As the year ends, I’ll be making countdowns of my favorite things of this past year. The first list is for songs. The rules for this list are simple: 13 songs by 13 different artists that I’ve enjoyed the most over this past year. The song doesn’t necessarily have to be a 2012 year but it needs to have gotten to its maximal reach during this past year. The songs also cannot be album tracks that never became singles – yet.
Without further ado, we begin.
13 – Home – Phillip Phillips
An guitar driving a feel good simple lyric – and yet the overall result is effective enough for Home to be one of 2012′s best songs.
12 – Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men
A newcomer band with a niche sound that makes them stand out from the first note that gets played. Little Talks is one of the highlights off their album My Head Is an Animal.
11 – Madness – Muse
Many people didn’t like Muse’s newest offering. I have to disagree. It may not be a typical Muse song but Madness is really, really good. At least to me.
10 – Drunk On You – Luke Bryan
Some of its lyrics may be cheesy but Drunk On You’s hook line is gold: “I’m a little drunk on you and high on summertime.”
9 – Pontoon – Little Big Town
This summer anthem has a quirky melody to it that takes some time to get used to. But once it sticks, it’s mmm, motorboatin’.
8 – The A Team – Ed Sheeran
This well-written song about a crackhead is bound to hit a nerve somewhere.
7 – Merry Go ‘Round - Kacey Musgraves
An extremely well-written song about life in a small town where God, family and country always have to come first, limiting your prospects and what you can be. “If you ain’t got two kids by 21, you’re probably gonna die alone. At least that’s what tradition told you.”
6 – I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice
A country song about a truck? How original. Guess again.
5 – Charlie Brown – Coldplay
The third single off Mylo Xyloto is a song that makes me happy whenever I listen to it. It’s not necessarily a feel-good song, it just has this feel to it that puts it high up my top songs list.
4 – Never Let Me Go – Florence + The Machine
2012 has been a good year for Florence + The Machine. They’ve had big hits with Calvin Harris remixes. But this ballad remains one of the highlights off Ceremonials and a definite highlight of 2012.
3 – I Knew You Were Trouble. – Taylor Swift
This dubstep-influenced song is all over the place. In a good way. It might prove polarizing at first but you will soon find it stuck in your head, refusing to let go. Trouble, trouble, trouble.
2 – Springsteen – Eric Church
A mellow song of a young love set to a backdrop of The Boss’ most famous tunes. What more can you ask for?
1 – Blown Away – Carrie Underwood
I’m sure none of you expected otherwise. This song about a daughter’s vengeance is dark and mesmerizing. One of the year’s best written-songs and most multi-layered productions that give the song depth beyond the words and sound, not to mention the spot-on vocal delivery.
Filed under: Music Tagged: 2012, alternative, best of, countdown, Country, indie, music, Pop, rock, songs
