This is the song I wanted from Sting when he left the Police.
Its like that scene from Purple Rain when Prince found his dad's musicIn my head, Goyte came across a demo of an album scrapped before “Dreams of the Blue Turtle”at a flea market and Goyte finished it. OK that's a fantasy, but Goyte's Sting-like vocals on “Somebody” is undeniable.
However, what makes the song special is the he-said-she said tale crafted by Goyte and Kimbra (who should have gotten more love for her debut album).
Not since R. Kelly and Sparkle's “Be Careful” do I want to hear more about a relationship gone bad. (Plus the video is a true throwback, where videos were art, not just for commerce).
2.) Too Close-Alex Clare
As soon as the Internet Explorer commercial appeared with dub steppish-“Too Close”, the song was an immediate hit. But like his Brit counterparts Adele and Amy Winwhouse before him, if you take away the song's woozy-ing beat, Alex Clare's lyrics were just as impactful as he breaks up with someone who loves him than he loves them:
“You know I'm not one to break promises/ I don't want to hurt you but I need to breathe/ At the end of it all, you're still my best friend/ But there's something inside that I need to release /Which way is right, which way is wrong/ How do I say that I need to move on/ You know we're headed separate ways /And it feels like I am just too close to love you”
They don't songs like this anymore in the U.S.kids, only in the U.K. Feel So Good
3.) Feel So Good-Calvin Harris
“Feel So Good” is just one of those songs that makes you feel good when you hear it. No deep analysis, the song just makes me want to hit the club and dance!
4.) Toyota Prius Commercial- Raphael Saadiq
Like Alex Clare's “Too Close”, usually when a song is used for a commercial, the song is out, was out or soon to be out. None of this is the case with Saadiq's soulful track for the Toyota Prius. While there is no word if Saadiq will ever release the track, this grooving retro-soul track is already one of best commercial songs of all-time.
5.) Pop That- French Montana feat. Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne
I can't recite any lines from the song, not one and I don't care!
“Pop That”is all about the hook supplied by the sample of Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell yelling “Don't Stop” from the 90's classic track “"I Wanna Rock.” The video itself is even an ode to Uncle Luke's former group 2 Live Crew where scantily ladies dance to Luke's energetic chanting.
However except for a shout by his fellow Florida brother Rick Ross, Uncle Luke has yet to be compensated for the sample by French Montana or his label Bad Boy Records.
Puffy, you know better....That's Uncle Luke!
6.) Burn it Down-Linkin Park
“Burn it Down” reminds me of two things: NBA Ppayoff basketball on TNT and me trying blowing out my vocals to yet another Linkin Park classic.
7.) I Do-Young Jeezy, Jay-Z, Andre 3000 (Remix)
I remember people saying that they didn't understand Andre's 3000 lyrics on “I Do.”
Who cares...Its 3 stacks!
All jokes aside, the Jeezy's return to radio was soulful ode to love and this might be closet we're going to get in hearing Jay-Z pronouce his love for Beyonce:
“Your secret's I treasure/ for better or worse/ You'll always be my first love/ til death do us part/ Pull a hearse up, my verse up.”
8.) Calling You-Celine Dion
I know this song came out in the 90's, but I was knee deep in Death Row/Bad Boy Records back then and the first time I heard this gut wrenching track was on this past season of “So You Think You Can Dance!”
Even if you don't like dance shows (even though SYTYCD is best competition shows on TV), you will hear great old songs like Dion's or new music by acts like District 78, for whom I'm a big fan since hearing their music on Fox series.
(Tip: As great Celine Dion's “Calling You” is, check out Jeff Buckely's bluesy version and Lara Fabian's pitch perfect rendition, which is equally as touching and soul stirring as Celine Dion's...I still don't understand why Fabian never became a big star in the. U.S).
9.) Locked Out of Heaven-Bruno Mars
Of a generation that has given us Justin Beiber and Chris Brown, Bruno Mars is the best of the bunch and this is not by deafault either. Mars and his stellar writing/producing crew do not follow trends or what's make what's hot, they make music with feeling and soul. “Heaven” follows this musical blueprint as Bruno cleverly talks about sex without being overt as co-producer Mark Ronson slyly adds guitar licks that would make Sting's former band “The Police” proud!
10.) Think About You-Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean delivered something that is lost in most R&B slow songs today: Love. “Think About You” with its abstract lyrics is quite reminiscent of Andre 3000's “Love Below”days and it is a type of song that people might actually use for millennial weddings (if they haven't already).
The question now is are Frank Ocean's new fans really fans of his music or his beliefs on personal love?
11.) Delta Rae-Bottom of the River
This song blew my mind when I heard it on VH1 this past fall. Where “Bottom of the River” could easily could be part of the “Dajango Unchained” soundtrack; with its chains, drums and gospel vocals, "Bottom" feels like a chugging train of soul as it paints a mental picture of freed slaves painstakingly building those tracks.
12.) Swimming Pools-Kendrick Lamar
I don't drink or smoke, but my ears were quite intoxicated listening to “Drank”s woozy beats and Lamar's rapid flowing rhyming skills.
While 2Chainz received the most of the musical pub in 2012, Lamar will be one we will still be talking about when the next Presidential election roles around in 2016.
Born in 1987, Kendrick Lamar is true West Coast Hip Hop Masters class student as he can easily go from a the E-40's flow from the Bay to the real life lyrical pictures of Ice Cube to writing songs on relationships that could have fit on an album by the Pharcyde.
Kendrick Lamar is the clearly the present and future of west coast Hip Hop.
No wonder Dr. Dre signed him.
13.) Where Have You Been-Rihanna
Like Usher, Rihanna is one of those artists who has way more hits than you think. The thumping “Where Have You Been” adds her manic pace of releasing stellar list of Eruo-dance hits, but it's time for Ri-Ri to take a long deserved break, right?
14.) Mercy- Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T , 2 Chainz
This slow car moving, 808 feeling track was one the standout songs of the summer of 2012.
A song primed for Dre Beats, headphones, “Mercy” kicks into high gear when the slow grooving beat stops and switches to the theme of “Scarface” where as Mr. West turns “Mercy” into a sweaty Miami beach club track.Although I was hoping to hear a full remix using the “Scarface” theme, “Mercy”is still one of the best posse cuts of the 21st century.
15.) Daughters- Nas
A lot of rap is about money and getting girls, which is fine but its alo great to somethihg adult as well.
Nas' “Daughter” is an open letter to his own daughter, where he apologizes for not being responsible as young father as well talks of hiss fears most fathers goes through when their daughters begins dating.
"Daughters" is a touching and realistic rap song, which should be more the norm than the exception.
16.) Let's Go -Calvin Harris and Ne-Yo
“Let's Go” is more than dance song and another hit for Calvin Harris and Ne-Yo , but its also quite inspirational:
“It’s not about what you’ve done/It’s about what you doing/ It’s all about where you going/No matter where you’ve been/ Let’s go!”
Wise words indeed.
17.) Clique-Big Sean, Jay-Z, Kanye West
Kayne West's took a backseat to his relationship with Kim Kardashian and the “Watch The Throne” tour most of the year, but the few songs he released this year, ended up being classics like before mentioned “Mercy” and “ Clique” with G.O.O.D Music's Big Sean and Ye's mentor and touring partner Jay-Z .
18.) Same Time-Future
At the beginning of the summer, I really didn't want to like this song. By the time Labor Day rolled around, I was saying “..At the same D@mn time” in my sleep!
19.) Usher-Climax
Usher took unwarranted flack from his R&B fan base when he made an album leaning more towards dance music, but Usher and producer Diplo created shimmering R&B gold.
While Usher's protege Justin Bieber receives more headlines, Mr. Raymond has created a catalog of music that the Beibs may never be able to reach.
20.) I Will Wait-Mumford and Sons
I really to buy fiddle and jug and start doing some down home music!
21.) Turn Me On a– David Guetta and Nicki Minaj
Before David Guetta dropped his latest album, he said Nicki Minaj will deliever a performance you never heard before.
I scoffed. He was right.
I heard “Turn Me On” for weeks and I had no idea Minaj was the female lead on the song. Sometimes I wish that Minaj would focus on her talent like on Guetta track and less of the crazy outfits and weird faces that seems to cloud her potential.
22.) Take A Walk-Pasion Pit
23.) Ass Back Home-Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes continued their comeback success with this charging dance track with Neon Hitch.
However, the best Gym Class moment of 2012 came when leader Travie McCoy revealed on “Behind The Music” that Katy Perry broke up with him via an email.
This gives a new take on the phrase “You Got Mail”...ouch!
24.) Broken Hearted- Karma
The real-life couple were not able match the success of their YouTube covers, but “Broken Hearted” with a mixture of 80's pop with Nicki Minaj-like rhymes was an engaging and fun debut in the spring.
25.) Amen-Meek Mill & Drake
When this infectious song came out, people kept saying that was Amen's hook was a gospel, when in fact it feels more like the Doobie Brother's “Minute By Minute”.
26.) Ne-Yo-Love You
Ne-Yo continues his dance music comeback with this infectious song of love and devotion.
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A song that like a House song of the late 80's/early 90's Take Care was probably one of the most underrated pop songs next to Usher's "Climax".
28.) Bruce Springsteen-We Take Care of Our Own
Before President Obama used this track for his presidential campaign, Springsteen was garnering praise for this hard charging tune of helping one and other. Yet another triumphant song for a consistent rock legend.
29.) Glee-How Will I Know
In early 2012, Whitney Houston passed away. Glee decided to pay homage for the fallen diva with an acapelle version of "How Will I Know."
The amazing thing about "How"is that when you stripped of its 80's dance pop sound, the song is basically about a young girl wanting to fall in love:
"This love is strong why do I feel weak Oh, wake me, I'm shaking, I wish I had you near me now Said there's no mistaking, what I feel is really love.
Where today, Brandy is saying "If you put it down right like the way I want it Play your cards right, maybe we can fall in love" all Whitney Houston wanted to do know what it was like to fall in love.
30/31 Psy-Gangnam Style/Cary Rae Jepson-Call Me Maybe
Hey man, I like dopey, catchy pop songs too. Don't judge me!
Bonus: Favorite Album Alabama Shakes-”Boys and Girls”
This album probably won't any major awards, but this classic R&;B sounding album is just as soulful as Adele's “21” as The Alabama Shakes takes you on a journey from 2012 to Memphis in the early 70's.
What's your favorite song or album of the past year?
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