Most Played Songs of 2012 // (from #11 - #20)

Last year I called the latter portion of the most-played list the section of "shame." I don't know if 2012 just marked a good year, whether my music taste shifted or it was just dumb luck, but I have to say I'm pretty darn proud of the lower half this year.

There's a good mix of popular, club, critically acclaimed and a little cheese. Let's get started, shall we?


20. Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)


Perhaps what's most shocking is Gotye's massive hit single Somebody That I Used to Know didn't rank higher. After all, it was inescapable by mid-March. But if I've learned anything it's that songs that are overplayed on the radio often have a short shelf life on my playlist. Gotye might be considered a one-hit wonder in many circles, but his album is solid and this live performance video I shot at the Kool Haus in Toronto proves he shouldn't be dismissed.


19. Caro Emerald - Back It Up


Every year I'm a little late to the game on one obscure song, and this year it was Dutch singer Caro Emerald's Back It Up. However, in this case I was really, really late. The song came out in 2009 but it took a batch of remixes released a year ago to bring it to my attention. The thing is, Back It Up is a good enough song that it doesn't need a remix to bring it to life.


18. Infinity Ink - Infinity


I'm a sucker for a song that sounds like a legit early '90s dance track, and Inifinity Ink pulled that off and then some with their sort of self-titled single Infinity. The song even has a gratuitous, meaningless rap section that appears middtrack, with the nameless rapper proclaiming that Infinity Ink "has got the sound." Yes, it's all a little silly, but damn is it a great combination of cool and fun.


17. Loreen - Euphoria


It's no secret that I have a sick obsession with Eurovision, so it's probably no surprise that a couple of tracks from the European pop song competition snuck onto my list. The first comes from Sweden's Loreen who took the contest by storm and nabbed the top prize with Euphoria. After her victory I heard this song pumping out of headphones on commuter buses and at a few clubs in Canada, which is rare considering that Eurovision is basically off of Canadians' radar. Perhaps not for much longer?


16. Amelia Lily - Shut Up (And Give Me Whatever You Got)


I can't really explain how this single from Amelia Lily, the 8th place singer on the UK version of X Factor, snuck onto my "most played" list, especially considering that I only first heard it back in November. But the clumsily titled song Shut Up (And Give Me Whatever You Got) has a pumping sugar pop beat and screaming vocals that encouraged me to sing it a lot and clearly put it on repeat. The rest is shameful history...



15. ZZ Ward - Put the Gun Down


It frustrates me that ZZ Ward's killer pop-blues single Put the Gun Down didn't get more recognition this past summer because it's exactly what should appeal to the Southern Americans with a sense for classic revenge songs. Perhaps the concept of the song was a little too dark. Either way, I hope they bring it to a kareoke club nearby soon because it'd be a great song to sing to a crowd of drunken partiers.


14. Hoodie Allen - No Interruption


Hoodie Allen helped redefine the truly independent musician this year when his debut album jumped into Billboard's Top 10 without any major publicity, and if you haven't heard of him it probably means you're too old. When it came to the pre-teen crowd this guy was edgy and hyped, and when it came to his live conerts, I can tell you I saw young teens doing things there I wish I could unsee. Let's focus on the music, shall we? No Interruption was his first single and its video is a spectable of gritty nerd-cool shot on a shoestring budget.


13. Emeli Sande - Next to Me


The fickle U.S. market paid hardly any attention to Emeli Sande's debut album earlier this year. The Brit scored massive attention and accolades overseas, but in North America she fizzled, even after practically hosting the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics. No matter, he label hasn't given up on her yet. In January they will re-release the incredibly catchy Next to Me in the U.S. in hopes that it'll catch fire on the second go 'round. Maybe if they angle her as the new Alicia Keys...



12. St. Lucia - Before the Dive


St. Lucia is my proudest find of this year. They're a consistently good band, they're cool, creative and hark back to the sounds from the '80s that I enjoyed most. Their debut EP was practically perfect so I hope their debut album (due sometime in 2013) will impress me just as much. Before the Dive was a song I fell in love with late this year, after practically skipping it everytime I put on the EP, in favour of other songs.


11. Frank Ocean - Thinkin Bout You


Big surprise (not!) that Frank Ocean made my list, especially considering that he's on practically every critc's list this year. There's no doubt that Channel Orange was the most surprising, consistent and exciting debuts of the year. Ocean poured his soul into that album and you can feel it in every track. Thinkin Bout You isn't the best song on the album (the best song wasn't the single, I think that prize goes to Bad Religion), but it was the first released and therefore takes a high ranking position on my most-played list.


Next up, the Top 10 Most Played Songs of 2012...coming soon.

Club Song of the Day // Infinity Ink - Infinity

Party season is officially over in Ibiza and with it I've decided to recap some of my favourite songs that kept the clubs pumping all summer. I'm going to pick two this year -- one I will post today and the other tomorrow.

Here is my second favourite track of the summer, a wildly dark and different song from UK DJs Infinity Ink, a song that channels a few quirks of '90s house tracks (random rappper for 15 seconds, anyone?), but maintains the attitude of a sexy house track that works best at 4 a.m.

 

Gorburger launches on The Warner Sound with Tegan and Sara

The Warner Sound, the online media division of Warner Music, launched a wildly unusual YouTube series called Gorburger today. It's a platform for artists signed on the Warner labels, but also serves as an insanely weird mix between My Pet Monster, MTV and Japanese television.

The first episode is a wildly awkward five minutes with Tegan and Sara.

Song of the Day // Hot Chip - Night and Day

Somehow I forgot to post this sizzling electronic track from Hot Chip, but for most of you, I'm sure the band isn't a revelation, since they've been on the scene for a good decade, with such "on-the-edge-of-mainstream" songs as Over and Over.

Night and Day is only one of the many amazing songs on their latest album, In Our Hands, which hit stores last month. The video is wild and nonsensical, but I decided that it distracts too much from the structure and feel of the song. So here it is in its most basic, audio form.
 

 

 

Song of the Day // Tristan Pettyman - My Oh My

A couple months ago I posted a video of Tristan Prettyman singing a song from her upcoming album called Marry You. It was a gut wrenching performance that a lot of you responded to strongly.

Well, that track isn't the first single (no surprise) and the album isn't out yet -- but the upbeat first single is, and its very summery and catchy. Here is My Oh My -- it's a little bit country a little bit pop'n'roll. Hope it perks up your day.

 

 

Song of the Day // Elton John vs Pnau - Sad

If you believe the story, Elton John stumbled across Pnau's music back in 2008 and fell in love with the sounds of the Australian electronic producers. He ultimately signed them to his label, and helped pave the way for a ...

side-project from one of the two members, called Empire of the Sun.

After a world tour with Empire, the producers settled down with John to create their latest album, as well as another album for John that took samples of his mostly lesser known songs and turned them into new tracks. The result is Good Morning to the Night, a project that has shot up the UK charts this week and is likely to take the #1 spot.

Sad is the first single, and the music video is an absolute visual treat.

Breaking Down Bergman // Introduction

It's rare that I'll post something non-music related on here, but today I'm going to make an exception.

Last November I launched a YouTube series with my friend Sonia Strimban where we pledged to watch all of Swedish director Ingmar Bergman's films from first to last, and analyze each. We've been doing that ever since, quite consistently, for our series called Breaking Down Bergman.

This week our first video crossed the 1,000-view mark, which for most things might not be so impressive, but for a director who has gone relatively unknown by the masses, it's not a bad feat. I'm pretty proud of it, and despite all of the difficulties I'm proud with what we've come out with so far.

If you want to join us in our journey of watching all of Bergman's films -- including the most famous, the Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries and Persona -- here's the first video. We'd love to have you along for the ride...