The Top 50 Songs Of 2007 & Some Other Random Stuff D&D W/O
Jan 10 '08
The Bottom Line I don't need a bottom line here. The editorial itself says everything I need to say.
So here we are again. To be honest, finding a way to intro this thing every year is turning into the hardest part of writing the editorial. Let’s face it, the title pretty much speaks for itself. This is what I think of music throughout the last twelve months or so. However, as always I’d like to remind you that here in New Zealand we don’t always get music at the same time as the rest of the world, so if you see a song on any of the following lists and think "hang on a sec, that was last year!", that’ll be why. It might be a 2006 song everywhere else, but it’s a 2007 song here.
But before I crack into the top 50, I’d like to make special mention of a song that didn’t quite make it. When I was culling this list down from 70 songs to 50, I managed to get it down to 51 before I had to recruit help. I gave a friend two songs, and told her to choose between them. Whichever she chose would be number 50, the other one wouldn’t make the list. So, Silverchair, sorry, but If You Keep Losing Sleep just didn’t quite make it. Still, to have even been considered should be an honour since I’ve never found any of your other songs anything more than mediocre.
Enough about that. Let’s get on with it. I’m going to start this year with 49 of the 50 best songs of the year. Why just 49? You’ll have to keep reading to find out.
#50
Artist The Pussycat Dolls (Featuring Timbaland)
Song Wait A Minute
Album PCD
This was the other song I told my friend to choose between. Her reasoning was: "because of the beat factor, and at least it’s a little humourous". Read into that what you will, but I like the song because I think The Pussycat Dolls work best when they team up with a rapper. Granted, I’ve heard nothing from them outside of the six singles, but at least when they’re working with someone their songs have some sense of substance to them.
#49
Artist The White Stripes
Song Icky Thump
Album Icky Thump
When this was first played on my radio station (meaning the station I listen to), we as listeners were warned that it was a little weird and different. I was glad to hear it. It wouldn’t be The White Stripes if it wasn’t. I’ve only really known about these guys since Seven Nation Army, but I’ve never found them particularly consistent. I liked the singles from Elephant, but aside from My Doorbell, I didn’t like what I heard from Get Behind Me Satan. Their latest single Conquest is just too weird and different, but I love Icky Thump. No idea why.
#48
Artist 48 May
Song Big Shock
Album Streetlights & Shadows
With the release of their second album, 48 May have proven they’re one of New Zealand’s best pop-rock bands. While some of the experimentation on the album doesn’t quite work for them, Big Shock shows that when you do what you know and what you’re good at, the results can be the best you’ll ever achieve.
#47
Artist Lily Allen
Song Littlest Things
Album Alright, Still
This seems as good of a place as any to say this: This countdown is pretty much dominated by solo female artists. There’s quite a few of them out there at the moment, and musically, Lily is one of the best. That said, Littlest Things is a bit toned down compared to the rest of her album. It’s a little lacklustre – hence it’s low placing here – but she still pulls it off with that amazing voice.
#46
Artist Gym Class Heroes
Song Clothes Off!
Album As Cruel As School Children
Hip Hop is probably my least favourite genre at the moment, I guess due mainly to the fact that people who actually rap are getting sod-all airplay in favour of people like Chris Brown, T-Pain, Flo Rida, Hurricane Chris etc. Which is why I’m so glad I found Gym Class Heroes. Listening to their albums, it’s clear Travis is one of the best rappers out there at the moment. He lays down the verses here while the rest of the group make their own contributions and make a great party song.
#45
Artist Annabel Fay
Song Strong
Album Annabel Fay
I’ve got more planned on this topic in a later editorial, but I’m just going to say here that Heroes is my favourite new TV show of 2007. What with having the first season screen early in the year, then get the DVD treatment in September, I wasn’t expecting the second season to hit our screens until around February 2008. But when TV3 started promoting it a couple of months ago, it’s fair to say I got rather excited. But behind that excitement was the question of what was that amazing song on the ad? New Zealand’s own Annabel Fay? Damn right.
#44
Artist Red Hot Chili Peppers
Song Hump de Bump
Album Stadium Arcadium
Stadium Arcadium was the most disappointing album of 2006, and in my review (which may never see the light of day), I wrote that you know you’re in trouble when one of your best songs is called Hump de Bump. While a lot of the album seems to lack the funk the Chilis are known for, Hump de Bump is three and a half minutes full of it.
#43
Artist The Mint Chicks
Song Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!
Album Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!
As I mentioned last year, putting this list together is a full year task. Every so often, I’ll not only put a song in the DC category, but I’ll stick a note beside it in case come year end, I’ve forgotten why I loved the song. This is especially useful if it’s not a song that got a lot of airplay or even a CD single release, as was the case here. Unfortunately, this appears to be the only song I left myself such a note for, but it said: "The best drumming I’ve heard since blink-182 disbanded.". For a New Zealand band only just starting to get noticed, that’s pretty high praise.
#42
Artist Joss Stone (Featuring Common)
Song Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now
Album Introducing Joss Stone
I should probably admit to a little bit of bias when ranking the songs this year, as I’d seen Joss in concert only a week or two beforehand. When I first heard this album, it struck me as being a whole lot better than her previous effort, but still not quite the brilliance I was sure someone with a voice as powerful as hers was capable of. However, since the concert, I’ve found a new appreciation for the album, and a great verse from Common certainly helps make this one of my favourite tracks from it.
#41
Artist Good Charlotte
Song Misery
Album Good Morning Revival
When Good Charlotte released their last album, I was pretty disappointed with it. Sure, it held a few gems, but overall, I knew they could do so much better. They’d done so much better with previous album The Young & The Hopeless. So I was glad to see it was quite a while before this record came out. And when it did, it was clear they’d spent all that time reinventing themselves. The result is a much more polished record and sound, and although it doesn’t sound like the Good Charlotte of old, that’s turned out to be a very good thing. Misery isn’t the best single from the album, but it’s a great indicator of the kind of music on there and there’s clearly influences in the song from the way they used to sound.
#40
Artist The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Song Face Down
Album Don’t You Fake It
When it comes to releasing your debut single, you’ve gotta make yourself stand out from the pack. If the music you’re putting out sounds like the music everyone else is putting out, you’re not going to get noticed. Still, to make your debut single a message about domestic violence, that takes some pretty big cojones. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus did it, and I just hope the women who are victims of this are listening, because the message here is that it’s ok to leave the losers who are doing this to you.
#39
Artist Thirty Seconds To Mars
Song From Yesterday
Album A Beautiful Lie
Did I miss the movie role that shot Jared Leto to such fame? Because the only thing I ever remember seeing him in was Alexander, where he played the gay love interest for Colin Farrell, and that movie was widely panned. Yet somehow, Thirty Seconds To Mars seemed to come to fame because Leto is the lead singer. Still he does a fantastic job. Not only this song, but the whole album has a very ‘epic’ feel to it.
#38
Artist Stefy
Song Hey School Boy
Album The Orange Album
What exactly happened here? Stefy is an amazing singer, and very beautiful as well, and here we’ve got a band making genuinely good pop music, and they fall off the face of the earth after only two singles? Mainstream radio audiences clearly don’t know good music when they hear it. Hey School Boy is one of my favourites off the album, and deserved a lot more airplay than it got. This is the kind of music where you can clearly understand the lyrics, and actually makes good use of synthesizers.
#37
Artist My Chemical Romance
Song Mama
Album The Black Parade
The Black Parade is easily one of my favourite albums of 2006. Whereas MCR’s previous effort, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, had a couple of big hits and the rest of the album pretty much sounded the same, The Black Parade saw the band striving to be different on damn near every song, and succeeding for the most part. Mama is just one of the songs on there that doesn’t start out sounding like a MCR song. It doesn’t even really sound like rock to start with, but then they pick up the pace, power through the song and it’s just amazing.
#36
Artist Kelly Clarkson
Song Don’t Waste Your Time
Album My December
Of all the artists who made returns in 2007, none excited me the way Kelly Clarkson did. Of course, that has turned into utter confusion (both One Minute and Sober would be on this list if I could find any proof they were actually released here in New Zealand, if at all), but I really perked up when I heard on the radio they were going to play a new Kelly Clarkson song. She’s one of those artists who just makes me sit up and pay attention, and normally start singing along halfway through, even if it’s the first time I’ve heard the song. Case in point: Don’t Waste Your Time. Good stuff.
#35
Artist Lostprophets
Song 4:AM Forever
Album Liberation Transmission
This is going to be another example of a song that might not have been a huge hit, but if I love it and it’s a single, that puts it in good placing to get on this list. Not only that, but 4:AM Forever is one of only two ballads on an otherwise thoroughly rock album, and I think a song called Always All Ways (Apologies, Glances, & Messed-Up Chances) could have caused a few radio announcers to get slightly confused and tongue-tied. They wouldn’t even bother with anything in brackets.
#34
Artist Groove Armada (Featuring Mutya Buena)
Song Song 4 Mutya
Album Soundboy Rock
I do not in any way consider myself a Groove Armada fan. I’m simply not into the electronica / house / dance genre. I am, however, a Sugababes fan, and have been a general pop fan for too many years to count. So when a song came out from a dance band but featuring a Sugababe, I didn’t really know what to think of it. However, Mutya’s appearance in it made me give it more of a chance than I probably normally would have, and it’s certainly grown on me.
#33
Artist Foo Fighters
Song The Pretender
Album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
I’ve been reading a few year-end lists lately, and it seems there’s not really a lot left to say about this song. Big, loud, anthematic, power hooks – it’s traditional Foo Fighters at their best.
#32
Artist The Fratellis
Song Flathead
Album Costello Music
The Fratellis’ album sounds like it was written / recorded at a party, or while in party mood, or something. It’s just sheer fun from beginning to end. Flathead is a great example of them forging their own identity. If they tried to sound a bit more serious, they’d be Red Hot Chili Peppers in Californication / By The Way mode, if they put a bit more power into the hooks they’d sound a bit like Foo Fighters, but instead they’ve gone and done it all their own way and it works so much better for them.
#31
Artist Linkin Park
Song What I’ve Done
Album Minutes To Midnight
This is a pretty important song / placing on this list. Making the top 50 shows how much I love this as a sheer rock song, but the fact it didn’t even break the top 30 shows something is a little wrong, and it’s the same thing wrong with the majority of the album – it’s a little hard to swallow as a Linkin Park record without a bit more rapping from Mike Shinoda. Still, as far as a Linkin Park rock song goes (as opposed to a rock-rap song), What I’ve Done is far better than the majority of the rock songs on the album, and is up there with some of the best rock songs of the year.
#30
Artist P!nk
Song ‘Cuz I Can
Album I’m Not Dead
There are certain reasons not to like this song. The word "teefs" for example, and the concept of having diamonds all over them. The fact that the whole thing is just a little bit egotistical. The fact she barks part of the third verse. But damned if it isn’t all bloody funny and guaranteed to make you sing along. There’s really nothing wrong with a bit of self-confidence at times, and if anyone can pull off taking it completely over the top, it’s P!nk.
#29
Artist Paramore
Song Misery Business
Album Riot!
There were rumours these guys were going to come to New Zealand late in 2007 as the opening act for Fall Out Boy. I don’t believe anything ever came of these rumours, and I’d actually be somewhat disappointed if they had. Why? Because Fall Out Boy should be opening for Paramore, not the other way around! One listen to Misery Business shows they’ve got talent in leaps and bounds, and if they were to replace Fall Out Boy on the radio, I for one would have no complaints whatsoever.
#28
Artist Matchbox Twenty
Song How Far We’ve Come
Album Exile On Mainstream
As far as Matchbox Twenty goes, it’s not how far they’ve come that concerns me, it’s where they’re going next. It’s been about four years since we got any new material from them. Since then, lead singer Rob Thomas has put out a solo album, and after not hearing anything for a couple of years, we get a double CD – one disc with six new songs and one with eleven greatest hits. While I haven’t had a chance to listen to the other five new tracks yet, it’s clear Thomas is still on form as far as his songwriting goes, and that instrumental intro is particularly fantastic. Still, the question remains – is this a return for the band or is it one last hurrah before Thomas continues his solo career?
#27
Artist Hilary Duff
Song With Love
Album Dignity
This was one of those moments where I turned on the TV in the middle of a song, and stuck around just to find out who and what it was. The voice sounded a bit like Hilary Duff. In the seemingly rare moments (perhaps just because I was waiting for them) we got a glimpse of her face, it looked a little bit like Hilary Duff. But the music and the overall sound did NOT sound like Hilary Duff. It was too up-tempo. It had synthesizers. It almost hit the dance genre. It could not have been more the opposite to what I had expected from Hilary Duff if it had tried. Turns out, it WAS Hilary Duff, and if she keeps going like this, she might one day live up to the title of that DVD she released a while back – The Girl Can Rock. Maybe.
#26
Artist Daughtry
Song Over You
Album Daughtry
When It’s Not Over debuted on radio, not only did I spell his name Doortree, but I really didn’t see what was so great about this band. When he followed up this mediocrity with the country-tinged Home, I said it wouldn’t last. When he released Over You, he finally blew me away, and I’ll even now admit to being a fan of those first two singles.
#25
Artist Good Charlotte
Song Dance Floor Anthem
Album Good Morning Revival
Let’s take a little trip back in time for a minute here, and look at a line out of the closing paragraph for my review on Good Charlotte’s last album The Chronicles Of Life & Death. I said: "The unfortunate truth is that Good Charlotte just don’t sound like Good Charlotte anymore".. Now we come back to 2007, and suddenly that statement doesn’t sound like such a bad thing. Listening to their latest album, it almost sounds like they’ve thrown out everything they used to know and just started again. There’s still enough there for it to still be Good Charlotte, but it’s a whole new direction, and it actually sounds all the better for it.
#24
Artist Avril Lavigne
Song When You’re Gone
Album The Best Damn Thing
While I found the majority of Avril’s latest album to be disappointingly immature, When You’re Gone is one of few highlights, a track where she shows some real emotion about missing a loved one, with some real power and passion in her voice. It’s no Slipped Away (from her last album), but I’ll take it.
#23
Artist P!nk
Song Leave Me Alone (I’m Lonely)
Album I’m Not Dead
On Joss Stone’s track Less Is More, she solemnly sings about needing a bit of space every now and then in a relationship. Here, P!nk takes that same subject, amps it up, throws in her trademark attitude and simply rocks out while pretty much laying down the rules to her man. There’s so much life and energy in this song, it was the perfect choice for the first live video off the album.
#22
Artist Joss Stone
Song Tell Me ‘Bout It
Album Introducing Joss Stone
And so we come to Ms. Stone herself. The problem with her previous album Mind, Body & Soul was that while it was obvious how amazing her voice was, there was a vast untapped potential there to really use it, which also would have helped liven up the album a bit more. With Tell Me ‘Bout It, Joss solves both of these problems in her new album’s first single. Easily the catchiest thing she’s released for years.
#21
Artist Timbaland (Featuring One Republic)
Song Apologize
Album Shock Value
When this first debuted on the radio, floods of txts apparently went into the studio from people saying they didn’t realize Timbaland was such a great singer. Which is probably because this should really be credited as One Republic featuring Timbaland, as it’s their song, them doing the singing, and Timbaland… just moving his arms around a bit if the video is to be believed. Really I’d say he’s done the production – but make no mistake, it’s One Republic that makes this song great.
#20
Artist Foo Fighters
Song Long Road To Ruin
Album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
As I said earlier, a lot of people have already mentioned The Pretender in their year-end lists, but I actually prefer Long Road To Ruin. There seems to be more singing than screaming, and it comes across as a more complicated song, as if there’s more layers to it. An appropriate Foo Fighters comparison would be to say it’s more DOA than Best Of You.
#19
Artist JoJo
Song Too Little, Too Late
Album The High Road
A few years ago, JoJo made her debut as a young pop artist, probably thrust into the spotlight by her record label a bit prematurely due more to her developing good looks than her voice. Thankfully, over those years her voice has matured enough that she now comes across more as a young woman than a teenybopper girl. I still believe her record label is pushing her a bit, but Too Little, Too Late shows she’s really starting to come into her own as a popstar. Watch this space.
#18
Artist Gym Class Heroes
Song The Queen & I
Album As Cruel As School Children
Personally, I like to think I caught onto Gym Class Heroes before the majority of the rest of New Zealand, as I heard New Friend Request on the Snakes On A Plane soundtrack before they blew up large with Cupid’s Chokehold, and I knew as soon as that song hit radio they were going to be big. I’ve since picked up both of their albums, and as soon as The Queen & I – which happens to be track one – started pumping itself out of my speakers, I knew the album was going to be great. The Queen & I is not only a great hip hop song, but a great party song as well.
#17
Artist Chamillionaire
Song Hip Hop Police
Album Ultimate Victory
Hip Hop has been quite a touchy subject for me over the last couple of years. In my opinion, we’ve seen the genre steadily decline thanks largely to the quality – or more specifically, lack thereof – of stuff that’s getting played on mainstream radio. In particular, real rap verses seem to as rare as clothes at a nudist colony. Which is why I’m so glad I found Chamillionaire’s Hip Hop Police. This is what a rap song should like. A beat you can bounce your head to. Raps you try to sing along to but end up getting lost in if your flow isn’t as good as the rapper’s. And a video that actually works well with the song and holds your attention.
#16
Artist Red Hot Chili Peppers
Song Snow ((Hey Oh))
Album Stadium Arcadium
The first time I listened to Stadium Arcadium, I didn’t like pretty much all of the songs – Snow ((Hey Oh)) included. There just seemed to be no substance to it. But when Snow ((Hey Oh)) became the third single, it started to get the arse played out of it. So much so, that eventually I had to start humming along to it. That’s when I realised there was a catchiness to it that defied everything that was wrong with the track and forced me to love it.
#15
Artist Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson
Song Because Of You
Album Duets
Some of you might remember this song originally making my top five back in 2005. Now, two years later, it’s back. This time, country legend Reba McEntire adds her own touch and helps Kelly make a brand new version of a track that was wonderful to start with, and is now simply magical.
#14
Artist Good Charlotte (Featuring M. Shadows & Synyster Gates)
Song The River
Album Good Morning Revival
I mentioned before how Good Charlotte seemed to be arriving at a new sound with this latest album, and The River is another prime example of this. Somehow, it manages to rock harder than anything they’ve previously done, without necessarily rocking as heavy. Not only that, but the fact Joel slides the mic over to a guest artist for a verse – who does a stellar job – means this could well be their best track since Hold On.
#13
Artist Kanye West
Song Stronger
Album Graduation
Like The White Stripes, Kanye has always been a bit ‘hit-and-miss’ to me. I didn’t really enjoy anything he did before Jesus Walks, and I certainly didn’t enjoy anything that came after… until now. I think at first it was the way he turned the Daft Punk sample into a hook that got me, or maybe it was the fact this was the catchiest track all about a person’s ego I’ve ever heard. Whatever it was, it hooked me in good, and now I’m even starting to dig The Good Life.
#12
Artist My Chemical Romance
Song Teenagers
Album The Black Parade
Every now and then I’ll buy an album based purely on either love for the band or just for the first single. Then I’ll listen to it, and pick out about three or four more tracks that should be singles. When listening to The Black Parade, it was obvious that there was something seriously wrong at the MCR camp if the inventively brilliant Teenagers wasn’t released.
#11
Artist Mika
Song Love Today
Album Life In Cartoon Motion
When Mika first came out, it was either love him or hate him. For me, it was firmly the latter. For a start, he had one very particular thing in common with Justin Hawkins from The Darkness – no male should naturally be able to sing that high! Not only that, but his songs were just too repetitive. It was as if he didn’t have anything to say past the first verse. Still, when it comes to Love Today, I have to admit that it’s so damn catchy I can’t help but love it, and sing along. However, God forbid this ever shows up on SingStar, as I can guarantee I’ll never hit those notes.
#10
Artist Nickelback
Song If Everyone Cared
Album All The Right Reasons
As much as you try to maintain your own musical identity, friends often have a way of influencing who you listen to. Had you told me a few years ago I’d be a major Nickelback fan, I’d have slapped you upside the head and told you to stop being so silly. Well, thanks largely to If Everyone Cared and a certain friend of mine, you can now come back and laugh in my face because you were right. I think the main reason I fell for this song was that it was completely unlike any Nickelback I’d heard before. It was a song with a message, and they pulled it off. Brilliant.
#9
Artist The Fratellis
Song Chelsea Dagger
Album Costello Music
Quite possibly the catchiest song of the year. Of course, someone out there in the world of television advertising discovered this song sounds a lot like in should be in an ad for a ute, and now it is. Still, the full length song has retained it’s grandness, and I reckon this is one of those songs that may have dropped off the radar for now, but its going to make a hell of a comeback in a couple of years.
#8
Artist Kelly Clarkson
Song Never Again
Album My December
The message is pretty simple here. If you piss of Kelly, she will tear you a new one in a song. It should also be noted that when someone with her talent channels that pure anger into a song, it’s bound to be not just a hit, but anthem for females everywhere. And a warning for males.
#7
Artist Lily Allen
Song Alfie
Album Alright, Still
If this editorial wasn’t looking like it was going to be twenty pages long already, I could sure tell you some stories about my older sister. Let’s just say we get on a lot better now that we live at opposite ends of the country. When we were growing up, I always felt like she was trying to boss me around, even though there’s only a couple of years between us. In Alfie, Lily’s pretty much doing the same thing to her little brother. The difference here is her little bother is a pot-smoking brat who rarely leaves his room and isn’t doing anything with his life except abusing his body. If I was his brother, I’d be trying to talk some sense into him too. However, while I’d probably do it like Dr. Cox on Scrubs would, Lily does it to a tune of lollipops and rainbows and such. All happy and cherry and whatnot.
#6
Artist Plain White T’s
Song Hey There Delilah
Album Every Second Counts
The most romantic song of the year, hands down. If he isn’t paying the bills with that guitar by now, something’s very very wrong.
#5
Artist Gym Class Heroes
Song Cupid’s Chokehold
Album The Papercut Chronicles & As Cruel As School Children
The reason there’s two albums listed there is a bit of a long story. The song first appeared on The Papercut Chronicles, and is the song that eventually shot Gym Class Heroes to stardom. However, it appears that by the time that happened, As Cruel As School Children was already in the can, if not released. It turns out you have to be pretty careful when buying said album, because not every copy has Cupid’s Chokehold on it – although that looks to be the only difference between the two versions. However, on the back of the CD single, it clearly states that the track is taken from As Cruel As School Children. Still, whichever album it’s off, it’s a fantastic song about what love is really about. Hey There Delilah is as romantic they come, but Cupid’s Chokehold is more of a definition of love.
#4
Artist Christina Aguilera
Song Candyman
Album Back To Basics
This was the track that shocked me most this year. Never did I think the forties / fifties era would be popular on mainstream radio again. Still, if anyone can reinvent themselves over and over and have it work every time, it’s Christina. Not that I like everything she’s done, but when I like a song of hers, it’s never just listenable or mediocre – when she makes a good track, she makes a great track. Candyman is easily her best yet, and that’s saying something.
#3
Artist Lostprophets
Song Can’t Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won’t Save You This Time)
Album Liberation Transmission
Back when I reviewed this album, I made a promise. The only single at the time was Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast), and not knowing what other songs were to become singles, I said if Can’t Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won’t Save You This Time) was released, it would earn a top 5 spot on this list. And considering how much I still love this song, a good 18 months or so after the album’s release, it didn’t take much for me to keep said promise. Let’s forget for a second that I only ever heard it twice on radio, and that was twice in one night. Let’s also forget I’m yet to see the video screen on New Zealand TV. I know there is a video – I’ve seen it on Youtube, and I know New Zealand TV has played said video. Add that to the fact this was played on radio, and that makes it an official single in my books. Maybe no-one else loves it as much as I do and that’s why it’s been all but forgotten. To this day, I love it as much as I did the first time I heard it.
#2
Artist Linkin Park
Song Bleed It Out
Album Minutes To Midnight
Hands down, my favourite song on Minutes To Midnight. In the booklet, Linkin Park say this song "is a party from beginning to end". That’s a damn accurate description. It’s the best rapping and the best-written lyrics from Mike Shinoda since the Fort Minor track Kenji. More than that though, we get some screaming from Chester – the kind of screaming that featured on Linkin Park’s earlier albums, and the whole song is just amazing.
------------------------------
Those of you who have read my year-end editorials before will know two things. Firstly, I normally like to do something a little different when it comes to number one. In 2005 I did a fake number one before revealing the true top spot, and judging from the comment thread, it worked on at least one person. Last year, I presented you with a number one that was so far out of left field some people probably thought it was fake at first. But that was it, and I still stand by it. Secondly, this is not just a list of the best 50 songs of the year. I like to stick in a few other categories and some random stuff as well. So, this year, I’m going to award the other categories before I announce number one. Not because I’m running out of ideas of how to tease you, but let’s just say I’ve got my reasons for doing it this way this year.
So without further ado:
THE WORST SONGS OF 2007
I’m not going to count these down. I don’t even know right at the minute how many songs I’m going to present you with here. I’m just going to list some, and add a quick sentence on each. No point dwelling on songs I don’t like.
Artist: Rhianna (Featuring Jay Z)
Song: Umbrella
Album: Good Girl Gone Bad
I don’t know who’s writing Rihanna’s lyrics, but the person who came up with that annoying "ella-ella eh eh eh" or whatever it is needs shot. Immediately.
Artist: Sean Kingston
Song: Beautiful Girl
Album: Sean Kingston
On more than one occaision, when children left my work while this song was playing on the radio, it had them chanting the word "suicidal" as if it was a good thing. That’s sick.
Artist: The Chemical Brothers
Song: The Salmon Dance
Album: We Are The Night
Ridiculously stupid. Enough said.
Artist: The Ying Yang Twins (Featuring Wyclef Jean)
Song: Dangerous
Album: Chemically Inbalanced
Wyclef sounds like he was supposed to be on medication at the time but forgot to take it before entering the studio. And what’s with the murder of Black Betty in the middle?
Artist: Chris Brown (Featuring T-Pain)
Song: Kiss Kiss
Album: Exclusive
T-Pain, it has to be said – you are easily the worst radio announcer I’ve ever heard. And please, stop repeating your name every opportunity you get. The song’s bad enough without finishing it on "Nappy boy – Pain!" half a dozen times. And if Nappy Boy radio loves rap music, why don’t you play some?
OVERPLAYED SONGS OF THE YEAR
Artist: The Fray
Song: How To Save A Life
Album: How To Save A Life
It seems like any song connected with Grey’s Anatomy is destined to be immediately popular for a long period of time, no matter how good or bad it actually is. GA fans probably get a kick every time they hear this, but why should the rest of us suffer all year long?
Artist: Rihanna & Ne-Yo
Song: Hate That I Love You
Album: Good Girl Gone Bad
Take two artists who are currently making sappy music and put them together. That’s already an overload, without it being played a couple of times an hour.
Artist: Justin Timberlake
Songs: Love Stoned and Summer Love
Album: Future Sex / Love Sounds
Not everyone is a Justin fan. Personally, I don’t think anything he’s made in the last few years is anywhere near as good as some of the stuff he made with *NSYNC. (Bye Bye Bye is still a masterpiece.) But I can pretty much sing along with these songs, and when that happens with a song you don’t even like, that’s a clear sign it’s getting far too much airplay.
Artist: Quiet Drive
Song: Time After Time
Album: When All That’s Left Is You
I actually found this most recent reincarnation of the Cyndi Lauper hit a decent enough listen when it first came out. But that was months ago. There’s no reason for it to still be getting played twice in an eight-hour shift. I’m just glad they’ve finally released a new song – maybe radio will now leave this alone a bit.
And two that have only recently started to annoy me:
Artist: Leona Lewis
Song: Bleeding Love
Album: Spirit
Artist: Robyn
Song: Handle Me
Album: Robyn
I don’t really have anything specific to say about these songs, except PLEASE STOP PLAYING THEM! Neither is really all that good, and both are currently annoying the shit out of me. And anyone who says that Leona Lewis is the most talented competition winner, get real. Kelly’s got more talent than this girl can ever hope for.
WORST LYRIC OF 2007: Anything featuring the word "Shawty."
Why is it that all male r&b singers / "hip hop pretender" artists refer to their girlfriends as Shawty? Firstly, you people are doing enough damage to the English language already, at least spell this term of endermeant correctly. And here’s a question for you – what if she’s taller than you? Does she then get to call you Shawty?
I’d also like to make mention of the two new Britney Spears tracks in this section. My first issue is with the opening line of Gimme More. It offends me to be called a bitch every time this song is played. Listen up Britney – I know the paparazzi are giving you a hard time, and yeah, they can be dicks about it. I get that. But most of us – ie, the rest of the world – AREN’T paparazzi. If you want to make a song aimed squarely at them, then just send it to them, not the world’s radio stations.
Secondly, the reference in Piece Of Me to photos of your derriere in the magazines… girl, it’s not your backside that worries us. Don’t show us the frontside when you get out of taxis, because that’s the kind of thing you can guarantee WILL end up in the magazines. I know you’ve got a lot going on in your life right now, but things aren’t going to get any better for you until you start learning from your mistakes. I’m glad to see there wasn’t a second taxi incident, but you’ve gotta clean your act up, or the judge is going to give Kevin permanent custody of those kids.
WORST VIDEO OF 2007
Artist: Linkin Park
Song: Bleed It Out
Album: Minutes To Midnight
This is a painful one to award, seeing as how much I like the song. But after seeing this, all I could think was, "what the hell was that about?" It made no sense whatsoever.
BEST VIDEO OF 2007
Artist: Lily Allen
Song: Alfie
Album: Alright, Still
Really, what’s not to like here? Lily looks hot, it’s got a dancing, pot-smoking, puppet who does what comes naturally when looking through his porno magazine – which in itself features Barbie dolls – and even the bird puppets have a bit of a toke. One of the funniest videos I’ve seen for years.
MY FAVOURITE ALBUM OF 2007
Artist: Good Chalotte
Album: Good Morning Revival
… and a close second…
Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Album: My December
Actually this is pretty much a tie, but I’ve given it to Good Charlotte because they came back from a near-disaster in their previous album. To go from that to this deserves special mention. Kelly, on the other hand, is simply going from strength to strength.
CONCERTS I’VE SEEN IN 2007
Big Day Out – see full review for details. Lily Allen was the real highlight.
P!nk – with support from The Androids. Not so much a show as a pure spectacle. Highly recommended if you ever get the chance.
Linkin Park – Next time I see these guys I’m getting seated tickets. Clearly the rest of their fans cannot read the great big signs all around the arena that said "no moshing". I don’t think it’s too much to ask I should be able to get close to the stage without someone trying to hump my back. A good show nonetheless, with support act…
Chris Cornell – It seems quite a few people were excited to see him as well, which makes sense seeing as he’s not only been in Soundgarden and Audioslave, but also done some solo work. I recognised Original Fire, but not much else. Mainly I was wondering why every time he stopped singing he pursed his lips, as if he expected someone to come up and kiss him.
Joss Stone – I’ve been saying for a long time how great this girl’s voice is, and it’s even better live. Some people dance in the aisles, others just dance in their seats. I belted out Right To Be Wrong – which was the concert closer – with almost as much passion as Joss did. Her support act was a New Zealand musician called Paul McLaney. I hadn’t heard of him before – perhaps I’m not listening in the right circles – but he seems to have a promising career ahead of him.
My Chemical Romance – If Gerard Way has nothing mature to say on stage, then he should just shut up and sing. At one stage he said "everyone here on stage has an extremely high fucking opinion of themselves." Yeah, well, it showed. A great show for the most part. Streetwise Scarlet opened, and there was a second opening act, but I couldn’t understand the singer when they introduced themselves, or anything he was singing about.
And already in 2008 I have tickets to Kelly Clarkson (with support act Sean Kingston apparently). Foo Fighters are coming to New Zealand, but both shows sold out before I could get tickets. The Maroon 5 concert could be OK purely for opening act One Republic, and a friend of mine is excited about Maroon 5’s other support act Brandi Carlile. I don’t think either of us will actually end up going, but if we did we’d probably leave before Maroon 5 even hit the stage. Matchbox Twenty has also announced a New Zealand date, which I’d love to attend, but it depends on work and money at the time.
-----------------------
So here we are. After having said everything else I wanted to say about music in 2007, it’s time to announce the year’s top song. And no, I’m not going to keep you waiting any longer with some kind of fake-out.
#1
Artist P!nk (Featuring Indigo Girls)
Song Dear Mr. President
Album I’m Not Dead
I almost don’t want to write about this song. I’ve seen what can happen on this site when political opinions are involved, and I don’t want my comment thread turning into a battle arena. Of course I want comments, but if anyone questions my political views, you’re not going to get a response, and I would like to think we’re all adult enough here to behave and treat each other and each other’s opinions with respect.
That said, this is probably the easiest year I’ve had finding number one. In fact I was pretty sure about seven months ago when I heard this was to be a single. The reason I didn’t do a "best lyrics" category this year is because they’re all in this song. The questions she asks of Bush here are questions that need to be asked, and answered.
-----------------------------
So that’s that. 2007 done and dusted – musically anyway. I’d like to take a moment to thank our write/off hosts Demon and Drew, not just for this year, but for however many years they’ve been running it, as I believe this is to be the last one. Still, I’ll be back next year to do this all over again, and I’d like to hope some of the other Epinions music writers will do the same. Just because there won’t be a write/off, that doesn’t mean we can’t all do this again.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
dbcint
|
|
Member: Dean Cowie
Location: Invercargill, New Zealand
Reviews written: 198
Trusted by: 39 members
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.