Greatest Hits of 2014

Attention!!!

Well, compared to 2013, 2014 was a very mediocre year for music. Compared to the quality of the music produced in the previous year, 2014 did not offer much in terms of genre as well. The year focused heavily on mainstream pop with Pharrell Williams, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande leading the fray. The year also witnessed the entrance of heavyweight Meghan Trainor with her new doo-wop infused pop songs which stormed the charts worldwide. The year marked the crossover of Taylor Swift from country to pop and where she definitely proved that she can make a mark. Reggae also entered the charts again with Magic!'s Rude. The year witnessed a new low for the industry with most hits focused on butts, asses and booties. Big collaborations reached the top with Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj, Pitbull & Kesha, Jason Derulo & Snoop Dogg and Iggy Azalea & Rita Ora. Electronic Dance Music evolved further with the unique remixes of Robin Schulz and also the progressive elements incorporated by Calvin Harris and David Guetta in their new albums. Although the songs were not so great this year, the vocalists were brilliant, for instance Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Jess Glynne, Idina Menzel, Sia, Ella Henderson, Sam Martin, Rita Ora and Ariana Grande. 

This year too the list was compiled based on worldwide charts, sales and accolades received. While last year the top ten songs were most of my favorites, this year only a few can be considered as such. Pharrell Williams' best selling, award winning, chart topper Happy takes the crown followed by Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass. Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea have the most number of entries with three each followed by Zedd, Robin Schulz, Calvin Harris, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5 and Nicki Minaj having two each. So here are the greatest hits of 2014:

1. Pharrell Williams – Happy
2. Meghan Trainor – All about that bass
3. Taylor Swift – Shake it off
4. Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne – Rather be
5. Lilly Wood and the Prick – Prayer in C (Robin Schulz Remix)
6. Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – Fancy
7. John Legend – All of me
8. Katy Perry ft. Juicy J – Dark horse
9. Magic! – Rude
10. Pitbull ft. Kesha – Timber
11. Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – Problem
12. Taylor Swift – Blank space
13. Sam Smith – Stay with me
14. Idina Menzel – Let it go
15. Ed Sheeran – Thinking out loud
16. Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj – Bang bang
17. Ed Sheeran – Sing
18. Ella Henderson – Ghost
19. Sia – Chandelier
20. DJ Snake & Lil Jon – Turn down for what
21. Nico & Vinz – Am I wrong
22. Enrique Iglesias ft. Gente de Zona, Descemer Bueno & Sean Paul – Bailando
23. Nicki Minaj – Anaconda
24. Mr. Probz – Waves (Robin Schulz Remix)
25. Calvin Harris – Summer
26. Jason Derulo ft. Snoop Dogg – Wiggle
27. Rixton – Me and my broken heart
28. Iggy Azalea ft. Rita Ora – Black widow
29. Coldplay – A sky full of stars
30. Maroon 5 – Maps
31. David Guetta ft. Sam Martin – Lovers on the sun
32. Ariana Grande ft. Zedd – Break free
33. Tove Lo – Habits (stay high)
34. Shakira – Can’t remember to forget you
35. Calvin Harris ft. John Newman – Blame
36. Beyonce ft. Jay-Z – Drunk in love
37. 5 Seconds of summer – She looks so perfect
38. David Guetta ft. Skylar Grey– Shot me down
39. Kiesza – Hideaway
40. George Ezra – Budapest
41. Sam Smith – I’m not the only one
42. Jeremih ft. YG – Don’t tell ‘em
43. Maroon 5 – Animals
44. Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake – Love never felt so good
45. Zedd ft. Hayley Williams – Stay the night
46. Ed Sheeran – Don’t
47. One Direction – Steal my girl
48. Charli XCX – Boom clap
49. OneRepublic – Love runs out
50. Cheryl Cole ft. Tinie Tempah – Crazy stupid love

Till the next chord…

At Ease!!!

Best Music Videos of 2014

Attention!!!

Gone are the days when a song is only measured by its lyrics, pitch and rhythm. Now the audiences need a good video to accompany that song as well. For those of you who only listen to the radio can limit yourselves to the bygone era. However, we are now in the era of the YouTube, where millions of music videos are uploaded everyday by artists and bands all over the world. It is no secret that the best-selling artists/bands make it a point to go all out and spend on big budget videos to market their songs, which may sometimes sell or become popular mostly because of the accompanying video. Although 2014 fell short of producing controversial and entertaining videos such as Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball, We Can't Stop, Adore You and Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines, it did manage to have its own anacondas and animals in the fray. Whatever said and done, music videos are for your entertainment and the focus should not just be upon the substance and the quality of the video but also about the entertainment factor.

Taking the crown is the critically acclaimed video of Sia's Chandelier directed by Daniel Askill, featuring the young talented dancer Maddie Ziegler. Iggy Azalea with her Fancy comes in at second place with her remake and/or parody of the popular television series and movie Clueless. DJ Snake & Lil Jon's Turn Down For What comes in third and it has to be mentioned that it is probably the funniest video of the year. Iggy Azalea and Ed Sheeran have the most number of entries each with three and David Guetta, Chris Brown, Shakira, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Sam Smith all have two each. So here are the Best Music Videos of 2014 based on the quality, views and accolades received. 

1. Sia – Chandelier
   
2. Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – Fancy
   
3. DJ Snake & Lil Jon – Turn down for what
   
4. Katy Perry ft. Juicy J – Dark horse
   
5. Taylor Swift – Shake it off
   
6. Calvin Harris – Summer
   
7. Shakira ft. Carlinhos Brown – La la la (Brazil 2014)
   
8. Taylor Swift – Blank space
   
9. Enrique Iglesias ft. Gente de Zona & Descemer Bueno – Bailando
   
10. Ed Sheeran – Don’t
    
11. Sam Smith – I’m not the only one
    
12. Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – Problem
    
13. Hardwell ft. Luciana & Joey Dale – Arcadia
    
14. Ed Sheeran – Thinking out loud
    
15. Iggy Azalea ft. Rita Ora – Black widow
    
16. Ed Sheeran – Sing
    
17. Magic! – Rude
    
18. Carrie Underwood – Something in the water
    
19. Jason Derulo ft. Snoop Dogg – Wiggle
    
20. 5 Seconds of Summer – She looks so perfect
    
21. Ella Henderson – Ghost
    
22. Bobby Shmurda – Hot nigga
    
23. Lady Antebellum – Bartender
    
24. The Veronicas – You ruin me
    
25. Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Tyga – Loyal
    
26. Nicki Minaj – Anaconda
    
27. Maroon 5 – Animals
    
28. Meghan Trainor – All about that bass
    
29. David Guetta ft. Sam Martin – Dangerous
    
30. Cher Lloyd – Sirens
    
31. Pitbull ft. John Ryan – Fireball
    
32. Coldplay – Magic
    
33. Cheryl Cole ft. Tinie Tempah – Crazy stupid love
    
34. Fall Out Boy – Centuries
    
35. Shakira ft. Rihanna – Can’t remember to forget you
    
36. Sam Smith – Stay with me
    
37. Beyonce – Pretty hurts
    
38. Fifth Harmony – BO$$
    
39. Dierks Bentley – Drunk on a plane
    
40. Echosmith – Cool kids
    
41. Foxes – Let go for tonight
    
42. David Guetta ft. Sam Martin – Lovers on the sun
    
43. Little Mix – Salute
    
44. Katy Perry – This is how we do
    
45. OneRepublic – Love runs out
    
46. Lady Gaga – G.U.Y.
    
47. Jennifer Lopez ft. Iggy Azalea – Booty
    
48. Beyonce – Partition
    
49. Hozier – Take me to church
    
50. Chris Brown ft. Usher & Rick Ross – New flame
    

Till the next stream…

At Ease!!!