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Let's all welcome 2013 with bright faces!

This year, it's all about Happiness!

May every bite of your daily plate be as luscious as ever!

So, I was exploring some YouTube videos (I was stuck in The Ellen DeGeneres channel for hours) when a familiar tune just got inside my head. I could rarely hear that song being played on the radio but the said tune got inside my head all of a sudden.

It was a track from STEPS, titled “One for Sorrow”. I could hardly remember the last time I heard that song, so, hearing it again made a lot of childhood memory flashbacks, dramatically. I used to remember singing and dancing along while watching the video on MTV (back when MTV was “really” MTV), only to find out that the lyrics were really deep and emotional, despite of the upbeat tempo and the fact that it’s a danceable track. I was so innocent back then (of course, we’ve been innocent once), and I had no idea that they’re singing about pangs of heartbreaks.

The chorus of the song goes like:

            “Now I know you’re someone else right now,

              Loving someone else no doubt.

             Well, I’m One For Sorrow

             Ain’t it too, too bad.

             Are you breaking someone else’s heart

            Coz you’re taking my love where you are.

            Well, I’m One For Sorrow

            Ain’t it too, too bad about us?”

Funny how these words described exactly how I felt once, few years back.

Written by Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, and Lance Ellington, Claire (the female lead vocal of STEPS) performs lead vocals of all of the verses, before the entire band join for the chorus. Check out the video below and taste the sweet pop tunes of STEPS, once again.

2012 is an incredible year of music. Less popular songs became sleeper hits, viral songs conquered the year, and even a crazy dance move became a big hit that made the whole world dance along! So, here are my Most Played Albums that are released this year.

top 5

CHRISTINA AGUILERA

LOTUS

RCA Records

XTINA is back and kicking with her latest album, and this time, she toned down the level of sexuality in this one. If “Bionic” was more sexual, this one’s not much. For me, this is FAR better than Bionic and Back to Basics, and even her first album! Stripped may be her BEST work ever, but LOTUS can definitely put up a good fight.

The album features collaborations from Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton, who are her co-judges in the hit singing competition “The Voice”.

TOP TRACK FAVORITE: “Army of Me”

top 4

ELLIE GOULDING

HALCYON

Polydor Records

Fresh from her sleeper hit “Lights”, Ellie Goulding releases her latest work “Halcyon” featuring her new smash hit, “Anything Could Happen”. The album got the same elements of her past albums, but Halcyon was made even better.

TOP TRACK FAVORITE: “In My City”           

top 3

KE$HA

WARRIOR

RCA Records

Like her previous works which are undeniably danceable, “WARRIOR” has lived up to my expectations. The same old yodeling-like raps, catchy hook, and auto-tune are still present, of which it would seem like it’s her signature. Her few ballads are good, as well. They are emotional, and a decent space to take a short pause from upbeat tracks as you play the album.

TOP TRACK FAVORITE: “All That Matters (The Beautiful Life)”

top 2

MADONNA

MDNA

Interscope Records

Madonna’s 12^th studio album is indeed a Masterpiece! I do love Madonna but not much of a fan. Not until this album, though! From the first track to its Deluxe Version, there was definitely no dull moment. Although I was a bit disappointed with the chart performances of her official singles from this album, I do however, find them underrated. Need to mention, “MASTERPIECE”, which garnered a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for the film “W.E.”

 TOP TRACK FAVORITE: “Girl Gone Wild”

top 1

ZEDD

CLARITY

Interscope Records

I was not really much of a fan of EDM albums. I have Calvin Harris’ and David Guetta’s fine works, but they don’t have much spark for me. Then there’s a Lady Gaga leaked track “Stache” that sent fireworks to my blank mind, that made me wondered who produced the said track. It was then I listened to ZEDD’s album CLARITY, and I got so hooked to it.

The whole album is like a non-stop medley. The beats of every track makes me feel wanna party all night long.

TOP TRACK FAVORITE: “Spectrum (feat. Matthew Koma)”

As 2013 approaches, I am far excited to hear the songs of the upcoming year! Will Lady Gaga's new album be as glorious as what it would seem? Who will be the new artist/s that would dominate the charts? All that and more, as we keep on flipping the pages of the story of our lives.

I have always been a fan of Detective Conan since it was aired in GMA 7, here in the Philippines. The unique and mind twisting storyline makes this anime stand out, among all famous animes there is. Finding out that there is already a LIVE ACTION version of the said series, I immediately searched it up online. The Live Action versions were already released few years ago, and it was indeed EPIC.

The one that I’m going to share is a full movie about SInichi Kudo (Detective Conan’s real form). This first part consists of the LIVE ACTION version of Detective Conan Anime Episode 162. Enjoy!

I normally don't share my songs online but this one's an exception. I had this recorded few months ago and spent days on auto-tuning and adding audio effects on my voice. I know I sound terrible, but I would like to emphasize on the track's beat. 

The track was produced by a budding EDM Producer, Audio Ardor, who clearly deserves a big break in the music industry. Please don't mind my vocals, and hope you can appreciate Audio Ardor's creation.

So I was checking out some apps on Google Play, and was amused with Paper Camera app.

I'm not really into black and white photos but this app made me love them! Check out my shot with Paper Camera.

Shot using Paper Camera Android App

I think it’s too early for me to create my Year-End Track list, but Billboard already revealed their Top Lists, so I guess it’s about time to blurt out my list as well. Since January, I managed to track down the number of plays of all the tracks that released this year. Using my iTunes Player, here’s My Most Played Tracks of 2012.

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TOP 10

Title:    Starships

Artist:  Nicki Minaj

Album: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

Released: February 14, 2012

Number of Plays:  41

“Starships” was indeed one of the biggest hits of 2012. Following the success with “Superbass”, the song still has the elements of her previous hit.

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TOP 9

Title:   One Thing

Artist: One Direction

Album: Up All Night

Released: January 6, 2012

Number of Plays:  42

The trends of Boybands are back with One Direction. They made me remember those NSYNC and BSB days. Man, those were golden!

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TOP 8

Title:   Anything Could Happen

Artist: Ellie Goulding

Album: Halcyon

Released: August 17, 2012

Number of Plays:  42

Ellie’s new release is definitely one of my faves of hers. X Factor’s Fifth Harmony performed this song on their semi-finals, and they made this song even better!

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TOP 7

Title:   Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)

Artist: Kelly Clarkson

Album: Stronger

Released: January 17, 2012

Number of Plays:  46

One of the female musicians with strongest vocals in the industry is Kelly Clarkson. This self-empowering track rocked the charts at the top spot and I am not surprised why.

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TOP 6

Title:   Part Of Me

Artist: Katy Perry

Album: Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection

Released: February 13, 2012

Number of Plays:  50

"Part Of Me" was a commercial success, as it reached the Top Spot on the charts, earning Katy's 7th number one single.

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TOP 5

Title:   Skyfall

Artist: Adele

Album: OST: Skyfall

Released: October 5, 2012

Number of Plays:  50

Adele had a glorious 2011 after bagging tons of awards, chart topping hits, and a top grossing album. This year, she chants with an excellent track for a James Bond Film, “Skyfall”.

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TOP 4

Title:   Girl Gone Wild

Artist: Madonna

Album: MDNA

Released: March 2, 2012

Number of Plays:  64

I was not really a big fan of Madonna, until her 2012 LP came out. Her latest album, “MDNA” was really a masterpiece! Although, the track’s official video and song content was too raunchy, I still love the song’s beat, and harmony. Disappointed that it never went to the Top Spot on Hot 100, but it was one of the hottest dance/club tracks that was released this year.

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TOP 3

Title:   Lights

Artist: Ellie Goulding

Album: Lights (UK), Bright Lights (USA/Worldwide), Halcyon

Released: March 13, 2011

Number of Plays:  93

“Lights” was a sleeper hit, spending one year and three months on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts before finally reaching number two in August 2012, after being released in 2011.

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TOP 2

Title:   Set Fire To The Rain

Artist: Adele

Album: 21

Released: July 4, 2011

Number of Plays:  143

Released in 2011, the track finally reached the top pot of Billboard Hot 100 on February 4, 2012. The song was used in various TV shows, including CBS’ defunct show, “Ringer”, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.

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TOP 1

Title:   Love You Like A Love Song

Artist: Selena Gomez & The Scene

Album: When The Sun Goes Down

Released: June 17, 2011

Number of Plays:  166

Another sleeper hit made its way to the mainstream charts, as Selena Gomez’ “Love You Like A Song” became her biggest hit since “Naturally”. "Love You like a Love Song" got its second wind after November 26, 2011, as it continued rising from the fiftieth position up until March 3, 2012, when it reached a peak of number 22, surpassing the peak made in July 2011. At the end of that month, the song surpassed sales of two million units, becoming her first single to achieve this sales and her highest selling single in the United States. The song also earned the band their second highest charting single, behind "Who Says", and the longest running single on the Hot 100 at 38 weeks. The song also earned the band the first album to spawn two top thirty hits. On April 20, 2012, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single double platinum.