This is an idea I had earlier this week. I thought it would be interesting to take a listen to the top 100 songs of last year, and see what I think of them. However, I decided to finish my Marshall Mathers LP review first. With that done, it's time to get started!
Number 100: "My Last" by Big Sean ft. Chris Brown
Off to a great start. I don't really know anything about Big Sean. And Chris Brown...I'm sure you can understand my dislike of him. But hey, maybe this song will be decent.
It's not, at all. First off, Big Sean and Chris Brown seem to be singing different songs. The chorus, "sung" by Chris Brown (autotuned like a mofo), focuses on his treating each drink, night, and woman like it's his last. I don't like the autotuned singing style, but I can appreciate the message of the chorus. However, it is lost on the Big Sean verses, which feature such stunning lyrics as "She's a 7 in the face, but a 10 in the ass/and she looks a lot better from the bottom of my glass". It's trying to be a slow, gentle song, but it just doesn't work with the verses. Final verdict: Not horrible, but not good, either. It's also fairly bland.
Number 99: "Colder Weather" by Zac Brown Band
I recognize their name, but I can't think of any songs by them, although they have a ton of country hits.
I'm not a huge country fan, but this song is pretty all right. The singer sounds like quite a few country singers, but the backing music is quite beautiful, and I like the lyrics, which basically focus on a man leaving his girl, and saying he'll hook up with her, but he's stuck in "colder weather", with the girl basically saying that he's a user, saying that he's a "ramblin' man" who was "born for leavin'". If you don't like country music, this song won't change your mind, but it is definitely better than "My Last".
Number 98: "You and Tequila" by Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter
Finally, someone I recognize songs by. I'm not a huge Kenny Chesney fan, but he's a decent singer, and maybe Grace Potter can give him a hand.
Doesn't happen here. The song's music is pretty nice, and Chesney and Potter have some nice chemistry. Where the song falls flat is the lyrics. Basically, the song is about a man (and woman) reliving their nights together and comparing it to tequila, where "one is one too many, and one more is never enough". That's a nice message, I suppose, but when sung in this slow, wistful way, with the music matching, it was boring for me to listen to. On top of that, Grace Potter was a bit wasted (pun unintended), since she was only used as harmonic back-up during the chorus. It could have been just about any woman in her place, and the song would not change.
Number 97: "Animal" by Neon Trees
I recognize these guys as well, since they had a big hit last year, a rarity for indie rock. What song was that again? Oh yeah..."Animal". Well, at least this song seems to have staying power.
This is the first song so far I have really enjoyed. The lead singer has a voice that reminds of The Killers, and the song is just fun to listen to. The lyrics are decent, if a bit generic. Basically, the song is the lead singer hitting on a girl, talking about wanting her, and telling her to take him. Like I said, nothing special lyrics-wise, but the energy of the song and the rather unique tone of the singer's voice help this song out a lot. I'd recommend checking it out. It's rather short as well, clocking in at only 3 and a half minutes.
Number 96: "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not" by Thompson Square
Another band I've never heard of, but I'm assuming by the title they are country.
It is a country song. As for the subject matter...you can tell easily from the title. In fact, this entire song could be imagined by plugging the title into a Country Music Generator. The back up music is generic country, the singer is a generic male country singer, and the lyrics are generic "love country" type of lyrics. The only part that really stands out is near the end, when it switches from the woman asking her love the title question, to the man asking it. Other than that, it's nothing surprising.
Number 95: "She Will" by Lil Wayne feat. Drake
I recognize both these guys. Lil Wayne is a pretty good rapper, but he's been losing some steam lately. As for Drake, he is a bit frustrating, as he is a decent singer who loves to ruin his songs by rapping needlessly, such as in "Best I Ever Had". Points for being the rarest of breeds, a non-American rapper, though (he's Canadian, eh?).
As for the song in question, have you ever wanted to hear a song that is full of "deep" lyrics that are merely confusing, and not actually as philosophical as the writer thinks they are? Well, here is your chance. An example: "And you could take that to the bank and deposit that/Put your two cents in and get a dollar back". It is, at least, sharing duties between Lil Wayne and Drake evenly, giving each equal time. But the lyrics are just bad, and the background beat is not enough to distract from that. It is good to listen to for the unintentional hilarity, but not much beyond that.
So far, not that impressed. But it'll get better, right?
Next Time: 94-90
Number 100: "My Last" by Big Sean ft. Chris Brown
Off to a great start. I don't really know anything about Big Sean. And Chris Brown...I'm sure you can understand my dislike of him. But hey, maybe this song will be decent.
It's not, at all. First off, Big Sean and Chris Brown seem to be singing different songs. The chorus, "sung" by Chris Brown (autotuned like a mofo), focuses on his treating each drink, night, and woman like it's his last. I don't like the autotuned singing style, but I can appreciate the message of the chorus. However, it is lost on the Big Sean verses, which feature such stunning lyrics as "She's a 7 in the face, but a 10 in the ass/and she looks a lot better from the bottom of my glass". It's trying to be a slow, gentle song, but it just doesn't work with the verses. Final verdict: Not horrible, but not good, either. It's also fairly bland.
Number 99: "Colder Weather" by Zac Brown Band
I recognize their name, but I can't think of any songs by them, although they have a ton of country hits.
I'm not a huge country fan, but this song is pretty all right. The singer sounds like quite a few country singers, but the backing music is quite beautiful, and I like the lyrics, which basically focus on a man leaving his girl, and saying he'll hook up with her, but he's stuck in "colder weather", with the girl basically saying that he's a user, saying that he's a "ramblin' man" who was "born for leavin'". If you don't like country music, this song won't change your mind, but it is definitely better than "My Last".
Number 98: "You and Tequila" by Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter
Finally, someone I recognize songs by. I'm not a huge Kenny Chesney fan, but he's a decent singer, and maybe Grace Potter can give him a hand.
Doesn't happen here. The song's music is pretty nice, and Chesney and Potter have some nice chemistry. Where the song falls flat is the lyrics. Basically, the song is about a man (and woman) reliving their nights together and comparing it to tequila, where "one is one too many, and one more is never enough". That's a nice message, I suppose, but when sung in this slow, wistful way, with the music matching, it was boring for me to listen to. On top of that, Grace Potter was a bit wasted (pun unintended), since she was only used as harmonic back-up during the chorus. It could have been just about any woman in her place, and the song would not change.
Number 97: "Animal" by Neon Trees
I recognize these guys as well, since they had a big hit last year, a rarity for indie rock. What song was that again? Oh yeah..."Animal". Well, at least this song seems to have staying power.
This is the first song so far I have really enjoyed. The lead singer has a voice that reminds of The Killers, and the song is just fun to listen to. The lyrics are decent, if a bit generic. Basically, the song is the lead singer hitting on a girl, talking about wanting her, and telling her to take him. Like I said, nothing special lyrics-wise, but the energy of the song and the rather unique tone of the singer's voice help this song out a lot. I'd recommend checking it out. It's rather short as well, clocking in at only 3 and a half minutes.
Number 96: "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not" by Thompson Square
Another band I've never heard of, but I'm assuming by the title they are country.
It is a country song. As for the subject matter...you can tell easily from the title. In fact, this entire song could be imagined by plugging the title into a Country Music Generator. The back up music is generic country, the singer is a generic male country singer, and the lyrics are generic "love country" type of lyrics. The only part that really stands out is near the end, when it switches from the woman asking her love the title question, to the man asking it. Other than that, it's nothing surprising.
Number 95: "She Will" by Lil Wayne feat. Drake
I recognize both these guys. Lil Wayne is a pretty good rapper, but he's been losing some steam lately. As for Drake, he is a bit frustrating, as he is a decent singer who loves to ruin his songs by rapping needlessly, such as in "Best I Ever Had". Points for being the rarest of breeds, a non-American rapper, though (he's Canadian, eh?).
As for the song in question, have you ever wanted to hear a song that is full of "deep" lyrics that are merely confusing, and not actually as philosophical as the writer thinks they are? Well, here is your chance. An example: "And you could take that to the bank and deposit that/Put your two cents in and get a dollar back". It is, at least, sharing duties between Lil Wayne and Drake evenly, giving each equal time. But the lyrics are just bad, and the background beat is not enough to distract from that. It is good to listen to for the unintentional hilarity, but not much beyond that.
So far, not that impressed. But it'll get better, right?
Next Time: 94-90
