Greatest Hits of 2013

Attention!!!

What a year it has been in music… From twerking to controversial songs about sexual violence, we had it all. Fantastic albums topping the charts by Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, Drake and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Lyrical, musical and vocal brilliance was seen by Katy Perry, Daft Punk, Rihanna, Eminem and Taylor Swift. Dance music was evidently in the forefront with Avicii, Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, will.I.am. and Rudimental. Indie music too peaked throughout the year with Lorde, Imagine Dragons, Passenger and The Lumineers. Therefore from the popularity on the worldwide charts these are the best songs of 2013:

1. Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell Williams & T.I. – Blurred lines
2. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz – Thrift shop
3. Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams – Get lucky
4. Miley Cyrus – Wrecking ball
5. Baauer – Harlem shake
6. Imagine Dragons – Radioactive
7. OneRepublic – Counting stars
8. Avicii ft. Aloe Blocc – Wake me up
9. Katy Perry – Roar
10. Lorde – Royals
11. Pink ft. Nate Reuss – Just give me a reason
12. Miley Cyrus – We can’t stop
13. Bruno Mars – Locked out of heaven
14. Ellie Goulding – Burn
15. Will.I.Am ft. Britney Spears – Scream & shout
16. Justin Timberlake – Mirrors
17. Taylor Swift – I knew you were trouble
18. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton – Can’t hold us
19. Eminem ft. Rihanna – The monster
20. Bastille – Pompeii
21. Passenger – Let her go
22. Lily Allen – Somewhere only we know
23. Lana Del Rey vs. Cedric Gervais – Summertime sadness
24. Naughty Boy ft. Sam Smith – La la la
25. Duke Dumont ft. A.M.E. – Need U (100 percent)
26. Bingo Players ft. Far East Movement – Get up (rattle)
27. One Direction – One way or another (teenage kicks)
28. Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz – Talk dirty
29. Eminem – Berzerk
30. Pitbull ft. Ke$ha – Timber
31. Martin Garrix – Animals
32. Bruno Mars – When I was your man
33. Jay Z ft. Justin Timberlake – Holy grail
34. Rudimental ft. Ella Eyre – Waiting all night
35. Justin Timberlake ft. Jay Z – Suit & tie
36. Drake ft. Majid Jordan – Hold on, we’re going home
37. Avicii vs. Nicki Romero – I could be the one
38. Icona Pop ft. Charlie XCX – I love it
39. Florida Georgia Line ft. Nelly – Cruise
40. Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko – Stay
41. One Direction – Best song ever
42. Demi Lovato – Heart attack
43. Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding – I need ur love
44. Capital Cities – Safe and sound
45. John Newman – Love me again
46. Lady Gaga – Applause
47. Psy – Gentleman
48. The Lumineers – Ho Hey
49. Selena Gomez – Come & get it
50. Zedd ft. Foxes – Clarity

Til the next ensemble…

At Ease!!!

Ultimate Hits of the 70s

Attention!!!

The 70s is most probably an acquired taste for those of us who's childhood was in the 90s which led us to worship the artists and bands of pop and alternative. However, in the 70s we see the ascension of disco and its peak in the latter part of the decade. The decade actually belonged to rock. The mainstream was definitely hard rock as the chart toppers were mostly from the head banging artists and bands. Pop music was also gaining momentum but with slower numbers suited for the dancing of that era. There is mostly original music unlike the 90s and 2000s where artists and bands tend to sample and cover the same old song with different beats and twists. 

This list is a compilation of the greatest hits released between 1970-1979 by different artists and bands with the exception of a very few artists having collaborated on songs. I have deliberately excluded other double entries for the sole purpose of providing space for one-hit wonders and to prevent artists or bands such as Elton John, Queen and The Beatles from having double entries. Therefore, painstakingly I have had to research and find out the best song released by these artists and bands. Thus, these are the Ultimate Hits of the 70s based on chart performance as well as accolades received. 

1. Pink Floyd – Another brick in the wall Part II
2. Olivia Newton John & John Travolta – You’re the one that I want
3. Bee Gees – Tragedy
4. Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over troubled water
5. Gloria Gaynor – I will survive
6. John Lennon – Imagine
7. Queen – Bohemian rhapsody
8. Blondie – Heart of glass
9. Elton John & Kiki Dee – Don’t go breaking my heart
10. ABBA – Dancing queen
11. The Beatles – Let it be
12. Debby Boone – You light up my life
13. George Harrison – My sweet lord
14. Carl Douglas – Kung fu fighting
15. Anita Ward – Ring my Bell
16. Chicago – If you leave me now
17. Roberta Flack – Killing me softly with his song
18. Glen Campbell – Rhinestone cowboy
19. Ray Stevens – The Streak
20. Boney M – Rivers of Babylon
21. Harry Nilsson – Without you
22. Neil Diamond – Cracklin’ Rosie
23. Elvis Presley – Burning love
24. Chic – Le freak
25. Leo Sayer – When I need you
26. The Rolling Stones – Angie
27. Gilbert O’ Sullivan – Alone again (naturally)
28. Village People – Y.M.C.A.
29. Donny Osmond – Puppy love
30. Wings – Silly love songs
31. Marvin Gaye – Let’s get it on
32. Carole King – It’s too late
33. Barry White – You’re the first, the last, my everything
34. Terry Jacks – Seasons in the sun
35. Van McCoy – The hustle
36. Rod Stewart – Da ya think I’m sexy
37. Don McClean – American pie
38. George McCrae – Rock your baby
39. Michael Jackson – Don’t stop til you get enough
40. Led Zeppelin – Whole lotta love
41. Barbra Streisand – Evergreen
42. BJ Thomas – Raindrops keep falling on my head
43. Elton John – Crocodile rock
44. The Carpenters – Top of the world
45. Chuck Berry – My ding-a-ling
46. KC and the Sunshine Band – That’s the way (I like it)
47. Eagles – Hotel California
48. Jackson 5 – I’ll be there
49. Hues Corporation – Rock the boat
50. Stevie Wonder – Superstition
51. A Taste of Honey – Boogie, oogie, oogie
52. Tony Orlando and Dawn – Knock three times
53. The Knack – My Sharona
54. Carly Simon – You’re so vain
55. America – A horse with no name
56. David Soul – Don’t give up on us  
57. Smokey Robinson and The Miracles – The tears of a clown
58. Cliff Richard – We don’t talk anymore
59. Al Green – Let’s stay together
60. The Emotions – Best of my love
61. The Moody Blues – Nights in white satin
62. Minnie Riperton – Lovin’ you
63. James Taylor – You’ve got a friend
64. Mud – Tiger feet
65. The Three Degrees – When will I see you again
66. Wild Cherry – Play that funky music
67. The Buggles – Video killed the radio star
68. Andy Gibb – Shadow dancing
69. Diana Ross – Do you know where you’re going to
70. Johnny Nash – I can see clearly now
71. Helen Reddy – I am woman
72. Sonny and Cher – All I ever need is you
73. Barry Manilow – Mandy
74. The Police – Message in a bottle
75. The Pretenders – Brass in pocket
76. Donna Summer – Hot stuff
77. Sly and the Family Stone – Family affair
78. Tammy Wynette – Stand by your man
79. Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand – You don’t bring me flowers
80. M – Pop Muzik
81. Anne Murray – You needed me
82. Janis Joplin – Me and Bobby McGee
83. Meco – Star Wars Theme
84. Freddie Fender – Before the next teardrop falls
85. David Bowie – Fame
86. T. Rex – Get it on
87. The Temptations – Just my imagination (running away with me)
88. The Manhattans – Kiss and say goodbye
89. Olivia Newton John – I honestly love you
90. Styx – Babe
91. Bill Withers – Lean on me
92. Peaches & Herb – Reunited
93. Yvonne Elliman – If I can’t have you
94. Melanie Safka – Brand new key
95. The Osmonds – One bad apple
96. Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon delight
97. Gladys Knight & the Pips – Midnight train to Georgia
98. Silver Connection – Fly Robin Fly
99. The Partridge Family – I think I love you
100. Earth, Wind & Fire – Shining star
101. Eric Clapton – I shot the sheriff
102. Commodores – Three times a lady
103. Rose Royce – Car wash
104. Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
105. Kate Bush – Wuthering heights
106. Ringo Starr – You’re sixteen
107. Middle of the Road – Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
108. Tina Charles – I love to love (but my baby loves to dance)
109. The Stylistics – You make me feel brand new
110. Edison Lighthouse – Love grows (where my Rosemary goes)
111. Andy Kim – Rock me gently
112. Bay City Rollers – Bye bye baby
113. The New Seekers – I’d like to teach the world to sing
114. The Four Seasons – December, 1963 (Oh what a night)
115. Art Garfunkel – I only have eyes for you
116. Neil Young – Heart of gold
117. Mary MacGregor – Torn between two lovers
118. Brotherhood of Man – Save your kisses for me
119. Tubeway Army – Are ‘friends’ electric?
120. MFSB & The Three Degrees – TSOP (The sound of Philadelphia)
121. Herb Albert – Rise
122. Jim Croce – Time in a bottle
123. David Cassidy – How I can I be sure
124. Mac Davis – Baby don’t get hooked on me
125. The Rubettes – Sugar baby love
126. Dr. Hook – When you’re in love with a beautiful woman
127. Cher – Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves
128. Billy Paul – Me & Mrs. Jones
129. Ohio Players – Love rollercoaster
130. Gary Glitter – I love you love me love
131. The Guess Who – American woman
132. Dionne Warwick & The Spinners – Then came you
133. Neil Sedaka – Bad blood
134. Billy Preston – Nothing from nothing
135. Rupert Holmes – Escape (The Pina Colada Song)
136. Slade – Mama weer all crazee now
137. Shaun Cassidy – Da doo ron ron
138. Bread – Make it with you
139. Dave Edmunds – I hear you knocking
140. Pussycat – Mississipi
141. Suzi Quatro – Can the can
142. Gary Numan – Cars
143. Lena Martell – One day at a time
144. Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell – Dueling banjos
145. The Boomtown Rats – I don’t like Mondays
146. Windsor Davies and Don Estelle – Whispering grass
147. 10cc – I’m not in love
148. David Essex – Hold me close
149. Sweet – Fox on the run
150. Earth, Wind & Fire & The Emotions – Boogie wonderland
151. The Spinners – Working my way back to you/Forgive me girl
152. Ken Boothe – Everything I own
153. The Manhattan Transfer – Chanson d’amour
154. Player – Baby come back
155. Paper Lace – Billy don’t be a hero
156. Jean Knight – Mr. Big stuff
157. Johnnie Taylor – Disco lady
158. Three Dog Night – Joy to the world
159. Showaddywaddy – Under the moon of love
160. Vicky Lawrence – The night the lights went out in Georgia
161. The Chi-Lites – Oh girl
162. Linda Ronstadt – Blue bayou
163. Rick Dees – Disco duck
164. Creedance Clearwater Revival – Travelin’ band
165. The Supremes – Stoned love
166. Tom Jones – She’s a lady
167. Status Quo – Down down
168. Lieutenant Pigeon – Mouldy old dough
169. Exile – Kiss you all over
170. Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams – Too much, too little, too late
171. Smokie – Living next door to Alice
172. Ian Dury and the Blockheads – Hit me with your rhythm stick
173. Bob Marley – No woman no cry
174. The Sylvers – Boogie fever
175. Aretha Franklin – Spanish harlem
176. Sammy Davis Jr. – The candy man
177. Bob Dylan – Knockin’ on heaven’s door
178. Pilot – January
179. Freda Payne – Band of gold
180. Boston – More than a feeling
181. Paul Anka & Odia Coates – (You’re) having my baby
182. Wizzard – See my baby jive
183. Aerosmith – Dream on
184. Jimmy Osmond – Long haired lover from Liverpool
185. Hot Chocolate – You sexy thing
186. Sex Pistols – God save the Queen
187. Julie Covington – Don’t cry for me Argentina
188. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet home Alabama
189. Stories – Brother Louie
190. James Brown – Get up (I feel like being a) sex machine
191. Frankie Valli – Grease
192. Black Sabbath – Paranoid
193. Peters and Lee – Welcome home
194. Deep Purple – Smoke on the water
195. Five Stairsteps – O-o-h child 
196. Alvin Stardust – My coo ca choo
197. Seals and Crofts – Get closer
198. Roxy Music – Love is the drug
199. Barry Biggs – Sideshow
200. Cheap Trick – I want you to want me

Til the next beat…

At Ease!!!

Xposition - November 2013

Attention!!!

November, proved to be a very interesting month although with very little or no activity on the charts but the three awards ceremonies proved otherwise as the American Music Awards 2013 made clear statements via performances, the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards brought out the stunts in Miley Cyrus and the first ever YouTube Music Awards were held. 

The first ever YouTube Music Awards were held on 3 November 2013 in New York City. There were performances by Lady Gaga singing Dope and Eminem with Rap God. There were six categories and the winners are:

• Video of the Year: Girls' Generation - I got a boy
• Artist of the Year: Eminem
• Response of the Year: Lindsey Stirling and Pentatonix - Radioactive (Imagine Dragons Cover)
• YouTube Phenomenon: Taylor Swift - I knew you were trouble
• YouTube Breakthrough: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
• Innovation of the Year: DeStorm - See me standing

The 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards were held on 10 November 2013 at the Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, Netherlands. The pre-show was done by Ylvis with their addictive hit - The Fox (What does the fox say?) and the opening act was none other than Miley Cyrus singing We can't stop. However, controversy struck again with Cyrus twerking on stage with a little person and then smoking what appears to be a joint (weed/marijuana) when she came to accept her award. 

The other performers at the EMAs included Robin Thicke and Iggy Azalea with Blurred Lines and Feel Good, Katy Perry with Unconditionally, Bruno Mars with Gorilla, Icona Pop with I Love It, Eminem with a medley of Berzerk and Rap God and of course Miley Cyrus performing again with her hit Wrecking Ball. The winners of the night in the significant categories were:

• Best Song: Bruno Mars - Locked out of heaven
• Best Video: Miley Cyrus - Wrecking ball
• Best Female Artist: Katy Perry
• Best Male Artist: Justin Bieber
• Best New Act: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
• Best Pop: One Direction
• Best Rock: Green Day
• Best Alternative: Thirty Second to Mars
• Best Electronic: Avicii
• Best Hip-Hop: Eminem
• Artist on the Rise - Austin Mahone
• Global Icon - Eminem

The 41st American Music Awards were held on 24 November at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles. Taylor Swift was the biggest winner of the night with 4 wins followed by Justin Timberlake with 3. The show started off with a stunning performance by Katy Perry with Unconditionally. This was followed by performances of One Direction, Ariana Grande, Imagine Dragons, Rihanna, Luke Bryan, TLC and Kendrick Lamar. Performances that were noteworthy were by Pitbull and Ke$ha singing Timber, Florida Georgia Line and Nelly singing Cruise/Ride With Me and Lady Gaga and R.Kelly singing Do What U Want, but of course it was Miley Cyrus who closed the show with a weird yet brilliant performance of Wrecking Ball, which showed the world this girl can really sing, despite her publicity stunts. In Gaga's performance she ended with the screens all portraying the negative publicity she has got from the media, and she ended with Do What U Want… how is that for a public statement. The winners of the significant categories are:

• Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift 
• New Artist of the Year: Ariana Grande]
• Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist: Justin Timberlake 
• Favourite Pop/Rock Female Artist: Taylor Swift
• Favourite Pop/Rock Band: One Direction
• Favourite Country Male Artist: Luke Bryan
• Favourite Country Female Artist: Taylor Swift
• Favourite Country Band: Lady Antebellum
• Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
• Favourite Soul/R&B Male Artist: Justin Timberlake
• Favourite Soul/R&B Female Artist: Rihanna
• Favourite Alternative Artist: Imagine Dragons
• Favourite Electronic Dance Music Artist: Avicii
• Single of the Year: Florida Georgia Line ft. Nelly - Cruise
• Icon Award 2013: Rihanna

In the UK Eminem ft. Rihanna dethroned Lorde's Royals in the first week with The Monster, their second hit collaboration since Love The Way You Lie. Storm Queen peaked in the second week with Look Right Through and then Martin Garrix with Animals in the third week. Lily Allen's cover of Keane's Somewhere Only We Know peaked in the final week. 

In the US Lorde held onto the numero uno for the whole month running into her eighth week at the top. Eminem's The Monster could be a contender to dethrone Royals, but there is also other hits climbing the charts slowly but steadily such as OneRepublic's Counting Stars which already was No.1 in the UK and Pitbull ft. Ke$ha's Timber which may prove to be the lucky winner. 

Some of the other songs that came out during November which are noteworthy are:

• Imagine Dragons - Demons
• Bastille - Of the Night
• Ellie Goulding - How Long Will I Love You
• Gary Barlow - Let Me Go
• Lily Allen - Hard Out Here 
• Little Mix - Move
• The Wanted - Show Me Love (America)
• Tinie Tempah ft. John Martin - Children of the Sun

Til the next ensemble…

At Ease!!!

Naughtiest Songs of All Time

Attention!!!

Not all songs are about love and neither are the rest about heartbreak. There is a particular small niche that is lyrically explicit and downright cheeky. They are mostly about sex, wanting to have sex or anything related to sex. Some of us may not like these mischievous songs and some might even go to the extent of condemning these songs, but I like these dirty or naughty songs as you may call them whatever. Besides most of these songs are hits on the charts, which goes to show that I am definitely not alone in this world. So here are the songs which I think are the dirtiest and naughtiest of them all. 

1. 50 Cent – Candy shop
2. Pink – Fingers
3. Inner Circle – Sweat (La la la la long)
4. Lil Wayne – Lollipop
5. Nicki Minaj – Anaconda 
6. Lily Allen – Not fair
7. Eminem – Ass like that
8. Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell & T.I. – Blurred lines
9. Katy Perry – I kissed a girl
10. Black Eyed Peas – My humps
11. E-Rotic – Help me Dr.Dick
12. Enrique ft. Ludacris – Tonight (I’m fucking you)
13. Pink – U + ur hand
14. Nelly – Hey Porsche
15. Sisquo – Thong song
16. Kelis – Milkshake
17. Snoop Dogg ft. David Guetta – Sweat
18. Britney Spears – 3
19. Sir Mix-a-Lot – Baby got back
20. Salt N’ Pepa – Push it
21. Rihanna ft. Britney Spears – S&M
22. Mohombi – In your bed
23. E-Rotic – Fred come to bed
24. Kevin Lyttle – Turn me on
25. Fergie – London bridge
26. Jeremih – Birthday sex
27. New Boyz ft. The Cataracs & Dev – Backseat
28. Akon ft. Eminem – Smack that
29. Pussycat Dolls – Buttons
30. LL Cool J ft. Jennifer Lopez – Control myself
31. Usher – Scream
32. R.Kelly – Bump n’ grind
33. Madcon ft. Ameerah – Freaky like me
34. Taio Cruz ft. Ke$ha – Dirty picture
35. Lily Allen – Hard out here
36. Beyonce – Naughty girl
37. Justin Timberlake – SexyBack
38. Britney Spears – I’m a slave 4 u
39. Mohombi – Bumpy ride
40. Salt N’ Pepa – Let’s talk about sex
41. Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz – Talk dirty
42. Akon – I wanna fuck you
43. David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj – Turn me on
44. Nelly – Hot in herre  
45. NWA – She swallowed it
46. Wynter Gordon – Dirty talk
47. T-Pain – Take your shirt off
48. Vengaboys – Boom, boom, boom, boom
49. Ginuwine – Pony
50. Natalia Kills – Mirrors
51. Jason Derulo ft. Snoop Dogg – Wiggle 
52. Shaggy ft. Sean Paul – Hey! Sexy lady

Til the next beat…

At Ease!!!