standout out song of the year was a bit different than what we’re used to hearing on the radio, but that falsetto got us all crooning for more.

5.) “Skyfall”

ADELE

Another year, another ADELE song making it close to the top! James Bond and ADELE just seem to go perfectly together. Here’s to hoping for a big win at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars for this retro piece of music.

4.) “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”

John Legend & Ludacris

One of the most memorable movies included this memorable song throughout, which is no surprise why it’s always stuck in my head after watching it. Think Like a Man had an incredible R&B soundtrack, but nothing compares to this sexy piece from two fine gentleman like John Legend and Ludacris.

3.) “No Church In the Wild”

Jay-Z, Kanye West, & Frank Ocean

Of course we have to include the incomparable pairing of Jay-Z and Kanye yet again, but this time adding the genius that is Frank Ocean. This album opener to their massive hit Watch the Throne gets things bumping right off the bat, and as a single this song was used for pretty much every movie trailer released if they wanted to add something hard, dramatic, and cool all at once. Well done boys, well done!

2.) “Adorn”

Miguel

I have to show love for Miguel, a man I came to love and cherish back in 2010 when he opened for Usher and Trey Songz. Since then he has become one of my favorite singers in R&B with his Prince beats, sexually-charged lyrics, most importantly this romantic serenade that gets us all two-stepping on the dance floor.

1.) “Thinkin Bout You”

Frank Ocean

And of course, topping the list for me is my favorite of the year, Mr. Ocean. He had it all right with this somber R&B/Hip-Hop track, bringing out his lower register and throwing in that powerful falsetto over his incredible vocal stamina.

2012 Countdown: Top 20 Songs (#20-11)

Not all of these songs on this Top 20 countdown were released as singles necessarily, but they certainly had a big impact on music in 2012 in my opinion. Here is #20-11!

20.) “Enough Said”

Aaliyah & Drake

Aaliyah returned with none other than her super fan Drake for this incredible piece of music. Bringing her into this day and age was such a wise choice, regardless of whatever drama happened with Timbaland & Missy.

19.) “I Knew You Were Trouble”

Taylor Swift

While most people would pick a more well-known Taylor Swift number from this year, I’m going with a gem that is just barely getting some attention. With its dubstep inspiration mixed with pop lyrics for a country song, this is certainly a first for Ms. Swift, and one that I currently cannot stop listening to!

18.) “Wide Awake”

Katy Perry

Katy Perry just can’t stop with all of these hits! But this one was a little more personal, a little more raw, and a lot more beautiful than her up-tempo party hits.

17.) “Let Me Be Your Star”

Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty

SMASH!, the show that everyone loves to hate, but there is no denying just how great the pilot episode was and how incredible this musical moment was! Here’s hoping that season 2 has even more moments like this!

16.) “Give Your Heart A Break”

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato had it going on in ALL the right places with her UNBROKEN album, and this was one shining example of pure pop perfection. The strings, the beat, the lyrics, and that voice, this had it going on in all the right places.

15.) “Call Me Maybe”

Carly Rae Jepsen

The song that no one could get out of their head was also the one that no one complained was in their head! Needless to say, there is certainly a spot for newcomer Jepsen on this countdown (unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there’s any other song of hers that is matching this song’s own legacy).

14.) “Home”

Phillip Phillips

While I may have been rooting hardcore for Jessica Sanchez to take the crown, there is so much love for Phillip Phillips and his winner’s single. Thank you to the Olympics and credit cards commercials for getting it out there for him.

13.) “I Won’t Give Up”

Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz certainly has a way with his words, and this song continued his poetic force in pop and rock beach music. His voice is like honey, and this song is beautiful. Now if we can just get him to cut his damn hair…

12.) “Locked Out Of Heaven”

Bruno Mars

This guy just can’t fail in any way, shape, or form. Here we have yet another staple in his short but extensive repertoire. The album was great and this first single got things started in the right way.

11.) “Some Nights”

fun.

fun. is certainly one of the breakout groups of 2012, and most would tend to pick their first single “We Are Young”, which of course is another great song from them (very memorable indeed). But this song I feel has more oomph, more power, and certainly more dramatic than the latter.

2012 Countdown: Top 10 Dance Songs

And so it begins, the BEST OF 2012, Day 1!

10.) “Turn Up The Music”

Chris Brown

Chris Brown certainly can make us dance, and this is just one more example of how well he can get down! It’s yet another club banger with generic lyrics, but it got us all moving regardless.

9.) “Girl Gone Wild”

Madonna

Madonna’s comeback album may not have been her most memorable or successful as one would hope, but Madge still had a couple great songs. This gay anthem (and video) definitely got our feet moving and made us all feel like bad girls that needed to repent.

8.) “Got Me Good”

Ciara

Poor Ciara just can’t catch a break, but hopefully with this song she can return to prominence as the Princess of Crunk R&B. In the tradition of songs like “That’s Right”, “Work”, and “Gimmie Dat”, she still has all the right moves!

7.) “Die Young”

Ke$ha

So much for Ke$ha coming out with music that was moving away from the generic pop music like she claimed, but I’m not complaining. She still delivered this little gem of pop dance perfection!

6.) “Goin’ In”

Jennifer Lopez, Flo Rida, & Lil’ Jon

My girl J.Lo did it big again in 2012. While most would pick her literal dance song “Dance Again”, I feel like this one has a bit more bang and certainly more of a lasting effect than the other. And of course we’re greeted to yet another Flo Rida verse and random yells from Lil’ Jon.

5.) “Starships”

Nicki Minaj

Here we have Nicki Minaj cashing in on her “Super Bass” success, but this one has a bit more “oomph” to it. It may not be as memorable and quirky as “Super Bass”, but it certainly got us dancing a lot more. Nicki Minaj has a sick flow when it comes to rapping, but it’s in her dance anthems that have more of an impact.

4.) “Wild Ones”

Flo Rida & Sia

Sia just could not be stopped, whether it was appearances on songs like this and David Guetta’s “Titanium”, or writing for Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, or Ne-Yo, she was everywhere and more! Of course no shocker that it’s yet another Flo Rida dance song, but Sia made it extra sweet!

3.) “Put Your Graffiti On Me”

Kat Graham

One of the lesser known songs, but one of the most interesting and fun ones of the year, this Vampire Diaries actress got down and dirty with all of her graffiti talk.

2.) “Locked Out Of Heaven”

Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars certainly has a way with words, but even more he has away with getting us up on our feet. Mixing genres and adding on his signature pop sound, this was yet another up tempo Bruno Mars staple in music this year.

1.) “Where Have You Been”

Rihanna

The queen of dance pop didn’t stop at all with this one. After a year filled with “We Found Love”, she followed up with this memorable number complete with her ACTUALLY dancing in a music video for a change! Well done RiRi!