Most Inspirational Songs of 2018

Attention!!!

They say that music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. This effect is quadrupled when the songs in themselves carry a message of inspiration. This compilation has been an inherent part of this blog since 2013. The soundtrack to The Greatest Showman monopolized the echelons of the 2017 compilation. However, for 2018 we have a smorgasbord of genres and soundtracks. 

The crown goes to none other than Panic! At the Disco's comeback hit High Hopes, which is a pop rock anthem which has now gone on to become their greatest hit yet. In second place we have the critically acclaimed Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper from the soundtrack to A Star is Born, which won Best Original Song at this year's Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Critics' Choice Awards and the Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards. In third place is Lauren Daigle's contemporary Christian hit, You Say.

Pop, of course rules the list as always followed by EDM and Latin music. Several soundtracks appear on the list including Deadpool 2, Bumblebee, Aquaman and RBG. There are 4 songs produced for the 2018 FIFA World Cup although Nicky Jam's Official Song is quite an dismal attempt at an inspirational song. David Guetta, Sia and Jonas Blue are the only ones with two entries each. So here are the most inspirational songs of 2018:

1. Panic! At the Disco – High hopes
2. Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – Shallow (A Star is Born OST)
3. Lauren Daigle – You say
4. Jonas Blue ft. Jack & Jack – Rise
5. Jess Glynne – I’ll be there
6. David Guetta & Sia – Flames
7. Rita Ora – Soul survivor
8. Claire Richards – On my own
9. Celine Dion – Ashes (Deadpool 2 OST)
10. Hailee Steinfeld – Back to life (Bumblebee OST)
11. Mike Posner – Move on
12. Skylar Grey – Everything I need (Aquaman OST)
13. Avril Lavigne – Head above water
14. Jason Derulo & Maluma – Colors (Coca Cola Anthem for 2018 FIFA World Cup)
15. Jennifer Hudson – I’ll fight (RBG OST)
16. Kesha – Here comes the change (On the Basis of Sex OST)
17. Carrie Underwood – Love wins
18. Gabrielle – Shine
19. Shawn Mendes ft. Khalid & Jessie Reyez – Youth
20. Nicky Jam ft. Will Smith & Era Istrefi – Live it up (Official Song for 2018 FIFA World Cup)
21. Ciara – Dose
22. Jonas Blue ft. Joe Jonas – I see love (Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation OST)
23. All Saints – Love lasts forever
24. Natalia Oreiro – United by love
25. LSD – Mountains
26. Jennifer Lopez – Limitless (Second Act OST)
27. Calum Scott – No matter what
28. Sia vs. David Guetta & Afrojack – Helium
29. Dean Lewis – Be alright
30. RedOne ft. Adelina & Now United – One World 

Till the next symphony...

At Ease!!!

Most Underrated Songs of 2016

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Underrated means undervaluing something or not giving something the recognition it deserves. In the music industry it is particularly difficult for new artists to make headway in the mainstream as they have to compete with the already established and popular artists. So when highly overrated artists spew album after album and single after single backed by their record labels the smaller and lesser known artists or the new ones find it almost impossible to gain ground in the music scene. Pop culture is such however, that sometimes even the best of songs do not necessarily get chart success. Some of these songs which do get radio airplay, counts for almost nothing compared to physical and digital sales as well as streaming.

The following songs are the inverse of overrated as I believe they should have performed much better than they did on the global charts. Dua Lipa’s Hotter Than Hell tops the list as although it was a minor hit, the song deserves much more when taking the production as a whole.  She has two songs on the list as her follow-up single also failed to make any mark on the charts although now she is a worldwide phenomenon and is one of the most sought after artists to be featured. So here are the 20 most underrated songs of 2016:

1. Dua Lipa – Hotter than hell
2. Pitbull ft. Enrique Iglesias – Messin’ around
3. Flo Rida – Zillionaire
4. Tim McGraw – Humble and kind
5. Thomas Rhett – Die a happy man
6. Dua Lipa – Blow your mind (mwah)
7. RedOne ft. Enrique Iglesias, R.City, Shaggy & Serayah – Don’t you need somebody
8. Zedd ft. Kesha – True colors
9. Hailee Steinfeld ft. DNCE – Rock bottom
10. Bebe Rexha ft. Nicki Minaj – No broken hearts
11. Years & Years – Worship
12. Anne Marie – Alarm
13. Troye Sivan – Youth
14. OneRepublic – Kids 
15. Fifth Harmony – That’s my girl
16. Selena Gomez – Kill em with kindness
17. Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – I know what you did last summer
18. Alan Walker – Sing me to sleep
19. Zara Larsson – Ain't my fault 
20. Alessia Cara – Wild things

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Best Love Songs of 2016

Attention!!!

Well, 2016 was not the best when it came to the production of love songs. With the resurgence of Reggae in the form of Dancehall and the mainstream success of EDM, R&B and Rap in the yesteryear Pop songs took a back seat; and without Pop, there's no hope for love songs. There was no fan favourite Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran or a staple wedding song like Wings by Birdy. With the usual love song junkies of Pop out of commission, we will have to make do with whatever that was released last year. However, it is an over-exaggeration to state that there were no good love songs produced as Thomas Rhett's Die a Happy Man is an awesome love song followed by Rihanna's over-the-top yet brilliant Love On The Brain as well as James Arthur's come back mega hit Say You Won't Let Go.

What is quite conspicuous is the fact that genres such as EDM and Dancehall also produced love songs alongside the usual Pop, Country and Soul. Ellie Goulding, Hailee Steinfeld, John Legend, Justin Bieber and Bebe Rexha all have two entries each. So here are the top 25 love songs of 2016:   

1. Thomas Rhett – Die a happy man
2. Rihanna – Love on the brain
3. James Arthur – Say you won’t let go
4. Kenny Chesney ft. Pink – Setting the world on fire
5. Hailee Steinfeld ft. DNCE – Rock bottom
6. Ellie Goulding – Still falling for you
7. Meghan Trainor ft. John Legend – Like I’m gonna lose you
8. Zara Larsson & MNEK – Never forget you
9. Charlie Puth – One call away
10. Nick Jonas ft. Tove Lo – Close
11. John Legend – Love me now
12. Martin Garrix ft. Bebe Rexha – In da name of love
13. Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber & MØ –  Cold water
14. The Veronicas – In my blood
15. Hailee Steinfeld & Grey ft. Zedd – Starving
16. RedOne ft. Enrique Iglesias, R.City, Shaggy & Serayah – Don’t you need somebody
17. Little Mix ft. Jason Derulo – Secret love song
18. DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber – Let me love you
19. Bebe Rexha – I got you
20. Florida Georgia Line – H.O.L.Y.
21. Ariana Grande – Into you
22. The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – Closer
23. Inna – Heaven
24. Sigala ft. Imani & DJ Fresh – Say you do
25. Ellie Goulding – Something in the way you move

Till the next sonnet...

At Ease!!!