New Year's Eve Playlist

So it’s that time again...the last day of the year and an excuse to get so drunk that you forget your own name and the past twelve months. In all honesty, it’s a lot of hype: there’s a lot of pressure to do something amazing to welcome in the New Year and it ends up usually burning a massive hole in your pocket. But I’m buying into it once again, and for the purposes of this blog, I love this night.

New Years Eve usually pans out a certain way, and I’ve created my perfect playlist for a night of debauchery and drunken shenanigans.

7:00pm – 8:00pm

·        Jay Sean ft. Nicki Minaj – 2012

·        Ke$ha – Die Young

·        Pitbull – Give Me Everything

The start of the night: the getting ready phase. These tunes all anticipate a great night filled with alcohol, alcohol and more alcohol! Although the year is practically over, we can take a listen to Jay Sean and Nicki Minaj (who knew the world wouldn't end) telling us to party like its 2012 because technically it still is. Ke$ha urges us to make the most of the night, “tear it up” and live wild as she always does. Pitbull deserves a play at this stage too, just for that “I might drink a little more than I should tonight” line! So are we all ready to PARTY?

8:00pm -9:00pm

·        Rihanna ft. David Guetta – Right Now

·        Rudimental – Feel the Love

·        Livin’ Joy – Dreamer

Right, you’re feeling good, looking cool and hopefully with your friends by now, so it's time to put on some tunes that everyone can enjoy and that continue to build anticipation for the night. Rihanna is a dead cert for this phase then: ‘Right Now' will make people appreciate the moment, Rudimental will remind everyone how much they like each other and Livin’ Joy will take you back to the nineties. All will get you ready to dance later on.

9:00pm – 10:00pm

·        Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life

·        Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer

Pre-drinks are in full swing and it’s time to turn up the cheese. By now everyone’s tipsy enough to have a good sing-along. In all honesty there will probably be some drunk who requests these tunes earlier (and in my group, it's likely to be me) but you should wait until everyone is drunk enough. There are plenty you could choose from, these are just three good examples.

10:00pm – 10:30pm 

·        Nicki Minaj – I Endorse These Strippers

·        Azealia Banks – 212

Now you are decidedly pissed enough to do a decent rap and throw down a few slut drops. My night is never complete without getting my Minaj on; ‘I Endorse These Strippers’ will also pre-empt any nudity that may occur during or after the night too. Then, you can swear to your hearts content rapping along with Azealia “I guess that C—T gettin’ eaten” Banks. :O

10:30pm – 12:00pm

·        will.i.am ft. Britney Spears – Scream and Shout

·        LMFAO ft. Lil’ Jon – Shots

·        J. Lo ft. Pitbull – On the Floor

Once in the club, there'll be some time to kill before the big countdown; there are really only two things you can do -- drink and dance. ‘Scream and Shout’ is good walk-in-the-club-and-own-it music, with British-ney repeating “ALL EYES ON US”. Then you can order some 'shots' and have a boogie 'on the floor'.

12:00am

·        Mariah Carey – Auld Lang Syne

The big moment has arrived and theres only one song you can listen to now. I’ve picked Mariah’s version because it’s a bit more of a club banger than others. Enjoy, and maybe you'll have a cheeky kiss while this plays.

12:04am onwards

·        Nicki Minaj – Pound the Alarm

·        Girls Aloud – Something New

·        will.i.am ft. J. Lo and Mick Jagger – T.H.E

Now that that’s over it’s basically a normal night out. Time to “go hard or go home” and dance your arse of to music like ‘Pound the Alarm’: noisy, brash and in-your-face. Just what you need to start the year off.

12:00pm

·        Britney Spears - Blur

·        Taio Cruz - Hangover

·        P!nk – Walk of Shame

The music of the next day can vary based on how you’re feeling and how New Year’s Eve ended. You may have had a great time, are hungover and don’t mind – then listen to Taio Cruz. You might have no recollection of any of the events and your head hurts too much for loud music – this Britney Spears song is the one for you. Or you have to make your way home from someone else’s bed – make sure Pink is on your iPod.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

Top 20 songs of 2012

20. Scissor Sisters - Let's Have A Kiki

Is this one not obvious? If I need to explain its amazingness, just go and watch the video and see for yourself.

Best Lyric: "Oh What A Wonderful Kiki. This Kiki is marvellous"

19. Part of Me – Katy Perry

Katy Perry’s third UK number one couldn’t have been released at a more appropriate time: it lyrics that seem to talk directly to ex-husband Russell Brand and coincided with KP's concert film that used the same title. ‘Part of Me’ has one of the most memorable choruses from the year and an equally unforgettable video where Katy P chops of her hair to join the army.

Best Lyric: “In fact, you can keep everything. Except for me”

18. Beneath Your Beautiful – Labrinth ft. Emeli Sandé

This is surely everyone’s favourite ballad of 2012 and from such an unexpected duo. I never realised how good Labrinth actually was until he released this song and Emeli Sandé has popped up literally everywhere this year (so why should my blog be any exception?). The two together have produced one of the most beautiful songs of the year, even if I’m not sure where he wants to see exactly.

Best Lyric: “You’ve built your wall so high that no-one could climb it, but I’m gonna try”

17. Sick Love – Vince Kidd

‘Sick Love’ is a song that is so good, but will never reach a big enough audience. It’s frustrating. This song has some ‘sick’ lyrics (get it!) – in all senses of the word. That is the genius of this song- its explicitness and ability to make you feel dirty and turn you on!! Vince is recording an album for a 2013 release, and his other songs seem set to follow in a similar vein (he posted one about masturbation on his twitter earlier this month). Can't wait.

Best Lyric: “Live faster, fuck harder. Die in my arms”

16. Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson

The Best Kelly Clarkson song in a long time. Fact. In ‘Stronger, Clarkson is independent, confident and vocally on it. This song reminds me of many of her earlier hits like ‘Since U Been Gone’ and ‘My Life Would Suck Without You’ which can’t be a bad thing. With her Greatest Hits having just been released, hopefully there’s more where this came from in 2013.

Best Lyric: “In the end the day you left was just my beginning”

15. Something New – Girls Aloud

You can’t say Girls Aloud play it safe with songs like this. Indeed, I find their safe songs, like 'Beautiful 'cause You Love Me', really dreary. I like them best when they’re not being all serious and going for the big notes. Stick to your ‘Something New’ and ‘Something Kinda Ooh’ when it comes to GA I say. A great song that makes you walk with a certain confident strut when it comes on your iPod.

Best Lyric: “We’re the leaders of the pack. Tell me, can you handle that?”

14. Wings – Little Mix

Little Mix’s proper debut, ‘Wings’ had to live up to a lot of expectations. As far as X-Factor winners go, the second single is always a big test of the artist’s longevity; take Leona’s ‘Bleeding Love’ and compare that to Joe McElderry’s ‘Ambitions’ and you’ll get my drift. But ‘Wings’ went straight in at number one and too right too. Little Mix are fast becoming one of the UK’s best girl bands thanks to songs like this that strike the right chord with their target audience. I should know, my 8-year old cousin is obsessed with them.

Best Lyric: “If they give you shhhh then they can walk on by”

13. Beauty and A Beat – Justin Beiber ft. Nicki Minaj

When I heard JB was teaming up with Nicki Minaj on his new album, I was excited I’m not going to lie. But these are two fairly marmite popstars, I wasn’t sure ‘Beauty and a Beat’ would be the hit that it has become. Obviously, Minaj’s bizarre rap is a highlight.

Best Lyric: “Buns out, weiner! But I gotta keep an eye out for Selenuuur”

12. Primadonna – Marina and the Diamonds

Marina and the Diamonds made undoubtedly one of the coolest pop records of 2012, Electra Heart . Lead single ‘Primadonna’, with Dr. Luke at its helm, also does a great job of teetering on that fine line between full-on pop and cool indie record. ‘Primadonna’ is lyrically and vocally fantastic and has a beat to match.

Best Lyric: “I can’t help that I need it all: the primadonna life, the rise and fall

11. Diamonds – Rihanna

Once again, Rihanna absolutely raked it in this year. ‘Diamonds’ is her sixth UK number one and the first take from her seventh album, Unapologetic. Well she did warn us “that Rihanna reign just won’t let up” so I’m sure we’ll be hearing her seventh number one single and fifth number one album next year. But ‘Diamonds’ is pure RiRi and she sounds incredible.

Best Lyric: “Shine bright like a diamond!”

10. Pound the Alarm – Nicki Minaj

‘Pound the Alarm’ became the official follow-up to ‘Starships’, and although it didn’t make as much of a chart impact, it is just as good, just as epileptic, just as summer-y. In fairness, they are very very similar. Minaj showcases her shifting abilities as a rapper and a dance act best in this song: her opening verse is on point and the RedOne production is all kinds of throw-your-hands-in-the-air-wave-em-like-you-just-don’t-care crazy.

Best lyric: “Bottle. Sip. Bottle. Guzzle. I’m a bad bitch, no muzzle”

9. Do You Think of Me – Misha B

After getting eliminated from The X-Factor (a bit too early) in 2011, Misha B now has two singles under her belt and with ‘Do You Think of Me?’ her first top-10 hit. She’s even supported Nicki bloomin’ Minaj on the UK leg of her tour. Not bad for finishing in fourth place. ‘Do You Think of Me?’ is emotional and lyrical, whilst being a bit of a club-banger too. Well done Mish.

Best Lyric: “I never told you you’re my somebody, everybody, somebody, everybody”

8. Give Your Heart A Break – Demi Lovato

Now it’s no secret that I’m a big Disney freak and no-one likes a Disney Channel starlet more than me. But I admit, I was never a big fan of Camp Rock or Sonny with a Chance, both of which starred Miss Lovato. It wasn’t until her solo career that I took any notice, and indeed, not until her appearance as a judge on The X-Factor USA that she really made an impression and I went back to this song and remembered how great it was and how good Demi’s voice actually is!!

Best Lyric: “’cus you’ve been hurt before, I can see it in your eyes. You try to smile it away, some things you can’t disguise”

7. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together – Taylor Swift

2012 has been the year of infectious, inoffensive pop music thanks to the likes of Taylor Swift. Her smash hit was on everyone’s lips later in the year. But it is actually a very good, very simple song; Taylor admitted that it took 5 minutes to write but then, great pop songs have been written in shorter time!

Best Lyric: “This is exhausting you know like we are never getting back together. Like ever”

6. As Long As You Love Me – Justin Beiber ft. Big Sean

I think it’s safe to say that Bieber may have converted a few non-Beliebers with the release of his second album Believe this year. And it comes as no surprise with songs like this; ‘As Long as You Love Me’ is a perfect blend of Hip-Hop and Pop music that makes you stop and take notice - a stand-out track on the album and, indeed, of the year.

Best Lyric: “I know we got issues baby true true true but I’d rather work on this with you than to go ahead and start with someone new as long as you love me”

5. Your Body – Christina Aguilera

I had expected this song to do very well. It has everything: great vocals, a club-worthy beat and lyrics about anonymous sex. So I have no idea why the British Public didn’t take to it (maybe it just wasn’t heard enough). Anyway, while Christina Aguilera’s comeback might have fell a bit short, this single is definitely one of the best of the year.

Best Lyric: “So open the box. Don’t need no key, I’m unlocked”

4. Spectrum (Calvin Harris Mix) – Florence and the Machine

It’s hard to believe that was actually Florence’s first number one single. Not because it’s bad (because it’s bloody brilliant) but because she’s so popular. Spectrum is taken from the band's second album Ceremonials and given a Calvin Harris mix for the single cut. It was already a great song but when you add the EDM genius you get as near to perfection as a song can get.

Best Lyric: “We are shining, and we will never be afraid again”

3. Call My Name – Cheryl

It’s been a good year for Cheryl fans: two great singles, a new album and a brief return to The X-Factor. ‘Call My Name’ was a huge hit and went straight to number one, quickly becoming the fastest selling single of the year (until James Arthur came along). Cheryl has a new single too so I’m sure she’ll continue to dominate well into 2013.

Best Lyric: “How d’you think I feel when you call my name? Say my name baby”

2. Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen

Summer wouldn’t have been the same without Carly Rae Jepsen, would it? Her debut single was so good that it shot to number one and had everyone singing (or miming) along. It’s infectious bubblegum pop at its best and I predict big things for Jeppers in 2013, as her follow-up single ‘This Kiss’, that she released earlier this year, was also a blinding pop record.

Best Lyric: “Before you came into my life I missed you so bad. I missed you so so bad”

1. Starships – Nicki Minaj

So summer started in Feruary in 2012, when Nicki Minaj released ‘Starships’, and ended in September when it slipped out of the top 40. ‘Starships’ is Minaj’s most successful single to date and made her the highest charting female rapper in history (the fact it’s a dance song is irrelevant!) It’s insane, it makes people dance and it gets in your head whether you want it there or not.
Best Lyric: “Let’s go to the beach-each”...purely because it’s the line everyone found themselves rapping.

Goodbye Gossip Girl

Hey Upper East Siders,

So we’ve heard our final (and juiciest) Gossip Girl blast ever and finally the identity of everyone’s favourite mystery blogger has been revealed. But who has been our one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite? Well as this is a much nicer blog than G.G, I won’t spoil the surprise for those of you who have yet to watch it (and what are you waiting for?). Sadly though, this means there will be no more gossip about our favourite socialites, it-girls and outsiders so instead of recapping the final episode, I’m going to take a stroll down memory lane and relive some of my favourite things from the past 6 seasons of Gossip Girl.

To start, I have only two words for you:

GEORGINA SPARKS

Ok, I will elaborate. I think we are meant to find Georgina despicable but love to hate her. I just love her. True she’s one crazy bitch but without Michelle Trachtenberg Gossip Girl would not be the same. Fact.
There are so many great Georgina moments and quotes that it’s hard to choose which ones to include in this little retrospective: outing Eric over the dinner table, her temporary stint as Gossip Girl, rooming with Blair at NYU...but one of my favourite Georgina moments came in season two when she converted to Christianity and became a sweet-natured, saintly young woman (for all of 5 minutes) until she receives a tongue-lashing from Blair Waldorf and thankfully turns back into the bitch we I love.

“You can tell Jesus the bitch is back”

                           

Basically, this could easily turn into a love letter to Georgina Sparks/Michelle Trachtenberg but she did only appear in 28 episodes so clearly there were other things I loved about Gossip Girl.

One relationship in particular: Chuck and Blair. Chair if you will.
Separately they are amazing characters. Chuck has evolved so much, but I liked him both as the entitled, scarf-wearing villain and the troubled, businessman that was in love with Blair Waldorf. Blair is one of the show’s funniest, most ambitious and power-hungry characters and she came out with some blinders like “Damn that mother-chucker”. Together they are pretty much everything the show is about: frenemies, sex, love, scheming and New York class. Looking back at their ups and downs it really is the highlight of the series. Once again it’s impossible to choose a favourite Chair moment, but I think I’ll go right back to season one for Blair’s striptease.

And back in season one the question on everyone’s lips was “Serena, where has she been?”. The seedy backstory of heroine Serena Van Der Woodsen came together in the end, with a little help from the one and only Miss Georgina Sparks, and gave us one of the most shocking bits of gossip of the series. SVDW reveals she killed a man (well sort of)!! 

Serena is another one of my favourite characters; her constant bitch-fighting with BFF Blair, her many many boyfriends and troubled past are just some of the reasons why she’s so brilliant. Plus, she is played by the stunning Blake Lively!  Her relationship with outsider Dan Humphrey had some lovely moments also: remember the beautiful snow scene she set up for him when they started dating.

You can probably guess by now that I was no big supporter of The Blair-Dan fiasco but Lonely Boy has definitely had his moments, including a brief romance threesome with Vanessa and Olivia (Hilary Duff) in season three. 

                             

And I seem to remember a really sweet relationship between Dan and his sister, Jenny. Ah, Little J...I have missed you (thankfully a lot of long departed characters make cameos in the finale). I’m not sure if many people like Jenny Humphrey or Taylor Momsen in general, but the show was undoubtedly at its best when she was in it, desperate to surpass Blair as Queen B. One of my favourite moments had to be her debut at Blair’s sleepover where she makes one fierce exit from B’s slumber party.

But now their stories have come to an end and I can assure you the season finale is a truly amazing episode and a fitting end to the past six seasons. It’s definitely been fun over the years, being taken into a world that seems ridiculously extravagant and always full of drama.

                                                                                                                                                                     xoxo

The Best Music Videos of 2012

Let me begin by expressing my love for a good countdown (say what you want); they are one of the reasons I love this time of year. Don’t get me wrong, lights, turkey and presents are all well and good but there’s nothing like reviewing the year that’s been. So you should be prepared for a bunch of end of year round-up posts coming your way!

And I think I’ll start with music videos.

Firstly, you can rest assured that Gangnam Style will be nowhere near this list. It may have 900 million views on YouTube, but there have been so many other great videos this year that the flash-mob favourite just doesn’t quite cut it.
Secondly, this will be a long post. I desperately wanted to get this list down to a normal, manageable number, but I’ll have to settle on 16 because these videos are just that good (click the titles to watch):

16. Swedish House Mafia ft. John Martin - Don't You Worry Child

Swedish House Mafia’s farewell video is probably pretty emotional if you’re a fan; it’s basically footage from their final tour and gig in the UK (from the Milton Keynes Bowl in the ‘summer’). I wouldn’t call myself a die-hard fan but the video makes my list as it does what a Swedish House video should do: it makes you want to rave/party/drink/dance/have a good time.

15. One Direction - One Thing

Going all the way back to January, the video for 1D’s third single is simple but effective and definitely their best to date. True I mainly like it for the brilliant sights of London, but I think this video does sum up why the fivesome are so popular: it’s British, it’s fun, it’s sharp and it has countless (slightly annoying) teenage girls. 

14. Vince Kidd ft. Lady Leshurr - Sick Love

This is one of the greatest and most underrated songs of the year (I wish it had reached more people’s ears). Now, this isn’t a big-budget music video, it’s simple yet very very sexy. The colours are amazing, and there’s just something about Vince Kidd that makes him such an endearing artist.

13. Rihanna - Where Have You Been

So there’s no way I could write a list about music in 2012 without including RiRi. Where Have You Been was a pretty different video; I expected something more along the lines of We Found Love but instead, Rihanna took us around the world looking for love and pulled off some H-O-T choreography which I absolutely love (look out for the crotch-box).

12. Madonna - Girl Gone Wild

Ah the second take from Madge’s MDNA. Maybe you won’t remember this video (or song, or much else from MDNA) but this music video is 100%pure Madonna-ness and it reminds me of the style of a lot of her old videos (think erotica + vogue). Give Me All Your Luvin may have been more expensive, and it did have Nicki Minaj and M.I.A in it, but Girl Gone Wild has a lot more sex to offer in my opinion.

11. Justin Bieber ft. Big Sean - As Long As You Love Me

Is it just me or are Justin Bieber’s videos getting better and better? 2012 has been a great year for Beliebers and while it’s embarrassing for a twenty-one year old man to call himself that, I have to say I am a fan. As Long as You Love me is an unexpected gem of a music video; it’s cinematic, it has a story, it even has some pretty decent acting. If only it wasn’t in widescreen.

10. Cheryl - Call My Name

The video for this single was always going to be amazing. From the first listen it was obviously a hit and our Cheryl didn’t let us down with the accompanying music video. Opening with a brilliant quote from the Marquis de Sade, Call My Name is 4 minutes of pop music video gold with some Ghetto-Cole crotch grabbing and criss-crossing that I’ve attempted to re-create in many a nightclub since. Plus, phwoooar!

9. Eric Turner vs. Avicii - Dancing In My Head

I have to say this is one of the most intelligent music videos I have seen in a long time; it is oddly hilarious, uncomfortable and a complete stroke of genius. While most dance tracks have generic, boring, club-inspired music videos, Dancing in My Head is completely different. In the vid, our hero takes a saw to his head in order to remove his brain and forget about a girl he fancies. Sounds good? It is.

8. Scissor Sisters - Let's Have A Kiki

Although I’m not sure if this ‘Instructional video’ counts as an official music video I’ve decided to include it anyway. Why? Because it is absolutely brilliant: the song, the dance, them! The instructional video includes the song’s lyrics and a wonderfully camp dance that I am proud to say I now know off by heart. The Scissor Sisters are always fun and never moreso than here.

7. Nicki Minaj - Pound The Alarm

Right so some of you may know I am a huge Nicki Minaj fan and with the sheer number of videos that she makes it was obvious that she would appear on this list. I’m not even sure how many videos she’s dropped this year but I’d venture that the number is above average. Pound the Alarm is one of the best of this bunch. In it Minaj pays homage to her home country, Trinidad, and puts on a massive carnival, complete with feathers, fireworks and steel drums.

6. Nicki Minaj ft. Cassie - The Boys

Minaj again and another amazing video! Warning: it is extremely pink and slightly epileptic (as you’d expect). But it’s not as sickly sweet as Super Bass; in it Minaj plays an arsonist who burns down a barbershop and gets a little too close to a very androgynous Cassie. Brilliant.

5. Katy Perry - Wide Awake

In the Lyric video for this song Katy got all reflective by using her Facebook updates from the past two years. The music video reflects more on her personal life during this time and involves Perry taking her inner child through a Disney-esque maze populated by evil paps and an unfaithful Prince Charming! This video has a wonderful concept and some stunning visuals.

4. Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj - Beauty and a Beat

It was a pretty clever idea, making the fans think he’d lost his camera and make the Beauty and a Beat video look like lost footage. I have to hand it to Bieber, his videos are all pretty different; I mean in this one he basically just films himself having a great time in a water park and just casually grinding on Nicki Minaj. As you do. It’s not complex but it makes fora great music video.

3. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Taylor Swift’s pop-country smash may be one of the catchiest songs of the year and its video is equally infectious. T-Swizzle can’t seem to get rid of her ridiculously hot boyfriend Noah Mills (why would she want to?)...but,with a little help from her band of furry musicians, he eventually gets the message. It’s a fun pop-up video that is fully aware of its ridiculousness.

2. Christina Aguilera - Your Body

Another tongue-in-cheek video that doesn’t take itself too seriously; Your Body is playful, colourful and should have been a perfect comeback for Christina. In it, she plays a slightly trashy serial killer who lures three male victims to their deaths. But it’s not as dark as it sounds: pink flames, glitter-for-guts and bright paint-splashes of blood make sure of that. Christina looks confident and sexy and there are also a few retro touches that make this such a great music video.

1. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe

The debut by Jeppers received some early exposure when Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale and some friends posted a lip-sync video to youtube which now serves as a kind of unofficial music video. The official one, however, is much better; Carly Rae, who’s read a few too many Mills & Boon novels, tries to win over her gardener by (quite pathetically) washing her car. Let’s just say she’s no Jessica Simpson with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge. When she falls off the car and passes out she imagines herself with the sexy gardener on the cover of a romance novel, aptly titled ‘Call Me Maybe’. Then, to repay him for bringing her out of her daze, she performs with her band in the garage just for him. There are plenty of flirty eyes and some microphone action from Jeppers as she tries to get her man but, as we soon find out, he is a homosexual with a thing for emo guitar players. Do you really need to ask why this is number 1 after that description?