THE YEAR IN REVIEW: THE TOP 50 SINGLES OF 2011

On the back of publishing our Best Pop Albums of 2011, it's now time to deliver our annual Top 50 Singles of 2011. We have to admit that it has taken weeks, if not months of deliberation.

In a year when loads of brilliant pop acts came to the party, it was harder than ever to define the best of the best. Some artists surprised us with their inconsistency, others with their determination and brilliance. Pop music, more than ever, became a challenge for many artists new and old.

The professionalism, artistic involvement and length of video clips increased ten-fold this year. 2011 saw more artists make strategic moves to secure chart success, viral hype and record sales in a bid to compete with some of the true talent that emerged. None the less, 2011 was a great year for pop music.

Without further anticipation, here is our Top 50 Singles of 2011.

50.  Calvin Harris  "Bounce" feat. Kelis

49.  Emeli Sandé  "Heaven"

48.  Avicii  "Levels"

47.  Wynter Gordon  "Buy My Love"
46.  Darren Hayes  "Bloodstained Heart"

45.  Beyoncé  "Countdown"

44.  Vanbot  "Make Me, Break Me"

43.  Coldplay  "Paradise"

42.  Clare Maguire  "The Last Dance"

41.  Jessica Mauboy  "Inescapable"

40.  Jessie J  "Price Tag" feat. B.o.B.

39.  Coldplay  "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall"

38.  Sky Ferreira  "Sex Rules"

37.  Melanie C  "Think About It"

36.  Pnau  "Solid Ground"

35.  Nicola Roberts  "Lucky Day"

34.  Medina  "Addiction"

33.  Leona Lewis / Avicii  "Collide"

32.  The Saturdays  "Notorious"

31.  Foster The People  "Pumped Up Kicks"

30.  Kelly Clarkson  "Mr Know It All"

29.  Selena Gomez & The Scene  "Love You Like A Love Song"

28.  Above & Beyond  "You Got To Go" feat. Zoë Johnston

27.  Maroon 5  "Moves Like Jagger" feat. Christina Aguilera

26.  Tim Berg  "Seek Bromance"

25.  Gotye  "Somebody That I Used To Know" feat. Kimbra

24.  Lady Gaga  "Yoü And I"

23.  Kylie Minogue  "Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)"

22.  Robyn  "Call Your Girlfriend"

21.  Wynter Gordon  "Til Death"

20.  Adele  "Set Fire To The Rain"

19.  Britney Spears  "Hold It Against Me"

18.  Rihanna  "S&M"

17.  Katy B  "Broken Record"

16.  Katy Perry  "E.T."

15.  Darren Hayes  "Talk Talk Talk"

14.  Florence + The Machine  "Shake It Out"

13.  Alexis Jordan  "Good Girl"

12.  Rihanna  "We Found Love" feat. Calvin Harris

11.  CocknBullKid  "Asthma Attack"

10.  Adele  "Someone Like You"

The second single from the British singer/songwriter stole the hearts of almost everyone, worldwide. With lyrics like "I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited; but I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it; I had hoped that you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded; that for me, it isn't over" you can't help but be captivated.

Someone Like You hit the #1 spot in a number of countries worldwide, including the US, Australia and the UK; giving Adele a fantastic follow up to the 21's lead single, Rolling In The Deep. If you haven't done so, take a look at the video which features the star walk solemnly along the streets of Paris at 5am. A beautifully classic video, to match a beautifully classic song.

9.  Britney Spears  "Til The World Ends"

Britney Spears certainly delivered with the second single to be lifted from her seventh album, Femme Fatale. The Ke$ha penned track and it's accompanying apocalypse-themed video gave the recently engaged lass yet another top-ten smash in Australia and the US, peaking at #8 and #3 respectively.

Beating the album's lead single Hold It Against Me (which appeared on our chart at an impressive #19); Til The World Ends is Britney at her absolute finest. Brilliant pop music, great choreography in the video, and Miss Spears reminding us all that the broad has still got it.

8.  Jennifer Lopez  "On The Floor" feat. Pitbull

Speaking of still having it, Jennifer Lopez certainly didn't waste any time in the American Idol spotlight to remind us that she does indeed, certainly still have it. The Lambada sampling On The Floor, featuring Pitbull as guest rapper, saw the Latino babe return to the summit in over 20 countries worldwide.

On The Floor, produced by recycling-beats-and-bass man RedOne, was a brilliant lead single from J Lo's Love? album. Whilst the release has spawned a further two singles, they failed to be as globally successful as the great piece of Euro-trash that we have here.

7.  David Guetta  "Titanium" feat. Sia

Enlisting Australian singer/songwriter Sia as the guest vocalist on his empowerment anthem Titanium, was the best thing David Guetta could have ever done. Originally showcasing the vocal talents of Mary J Blige, Guetta felt she lacked the connection he'd heard when he listened to the demo of the track (originally recorded by Sia), and so he decided to lock her in for the final cut. What a great move!

"I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose; fire away, fire away; ricochet, you take your aim; fire away, fire away; you shoot me down, but I won't fall; I am titanium!" Those lyrics, followed by the unstoppable Guetta with his signature beats, is a true masterpiece. Definitely one of his best tracks to date.

6.  Yasmin  "Finish Line"

Yasmin, the then 22 year-old signed to Ministry of Sound records, had delivered her debut single On My Own to a pleased crowd, peaking just inside the UK top 40 at #39, however it wasn't until the release of her second single that she really set us on fire.

Finish Line, which features a superb remix by the boys from the Freemasons, samples Stevie Wonder's 1977 single, As. The track, written by the gorgeous girl and co-produced by Labrinth, gave Yasmin her first ever top twenty hit in her homeland.

5.  Will Young  "Jealousy"

No surprise that after featuring at #2 on the Best Pop Albums of 2011 that you find Jealousy, the lead single from Will Young's Echoes, in our top ten singles of the year. The up-tempo track, written by Young and Kish Mauve, produced by Richard X, gave the UK super star yet another top ten hit.

Young's tale of unrequited love is beautiful and heart-breaking as he delivers an outstanding vocal performance alongside Mr X's talented production work. A perfect lead single which paved the way for a great album.

4.  Lady Gaga  "The Edge Of Glory"

The Edge Of Glory is the single that saved Lady Gaga from her Born This Way era. Whilst we love a number of the album tracks, and whilst The Edge wasn't the biggest in terms of sales statistics, the Fernando Garibay produced hit was clearly the best track on the album.

The biggest disappointment - the video. With the least artistic input overall, it seemed to flounder in comparison by not only Gaga's standards, but by the fact that peers around her were now delivering exceptional video clips for most of their videos. A standard that was indeed, set by Gaga herself. 

3.  Sneaky Sound System  "Big"

This is the moment that Sneaky Sound System have been waiting for! Big, the second single to be lifted from their acclaimed From Here to Anywhere album, is the duo at their absolute best. Great vocals, pop melody, hot beats... pure pleasure.

Whilst it hasn't commercially set the world on fire (peaking at a measly #68 in Australia), fans have been taken by the lyrics and Miss Connie's exceptional vocal performance in Big. To quote the fabulous Adem With An E "...this is a soaring, majestic pop song with enough thumping electronic hooves to go along with some of the bands best, most sincere lyrics."

2.  Nicole Scherzinger  "Don't Hold Your Breath"

Don't Hold Your Breath as a demo originally surfaced late 2010 by Timbaland and Keri Hilson. After getting a pop-revamp by Carl Falk and co, the Toby Gad co-penned track managed to secure Nicole Scherzinger her first ever #1 in the UK.

Leaving the Pussycat Dolls and delivering Don't Hold Your Breath was the best move this girl could have made. Proving to those that she is more than just a piece of hot tail, Scherzy truly delivered to fans new and old with this brilliant pop jam.

After a series of failed attempts to lock in a debut album, it seemed the success of the first single Poison and Don't Hold Your Breath  helped cement Scherzy's Killer Love release, which later went on to peak at #8 on the UK albums chart.

1.  Adele  "Rolling In The Deep"

The song that started the current, epic journey of Adele's sophomore album 21. Rolling In The Deep, written by the talented star and Paul Epworth, was the commercial break that propelled the porcelain-skinned beauty into a stratosphere dreamed of by many, accomplished by some.

The track, which recently came in at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end charts, has sold in excess of five million copies in the US alone, achieving an impressive five times platinum sales status. In Canada and Australia we share similar sales achievements hitting six and five times platinum respectively.

Having won countless awards, including three MTV Video Music Awards back in July, Rolling In The Deep is one of this years, if not this decades, biggest hits. Whilst this tale of a scorned lover has been around for close to a year now, it has still yet to tire.

The longevity of Adele's 21, including Rolling In The Deep, is impressive. A truly, epic masterpiece that will cement Adele as a household name for years to come. 

PREVIEW NEW DRAGONETTE WITH "LET IT GO"

Canadian dance outfit Dragonette have uploaded a 27-second tease of their new single, Let It Go, to their Soundcloud page. The track is the first of new material from the group's third album, expected in 2012.

Take a listen to Let It Go below!

LET IT GO - TEASE by Dragonette

BEYONCÉ REVEALS "END OF TIME" REMIXES

One of the best tracks to feature on Beyoncé's 4 album is the Diplo/The-Dream produced hit End Of Time. The hit, which is expected to have a video drop sometime in the coming weeks, has had a remix package unleashed via the pregnant mother's Soundcloud page.

End Of Time gets a thrashing by RedTop, Manny Lehman, WaWa and Wideboys; allowing almost everyone an opportunity to fall in love with one of the club mixes. Take a listen to the set below.

4 is available today [iTunes]

End Of Time Remixes by Beyoncé

SCISSOR SISTERS ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE WITH "SHADY LOVE"

American pop group the Scissor Sisters have announced details of their upcoming single, the first to be taken from their fourth studio album due in 2012.

The new track, which will have it's radio premiere on Annie Mac's BBC One show on 2 January, is titled Shady Love and features fellow NYC singer/rapper Azealia Banks on vocals.

The group posted on their Facebook account, "We've spent 2011 making an album that we're really proud of and can't wait to share with you. Because you've been such good boys and girls, we'll be kicking off 2012 with a sneak peek of a brand new song to whet your appetite for what's to come."

The new material follows the group's 2010 album, Nightwork, which spawned the pop/dance hit Fire With Fire.

LISTEN TO NEW LADY GAGA WITH "BORN THIS WAY" EXTRA, "STUCK ON FUCKIN' YOU"

Playing the role of Santa Claus this Christmas, Mother Monster Lady Gaga delivered fans a superb treat - leaking an unreleased track that was left on the Born This Way cutting room floor, Stuck On Fuckin' You.

Talking about the track, Gaga explains “I’m so excited. We were all wasted on the bus making records. It is such a time capsule of the spirit of our creativity.” Adding detail to the song's creation, “So to give you a little background to the creation of this song. I wrote it in Minnesota after the Monster Ball on the tour bus. We recorded it in one shot. Fernando on guitar, Paul on Drum Machine. I wrote, sang it, and freestyled the last minute + a half of the song.”

Take a listen to the track below.

Lady Gaga - Stuck On Fuckin' You by stuckonfuckinyou

LISTEN TO NEW LANA DEL REY WITH "OFF TO THE RACES" AND "YAYO"

Pop music's biggest hopeful for 2012, Lana Del Rey, has given fans the opportunity to listen to more of her debut album by unleashing two new tracks via her YouTube account. Off To The Races and Yayo follow in the footsteps of the album's previous singles in delivering Del Rey's signature vocals across the melodic tracks.

Q's Next Best Thing, who will appear on Saturday Night Live on 14 January, has her debut album scheduled for release 27 January.

Take a listen to the album tracks below and share your thoughts on the new material.

Off To The Races:



Yayo:

[VIDEO PREMIERE] RIHANNA "YOU DA ONE"

Bajan pop star Rihanna has unleashed the video for You Da One, the second single to be lifted from her Talk That Talk album.

The track, which follows the US/UK #1 hit We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris), was co-penned by Esther Dean and produced by Dr Luke and Cirkut. Already peaking at #14 in the US and just outside the top twenty in the UK and Australia, the video should see the single ascend further.

Of the Melina Matsoukas directed video, it's largely a black-and-white affair where we find RiRi dancin' and singin' along in an alleyway. The clip also features visuals inspired by Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film A Clockwork Orange.

Talk That Talk is available today [iTunes]

[VIDEO PREMIERE] DAVID GUETTA "TITANIUM" FEAT. SIA

French DJ David Guetta has finally released a video for the outstanding Titanium, featuring Australian indie/pop singer Sia on vocals.

The track, which has already clocked up 3x platinum selling status in Australia peaking at #5 on the ARIA Singles Chart, has now been officially listed as the fourth single to be lifted from Nothing But The Beat.

The video stars Super 8 actor Ryan Lee in supernatural-themed clip. Unfortunately, the better-late-than-never video doesn't star Sia. Watch the full vid below.

Nothing But The Beat is available today [iTunes]

HAVE YOU DISCOVERED... DELILAH?

One of the next biggest things to come out of the London underground is 19 year-old Delilah.

Having appeared on the electro track Time with Chase & Status earlier this year, Delilah has already developed a small but growing fan base. Fans of Australian singer/songwriter Sia, Lykke Li, even Adele and Amy Winehouse; will be pleased when they listen to the vocals of this talented up-and-comer.

Having cited the likes of Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu, right through to Basement Jaxx and No Doubt as her influences; you know you're going to get a brilliant surprise each time you hear a new track.

Delilah's debut EP Go was released back in September and featured four outstanding numbers - I Can Feel You, Breathe, Hater and the title track. The haunting yet mesmerising Go, which has already had greater than two million views on YouTube and peaked at #17 in the UK this year, features a lyrical sample of Ain't Nobody by Chaka Khan.



Delilah's following EP, released only last week (UK only at this stage), features three new tracks including the new single I Love You So. In addition, it delivers a couple of pretty exceptional remixes of the track by Joe Goddard and Lenzman.



So what's in store for 2012 for this great new find? At this stage we're hoping a complete album package. Delilah's unique vocals could sit quite nicely on any pop, R&B, electro or ambient track - so the prospect of a fresh mixed bag of material is exciting to say the least.

Stay tuned for more on this talented beauty as the future unfolds for Delilah in 2012.

The Go and I Love You So EPs are available digitally today (UK & Australia) [iTunes]

COLDPLAY TO RELEASE "CHARLIE BROWN" AS THIRD SINGLE FROM "MYLO XYLOTO"

British band Coldplay are set to release Charlie Brown as the third single taken from their Mylo Xyloto album, following the success of the singles Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall and Paradise.

The group have just finished filming the video in South London, with a range of topless women who are expected to be seen in the clip. According to Capital FM: "The 'Paradise' band placed an advert asking for extras to feature in the promo, for forthcoming single 'Charlie Brown', and offered an extra £100 if any would appear topless."

Interesting. The video is expected in the coming weeks, as the single is slated for a release on 10 January.

Mylo Xyloto is available today [iTunes]

Watch Charlie Brown live below: