EK 16: Year End Chart

Ok, I have not blogged in a long time, but I think I should post my year-end chart (because all of the charts are doing so as well) This chart is specific to me only, I believe, and does not emulate any other chart other than my personal opinion.

Frame By Frame - Cassadee Pope

1. [Wasting All These Tears] - Cassadee Pope
Love Cassadee Pope! I am so proud that she was able to break "The Voice" bubble by having both a gold single, and a silver album! (685k single sales to date [Dec. 11, 2013], and 110k album sales to date [Dec. 11, 2013]) Her album, Frame by Frame, is out now, and it is very good! It's a unique mix of pop rock and country which produces new and modern songs.

Rating: A- (would have received A+ had she wrote it)

Pure Heroine - Lorde

2. [Team] - Lorde
Lorde is taking the world by the storm! Super impressive first single, Royals, but for me, Team is 10x better.

Rating: A

Night Visions - Imagine Dragons

3. [Bleeding Out] - Imagine Dragons
To clarify, I have known them since way before their Night Visions album came out. They are one of my favorite rock bands and are sincerely amazing.

Rating: A+

Avril Lavigne - Avril Lavigne

4.[Here's to Never Growing Up] - Avril Lavigne
Thus begins the list of guilty pleasures... This song was one of my faves for the summer, and it's just a feel good song.

Rating: B

Falling in Love - 2NE1

5. [Falling in Love] - 2NE1
First of the Kpops! While this is not my favorite song from them this year, (Missing You is), it has been the longest on my personal charts as well as retaining it likability.

Rating: A-

PRISM - Katy Perry

6. [Dark Horse (feat. Juicy J)] - Katy Perry
Another guilty pleasure, gosh, this song is just awesome with its bass and synths, and I had no idea Katy could do something like this. (First day it came out)

Rating: A

Pink Tape - f(x)

7. [Rum Pum Pum] - f(x)
While I love this awesome Kpop band, I still feel like its a marketing strategy rather than a genuine group. Nonetheless, they make great electronic Kpop music and I lurv it.
Rating: B-

We Remain - Christina Aguilera

8. [We Remain] - Christina Aguilera
I am a huge fan of Christina, especially with The Voice, but also with her music. This was a pleasant surprise because I was expecting a much more poppy song. The movie, Catching Fire, is fantasticccc, and this song truly conveys the message of the movie.

Rating: A

Reflektor - Arcade Fire

9. [Reflektor] - Arcade Fire
I have known Arcade Fire for a while (ever since the 2010 Grammys), but have never actually listened to them. Starting with this free song from Starbucks, I have grown to love the band. Quality song. Quality band.

Rating: A-

Burn - Ellie Goulding

10. [Burn] - Ellie Goulding
I was super pumped for this summer song as well, but I was a tad bit disappointed for two reasons. 1) It is not composed by her. 2) It was taken from Leona Lewis because she no longer wanted the song
Still a great song with great beats.

Rating: B-

Hard 2 Love - Lee Brice

11. [I Drive Your Truck] - Lee Brice
I usually have more country on the charts, but no other song has stuck around longer than I Drive Your Truck. It is probably the best country song of the year, yes beating Cassadee. Love this song, great meaning and message.

Rating: A+

Make it Up - Sam Tsui

12. [Bring Me the Night (feat. Kina Grannis)] - Sam Tsui
While I usually have more independent/Youtube songs, not many have stuck around for a long time, this one included. I thought that this song was really good, but it wasn't radio ready. I am ok with that because I don't really listen to the radio. The harmonies and emotions truly convey a genuine message.

Rating: B+

Night Visions - Imagine Dragons

13. [Demons] - Imagine Dragons
This is either my second favorite or third favorite off the album. It's solid and rising up on the charts!

Rating: A-

Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves

14. [Merry Go' Round] - Kacey Musgraves
She is so awesome. She brings new dark elements to country that have not yet been explored. She represents true country innovation.

Rating: A

ARTPOP - Lady GaGa

15. [Gypsy] - Lady GaGa
Last of the guilty pleasures. I honestly though that ARTPOP was not that great, other than a few songs. This was by far the best. Good clean message, unlike her other songs, and its fun. (Yes, alternative album cover present [I like it more, and it's more appropriate])

Rating: A+

Is Anybody Out There? - A Great Big World 

16. [Say Something ] - A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
This song barely made the charts, and I have literally no idea why. This song probably should have charted much higher, but it was such a late song, so no dice. My friend recommended me this song the day before it aired on The Voice. I love it so much!

Rating: A-


Hope you enjoyed this playlist/year-end chart! Have a great new year and Merry Christmas! 

Ethan's Playlist 9/6/12

Well, today is the day for a playlist! If there are some people out there who don't like my genre playlist, do not worry, for today is a general playlist day! If you did not know September Music Month started this month. Lots of good albums will come out this month. Here they are: Sept. 4 Lecrae & Imagine Dragons, Sept. 11 Dave Matthews Band, Sept. 18 Tyler Ward & The Killers, Sept. 25 Mumford & Sons and Deadmau5.

1. [Bleeding Out] - Imagine Dragons

I found this band like a couple of months ago when their first digital EP came out, Continued Silence and just absolutely fell in love with their music and style. This is by far their best song, that I have found so far, and they are doing great on iTunes... Yay! Also, check out their also awesome song, It's Time.

2. [Free From It All (feat. Mathai)] - Lecrae

Yeah, Ethan didn't you mention that Lecrae's album came out September 4th... Wait that was 2 days ago! Yep! I was quite excited...  I am such a big fan of both Lecrae and Mathai. I think I like Mathai a little more... she has more plays on iTunes. Well, I really like this song and I think it is just great.

3. [So Sick] - Sam Tsui & Max Schneider

I really like both of these guys' voices. They are so good, and I thought they wouldn't really compliment each other, but they really do. This is such a good cover and the original is pretty cool too. I am glad they did this collaboration together, it is sooo good. This would have topped the list if I did a playlist a week ago.

4. [Broke] - Kye Kye

So my awesome friend, <cough> Caitlyn, just kidding... Katelyn, haha, told me about this alternative band called Kye Kye. Well, I kinda didn't look them up till recently, because honestly, I did not think they would be that great... well, they are not that great... They are amazing! I really like this song, and the best thing is, all the lyrics are Bible verses, besides an occasional added word or two. So Katelyn, thank you so much for telling me about Kye Kye :).

5. [With Ur Love] - Cher Lloyd

Ok, this is kinda poppy... Ok it is really poppy... I thinks it catchy... ish.. Ok its catchy and she's pretty awesome. I liked her X-Factor stuff waaay more, like her rapping... and Stay.. but this will do...

6. [Fortune Teller] - Maroon 5

This was my favorite song for like 2 weeks, but the last time I did a general playlist was longer than that. So, now it has decreased in ranking, but it is my favorite Maroon 5 song, behind Payphone, which I am not sick of, I am just sick of people not being sick of it. I was there listening to the song the first time ever by the public, downloaded it the same night, and was obsessed with it months before it was popular... yeah... done ranting.... but it is fun singing with others.