Monday, February 6, 2012

My Top Songs of 2011: Why Did I Choose Them, Part 3

Released as the lead single from their album Own the Night and co-written by Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, Dallas Davidson, Just a Kiss actually chronicles the beginning of Lady Antebellum band mate Hillary Scott's relationship with her now husband, Chris Tyrrell. The trio says that they wrote this song with ease and it reaffirmed their belief that together they just click. Just a Kiss was not only huge on country charts but on the pop charts as well, and based on this trio's climbing stars, it doesn't appear they are slowing down.

Charts:
#7 US Billboard Hot 100
#1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
#4 US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)
#1 US Country Songs (Billboard)
#21 US Pop Songs (Billboard)

Fave line from the song:

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No, I don't wanna mess this thing up
I don't wanna push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby, I'm alright,



Love on Top off Beyonce's album 4 has all the elements of the ultimate 80s song, the beat, the lyrics, the tempo and key changes. What made the song even more notable is that it's the song she performed on the MTV VMA awards when she announced that she and husband Jay Z were with child. It was the big smile on her face, the sparkle in her eyes, and the sheer happiness in her voice that drew so much interest to the song. Knowles said of her inspiration of the song:

"When I played Etta James it was the most I'd learned about myself until the recording of this album. When I went into the studio I used the same passion, honesty, and approach with my vocals I channeled as Etta James. It does not sound like the vocals on my past albums. It's a lot rawer. It comes from a deep place".

Well said Bey!

Charts:
#20 US Billboard Hot 100
#11 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Fave line in the song:

You're the one that I love.
Baby you're the one that I need.
You're the only one I see.
Baby, baby, it's you.
You're the one that gives your all.
You're the one I always call.
When I need you everything stops.
Finally you put my love on top.



If there's any song that was fully needed in terms of promoting patriotism in our country when we desperately needed it, it was the song Made in America sung by country god Toby Keith. Keith co wrote the song with Bobby Pinson and General Hospital star Scott Reeves. The story goes that Keith started writing the song but almost left it off his album because of the high number of patriotic songs already on the album, but Reeves and Pinson had a conversation which revolved around supporting the country by buying products made in the United States and they brought what they had written to Keith who combined it with what he had, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Charts:
#1 US Country Songs (Billboard)
#40 US Billboard Hot 100

Fave line from the song:

He's got the red, white, and blue flyin' high on the farm
Semper fi tattooed on his left arm
Spends a little more at the store for a tag in the back that says U.S.A.
Won't buy nothin' that he can't fix,
With WD40 and a Craftsman wrench
He ain't prejudice he's just, made in America



Marry the Night is my favorite Lady Gaga song. Gaga explained that the main inspiration behind the song was singer Whitney Houston and also added: "This song is about me going back to New York. I wrote this about the courage it took for me to say 'I hate Hollywood, I just wanna live in Brooklyn and make music'". Her courage to take chances in all facets of her life is inspiring and it's something I can feel when I listen to her music. She's special, and this song is just more evidence of that.

Charts:
#29 US Billboard Hot 100
#27 US Adult Pop Songs
#1 US Hot Dance Club Songs
#14 US Pop Songs

Fave line from the song:

I'm gonna marry the night,
I won't give up on my life,
I'm a warrior queen,
Live passionately, tonight.



I often wonder when I watch the music video for Moment 4 Life by Nicki Minaj and Drake how real the chemistry is that is portrayed between them on screen. The song is clearly a love song, it's about having absolutely everything you want in life, turning your moment into your moment for life. Then it won't just be a moment, it will be forever. Nicki says, "Moment 4 Life : is about 2 kids that grew up on the same block. They shared their dreams of making it as rappers. They laughed together, they cried together. One day they realize that their dreams have come to fruition. Though they know all things come to an end, they celebrate. They wish that they could have this moment 4 Life."

Charts:
#13 US Billboard Hot 100
#1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
#18 US Pop Songs (Billboard)
#1 US Rap Songs (Billboard)

Fave line from the song:

This is my moment
I waited all my
Life, I can tell it's time
Drifting away, I'm
One with the sunsets
I have become alive

I wish that I could have this moment
For life, for life, for life
Cause in this moment I just feel so
Alive, alive, alive




Moves Like Jagger was that song that everyone couldn't help but sing along to in 2011. Fresh off his win on season one of The Voice, Adam Levine enlisted fellow judge Christina Aguilera to collaborate with him and Maroon 5 on the upbeat single. The song was a risk for Maroon 5 who hasn't released a song like that one before, and Levine says it was exciting to do something different. I would even venture to say that it's the best single that has come from either of them in some time now. You could even go as far as saying that these two make beautiful music together.

Charts:
#1 US Billboard Hot 100
#1 US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)
#9 US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
#3 US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)
#8 US Latin Songs (Billboard)
#1 US Pop Songs (Billboard)
#10 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)

Fave line from the song:

I Don't Need To Try To Control You
Look Into My Eyes and I'll Own You
With The Moves Like Jagger
I've Got The Moves Like Jagger
I've Got The Moves Like Jagger



Proving why she was the first ever American Idol, Kelly Clarkson went back to her roots with her first single off her fifth studio album Stronger. Mr. Know it All silenced critics of Clarkson who questioned her vocal abilities and just about everything else (i.e. Clarkson's weight, her almost always single status, which Clarkson targeted in her video for the song). She actually knocked the National Anthem out of the park this past weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in front of an event that draws one of the biggest audiences: The Super Bowl. To boot, Clarkson sang live. If that's not a wow in this business, I don't know what would be. Clarkson described Mr. Know it All as "super sassy", and the message of the song is also great, no one likes to have people in their lives who think they know everything about everything. We all have some of those in our lives.

Charts:
#10 US Billboard Hot 100
#5 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
#1 US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)
#11 US Pop Songs (Billboard)

Fave line from the song:
You ain't got the right to tell me
When and where to go, no right to tell me
Acting like you own me lately
Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me
You don't know a thing about me



2011 was somewhat of a comeback year for Jennifer Lopez, actually it may have been the most successful year of her career. Being a judge on American Idol may have been just the launching point she needed to show her stuff and prove that she's not down and out. On The Floor featuring Puerto Rican rapper Pitbull, who also had a successful year, was Lopez doing what Lopez does best, full out dance music.

Charts:
#3 US Billboard Hot 100
#1 US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
#5 US Pop Songs (Billboard)
#2 US Latin Songs (Billboard)
Spanish version: "Ven a Bailar"
#1 US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)
Spanish version: "Ven a Bailar"

Fave line from the song:

Dance the night away
Live your life, and stay young on the floor
Dance the night way
Grab somebody drink a little more
Lalalalalalalalalalalalalala
Tonight we gon’ be it on the floor



Who cites their musical influences as Tupac, The Black Eyed Peas, James Brown, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, and Led Zepplin? Well it's none other than LMFAO; this electro duo had about as hot a year as you can get. Party Rock Anthem was everywhere, and I mean that, if you haven't heard this song then most likely you spent 2011 under a rock somewhere. It was featured on Glee, So You Think You Can Dance, Gossip Girl, American Dad!, Saturday Night Live, and Parks and Recreation just to drop some names. Not only was Party Rock Anthem a number one single on the Pop Charts but it was the number one single of the year.

Charts:
#1 US Billboard Hot 100
#15 US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)
#2 US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
#79 US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
#6 US Latin Songs (Billboard)
#6 US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)
#1 US Pop Songs (Billboard)
#4 US Rap Songs (Billboard)

Fave line from the song:

Everyday I'm shufflin'
Shufflin', shufflin'



Adele has been anointed this year's Grammy darling no matter what happens, and rightfully so, her album 21 was the biggest selling album of 2011! It's still on the charts today and destined to break more records. When she had to undergo surgery on her vocal chords we all waited with baited breath; I think the world waited with baited breath actually. Grammy night 2012 will be the first night she sings in public since her surgery. More than one person made Rolling in the Deep their personal anthem; I cannot tell you how many cell phone ring tones I heard set to that very song. Rolling in the Deep in also a message to every guy out there who may potentially date Adele, be prepared if you date her, you may end up the subject in a killer break up song.

Charts:
#1 US Billboard Hot 100
#61 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
#1 US Pop Songs (Billboard)
#1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
#1 US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)
#15 US Rock Songs (Billboard)
#14 US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
#16 US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)
#43 US Latin Songs (Billboard)
#21 US Alternative Songs (Billboard)

Fave line from the song:

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling
We could have it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it, to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

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