samedi 22 Déc 2012, 10h59m

It's nearly Christmastime, and that can only mean one thing - time for a review of 2012! Here is a look back at the albums, artists and songs I enjoyed over the past 12 months. Once again thanks to http://twothreefall.co.uk/ for having a great website to analyse lastFM data!

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Artist of the year: KELLY CLARKSON
Plays in 2012: 971
(813 plays in 2011 - increase of 15%)
Most played album of 2012: Stronger - 671
Most played track of 2012: What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) 62

Unquestionably my artist of 2012 is Ms Clarkson (soon to be Mrs Blackstock - congrats Kelly!). I had more over 200 more scrobbles for Kelly than anyone else, even though her last album, Stronger, came out in 2011. This was also my most played of the year, with double the plays of the #2 album. The title track Stronger is my most played track of the year too. All in all, I loved Kelly just as much in 2012 as I ever have, in particular after seeing her on tour again in November where she was as incredible as ever. I'm expecting a quiet 2013 from Kelly, with a wedding (and maybe even babies ?) on the way, but after a great year professionally and personally, she has definitely earned it.

Album of the Year: Pink - The Truth About Love 404 plays
Runner-up: Garbage - Not Your Kind of People - 358 plays

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The album that I was most looking forward to this year was without question Not Your Kind of People by Garbage, as it was such a long gap since the their previous album and no-one even knew if they would ever record again. I wasn't disappointed. Their firth set is classic Garbage, with tracks like Control and Beloved Freak that would feel right at home alongside their 90's output. I also had the immense pleasure of finally getting to see them live in July, where they just tore up the stage. However, this isn't my album of the year - there are just few too many tracks that are only average, and overall is just missing one or two giant songs to get me really hooked.

Which leads me to me most played album of the year - The Truth About Love. I didn't really know what to expect from Pink's (or P!nk 6th album, after a album I found disappointing (Funhouse). Frankly I was looking forward more to the tour than the album when each was announced. Maybe it's because I didn't set particularly high standards then, that I love this album so much. Aside from a couple of stinking boring ballads (that I've already removed from my Pink playlist), the album is everything you'd want from a singer as ballsy and earnest as Pink. Personal highlights are Just Give Me A Reason, How Come You're Not Here and Walk Of Shame (which HAS to have a music video soon!!). Overall an incredibly catchy album, which should hopefully deliver a fantastic tour in 2013

Track of the Year: Somebody That I Used to Know 62 plays
Runner-up: Pound the Alarm - 51 plays

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Just like everybody else, I was absolutely hooked on that Gotye song. Something about the song is absolutely captivating. From the first listen I was addicted, and the plink-plonky background just endlessly loops round in my head!
My party track of the year is Pound The Alarm - guaranteed to get me on the dancefloor or ready for a night out! When I saw Nicki in November this was my highlight of the show, and the crowd went mental for this song.

And now for a complete rundown of 2012!

TOP ARTISTS

1 Kelly Clarkson - 971 plays
(813 plays in 2011 - increase of 19%)

2 Garbage - 769 plays
(376 plays in 2011 - increase of 105%)
Most scrobbled track: Blood For Poppies - 26 plays

3 Mariah Carey - 693 plays
(874 plays in 2011 - drop of 21%)
Most scrobbled track: All I Want for Christmas Is You - 20 plays

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4 Whitney Houston - 680 plays
(92 plays in 2011 - increase of 639%)
Most scrobbled track: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - 30 plays

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On February 11th this year we long one of the greatest singers of all time. Not much I can say here, but Whitney's death greatly affected me and spent a good deal of time listening to just Whitney and little else.

5 Brandy - 613 plays
(739 plays in 2011 - drop of 17%)
Most scrobbled track: It All Belongs To Me - 43 plays

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2012 brought a new Brandy album, Two Eleven. Brandy's style of RnB is sounding better than ever, particularity as so few artists are prepared to actually record proper RnB music, with the genre now so diluted with pop artists. Thanks heavens for Brandy then - Two Eleven is like a classic RnB album from the late 90's full of lush harmonies and breathtaking vocals. I would probably rank it slightly below her previous 4 albums, but otherwise this is another win for Brandy.

6 Pink - 594 plays
(201 plays in 2011 - increase of 196%)
Most scrobbled track: Blow Me (One Last Kiss) - 38 plays

7 Lady Gaga - 406 plays
(854 plays in 2011 - drop of 53%)
Most scrobbled track: Hair - 31 plays

8 Madonna - 393 plays
(262 plays in 2011 - increase of 50%)
Most scrobbled track: Gang Bang - 31 plays

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MDNA was Madonna's follow up to 2008's Hard Candy - which I still think is a fantastic album. MDNA had a truly terrible lead in single, Madonna's worst ever in my opinion. Fortunately, the album had a handful of absolute bangers - there is definitively still a place in the today's industry for the queen of pop

9 Michael Jackson - 391 plays
(675 plays in 2011 - drop of 42%)
Most scrobbled track: History (Tony Moran's HIStory Lesson) - 13 plays

10 Nicki Minaj - 390 plays
(315 plays in 2011 - increase of 24%)
Most scrobbled track: Pound the Alarm - 51 plays

11 Haley Reinhart - 309 plays
(220 plays in 2011 - increase of 40%)
Most scrobbled track: Free - 50 plays

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Haley brought her album - Listen Up! - out earlier this year, and it was just as good as I was hoping for. Bluesy, retro with her trademark growl - flawless vocals and great melodies. Unfortunately it seems like Haley has been dropped now so who knows if us Haliens will get a follow up to this very promising first album?

12 Janet Jackson - 295 plays
(733 plays in 2011 - drop of 60%)

13 Marilyn Manson - 285 plays
(189 plays in 2011 - increase of 51%)
Most scrobbled track: Pistol Whipped - 10 plays

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I don't know if my tastes are changing or Manson just aren't trying any more, but I just couldn't get into Born Villain. I think it's the latter as most people didn't even realise they had a new album out at all.

14 The Jezabels - 264 plays
Most scrobbled track: City Girl - 35 plays

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Mty favourite new band, I first saw The Jezabels supporting Garbage on their tour, where they played an electrifying set. I immediately bought their album and have been playing it ever since. It's a bit 80's, but all the better for it. Hopefully they'll continue to record and I will go to see them on their own headline tour soon. Thank you Shirley Manson for introducing me to this band!!

15 Ben Barnes & Robert Sheehan with Joe Echo - 255 plays
Most scrobbled track: Where We Want to Be - 36 plays

16 Phillip Phillips - 252 plays
Most scrobbled track: Home (American Idol Performance) - 39 plays

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Phillip won season 11 of American Idol in May, and most of my scrobbles are from the songs he did during that season. I absolutely love Phillip's voice, and in my opinion is the best winner of Idol since Kelly Clarkson. I genuinely believe he will have a huge career over the next decade and more. I've only just got his album, so in 2013 I expect to be playing a lot more from Phillip and hopefully he will be able to cross over into the UK market, where he would be very successful I'm certain

17 Carter Burwell - 241 plays
(93 plays in 2011 - increase of 158%)
Most scrobbled track: Love Death Birth - 14 plays

18 Björk - 239 plays
(583 plays in 2011 - drop of 59%)

19 Britney Spears - 218 plays
1040 plays in 2011 - drop of 79%
Most scrobbled track: Till the World Ends - 13 plays

20 Glee Cast - 211 plays
618 plays in 2011 - drop of 66%
Most scrobbled track: Rumour Has It / Someone Like You - 34 plays

MOST PLAYED TRACKS

1 Kelly Clarkson – What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) (62)
1 Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know (62)
3 Kelly Clarkson – Hello (53)
3 Kelly Clarkson – You Love Me (53)
5 Kelly Clarkson – Einstein (51)
5 Nicki Minaj – Pound the Alarm (51)
7 Kelly Clarkson – I Forgive You (50)
7 Kelly Clarkson – Dark Side (50)
7 Haley Reinhart – Free(50)
10 Kelly Clarkson – The War Is Over (47)
11 Kelly Clarkson – Honestly (43)
11 Brandy & Monica – It All Belongs To Me (43)
13 Kelly Clarkson – Mr. Know It All (42)
14 Nicki Minaj – Whip It (41)
15 Phillip Phillips – Home (American Idol Performance) (39)
16 Kelly Clarkson – Let Me Down (38)
16 Pink – Blow Me (One Last Kiss) (38)
18 Kelly Clarkson – You Can't Win (37)
18 LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It (37)
20 Kelly Clarkson – Standing in Front of You (36)
20 Ben Barnes & Robert Sheehan with Joe Echo – Where We Want to Be (36)
20 David Guetta – Turn Me On (feat. Nicki Minaj) (36)
23 Nicki Minaj – Automatic (35)
23 The Jezabels – City Girl (35)
23 Glee Cast – Rumour Has It / Someone Like You (35)
26 Ben Barnes & Robert Sheehan with Joe Echo – Kicking Off Again (34)
26 Nicki Minaj – Starships (34)
26 Pink – Slut Like You (34)
29 Bee Gees – Stayin' Alive (33)
29 The Jezabels – Rosebud (33)
29 Pink – How Come You're Not Here (33)

MOST PLAYED ALBUMS

1 Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (671)
2 Pink – The Truth About Love (404)
3 Garbage – Not Your Kind of People (358)
4 Whitney Houston – The Greatest Hits (344)
5 Lady Gaga – Born This Way (302)
6 Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (288)
7 Brandy – Two Eleven (273)
8 The Jezabels – Prisoner (264)
9 Ben Barnes & Robert Sheehan with Joe Echo – Killing Bono (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (255)
10 Phillip Phillips – American Idol Season 11 (242)
11 Haley Reinhart – Listen Up! (225)
12 Carter Burwell – Twilight (The Score) (220)
13 Madonna – MDNA (167)
14 Bee Gees – Saturday Night Fever (161)
15 Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans (156)
16 Steps – Gold (154)
17 James Horner – Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (145)
18 Jennifer Lopez – Love? (143)
19 Garbage – Garbage (128)
20 Lily Allen – It's Not Me, It's You (124)
21 Mariah Carey – Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (122)
22 Garbage – Version 2.0 (115)
23 The Ting Tings – Sounds From Nowheresville (113)
24 Paloma Faith – Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful? (112)
25 Whitney Houston – My Love Is Your Love (109)