Worst Songs of 2012... According to Me!

     I gave you the best of the year, now here comes the worst. Many of the songs featured on this list experienced chart success, success that still confuses me. While they may have been catchy, radio-friendly listens for most, I could still not find a reason for liking them. Maybe I'm out of tune with society. I doubt that, so I'll just say they are plain bad.


#10. Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend":

     Chosen as the lead single off the teen sensation’s newest effort, “Believe”, “Boyfriend” was just too annoying to find any joy out of it. Bieber has been trying to shed his young image for a while, but this desperate attempt at manhood only made me laugh. He is not a boy, but not yet a man. Justin’s vocals are not convincing, they still sound like a young girl. Pair the mediocre performance with subpar production and childish lyrics referencing Buzz Lightyear and fondue and we have one of the worst songs that came out of 2012. Good thing “As Long As You Love Me” was a better hit in every way and what about a single release for “All Around the World”?





#9. Ke$ha's "Only Wanna Dance With You": 

     While Ke$ha’s “Warrior” did feature some bright, brilliant moments such as the title track and “Love Into the Night”, it had its share of awful moments as well. When the artist said her fans could expect more from her for this new album, something she labeled “cock pop”, I did not think “Only Wanna Dance With You” was what she was referring to. As on other tracks, amateurish songwriting plagues the track from the second it begins. The artist’s vocals have never been strong, it’s the same story here. I could commend the song for being different from generic pop, but it was hard to enjoy the indie pop/punk rock experiment that left a bad taste in my mouth.





#8. Psy's "Gangnam Style": 

     The song that took the states by storm is one that still leaves me scratching my head. How in the world did Psy’s “Gangnam Style” reach number two on the Billboard Hot 100? How has it become YouTube’s most-watched video with a billion views and counting? Questions that will unfortunately never be answered. Besides being completely sung in Korean, how many people know exactly what he is saying?, the song sounds like a joke, made to make people laugh. The only reason it was a viral hit this year was because of the ridiculous dance moves in the music video, not because it was a tremendous musical masterpiece. I compare its remarkable success to Rebecca Black’s “Friday”. Ouch. 




#7. Madonna's "Give Me All Your Luvin'": 

 

   
      Madonna may rightfully be the Queen of Pop for perfect hits such as “Vogue” and “Like A Prayer”, but when the lead single off her 2012 album “MDNA” was released I knew it was going to be a bumpy, year-long ride for the artist. “Give Me All Your Luvin’” featuring the “talents” of M.I.A and Nicki Minaj sounds like a piece a child could create with its cheerleading chanting chorus and unimaginative structure and lyrics. While I liked the rap verses, Madonna just sounds bored and not the powerhouse I know she could be. With great songs like “Love Spent” and “Superstar” waiting for a chance to shine, I do not understand why this was chosen as single number one.

#6. will.i.am's "Scream & Shout" feat. Britney Spears:

     The only reason this mediocre song is a success is due to the confusing, short appearance by the Princess of Pop, the legendary Miss Britney Spears. “Scream & Shout” sounded interesting when it began, with Spears' fake British accent saying the track will surely be a club hit in the intro, but as the song progresses, my interest continues to slip. Three reasons why: will.i.am’s rap-like verses are hard to take seriously, he is not a strong solo artist. As a Britney fan, she is only there for namesake and does not provide anything substantial to the finished product. The song is a forgettable dance creation that falls behind the rest of the dominating 2012 pack. Could have been a huge collaboration, but falls flat in the end.




#5. Rihanna's "Diamonds": 

 

     Maybe it is because I am still hoping for some epic creations such as “Disturbia”, “S.O.S” or “Umbrella”, but apparently I was one of the few that could not get to liking the lead single off Rihanna’s “Unapologetic”. “Diamonds”, with its many out-of-nowhere drug references, was supposed to be a track with an uplifting message, but I was not moved when I first heard it. When the single was released, I commended the artist for allowing her true voice to come through. However, the song showed that Rihanna does not really have a voice at all. When she comes to “shine bright like a diamond”, a smile always come across my face and not for a good reason. It may be a hit, but far from her best effort.




#4. Nicki Minaj's "The Boys" feat. Cassie:

     The first single off the re-release of Nicki Minaj’s second studio album was one of the song’s that literally made my ears bleed this year. The artist may have moved from the generic pop sound of her previous singles such as "Starships", but now it sounds as if her rap game is slipping also. “The Boys” is a mess and I was cringing with the first listen. The highlight of the track, if I had to say there was one, is featured guest Cassie’s beautiful vocal performance on the chorus. Cassie tries her best to make the song a hit, but even she cannot save the disaster. Minaj did not need to release the track or another album in 2012. She needs to take a quick break and get back to her roots before people write her off.




#3. Tyga's "Rack City": 

     With an official release date of December 2011 in the U.S., “Rack City” was an unfortunate staple in 2012, and was even ranked number 45 on Billboard’s year-end chart. The song by Tyga is annoying and extremely repetitive, I do not understand why the song was able to peak in the top ten of any chart. The opening beat reminds me of “Headsprung” by LL Cool J, which is cool, but the lyrics referencing taking grandmothers to bed and the constant use of the word “bitch” did not translate into a pleasant experience for me.  Ultimately, the finished product was the typical rap song that sounded too similar to many others and even though I only gave it one full listen, it forever left a bad impression.




#2. Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together": 

     Country darling turned unexpected pop starlet Taylor Swift released the best-selling album of 2012, with one million copies sold in the first week. However, the new record was far from my favorite effort, thanks in part to its glass-shattering lead single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”. The single sounds like a middle school talent show creation, one that an upset teenager would write for the boy who broke up with her... when she was 12! The spoken word portions made me sick, Swift’s voice is getting more annoying as her career grows, and the song is just plain bad. I could not find one likable quality when it was released, and I still can’t today. Stay country Miss Swift, please!




#1. Rita Ora's "How We Do (Party)": 

     Poor Rita Ora, I feel like I’m picking on her too much. However, the debut single “How We Do (Party)” from the UK pop sensation was not a great start and featured the worst chorus and hook of the year. The repeating of “we’re gonna party and bullshit” angered me with every use and unfortunately caused me to focus less on Ora’s surprisingly good vocals. Some critics compared the track to work from Jessie J and Katy Perry, but I’m afraid the song leans more to the side of Perry mixed in with a bit of Rihanna. The song is my least favorite moment of 2012 due to how forgettable it really is. I was able to pick out everything and about, but overlooked any good. Sorry.