These were my favorite new albums of 2014:
Me. I Am Mariah: The Elusive Chanteuse - Mariah Carey
She has one of the most amazing voices in all of music and her new release in 2014 is an outstanding showcase for her depth and range. From the heartfelt ballad You're Mine to the joyful happiness of Make It Look Good there is something for every one here. The fact is that she has written songs for this collection that reflect an emotional level of wisdom and maturity that Mariah is rarely given credit for having. This is without a doubt the most under-rated and overlooked album of the year. From the open cut, Cry, where she displays a raw vulnerability, to the uplifting gospel closing track, Heavenly, Mariah is better than ever. The array of songs in between have catchy sing a long hooks and toe tapping beats that we have come to expect from Mariah, but on this collection they are actually better than we have ever heard from her in the past. If you love music, do yourself a favor and let yourself enjoy this hidden gem.
747 - Lady Antebellum
The fifth release from Lady Antebellum is another collection of great songs that you can listen to from beginning to end. Its first single was the outstanding country/pop jam, Bartender. The album is packed with other potential hit singles from the title track, 747 to the opening cut Long Stretch of Love. In addition, this collection is full of songs that pull on your emotional heart strings telling stories of love and longing like Damn You 17 and One Great Mystery.
My Everything - Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande was able to be the dominant force in pop music in 2014 because her sophomore album, My Everything, is over flowing with amazing pop music. The first single, Problem, grabs your attention with its infectious saxophone riff and keeps your attention with her amazing vocals singing the catchy hooks. While Problem was still dominating the charts, two more singles were released at the same time. Break Free is a high energy disco dance anthem while the superstar collaboration with Jessie J, Bang Bang, is without competition the party anthem of the year. As the year came to an end the fourth single, Love Me Harder, was all over the airwaves. With all of the other amazing tracks on this album, it is sure to remain dominant throughout 2015.
JHUD - Jennifer Hudson
The Season 3 Miss American Idol finalist and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is well known for her exceptional vocal abilities. She has won Grammys and critical praise for her first two albums, but on this third collection, JHUD, I think she has found the perfect songs and the perfect sound that fit her best. This album is an R&B/disco and funk filled musical extravaganza. Every track is a stand out because her powerhouse voice is matched with slamming and jamming beats that can keep up with her. This album is perfect for a festive party or for playing loud while you are driving. When one song ends it's fun to keep listening and hear the next one!
Monday, December 29, 2014
Sunday, December 28, 2014
More Favorite Songs of 2014
I recently listed my Top 10 Favorite Songs of 2014. Just for clarification let me explain that those songs all had to meet the eligibility for that list by reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard HOT 100 during 2014. I happen to be one of those people that believes that "It's not a hit until it's a hit on Billboard". Just in case you don't know, in order to reach the top of the Billboard HOT 100, a song must get the most sales and radio airplay for any given week.
There were lots of other songs that I loved in 2014 that failed to make the top 10 on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart. Here's a list of some of my other favorites in 2014. One thing that I can say about all of these songs is that it's a shame it didn't get more sales and airplay to do better on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart.
In the ideal world, great songs from Country, Pop, Dance and R&B would all find their way to the upper positions of the Billboard HOT 100.
Somethin' Bad - Carrie Underwood with Miranda Lambert: The two biggest female artists in Country Music got together to provide the hottest rockin jam of the year.
Small Town Throw down - Brantley Gilbert with Thomas Rhett and Justin Moore: There was so much young smoking hot country man testosterone raging through this song it was impossible not to love it!
This Is How We Roll - Luke Bryan with Florida Georgia Line: There's just something about songs with young smoking hot country man testosterone raging through them. Gotta love it!
Bottoms Up - Brantley Gilbert: This song is sexy as hell and it makes for the best shadow dance of the night.
Bartender - Lady Antebellum: Every song Lady Antebellum releases seems to be better than the last! Bartender took them down an all new and exciting direction of catchy and fun country/pop awesomeness.
Something In The Water - Carrie Underwood: Listen to her exceptionally outstanding vocals - How Sweet The Sound!! The best voice is country music also just happens to be the best voice in ALL of music.
The Walker - Fitz and The Tantrums: From the distinctive whistle to the great beat and catchy hook, this song had no choice but to be one of the favorites of the year.
Follow Your Arrow - Kacey Musgraves: There are those people who are dismissive of Country Music saying it is just a bunch of wacko religious conservatives and rednecks. But this song about kissing boys or kissing girls if that's what your into was awarded the Song of the Year by the Country Music Association, so just ponder that for a moment before you judge. :)
River Bank - Brad Paisley: I always love it when a new song comes out that is perfect for dancing a County Line. Especially when it's as good as this one with such a fun video.
Roller Coaster - Luke Bryan: It's a really great thing when the lyrics to a song relate perfectly to the things that happen in our own lives. Every time I heard this song I was taken back to that week that ended too soon and left me twisting like an old beach roller coaster....
There were lots of other songs that I loved in 2014 that failed to make the top 10 on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart. Here's a list of some of my other favorites in 2014. One thing that I can say about all of these songs is that it's a shame it didn't get more sales and airplay to do better on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart.
In the ideal world, great songs from Country, Pop, Dance and R&B would all find their way to the upper positions of the Billboard HOT 100.
Somethin' Bad - Carrie Underwood with Miranda Lambert: The two biggest female artists in Country Music got together to provide the hottest rockin jam of the year.
Small Town Throw down - Brantley Gilbert with Thomas Rhett and Justin Moore: There was so much young smoking hot country man testosterone raging through this song it was impossible not to love it!
This Is How We Roll - Luke Bryan with Florida Georgia Line: There's just something about songs with young smoking hot country man testosterone raging through them. Gotta love it!
Bottoms Up - Brantley Gilbert: This song is sexy as hell and it makes for the best shadow dance of the night.
Bartender - Lady Antebellum: Every song Lady Antebellum releases seems to be better than the last! Bartender took them down an all new and exciting direction of catchy and fun country/pop awesomeness.
Something In The Water - Carrie Underwood: Listen to her exceptionally outstanding vocals - How Sweet The Sound!! The best voice is country music also just happens to be the best voice in ALL of music.
The Walker - Fitz and The Tantrums: From the distinctive whistle to the great beat and catchy hook, this song had no choice but to be one of the favorites of the year.
Follow Your Arrow - Kacey Musgraves: There are those people who are dismissive of Country Music saying it is just a bunch of wacko religious conservatives and rednecks. But this song about kissing boys or kissing girls if that's what your into was awarded the Song of the Year by the Country Music Association, so just ponder that for a moment before you judge. :)
River Bank - Brad Paisley: I always love it when a new song comes out that is perfect for dancing a County Line. Especially when it's as good as this one with such a fun video.
Roller Coaster - Luke Bryan: It's a really great thing when the lyrics to a song relate perfectly to the things that happen in our own lives. Every time I heard this song I was taken back to that week that ended too soon and left me twisting like an old beach roller coaster....
The Top 10 Songs of 2014
The Top 10 songs of 2014!!
2014 has been a great year for fun pop songs getting into the upper portion of the Billboard HOT 100 Singles chart. Here's my Top 10 favorite songs of the year:
Problem - Ariana Grande
There was going to be no sophomore slump for this young lady. This first single from her second album is simply pop music perfection with its catchy beat and sing a long chorus. Ariana's voice is amazing and she looks better than everyone else in her mini skirts and go go boots!
Chandelier - Sia
Sia used to be that featured singer on other people's songs, but this year her powerhouse voice broke through on her own with this exceptional song. Sia has now found herself nominated for the Grammy for Record of the Year with this outstanding single.
Happy - Pharrell Williams
Yes, it was everywhere and people love to say they are sick of it, but it's not easy to deliver a song that is loved by all demographics of people across the board. It was more infectious than any song has been in years and it's much better to just give in and love it than trying so hard to hate it.
Stay With Me - Sam Smith
This soulful ballad is going to lead Sam Smith to winning the top 4 awards at this years Grammys: He is a shoe in to take home Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist.
Bang Bang - Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj
This is without competition the party anthem and pop collaboration of the year. Hot beats and hot vocals all around!
All Of Me - John Legend
This was the most popular song of the year for couples to use for their first dance at their weddings. And it's no surprise since John Legend provided the absolute best love song of all time.
Dark Horse - Katy Perry
In 2014 Katy proved that she has pop music staying power. For over 5 years in a row she has been topping the charts and ruling the airwaves. Who else is doing that?? No one, that's who!!!
Maps - Maroon 5
These guys just know how to serve up a catchy pop song. They can be hit or miss, but when they nail it, they really hit it on the head.
Let It Go - Idina Menzel
No one expected the original movie version of this song to actually cross over and become a pop hit, but this avalanche of success was unstoppable.
All About The Bass - Meghan Trainor
Let's hear it for loving yourself as you are no matter what size you wear. And if it's catchy with a good beat it's even better!!!
2014 has been a great year for fun pop songs getting into the upper portion of the Billboard HOT 100 Singles chart. Here's my Top 10 favorite songs of the year:
Problem - Ariana Grande
There was going to be no sophomore slump for this young lady. This first single from her second album is simply pop music perfection with its catchy beat and sing a long chorus. Ariana's voice is amazing and she looks better than everyone else in her mini skirts and go go boots!
Chandelier - Sia
Sia used to be that featured singer on other people's songs, but this year her powerhouse voice broke through on her own with this exceptional song. Sia has now found herself nominated for the Grammy for Record of the Year with this outstanding single.
Happy - Pharrell Williams
Yes, it was everywhere and people love to say they are sick of it, but it's not easy to deliver a song that is loved by all demographics of people across the board. It was more infectious than any song has been in years and it's much better to just give in and love it than trying so hard to hate it.
Stay With Me - Sam Smith
This soulful ballad is going to lead Sam Smith to winning the top 4 awards at this years Grammys: He is a shoe in to take home Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist.
Bang Bang - Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj
This is without competition the party anthem and pop collaboration of the year. Hot beats and hot vocals all around!
All Of Me - John Legend
This was the most popular song of the year for couples to use for their first dance at their weddings. And it's no surprise since John Legend provided the absolute best love song of all time.
Dark Horse - Katy Perry
In 2014 Katy proved that she has pop music staying power. For over 5 years in a row she has been topping the charts and ruling the airwaves. Who else is doing that?? No one, that's who!!!
Maps - Maroon 5
These guys just know how to serve up a catchy pop song. They can be hit or miss, but when they nail it, they really hit it on the head.
Let It Go - Idina Menzel
No one expected the original movie version of this song to actually cross over and become a pop hit, but this avalanche of success was unstoppable.
All About The Bass - Meghan Trainor
Let's hear it for loving yourself as you are no matter what size you wear. And if it's catchy with a good beat it's even better!!!
American Idol Grammy Nominations
The nominations for the 57th Grammy Awards have been announced and once again there were some Miss American Idol finalists who heard their names called.
The Season 3 Miss American Idol finalist and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is nominated for the Best R&B Performance for her track It's Your World from her latest album JHUD.
The Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood, is up for two awards. Her spectacular song Something In The Water has earned her a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance. She is also nominated along with Miranda Lambert for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their duet, Somethin' Bad.
The winners will be announced on Sunday February 8th.
The Season 3 Miss American Idol finalist and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is nominated for the Best R&B Performance for her track It's Your World from her latest album JHUD.
The Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood, is up for two awards. Her spectacular song Something In The Water has earned her a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance. She is also nominated along with Miranda Lambert for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their duet, Somethin' Bad.
The winners will be announced on Sunday February 8th.
Big debut for Carrie's Greatest Hits
The Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood makes it five for five this week as her newly released Greatest Hits: Decade #1 becomes her fifth consecutive album to debut at #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums sales chart. The 25-song collection – which includes her new single, the GRAMMY®-nominated smash, “Something in the Water” – tops the chart with first-week sales of 94,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan, delivering the best-selling debut for a hits collection by an artist in any genre of music in more than six years.
Greatest Hits: Decade #1 also powers its way into the Top 5 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, debuting at #4, with the chart's sales and streaming methodology registering an equivalent of 103,000 albums.
Remarkably, not since November of 2005, when Underwood emerged on the scene with her now-7x-Platinum debut album, Some Hearts, has any female artist debuted with as high an opening-week sales tally for a hits package.
“One of the most spectacular elements of Carrie Underwood's career continues to be the sheer depth and breadth of her music, whatever the subject matter, from the most nuanced performances to songs that just blow the roof off,” remarked Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton. “With her Greatest Hits package debuting at #1, and ‘Something in the Water' already a massive hit, it's an incredible testament to how profoundly Carrie's songs have connected with fans over the past 10 years, as well as the awesome promise of the decades of music still to come.”
Kicked off by the record-setting success of the Gold-certified Top-5-and-climbing first single, “Something in the Water” (penned by Underwood, Chris DeStefano, and Brett James),Greatest Hits: Decade #1 also includes the new song “Little Toy Guns” (written by Underwood, Chris DeStefano, and Hillary Lindsey) and four songs in never-before-released versions, as well as all 18 of Underwood's #1 hits.
Greatest Hits: Decade #1 also powers its way into the Top 5 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, debuting at #4, with the chart's sales and streaming methodology registering an equivalent of 103,000 albums.
Remarkably, not since November of 2005, when Underwood emerged on the scene with her now-7x-Platinum debut album, Some Hearts, has any female artist debuted with as high an opening-week sales tally for a hits package.
“One of the most spectacular elements of Carrie Underwood's career continues to be the sheer depth and breadth of her music, whatever the subject matter, from the most nuanced performances to songs that just blow the roof off,” remarked Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton. “With her Greatest Hits package debuting at #1, and ‘Something in the Water' already a massive hit, it's an incredible testament to how profoundly Carrie's songs have connected with fans over the past 10 years, as well as the awesome promise of the decades of music still to come.”
Kicked off by the record-setting success of the Gold-certified Top-5-and-climbing first single, “Something in the Water” (penned by Underwood, Chris DeStefano, and Brett James),Greatest Hits: Decade #1 also includes the new song “Little Toy Guns” (written by Underwood, Chris DeStefano, and Hillary Lindsey) and four songs in never-before-released versions, as well as all 18 of Underwood's #1 hits.
2014 Year End Charts
The #1 album on the Billboard charts for all of 2014 is The Soundtrack to the movie Frozen featuring Idina Menzel.
There were some strong showings from the Miss American Idol finalists on the 2014 year end charts. The Season 1 Miss American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson has the highest ranking at #17 with her holiday album Wrapped in Red. The Season 5 Miss American Idol third runner up, Chris Daughtry comes in at #86 with his album Baptized. The Season 10 Miss American Idol winner, Scotty McCreery, comes in at #170 with his album See You Tonight. The Sound of Music: Music from the NBC Television Event featuring songs from the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood, finishes out the year at #197.
The Top 5 singles for 2014 on the Billboard HOT 100 are: #1 Happy by Pharrell Williams, #2 Dark Horse by Katy Perry, #3 All Of Me by John Legend, #4 Fancy by Iggy Azalea and at #5 Counting Stars by OneRepublic.
The Miss American Idol finalist who makes the highest showing on the year end singles chart is also the ONLY Miss American Idol finalist who made the chart. It is no surprise that it is the Supreme Miss American, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood. at #99 with her duet with Miranda Lambert, Somethin' Bad.
The Miss American Idol winners also had a minimal showing on the Billboard 2014 Top Artists of the Year chart: The Season 1 Miss American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson lands at #97.
There were some strong showings from the Miss American Idol finalists on the 2014 year end charts. The Season 1 Miss American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson has the highest ranking at #17 with her holiday album Wrapped in Red. The Season 5 Miss American Idol third runner up, Chris Daughtry comes in at #86 with his album Baptized. The Season 10 Miss American Idol winner, Scotty McCreery, comes in at #170 with his album See You Tonight. The Sound of Music: Music from the NBC Television Event featuring songs from the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood, finishes out the year at #197.
The Top 5 singles for 2014 on the Billboard HOT 100 are: #1 Happy by Pharrell Williams, #2 Dark Horse by Katy Perry, #3 All Of Me by John Legend, #4 Fancy by Iggy Azalea and at #5 Counting Stars by OneRepublic.
The Miss American Idol finalist who makes the highest showing on the year end singles chart is also the ONLY Miss American Idol finalist who made the chart. It is no surprise that it is the Supreme Miss American, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood. at #99 with her duet with Miranda Lambert, Somethin' Bad.
The Miss American Idol winners also had a minimal showing on the Billboard 2014 Top Artists of the Year chart: The Season 1 Miss American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson lands at #97.
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