The final part of Philip Lickley’s top 100 songs of 2012 – see his top 25 below. Follow these links for the previous entries in the top 100:
Part 1 – 100-76
Part 2 – 75 – 51
Part 3 – 50 – 26
Top 100 Songs of 2012 – Part 4
It’s time to break into my twenty-five songs of the last twelve months. Do you agree or disagree with my top tunes? Let us know in the comments field below!
25. Little Mix – DNA
Released: 9th November 2012
Though ‘Wings’ was a good track, it was follow-up ‘DNA’ that really sounded great. With some neat production effects it was shamelessly poppy but had a darker side, and showed that X-Factor winners could be good with new and good material.
24. Leona Lewis feat. Childish Gambino – Trouble
Released: 7th October 2012
Speaking of reality show stars with good material, this track from Leona Lewis was a change in sound for the singer and tying up with rapper Gambino worked well for her on this great track.
23. Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
Released: 14th May 2012
One of the cheesy pop hits of the early summer, this was playing all over the radio for the rest of the year. Harmless fun and very catchy.
22. Feeder – Idaho
Released: 26th August 2012
Feeder are not a band I’ve ever really gotten into, but this August release is an excellent track, with a singable bridge and chorus and a great overall sound.
21. Marina and the Diamonds – Power & Control
Released: 20th July 2012
From her excellent ‘Electra Heart’ album, this final release includes all the elements that make her successful, from her personal lyrics to an ear for a poppy chorus.
20. The Brilliant Things – Dance
Released: 8th January 2012
A very early release in the year, this is still one of my favourite songs of the year and should have done much more in the charts with its quality.
19. Pitbull – Back In Time
Released: 26th March 2012
Though a lack of a Will Smith song to go with the release of ‘Men In Black III’, this Pitbull offering took a bit to sink in, but it’s mix of the sixties classic ‘Love Is Strange’ into a more modern rap works, but it does take a few listens.
18. Underworld feat. Dockhead Choir, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Only Men Aloud!, Elizabeth Roberts and Alex Trimble – Caliban’s Dream
Released: 27th July 2012
The opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics were full of great music and a celebration of British tunes, but it was this piece played on the lead-up to the lighting of the Olympic flame that stays with me. Beautifully sung and composed, it brings back all the memories of a great opening ceremony.
17. Adele – Skyfall
Released: 5th October 2012
From the new – and brilliant – James Bond film of the same name, ‘Skyfall’ may lack a proper video but it doesn’t lack the atmosphere of a classic Bond theme, even if you’ll now pronounce the film as ‘Sky-faw’ from now on.
16. The Poke and Alex Ross – Nick Clegg Says I’m Sorry (the Autotune Remix)
Released: 21st September 2012
If ever there was a song to sum up the year, it would be this songify-ing of Nick Clegg’s apology speech which was officially released with the blessing of Clegg to raise money for charity which, no matter what you think of his politics, got him some kudos. It’s also a great tune and once you hear the chorus you can never say ‘I’m Sorry’ in the same way again.
15. Owl City feat Carly Rae Jepsen – Good Time
Released: 19th September 2012
Teaming up with the female singer of the year, Owl City managed to release a tune that sounded different from his usual cookie cutter sound. Plus it was very catchy.
14. Everything Everything – Cough Cough
Released: 12th October 2012
One of the most unusually produced songs of the year but all the better for it, this multi-elemented track was one of my personal favourites nearer the end of the year.
13. Jessie J – Domino
Released: 8th January 2012
A bonus track for the deluxe edition of her album, ‘Domino’ mixed in some not-too-subtle innuendo into a fast-paced piano-led catchy pop hit, even if accusations of similarities to a song called ‘Bright Red Chords’ are not entirely unfounded.
12. Pixie Lott – Kiss The Stars
Released: 29th January 2012
Another great poppy release from Lott, singable and catchy it’s everything you could want from her, with even more innuendo than Jessie J’s hit.
11. LMFAO – Sorry For Party Rocking
Released: 13th April 2012
Following up the impressive ‘Sexy and I Know It’, this kick-starting track is not quite as good as that 2011 hit but is pretty memorable and showcases some good raps.
10. Reverend And The Makers – Bassline
Released: 13th February 2012
A change in sound for the Sheffield band on this release, it both manages to make a joke out of the genre whilst also making great use of its conventions. A great return single.
09. Gotye feat. Kimbra – Somebody That I Used to Know
Released: 30th December 2011
Though released in the dying days of 2011, it was 2012 that it made its big impact and was the biggest selling single of the year until the X-Factor release. The second song in the top 100 to sample ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’, its simple guitar work is complimented by the powerful vocals from both musicians and quite rightly is seen as one of the best songs of the year by a lot of people. The only mystery is what happened to a follow-up single.
08. Noisettes – Winner
Released: 12th August 2012
The third and final ‘Winner’ song in the top 100, this come-back for the Noisettes trumps even their huge debut. With a great guitar backing and brilliantly sung, this was an under-heard but no-less great track back in August.
07. Marina and The Diamonds – Primadonna
Released: 20th March 2012
Though ‘Homewrecker’ was an equally great track, it’s this big hit from March with its electronic backing and nice blends of verses and chorus plus some well included backing vocals that make this the bigger one. Just don’t confuse the line ‘I really don’t know why it’s such a big deal though’ with what people say it says on the Internet…
06. Ke$ha – Die Young
Released: 19th November 2012
Though it took a while to reach these shores, this new track from Ke$ha may rely as heavily on autotune as expected, but it’s speedy lyrics and production values make it incredibly catchy, and it’s even better than ‘TikTok’ tune wise.
05. Gossip – Move In The Right Direction
Released: 29th June 2012
Though I was never a huge Gossip fan originally, this first cut from their latest album is a brilliant showcase. A song that is both lyrically fun to listen to but musically interesting to hear as well, this has many, many enjoyable elements.
04. Robbie Williams – Candy
Released: 28th October 2012
It may become slightly irritating after many listens due to its nursery-rhyme style structure and the lyrics don’t hold up to much scrutiny, but if you want a more singable song this year then you’ll struggle to find it, plus the trumpets are great.
03. Olly Murs feat. Flo Rida – Troublemaker
Released: 19th November 2012
Olly Murs came back with this stonker of a pop song, that ticks all the pop boxes and really grabs you with its structure. Flo Rida’s appearance may be as clichéd as you’d expect, but elsewhere it’s a brilliant pop classic.
02. Train – 50 Ways To Say Goodbye
Released: 13th April 2012
Though never getting a truly official single release, this Mariachi-sounding ‘Phantom of the Opera’-esque alternative to Paul Simon’s ’50 Ways To Leave Your Lover’ manages to sound great and make you laugh. A brilliant sound, mostly well-written lyrics outside of a few clangers, this still makes me smile eight months on.
01. Spector – Celestine
Released: 18th May 2012
And still my favourite song this year after compiling my chart half-way through the year, this first major release from Spector still sounds great with some well-written lyrics, great production and a well-made breakdown. Still a fantastic indie track and a deserving chart topper of my 100 favourite songs this year.
