twostepcubchart's Best of 2014: Part Eight - #30 to #21...

I'm back with another part of my recap of the biggest songs on my weekly personal music chart from 2014. You can catch up with the other seven parts so far by clicking here...

#30 - "Story Of My Life" - One Direction
          from the album Midnight Memories (2013)
          twostepcubchart peak: #7 (one week)
          weeks on the chart (in 2014): 23

You could say that the X Factor losers turn boy-band winners "grew up" on this record, as it did the best on the older radio formats, topping the adult pop list and #2 on the adult contemporary (or "easy listening") chart. And if this video doesn't give you the 'feels', check your pulse.

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#29 - "Dark Horse" - Katy Perry featuring Juicy J
          from the album Prism (2013)
          twostepcubchart peak: #13 (one week)
          weeks on the chart: 29

Perry's experiment with "trap musik", like her previous album's spacey "E.T.", became the biggest hit from her Prism project to the point of overshadowing the anointed single (here, "Unconditionally") before it was officially serviced to radio. While trap purists will call foul, she at least committed to a non-bouncy track for a change. (Coincidentally, the highest song on my year-end recap to not make the top-10).

#28 - "Summer" - Calvin Harris 
          from the album Motion (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #3 (one week)
          weeks on the chart: 22

The Scottish DJ and producer was on my 2013 year-end chart with "I Need Your Love" at #17 and "Sweet Nothing" at #23, and made this year's 'bubbling under' list with "Blame". But on "Summer", he runs the whole show, singing on the record himself, and almost was a contender for the "song of the summer"...

#27 - "Burn" - Ellie Goulding
          from the album Halcyon Days (2013)
          twostepcubchart peak: #6 (two weeks)
          weeks on the chart (in 2014): 22

The British singer, who provided vocals on Harris' "I Need Your Love" from last year's list, was also in the 2013 countdown at #76 with this song (which made it to #17 at that point after 17 weeks), and spent an additional 22 weeks on my list in 2014, proving it was quite a 'slow burn' indeed.

#26 - "Ain't It Fun" - Paramore
          from the album Paramore (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #6 (one week)
          weeks on the chart: 25

After losing brothers Zac and Josh Farro from the band, Hayley Williams, who also was featured on the #47 hit on the list, "Stay The Night" from Zedd, carried on in a more mainstream pop direction. Last year the first single from their self-titled album "Still Into You" "bubbled under" my 2013 top 100, and this time had much more success with this, yes, "fun" single and video.

#25 - "Hideaway" - Kiesza
          from the album Sound Of A Woman (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #10 (one week)
          weeks on the chart: 27

With a one-shot video dancing around the streets of Brooklyn, that landed her with a broken rib, this was my jam for the 2014 year. Man, if this came out in 1994 I'd have been paying the DJ to play this every night. Neo-house at its best, from the Canadian newcomer whose debut album is a keeper.

#24 - "Stolen Dance" - Milky Chance
          from the album Sadnecessary (2013)
          twostepcubchart peak: #3 (six weeks)
          weeks on the chart: 27 (in 2014 - still charting)

Among the glorious left-field international hits that broke in America this year was this song from the German indie-pop duo, which has the claim of being on my chart in 2013 (for one week at #100 in the fall), 2014, and going into 2015.

#23 - "A Sky Full Of Stars" - Coldplay
         from the album Ghost Stories (2014)
         twostepcubchart peak: #3 (three weeks)
         weeks on the chart: 22

The British modern rock titans teamed up with Swedish EDM giant Avicii for this hit single that thankfully didn't make them sound like ravers, but rather organically infused his folkish dance rhythms with their anthemic leanings.

#22 - "Riptide" - Vance Joy
          from the album Dream Your Life Away (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #2 (two weeks)
          weeks on the chart: 27 (so far in 2014 - still charting)

Joy, aka Australian indie-folk singer/songwriter James Keogh, made its journey around the world, showing up on the charts from Down Under to the Americas to Europe to even the Mid-East, peaking at #2 in Israel. A simple strummer of a sing-a-long song perfect for beach-bar karaoke.

#21 - "Chandelier" - Sia 
          from the album 1000 Forms Of Fear (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #7 (three weeks)
          weeks on the chart: 25 (so far in 2014 - still charting)

Yes, Dance Moms finally had a purpose. The Australian singer/songwriter who lent her songs to pop stars like Rihanna and voice to rappers like Flo Rida finally gets her own shining moment, to shun the spotlight in performances and the video, allowed Maddie Ziegler in this glorious one-take to do the visual dirty work.

I'll be back tomorrow with a proposal, butt-savvy hit, and O Brother Where Art Thou? Thou is in the club...