Top Music of 2012: Pop

What were the top pop songs of 2012? We’ve rounded up a list of the catchiest, most addictive tunes of the year for your listening pleasure.

Introduction

It was a great year for pop music in 2012! From fun, upbeat songs that were perfect for dancing to more reflective ballads, there was a little something for everyone. Below is a list of some of the top pop songs of 2012.

“Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen
“Somebody That I Used to Know” – Gotye ft. Kimbra
“Payphone” – Maroon 5 ft. Wiz Khalifa
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift
“What Makes You Beautiful” – One Direction

What is Pop Music?

Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid-1950s. The terms “popular music” and “pop music” are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular and includes many diverse styles. “Pop” and “rock” were synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they became increasingly differentiated from each other.

Generally, pop music is produced by recording artists who are intended to be heard by a wide audience, rather than by a niche market. It is produced in a range of different styles, including rock, country, dance, R&B, hip hop, and folk.

Pop music often draws on other genres such as rock, Latin, and urban for its influences. This means that pop music is both eclectic and diverse, with a wide range of different sounds and styles.

The Best Pop Songs of 2012

It was a banner year for pop music, with many great new songs released by both established artists and fresh faces. Here are our picks for the best pop songs of 2012:

“Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen – This catchy tune from Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen was inescapable in 2012, becoming one of the biggest hits of the year.

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift – After a much-publicized break-up with ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal, Swift came out swinging with this ode to moving on.

“Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye feat. Kimbra – This haunting tune about a failed relationship was inescapable in 2012, thanks in part to its amazing stop-motion video.

“Payphone” by Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa – Maroon 5 had another huge hit in 2012 with this catchy track about a couple trying to reconnect after a break-up.

“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson – Clarkson proved she’s still a force to be reckoned with in the pop world with this motivational anthem.

The Worst Pop Songs of 2012

There were plenty of pop songs that dominated the charts in 2012, but not all of them were good. In fact, there were quite a few that were downright awful. Here are the ten worst pop songs of 2012, in no particular order:

1. “Gangnam Style” by PSY – This song was incredibly overplayed and got old very quickly. It was also pretty annoying.

2. “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen – This catchy little tune was impossible to escape last year, but it was also pretty annoying.

3. “Starships” by Nicki Minaj – This song was just plain terrible, with awful lyrics and a really annoying chorus.

4. “We Are Young” by fun. feat. Janelle Monae – This song was another one that got old very quickly due to overplay. It wasn’t a terrible song, but it wasn’t great either.

5. “party rock anthem” by LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock – This song was just as annoying as the rest of LMFAO’s music, and the constant repetition of the words “party rock” got old very quickly.

6. “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye feat. Kimbra – This song was a huge hit, but it was also pretty depressing and had some weird lyrics.

7.”Live While We’re Young” by One Direction – This boy band returned with another terrible tune in 2012, complete with cheesy lyrics and a catchy chorus that will get stuck in your head whether you like it or not.

8.” Kiss You” by One Direction – See above; same goes for thissongfrom One Direction’s latest album.

Conclusion

It was a great year for pop music, with many artists finding commercial and critical success. In the end, though, there were a few clear standouts who rose above the rest. Here are our picks for the top pop albums of 2012.

1. Taylor Swift – Red
2. fun. – Some Nights
3. Maroon 5 – Overexposed
4. One Direction – Up All Night
5. Rihanna – Unapologetic

What do you think of our list? Did we miss any of your favorite pop albums from 2012? Let us know in the comments!