Tim McGraw—”Better Than I Used To Be”
#81
The lead single from McGraw’s last album for Curb records, with whom he’s been legally wrangling and trying to get out from under for about half his career. It’s still McGraw, so it’s better than some, but it’s still a piece of stereotypical country you can bet McGraw didn’t think about more than twice. Is that title intended as a message to either Curb or McGraw’s fans? Doesn’t matter; chances are you’ll forget this faster than you can say “contractual obligation”.
Glee Cast—”Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
#92
Lee Brice—”A Woman Like You”
#96
In which Brice stretches a two line joke into a three verse song, and succeeds in pandering both to his wife and his audience at the same time. At least his wife has the sense to roll her eyes when he tries to sneak this one past her.
Michael Buble—”All I Want for Christmas Is You”
#99
I have no sentimental attachment to the original, so it doesn’t strike me as a terrible idea to slow it down to a tempo usually reserved for songs about broken hearts or dead puppies. It doesn’t strike me as a good idea, though, either. Especially since Buble sings it with all the intensity he’d apply to buying a present for a distant cousin at the last minute on Christmas Eve in a Walgreens.
Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch—”Ass Back Home”
#100
In an era of self-absorbed male singers, Travie McCoy is the worst, or at least the most grating, and Neon Hitch does nothing but prove she can stand equal with Dido and Skylar Grey in the great women-who-provide-the-lyrical-hook-on-rap-records contest. Which still leaves her behind Dev and whoever is singing backup for Ghostface Killah these days. Did I mention it’s reggae? Reggae like Jack Johnson, that is.
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