Best Christmas Hits of this Decade

Attention!!!

Every year this blog delivers a brand new compilation to add to your Christmas playlist. This year we explore the latest Christmas songs that have joined the fray to brighten our yuletide spirit. We are not referring to modern Christmas classics such as Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You and Wham!’s Last Christmas, but those originals songs that have entered seasonal airplay only this decade. 

There are artists such as Michael Bublé and Sia who always deliver a festive jingle or two to lighten up our Christmas gatherings. Producing a Christmas album is an arduous task as reception by fans and critics can be polarizing. Due to this, only a few bold musicians actually go down this onerous path, as most take the easy way out with a single. This playlist was such a pleasure to compile as I found out some real gems to be added to your usual Christmas collection. 

Coldplay’s Christmas Lights takes the top spot as the slow ballad delivers a very inspirational message for the season. This is followed by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton’s You Make It Feel Like Christmas and Sia’s Santa’s Coming for Us which are both equally upbeat and cheerful. In terms of entries Sia leads  with 5 followed by Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Aloe Blacc, John Legend, Ariana Grande and Gwen Stefani each with 2 entries. So here are the Top 40 Christmas Hits of this Decade:

1. Coldplay – Christmas lights
2. Gwen Stefani  ft. Blake Shelton – You make it feel like Christmas
3. Sia – Santa’s coming for us
4. Leona Lewis – One more sleep
5. John Legend – Bring me love
6. Kelly Clarkson – Underneath the tree
7. Ariana Grande – Santa tell me
8. Aloe Blacc – I got your Christmas right here
9. Sia – My old Santa Claus
10. Justin Bieber – Mistletoe
11. Matt Terry – When Christmas comes around
12. Lindsey Stirling ft. Becky G – C’mon Christmas
13. Pentatonix – That’s Christmas to me
14. Michael Bublé – Cold December night
15. Lady Antebellum – On this winter’s night  
16. Gwen Stefani – Cheer for the elves
17. Jim Brickman ft. Kenny Rogers – That silent night
18. Kylie Minogue – Every day’s like Christmas
19. Katy Perry – Cozy little Christmas
20. Mariah Carey – Oh Santa!
21. OneRepublic – Christmas without you
22. Sia – Every day is Christmas
23. Kelly Clarkson – Wrapped in red
24. John Legend – By Christmas eve
25. Meghan Trainor – I’ll be home
26. Sia – Ho ho ho
27. Sara Evans – At Christmas
28. Hurts – All I want for Christmas is New Year’s day
29. Ariana Grande – Winter things
30. Katy Perry – Every day is a holiday
31. Christina Perri – Something about December
32. Train – Shake up Christmas
33. Elizabeth Chan – Something about the holidays
34. Idina Menzel – December prayer
35. Sia – Snowman
36. The Monkees – What would Santa do
37. Sara Bareilles – Love is Christmas
38. Jessie J – This Christmas day
39. The Celebs – Rock with Rudolph
40. Aloe Blacc – Funky ass Christmas 

Till the next carol...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - October, 2018

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This October, Taylor Swift broke the record for most AMAs won by a woman at the 2018 American Music Awards. After a brilliant performance of her unreleased I Did Something Bad from her album Reputation she took home Artist of the Year, Tour of the Year, Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock and Favorite Album – Pop/Rock for Reputation. Camila Cabello matched Swift’s count taking New Artist of the Year and Video of the Year, Collaboration of the Year and Favorite Song – Pop/Rock for Havana featuring Young Thug. Other great performances of the night included Cardi B, J Balvin & Bad Bunny with I Like It, Camila Cabello with Consequences and Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans with a tribute to Aretha Franklin. Some of the other significant wins were:

·         Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock: Post Malone

·         Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock: Migos

·         Favorite Artist – Latin: Daddy Yankee

·         Favorite Artist – EDM: Marshmello

·         Favorite Social Artist: BTS

·         Favorite Soundtrack: Black Panther  

CNCO and Ozuna were the big winners at the 2018 Latin American Music Awards. CNCO took home Favorite Duo or Group, Favorite Pop Artist and Favorite Pop Album for CNCO while Ozuna was awarded the Album of the Year and Favorite Urban Album for Odisea and Favorite Urban Artist. Other major wins were:

·         Artist of the Year: Bad Bunny

·         New Artist of the Year: Sebastian Yatra

·         Song of the Year: Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato - Échame La Culpa

·         Favorite Male Artist: Daddy Yankee

·         Favorite Female Artist: Becky G

·         Favorite Video: Anitta: Medicina

·         Icon Award: Daddy Yankee

·         Extraordinary Evolution Award: Maluma

Martin Garrix took the No.1 spot at the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs for 2018. In the annual poll Garrix is followed by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, Armin Van Buuren and David Guetta who complete the top 5. Avicii gets a posthumous ranking of No.15 as his fans made sure the beloved DJ was not forgotten.

In more EDM news, Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso have confirmed that Swedish House Mafia have reunited and will tour and release new music in 2019.  The trio split during the peak of their success in 2012 after their smash hit Don’t You Worry Child, and have been releasing music as solo artists.  

The year continues to witness the success of soundtrack albums, the latest is A Star is Born from the film of the same name starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The album has already topped numerous charts with critics praising the musical styles, lyrics and Gaga’s vocals. Country music icon Willie Nelson’s son Lukas Nelson and artists such as Mark Ronson and Julia Michaels also contributed to the album. The album’s lead single Shallow performed by Gaga and Cooper is also climbing the charts worldwide.

Michael Bublé fans were in for a shock as the artist in an apparent “final interview” told the Daily Mail that he will be retiring from music. Since his tenth studio album Love is due in November, it appeared that the record would be his last. The news was not a surprise, as the industry knew that Bublé’s son, Noah was in recovery from liver cancer which caused him severe emotional trauma. However, since then his representatives have dismissed the claims and clarified that Bublé is “absolutely not retiring”.

Following the release of their newest single Woman Like Me featuring Nicki Minaj, Little Mix have announced that they have written a new song about the #MeToo anti-sexual harassment campaign. Moreover, they have announced that their fifth studio album titled LM5 will be out this November.

The Prince Estate has requested US President Donald Trump from playing the late rock star’s Purple Rain in his campaign rallies. Prince’s half-brother Omarr Baker has requested Trump and the White House to cease the use of the artist’s music immediately as no prior approval had been obtained.

Music lost two more legends from the industry in October. First Marty Balin, the lead vocalist and guitarist of Jefferson Airplane died at the age of 76 through unknown causes. Next, classic country singer Freddie Hart passed away at the age of 91 as result of pneumonia.

In chart news in the US, Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B’s Girls Like You which ended the reign of Drake continued at its helm for the entirety of the month. During the month Lil Wayne’s Mona Lisa, Bad Bunny ft. Drake’s Mia, Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper’s Shallow and Lil Baby & Gunna’s Drip Too Hard all entered the top 10.  

In the UK, Calvin Harris & Sam Smith’s Promises sustained its reign for the first two weeks of the month before being overthrown by Dave ft. Fredo’s Funky Friday. However, this was short lived as Promises regained its crown in the final week of the month. During the month Freya Ridings’ Lost Without You, Little Mix ft. Nicki Minaj’s Woman Like Me, Rita Ora’s Let You Love Me and Jess Glynne’s All I Am all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1.       Eminem – Venom

2.       DJ Snake ft. Cardi B, Ozuna & Selena Gomez – Taki taki

3.       Sigala ft. Ella Eyre, Meghan Trainor & French Montana – Just got paid

4.       Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella – Polaroid

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

6.       Dean Lewis – Be alright

7.       Avril Lavigne – Head above water

8.       Charli XCX & Troye Sivan – 1999 

Till the next beat...

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Best Love Songs of 2017

Attention!!!

While 2016 was a disappointment in the outpour of love songs, the same cannot be said about 2017. Since 2017 belonged to Ed Sheeran, it should not come as a major surprise that it his duet version of Perfect with Beyonce is what takes the crown on this compilation. His global mega hit Shape of You also appears on the list, although not among the top ranks. At a close second is Lana Del Rey's mesmerizing hit, Love, followed by Brett Young's country hit In Case You Didn't Know. 

In terms of genre we see mostly Pop songs with the likes of veteran crooners such as John Mayer and Michael Buble also making appearances. Rita Ora's comeback is also featured with both her hits Your Song and Anywhere within the top 10. Lana Del Rey has another entry, her other being Lust For Life, a collaboration with The Weeknd, the latter having his hit I Feel It Coming also on the list. G-Eazy and Halsey appear with their Him & I, a sappiness oozing duet between the lovestruck duo. New artists such as Julia Michaels, Lauv and Starley also have entries on the list alongside former One Direction members Zayn, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson and former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello. So hope you enjoy the top 30 love songs of 2017:

1. Ed Sheeran & Beyonce – Perfect
2. Lana Del Rey – Love
3. Brett Young – In case you didn’t know
4. Rita Ora – Your song
5. John Mayer – Love on the weekend
6. Rita Ora – Anywhere
7. Michael Bublé – I believe in you
8. Clean Bandit ft. Zara Larsson – Symphony
9. Louis Tomlinson ft. Bebe Rexha & Digital Farm Animals – Back to you
10. Julia Michaels – Issues
11. Daniel Caesar ft. H.E.R. – Best part
12. Ed Sheeran – Shape of you
13. Zayn ft. Sia – Dusk till dawn
14. Starley – Call on me
15. G-Eazy & Halsey – Him & I
16. Echosmith – Get into my car
17. Lauv – I like me better
18. HAIM – Want you back
19. Dua Lipa ft. Miguel – Lost in your light
20. Lana Del Rey ft. The Weeknd – Lust for life
21. Harry Styles – Sweet creature
22. Camila Cabello – Never be the same
23. Taylor Swift – Call it what you want
24. Miley Cyrus – Malibu
25. DJ Snake & Lauv – A different way
26. Demi Lovato – Tell me you love me
27. The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – I feel it coming
28. Kendrick Lamar ft. Zacari – Love
29. Lady Gaga – The cure
30. Selena Gomez & Marshmello – Wolves 

Till the next sonnet...

At Ease!!!

Ultimate Christmas Party Playlist

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Tis the season to down the eggnog, snog under the mistletoe and of course rock around the Christmas tree to some awesome jingle bell rock. The yuletide brings with it office parties, family lunches and dinners and gatherings of friends. Such parties need uptempo music and not slow carols like Silver Bells, Silent Night and Joy to the World. This compilation provides you with the best Christmas party songs and if the original is too slow the best version for a party. 

Taking the crown is Jessica Simpson's Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, originally sung by Brenda Lee. At a close second place is A*Teens' I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, originally by Wizzard. The only two carols to make it to the list are Boney M's versions of Mary's Boy Child and Zion's Daughter. While we have the usual songs such as Jingle Bell Rock, Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bells and Santa Claus is Coming to Town to the newer ones such as Santa's Coming for Us, Santa Tell Me and Underneath the Tree. So here are the top 40 songs for a Christmas party:

1. Jessica Simpson – Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
2. A* Teens – I wish it could be Christmas everyday 
3. Daryl Hall & John Oates – Jingle bell rock
4. Jane Krakowski – Run run Rudolph
5. Boney M – Feliz navidad
6. Mariah Carey – All I want for Christmas is you
7. Justin Bieber – Santa Claus is coming to town 
8. Britney Spears – My only wish (this year)
9. Chris Young – Christmas (Baby please come home) 
10. Jane Krakowski – I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus 
11. Boney M – Mary’s boy child/Oh my Lord 
12. Elton John – Step into Christmas 
13. Hillary Duff – Sleigh ride 
14. Sia – Santa’s coming for us 
15. Cascada – Last Christmas 
16. Jackson 5 – Frosty the snowman
17. Kylie Minogue – Christmas isn’t Christmas till you get here
18. Selena Gomez and the Scene – Winter wonderland 
19. Steps – Merry X-mas everybody 
20. Spice Girls – Christmas wrapping 
21. Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas everyone 
22. Jim Reeves – Merry Christmas polka 
23. Pussycat Dolls – Santa baby 
24. Lady Antebellum – Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow 
25. Kelly Clarkson – Underneath the tree 
26. Michael Bublé  – Jingle Bells 
27. Kylie Minogue – At Christmas 
28. Sia – Ho ho ho 
29. Glee Cast – Here comes Santa Claus 
30. Boney M – Zion’s daughter 
31. Echosmith ft. Hunter Hayes – Happy Xmas (War is over) 
32. Jim Reeves – Dear Senor Santa Claus 
33. NSYNC – Merry Christmas, happy holidays 
34. Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton – You make me feel like Christmas 
35. Leona Lewis – One more sleep
36. Ariana Grande – Santa tell me 
37. Destiny’s Child – 8 days of Christmas  
38. Mariah Carey – Oh Santa 
39. LeAnne Rimes – Must be Santa 
40. Katy Perry – Every day is a holiday 

Till the next carol...

At Ease!!!

Happiest Songs of All Time

Attention!!!

In the past I have covered the most inspirational songs of all time, the most upbeat songs of all time and now I have compiled the happiest songs of all time. These are the chirpiest songs, of course ones that have entered the mainstream and become extremely popular. I believe that music must necessarily uplift one's spirits. While the genre of music you listen to may depend on the mood you are in, at the end of the day music should be able to fill that gap in your soul. The following songs are not the most favorite of some as they are considered barfingly too happy for some people's tastes. However, their beats, lyrics and melodies are extremely bubbly and high-spirited. These cheerful songs are almost always about beautiful sunny days, feeling good, being young, and living care free. Almost all the songs belong to traditional pop with some elements of alternative rock. American Authors with their Best Day of My Life tops the list as the song was clearly made about just being happy. So here are the happiest songs of all time:

1. American Authors – Best day of my life
2. Imagine Dragons – On top of the world
3. Natasha Bedingfield – Pocketful of sunshine
4. Michael Buble – It’s a beautiful day
5. U2 – Beautiful day
6. Katrina and the Waves – Walkin’ on sunshine
7. Colbie Calliat – Brighter than the sun
8. Johnny Nash – I can see clearly now
9. Nathan Lane & Ernie Sabella – Hakuna matata (The Lion King: Original Soundtrack)
10. Pharrell Williams – Happy
11. Elton John – Crocodile rock
12. The Chiffons – One fine day
13. Sheryl Crow – Soak up the sun
14. The Carpenters – Top of the world
15. Hanson - MMMBop
16. Kid Rock – All summer long
17. Samuel E. Wright – Under the sea (The Little Mermaid: Original Soundtrack)
18. Fleetwood Mac – Go your own way
19. Savage Garden – The animal song
20. Snoop Dogg ft. Wiz Khalifa & Bruno Mars – Young, wild and free
21. Spice Girls – Never give up on the good times
22. Counting Crows – Accidentally in love
23. S Club 7 – Bring it all back
24. The Wonders – That thing you do
25. Smash Mouth – I’m a believer (Original by The Monkees)
26. Des’Ree – Life 
27. Sheryl Crow – All I wanna do
28. John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re the one that I want
29. Ace of Base – Life is a flower
30. Bobby McFerrin – Don’t worry be happy
31. Celine Dion – I’m alive
32. Rascall Flatts – Life is a highway (Original by Tom Cochrane)
33. Glee Cast – Light up the world
34. Kelly Clarkson – Breakaway
35. B.J. Thomas – Raindrops keep falling on my head
36. Taylor Swift – Shake it off
37. Robert Guillaume, Liz Callaway, Gene Miller & Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Upendi (Simba’s Pride: Original Soundtrack)
38. One Direction – Live while we’re young
39. Pink – Raise your glass
40. The Corrs – So young
41. The Beatles – Here comes the sun
42. Five – Keep on movin’
43. Hilary Duff – What dreams are made of
44. Whitney Houston – I wanna dance with somebody
45. Ellie Goulding – Burn
46. Michael Franti & the Spearhead ft. Cherine Anderson – Say hey (I love you)
47. Owl City ft. Carly Rae Jepsen – Good time
48. Train – Hey soul sister
49. Black Eyed Peas – I gotta feeling
50. Bruno Mars – The lazy song

Till the next beat…

At Ease!!!