Honorable Mentions - Part 2

Here is part 2 of songs that I liked this year, but were not good enough to make my top 10 list.

1. Pitbull feat. John Ryan - "Fireball"

I feel like Pitbull was trying here.  The song is different production than his standard dance pop mush. I feel song beat actually has energy in it unlike "Wild Wild Love" where that song goes nowhere. Pitbull raps are standard, but he always seems punch out at the right moment when I am about to get sick of him. John Ryan chorus and vocals are pretty good here too.  

Honorable Mentions - Part 1

Now that I am almost finish with the worst songs of the year, I can talk about the songs I liked this year. Here are the songs that were good, but not enough to make the list. This was a pretty good year in pop music to me.

1.  Ellie Goulding - "Burn"

I have always like Ellie Goulding. Her angelic voice that sounds frail is extremely unique and sounds great. Combine interesting production that sounds like a  Rihanna song in 2010 and you have a fantastic song. Too bad this was the only hit on the album.

2. Paramore - "Ain't It Fun."

I am sure I will get hate for liking this song. Hayley Williams goes for the straight pop angle here, but I dig it. The song keeps a light hearted tone in the music, but the lyrics are quite dark.  The sarcastic tone of the lyrics might be off putting to some listeners but at some point we all have to grow up.  I guess it is not fun at all, but at least music sounds like it is fun.

MVP 2014 for Pop Music

I have selected a few artists in 2014 that defined the year in pop music. I narrow is down to four choices.

M.V.P.

A.) Iggy Azalea

B.) Sam Smith

C.)  Ariana Grande

D.)  Jason Derulo

Vote in the poll.  I'll have the results in a few days.

Worst Pop Songs of 2014 - Part 4

4. Chris Brown (feat. Lil Wayne, French Montana or Tyga or Too Short) - "Loyal"

Short version: Chris Brown worst song to date.


This was the scummiest song that Chris Brown has ever made. I have no sympathy for the r&b star since the incident in 2009 and I will not forget about it.  "Loyal" is a continuation of Chris Brown bad treatment towards women. Telling the girls are not,"loyal" because you treat them like crap I would not blame them if they left you. 

I prefer the west coast version of the song. At least Too Short has some decent rhymes compare to French Montana.  The beat it is more interesting than a typical DJ Mustard song, but I feel it doesn't fit the song. I feel the darker tone of the lyrics would suggest a darker beat than the happier tone of the beat.

In case you wanted the sequel he made, "Came To Do" with Akon. It is a bit friendlier in tone compare to, "Loyal." 


3. "Rude" - MAGIC!

This was looking like a number one pick for the worst song of the year, but other bad songs came along. It is an odd concept where the lead singer is going to marry the girl, and asks permission from the father. That conversation does not go well, and calls the father, "rude." I feel like this song has some plot holes. If you were planning on marrying her anyway why didn't you just take her and get married secretly. That way the confrontation could had been avoided , and the anger could had been save for later down the road. 

This song was in contention for the summer song for 2014, and I am glad it did not get it.  The reggae vibes and plothole story just make this song a bear to listen too. MAGIC will remain one hit wonders as their nothing remotely interesting about them.

2.  "Don't Tell 'Em" - Jeremih feat. YG

My opinion on this song has not change and nor it will. I did get an answer from an article from billboard explaining why the song never got a video. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6327425/jeremih-holding-back-his-career

It seems Jeremih might have more hits in 2015 though it is less disgusting than this song.

Up next: The absolute worst song of 2014. 

Dishonorable Mentions - Part 2

Here is the second and final list of songs that didn't make the cut for the worst pop songs of 2014.

1. "Not a Bad Thing" - Justin Timberlake

This song is basically a rehash of,"Mirrors" even referencing some of the same lyrics.  I couldn't really get into song though most critics gave it a positive review. Justin Timberlake vocal performance is meh here. He has done better.  The beat is good though.

2,  "Come Get It Bae" - Pharrell Williams

This was truly a disappointing follow up single to,"Happy."  Pharrell made production wise another, "Blurred Lines" record, but this beat is not as catchy. Having Miley Cyrus getting punch in the gut and shouting,"hey" throughout the background of the song is just irritating. Pharrell vocals are pretty good here.

3.#SELFIE - The Chainsmokers

The viral sensation hit song had to make the list for sure.  It is a novelty song, but I never could really hate it for what it is. It is parody song with obnoxious girls out in the clubs.  The girls are annoying in it, and the beat is a generic edm track. It never got on my nerves that quickly for me.

Dishonorable Mentions - Part 1

These songs were not bad enough for a review, but deserve a comment on a particular moment or one bad thing that was about them.


1. "Can't Remember To Forget You" - Shakira feat. Rihanna

Remember this song? I did not. Besides the way too long title for a pop song , it felt dated in production. I think Rihanna would had prefer to be on Timber compare to this misfire of a single. She was originally offer the part.




2. "Wasted" - Tiesto feat Matthew Koma

Still bad when I reviewed it, and sadly missed the countdown due to missing the billboard year end chart. I'll blame this song on the fall of pop edm of 2014. Tiesto is still team white boy wasted.

3. MKTO - "Classic"

I actually originally like this song, but it soured on me incredibly quickly. Taking Jason Derulo approach song writing by dropping random famous celebrities is a sure fire to a hit song. When ask about making ,"Classic" MKTO wanted to make the sound classic. I don't really hear it. It sounds like any other pop songs in the 2010s.

4. Nicki Minaj - "Anaconda"

Worst Pop Songs of 2014 - Part 3

Welcome to the halfway point of the countdown of the worst pop songs of 2014. The last edition I did songs that weren't interesting or felt boring. This time I taking on establish artists who should know better than send these bad songs to the radio. On to the next two songs.

6. Beyonce feat. Jay Z - "Drunk in Love."

This song starts with a haunting effect that sounds Egyptian. It is an intriguing effect to start the song, but song goes down hill from there. Keeping with the theme of trap influenced hip hop songs of 2013, Beyonce sticks with production that sounds like a copy of Mike Will Made It beat. 

Beyonce vocals don't impress me here. Beyonce always reminded me of a better version of Rihanna but it seems she sank down to Rihanna level of singing here.  

This song clocks in at 5 minutes for the radio. You would think people would be sick of hearing this song in about 3 minutes.

Beyonce lyrics are pretty much bad Jay Z lyrics which don't help matters. I could listen Jay Z latest album if I wanted to hear that.  Jay Z verse is what I expect to hear from him this late into his career. Bragging about his expensive taste, and how rich he is.

This song too be honest would not have been hit if it wasn't for this power couple. I couldn't imagine anybody else getting this level of success from this song. (#2 on the Billboard Hot 100)  Less Beyonce in 2015 would be great.

Pop Radioplay in 2015: Once in a blue moon.


5. Jason Derulo - "Trumpets."

Jason Derulo was huge in 2014 mounting a big comeback this year from his neck injury in 2012. Jason Derulo singles seem to get worse as the year went on from "Talk Dirty" to "Wiggle" to the current single, "Trumpets." I prefer the sleazy Jason Derulo in the club to the emotional Jason Derulo. Crying and autotune sound like nails on a chalkboard to me.  Worst single is still, "Marry Me" from the project.

"Trumpets" is the unfortunate continuation of Derulo's softer side and his vocals are painful to listen too. In the song Derulo compares his love to many of the girl features to artists on the radio. Katy Perry, Coldplay, and Kanye West to name a few. 

"Is it weird" that I don't like this song? Absolutely not. While the instrumentation is pretty good and catchy, the lyrics and singing are just dreadful. Derulo's opening vocal is just plain awful. This is a perfect storm for a really bad Jason Derulo song.

I expect to hear less of him in 2015.

Pop Radioplay in 2015: Small amount while we wait for another Jason Derulo single.

Arriving soon number 3 & 4 on the worst list.