unless u have been too busy bumpin’ cassette tapes from obscure 90′s screamo and post-rock bands instead of listening to mainstream radio like a normal person, u probably know that 2012 has been an amazing year for pop music. the days of slutty (albeit hot) burlesque girls singing over weird arabian music and old groce plastic-surgery-ridden ex-drug addict bishes reigning the pop charts are long in the past and catchy dance songs with powerpop-esque chord progressions are now in.
MAINSTREAM DIVISION
ive always liked cody simpson’s music significantly more than justin bieber’s (altho biebz new song is pretty good compared to all the other stuff i’ve heard from him). i dont think cody will ever see the same level of success as justin due 2 homeliness, being australian, and showing up a year later (even tho he’s technically ahead of the game by being 3 years younger).
following up her epic 2010 release “cannibal”, ke$ha’s new album is prob one of my most anticipated albums ever. if this song is an indication of how the album will be, then its a very good sign. considering she is one of the best songwriters in the game, its kinda hard to believe that a mediocre artist such as adele could win like 10 grammys and ke$ha doesnt even have 1.
altho “call me maybe” would be the obvious choice here, i decided to use this song instead, becuz i think i like it just as much , if not more than call me maybe. it doesnt hurt also that carly rae is one of the cutest girls ever. unfortunately, she is at risk for becoming known as a one-hit wonder, even tho her entire album is all really good.
one direction (via young british bros who change their hairstyles once a week) have released the first single off their new album and its CATCHY AS FUCK. this video contains the boys doing an array of fun summer activities, such as driving offroad in an old army truck, bouncing around inside these giant ball-things on the lake, and playing in an inflatable swimming pool.
not as danceable as the songs above, but still very catchy. im glad that she has ditched the groce southern accent that could be found in her earlier songs (which was faked in the first place). abandoning the country-pop sound and going straight up pop was probably the smartest thing she couldve done. and it seems to be working well in her favor, this song is her first #1 hit.
UNDERGROUND DIVISION (ARTISTS/SONGS U MAY HAVE SLEPT ON)
altho the bro from the ready set did see SOME mainstream success a couple years ago with his mildly popular radio hit “love like woe” (unlike his similar-sounding contemporary stephen jerzak, who made a failed attempt at venturing into the mainstream dancepop industry last year), his popularity seems to be fizzling if my observations are correct. he might be suffering from FTSK-syndrome, where his female fans are now 18 in their first year of college, like “oh yea, i used to listen to the ready set in high school”. despite his popularity status, this song is catchy as fuk and one of the best pop songs this year.
i commend these guys for having guitars in a song that seems to be 95% synthesizers and programmed drums. im mirin’ the boy band attire as well. judging by the quality of this music video, combined with the fact this band is unknown, im assessing that atleast one of them has some very rich parents. +1 for the hot brunette girl in the vid near the end.
unlike hollywood ending, these guys dont front. theyve dropped their electric guitars and traded them in for the siqest home recording software and synth packs. imo making a music video for this song in particular was a wrong career move tho, the song that they are blasting in their car at the beginning is much catchier. u can listen to it here.
altho austin mahone is always going to be accused of being just another “bieber clone”, he is innovating a new genre now known as “varsity jacket pop”. watch austin share his feelings on JB, proving that he is a unique artist and should not be compared to justin.
much like austin mahone, duke squad are also innovating a new style, “skaterpop”. this song includes dope rap verses and a super catchy pop chorus. im kinda perplexed how it says theyre signed to universal yet i have breakdown videos with 600 times as many views as this music vid. they clearly need more fans so go to their facebook page and give them a like. tell them that stuff you will hate sent u!
so that concludes my best pop songs of 2012. if there R any songs u think should have been on the list, drop a link in the comments. peace out bros!
Oh dear…
SYWH is my only link to this alternate universe, and I thank you for that. never change
Yeah but you can’t deny pop, and I get what you mean but not every SYW8ter is disconnected and they spend too much time in the alt scene. Sometimes it’s good to paly some pop songs man.
What’s with all the white people though?
hip hop = not catchy
Ellie Goulding- Lights
<3
SYWH is effectively the anti-Pitchfork. That’s why I love it.
This list is good and lovely, especially that Kesha jam <3
Seriously, <3 u 5ever Ke$ha.
I really dig that jam but not sure if better than Cannibal era stuff??
This will continue to grow on me and I’m sure I’ll eventually love it but it seems less “slut banger” ish and more like a Katy Perry / Jessie J jam, and I’m hoping the new album has a decent mix of both.
Well its no ‘Beat so fat gonna make me cum’, but Kesha expanded her abilities from just BANGERS to also JAMZ is a good natural progression, and I have no doubts that her album will have a nice diversified mix of both.
yeah basically this ^
the song may not be super slutty, but its still hedonistic, another one of ke$ha’s lyrical traits which compliments the sluttyness
I like it, i actually like how the music itself is smoother and better produced, but it was a bit of a downer for me bcz I was expecting her to drop a huge banger to get us keen for the new album. Kinda like how she did with We r who We r or whatver, that song got me psyched for Cannibal for sure. I will legit be a little bummed if the new album is all smooth jams. Still <3 u ke$hhhh
i know what you mean. we r who we r was definitely a huuge banger. i wouldnt worry though. i dont think you can go wrong with ke$ha.
Yeah she’s not gonna let me down <33
plus i mean. in the song she says “that magic in your pants, it’s making me blush”. dats pretty slutty
Lol dude that’s like a hymn to Jesus compared to her usual stuff!
i mean, it’s no “just show me where your dick’s at.”
but still. THE ALBUM WILL BE SLUTTY, YOU’LL SEE
I used to work with the management company for CMA, it’s too weird to see them on the internets other than self-promoting to the hordes of 14 year old biddies on their facebook haha
Also, completely obsessed with the Carly Rae/Owl City collab, no shame…solid list, bro
I love Carly Rae, and she was the only cute girl in that video.
The first 3 jamz worked for me, the rest made me uncomfortable. Austin Mahone is a smart fashion guy though cuz he put his initials on that jacket like a school sports team (but its really his name!) SMART !
Couldn’t have been more shocked when I found out that “We’re Never Ever Getting Back Together” was by Taylor Swift. Despite how polished it sounds, it has a lot of indie-pop underlying it, so I thought it was some savvy, very pop-oriented version of Feist or something singing that, not my waifu TS. She looks p indie in the music video too, even references indie records. Dah hell is happening in 2k12???
How hard will u suiside urself when she gets a Skrillex haircut?
The Owl Eyes – Carly Rae jam is the only one of these I’ve heard :( dug it tho, will check these out!
Totally mirin’ how Hollywood Ending used the same exact room Confide used for their Such Great Heights vid (for the band shots where they’re “playing” their instruments). Can’t say I’m a huge fan of any of these songs but it’s interesting to listen through them and realize I’ve heard them before in some way :P
genuinely like some pop/mainstream music like most others on this site but im beginning to feel like sywh is jocking it a bit too hard to the point where its like you guys are trying to prove a point. not aimed at this article in particular but just what ive noticed over the last few weeks.
Well keep in mind that SYWH is composed of numerous authors, it could just be a coincidence that a few authors wanted to post about a similar topic lately. I can dig it though, plenty of musical diversity here.
yeah im not trying to prove a point or anything with this article. just expressin’ my admiration for modern pop music and sharing it with other people.
im open to suggestions on topics to write about though, even made a thread asking for ideas in the forums. sarge told me to not write about anything metal-related tho (which i have little desire to write about anyway)
When Carly Rae does that little hum at 0:26s my heart skips a beat :(
every post like this always makes me realize i still only listen to metal via being in 2 metal bands as a drummer… : / I just can’t relate. Glad you bros like it though i guess.
Was expecting to read SYWH’s opinion on Gangnam Style..
i cant speak on behalf of sarge or the other writers but i think gagnam style is lame as fuck tbh