1. Adele, “Someone Like You”
The saddest sound in pop this year: The tear-strained falsetto that wells up in each chorus of this immediate standard by the favorite singer of everyone and their mothers (and that’s barely an exaggeration).
2. DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne, “I’m On One”
Moody, melodic, defiant, imagistic — this song, more than any other, encapsulated the sound of rap in 2011.
3. Rihanna, “We Found Love”
For once it was Rihanna who made her track, not the other way around. In giving Calvin Harris’ pop-trance-by-numbers a nuanced, delicate vocal, our little girl grew into a diva.
4. The Rapture, “How Deep Is Your Love?”
Rapture frontman Luke Jenner reportedly discovered religion in the time between records, but biblically awesome disco like this has always had a spiritual bent. “Let me hear that song,” he begs to anyone who will listen.
5. Big Sean featuring Nicki Minaj, “Dance A$$ (Remix)”
Worth it for an over-the-top MC Hammer sample and Nicki Minaj wringing out the word “wobble” alone. “Wobbly, wobble, w-w-wo-wobble, wobbin’” — what more could you ask for?
6. Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Nayer and Afrojack, “Give Me Everything”
“Excuse me, but I might drink a little more than I should tonight,” bellows Pitbull, the politest lech in the club. Ne-Yo’s contrasting go-for-broke yearning helped make this the song of the summer.
7. Tyler, the Creator, “Yonkers”
A fearsome horror flick of a beat and a young uncertain rapper fighting his own worst impulses to a temporary standstill. The sound of hype being justified, if only for four harrowing minutes.
8. ASAP Rocky, “Peso”
Nothing sounded better in 2011 booming lazily out of passing cars. This young Harlem MC’s debut single earned him a record deal and renewed what was a flagging local commodity: faith in our own.
9. Lady Gaga, “Judas”
This thrashy shock of quasi-religious imagery, girl-group tendencies and house music promptly flopped when released. Regardless, it is exactly the kind of risk such a comfortable, supposed provocateur should take.
10. Toby Keith, “Red Solo Cup”
How many country hits can charmingly rhyme “festival” and “testicle” in an ode to those deeply Southern plastic goblets?
The saddest sound in pop this year: The tear-strained falsetto that wells up in each chorus of this immediate standard by the favorite singer of everyone and their mothers (and that’s barely an exaggeration).
2. DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne, “I’m On One”
Moody, melodic, defiant, imagistic — this song, more than any other, encapsulated the sound of rap in 2011.
3. Rihanna, “We Found Love”
For once it was Rihanna who made her track, not the other way around. In giving Calvin Harris’ pop-trance-by-numbers a nuanced, delicate vocal, our little girl grew into a diva.
4. The Rapture, “How Deep Is Your Love?”
Rapture frontman Luke Jenner reportedly discovered religion in the time between records, but biblically awesome disco like this has always had a spiritual bent. “Let me hear that song,” he begs to anyone who will listen.
5. Big Sean featuring Nicki Minaj, “Dance A$$ (Remix)”
Worth it for an over-the-top MC Hammer sample and Nicki Minaj wringing out the word “wobble” alone. “Wobbly, wobble, w-w-wo-wobble, wobbin’” — what more could you ask for?
6. Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Nayer and Afrojack, “Give Me Everything”
“Excuse me, but I might drink a little more than I should tonight,” bellows Pitbull, the politest lech in the club. Ne-Yo’s contrasting go-for-broke yearning helped make this the song of the summer.
7. Tyler, the Creator, “Yonkers”
A fearsome horror flick of a beat and a young uncertain rapper fighting his own worst impulses to a temporary standstill. The sound of hype being justified, if only for four harrowing minutes.
8. ASAP Rocky, “Peso”
Nothing sounded better in 2011 booming lazily out of passing cars. This young Harlem MC’s debut single earned him a record deal and renewed what was a flagging local commodity: faith in our own.
9. Lady Gaga, “Judas”
This thrashy shock of quasi-religious imagery, girl-group tendencies and house music promptly flopped when released. Regardless, it is exactly the kind of risk such a comfortable, supposed provocateur should take.
10. Toby Keith, “Red Solo Cup”
How many country hits can charmingly rhyme “festival” and “testicle” in an ode to those deeply Southern plastic goblets?
Clockwise from top left: The Rapture, “How Deep Is Your Love?”, Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Nayer and Afrojack, “Give Me Everything”, Tyler, the Creator, “Yonkers”
Left: ASAP Rocky, “Peso”, Right: Toby Keith, “Red Solo Cup”
