Every week from here on out, we'll take a look at the Top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and give you our take on them. Then, we'll give you our ordering of the same ten songs. In return, you let us know what you think. Are we right? Wrong? Bat-s*** crazy? Let us know.
And away-y-y we go!
#1: Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz - Album: The Heist
Everybody loves a throwback, and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis give us a great one. A dance-worthy groove built upon a sax line reminiscent of The Beastie Boys' "Brass Monkey," vocals that counter trends, and totally tongue-in-cheek lyrics (at least we hope so!) make this one with wide appeal and staying power.
#2: When I Was Your Man - Bruno Mars - Album: Unorthodox Jukebox
Passionate vocals, simple but compelling images, moving piano lines, and the hurt of unrequited love - the source of all great music - make this tune one that speaks to hearts. Although it may lie on the cusp of melodrama, it works. Really, really well.
#3: Suit & Tie - Justin Timberlake ft. Jay Z - Album: The 20/20 Experience
Hey kids! He's back! JT hits the floor of the club with a catchy comeback track that reminds us just how talented he is. But as good as it is to have the former *NSync-er back with us, this one feels a little too rehashed for us. It's so much the JT sound that, you know, it's maybe too JT. Also, we're not too keen on the overly-contrastive Jay-Z's overly contrastive bridge rap. It breaks up the good flow of the rest of the tune.
#4: Harlem Shake - Baauer - Album: Harlem Shake
As the electronic music revolution continues to "shake" up the American music scene, we'll be hearing more tunes like this one. It's great for dancing or shopping in a high fashion boutique, but we're not quite sure what else to say about it - it's a neat, but repetitive, electronic hook with no real lyrics. Check out the YouTube videos. Yes, the YouTube videos!
#5: Just Give Me A Reason - P!nk ft. Nate Ruess - Album: Just Give Me a Reason
Pink sings a love song? Pink sings a love song! With the lead singer of Fun! Well, it's a love song of a sort. It's really a song about heartbreak, albeit a hopeful one: "We're not just broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again." Featuring two sets of powerful vocals, a beautiful set of images, a solid piano-drum groove and legit harmonies that don't sound autotuned, we'd call this a tour de force of the recent resurgence of more organic, soulful vocals and music. Good work, guys. Good work.
#6: Stay - Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko - Album: Unapologetic
Pianos seem to be popping up all over in this week's songs, and we welcome it. It's an instrument with great expressive and dynamic capability, and while it's been a longtime staple of pop music, it hasn't been quite as present lately. As for this song, it's a subdued, simple reflection on love. It doesn't have the power of Pink's tune, but producer Mikky Ekko makes a strong contribution to the tune, with its harmonious, melodic bridge and all. We like this.
#7: Radioactive - Imagine Dragons - Album: Night Visions
After breaking on to the scene with "It's Time," Imagine Dragons gives us "Radioactive," an imaginative, post-apocalyptic tune with a video to match. With an intense, driving beat and free vocals, the song is reminiscent of the recent Alex Clare hit, "Too Close." While drummer-vocalist Dan Reynolds may not have Clare's vocal power, the song is unique and the vocals well-suited to the tune. NOW, ABOUT THAT VIDEO. Kids, this is wild! Watch and enjoy what I like to call "Tim Burton presents The Muppets in 'How to Kill Mexican Overlords in a Post-Apocalypse Farmhouse,'" the story of a young stuffed toy with an unexpected gift - and a penchant for revenge.
#8: Started From The Bottom - Drake - Album: Started From the Bottom [Clean]
Really? This song repeats the same hook and lyric line ad nauseam. And we don't hate rap. We just don't like bad music. Sorry, Drake - other songs are much better.
#9: Feel This Moment - Pitbull ft. Christina Aguilera - Album: Global Warming [Deluxe Edition] [Clean]
Case in point. Hardcore rap fans may shun Pitbull as too poppy, but the structure of this song, complete with its sampling of "Take On Me," makes this tune work really well. And a little XTina goes a long way. Here, she's just singing the hook, and it works. The lyrics are simple, typical of the pop-dance-electronica that's dominating the market right now, but this is a good song to dance to: fun, catchy, melodic.
#10: The Way - Ariana Grande ft. Mac Miller
At #10 this week, and drawing together the threads of numerous other songs is "The Way." A piano-based groove backs Ariana Grande's Aaliyah-esque vocals, which are complemented by Mac Miller's rap interludes. This is a solid song, not too repetitive, well-constructed, with nice vocal lines and overlays reminiscent of early Mariah. It grooves.
Our Rankings:
#10: Started from the Bottom
#9: Harlem Shake
#8: Suit & Tie
#7: Feel this Moment
#6: The Way
#5: Stay
#4: Radioactive
#3: Thrift Shop
#2: When I Was Your Man
#1: Just Give Me A Reason
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