Top TEN of 2013

TEN Flatline – Can you say underrated? This pop gem from the original Sugababes (Mutya Keisha Siobhan) was a favourite of mine in September. Its chart performance may have been underwhelming (and not helped by a Friday release) but it sounds amazing to finally have these three back, and I’ve particularly missed Siobhan!
Best lyric: “Built like a pack of cards, the King and Queen of Hearts all fall down”

NINE Do What You Want – I know, I’m as baffled as you that a song with R. Kelly on it is in my Top 10. However, Gaga’s second cut from ARTPOP is a stroke of genius. Applause who?

Best lyric: “I would fall apart if you break my heart, so just take my body and don’t stop the party”

EIGHT Work –We all know I love a female rapper, so Iggy Azalea is probably my favourite new artist of 2013. The three songs she released this year were all brilliant. The Aussie rapper’s debut just surpasses the other singles in my opinion, and put Iggy immediately on the same level as Azealia and Nicki.

Best lyric: “…what you call that? Head over Heels”

SEVEN We Can’t Stop –So Miley Cyrus has managed to do what only Nicki Minaj has done before and have 2 songs in my Top 10 of the year. A brilliant comeback song that made it ok to like Miley Cyrus without being a Hannah Montana fan.

Best lyric: “Everyone in line in the bathroom, trying to get a line in the bathroom.” Controversial Miley, controversial.

SIX Move – My November Jam. Infectiously catchy, upbeat and a great ‘move’ for Little Mix, proving to me, again, that this is the best Girl Group around right now.

Best lyric: “Feeling like it’s my birthday, like Christmas Day came early”

FIVE Heart Attack – Demi Lovato gave Miley a good run for her money as Disney’s biggest pop export with the lead single from her self-titled studio album. It shot straight to the top of my 25 most played earlier this year and has stayed in the top 5 since (as I am convinced I can sing it without sounding like a distressed cat).

Best lyric: “Won’t wash my hair, then make him bounce like a basketball”

FOUR Wake Me Up – Let’s be honest, Avicii’s dance-country classic was the soundtrack to everyone's Summer. 2014, I challenge you to produce a bigger Summer anthem than this!

Best lyric: The country beat is the best. Does that count as a lyric?

THREE Wrecking Ball – This was undoubtedly the year of the Cyrus. MiCy’s second number one packs a right punch, lyrically and vocally. It’s worth noting that the video isn’t particularly subtle either.

Best lyric: “I never meant to start a war. I just wanted you to let me in”

TWO La La La – I got really excited about Naughty Boy earlier this year, but Sam Smith is the real star of this song. This track blew up in Summer 2013 and rightly so. I will definitely be pre-ordering Smith’s debut album as soon as I can.

Best lyric: “If my heart can’t stop it, I find a way to block it”

ONE Work Bitch – Only one lady could top my list in 2013. Yes, the legend that is Britney Spears brought the biggest banger to the table this year. This song is enough to motivate anyone to 'work bitch' on a Monday morning or at the gym. Gotta get that hot body and that Maseratti.

Best lyric: “Go call the Po-lice. Go call the Guv-a-nah!”

Britney Jean: OUT NOW

Britney Jean: My thoughts

Not only did Britney Spears turn 32 today, she also dropped her eighth studio album. Billed as her most personal yet, the album is a great addition to Brit’s discography. To put it in terms that Britney fans would understand, Britney Jean is not quite In The Zone but is a cut above 2011’s Femme Fatale.

The album’s lead single, Work Bitch, is confident and sassy; it doesn’t scream “this is going to be my most personal album”, but it does have tons of commercial appeal. Being produced by Otto Knows, Sebastian Ingrosso, will.i.am et. al, Work Bitch proves that Britney is still ahead of the pop game and she has achieved an authentic dance sound that carries right through Britney Jean. Highlights include the will.i.am collaboration It Should Be Easy (co-produced by Nicky Romero), the Euro-dance influenced Til It’s Gone and Diplo-produced Passenger.

Personal touches can be seen in places, but it’s when the album slows down that Britney’s claim can be justified. I also think this is what was vitally missing from Femme Fatale – a great Britney ballad. The vulnerability of Britney’s voice (and lack of autotune) on second single Perfume is a nice change. The song tells the story of how Brit would mark her territory by spraying her perfume on her cheating lover's clothes; it is definitely a standout track on the album and gives fans something fresh, that we’ve not seen Britney doing for a long time.

The main feeling I got from listening to this album is that Britney seems to have her mojo back; Britney Jean sounds like a classic Britney album, both vocally and in style, but it is constantly bringing something new to the table. Spears stated that this album was for her fans and, being just about the biggest one, I can safely say that it doesn’t disappoint. If you are a Britney fan, you will love it.