Lopez Blogs

It's always a bit difficult to subjectively pick your favourite songs of the year. Songs I may have gushed over earlier in the year have had their glow dulled by time; songs I may not be as enthusiastic about in a few months are currently hot stuff for me - so I've put together a list that more or less showcases my favourite songs I listened to this year. So not necessarily released this year (though the majority were) and not necessarily singles, but just what I ended up still really liking as I sit and type this :) Enjoy and let me know your thoughts...

RELAUNCHED SINGLES FROM 2008: Lily Allen's F*** You; Lenka's The Show; Marit Larsen's If A Song COuld Get Me You...

BEST NON SINGLES OF THE YEAR: Deborah Gibson's Already Gone; Scissor Sister's Do The Strand; No Doubt's Stand and Deliver; that choir version of Lily's Chinese...

BEST OF THE REST (in no particular order): Saturdays ~ Just Can't Get Enough; JLS ~ Everybody in Love; Mini Viva ~ I Wish; Sugababes ~ Get Sexy; Miley Cyrus ~ Party in the USA; Cascada ~ Evacuate The Dancefloor; Pussycat Dolls ~ Hush Hush; Kelly Rowland ~ When Love Takes Over; Pet Shop Boys ~ Love, etc; Jason Mraz ~ Try Try Try; Annie Lennox ~ Shining Light; Sound of Arrows ~ M.A.G.I.C; Take That ~ The Garden; Whitney Houston ~ Million Dollar Bill; Mika ~ We Are Golden; BSB ~ Soldier Down; Erik Hassle ~ Hurtful; Leona Lewis ~ Happy; Lady Gaga ~ Bad Romance; Lady Gaga ~ Love Game...

MY NUMBER ONES:

• Simon Curtis/Victoria Justice ~ On The Wings of A Dream (4 weeks)
• Sugababes 3.0 ~ Every Heart Broken (4 weeks)
• Pet Shop Boys ~ Love etc.
• BWO ~ You're Not Alone (4 weeks)
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ Hope and Glory (4 weeks)
• Marina & The Diamonds ~ I Am Not A Robot (2 weeks)
• "Abba" ~ Second Best To None (4 weeks)
• Benny Andersson Band ~ Story Of A Heart (7 weeks)
• Madonna ~ Celebration (2 weeks)
• Mika ~ We Are Golden (3 weeks)
• Robbie Williams ~ Bodies (4 weeks)
• Blake Lewis ~ Heartbreak on Vinyl (2 weeks)
• Darin ~ Viva La Vida (3 weeks)
• Simon Curtis ~ Delusional (2 weeks)
• Pet Shop Boys ~ It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas 2009 (6 weeks)
• Simon Curtis ~ Diablo (1 week)

TOP 30 SONGS OF 2009:

30 ~ James Leon, Purple Heart: Sultry, seductive, a deceptively addictive beat and chorus plus remixes by our very own Worrapolava. What more could one ask for in a rising star?
29~ Alexandra Burke, Bad Boys: Not quite as inventive as Sound of the Underground but a huge step forward for a winners first single proper and even better without the Flo-Rida bit!
28 ~ Mini Viva, I Left My Heart In Tokyo: They went back to the 80s in the best way possible with a Pete Hammond remix, but even in normal guise this was one pop treat to satiate fans during the Girls Aloud year off...
27 ~ Robbie Williams, Bodies: It didn't work for some people because it was a hotch potch of every Robbie single to date but that was exactly why it worked for me - even with his crazy X-Factor eyes!
26 ~ Little Boots, Remedy: Not quite the massive star she was lauded as early in the year, something about Victoria didn't quite click, but she certainly had a way with creating beautiful pop-dance tunes like this one...
25 ~ Jordin Sparks, Battlefield: It caused a near twitter meltdown of excitement when it was first released; six months on, it's a solid enjoyable pop tune that didn't exactly tax Ryan Tedder but is still a belter to listen to.
24 ~ Same Difference, Better Love Me: Sigh, if there had been any justice in the world, this glorious Steps-It's The Way You Make Me Feel homage would have done much better. It's lovely anyway.
23 ~ Same Difference, All Roads Lead To Heaven: Massive pop tune that had this been used as a lead off single, the world might now be appreciating what I already know - Same Difference know pop. Thank God for more from them in 2010...
22 ~ Alphabeat, The Spell: Back to the 90s, back to rave. It was Black Box, C&C Music Factory and faceless dance wrapped up in a charming singalong tune that made the Danish band more appealing than ever...
21 ~ BWO, Right Here Right Now: It may be You're Not Alone that topped my chart for a while, but this classic pop tune lingered longer in mixes and duets that it felt like it was around for half the year without ever overstaying it's welcome...

20 ~ Blake Lewis, Heartbreak On Vinyl: More 80s homage in a year overflowing with 80s homage. However, this tune had glorious lyrics matched to a synthy beat and a passionate charm to the song that made it - and Mr L - a total winner...
19 ~ Will Young, Hopes & Fears: Criminally ignored by the public (was it even released?), at least the album did well. If Annie Lennox were a man, this is what some of her tunes would sound like. Timeless, melody driven pop. Aces.
18 ~ Madonna, Celebration: Not her finest ever moment but a strong entry for Lady Ciccone. Danceable, singalong, feel good, uplifting - it even felt age appropriate for Madonna to be singing it. Ace fan-filled video for it too...
17 ~ JLS, Beat Again: Still the real winners of the X Factor as far as I'm concerned, they have certainly proved it by becoming a massive phenomenon not seen since the early days of Take That. This was sleek, up to date, non-threatening pop at it's best.
16 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, Hope and Glory: Gorgeous to look at, effortless to listen to, Mans is what every country needs in a popstar and while people scoffed that this was Cara Mia 2, who cared? It was utterly brilliant and had a rather groovy keychange. Let's not forget the amazing acoustic version too. Job done.
15 ~ Simon Curtis/Victoria Justice ~ On The Wings of a Dream: The standout entry from the Spectacular! soundtrack, this showed for the first time Simon as an out and out pop singer ably assisted by Victoria. Proof that he is destined to be a major major star someday.
14 ~ Taylor Swift, Love Story: I think the Kanye jokes have been run into the ground, but this really did have quite the charming video, great cutesy lyrics, the best country crossover chorus this side of Shania Twain and a key change on a par with Don't Cry Out Loud. Of course it won me over!
13 ~ Lily Allen, The Fear: She seemed a bit more polished this time round and had as insightful lyrics as ever on this credit crunch anthem to modern life. Lush video and a brilliant chorus added to her bonkersosity made this a massive song all year round. Why didn't Stacey do it on the X Factor?!
12 ~ Sugababes 3.0, Every Heart Broken: When I belatedly fell in love with this tune I had no clue there would be a 4.0... If they ever sing this song, I won't be able to listen because everything about this slick, addictive nugget is nigh on perfect and can't be topped.
11 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, I Am Not A Robot: Wasn't she also a big pick for 2009? Whatever - she's rolled over to 2010 and I'm sure that one day this lovely simplistic minimalistic song will get the kudos and success it deserves. Quite quite amazing.

10 ~ Simon Curtis, Delusional: Kicking off 8-Bit Heart with this song (though I would have plumped for the more audacious Pop Messiah followed by this) was a work of genius. It was free, it was brilliant, it was dancey and it was completely what the blogosphere and twitter-ites needed. Smart boy-pop that matched Gaga step for step. And it was going to get even better...
09 ~ Robbie Williams, You Know Me: As I'm writing this in early December I worry that this song got a bit lost in the Christmas Chart deluge. Shame if it did because it's gentle, it's restrained and it's a bit heartbreaking and it definitely shows that Robbie hasn't lost his knack for creating utter magic.
08 ~ Kelly Clarkson, My Life Would Suck Without You: Yes yes, it may be the most audacious rewrite of a hit song (Since You've Been Gone) ever, but it was also one of the years most instant and grabbing ebulliant hits. Massive from the first note, a soaring chorus, it rampaged along at breakneck speed and was totally enjoyable from start to finish.
07 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer: Floating around for a while in demo format, the freemasons kicked it up a gear and while it didn't quite match the chart heights it should have it was a brilliant slice of ice cool pop. Now if Victoria Little Boots could look as natural and confident as Soph, she might be in a much stronger position now...
06 ~ Darin, Viva La Vida: Take one of the best penned compositions of recent years, add one of Sweden's most likeable pop exports and give it a europop sheen and you've got the recipe for an enormously enjoyable tribute number. It takes the magic of the original number and makes it sparkle a little bit for the dancefloor. Heaven.

05 ~ Pet Shop Boys, It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas 2009: I already loved this song so wasn't sure what a remix could do for it. Make me completely and utterly obsessed with it, that's what. Whether it be the addition of organ laden carol melodies or the dramatic "BING CROSBY" or the melting of cynicism in the chorus, everything about this already theatrical number was more more more. Magnificent. If only for 2 months of the year...
04 ~ Elouise, One Night Only: I've only ever heard it sung by her live but I instantly loved this song and her ballad-to-disco interpretation of the DreamGirls classic. Plus she sang it so well, had brilliant but learnable dance moves and made it my go to saturday night anthem. Big things in 2010, mark my words...
03 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo: Yes it was held off by Pet Shop Boys over Christmas, but I've taken into account my seasonal addictions and completely realise that Diablo is perhaps, nay indeed, one of the greatest pop songs of the year. Wry, funny, catchy, groundbreaking and as instant as instant porridge oats, it is just a massively brilliant, brilliantly massive pop tune from someone who eats sleeps and breathes pop and then channels it all into their music. And you can so tell. Amazing, amazing stuff and quite deservedly the last number one of 2009...
02 ~ "Abba", Second Best to None: I still maintain this would have made a much better X-Factor charity single but what do I know? Whatever, the staff at Hotel Rival took the Benny&Bjorn penned track and made it into their anthem, then shared it with the world. Thank heavens they did - ridiculously catchy, moderately cheesy, an completely amazing promo video to go with it (introducing the world to another doable bar man) and filled with pathos and regret. It was totally Abba and the only thing wrong with it was that Frida and Agnetha weren't singing it. Other than that, I drove my friends mad with it for weeks on end.
01 ~ Benny Andersson Band, Story of a Heart: As if the emergence of Second Best to None wasn't enough, Benny then came back with another track he penned with Bjorn and it was perhaps the most affecting Abba song since Day Before You Came or Winner Takes It All. A glorious melody, a wonderful chorus, a devastating breakdown in the middle eight and then a passion filled plea to take you to the end of the song. I could never and still haven't been able to listen to it just once. Quite quite magic, and would have made an amazing X Factor winners single.

What came to pass...

• Top 25 songs of 2008

Kelly Clarkson Good Morning America Pictures

The pictures of Kelly Clarkson Performs On ABC's "Good Morning America". The Singer Kelly Clarkson performs on ABC's "Good Morning America" held at the Rumsey Playfield, Central Park dated July 31, 2009 in New York City pics photos.

Doing any sort of "best of" list is a bit of a nightmare really. It's objective and subjective! It's hard to set parameters - do I limit it to songs that only got released in 2009 (thereby perhaps missing out on acts that released songs last year, but I didn't discover til recently)? And how have songs stood the test of time - I might have loved them when they were released in January but be more enthusiastic about more recent songs because they are more fresh in my mind?! Good gravy. So ultimately, I've just done it. The top 21 songs that i have enjoyed most in the first half of 2009, regardless of when they were released :) And I guarantee that this will change dramatically by year end - not just because of 6 months worth of new songs, but also because I'll have a new perspective on how songs have stood the test of time throughout the year. So enjoy - and let me know if you agree or are thinking "no Lady Gaga? Are you a mentalloid?"...


TOP 21 SONGS I HAVE ENJOYED MOST IN 2009:

21 = Pussycat Dolls, J'Ai Ho/Hush Hush: Well i'm as bloody surprised as you are as I really don't care for PCD. But J'Ai Ho has the ace Slumdog Millionaire connection and Hush Hush is such a marvy disco epic, that I had to make an exception. Hell must be so cold right now...
20 ~ JLS, Beat Again: I just can't get bored with this song - it becomes more appealing and more-ish with every single listen. It really shouldn't work (using the medical metaphor of being heartbroken with lines like "i need you back in my arms/I need love CPR"!) but the charm of JLS oozes through and totally won me over. Hurrah, etc.
19 ~ The Days, No Ties: Explain to me again why this song wasn't massive? Possibly because it was released early in the year when anyone who listens can tell that actually it is a huge summer anthem just waiting to happen.
18 ~ Julian Velard, Love Again For The First Time: Rollicking piano riffs, witty lyrics and chorus harder to shake than swine flu. Plus I'm a sucker for songs about overcoming heartache and finding love again. He's like a more relevant Billy Joel and with better popstar hair. Ace.
17 ~ Erik Hassle, Hurtful: I suspect that this song will still be hovering around this point or higher by the year end. It's just lyrically poetic and instrumentally enticing. I've tried to hold off playing it too much because I suspect Erik is going to be mammoth by 2010...
16 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Love Etc: What a brillo comeback this turned out to be - and while the masses didn't really come running this song showed that Neil and Chris are just as culturally insightful today as they were 25 years ago. Now lets all chant "don't want to be/a big bucks hollywood star"...
15 ~ Jason Mraz, Try Try Try: I wrote about this already on Sunday. It's the optimism that shines through this melodic gem that makes it a real winner. Plus Jason Mraz really is the best sunshine singer this side of the Magic Numbers.
14 ~ Jordin Sparks, Battlefield: It's Ryan Tedder colour by numbers writing and production, but really the guy does it so well that it doesn't seem to matter. Great lyrics, epic chorus and a belting delivery from Jordin means this will be played long after summer is gone...
13 ~ Same Difference, All Roads Lead To Heaven: Industry have shown that pop can flourish and thrive in the era of 80s synth throwbacks, and this ignored classic from the bro-sis duo's debut album Pop was and is an unheralded Steps-esque pop masterpiece.
12 ~ Simon Curtis/Victoria Justice, On The Wings Of A Dream: Talking of pop masterpieces, what would Simon sound like if he went pure pop for a while? The answer is this great tween sing a long ditty from Spectacular. Simon's vocals have never been more clear showing the boy really can sing :)
11 ~ Elouise, One Night Only: Oh boy am I obsessed with this old song. I could have chosen any one of a number of versions but for me Elouise transports me into the song. Perhaps it's her spot on vocal delivery or her swinging sixties chick dance moves? Or maybe i'm just mesmerised by the glittery dresses she wears each time she performs it. Whatever, it's magic.

10 ~ BWO, You're Not Alone: Another BWO comeback single, another triumph. The group mix some gothic fairytale magic into the song which ultimately makes it perhaps their most ominous yet glorious sounding single to date. Worldwide domination has probably passed them by, but I will never forsake them :)
09 ~ Taylor Swift, Love Story: Even if the rest of the song was absolute crap (and i'm sure some people think that it is!), the key change and doe eyed romanticism of the line "marry me juliet you'll never have to be alone" gets me tingly every single time. Every. Single. Time :*)
08 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, Hope & Glory: There are many reasons why this works. Great hook. Fun production values. Oddly done but appreciated key change. Smooth and enthusiastic vocal delivery. All coming out of one of the most genetically perfect human beings to currently walk the planet. The defense rests...
07 ~ Little Boots, New In Town: It wasn't quite the mammoth debut single I'd hoped for but there was something entirely likeable about Victoria's first single proper. It was just quirky enough to stand out from the crowd and perhaps i liked it most because, like me, LB tried to cram far too many words (into the chorus) when fewer would have sufficed. I'm wordy. What can I say?!
06 ~ Lily Allen, The Fear: Lily transcends from perhaps one off album wonder to proper pop star with her lushly produced song about how life can be a bit crushing at times. Genius video with it to boot, and perhaps the most prophetic credit crunch lyrics this side of Shania's Ka-ching. Definitely a big "F*** You" very very much to the doubters :P
05 ~ Kelly Clarkson, My Life Would Suck Without You: It's just blooming euphoric pop genius. It may be Since You've Been Gone 2.0 but when you've got a chorus this giving and a vocal that powerful these trifling little matters seem not to make a jot of difference to the fun factor contained within :)
04 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, I Am Not A Robot: There's a delicate vulnerability about this pretty, ethereal, floating jewel of a tune that I am addicted to. It's been quite the year for robots in pop, and this is by far my favourite contribution. A bit out there, slightly bonkers and utterly utterly brilliant.
03 ~ Sugababes, Every Heart Broken: I often sit and ponder why this excellent tune was not a single. It's based around the most simple of melodies and the most simple of metaphors (one that works better than JLS, although theirs is more endearing). Definitely not the sort of song I could listen to just once and evidence that the 'babes still have it in them to create brilliant pop tunes 6 albums into their career.
02 ~ Benny Andersson Band, Story Of A Heart: Abba remain one of my most beloved pop acts of all time. I have yet to tire of their music. This is as close to a new Abba song as I will probably get. Exquisite lyrics, gorgeous arrangements, beautifully sung and ultimately a little bit devastating. The only minor thing wrong with it is that it isn't the lovely ladies singing. If I don't see them live on Saturday in London then I am an entire disgrace unto myself :(
01 ~ Hotel Rival, Second Best To None: It's not really a pop song per se, but one can see how it really could be. As it is written by the boys of Abba, it has brilliantly catchy chorus, bonkers lyrics and quite a nice love them within the verses. Production is probably about 20 years ago in sound but it's just all too charming and totally designed for me to fall in love with it. Adore the video too, especially the love affair between the only-looks-good-between-my-thighs sexy barman, the slutty blonde and the eye brow raising dwarf. I would die to see what someone like BWO, Industry or Simon Curtis would do to this song :)

JONAS BONUS MENTIONS:

Best "by the numbers" ballads (but beautifully executed): The Saturdays - Issues; Alesha Dixon - Breathe Slow

Best non-album comeback cover versions: No Doubt - Stand & Deliver; Scissor Sisters - Do The Strand; The Feeling - This Is Love; Taio Cruz - Everybody's Changing

Best squandered opportunity: The Saturdays - Just Can't Get Enough (It was totally fun and did it's job, but if it was all as brillo as the harmonised moment at 2m16 on this video, then it would have a lesson in astonishingosity)

Best old songs resurfacing: Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer (SEB now with Freemasons from last June); The Show (Lenka from last June now slowly breaking the UK); F*** You (Lily Allen's demo from last June is now a European single and still delightful); Single Ladies (Beyonce tune that I didn't like last year but now love).

See you Thurs for the July Fizzypop Chronicles kicking off the second half of the year.

Well slap my ass and call me nancy! While the world and his wife are revelling/reviling the new Kelly Clarkson single (more on that in a mo), thanks to AaronFabtastic and Auspop, I am lusting after and bopping along to a new song by one half of the bodyrockers, Kaz James. Entitled Can't Hold Back, it's a rather scintillating slice of pop-meets-dance-meets-funk-meets-disco that even threatens to revitalise the career of helium voiced has-been Macy Gray. Apparently it's the third single from his debut album, so I'm way behind, but I'm loving it anyway. Any song that has the words "man whore" in there is okie dokie with me. Plus the video is ever so much bonkers and highly entertaining to watch. Plus kaz! Well what a fine slice of a man he is too. I shall be hunting down his debut album very shortly...

Other pop news:

• Kelly Clarkson is doing the blog and radio rounds with her feisty new single My Life Would Suck Without You and it's good, but not great. What it does is remind everyone what great pop songs Kelly Clarkson can put out when she's not being all pissy about life. It's got a great chorus, punchy vocals and a decent energy about it. The downside of this is that not only has Kelly done this exact same song before (Since U Been Gone), but more recently Evil Skank Who Must Not Be Named has been hot and cold with a similar track, while Pink has made the sound her own. I like it, but am somewhat disappointed on first impressions...
• Sir Pop of the Justice has already raved about the available-only-on-7" (and no i don't mean what's down my pants) Girls Aloud b-side Memory Of You. It's very wonderful in the extreme. It's quite trance in a drunk in Ibiza sort of way (or if you are common, drunk if Magaluf) and does indeed have a chorus to make your heart soar. I'm really warming to lovely Kimberley too...
• Oh I am very excited about the new Warchild album, which is out on Spectacular day (also known as 16th February 2009). It's lots of famous popstars doing cover versions, which can be a bit cack really, but I am hopeful - Lily Allen is doing Straight To Hell (The Clash) while a newly slimmed down Scissters are attempting to Do The Strand (Roxy Music). Even increasingly annoying Duffy (attempting Live and Let Die) and mouthy Estelle (Superstitious) efforts sound intruiging. Plus! XO - Rufus is doing a cover too. And how divine does Franz Ferdinand doing Call Me sound?!
• Oh my days. I am really falling in love with The Saturdays album. I liked it on first listen, but now I'm becoming a little obsessed with it. Next single Work is fantastic, and I am starting to feel that Up is a far superior single to the nation's current chart topper. I do get there people, it just sometimes takes me a little while :)
• I'm way behind in doing some thoughts on new albums that have come out that i'm currently enjoying including Darin, Danny, Franz Ferdinand and the amazing if slightly (and only ever so slightly) generic Neo. I'm sure I will get around to it at some point, but if I forget, well, they are all very good indeed. I'm also appreciating The Alesha Show and very belatedly am enjoying the XO version of the Coldplay album. See! Still cutting edge :)
• Talking of XO, he did a rather oracular spectacular write up about the nature of blogging. Whether you agree or not, you can always guarantee that XO's Middle 8 is beautifully written, vividly expressive and wonderfully entertaining. I am in constant awe of his levels of genius :)
• William Young and Same Difference have both flipflopped with their choice of singles. While I was hoping William would go for something more upbeat (such as I Won't Give Up) whereas instead he is releasing the admittedly very beautiful Let It Go. It will be his last ever cd single apparently with a limited run of 5000. I'm not sure this will restore his chart fortunes, but it is an enduring and timeless track. Same Difference on the other hand (I can hear people cringing now that I have mentioned these acts in the same paragraph!) have bagged the idea of the Scisster-esque If You Can't Dance for their 80s Kylie meets September version of Turn It Into Love. Me, I'm just happy they haven't been canned yet!
• Finally, i warn you all that while I am very excited about new music from the Pet Shop Boys, St Etienne, Simon Curtis and Lily Allen, I do have a massive post planned to celebrate the release of the new Erasure hits collection. Will i love them forever? Always...