Let's look back at a year ago in music and see what has stood up against time - the only grades are pass/fail here folks!
(Note: I'm using About.com as my reference point, for what it's worth.)- Shakira - She Wolf >> Starting off with a bang! This album flopped, this single wasn't great. She had this really loyal fanbase after the Oral Fixation series and then told all her fans to stick it. She needs new management. [Fail]
- Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA >> Give it a couple years and this may be the new Outfield "Your Love." I'm being really serious here. The song is annoying as all hell but it caught a moment in time. It's not going anywhere. [Pass]
- Pitbull - Hotel Room Service >> This one has the benefit of being in Dora-level Spanish. There aren't many crossover hits and this one made it through. [Pass]
- Mariah Carey - Obsessed >> Dud from one of the greats. She has systematically made listening to her music not fun by removing all the soul from it. This is the same girl who sang "Hero," "One Sweet Day" and "Fantasy." No she just goes around looking like Jeff Bagwell. [Fail]
- Daughtry - No Surprise >> Still holds up. I know he's one step away from Scott Stapp, but this is one talented dude. [Pass]
- Boys Like Girls - Love Drunk >> Like Scope. Anything more than 60 seconds and it could make you seriously ill. Maybe this could find resurgence in a Tina Fey scene in like 5 years. [Fail]
- Beyonce - Sweet Dreams >> I'm really happy for this song and all, and I'm-a finish in a few sentences, but Beyonce had one the best videos of all time. [Pass]
- Jay-Z - Run This Town >> Going to give this a pass but need to say that Jay is on a different measuring stick than most artists. With Rihanna sounding whiney, Kanye ethering him, this beat being a little meeehh and then "Empire" blowing it out of the water, it could have been a different story here. But this song already sounds dated. Not good. [Pass]
- All-American Rejects - I Wanna >> I didn't hear this song a lot until December, which shows you how great of a DJ I am. [Pass]
- Justin Beiber - One Time >> Like an autotuned 2ge+her. [Fail]
- Jay Sean - Down >> Jury's out on this one. Jay-S has been doing mostly hooks for the Cash Money dudes and, to me, that sounds like a man trying to find his artistic lane. Really, what's the difference between him, Taio Cruz and Jason Derulo. They're all basically the same guy. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy is never heard from again on a level like "Down" was. [Pass, for now]
- Cobra Starship - Good Girls Go Bad >> This was as dynamic and interesting as Kraft Singles when it came out and after a year out of the fridge... [Fail]
- Demi Lovato - Here We Go Again >> I'm sure someone somewhere has heard this song. Couldn't pick it out a police line up. Not a great sign for longevity. [Fail]
- Beyonce - Ego >> Nice little mid-tempo jam. I like it. In the "Me, Myself and I" vein which is another song that stands up. [Pass]
<div style="font-size:12px;">Beyonce - Ego (Official Music Video). Watch more top selected videos about: Ego, Beyonce</div>
- Linkin Park - New Divide >> I am not a fan of this band's music, but think they're really talented and have a really solid vision. This song is pretty good but it doesn't resonate any more or less than any of their other mid-tier singles. [Pass]
- The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name >> The only real indy band on the list. I liked this single a lot, despite the overdone "Mickey" beat. [Pass]
Not that bad, all things considered.
