Get this: Gotye's kooky earworm "Somebody That I Used to Know" beat out Carly Rae Jepsen's jumpy hopscotch anthem "Call Me Maybe" to top Spotify's list of The Top 100 Most Popular Songs of the Year. It was either one or the other, so I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. Here's the full Top 10.
1. Gotye featuring Kimbra — "Somebody That I Used to Know"
2. Carly Rae Jepsen — "Call Me Maybe"
3. Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe — "We Are Young"
4. Flo Rida — "Whistle"
5. Flo Rida featuring Sia — "Wild Ones"
6. Train — "Drive By"
7. Nicki Minaj — "Starships"
8. Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa — "Payphone"
9. David Guetta featuring Sia — "Titanium"
10. Loreen — "Euphoria"
Hmmm. Can't say I'm in love with this rundown. Here are three songs I wish had at least scored a single-digit position.
3. No Doubt, "Looking Hot"
Yep, No Doubt yanked the video for "Looking Hot" because its Native American imagery could be construed as offensive, but I think song surges with a bossy energy that I associate with Gwen's best solo stuff like "What You Waiting For" and "Wind It Up." All it needs is a couple more references to L.A.M.B., and it'd represent the height of fun self-absoprtion.
2. Azealia Banks, "Liquorice"
This track has circulated for awhile, but the video finally appeared this year. God, this is a soul-throttling barrage of attitude, wit, vulgarities, viciousness, and supremacy. Azealia is a one-of-a-kind NSFW talent who loves referencing vogueing and "banjee" style. We should celebrate her 20x more often.
1. Kylie Minogue, "Timebomb"
I went down a rabbit hole called "Timebomb" this year, and to be honest, I'm still not out of it. On first listen, Kylie Minogue's "Timebomb" is a simple pop song with a metronome-y, even pedantic beat. And then it hooks you. The "woop!" of the chorus. The "wanna-wanna"s. The funky, hypnotic, addictive "Let's-just-do-it-riiight-now-baby-come-on"s. It took two months for "Timebomb" to be the most played song in my iTunes, and now it has over twice the plays of its nearest opponent. It helps to be a Kylie fan when listening to this track since her classy-dance-diva attitude soars here, but I mostly find this one of the most subtly succulent pop songs in her catalog. Oops, I'm listening to it again. Fast. Time is ticking oh so fast.
I also love the name "Timebomb." It's sounds like a failed '70s game show hosted by Bill Cullen, or something.
What say you? What tops your pop list this year?
