twostepcubchart: Halfway to Paradise - the best of 2011 so far...
Hey folks, wouldn't you know it, but we're at the halfway point of 2011. Personally I have no idea where the last three months have gone, but it's summer, and I'm glad for it. Last quarter I recapped the forty biggest songs on my chart so far, and for the semi-final point let's take a look at the top 100 songs of the last six months. I've included video links for all the songs not embedded here, including the 40 featured in the last recap with their previous positions in here. They're marked in yellow. Remember, support the music you like and buy the CD or download the MP3's from Amazon, Beatport, or ITunes. And away we go....
1. Grenade - Bruno Mars (first quarter: #2)
2. For The First Time - The Script (1Q: #3)
3. Rolling In The Deep - Adele (1Q: #27)
4. Firework - Katy Perry (1Q: #1)
5. (Fuckin') Perfect - Pink (1Q: #28)
6. Sing - My Chemical Romance (1Q: #30)
7. Shake Me Down - Cage The Elephant (1Q: #13)
8. Fuck You (Forget You) - Cee-Lo Green (from the CD The Ladykiller)
2scchart Peak: #1 (1 week)
This recap's highest new placing is actually from a holdout from last year. It's hard to believe it's been almost twelve months since the lyric video came out, and I though it was the best thing ever, but nothing that would ever find any play except on YouTube. Was I wrong. Normally, the "clean" version of a song (usually a rap song) was the bleep-filled maze of lyrics that either five away the cursewords or take so much out as to render the song meaningless. With Cee-Lo's adaptation to "Forget You", he transformed the titular word and more to make it kid-friendly but still coherent. In fact, thanks to Glee and the Grammy noms, gave the song a second wind, putting it into the US top-5 based on airplay, not just sales. Though all-in-all, nothing beats the punch of the original, the best neo-Motown kiss-off song I've ever heard.
9.Tonight (I'm Lovin' You) - Enrique Iglesias f/Ludacris (1Q: #12)
10. The Cave - Mumford & Sons (from the CD Sigh No More)
2scchart peak: #2 (2 weeks)
The Brit folk-rock band's followup to "Little Lion Man" became their first US top-40 hit after their exposure at the Grammy awards, where they were robbed of a Best New Artist win.
11. Raise Your Glass - Pink (1Q: #4)
12. Waiting For The End - Linkin Park (1Q: #5)
13. Help Is On The Way - Rise Against (from the CD Endgame)
2scchart peak: #3 (five weeks)
The Chicago-based punk outfit was a mainstay on the rock charts over the past couple years, with their last single "Savior" spending over a year in the top-10. They up the ante with an song of destruction inspired by the aftermath of Katrina, and a powerful video to boot.
14. Born This Way - Lady GaGa (from the CD Born This Way)
2sc chart peak: #1 (two weeks)
What more can be said about this. Despite the unending hype leading up to its release, Lady GaGa does what scores of other gay-friendly icons haven't - transformed a pop song explicitly heralding the positive of being gay or different into a charttopping hit.
15. Closer To The Edge - 30 Seconds To Mars (from the CD This Is War)
2sc chart peak: #20 (two weeks)
The alt-rock band led by brothers Jared and Shannon Leto took their third single from their current album to both rock and adult-top 40 radio, with an anthemic flair they've been building on for years. And being one of the few actor-led bands that's surpassed the vanity factor, and I'd say not bad.
16. S&M - Rihanna (from the CD Loud)
2sc chart peak: #1 (one week)
As if a giant "fuck you" to the media circus after her well-documented ordeal with Chris Brown, Rihanna discos down to whips and chains in this mainstreaming of the extreme subculture that takes "Born This Way" one step farther...
17. Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine (1Q: #11)
18. Don't You Wanna Stay - Jason Aldean f/Kelly Clarkson (from the CD My Kinda Party)
2sc chart peak: #20 (two weeks)
This year's country crossover hit comes from a singer not even on the radar seven years back, and one who's never been known for pop-styled country. The powerballad gets its pop cred from the first American Idol Kelly Clarkson, and the booty-call gets classy.
19. Tighten Up - The Black Keys (1Q: #6)
20. Foo Fighters - Rope (from the CD Wasting Light)
2sc chart peak: #6 (one week)
If Coldplay is the great British band of now, the Foo Fighters are the American version. So far this song has spent nineteen weeks atop the Rock Songs chart, so it's pretty much a lock on biggest song in that genre in the States.
21. Marry Me - Train (1Q: #7)
22. Hello - Martin Solveig f/Dragonette (1Q: #20)
23. Uncharted - Sara Bareilles (from the CD Kaleidoscope Heart)
2sc chart peak: #5 (one week)
Sara is the female Ben Folds in that her piano-driven lite-rock is the most witty as it is catchy. Her latest features an array of cameos miming her song about stepping into the big unknown.
24. Back To December - Taylor Swift (1Q: #26)
25. Price Tag - Jessie J f/B.o.B (from the CD Who You Are)
2sc chart peak: #3 (two weeks so far)
The Critic's Choice winner of the 2011 Brit Awards finally broke through in America as well as worldwide with a retro-soul groove that does break down a little bit musically like her overproduced predecessor in songwriting, "Party In The USA".
26. Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri (1Q: 19)
27. Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars (1Q: 8)
28. I Do - Colbie Caillat (from the upcoming CD All Of You)
2sc chart peak: #15 (one week)
Colbie, who looks scarily too much like Jennifer Aniston, previews her new set with a by-the-numbers, simple, adult-pop ditty. Absolutely nothing new here, but cutesy enough for her personality to get a pass.
29. This - Darius Rucker (from the CD Charleston, SC 1966)
2sc chart peak: #10 (two weeks)
The former Hootie and/or Blowfish keeps his country hit streak alive with his fifth charttopper in that genre. Meanwhile, his style hasn't changed, only country music has.
30. Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons (1Q: #15)
31. Colder Weather - The Zac Brown Band (from the CD You Get What You Give)
2sc chart peak:#1 (two weeks)
Hands down what should be the next Grammy Winner for best country song. Period. A classic tale of heartbreak and bad decisions in the old classic country tradition, but add a little powerballad oomph.
32. E.T. - Katy Perry f/Kanye West (from the CD Teenage Dream)
2sc chart peak: #7 (one week)
Katy Perry's fourth consecutive US pop #1 from her latest album was totally musically out of left field, a minor-key, jumbled-tempo song about jockin' an alien became the biggest-selling pop hit this year yet.
33. Maybe - Sick Puppies (1Q: #9)
34. Far Away - Marsha Ambrosius (from the CD Late Nights And Early Mornings)
2sc chart peak: #2 (two weeks)
One half of neo-soul duo Floetry breaks out with a lush, mournful song with an amazingly powerful video detailing the hardship of being gay in the inner city. Absolutely flawless.
35. You Are - Charlie Wilson (1Q: #17)
36. Secrets - OneRepublic (1Q: #10)
37. What Do You Want - Jerrod Nieman (from the CD Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury)
2sc chart peak: #25 (two weeks)
Niemann's second big country hit is a sleeper ballad featuring the daughter of NFL vet Terry Bradshaw (a recording artist of his own right) on backing vocals.
38. What The Hell - Avril Lavigne (from the CD Goodbye Lullaby)
2sc chart peak: #28 (three weeks)
Now that she's 26, Avril's girl-rock should be a little jaded, but she rocks it like a tween on this teen power-pop hook of a song.
39. Never Gonna Leave This Bed - Maroon 5 (from the CD Hands All Over)
2sc chart peak: #11 (one week)
Adam Levine restarted M5's mojo with his stint on the voice, as the third single from their underrated CD has legs.
40. You Lie - The Band Perry (from the CD The Band Perry)
2sc chart peak: #5 (one week so far)
The family group has their second big hit with an accessible country kiss-off that equal parts pop and bluegrass.
41. What's My Name - Rihanna f/Drake (1Q: #14)
42. A Little Bit Stronger - Sara Evans (from the CD Stronger)
2sc chart peak: #13 (two weeks)
Sara's been through a bunch the last few years, so I'll give her a pass for marrying a sleazeball politician. Her latest brings the drama back to her glory days, and her voice has aged better than Martina's.
43. Hello World - Lady Antebellum (1Q: #24)
44. Where You At - Jennifer Hudson (from the CD I Remember Me)
2sc chart peak: #10 (one week)
The newly svelte Hudson has another great R&B track that works both in the quiet storm and jammin' club tempos.
45. Bleed Red - Ronnie Dunn (from the CD Ronnie Dunn)
2sc chart peak: #29 (four weeks)
Dunn's first hit without Kix Brooks wouldn't sound at all out of place on a B&D record. And that's fine by me.
46. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO f/Lauren Bennett & Goonrock (from the CD Sorry For Party Rocking)
2sc chart peak: #1 (two weeks so far)
I predicted this would be the hit of the summer back when it hit the UK chart months ago. Glad to be right. Because every day I'm shufflin'...
47. Without You - Keith Urban (from the CD Get Closer)
2sc chart peak: #16 (one week)
This song put Mr. Kidman back at the top of the country chart for the first time in two years.
48. Better Than Today - Kylie Minogue (1Q: #35)
49. Let Me Down Easy - Billy Currington (1Q: #39)
50. Rhythm Of Love - Plain White T's (1Q: #16)
51. Country Song - Seether (from the CD Holding On To Strings Better Left To Fray)
2sc chart peak: #4 (two weeks so far)
The South African rockers come back with an awesome rockin' stomper with a hilarious video that will make you think twice about your childhood toys.
52. Howlin' For You - The Black Keys (from the CD Brothers)
2sc chart peak: #15 (one week)
The indie darling score again with a bare-bones rock hit with a video that's the trailer of the best movie made ever. I mean Todd freakin' Bridges.
53. I Won't Let Go - Rascal Flatts (from the CD Nothing Like This)
Rascal Flatts are still around? Sure are, with this song off their sixth consecutive #1 country studio album. And with their signature love ballad, they can do no wrong.
54. We R Who We R - Ke$ha (1Q: #21)
55. Who's That Chick? - David Guetta f/Rihanna (1Q: #23)
56. Somewhere With You - Kenny Chesney (1Q: #18)
57. Take Over Control - Afrojack f/Eva Simons (1Q: #22)
58. Higher - Taio Cruz f/Kylie Minogue (from the CD Rokstarr)
2sc chart peak: #13 (one week)
My girl Kylie gets another UK top-10 and dance #1 assisting go-to UK popster Cruz on this slick jam.
59. Voices - Chris Young (1Q: #25)
60. Good Girl - Alexis Jordan (from the CD Alexis Jordan)
2sc chart peak: #10 (one week)
Alexis isn't 20 yet, but she already follows her sorely underrated "Happiness" with an equally jubilant should-be-a-smash-hit.
and here's the rest....
61. Someone Like You - Adele
62. Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna (1Q: #29)
63. Heart Like Mine - Miranda Lambert
64. Can't Be Friends - Trey Songz (1Q: #31)
65. Animal - Neon Trees (1Q: #32)
66. Put You In A Song - Keith Urban (1Q: #33)
67. Hold It Against Me - Britney Spears
68. You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me - Cher (1Q: #34)
69. Someone Else Calling You Baby - Luke Bryan (1Q: #36)
70. Who Are You When I'm Not Looking - Blake Shelton (1Q: #37)
71. Little Miss - Sugarland
72. Just A Dream - Nelly (1Q: #38)
73. On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez f/Pitbull
74. Keep Your Head Up - Andy Grammer
75. Sweat - Snoop Dogg vs. David Guetta
76. Beautiful People - Chris Brown f/Benny Benassi
77. Just Can't Get Enough - Black Eyed Peas
78. Miami 2 Ibiza - Swedish House Mafia (1Q: #40)
79. Tomorrow - Chris Young
80. Loca - Shakira f/Dizzee Rascal
81. Mean - Taylor Swift
82. Falling In - Lifehouse
83. Something To Believe In - Parachute
84. Give A Little More - Maroon 5
85. Move On Fast - Yoko Ono
86. Good Life - OneRepublic
87. Mr. Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan
88. Sick Of You - Cake
89. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
90. Army Of Love - Kerli
91. Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not - Thompson Square
92. Live A Little - Kenny Chesney
93. Turn It Up - Ultra Nate
94. Louder (Put Your Hands Up) - Chris Willis
95. Rock Tonight - J786
96. The Time (Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
97. A Year Without Rain - Selena Gomez & The Scene
98. Paris (Ooh La La) - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
99. More - Usher
100. Undisclosed Desires - Muse
In a couple, the first chart of the second half of this year. Until then, peace out!
2scchart Peak: #1 (1 week)
This recap's highest new placing is actually from a holdout from last year. It's hard to believe it's been almost twelve months since the lyric video came out, and I though it was the best thing ever, but nothing that would ever find any play except on YouTube. Was I wrong. Normally, the "clean" version of a song (usually a rap song) was the bleep-filled maze of lyrics that either five away the cursewords or take so much out as to render the song meaningless. With Cee-Lo's adaptation to "Forget You", he transformed the titular word and more to make it kid-friendly but still coherent. In fact, thanks to Glee and the Grammy noms, gave the song a second wind, putting it into the US top-5 based on airplay, not just sales. Though all-in-all, nothing beats the punch of the original, the best neo-Motown kiss-off song I've ever heard.
9.Tonight (I'm Lovin' You) - Enrique Iglesias f/Ludacris (1Q: #12)
10. The Cave - Mumford & Sons (from the CD Sigh No More)
2scchart peak: #2 (2 weeks)
The Brit folk-rock band's followup to "Little Lion Man" became their first US top-40 hit after their exposure at the Grammy awards, where they were robbed of a Best New Artist win.
11. Raise Your Glass - Pink (1Q: #4)
12. Waiting For The End - Linkin Park (1Q: #5)
13. Help Is On The Way - Rise Against (from the CD Endgame)
2scchart peak: #3 (five weeks)
The Chicago-based punk outfit was a mainstay on the rock charts over the past couple years, with their last single "Savior" spending over a year in the top-10. They up the ante with an song of destruction inspired by the aftermath of Katrina, and a powerful video to boot.
14. Born This Way - Lady GaGa (from the CD Born This Way)
2sc chart peak: #1 (two weeks)
What more can be said about this. Despite the unending hype leading up to its release, Lady GaGa does what scores of other gay-friendly icons haven't - transformed a pop song explicitly heralding the positive of being gay or different into a charttopping hit.
15. Closer To The Edge - 30 Seconds To Mars (from the CD This Is War)
2sc chart peak: #20 (two weeks)
The alt-rock band led by brothers Jared and Shannon Leto took their third single from their current album to both rock and adult-top 40 radio, with an anthemic flair they've been building on for years. And being one of the few actor-led bands that's surpassed the vanity factor, and I'd say not bad.
16. S&M - Rihanna (from the CD Loud)
2sc chart peak: #1 (one week)
As if a giant "fuck you" to the media circus after her well-documented ordeal with Chris Brown, Rihanna discos down to whips and chains in this mainstreaming of the extreme subculture that takes "Born This Way" one step farther...
17. Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine (1Q: #11)
18. Don't You Wanna Stay - Jason Aldean f/Kelly Clarkson (from the CD My Kinda Party)
2sc chart peak: #20 (two weeks)
This year's country crossover hit comes from a singer not even on the radar seven years back, and one who's never been known for pop-styled country. The powerballad gets its pop cred from the first American Idol Kelly Clarkson, and the booty-call gets classy.
19. Tighten Up - The Black Keys (1Q: #6)
20. Foo Fighters - Rope (from the CD Wasting Light)
2sc chart peak: #6 (one week)
If Coldplay is the great British band of now, the Foo Fighters are the American version. So far this song has spent nineteen weeks atop the Rock Songs chart, so it's pretty much a lock on biggest song in that genre in the States.
21. Marry Me - Train (1Q: #7)
22. Hello - Martin Solveig f/Dragonette (1Q: #20)
23. Uncharted - Sara Bareilles (from the CD Kaleidoscope Heart)
2sc chart peak: #5 (one week)
Sara is the female Ben Folds in that her piano-driven lite-rock is the most witty as it is catchy. Her latest features an array of cameos miming her song about stepping into the big unknown.
24. Back To December - Taylor Swift (1Q: #26)
25. Price Tag - Jessie J f/B.o.B (from the CD Who You Are)
2sc chart peak: #3 (two weeks so far)
The Critic's Choice winner of the 2011 Brit Awards finally broke through in America as well as worldwide with a retro-soul groove that does break down a little bit musically like her overproduced predecessor in songwriting, "Party In The USA".
26. Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri (1Q: 19)
27. Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars (1Q: 8)
28. I Do - Colbie Caillat (from the upcoming CD All Of You)
2sc chart peak: #15 (one week)
Colbie, who looks scarily too much like Jennifer Aniston, previews her new set with a by-the-numbers, simple, adult-pop ditty. Absolutely nothing new here, but cutesy enough for her personality to get a pass.
29. This - Darius Rucker (from the CD Charleston, SC 1966)
2sc chart peak: #10 (two weeks)
The former Hootie and/or Blowfish keeps his country hit streak alive with his fifth charttopper in that genre. Meanwhile, his style hasn't changed, only country music has.
30. Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons (1Q: #15)
31. Colder Weather - The Zac Brown Band (from the CD You Get What You Give)
2sc chart peak:#1 (two weeks)
Hands down what should be the next Grammy Winner for best country song. Period. A classic tale of heartbreak and bad decisions in the old classic country tradition, but add a little powerballad oomph.
32. E.T. - Katy Perry f/Kanye West (from the CD Teenage Dream)
2sc chart peak: #7 (one week)
Katy Perry's fourth consecutive US pop #1 from her latest album was totally musically out of left field, a minor-key, jumbled-tempo song about jockin' an alien became the biggest-selling pop hit this year yet.
33. Maybe - Sick Puppies (1Q: #9)
34. Far Away - Marsha Ambrosius (from the CD Late Nights And Early Mornings)
2sc chart peak: #2 (two weeks)
One half of neo-soul duo Floetry breaks out with a lush, mournful song with an amazingly powerful video detailing the hardship of being gay in the inner city. Absolutely flawless.
35. You Are - Charlie Wilson (1Q: #17)
36. Secrets - OneRepublic (1Q: #10)
37. What Do You Want - Jerrod Nieman (from the CD Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury)
2sc chart peak: #25 (two weeks)
Niemann's second big country hit is a sleeper ballad featuring the daughter of NFL vet Terry Bradshaw (a recording artist of his own right) on backing vocals.
38. What The Hell - Avril Lavigne (from the CD Goodbye Lullaby)
2sc chart peak: #28 (three weeks)
Now that she's 26, Avril's girl-rock should be a little jaded, but she rocks it like a tween on this teen power-pop hook of a song.
39. Never Gonna Leave This Bed - Maroon 5 (from the CD Hands All Over)
2sc chart peak: #11 (one week)
Adam Levine restarted M5's mojo with his stint on the voice, as the third single from their underrated CD has legs.
40. You Lie - The Band Perry (from the CD The Band Perry)
2sc chart peak: #5 (one week so far)
The family group has their second big hit with an accessible country kiss-off that equal parts pop and bluegrass.
41. What's My Name - Rihanna f/Drake (1Q: #14)
42. A Little Bit Stronger - Sara Evans (from the CD Stronger)
2sc chart peak: #13 (two weeks)
Sara's been through a bunch the last few years, so I'll give her a pass for marrying a sleazeball politician. Her latest brings the drama back to her glory days, and her voice has aged better than Martina's.
43. Hello World - Lady Antebellum (1Q: #24)
44. Where You At - Jennifer Hudson (from the CD I Remember Me)
2sc chart peak: #10 (one week)
The newly svelte Hudson has another great R&B track that works both in the quiet storm and jammin' club tempos.
45. Bleed Red - Ronnie Dunn (from the CD Ronnie Dunn)
2sc chart peak: #29 (four weeks)
Dunn's first hit without Kix Brooks wouldn't sound at all out of place on a B&D record. And that's fine by me.
46. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO f/Lauren Bennett & Goonrock (from the CD Sorry For Party Rocking)
2sc chart peak: #1 (two weeks so far)
I predicted this would be the hit of the summer back when it hit the UK chart months ago. Glad to be right. Because every day I'm shufflin'...
47. Without You - Keith Urban (from the CD Get Closer)
2sc chart peak: #16 (one week)
This song put Mr. Kidman back at the top of the country chart for the first time in two years.
48. Better Than Today - Kylie Minogue (1Q: #35)
49. Let Me Down Easy - Billy Currington (1Q: #39)
50. Rhythm Of Love - Plain White T's (1Q: #16)
51. Country Song - Seether (from the CD Holding On To Strings Better Left To Fray)
2sc chart peak: #4 (two weeks so far)
The South African rockers come back with an awesome rockin' stomper with a hilarious video that will make you think twice about your childhood toys.
52. Howlin' For You - The Black Keys (from the CD Brothers)
2sc chart peak: #15 (one week)
The indie darling score again with a bare-bones rock hit with a video that's the trailer of the best movie made ever. I mean Todd freakin' Bridges.
53. I Won't Let Go - Rascal Flatts (from the CD Nothing Like This)
Rascal Flatts are still around? Sure are, with this song off their sixth consecutive #1 country studio album. And with their signature love ballad, they can do no wrong.
54. We R Who We R - Ke$ha (1Q: #21)
55. Who's That Chick? - David Guetta f/Rihanna (1Q: #23)
56. Somewhere With You - Kenny Chesney (1Q: #18)
57. Take Over Control - Afrojack f/Eva Simons (1Q: #22)
58. Higher - Taio Cruz f/Kylie Minogue (from the CD Rokstarr)
2sc chart peak: #13 (one week)
My girl Kylie gets another UK top-10 and dance #1 assisting go-to UK popster Cruz on this slick jam.
59. Voices - Chris Young (1Q: #25)
60. Good Girl - Alexis Jordan (from the CD Alexis Jordan)
2sc chart peak: #10 (one week)
Alexis isn't 20 yet, but she already follows her sorely underrated "Happiness" with an equally jubilant should-be-a-smash-hit.
and here's the rest....
61. Someone Like You - Adele
62. Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna (1Q: #29)
63. Heart Like Mine - Miranda Lambert
64. Can't Be Friends - Trey Songz (1Q: #31)
65. Animal - Neon Trees (1Q: #32)
66. Put You In A Song - Keith Urban (1Q: #33)
67. Hold It Against Me - Britney Spears
68. You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me - Cher (1Q: #34)
69. Someone Else Calling You Baby - Luke Bryan (1Q: #36)
70. Who Are You When I'm Not Looking - Blake Shelton (1Q: #37)
71. Little Miss - Sugarland
72. Just A Dream - Nelly (1Q: #38)
73. On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez f/Pitbull
74. Keep Your Head Up - Andy Grammer
75. Sweat - Snoop Dogg vs. David Guetta
76. Beautiful People - Chris Brown f/Benny Benassi
77. Just Can't Get Enough - Black Eyed Peas
78. Miami 2 Ibiza - Swedish House Mafia (1Q: #40)
79. Tomorrow - Chris Young
80. Loca - Shakira f/Dizzee Rascal
81. Mean - Taylor Swift
82. Falling In - Lifehouse
83. Something To Believe In - Parachute
84. Give A Little More - Maroon 5
85. Move On Fast - Yoko Ono
86. Good Life - OneRepublic
87. Mr. Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan
88. Sick Of You - Cake
89. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
90. Army Of Love - Kerli
91. Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not - Thompson Square
92. Live A Little - Kenny Chesney
93. Turn It Up - Ultra Nate
94. Louder (Put Your Hands Up) - Chris Willis
95. Rock Tonight - J786
96. The Time (Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
97. A Year Without Rain - Selena Gomez & The Scene
98. Paris (Ooh La La) - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
99. More - Usher
100. Undisclosed Desires - Muse
In a couple, the first chart of the second half of this year. Until then, peace out!
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