With all the nonsensical drama - post Danity Kane - no one would think that R&B gem Dawn Richards was still capable of releasing good music. With few mediocre and some divine releases by 2010-2012, she still wasn't a hit in the Mainstream Music but I think this lass isn't really calling it quits as 2012 saw the announcement of her Sophomore Album Golden Heart wherein the first single to come out was the flaw-free '86. Released by Sept 2012, the song came unto my radar when the Music Video dropped mid-Jan this year.
The variety of vocal approached used in the song was of perfection, from the heartfelt yearning till its progression to something every powerful and cathartic was just stellar. The music video was unexplainably poignant, drenched with moments to induce nostalgia that you won't feel a tinge of indifference.
2012 had been very good for artists who wanted to make a sure global hit through coming out with a Electro Dance Pop single and then never minded producing a decent album. Well, going through this music direction has more chances of selling and charting than going with the usual routes.
Honestly, 2012 had been very euphoric for me as some of the dance songs released were I think the best of its kind, so let's kick the pig and round up with the five best singles.
5. Cheryl - Call My Name
The infamous Ms. Cole came back to the music scene last year omitting her last name as an attempt to rebrand herself and break the US Market. Well, the single was produced by Calvin Harris and when it was played first on radios, it was met by heavy criticisms about its similarity with We Found Love from Rihanna which was also produced by Harris. But after few listens, the song completely transforms into its own kind which was more aggressive than Rihanna's. It topped the UK Top 40 Chart and was named 34th Biggest Selling Single of the Year and 2nd Fastest Single of the Year by BBC.
4. Enrique Iglesias - Finally Found You
This Eurodance was Enrique's latest effort to enter the worldwide chart again after the disastrous collaboration with Dev for Naked which commercially and critically flopped. The single was met with luke warm response but no one could ever deny the fact that it was bad-ass euphoric and the appearance of Sammy Adams was also worth praising for.
3. Alexandra Burke - Elephant
After the success of her debut album Overcome which was a smashing hit and ultimately earned her Platinum Certification from UK, she went on for a long hiatus to create her second Magnum Opus but all went to disappointing results. First, she failed to chart successfully and her album never produced a certified hit. The only thing good about her comeback was the epic Elephant which was so different from other songs of its kind.
2. Havana Brown - Run The Night
Havana's debut single which came out last year was originally named Run The Night which topped Aussie Charts and helped her win her first ARIA. When she tried to tour US and Europe, she modified the song and featured PitBull but for me, the original version was way better than the new one.
1. Swedish House Mafia - Don't You Worry Child
The release of "Child" was basically bittersweet as it also marked the trio's disbandment after One Last Tour. Steve Martin's vocals on top of the euphoric synths will surely help you last the club. It's a pure bliss.
Nothing new with Guetta's new single She Wolf (Falling to Pieces) which features Aussie singer-songwriter Sia who previously teamed up with Guetta for his previous Nothing But The Beat album for the song Titanium which was a global number 1 hit. Meanwhile, She Wolf is your regular dose of Guetta and more to that, the feel of the song is so much of Titanium - just more aggressive but less charming. The song's gusto is also a bit similar to Enrique Iglesias' Finally Found You.
With the release of Nothing But the Beat 2.0, I was not really expecting for a fresher tune but I was expecting for rowdier and friskier sound which won't depart the elements present on the parent album. She Wolf is worth a listen and surely worth a dime to spend on. Sia has never been this soulful as she delivers the lines for the chorus. As she sings at the top of her lungs, it creates a poignant feel right through your head.
Believe it or not, I am a huge Euro-dance and Progressive House fan and though a lot of people find these two genres too dated and too stringy for their liking, I kinda got murky with my taste and dig songs of these genres like hell (no, not really a guilty pleasure). Simply put, I am just elucidating an excuse to enjoy the company of mi papi Enrique after the release of his Finally Found You. The song doesn't really make sense at all but, hey, nothing has been really making sense in the music industry nowadays, so I don't give a crap.
The beat of the song is a pure joy to my heart and mind that I can't even stop smiling and chuckling every time the Chorus comes in. IT IS DAMN EUPHORIC.
Honestly, Rihanna's latest single Diamonds would be better off to be an album track and not a single. It gives me no hope of a decent album for RiRi after the Talk That Talk floppage. If she's gonna' come out with a flawless second single like We Found Love, then that would be, indeed, delightful. But to release You Da One ahead of We Found Love would be a nasty joke, wouldn't it?
RiRi's voice on the song brings me no nothing but just a cup of amateurish and nasal irritation. Like what I have just said, the song would be a perfect B-Side for Umbrella and it is a shame for Rihanna and if she doesn't step up to improve her musical direction then she'll just augment the increasing career mortality amongst mainstream acts.
