Twostepcub's Best of 2012: Part Three - #80-#71...

Hey gang, time for another ten of the biggest hits on my personal chart this year. You can check out part one here and part two here.

#80 - Miguel - "Adorn"
          from the album Kaleidoscope Dream (2012)
          Twostepcubchart peak: #9 (four weeks)
          Weeks in the chart: 14

The Latin soul singer was another victim of Billboard magazine's screwy chart rule changes that allowed crossover play to propel Rihanna to #1 with a debatable non-R&B song, but that doesn't cloud the fact that "Adorn" was soul music in 2012. Sexy, emotional, and danceable, Miguel proved that "Sure Thing" wasn't a token fluke.

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#79 - Tim McGraw - "Better Than I Used To Be"
          from the album Emotional Traffic (2012)
          Twostepcubchart peak: #29 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 20

Tim won his lawsuit with former label Curb Records to jump to Borchetta's Big Machine, but comparing the two singles from his final Curb album to the first two from his BM work, I think Curb got the best of the deal, including this middle-age reflection, originally a failed single for Sammy Kershaw. This is 100 times more refined and artistic as "Truck Yeah".

#78 - Flo Rida - "Whistle"
         from the album Wild Ones (2012)
         Twostepcubchart peak: #24
         Weeks in the chart: 20

Yes, a song giving instructions on getting a blow job was a #1 single in America in 2012. It happened. With not-too-vague lyrics that still fooled parents not paying attention. I'm actually surprised this didn't make it on a Kidz Bop album. But give Flo an A for effort. And hunkiness.

#77 - Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin - "Don't You Worry Child"
          from the album Until Now (2012)
         Twostepcubchart peak: #6 (one week)
         Weeks in the chart: 13

Sebastian Ingrosso, Axwell, and Steve Angello may not be household names in America, but the world-renown DJs became A-listed EDM artists in America with this anthem to their "farewell" tour as a collective, making the top-20 in the US pop chart and not compromising their full-on vocal and synth attack on the senses.

#76 - Florence + The Machine - "Shake It Out"
          from the album Ceremonials (2011)
         Twostepcubchart peak: #7
         Weeks in the chart: 13 (in 2012)

Another newer artist with a rabid fan following gaining mainstream recognition is Florence Welch and her group the Machine, and the first single from her amazing Ceremonials album is 4 1/2 minutes of pure release. Now if we can convince Stevie Nicks to cover this on her Fleetwood mac tour...

#75 - Kelly Clarkson - "Dark Side"
          from the album Stronger (2011)
          Twostepcubchart peak: #14 (one week)
          Weeks in the chart: 19

I prefer my love songs imperfect and realistic, and Kelly's third single from her Stronger album does the trick in spades, exposing her flaws without having to change, but merely be accepted. Maybe an analogy to her fans after revealing her semi-libertarian leanings?

#74 - Usher - "Scream"
          from the album Looking 4 Myself (2012)
          Twostepcubchart peak: #20 (one week)
          Weeks in the chart: 17

Usher has always vacillated between between the R&B seducer and the Jersey Shore-style club promoter. Lately the latter has been winning the popularity stakes, but this Max Martin/Shellback jam actually is the lower of his two entries on my list. But as "Scream" may sound a little too similar to his other dance hits, the video gives a fresh piece of his stage presence.

#73 - PSY - "Gangnam Style"
         from the album PSY 6 (Six Rules), Part 1 (2012)
         Twostepcubchart peak: #3 (two weeks)
         Weeks in the chart: 12

It's been awhile since we had a totally all-out novelty record to the likes of this, and "Gangnam Style" can be declared the first "internet viral video" novelty mega-hit ("Call Me Maybe" was just as huge but it's a straightforward pop song). And the reason it was such a winner is it wasn't planned that way. Word of mouth (well-Facebook) about this over-the-top EDM rave with indiscernable Korean lyrics save the "Heeeeey sexy lady!" complete with the ultimate Japanese game-show-style video with 38 sides of "Dafuq?" in it made this the almost-billion-watched YouTube meme that didn't get old, just because it didn't set out to be anything but a comic regional hit. You made hate it, but you must appreciate PSY's lack of shame and bounty of musical chops in the song (it flows so well you don't care if you don't understand the words)...

#72 - Anita Baker - "Lately"
          from the album Only Forever (20??)
          Twostepcubchart peak: #12 (three weeks)
          Weeks in the chart: 16

Anita, dear, what is going on with you? After a ten year break, you put out the ok-if-not-great My Everything in 2004, then after a Christmas set you disappeared yet again. Then this nugget of a cover of a Tyrese hit with the old Rapture-esque instrumentation, and I'm yet again excited for another album this year. This was given the Clear Channel payola promotion push and everything, but even though it reigned on Adult R&B radio (natch), there was nothing else. No appearances. Most of all, no video (even an official "lyric video"). And now her album, originally planned for 2010, then for October 2012, is now with an undetermined release date. I know she went through a nasty divorce with royalty disputes threatening her with jail time, but is that still going on? Have you gone into a complete mental breakdown? Are you completely too difficult to work with? Please! Your loving fans await! Please don't become the Axl Rose of Quiet Storm. Please.

#71 - The Band Perry - "Postcards From Paris"
          from the album The Band Perry (2010)
          Twostepcubchart peak: #19 (two weeks)
          Weeks in the chart: 17

The sibling trio stealthily became the future of traditional country music with their debut album, and this, the most straightforward of their five singles, but still has enough going on in it to deserve a berth of its own on my list.

That does it for this installment....I'll be back tomorrow with ten more, including rockers for the downtrodden, a colorful remix, and my personal musical queen gifts a twitterbomb.