PART III, THE FINALE
And so, here it is - the Top 10 Singles as assessed by me; the music-driven, ass-swinging, blog-loving Jimmy Steele. Can I tell you how hard it was to get this list to a Top 50, let alone a Top 10? 2010 was truly blessed with so many tracks that really outshone previous years in regards to music. Pure quality I tell you, pure quality.
There have been a few key standout artists this year too... but I think that's anotehr blog post entirely - let's get into the countdown!
10. NOT GIVING UP ON LOVE // Arvin van Buuren vs Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Miss Ellis-Bextor teamed up with our favourite Aussie models/DJs, Nervo, to pen this brilliant track, which also includes the girls on backing vocals. Yet again, do my Nervo girls deliver!
Not Giving Up On Love was released as the lead single off Armin's 2010 album, Mirage, and will also feature on Sophie's fourth studio album, Make a Scene, which will be released in this coming April. Armin debuted the track in his A State of Trance podcast in August.
Whilst the single didn't fair that well chart wise (excluding Poland where it went to #1 - random); it certainly made a presence on the club scene globally.
Miss Ellis-Bextor, with her sassy vocals and classy style, oozes sex 'n' love in this video. Also, she kinda makes me jealous lounging on that boat in the video clip (grrr), which was shot in Ibiza, Spain (double-grrr).
Purchase Not Giving Up On Love digitally now [ITUNES]
9. EMPIRE STATE OF MIND // Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys
Some of you may argue that this track really should have been featured as a 'best of 2009' - well... bite me.
The ode to one of America's most well-known cities is really, one of the stand-out tracks of this decade. Alicia Keys belting out...
"New Yoooooooork...concrete jungle where dreams are made of... there's nothing you can't do..."...sends chills down my spine and makes me wanna grab that credit card and book my one-way flight now.
Alicia and I had a good year in 2010 actually - this is her third appearance in the countdown (with tracks Un-Thinkable and Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart making earlier appearances)... I gotta say, her Elements of Freedom album clearly was one of the best albums of the year.
Purchase Empire State of Mind digitally now [ITUNES]
8. BELIEVER // Freemasons feat. Wynter Gordon
Oh bless. What an amazing combo - the boys from Brighton, England; and New York's princess, Wynter Gordon. I'm not really sure what else to say here except for...
Get your ass into gear and start grooving!
Believer was released earlier in the year to the UK/Australia markets, however only in the last month has it been released in the US. A huge club smash in the UK and Europe over summer, I'm expecting it to do the same over the US in the coming weeks/months.
Also, this is Wynter's second appearance today with Dirty Talk coming in at #26... oh how we love Miss Gordon!!!
7. SHAMPAIN // Marina & the Diamonds
Welsh/Greek Goddess, Marina Lambrini Diamandis, or as you may know her, Marina & the Diamonds; is clearly one of 2010's precious gems.
Her debut album, The Family Jewels, is a piece of pure indie pop heaven... really, it's hard to fault any of the tracks on the album. So much so, this is Marina's third appearance in my Top 50 of 2010 (Hollywood at #19, Oh No! at #32)!
I was lucky enough to see Marina perform just recently in Sydney in a show performing at The Factory Theatre. Her performance - vocally and stage-presence wise - was really hard to beat. It was hard not to be captivated by her aura on stage... one word to describe the night - WOW.
The Shampain video, with it's Thriller-like choreography, wind machine blowing leaves and overall beauty of Miss Diamandis, clearly is one of the best clips of 2010.
Purchase Shampain digitally now [ITUNES]
6. ACAPELLA // Kelis
Acapella was Kelis' opportunity to embrace a market in which we knew she'd reign - and boy did she do that. The lead track from her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone, was co-penned by Kelis and produced by David Guetta; and paved way for what was received as one of the best albums of 2010.*
*according to me of course
The colourful and energetic video was a collaboration between fashion photographer John "Rankin" Waddell (Germany's Next Top Model photographer), and director Chris Cottam. It's vibrant, effective and provides the buzz that the track needs - a great, great film clip.
In addition to Acapella, the album spawned three other singles - 4th of July (Fireworks), Scream and Brave.
Purchase Acapella digitally now [ITUNES]
5. HANG WITH ME // Robyn
So here we have Robyn, her second appearance in my countdown (no surprise there) with Hang With Me. In 2010 Robyn released three EPs, titled the Body Talk series. All three were released within a six month period, with Hang With Me featuring on the first and second editions.
On the first edition Hang With Me is a slow, soulful acoustic ballad. A beautiful number really... however it wasn't until it got a little bit of treatment and appeared on the second edition did it really hit the mark. The single gave Robyn her fifth top five number in her native Sweden... hmmm, what was her forth...? Stay tuned!
Purchase Hang With Me digitally now [ITUNES]
4. TELEPHONE // Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce
The second track to be lifted off Gaga's infamous The Fame Monster EP, Telephone is pure pop brilliance. Originally written by Lady Gaga for none other than Miss Britney Spears (for her Circus album), once rejected, Gaga decided to own the track and pursue Beyonce for the additional part. Great move girl.
Telephone featured one of the most anticipated video clips of all time. The video, shot by the creative genius that is Jonas Åkerlund (who directed Gaga's Paparazzi), featured Lady Gaga and Beyonce in a range of designer outfits that played out in a number of different scenes.
The video, available in 'clean' and 'explicit' versions, is just over nine minutes and thirty seconds in length, and as of today, has had more than 100,000,000 views on YouTube. Un-fucking-believable!
Purchase Telephone digitally now [ITUNES]
3. GET OUTTA MY WAY // Kylie Minogue
What has been claimed by critics* as Kylie's best track in years, Get Outta My Way was a clear reminder that Miss Minogue still has it. Oh yes she does. Whether it's the video with those gold shoes, the striking poses or the brilliant chair choreography - she still has it.
*those critics being me and a whole lotta gay men globally
The second single off the Aphrodite album (clearly a life saving album, thank you Stuart Price), unfortunately didn't receive the chart success it deserved, however it still is, without a doubt, one of Kylie's best songs EVAH (big call, I know).
Purchase Get Outta My Way digitally now [ITUNES]
2. FREEFALLIN' // Zoe Badwi
Ex-Siren (remember those girls - come on, think about it... Sarah-Marie from Australia's Big Brother... I'm So Excited... Oh God, yes, that was Zoe Badwi) has been around the Aussie club scene for some time now. She's partnered with TV Rock and delivered In The Moment and Release Me over the last couple of years - clear club numbers that everyone loves.
Move forward to 2010, grab yourself an Amy Pearson penned track, Denzal Park on production and BANG - you have yourself a surefire hit. Freefallin' is nothing but brilliant... picture it now... gay men throwing their hands up in the air like they just dont' care. Oh bless. Cause I'm freeeeeeeeeefalllin...
LOVE IT.
Purchase Freefallin' digitally now [ITUNES]
1. DANCING ON MY OWN // Robyn
Here it is!!! My #1 Single of 2010!!!
Dancing On My Own was unveiled to the world in June - the synth love ballad, with Robyn's unique vocals oozing heartache and betrayal, instantly won me over the moment I heard it. And, funnily enough, I wasn't alone worldwide.
The track went to #1 in Sweden - Robyn's first ever hit to the top in her homeland. Additionally, it achieved top ten in many countries across Europe, including the UK. It was the lead track off the three-part Body Talk series and certainly gave us a great taste of the excellence that was yet to come from the following EPs.
The video, with Robyn's awkward yet mesmerising moves, is a reminder of what it feels like when a love is not reciprocated. Painful, beautiful, indulging.
Robyn - you really are a talented artist. Much love.
Purchase Dancing On My Own digitally now [ITUNES]
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