Sunday, December 19, 2010

200+ Songs That I Particularly Enjoyed in 2010

Make a single music recommendation and odds are your audience won't approve, but make a few hundred and the likelihood of success increases dramatically. Just as I enjoy going through other people's lists of songs, perhaps somebody will enjoy going through this one.

The following 200+ tracks received my "green light" rating as I went through my weekly ritual of checking several European music charts every week in 2010. They were selected from what ultimately became a pool of over 5000 songs.

Many (perhaps most) big tunes from 2010 are nowhere to be found on this list (not even club smashes like Duck Sauce's "Barbra Streisand," Swedish House Mafia's "One," or Yolanda Be Cool's "We No Speak Americano," though I enjoyed those, too). There are not many American acts here, either, which should come as no surprise considering, uh, everything I do. These tracks simply stood out, one way or another, on the particular week I happened to encounter them.

Format:

Artist - Song / Chart I first found the song on (song could appear on several charts) / Date (usually a day from the week I encountered the tune)

2Sunny - Piligrim / Пилигрим / Ukraine / 2010 12 26
69 Danguje - Aš pasirašau / Lithuania / 2010 04 02
A Silent Express - I Never Saw This Coming / Netherlands / 2010 10 24
Adrian Lux - Teenage Crime (Axwell Remix) / France / 2010 07 18
Alanas Chošnau - Radio FM (Su džinglu) / Lithuania / 2009 10 08
Alba Wings - Say Goodbye For Yesterday / Romania / 2010 10 28
Alex Roots - Don't Stop Looking / Bulgaria / 2010 01 24
Alexandra Burke - All Night Long (Cahill Edit) / Bulgaria / 2010 04 02
Alexis Jordan - Happiness / Bulgaria / 2010 07 25
Alistair Griffin - Just Drive / UK / 2010 11 28
Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar / France / 2010 06 07
Alphabeat - DJ / Denmark / 2010 01 24
Alphabeat - Heat Wave / Denmark / 2010 08 16
Alphaville - I Die For You Today / Slovakia / 2010 11 07
Andy White - Stereophony (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 08 06
Angel - Candy Cane (Awesome 3 Remix) / DJ Download / 2010 08 06
Ania Wyszkoni - Wiem, ze jesteś tam / Poland / 2010 10 28
Anna-Maria Zimmermann - Hurra wir leben noch / Germany / 2010 01 24
Atlanta - Mergaitės nori mylėt / Lithuania / 2010 02 21
Baby Alice - Pina Colada Boy / Euro / 2010 07 11
Baron Massilia - Lolita (R2D2 & Chris Di Tenda Remix) / France / 2010 07 04
Basslovers United - Ghetto Supastar / Euro Club / 2010 11 07
Bassmonkeys & Bianca Lindgren - Get Busy / DJ Lorix (Italy) / 2009 12 25 to 2010 05 25
Beatbullyz - Skills / UK Dance / 2010 06 06
Bellamy Brothers & Gölä - Let Your Love Flow / Switzerland / 2010 09 12
Ben Dj - Smile / DJ Lorix (Italy) / 2009 12 25 to 2010 05 25
Berto Mene - Los Brujos (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 08 06
Billy Barman - Cigánska / Slovakia / 2010 11 07
Bonaparte - Boycott Everything / Latvia / 2010 12 12
Boom Jinx & Jaytech - Milano (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 05 09
Branka Delić – Samo Ljubav / Croatia / 2010 08 24
Buddy feat. Meri - Sommer lass mich nicht allein / Germany / 2010 12 12
Bumcello - 3 Bandits / France / 2010 06 13
Buraka Som Sistema - Kalemba (Wegue Wegue) / Portugal / 2010 01 08
Camo and Krooked - September (Remix For Future Prophecies) / DJ Download / 2009 02 23
Carla Belovari – Sretan broj / Croatia / 2010 10 10
Cassius - I <3 U So / France / 2010 11 14
Chase and Status feat. Liam Bailey - Blind Faith / Euro Club / 2010 12 19
Cheek - Jippikayjei / Finland / 2010 08 24
Chicane - Hiding All the Stars / Belgium Flanders / 2010 04 23
Clara Sofie & Rune RK - Når tiden går baglæns / Denmark / 2010 07 18
Clea In Kim - Petek / Slovenia / 2010 05 31
Clokx - Catch Your Fall / Netherlands / 2010 10 17
Daisy Dares You and Chipmunk - Number One Enemy / Denmark / 2010 03 20
Daniel Adams-Ray - Gubben I lådan / Sweden / 2010 10 10
Danny Byrd - Ill Behaviour (feat. I-Kay) / UK Dance / 2010 10 10
David Guetta feat. Makeba - If We Ever / Bulgaria / 2010 01 24
De Hobbyisten - Wij gaan door! / Netherlands / 2010 06 07
Dennis Ferrer - Hey Hey / Netherlands / 2010 01 24
Deolinda - Um contra o outro / Portugal / 2010 06 20
Dezil' - Danser sur la plage / France / 2010 07 11
Dido - Everything To Lose / France / 2010 08 16
Die Jungen Zillertaler - So a schöner tag (Fliegerlied) / Austria / 2010 01 15
Diggy Dex feat. Wudstik, Big2 & Skiggy Rapz - Links, rechts / Netherlands / 2010 10 24
Dj Defkline / Red Polo - Oh Why (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 05 09
Dj Defkline / Red Polo vs. Dustin Hulton - Cars That Go Boom (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 05 09
Dj Fresh - Gold Dust / UK Dance / 2010 08 16
Dover - Dannayá / Euro / 2010 10 03
Dred & Doris - Soha ne félj / Hungarian Dance / 2010 12 05
Due Di Picche - Fare a meno di te / Euro / 2010 09 26
Ed Drewett - Champagne Lemonade / Euro Club / 2010 09 26
Edalam - Helicopta / France / 2010 01 01
Editors - Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool / Latvia / 2010 11 07
Erick Morillo / Harry Romero / Jose Nunez / Jessica Eve - Dancin (Manufactured Superstars vs. Dj Franke 2010 Re-Edit) / DJ Download / 2010 09 26
Erik Hassle - Hurtful / Euro 100 / 2009 05 21
Eteson vs. Octagen - We Are Alone (Octagen Remix) / DJ Download - Trance / 2010 11 18
Fabienne Louves - Samschtig / Switzerland / 2010 07 04
Faithless - Not Going Home / Netherlands / 2010 05 08
Faithless - Tweak Your Nipple / UK / 2010 06 27
Fat Les - Vindaloo / UK / 2010 06 20
Féfé - VPC (Vilain Petit Canard) / France / 2010 06 27
Ferhat Gocer / Ferhat Göçer - Üzüm / Euro / 2010 05 31
Fettes Brot - Jein / Germany / 2010 02 28
Fred Worx - Softly (Rudy Rudy Dog Remix) / DJ Download / 2010 01 01
Frida Gold - Zeig mir wie Du tanzt / Austria / 2010 12 05
Gabriella Cilmi - Hearts Don't Lie / Slovenia / 2010 06 13
Gabriella Cilmi - On A Mission / Slovakia / 2010 03 13
Getter Jaani - Parim päev / Estonia / 2010 06
Getter Jaani - Saladus / Estonia / 2010 06
Goin’ Through feat. Isoropistis - Boro Ki Ego / Μπορώ Κι Eγώ / Euro / 2010 07 04
Gorillaz Feat Bobby Womack and Mos Def - Stylo / Netherlands / 2010 02 07
Graffiti6 - Annie You Save Me / Netherlands / 2010 09 05
Groove Armada - Paper Romance (Urchins Remix) / DJ Download / 2009 02 23
Gurrumul - Wukun (Loverush UK! Radio Edit) / Euro Club / 2010 10 10
Handsome Poets - Blinded / Netherlands / 2010 08 16
Hans Zimmer - Time / Switzerland / 2010 08 16
Hex - Nekonečný príbeh / Slovakia / 2010 06 13
Hey - Faza Delta / Poland / 2010 07 11
Holdviola - Bánat utca / Hungarian Dance / 2010 07 04
How To Destroy Angels - A Drowning / Latvia / 2010 07 25
HU? & Kare Kauks - Miks mõni asi on nii hea / Estonia / 2010 05 08
Hudson Mohawke - Fuse / France / 2010 06 07
Hydro Aquatic and Vir2l Vision - Vigor (Cold Blue Remix) / DJ Download - Trance / 2010 12
Illitheas - Perfect Day (Original Mix) / DJ Download - Trance / 2010 12 18
Jaa9 & Onklp - Partysvenske / Norway / 2010 11 07
Jamie Matrix - Gold Rush (Original) / DJ Download / 2009 02 23
Jana Hermann - Saules grieži ("Sun Times") / Latvia / 2010 12 12
Jana Kirschner - Keby si bol môj / Slovakia / 2010 05 31
Jay C/Felix Baumgartner - Souk (Original Mix) / DJ Download / 2010 08 06
Jedward Feat Vanilla Ice - Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby) / Armenia / 2010 02 28
Jenifer - Je danse / France / 2010 09 26
Jenni Vartiainen - En haluu kuolla tänä yönä / Finland / 2010 03 06
Jeremy Hills - Friday Night / French / 2010 11 07
Jitka Charvátová (aka "JI") - Real Life / Czech Republic / 2010 01 24
John Dahlback feat. Elodie - Bingo (Extended Original Mix) / DJ Download / 2010 04 20
Johnossi - Dead End / Sweden / 2010 10 24
JoJo - In the Dark / UK - NME / 2010 09 11
Josefine - Allt jag vill ha / Sweden (not on chart) / 2010 10 17
Josh Gabriel Presents Winter Kills - Deep Down (Original Mix) / DJ Download / 2010 03 09
Jurk! - Zou zo graag / Netherlands / 2010 01 15
Kamon - Brunyetka / Камон – Брюнетка / Estonia Russian / 2010 08 01
Kasia Kowalska - Baby Blues / Poland / 2010 04 16
Katerine (Avgoustaki) - Enjoy the Day / Belgium Flanders / 2010 02 28
Katka Knechtová - Slovensko na nohy / Slovakia / 2010 06 20
Keen'v - Le son qui bam bam / France / 2010 04
Kelis - Acapella / Slovakia / 2010 04 17
Kelly Kelekidou - Teleutaia Fora / Κελλυ Κελεκιδου - Τελευταια Φορα / Κέλλυ Κελεκίδου - Τελευταία Φορά / Greece / 2010 12 19
Kid Kenobi - Breakers Revenge 2010 (Drumattic Twins Remix) / DJ Download / 2010 07 11
Kite - Jonny Boy / Sweden / 2010 10 03
K-Liber 4 Life feat. Nikita - Drop Die Beat / Netherlands / 2010 06 27
Kontrust - Bomba / Netherlands / 2010 02 07
La Fuente feat. Rosenberg Trio - Guitarra / Netherlands / 2010 07 11
Lady Gaga - Alejandro / Croatia / 2010 04
Lady Gaga - Dance In the Dark / France / 2010 08 29
Las Balkanieras - Moje plave oči / Croatia / 2010
Lenna Kuurmaa - Rapunzel / Estonia / 2010 02 21
Les Jumo feat. Willy William - C Show / France / 2010 06 07
Lindstrøm & Christabelle - Lovesick / Netherlands / 2010 03 13
Lisa Miskovsky - Lover / Sweden / 2010 10 10
Lolita - Joli Garçon / Euro Club / 2010 10 28
Maciej Maleńczuk - Jak to dziewczyna / Poland / 2010 01 24
Magnetic Man - I Need Air (feat. Angela Hunte) / UK Dance / 2010 08 08
Maïka - Embrasse-moi / France / 2010 02 14
Maïka - Sensualité / France / 2010 05 01
Marc De Simon Feat Antonia B - Rainbow Sky (2009 Remix) / DJ Download / 2010 01 01
Marco V - Inconsistent Talk (Extended) / DJ Download / 2010 01 01
Marina and the Diamonds - Hollywood / Croatia / 2010 03 13
Mark Ronson & the Business Intl feat. Q-Tip - Bang Bang Bang / Netherlands / 2010 07 11
Mark Ronson & the Business Intl feat. Ghostface Killah - Lose It (In the End) / France / 2010 06 13
Markus Becker | Mallorca Cowboys - Das rote Pferd / Germany / 2010 01 15
Massive Attack - Atlas Air / UK Dance / 2010 12 05
Minilogue - Leloo (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 01 01
Ministry Of Funk - Sax Life (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 09 26
Misha - Ako dlho sa to dá / Slovakia / 2010 10 24
Missing Andy - Sing For the Deaf / UK / 2010 09 26
Molella Feat Alessia D'Andrea - Paradise / DJ Lorix - Italian Dance / 2010 07 02
Moonbootica - Men Of the Future (Kris Menace Remix) / DJ Download / 2009 02 23
Morgan & Bland - Bongo Congo / DJ Lorix (Italy) / 2009 12 25 to 2010 05 25
MVSEVM - French Jeans (Dada Life Remix) / DJ Download / 2009 02 23
My Chemical Romance - Nanana / Sweden / 2010 10 10
N.E.R.D. feat. Nelly Furtado - Hot N Fun / France / 2010 06 07
Nice7 - Elisa (Pirupa Remix) / DJ Download / 2010 01 01
Nick Rowland - Galactica (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 03 09
N-Trance - Is This Love / Euro Club / 2010 10 28
Nyusha - Chudo / Нюша - Чудо / Niusha - Chudo (Miracle) / Euro / 2010 09 19
One Night Only - Say You Don't Want It / UK / 2010 08 29
Ozan Doğulu feat. Sıla - Alain Delon / Ozan Dogulu feat. Sila - Alain Delon / Turkey / 2010 07 04
Petri Nygard & Mokoma - Sarvet Esiin / Finland / 2010 11 28
Petter - En tuff brud i lyxförpackning / Sweden / 2010 11 28
Potap and Vera Brezhneva - Потап И Вера Брежнева – Пронто / Estonia Russian / 2010 10 10
Professor Green - I Need You Tonight / Czech Republic / 2010 04 06
Renaud - Incendie / France / 2010 06 07
RlP and Barbara Tucker - R.E.S.P.E.C.T / France / 2010 12 05
Rob Ronalds - Hela hola! (Tut hola) / Netherlands / 2010 01 24
Robert Plant - Angel Dance / Poland / 2010 10 03
Ruda Z Ostravy feat. Pártlová Martina - Ostrava / Czech Republic / 2010 06 20
Sakis Rouvas - Parafora / Σακης Ρουβας - Παραφορa / Greece / 2010 12 19
Sel - Parašyk man laišką iš paryžiaus (Remix) / Lithuania / 2010 01 01
September- Kärlekens tunga / Sweden / 2010 12 12
Sertab Erener - Rengarenk / Turkey / 2010 08 24
Shout For England - Shout (feat. Dizzee & James Corden) / UK / 2010 06 20
Sia - You've Changed / Netherlands / 2010 09 12
Sigma - Baltimore (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 08 06
Sivert Høyem - Prisoner of the Road / Norway / 2010 10 17
Spankers - Chupa Rico (Nicola Fasano & Steve Forest Remix) / Czech Republic / 2010 07 11
Stas Michailov - Zhdi / Стас Михайлов - Ты Только Жди / Lithuania / 2010 10 28
Stereo Palma - Andale (Nicola Fasano & Steve Forest Mix) / Hungary / 2010 05 31
Stromae - Silence / Belgium Wallonia / 2010 06 27
Stunt - Fade Like the Sun / Bulgaria / 2010 05 24
Style - Love Killer / Sweden / 2010 07 18
Sunloverz / Rosette - Fire (Vocal Extended Mix) / DJ Download / 2010 12 18
Supershake - Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) (Alex Twister 2010 Extended Mix) / DJ Download / 2010 01 01
Superstars Feat the Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin' On / Norway / 2010 01 15
Tā Tā Tā - Domino / Latvia / 2010 11 07
Tempered Djs - the Greenhouse (Original Mix) / DJ Download / 2010 08 06
Tensnake - Coma Cat / UK Dance / 2010 09 12
The Dee feat. Shugga - Tick Tock 2 D Beat / France / 2010 10 28
The Gift - Facil De Entender / Portugal / 2010 01 15
The Pretty Reckless - Miss Nothing / UK / 2010 09 05
Tim Berg - Bromance (Avicii's Arena Mix) / Netherlands / 2010 06 13
Tim Berg - Seek Bromance / Euro Club / 2010 10 24
Tim Davison - Patrol (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 11 18
Timoteij - Högt över ängarna / Sweden / 2010 07 11
Tinchy Stryder feat. Taio Cruz - Second Chance / Euro Club / 2010 11 07
Tom Pulse - Cuando (Floresca El Chuno) / Sweden / 2010 02 07
Tommy Vee Feat Mr V - Bang Bang / DJ Lorix - Italian Dance / 2010 10 08
Traffic - Elekter / Estonia / 2010 08 16
Tydi / Tania Zygar - Half Light (Max Graham Remix) / DJ Download / 2010 11 18
Uffie - Difficult / France / 2010 12 19
Uffie - MCs Can Kiss / France / 2010 02 28
UNKLE feat. the Black Angel - Natural Selection / Latvia / 2010 05 17
VanVelzen - Take Me In / Netherlands / 2010 12 12
Venke Knutson - Jealous 'Cause I Love You / Norway / 2010 02 07
Venuto - Love (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 08 06
Vicky Devine - Starfire (Sean Tyas Remix) / DJ Download - Trance / 2010 07 11
Vinni & the Vagabonds feat. Timbuktu - Let the Monkey Out / Norway / 2010 10 03
Voe (Emilie "Voe" Nereng) - Don't Talk To Me / Norway / 2010 06 27
Waldeck - Get Up Carmen / Austria / 2010 04
Willem Barth - Bella bella signorina / Netherlands / 2010 01 15
Wilson, Smallwood and Ingram - Perfect Sunrise (Vocal Club Mix) / DJ Download / 2009 02 23
Wolfgang Gartner - Illmerica (Extended Mix) / DJ Download / 2010 11 18
Yann Solo / Just 1 Side - the India Girl (Original) / DJ Download / 2009 02 23
Yer Man - Talk Dirty 2 Me (Original) / DJ Download / 2010 12 18
Zlatko - Recejisa / Slovenia / 2010 12 26

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Slow Change, Sudden Change, Art, Passion, Vocation

There is a very good quote about John James Audubon by his granddaughter Maria:

"Waiting times are long, longest to those who do not understand the silent, inner growth which goes on and on, yet makes no outward sign for months and even years, as in the case of Audubon."

Audubon trudged into his 30s doing stuff he wasn't all that interested in (mismanaging a few businesses, which landed him in jail for debt [he had a wife and two kids on the outside at the time--hardcore]). But in the back of his mind an idea was forming, which ultimately manifested itself in an ambition to capture in vibrant colors, fluid lines, and at life-size the likenesses of all the birds in the United States. When he announced his intention to realize this he must have seemed to others suddenly mad, but in fact the idea had long been in development. And fortunately for Audubon, not to mention all who enjoy his wonderful art, it all worked out.

His story reminds me of evolutionary theory, where you have gradualism (the slow change of organisms over time), and punctuated equilibrium (wherein we see a rapid rate of morphological change over a short period of time). Punctuated equilibrium is often associated with cataclysms--a meteor hits the earth, kills the dinosaurs, and suddenly a whole bunch of niches (think of them as job positions) open up, which are rapidly filled by other critters (giant birds, giant sloths, giant mammoths, other giants) that rise to the occasion.

So for years Audubon was a gradualist, and as such his mind was slowly evolving towards his goal. But after spending time in jail I suspect he entered his period of punctuated equilibrium (i.e., "I've got to make some changes fast"). Gradualistic thinking had prepared him to seize the opportunity that punctuated equilibrium thrust upon him.

One Audubon biography I read stated (and I have to paraphrase, since the book is not accessible to me in my motel room ;-D) that Audubon was not certain what he would do after his release from jail--but the one thing he knew was that he was through with business. As he returned penniless to a wife and two children, everything we know and love Audubon for today lay ahead of the then-34-year-old man.