OK, go ahead and mock me. I debated whether I should include music in my “Faves of Oh-Ten” lists because my tastes are admittedly bubblegum (or retro, I love classic rock but can’t exactly put the Rollings Stones at the top of this list) but I felt like an even bigger loser for purposefully leaving music off the list. So here are my favorite artists from 2010, also known as People Everyone Cool Hate.
1. Bruno Mars
I like to think I discovered Bruno Mars before anyone else did, even though I know that’s not true. Back when I heard “Billionaire” (which was played about 50 million times this summer) I thought “Forget Travie McCoy, who’s singing?” So I looked up Bruno Mars and bought his four song album off iTunes. Then “Just the Way You Are” came out and suddenly he was everywhere. And good! He deserves it. He’s got a great voice and was a songwriter long before he hit it big. In fact, he’s responsible for one of my other favorite songs of 2010 – “F— You”.
2. Glee
Music by the cast of Glee is all over my top 25 most played list on iTunes. Last year, before I watched the show, I heard the cast’s version of “Don’t Stop Believin'” and thought “Who the hell would listen to this instead of the original?” Me, that’s who. Or at least I listen to it as well as the original. From Rachel belting out ballads to Mercedes and Santana duetting to Gwyneth Paltrow rocking some Cee-Lo, I’m all about the Glee tunes.
3. Katy Perry
Some say she’s not a very good singer. I say shut up. Even though I think Katy can sing, I’ll admit she’s delivered some rough live performances. But I attribute that to her on-stage energy. This girl is a character, and is also one of the funniest people in music. She doesn’t take herself seriously, and that makes her music fun. Plus no one can write a catchy hit like her. It’s like she’s churning them out in her sleep.
4. Rihanna
I’ve always been a Rihanna fan, and after seeing her live a few years ago I know for sure that she’s an awesome vocalist. She was all over my iPod this year, from her duets with Eminem and Drake to her funky “Rude Boy” to her cover of “Redemption Song” for relief in Haiti.
5. Taylor Swift
I know, I know, she’s not the best singer. She’s famous for three reasons: Charm, songwriting and looks. And not necessarily in that order. But I love her and listen to her music all the time, so why shouldn’t she be on my list?
6. Cee Lo Green
Oh come on, did anyone put out a more memorable song than “F— You” this year? Thanks to him and writer Bruno Mars, it’s been stuck in my head for months.
7. La Roux
“Bulletproof”. So. Freakin’. Catchy.
8. Lady Gaga
“Telephone”. “Alejandro”. I even liked “Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)”. Meat dresses and weird videos aside, Gaga puts out some really fun music.
9. Florence and the Machine
So “Dog Days Are Over” wasn’t really released in 2010, but that’s when I discovered it so she’s going on the list.
10. B.o.B.
Yeah, I was one of those annoying people listening to “Airplanes” this summer. It’s got a really catchy chorus, OK? I also love “Nothin’ On You” and “Magic” and “Don’t Let Me Fall”.
11. Carrie Underwood
Who said I had to stick to ten items? Carrie Underwood was a last minute addition because although her album “Play On” came out in 2009, she released a couple singles from it in 2010. I’m not a huge country music fan (I like Carrie, Taylor and Dolly) but I’ve loved Carrie Underwood since she was on American Idol. I think she has an astonishingly beautiful voice. Have you heard her Christmas music? You should.
12. Pink
OK, another last minute addition – I totally forgot how much I loved “Raise Your Glass” this year.
