twostepcubchart: the best of 2011 (so far)...

It's unbelievable that a quarter of the year has gone by, but alas, it's just turning April, and spring is almost peeking its head out. And here's the 40 biggest songs on my weekly chart from the beginning of the year until now...

1. Firework - Katy Perry (from the CD Teenage Dream)
2scchart Peak: #1 (3 weeks)

Perry made a hat trick of #1s with this self-empowerment anthem, which also was a US charttopper for four weeks. The video is just as epic, featuring belittled people in many forms, from the disabled to an overweight girl to a gay kid, and without the usual heavyhandedness.



2. Grenade - Bruno Mars (from the CD Doo Wops & Hooligans)
2scchart Peak: #1 (5 weeks)

Mars was catching up fast with "Firework", but for the quarter came up just a few points short. With a dramatic Motownesque flair, the singer/writer/producer proved that "Just The Way You Are" (also in the top-10 this year) was no fluke. In the fluffy, lovey pop era, this song about unrequited love seemed more timeless than its competition.



3. For The First Time - The Script (from the CD Science & Faith)
2scchart Peak: #2 (2 weeks)

The only song to have been in my top-10 the entire year so far (beating out "Grenade" by a week), "For The First Time" is a former UK top-10 hit I was a little pessimistic that would catch on here in the States. But thankfully its sailing bridge connected the same way their "Breakeven" did a year back. Consider the Irish band the master of the slow burners...



4. Raise Your Glass - Pink (from the CD Greatest Hits...So Far!!!!)
2sc Peak in 2011: #1 (1 week in 2011)

The opening #1 of the year, as well as the final #1 of last year, this song was one of two new tracks on Pink's first hits set, and she pulled off a rare feat that both are just as worthy as her previous hits (and both show up on this list). Both "Raise Your Glass" and "Fuckin' Perfect" were anthemic "It Gets Better" songs, but "Raise" brought the party to the message, with a video that was a bit punk but totally accessible.



5. Waiting For The End - Linkin Park (from the CD A Thousand Suns)
2scchart Peak in 2011: #3 (3 weeks in 2011)

The boys from Cali seem to be the last big young hard rock band in pop music, but they've risen to the challenge by evolving from what seemed to be a Limp Bizkit rap-rock knockoff act to a thoughtful and intricate yet mainstream stalwart. A bit more positive instrumentation belies the apocalyptic theme.



6. Tighten Up - The Black Keys (from the CD Brothers.)
2scchart Peak: #4 (2 weeks)

The duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are this year's little-indie-band-that-could, and with the help of hip producer-du-jour "Danger Mouse", made good with a quirky retrocut that shares a name with a Archie Bell jam that isn't too far from the lazy vibe of this one.



7. Marry Me - Train (from the CD Save Me, San Francisco)
2scchart Peak: #9 (1 week)

If the Black Keys are the hip-rock band that could, and Linkin Park are the alt-band that could, Train would fit in to be the straight-man-rock band that could. Pat Monahan and Train proves the age doesn't have to be the end-all factor, as "Hey Soul Sister" was one of the biggest hits of not only the last couple years, but he last ten. The second follow-up to that monster was a quiet little heart-tugger timed perfectly for the Valentine's season. Yet it isn't as smarmy as it could've been. I guess experience does help.



8. Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars (from the CD Doo Wops & Hooligans)
2scchart peak in 2011: #4 (2 weeks)

This former #1 hit from last year was the hit that wouldn't go away, as the former pop hit became an adult contemporary powerhouse. Bruno proved he can transfer a simple melody into one of most memorable debut hits ever. No wonder Bruno has the distinction of (so far) having the only double appearance in my top-10.



9. Maybe - Sick Puppies (from the CD Tri-Polar)
2scchart Peak: #2 (1 week)

The Aussie post-grunge trio found mainstream success with this soaring ballad from their third album's third single, and its "turn the page" theme took the former modern rock hit to the masses.



10. Secrets - OneRepublic (from the CD Waking Up)
2scchart Peak: #5 (1 week)

I first heard "Secrets" as a album cut that became a huge single last year in Germany. At that time, their "All The Right Moves" was slow-burning up the adult-pop charts. This single followed the same pattern, steadily growing in the States where it stayed in the US top-40 for months. I also am in the camp believing the song is a self-referential take on Ryan Tedder's songwriting, especially after the accusation by Kelly Clarkson of pilfering his own "Halo" (for Beyonce') for her "Already Gone". I guess Ryan doesn't give all his "Secrets" away...



11. Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine {from the CD Lungs)
2scchart Peak: #1 (1 week)

One-man "bands" such as Five For Fighting and Owl City are common, but one-woman concept acts like Florence Welch's Florence + The Machine was a welcome change, and Welch's thundering voice, garnering her a Grammy nomination and remake on Glee (which also made my top-100 list), propelling national exposure for an artist richly deserving. A stint closing Eat Pray Love didn't hurt either. A pop song that totally didn't sound like a pop song.



12. Tonight (I'm Lovin' You) - Enrique Iglesias f/Ludacris (from the CD Euphoria)
2scchart Peak: #4 (2 weeks)

It's stunning that the 35-year-old Iglesias has lasted a 16-year chart career without losing the sex appeal that disguises the savvy musicality underneath. "Tonight" took the guido-dance revival he rode "I Like It" in on and threw in a little lecherousness (especially in the original "I'm Fuckin' You" version) that someone lesser-looking than Enrique couldn't get away with.



13. Shake Me Down - Cage The Elephant (from the CD Thank You, Happy Birthday)
2scchart Peak: #12 (4 weeks)

The punk-blues group from Kentucky struck gold last year with three straight top-3 modern rock hits, and equal that success with the lead single from their sophomore release, complete with a deceptively spooky video.



14. What's My Name - Rihanna f/Drake (from the CD Loud)
2scchart Peak: #14 (2 weeks)

The most famous red-haired entertainer since Bozo the Clown had her first of two consecutive US #1 hits with the actual followup to the second ("Only (Girl In The World)"), though for the life of me I still am not 100% sure what this song is about other than swagger. Entertaning though, even with Drake's puerile "square-root" pun from the eighth grade.



15. Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons (from the CD Sigh No More)
2scchart Peak in 2011: #28 (4 weeks)

Another example of a song I came to know over a year ago, the English rock outfit led by Marcus Mumford parlayed their folk-rock thump of "Little Lion Man" into a multi-format hit and a Grammy nom. Add the fact that I believe half the radio programmers overlooked the f-bomb in the chorus, and I'm hooked. Bonus: love the YouTube comment: EPIC BANJO DANCE!



16. Rhythm Of Love - Plain White T's (from the CD Wonders Of The Younger)
2scchart Peak: #9 (1 week)

The Plain White T's have pegged themselves quite nicely as the nice-guy-ballad go-to with the third lovey dovey hit, this time sung by guitarist Tim Lopez.



17. You Are - Charlie Wilson (from the CD Just Charlie)
2scchart Peak: #25 (2 weeks)

In the 80's, Charlie Wilson was the lead singer of the Gap Band, one of the funkiest R&B dance groups around. These days, Wilson swings much smoother, scoring three #1 adult R&B hits including this charmer...



18. Somewhere With You - Kenny Chesney (from the CD Hemingway's Whiskey)
2scchart Peak: #5 (2 weeks)

Chesney proves he can succeed with more than his usual beach-frat country with this moody track that's a favorite of mine, and my biggest country hit so far this year.



19. Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri (from the CD Lovestrong)
2scchart Peak: #24 (2 weeks so far)

Emo-chick Perri hails from right across the Delaware, and her unsigned but professional heartbreak song has smoldered since previewing on So You Think You Can Dance almost a year ago. Her debut CD doesn't even drop until May, but thousands of lovelorn girls (and guys) are waiting.



20. Hello - Martin Solveig f/Dragonette (from the upcoming CD Smash)
2scchart Peak: #8 (2 weeks)

French DJ/producer Solveig (born Martin Picadet) has his first worldwide success with a silly dance track featuring Canadian electro-pop group Dragonette. A take on the "I'm too good for you" club track, the clanging rhythm is a welcome diversion from the four-on-the-floor stomp.




21. We R Who We R - Ke$ha (from the CD Cannibal)
2scchart Peak: #19 (2 weeks)

Auto-tune queen matches her trash-camp to a diversity message with this #1 US pop hit previewing her sophomore CD/EP. She's out to prove she's more than a drunk slut, but not by much. And that's OK.



22. Take Over Control - Afrojack f/Eva Simons (from the CD Lost & Found)
2scchart Peak: #19 (1 week)

Dutch DJ Nick van der Wall, aka Afrojack, goes from remixer to star act with this European dance hit featuring fellow countrywoman Eva Simons. Result: Jarring rhythm does infectious groove.



23. Who's That Chick? - David Guetta f/Rihanna (from the CD One More Love)
2scchart Peak: #19 (3 weeks)

French DJ Guetta propelled from club legend to pop star with his One Love CD which contains 6 worldwide hits. Amended with a second disc of remixes of Madonna, Kelis, and this number with Rihanna, he's now the Quincy Jones for the millennial dancefloor.



24. Hello World - Lady Antebellum (from the CD Need You Now)
2scchart Peak: #22 (1 week)

The trio outgrew the country market with the soft-rock of "Need You Now" last year, and "Hello World" fits into the adult-pop mode as well. It would be a good fit with a Grey's Anatomy episode.



25. Voices - Chris Young (from the CD The Man I Want To Be)
2scchart Peak: #12 (1 week)

Besides being the most handsome person in this list, the former winner of CMT's Nashville Star showed staying power, as the song took one week short of a year on the country chart to reach #1. With it's homey message, it's worth the wait.



26. Back To December - Taylor Swift (from the CD Speak Now)
2scchart Peak: #23 (1 week)

I may still have issues with her "live" performance (like I should talk), but Swift can sure write a song. This alleged apology to Taylor Lautner, coupled with her pairings with John Mayer and Jake Gyllenhaal, transform her from teen country-pop queen to music's Jennifer Aniston.



27. Rolling In The Deep - Adele (from the CD 21)
2scchart Peak: #3 (2 weeks)

If you'd have asked me a year ago, I'd never have predicted the biggest-selling album of 2011 so far wouldn't be Britney or Minaj or even Bieber, but rather the British belter that won the Grammy for new artist a couple years back. And courtesy of this disco-blues mashup, which cut through like a fresh wind on US radio. God Bless you, Adele.



28. Fuckin' Perfect - Pink (from the CD Greatest Hits...So Far!!!)
2scchart Peak: #1 (2 weeks)

The second entry here by Pink is her serious "It Gets Better" song, and between the uncensored title and graphic video, her unabashed tone declares she means business. Message received, my leader.



29. Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna (from the CD Loud)
2scchart Peak in 2011: #8 (1 week)

Rihanna is the sole artist with three entries in the year's top-40, and this was the one that started things off as a carryover from last year where on my list it held the runner-up spot behind Bruno Mars for four weeks. After the darker mood of her last CD, Rihanna brought the dance, and the anthemic title shout commanded your attention.



30. Sing - My Chemical Romance (from the CD Danger Days)
2scchart Peak: #15 (2 weeks so far)

Gerard Way and the boys carry on their True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys with this anthemic rocker, complete with apocalyptic video. And for the first time in a while (and a little help from Gleexposure), they found some love from adult pop radio.



31. Can't Be Friends - Trey Songz (from the CD Passion, Pain & Pleasure)
2scchart Peak: #24 (2 weeks)

Singer-songwriter Songz (nee Tremaine Neverson) dominated the R&B charts with this breakup ballad though it is amazing that a song spending a record-tying fourteen weeks at #1 on Billboard's R&B chart missed the Pop top-40 (peaking at #43), demonstrating the chasm between the R&B and Pop world even within the same pool of artists.



32. Animal - Neon Trees (from the CD Habits)
2scchart Peak in 2011: #15 (2 weeks)

Six songs out of my top-40 were covered on Glee, including this holdover from last year where it held the #2 spot for 3 weeks behind Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream". "Animal" definitely would have been huge in 1983, which actually is a compliment. And the drummer, she rocks.



33. Put You In A Song - Keith Urban (from the CD Get Closer)
2scchart Peak: #13 (2 weeks)

Mr. Kidman is a reliable country powerhouse who came back in 2011 with this upbeat love song that is the predictable first-single output from him on every album. Still, the man knows his way around a melody and a guitar, and doesn't have the pretentious too-common country "don't keep me from hatin' you" attitude.



34. You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me - Cher (from the Burlesque soundtrack CD)
2scchart Peak: #12 (2 weeks)

Dear Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences, you suck. That is all.



35. Better Than Today - Kylie Minogue (from the CD Aphrodite)
2scchart Peak: #13 (3 weeks)

Kylie's third single from her latest album is a song previewed on her last American Tour, which I was lucky to have attended (on two nights). I would've never thought I would see her live, and I'll have the pleasure again in a month! Woo friggin hoo!



36. Someone Else Calling You Baby - Luke Bryan (from the CD Doin' My Thing)
2scchart Peak: #32 (4 weeks)

Bryan reached the A-List in Nashville wish his last 3 singles hitting #2,#1 and this one his second #1. Nothing extraordinary, just good heartache country-pop.



37. Who Are You When I'm Not Looking - Blake Shelton (from the CD All About Tonight)
2scchart Peak: #40 (2 weeks)

I'm glad I felt the love for this song before the total wreck of the ACM awards last weeks, where Shelton hosted complete with homophobic jokage. I know he doesnt write the shit, but come on, enough posturing already, or we'll think Miranda Lambert's your "beard".



38. Just A Dream - Nelly (from the CD 5.0)
2scchart Peak in 2011: #10 (1 week)

Nelly learned his niche, as he channeled his success with his Tim McGraw collab "Over and Over" into this brooding R&B number without a trace of rapping. Match it with an Inception-lite clip and you've got a pop hit.



39. Let Me Down Easy - Billy Currington (from the CD Enjoy Yourself)
2scchart Peak: #33 (1 week so far)

Nashville hunk Currington croons his way into another country charttopper, and it's unassumingly attractive, much like the singer himself.



40. Swedish House Mafia f/ Tinie Tempah - Miami 2 Ibiza (from the CD Until One)
2scchart Peak: #10 (1 week)

The final song in this year's top songs so far is a dance track from a rapper that I hope gets huge here in the states once his debut CD Disc-Overy (which includes this song) drops in May. The trio of Steve Angello, Axwell, and Sebastian Ingrosso ruled the world clubs with this thumper, and in the process finally teaching me how to pronounce Ibiza (with the "th").



I want to thank everyone who follows my little old blog, and I'll be back with this weeks top-100 tomorrow. Until then, get some sleep already!