Top Songs of 2014

Every year I make my top songs of the year list. This year was weird for me, musically because I had to officially download all my musical legally. I'm not by any means admitting to have downloaded music illegally at any point in my life. I'm just saying that I bought all the songs that are on my iPhone in 2014, and I'm poor so i wasn't as many songs as I listened to in the past. The list changed dramatically with the release of 1989 and the Pinkprint. Taylor swift and Nicki Minaj are two woman who completely changed the game. I'm proud of their contributions to the industry. Without further adieu.."the list".

1. All of Me by John Legend : This was the most beautiful song of 2014. It was playing on every station. The original and that annoying dance version that was released later in the year. The piano part was beautiful. It constantly played in my head. And the lyrics were love personified. He loved every inch of this woman. What made the song even more beautiful was that those words were inspired by the phenomenal woman he married in 2014. It doesn't get better.

2. Rude by MAGIC! : The reggae vibe, story, and the mans soothing voice together created perfection. I love this song. I cruised to it in my car on so many roadtrips. This is particular significant for me, because 2014 was the year I started actually taking trips. I lost my fear of driving on the highway and this song was the perfect companion throughout the many journeys I took with friends and family.

3. Lifestyle by Rich Gang : This song is very different from the other two, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Can we take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the piano part in the intro that sets the tone of the entire song. This was the song I walked to class to day after day. My favorite stroll was done to this song. It's ghetto fabulous. Get with it.

4. New Flame by Chris Brown, Usher, and Rick Ross : It's lovely. I've been waiting for Chris Brown to make this kind of music again for as long as I can remember. With You was one of my favorite songs by him and this is the closest thing too it he has made in a long time. Can't wait to hear him perform this song in March.

5. Latch by Disclosure : I'll never hear this song without thinking about the first party of the year. It was a sigma function and my line sisters and I were excited to stroll. We came out late in the spring so there weren't many opportunities to. We finally had one. We did, but people started fighting in the party. So the DJ turned the lights on and started playing music that was different. The song he played was latch. The whole room froze. A lot of the people at these functions are ratched. If you can't twerk to it, they're lost. So everyone froze and we danced. Danced like there's no tomorrow. It was great.

6. All About That Bass  by Meghan Trainor : This song was so catchy and had such a strong message. I love music that empowers woman. This song took a very different approach from many other songs. It wasn't dramatic. It was more like, "I'm a bad bitch. You are too. Stop crying and slayyy. These streets are your runnway". Well that's how I interpreted it. And I'm proud to say that I'm all about that bass. NO treble.

7. Bailando by Enrique Iglesias and Sean Paul : Sean Paul is back!! When he is featured in a song, you know it's fire. Remember baby boy? This song gave me life. I love the traditional hispanic beats. It brings out my inner shakira. When this song plays, my hips don't lie. I had the pleasure of seeing Enrique in perform live for the first time this year. It was wonderful.

8. Let Me Know by Tamar Braxton and Future : When future starts singing, I'm wet. Every single time. Maybe that was TMI, but it's true. I feel like I would really love the way he do when he lovin' my body *insert monkey covering eyes emoji here*. Tamar's part is wonderful as well. This is a true R&B song. Tamar is single-handedly keeping the R&B industry alive. I'm thankful she is. This is a great track. Can't wait to hear what else she comes out with.

9. Bed of Lies by Nicki Minaj : Nicki is the Queen of Rap. There is no debate. I wasn't alive when Lil whatever and Eve were rapping. As far as I'm concerned, Nicki is the end all be all of female rap. She writes her own music. She's an artist in the crazy, unique, one of a kind way. I'm a fan of the whole Young Money team. They do things other rappers don't do. This song is a prime example. She was emotional. Anyone could relate to how she feels in this song. Her hurt is my hurt. Every time I listen to it. Obsessed.

10. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift : Anyone who really knows me musically knows that I am a huge Taylor Swift fan. Despite the masses of people who hate her lifestyle and her music, I truly enjoy it. I relate to her. I know what it feels like to be young, awkward, and classic in a world that is pushing you the other direction. I got dressed to this song. Shook everything off and went on with my day.

11. Sex You by Bando Jones: The list was over halfway done when I remembered this song. I couldn't just tack it on to the end of list because I was obsessed with it all summer long. It is the slow jam of the year. I wanted to find me a thug from Atlanta after listening that sexy voice sing "Baby, you know I'm from Atlanta and they raised me like a pimp". It's a hit.

12. Let Her Go by Passenger : This song couldn't be prettier. The words. The guitar. Listen, soak it in, love it.

13. Loyal by Chris Brown and Lil Wayne : This is the song of the generation. It's sad that this is the world we live in, but it's true. These hoes aren't loyal. I can't even count all the conversations I heard this year about women with boyfriends thinking about someone else, or single women working hard to pull men with boyfriends. No one has any kind of respect for relationships anymore. Everything is fair game. I think a lot of it is just women being tired of being taken advantage of. You like someone, and it scares them off. Offer to take care of them and they're weirded out. So you turn into that girl. You know which one, "You all about her and she's all about hers". That's one way not to lose. Don't hate the player, hate the game. I couldn't be one of these unloyal women, but I don't hate their game. Not for one second. It's about time women used men the same way they've been using us for years. Girl Power.

14. Anaconda by Nicki Minaj : This song isn't on here because I listened to it all year like all the others. It's on here, because it was part of a one woman revolution. The video was just plain insanity, and the cover was Nicki's butt. Cheeks and all. We live in a generation that's obsessed with unnaturally big booties. More power to the thick chicks. Drake's face when Nicki was giving him a lap dance at the end of the video was priceless. Every woman wants to make a man feel that way someday. I'm gonna learn that little dance. As a gift for my future husband :)

15. Smartphone by Trey Songz : Everyone knows that Trey is my future husband. The list wouldn't be complete without him. This song was an absolute gem. His voice pulls at your heart strings and the concept of the song remands me of confessions era Usher. It was my favorite song on the album.

16. I Won by Future and Kanye West : We already had the conversation about what Future's voice does to me. No need to repeat it. This song has the same effect. The lyrics are so sweet. The love him and Ciara shared for a short while was beautiful but these boys aren't loyal either. It ended, but for awhile she was his trophy. Kanye's verse is great as well. I think him and Kim were my favorite couple of 2014. His shoutout to her sisters was great as well. It's nice to hear black man rapping about love, and the word choice is great. "I put an angel in your ultrasound" awwww.

16. Drunk in Love by Beyonce and Jay Z : This song was everywhere. It was everything to everyone. Great club song. It was cute to see a husband and wife freaky about each other. This couple was all over the media in 2014 after Beyonce's sister started beating Jay up in an elevator. Rumor has it, it was because Jay was flirting with his ex in front of his wife. We all learned they weren't the perfect couple we thought they were. But nobodies perfect and the two of them made millions from all of this.

18. Don't Tell Em by Jeremiah : I just like this track. No explanation. It's just good.

19. No Mediocre by TI and Iggy Azalea : TI makes my top five rappers list. He has always been one of my favorites, and I was happy to see him back with this track.

20. Blank Space by Taylor Swift : "I got a blank space baby, and i'll write your name.. " The song is so catchy. I adore it.

21. Problem by Ariana Grande and I-G-G-Y : Ariana Grande was a huge star this year. I know I'm old, because I didn't follow the hype at all. She's a little girl with a big, powerful voice. Everyone loves her. Couldn't tell you much about her except for I read an article about how she died her hair so many times it doesn't grow in some places so she wears weave and has to always wear her hair in that half up half down style. I know that her manager is Sccoter Braun. The same guy that managed Justin Bieber. Justin got pretty far on his hair, so I would put money that he had something to do with her remaining unique and consistent as well. Getting off topic. This is a good song. Yay Problem!

22. Studio by SchoolboyQ: I'm not one that gets annoyed by songs playing over and over again, but that happened with this track which is why I had to put it so low on the list. It's a really good song, but to this day I ca't listen to 103.3 without hearing it. I'm a lover of slow jams, so it made the list.

22 1/2 : The Monster by Rihanna and Eminem : This song is definitely better than Hot N**** and No Type. Even Studio, debatably. I was seconds away from posting the list when I realized someone was missing. I haven't made a list of this type without Rihanna. She has been MIA this year but I knew she came out with something. I loved this song. It deserves to make the list. So I gave it a special spot. 22 is a great number anyways, so it's okay that there are two 22s.

23. Hot N***a by Bobby Shmurda: This song took over the nation completely. Couldn't go to a greek party without hearing it. Everyone and their mama can do the schmoney dance. I still can't. Look like a fool every time I try, but it was a big part of 2014. Can't forget.

23 1/2: (This one came after 22 1/2). One by Ed Sheeran is far too great to be left off this list.

24. No Type by Rae Sremmurd : This is another song that I heard absolutely everywhere. He doesn't have a type. Bad ladies are the only thing that he likes. That basically sums it up. The song thing that I heard more than the song lyrics being shouted from every rooftop in America is the ever pestering question, "Isn't bad b----es a type?" The world will never know.

25. Stay With Me by Sam Smith : Sam Smith is like the male Adele. You can hear the pain in his voice. His hurt is your hurt. And he has just one small request. He wants her to stay with him. Everyone has had that moment. They don't want rubies, diamonds, etc., just time. His voice was the best kept secret of the early 21st century. I'm glad he's famous and making music. Can't wait to hear what else he comes up with.

Honorable Mention:
The entire 1989 album. Emphasis on : This Love, How to Love a Girl, Clean, Style, Wildest Dream, and Out of the Woods.
The entire Pinkprint album. Emphasis on Win Again, I Lied, Grand Piano, Only, and Feeling Myself.
Parition by Beyonce
I Don't F--- With You by Big Sean (had so much fun doing diss stolls to this song. Memories).
Tuesday by Drake and some unknown
Wild Wild Love by Pitbull
Fancy by Iggy Azalea
Happy by Pharell
Royal by Lorde
Show Me by Chris Brown
We Dem Boyz by Wiz Khalifa
Counting Stars (because that's my brothers favorite song of the year)

Songs That Were New To Me :

1. A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope : I listened to this song nonstop throughout the year. I like making IVs to chill music like this, because I can listen to the words and not get too distracted. This song describes heartbreak in a way I'd never heard before. Losing someone is hard and this song depicts it perfectly.

2. Valarie by Amy Winehouse : Amy was vibrant and brilliant. This song depicts all of that. I like the upbeat version that she did with Mark Ronson before her death. It's the perfect song to get ready to or dance around your room to. Everyone needs to hear it.

3. Karaoke by Drake : This has always been my cousin's favorite Drake song, but our taste in music is pretty different so I never listened to it. Boy was I missing out. It's a soft Drake track and there's nothing I love more.

4. Firework by Drake and Alicia Keys : This was another track from So Far Gone I became obsessed with this year. I didn't know too many songs from that album prior to this year but discovering them has lit up my life.

5. Trust Issues by Drake : Can't tell you how many times I tweeted "My excuse is that I'm young, but I'm only getting older somebody should have told you".

That my friends is the top 25 songs of 2014. It is technically 27 and I could have gone on and on with the honorable mentions list, but I had to limit myself. The list feels incomplete without Drake, but the songs of his I listened to all came out in 2013. That doesn't mean that I didn't have a nothing but Drake day every week of 2014. He is brilliant. This concludes the top songs of 2014.