Top 112 Songs of 2012 - #80 - 71

Santigold!

#112 - 101

#100 - 91

#90 - 81

#80. I Know You Care

by Ellie Goulding

You were like home to me,

I don't recognise the street. 

There’s something hauntingly beautiful about this song. Feels like the perfect song to play when I’m having a sad single moment. (Katie Langley)


Knowing they care, but admitting that it's all come to an end. This is deep stuff for someone so young. Ellie Goulding's second LP, Halcyon was full of dub-infused pop anthems and this one, simple piano driven ballad. It completely changed my perception of the album and stands as one of the greatest songs of the year. A fine piece of songwriting and a showcase for Goulding's sweet voice. (Matt Bond) 

Oh, Ellie Goulding, you’ve got to stop it, please. As if the intensity of the track wasn’t enough, the lyrics so tear-jerking “two lovers loved out of love….I know you care, it’s always been there” delivered so passionately, then you pair it with one of the most heart-wrenching clips of the year. This is too good, this is too much. Ellie, you should have released this one with a packet of tissues. Too good, too much. (Jo Michelmore)

#79. Next To Me

by Emeli Sande

You won't find him trying to chase the devil...

It seems a lifetime ago I first heard this song, even though it was only at the start of the year. It was so refreshing to hear a song about love that wasn’t pathetic, that wasn’t heart breaking, that wasn’t all booty shaking and grinding. Emile Sande proved that sometimes (read: often) sexy is a little more subtle, sometimes it’s a simple tune, a good drummer and a foot stomping piano tune.  (Jo Michelmore) 


Talent and beauty vs skankiness and fourteen layers of MAC cosmetics? Talent and beauty win every time and Emelie Sande has both in spades. Saying that makes me feel like I'm sixty years old. Sande makes music for grown ups. Expect to hear so much more from her in the years to come. (Matt Bond)   

 

#78. What Makes A Good Man?

by The Heavy

Ain't nothing wrong with this chemistry,

Ain't nothing wrong with this blasphemy. 

What makes a good man? A beard, that’s what! Holy shit this song is amazing. How have I not heard this before? The vocals have just the right amount of gruff. The back-up singers are fantastic. The Heavy, I need to hear more. And please ignore the beard comment. You do OK without. (Katie Langley) 


Kelvin Swaby was easily the coolest, slickest male rock vocalist in 2012. Listen to 'What Makes A Good Man.' The man is the coolest of the cool, capturing a sort of magic in his bluesy growl that Jack White secretly wishes he could master. Nothing against Mr. White, he's had an amazing year. But there's no cooler dudes than Swaby and The Heavy. It's been a big year for the call and response chorus and this song right here has one of the best. (Matt Bond)  


My love of retro soul inspired sounds is no secret. My love of guitar based rock is no secret. My love of gospel choirs is no secret. My love of blues is no secret. My love of awesome lyrics and catchy tunes is no secret. Therefore, my love of The Heavy should be no secret. I love them. I love this song. It’s no secret. (Jo Michelmore)

Top 20 - 26 February, 2012



Sleigh Bells!



1. Sleigh Bells - Comeback Kid





2. M.I.A - Bad Girls





3. Brandi Carlile - Keep Your Heart Young (NEW)





4. Santigold - Disparate Youth (NEW)





5. He's My Brother, She's My Sister - Can't See The Stars

2012 Preview - New Year, New Music

Happy New Year!!! We're only one day into 2012, but I'm confident in saying that this year is going to be full of fantastic new music from some of our favourite superstars. Everyone's going to have to bring their A-game if they plan on making us forget about how brilliant 2011 was, but when you look at the roster assembled below you'll see a group of artists that only know how to deliver the goods. We've also got two exciting debuts from Lana Del Rey and Emeli Sande to be released in January and February, so 2012 is off to a banging start! Who are we definitely going to hear albums from this year? Who might we hear new music from? Who do I want to hear new music from? Find out below!

Albums We Will Hear in 2012:



Born To Die

by Lana Del Rey (Release date: 31/1/12)

Lana Del Rey is getting in early, releasing her debut album at the end of this month. Can she live up to the ridiculous levels of hype that she's garnered through tracks like 'Video Games' and 'Born to Die?' We'll find out soon enough.

2011 Scene Awards - Best New Artist



Lana Del Rey, now in technicolour!


2011 was a pretty tough year to 'break it big' in the music industry. It seemed like everyone and I mean everyone was releasing an album this year. Well, Madonna didn't. Neither did Missy Elliott. Fine... not everyone then, but you know what I mean. New acts were competing with industry heavyweights, some of which were coming out with the best music we've ever heard from them. Due to their innovative sounds, the ten acts below emerged in 2011 and impressed us with their ability to draw attention away from their established contemporaries. These acts are your nominees for Best New Artist of 2011. Let's meet them!

Ball Park Music

Clare Maguire

 

Top 111 Songs of 2011, #90 - 81



Will Dr. Dre ever release Detox?



As you'll notice is now tradition, before we get to our next ten songs you have the pleasure of perusing the tracks that have charted on the countdown so far;


111. Clare Maguire - Ain't Nobody
110. Ball Park Music - It's Nice To Be Alive
109. The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness
108. Coldplay ft. Rihanna - Princess of China
107. Coldplay - Paradise
106. Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull - On The Floor
105. Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks
104. Professor Green ft. Emeli Sande - Read All About It
103. Cage the Elephant - Around My Head
102. Warpaint - Warpaint
101. Adele - Rumour Has It
100. Beirut - East Harlem
99. Ida Maria - Cherry Red
98. Digitalism - 2 Hearts
97. Washington - High Treason
96. Ben Lee - Get Used To It
95. Oh Land - Sun Of A Gun
94. Wolfram ft. Hercules and Love Affair - Fireworks
93. David Guetta ft. Sia - Titanium
92. Kimbra - Old Flame
91. Little Dragon Nightlight

#90 - How Deep Is Your Love

by The Rapture





Give me what I need to live,
Help me come to you.

#89 - Santa Fe

by Beirut

And whatever comes through the door,

I'll see it face to face, all by your place.

Beirut becomes the first act to land two tracks on the countdown with 'Santa Fe.' It comes complete with one of the weirdest videos I've seen all year, but we won't hold that against them. The song's so good, you forget you're even watching the video!

Song of the Day - Heaven

Emeli Sande - Heaven





Her posters are all over London at the moment, calling debut single 'Heaven' breathtaking, brilliant, bombastic and other words that start with 'b.' So I thought I'd see what all the fuss surrounding Emelie Sande was about. Turns out her real name is Adele. Awkward. The main thing I learned is that all the supposed hype isn't really hype. It's deserved acclaim for what really is a pretty much amazing debut. Listen and love.


Rating: 4/5