2018 Recap: A Year in Music

Attention!!!

Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for. It’s time to say goodbye to 2018. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be, and no tears will be left to cry for the past year. It’s a no brainer that it was a fantastic year for music. According to God’s plan all the stars aligned for Rap & Hip-Hop, as if I’m taken back to 2002. I like it how the Spanglish resurgence incorporated Rap and EDM into its fold. I've told you one, two, three, four, five, six thousand times that the recap is always under seven segments: genres, albums, singles, milestones, shockers, talent and obituaries. While we will never be the same after 2018, we have high hopes for 2019; thank u, next:

1.  Genres

The most conspicuous changes in the mainstream genres were:

• Continuing their reign from last year Rap and Hip-Hop ruled the first half of the year with Cloud Rap being the main subgenre on the charts.
• Pop which took a backseat to the new trends in fusion music resurfaced in the latter half of the year.
• The next phase of the Latin resurgence was the fusion of the genre with EDM and Rap with some hits and a few epic fails.
• Mega collaborations was the order of the day be it any genre.
• K-Pop conquered the world with BTS and BLACKPINK leading the fray.
• The age of Hard Rock and Metal is definitely over with the few hits from the genre being produced only by mainstream artists.
• Country music had a big year with the genre doing well on the charts particularly due to crossover artists.  
• It was a great year for movie musicals with their soundtracks performing extremely well. 

2. Albums

Some of the best albums released in 2018 were:

• Migos – Culture II (3rd studio album)
• Justin Timberlake – Man of the Woods (5th studio album)
• George Ezra – Staying at Tamara’s (2nd studio album)
• Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour (4th studio album)
• CNCO – CNCO (2nd studio album)
• Kylie Minogue – Golden (14th studio album)
• Charlie Puth – Voicenotes (2nd studio album)
• Maluma – F.A.M.E. (3rd studio album)
• Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes (3rd studio album)
• J Balvin – Vibras (5th studio album)
• Marshmello – Joytime II (2nd studio album)
• Panic! At the Disco – Pray for the Wicked (6th studio album)
• Ariana Grande – Sweetener (4th studio album)
• Post Malone – Beerbongs & Bentleys (2nd studio album)
• Lily Allen – No Shame (4th studio album)
• Jess Glynne – Always in Between (2nd studio album)
• Christina Aguilera – Liberation (8th studio album)
• Drake – Scorpion (5th studio album)
• 5 Seconds of Summer – Youngblood (3rd studio album)
• Eminem – Kamikaze (10th studio album)
• BTS – Love Yourself: Tear (3rd Korean studio album)
• XXXTentacion – ? (2nd studio album)
• Nicki Minaj – Queen (4th studio album)
• Clean Bandit – What is Love? (2nd studio album)
• Rita Ora – Phoenix (2nd studio album)
• Little Mix – LM5 (5th studio album) 

Most of the anticipated albums in 2018 were debut studio albums:

• Camila Cabello – Camila 
• Sigala – Brighter Days
• Bebe Rexha – Expectations
• Alan Walker – Different World
• Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
• Anne-Marie – Speak Your Mind
• Calum Scott – Only Human
• Jorja Smith – Lost & Found
• Mike Shinoda – Post Traumatic 

3. Singles

• Drake’s God’s Plan topped the charts in 14 countries and entered the top ten in 9 others and ended the year as the most successful single of the year.
• Camila Cabello who left the girl band Fifth Harmony in 2016 achieved monumental global fame with her summer smash hit Havana featuring Young Thug.
• Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B’s Girls Like You was the most watched music video of 2018 with over 1.5 billion views. Due to this being her third chart topper, Cardi B extended her record in the US for most number ones by a female rapper.
• BTS’ Fake Love became the highest charting K-Pop single by a group in the US while BLACKPINK became the highest charting K-Pop female act with Ddu Du Ddu Du.
• Ariana Grande revisited the noughties in her Thank U, Next video which became her most successful hit to date and broke the record for most-watched video on YouTube within 24 hours by achieving 55.4 million views passing BTS’ Idol.
• With the success of Drake’s In My Feelings boosted by the Kiki Challenge, biggest viral sensation on social media made the artist the rapper with the most number ones in the US.
• Little Mix left Simon Cowell’s record label Syco Music over creative differences particularly their hit Woman Like Me featuring Nicki Minaj.
• Lady Gaga returned to the top of the charts with Shallow a duet with Bradley Cooper from the soundtrack of their box office hit movie musical A Star is Born.
• Lauryn Hill’s 1998-hit Ex-Factor was sampled by Drake and Cardi B in their hits Nice for What and Be Careful respectively. 
• Panic! At the Disco scored their biggest hit to date with High Hopes surpassing the success of I Write Sins Not Tragedies way back in 2006.
• Dad blogger LadBaby claimed the coveted Christmas No.1 with his cover of Starship's We Built This City beating stiff competition from Ariana Grande's Thank U, Next and Ava Max's Sweet But Psycho. 
• Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You became the first Christmas song in 60 years to enter the top 5 in the US reaching a peak of No.3. 
• Pinkfong's Baby Shark became a viral hit with over 2 billion views on YouTube and several artists such as BLACKPINK and Girls Generation covering the song and parodies being done on talk shows such as Ellen Degeneres and James Corden and a performance at the X Factor final. 
• Drake's In My Feelings was the biggest viral sensation of the year with the Kiki Challenge being performed around the world and with its success, Drake became the rapper with the most number one hits in the US. 

4. Milestones

• Bruno Mars took home the big 3 at the Grammy Awards with Record of the Year for 24K Magic, Album of the Year for 24K Magic and Song of the Year for That’s What I Like
• Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards for Remember Me from Coco
• US President Donald Trump awarded the late Elvis Presley, the Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Martin Garrix took the No.1 spot on the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs for 2018
• Ariana Grande was named Billboard Woman of the Year
• BTS became the youngest recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit from the South Korean government.
• Jess Glynne broke Cheryl Cole’s record for most number ones by a British female artist in the UK with 7 chart toppers.
• Billboard Hot 100 celebrated its 60th anniversary in August.
• Jennifer Lopez received the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards
• Justin Timberlake performed at the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show
• Daddy Yankee was awarded the Icon Award for his contribution to Latin Music and Maluma was awarded the Extraordinary Evolution Award at the Latin American Music Awards
• Janet Jackson received the Icon Awards at the MTV Europe Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Radio Disney Music Awards
• Wolf Alice’s Visions of a Life won the coveted Mercury Prize
• Dame Kiri Te Kanawa was awarded the Member of the Order of Companions of Honour in the Queen’s 2019 Birthday Honours
• Kelly Clarkson was honored with the Icon Award at the Radio Disney Music Awards
• Mary Poppins Returns, the sequel to Walt Disney’s beloved musical-fantasy film was released after a lapse of 54 years starring Emily Blunt in the titular role.
• Cher, Reba McEntire, Philip Glass and Wayne Shorter were the honorees at the Kennedy Center Honors. 
• Taylor Swift became the most awarded female winner in American Music Awards history with a total of 23 awards, breaking the record held by Whitney Houston.

5. Shockers

• Spice Girls excluding Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) announced their much anticipated return with the Spice World 2019 Tour with 13 shows.
• Boyzone released their seventh and final album Thank You & Goodnight marking their 25th anniversary and a farewell tour with the same name.
• Tulisa won the legal battle against Will.I.Am and Britney Spears for Scream & Shout ensuring a songwriting credit.
• The remaining members of Fifth Harmony declared a hiatus to pursue solo endeavors.
• The final judgment was delivered in favour of the Marvin Gaye estate in the Blurred Lines copyright suit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams.
• Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso confirmed that Swedish House Mafia have reunited and will tour and release new music in 2019.
• The rap beef between Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly reached a climax with Not Alike released by Eminem with a response by MGK with Rap Devil and the final cannon shot at MGK by Eminem with Killshot.
• In her new memoir, Brutally Honest, Spice Girl Mel B revealed that just before the X Factor UK final in 2014 where she was a judge she had taken 200 aspirin pills in an attempt to end her life due to her difficult marriage to Stephen Belafonte.
• 6ix9ine was arrested by US police for racketeering and conspiracy murder charges and if found guilty, the rapper may face 32 years to life in prison.
• In the Woolsey Fires that burned through California several artists’ homes including that of Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke and Lil Pump were burned to the ground.

6. Talent

Here are the winners of those talent/reality contests which produce some of the best artists:

• 63rd Eurovision Song Contest – Israel with Netta’s Toy
• The X Factor (15th Season) – Dalton Harris mentored by Louis Tomlinson  
• The Voice (14th Season) – Brynn Cartelli coached by Kelly Clarkson
• The Voice UK (7th Season) – Ruti Olajugbagbe coached by Sir Tom Jones
• The Voice (15th Season) – Chevel Shepherd coached by Kelly Clarkson
• The Four: Battle for Stardom (1st Season) – Evvie McKinney
• The Four: Battle for Stardom (2nd Season) – James Graham 

7. Obituaries

• Ray Thomas of The Moody Blues (29 December 1941 – 04 January 2018)
• Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries (06 September 1971 – 15 January 2018)
• Mark Salling of former Glee Cast (17 August 1982 – 30 January 2018)
• Dennis Edwards of The Temptations (03 February 1943 – 01 February 2018)
• Barbara Alston of The Crystals (29 December 1943 – 16 February 2018)
• Yvonne Staples of The Staple Singers (23 October 1937 – 10 April 2018)
• Avicii (08 September 1989 – 20 April 2018)
• XXXTentacion (23 January 1998 – 18 June 2018)
• Vinnie Paul of Pantera (11 March 1964 – 22 June 2018)
• Aretha Franklin (25 March 1942 – 16 August 2018)
• Ed King of Lynrd Skynyrd(14 September 1949 – 22 August 2018)
• Mac Miller (19 January 1992 – 07 September 2018)
• Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane/Starship (30 January 1942 – 27 September 2018)
• Freddie Hart (21 December 1926 – 27 October 2018)
• Roy Clark (15 April 1933 – 15 November 2018)
• Devin Lima of LFO (18 March 18 1977 – 21 November 2018)

Till next year...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - September, 2018

Attention!!!

First up in September we have the prestigious Mercury Prize 2018. Wolf Alice won the prestigious award bestowed on the best of UK and Irish music for their album Visions of a Life. The group saw stiff competition from fan favorites Lily Allen, Florence + The Machine and Arctic Monkeys.

Next up we have two award ceremonies which announced their nominations. Drake and Cardi B led the nominations at the 2018 American Music Awards with 8 nods each. Drake will face off against Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons and Post Malone for Artist of the Year while Cardi B was up against Camila Cabello, Khalid, Dua Lipa and posthumously XXXTentacion for New Artist of the Year.

The Latin American Music Awards 2018 also announced their list of nominees with Ozuna and J Balvin leading the tally with 9 nominations each. Both are up for Artist of the Year as well as Favorite Male Artist and Album of the Year for Odisea (Ozuna) and Vibras (J Balvin). In addition, J Balvin is up for two nods in the Song of the Year for X with Nicky Jam and Mi Gente with Willy William ft. Beyonce and Ozuna for being featured on Wisin’s Escapate Commigo. Close behind is Nicky Jam with 8 nods who is also up for Artist of the Year, Favorite Male Artist and Album of the Year for Fenix.

The devastating deaths in the music industry continue as rapper Mac Miller died of an apparent overdose at the age of 26. Miller was found dead in his San Fernando Valley home. Prior to this Miller admitted he had been struggling with drugs and addiction issues.

In more morbid news, a coroner’s report has confirmed the cause of death of the lead vocalist of The Cranberries, Dolores O’Riordan. The singer who passed away in January evidently died by drowning due to alcohol intoxication.

The latest rap beef is Eminem vs. Machine Gun Kelly. The bad blood between the two was due to MGK derogatory remarks about Eminem’s daughter Hailie on Twitter. Thereafter, MGK accused Eminem of blackballed him from major record labels. The beef escalated to a war when Eminem released his Not Alike from his surprise new album Kamikaze. This led to MGK’s retort with Rap Devil a direct reference to Eminem’s Rap God. Eminem fired his final torpedo with a brilliant track – Killshot – which demolished MGK and literally put to rest the warfare with Eminem as the victor.

As a part of Global Sound’s initiative to bring the best of EDM to Sri Lanka, Alan Walker performed live as the headline artist of a set which included Lost Stories and Ella Rose. At the venue he performed his latest unreleased single Diamond Hearts ft. Sophia Somajo.

In chart news in the US, Drake continued at the top with In My Feelings throughout the month which was however overthrown by Maroon 5 & Cardi B’s Girls Like You in the last week. During the month Ariana Grande’s God is a Woman, Khalid & Normani’s Love Lies and Eminem’s Killshot all entered the top 10.  

In the UK, Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid’s Eastside began the month at the top, which was however short lived as Calvin Harris & Sam Smith’s Promises stormed to No.1 in the second week and remained at the top for the rest of the month. During the month Marshmello & Bastille’s Happier, Kanye West & Lil Pump’s I Love It and Juice Wrld’s Lucid Dreams all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1.       Dean Lewis – Be alright

2.       Silk City & Dua Lipa – Electricity   

3.       BLACKPINK – Ddu-du ddu-du

4.       Jason Derulo & David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj & Willy William – Goodbye

5.       LSD – Thunderclouds

6.       Dynoro & Gigi D'Agostino – In my mind 

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Most Overrated Hits of 2017

Attention!!!

Two new compilations were added to the year-end lists last year, which I hope to continue. Giving more value and recognition than it deserves is the very definition which we will explore in this list, particularly in the music industry in the yesteryear. Unlike last year, I will give the justification for the songs being classified as overrated. This list takes a closer look where the music industry went wayward in 2017. For a year that was dominated by Pop the genre experienced its highest highs and the lowest lows. Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You takes the crown followed by Demi Lovato’s Sorry Not Sorry and Miley Cyrus’ Malibu. This list like the year itself is dominated by Pop with a few Rap entries. So here are the 10 most overrated hits of 2017 (there are 5 dishonorable mentions included as well):

1. Ed Sheeran – Shape of you

Some of you may wonder why I gave this unpalatable position to the reigning pauper prince of pop; but let me tell you why last year’s global numero uno tops this list. Shape of you may have a catchy tune, but dubious similarities between TLC’s 90s global smash No Scrubs led to Sheeran naming the producers/writers of No Scrubs as songwriters of the song. Moreover, no one can deny that the beat is also very similar to Sia’s Cheap Thrills, the dancehall hit which preceded Shape of You. Given Sheeran’s notorious past with alleged plagiarism with Matt Cardle’s Amazing for his hit Photograph, I’m not loving the shape of this song.

2. Demi Lovato – Sorry not sorry

An annoying peppy girl power anthem released during the summer with a chorus full of repetitive lyrics is bound to be a hit, especially when it is sung by a popular artist whose social media following is through the roof. This braggadocious track is Lovato’s most successful hit to date trumping the likes of Skyscraper and Cool for the Summer, which are some of her better work. Demi I’m sorry, not sorry for dissing this song. 

3. Miley Cyrus – Malibu

Cyrus is a classic case of an early life crisis. After the tiresome perky Hannah Montana days Cyrus proved that she cannot be tamed nor stopped, as the twerking young star went gaga. Crossing over to the dark side, her music changed drastically alongside her persona and wardrobe. So, when she returned to the mainstream with Malibu four years after Wrecking Ball, we were all shocked that it was not shocking. The transition to the hillbilly roots of her father may be as a result of her relationship with Liam Hemsworth, who may have inspired the song. So we will have to leave her in Malibu with her mediocre music, as we won’t fall for another overrated hit from her. 

4. DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper, Quavo and Lil Wayne – I’m the one

When a DJ/producer cannot sing they recruit vocal powerhouses such as Sia, Nicki Minaj or Usher. But what happens when they opt for some of the most popular artists of the time. I’m the One is a result of a mammoth collaboration of the most popular Pop act (Bieber), the most critically acclaimed rapper (Chance), the most popular rapper (Quavo) and of course most hits on Billboard Hot 100 Wayne); even then what we received was a production of varying rap verses tied together loosely by Bieber’s chorus. Oh DJ Khaled! We don’t want another one. 

5. Taylor Swift – Look what you made me do

What do you do, when you break up? Curl up into a ball and cry in bed. But Swift channels her emotion from a breakup into producing a global hit. With the hype surrounding her latest album Reputation, Swift targeted all the celebrities she had ‘bad blood’ with at the time. In addition, she made it seem like her sound had evolved from the previous peppy Pop to that of an edgier and darker version. However, this attempt failed abysmally as the electroclash adopted was a genre fiasco while the usual pettiness of her lyrics remained. I’m sorry but we need the old Taylor back.    

6. Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – Chained to the rhythm

Katy Perry is not new to overrated hits. Her California Gurls, Firework and Teenage Dreams are mediocre Pop songs that have all topped the charts, following the anticipation of their release rather than their quality. This again is evident from the initial success of Chained to the Rhythm which featured the grandson of Bob Marley which was an unpleasant surprise. Due to the mediocrity of the lead single off her album Witness, the later singles suffered as Bon Apetit and Swish Swish failed to obtain any proper success although they were much better than Chained to the Rhythm.  

7. Eminem ft. Beyoncé – Walk on water

Eminem’s last proper hit was The Monster back in 2013 with Rihanna. Thereafter, whatever success he experienced was average at best. So Marshall Mathers explored avenues for his comeback. Reverting to his old sound he recruited the major names in the industry at the time for his Revival album out of which Walk on Water was the lead single featuring Beyonce. Did it achieve hit status because of his much hyped up return or was it due to the biggest diva being featured? We will never know. Expectations were high on this one, but he failed to deliver.  

8. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito

Don’t get me wrong, the original Latin sultry rendition of Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee is something to be praised, but this is about the Bieber Spanglish remix which launched the song into the mainstream. While the song deserves its due as a brilliant production, the hype of it is overrated as the phenomenon that unleashed Latin music into the mainstream is unbelievable. Enrique Iglesias ft. Gente De Zona and Descemer Bueno’s Bailando is a much better production and a better Latin dance song overall. However, Iglesias missed the top of the charts whereas Fonsi ruled the global charts for a while. 

9. Zedd & Alessia Cara – Stay

This is yet another hit which was a result of an unsavory partnership. While I love Zedd’s and Cara’s music individually, this is a collaboration that should never have happened. While Cara’s vocals must be commended, the song itself is mediocre where the tempo and the beat are all off. Zedd’s follow up singles Get Low and Happy Now were much better than Stay while Cara has still been unable to produce a hit as great as her Here. 

10. Kyle ft. Lil Yachty – iSpy

There is a Rap song every year that somehow becomes hyped up due to a catchy beat or lyrics and reaches the higher echelons of the global charts. Last year it was Desiigner’s Panda which went viral due to sampling Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo. This year Kyle managed to achieve this with an annoying beat, coupled with an even more irritating and nonsensical set of lyrics. Recruiting Lil Yachty who had a hit with Broccoli in 2016 also helped him gain chart mileage.  

Dishonorable mentions:
11. Big Sean – Bounce back
12. Halsey – Now or never
13. Khalid – Location
14. Migos – T-shirt
15. Aminé – Caroline

Till the next chord...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - February, 2018

Attention!!!

Although the Grammys are over, we are not done with the awards season, as we have UK’s biggest music night to celebrate with Dua Lipa and Stormzy emerging as the top winners at the 2018 BRIT Awards. Lipa took home British Breakthrough and British Female while Stormzy took home the British Male and the coveted Album of the Year for Gang Signs and Prayer. The night’s memorable performances included Dua Lipa with her summer smash New Rules, Ed Sheeran with Supermarker Flowers, Rita Ora with a medley of Your Song, Anywhere and For You accompanied by Liam Payne and a surprise performance by Liam Gallagher with Oasis hit Live Forever. Other recipients include:

·         British Group: Gorillaz

·         British Producer of the Year: Steve Mac

·         British Single: Rag ‘n’ Bone Man – Human

·         British Artist Video of the Year: Harry Styles – Sign of the Times

·         International Male Solo Artist: Kendrick Lamar

·         International Female Solo Artist: Lorde

·         International Group: Foo Fighters

·         BRITs Global Success Award: Ed Sheeran

In other music news, Justin Timberlake performed at the Pepsi Super Bowl LII Halftime Show. With mixed to negative reviews, Timberlake had big shoes to fill as Lady Gaga put on quite a legendary performance the year before. Introduced by none other than Jimmy Fallon, Timberlake performed a medley of songs including his newest single at the time Filthy and his former hits Rock Your Body, Senorita, SexyBack, My Love, Cry Me A River and Until The End of Time. He then gave tribute to Prince in his Minneapolis-native Prince with the latter’s hit I Would Die 4 U and proceeded to close the set with Mirrors and Can’t Stop The Feeling!

Meanwhile, IFPI has released the world’s top 10 bestselling music acts of 2017 and none other than Ed Sheeran the sole Brit on the list takes the crown.  It’s a no-brainer that he would top the list after whopping album sales for his latest studio album ÷ and the global smash hit Shape of You which topped almost all the charts worldwide. The acts compose of 7 Americans and 2 Canadians. The 10 acts are:

1.       Ed Sheeran

2.       Drake

3.       Taylor Swift

4.       Kendrick Lamar

5.       Eminem

6.       Bruno Mars

7.       The Weeknd

8.       Imagine Dragons

9.       Linkin Park

10.   The Chainsmokers

In the US, Drake’s God Plan debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 from the first week ending Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug’s Havana short stint at the top during the last week of January. God’s Plan remained at the pole position throughout the month. During the month Bebe Rexha featuring Flo Rida Georgia Line’s Meant To Be, Justin Timberlake featuring Chris Stapleton’s Say Something as well as the theme songs from the Black Panther: Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd’s Pray For Me and Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s All The Stars all entered the top 10.  

In the UK too, Drake debuted atop the charts with God’s Plan ending Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran’s River one week No.1. During the month Dua Lipa’s IDGAF, Jax Jones ft. Ina Wroldsen’s Breathe, Sigrid’s Strangers and the theme song from The Greatest Showman, Keala Settle’s This is Me all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1.       Rudimental ft. Macklemore, Jess Glynne and Dan Caplen – These days

2.       Marshmello & Anne Marie – Friends

3.       Drake – Diplomatic immunity

4.       G-Eazy ft. Charlie Puth – Sober

5.       Migos – Stir fry

6.       BlocBoy JB ft. Drake – Look alive

7.       Paloma Faith – Till I’m done

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - December, 2017

Attention!!!

While the awards season officially came to a close we had other accolades to be given. These were the year-end coronations. Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You was a no-shocker there as it crowned almost all the major year-end charts worldwide from US and UK to Canada and Australia. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber’s Despacito was a close second as it was released later in the year as a Spanglish remix. In the US, it was a clearly male dominated chart with Halsey being the lone female within the top 10, even that only as a featured role in The Chainsmokers’ Closer. In the UK too it was not too different as there were only two females featured in the top 10: Zara Larsson featured on Clean Bandit’s Symphony and Raye featured on Jax Jones’ You Don’t Know Me. The top 10 for the major markets are as follows:

#	United States	United Kingdom	Australia	Canada
1	Ed Sheeran – Shape of you	Ed Sheeran – Shape of you	Ed Sheeran – Shape of you	Ed Sheeran – Shape of you
2	Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito	Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito	Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito	Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito
3	Bruno Mars – That’s what I like	Ed Sheeran – Castle on the hill	Ed Sheeran – Castle on the hill	The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – Closer
4	Kendrick Lamar – Humble.	French Montana ft. Swae Lee – Unforgettable	Ed Sheeran – Perfect	The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – Something just like this
5	The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – Something just like this	Ed Sheeran – Galway girl	The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – Something just like this	French Montana ft. Swae Lee – Unforgettable
6	Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – Bad and boujee	Ed Sheeran – Perfect	Imagine Dragons – Thunder	The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – Starboy
7	The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – Closer	Clean Bandit ft. Zara Larsson – Symphony	Ed Sheeran – Galway girl	Bruno Mars – That’s what I like
8	Sam Hunt – Body like a bad road	Rag ‘n’ Bone Man – Human	Kendrick Lamar – Humble.	Kygo & Selena Gomez – It ain’t me
9	Imagine Dragons – Believer	The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – Something just like this	Macklemore ft. Skylar Grey – Glorious	Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - Rockabye
10	Post Malone ft. Quavo – Congratulations	Jax Jones ft. Raye – You don’t know me	Shawn Mendes – There’s nothing holdin’ me back	DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne – I’m the one

Although the BRIT Awards 2018 are to be held in February, as per the norm the winner of the BRITs Critics Choice was announced. Beating competition from Mabel and Stefflon Don, Jorja Smith was announced as the winner of the coveted award. She follows in the footsteps of Adele, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding and most recently Rag ‘n’ Bone Man who proved he indeed has what it takes to be a superstar.

In reality TV news, the X Factor had its grand finale in December where Rak-Su emerged victorious over Grace Davies after an intense last battle. Rak-Su won with their own original song Dimelo which features Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy. Another significance of this victory is that they are only the second group to have won the show after Little Mix and the only boy band to win it. Mentored by Simon Cowell, the foursome managed to win the audience and was a much easier win being the clear favorites unlike the year before.

It was also revealed at the end of the month that The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Bee Gees founder member Barry Gibb had been awarded knighthoods in the Queen’s New Year Honours. Other honorees include grime star Wiley, real name Richard Cowie, who is awarded an MBE for his services to music.

On the other side of the world, the lead singer of K-Pop band SHINee Kim Jong-hyun was found unconscious at his home and dead upon admission to hospital at the age of 27. His death is considered to be ruled as an apparent suicide.   

In the US, Post Malone ft. 21 Savage’s Rockstar continued its reign till the third week until Ed Sheeran’s Perfect took the crown fueled by a duet version with Beyonce and continued at the top for the rest of the month. During the month Migos, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B entered the top 10 with MotorSport and Mariah Carey entered the top 10 with her Christmas classic All I Want For Christmas Is You, which achieved its chart peak 23 years since it was originally released.   

In the UK, Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug’s Havana began the month at the top but was dethroned again by Ed Sheeran’s Perfect. Perfect remained at the top throughout even grabbing the coveted Christmas No.1. During the month Clean Bandit ft. Julia Michaels' I Miss You, MK’s 17 and Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran’s River all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1.       NF – Let you down

2.       Dua Lipa – IDGAF

3.       Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran & Future – End game

4.       Inna – Nirvana

5.       Camila Cabello – Never be the same

6.       Halsey & G-Eazy – Him & I

7.       Jason Derulo ft. French Montana – Tip toe 

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Best Dance Hits of the 2000s

Attention!!!

The best years of those born in the 80s were during the 2000s when they would be in the latter ages of their teens. The 2000s may also prove to be the last vestiges of Alternative Rock and Hard Rock as the 2010s have massacred the genres to the point of no return. Eurodance was dead and in its place Europop was building itself as a genre with a significant contribution from Romanian Pop. As far as dance music goes Rap, Dancepop and Hip-Hop ruled the dance floors with the likes of Flo Rida, Black Eyed Peas, 50 Cent, Sean Paul, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira and Pitbull shaping the industry as they took over the mainstream charts. With an immense stress on beat and rhythm rather than lyrics, the dance music of the 2000s is unique. 

Those artists that began their careers in the 90s such as Britney Spears, Eminem, Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias have become superstars with several dance hits and some like Shakira, Pitbull, Rihanna, Sean Paul and David Guetta have entered the mainstream with several dance hits. With his debut dance anthem Low, Flo Rida entered the hearts and minds of the party people during the 2000s and claims the top spot on this compilation. At No.2 we have Usher's Yeah in which he collaborated with veteran rappers Ludacris and Lil Jon. With a different flavour at No.3 we have Shakira's Hips Don't Lie where former Fugees member Wyclef Jean is featured. With the highest number of entries we have Black Eyed Peas with 8 whopping entries followed by Sean Paul with 7, 50 Cent and Jennifer Lopez with 6 each, Timbaland, Akon, Pussycat Dolls, Rihanna, Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake with 5 each, Flo Rida, Britney Spears, Madonna, Shakira, Bob Sinclar, Pitbull, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Inna with 4 each, David Guetta, Kylie Minogue, Sugababes, Missy Elliot, Ludacris, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, Eve, Pink, Destiny's Child and Cascada with 3 each. So here are the best dance hits from 2000-2009: 

1. Flo Rida ft. T-Pain – Low
2. Usher ft. Ludacris & Lil Jon – Yeah
3. Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean – Hips don’t lie
4. Pitbull – I know you want me (Calle ocho)
5. Sean Paul – Get busy
6. Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg & Kurupt – The next episode
7. 50 Cent – In da club
8. Nelly – Hot in herre
9. Flo Rida ft. Kesha – Right round
10. Black Eyed Peas – I gotta feeling
11. Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson & D.O.E – The way I are
12. Bon Jovi – It’s my life
13. Rihanna – Don’t stop the music
14. Lady Gaga ft. Colby O’Donis – Just dance
15. David Guetta ft. Akon – Sexy bitch
16. Eve – Tambourine
17. Justin Timberlake – Sexyback
18. Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland – 4 minutes
19. Vengaboys – Shalala lala
20. 50 Cent ft. Olivia – Candy shop
21. Kelis – Milkshake
22. Black Eyed Peas – Let’s get it started
23. Bob Sinclar ft. Gary Pine – Love generation
24. Sean Paul – Temperature
25. Missy Elliot – Get ur freak on
26. Black Eyed Peas – Hey mama
27. David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland – When love takes over
28. Daft Punk – One more time
29. Eminem – The real Slim Shady
30. Black Eyed Peas – Boom boom pow
31. Yves Larock – Rise up
32. Las Ketchup – The ketchup song (Asereje)
33. DMX – Party up (Up in here)
34. Jennifer Lopez – Let’s get loud
35. Black Eyed Peas – Pump it
36. Pussycat Dolls ft. Busta Rhymes – Don’t cha
37. 50 Cent ft. Snoop Dogg, Lloyd Banks & Young Buck – P.I.M.P.
38. Baha Men – Who let the dogs out?
39. *NSYNC – Bye bye bye
40. Destiny’s Child – Jumpin’ jumpin
41. Sean Kingston – Fire burning
42. Spiller ft. Sophie Ellis Baxtor – Groovejet (If this ain’t love)
43. Alex Gaudino ft. Crystal Waters – Destination Calabria
44. Lady Gaga – Poker face
45. Benny Benassi – Satisfaction
46. Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne – Down
47. Daddy Yankee – Gasolina
48. Atomic Kitten – The tide is high (Get the feeling)
49. Chamillionaire ft. Slick Rick – Hip hop police
50. Steve Angello & Laidback Luke ft. Robin S. – Show me love
51. Cascada – Evacuate the dancefloor
52. LMFAO – I’m in Miami bitch
53. Shakira – Whenever wherever
54. Gwen Stefani ft. Eve – Rich girl
55. No Doubt ft. Bounty Killer – Hey baby
56. Eve ft. Gwen Stefani – Let me blow ya mind
57. Modjo – Lady (Hear me tonight)
58. Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell – Drop it like it’s hot
59. Basshunter – Now you’re gone
60. Edward Maya ft. Vika Jigulina – Stereo love
61. Eric Prydz – Call on me
62. Fergie – London bridge
63. 50 Cent – Just a lil bit
64. Kevin Lyttle – Turn me on
65. Britney Spears – Toxic
66. Rihanna – Disturbia
67. Guru Josh Project – Infinity 2008
68. R.Kelly ft. Wisin & Yandel – Burn it up
69. Pink – Get the party started
70. Crazy Town – Butterfly
71. Timbaland ft. Justin Timberlake & Nelly Furtado – Give it to me
72. Nelly ft. City Spud – Ride wit me
73. Puddle of Mudd – She hates me
74. Outkast – Hey ya!
75. Jennifer Lopez ft. Jadakiss & Styles – Jenny from the block  
76. Black Eyed Peas – Don’t phunk with my heart
77. Beyonce ft. Jay-Z – Crazy in love
78. Kat DeLuna ft. Elephant Man – Whine up
79. Counting Crows – Accidentally in love
80. Beyonce – Single ladies (Put a ring on it)
81. Nelly Furtado – Maneater
82. Eminem – Just do it
83. Soulja Boy – Crank that
84. Sugababes – Round round
85. Bomfunk MC’s – Freestyler
86. Junior Senior – Move your feet
87. Britney Spears – 3
88. Blue – All rise
89. Fragma – Toca’s miracle
90. Shaggy ft. Rikrok – It wasn’t me
91. Mary J. Blige – Family affair
92. S Club 7 – Don’t stop movin’
93. Nicole Scherzinger ft. T.I. – Whatever u like
94. Smash Mouth – I’m a believer
95. Chris Brown ft. Juelz Santana – Run it!
96. Jennifer Lopez – Play
97. Missy Elliot – Work it
98. Inna – Hot
99. Bob Sinclar with Cutee B ft. Dollarman, Big Ali  & Makedah – Rock this party (Everybody dance now)
100. Britney Spears – Gimme more
101. Madonna – Hung up
102. Axwell ft. Steve Edwards – Watch the sunrise
103. Eminem – Without me
104. Pussycat Dolls – When I grow up
105. Truth Hurts ft. Rakim – Addictive
106. Britney Spears – Circus
107. LL Cool J ft. Jennifer Lopez – Control myself
108. Inna – Amazing
109. Sugababes – Get sexy
110. R. Kelly – Ignition (Remix)
111. Teriyaki Boyz – Tokyo drift
112. Akcent – Jokero
113. Michael Buble – Save the last dance for me
114. Terror Squad ft. Fat Joe & Remy Ma – Lean back
115. Destiny’s Child – Bootylicious
116. Cascada – Everytime we touch
117. Basshunter – All I ever wanted
118. Jamelia – Superstar
119. Flo Rida ft. Nelly Furtado – Jump
120. Nina Sky ft. Jabba – Move ya body
121. Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Swiss Beatz – I can transform ya
122. DJ Sammy & Yanou ft. Do – Heaven
123. Pitbull – Hotel room service
124. Shakira – Objection (Tango)
125. Kylie Minogue – Love at first sight
126. Sean Paul – Gimme the light
127. Andreea Banica ft. Dony – Samba
128. Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland – Promiscuous
129. Crazy Frog – Axel F
130. Rihanna – SOS
131. Panjabi MC – Mundian to bach ke
132. Ashley Tisdale – Crank it up
133. Pink, Christina Aguilera, Mya & Lil’ Kim – Lady Marmalade
134. Nelly Furtado – Say it right
135. Bob Sinclar ft. Steve Edwards – World, hold on (Children of the sky)
136. DJ Laz ft. Flo Rida, Pitbull & Casely – Move shake drop  
137. Destiny’s Child – Lose my breath
138. Sidney Samson – Riverside
139. Lumidee – Never leave you (Uh oooh, uh ooh)
140. Sugababes – About a girl
141. Beyonce ft. Slim Thug – Check on it
142. Dizzee Rascal ft. Armand van Helden – Bonkers
143. Pussycat Dolls ft. Timbaland – Wait a minute
144. Black Eyed Peas – Shut up
145. Bob Sinclar with Cutee B ft. Gary Pine & Dollarman – Sound of freedom
146. Pussycat Dolls ft. Snoop Dogg – Buttons
147. Akon ft. Eminem – Smack that
148. Justin Timberlake – Rock your body
149. Anastacia – I’m outta love
150. iiO – Rapture
151. Rihanna ft. Sean Paul – Break it off
152. Madonna – Music
153. Ludacris – How low
154. Sean Paul – Like glue
155. Kylie Minogue – Can’t get you out of my head
156. O-Zone – Dragostea din tei
157. Pink – So what
158. Inna – Love
159. Katy Perry – I kissed a girl
160. DJ Otzi – Hey baby (Uhh, ahh)
161. Holly Valance – Kiss kiss
162. Jennifer Lopez – Ain’t it funny
163. Madonna – Sorry
164. Daniel Bedingfield – Gotta get thru this
165. Pitbull ft. Akon – Shut it down
166. Fergie ft. will.i.am – Fergalicious
167. Rihanna – Pon de replay
168. Fatman Scoop – Be faithful
169. Enrique Iglesias – Be with you
170. Tinchy Stryder ft. N-Dubz – Number 1
171. Shakira – She wolf
172. The Offspring – Pretty fly (For a white a guy)
173. 50 Cent ft. Ne-Yo – Baby by me
174. Mr.C The Slide Man – Cha-cha slide
175. Cascada – What hurts the most
176. Sean Paul – We be burnin’
177. Jennifer Lopez – Love don’t cost a thing
178. Sophie Ellis-Bexter – Murder on the  dancefloor 
179. Cobra Starship ft. Leighton Meester – Good girls go bad
180. David Guetta ft. Estelle – One love
181. Kylie Minogue – In your eyes
182. Ludacris ft. Shawnna – Stand up
183. Akon – Belly dancer (bananza)
184. Black Eyed Peas – My humps
185. Michael Buble – Sway
186. Cupid – Cupid shuffle
187. DJ Bobo with Irene Cara – What a feeling
188. Blu Cantrell ft. Sean Paul – Breathe
189. Gwen Stefani ft. Akon – The sweet escape
190. Mika – Grace Kelly
191. Missy Elliot ft. Ciara & Fatman Scoop – Lose control
192. Inna – Deja vu
193. 50 Cent ft. Justin Timberlake – Ayo technology
194. A.R. Rahman & Pussycat Dolls ft. Nicole Scherzinger – Jai ho! (You are my destiny)
195. David Deejay ft. Dony – Sexy thing
196. Mary Mary – Shackles (Praise you)
197. JLS – Beat again
198. Chamillionaire ft. Krayzie Bone – Ridin’
199. Avril Lavigne – Girlfriend
200. Chayanne – Boom boom  

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!