Year In Review: The 25 Best Singles Of 2012

It was an extremely difficult (but oh so fun) task sorting through the various songs that were released over this past year. And after all that painstaking work (i jest) - i have come up with what i feel are the 25 best singles of 2012. Obviously, my choices won’t resonate with everybody, but here are some songs which stood out above the rest. Hope you enjoy!

In case you missed my selections for the Best Albums Of 2012 (click here). 

(Listen to all 25 songs by clicking play on the GrooveShark player above - or click on the song titles below to be taken to their corresponding YouTube page)

1. Madness by Muse - The year’s best. Musically complex. Lyrically complicated. All the while simple in its delivery and insane brilliance.
2. Once Upon Another Time by Sara Bareilles - Breathtakingly beautiful. Listening to this song is a near religious experience.
3. Lover Of The Light by Mumford & Sons - Hard to single out one track from the year’s best cd. Lover seemed to sum up nicely the musical and emotional journey Mumford & Sons took listeners on this year.
4. Sea Fog by Keane - Two of the most beautiful musical instruments currently on this earth. A piano…and Tom Chaplin’s voice. Hauntingly gorgeous. 
5. The A-Team/Small Bump by Ed Sheeran - Honestly i couldn’t decide which song i thought was better. Sheeran’s songwriting abilities are nothing short of genius. The year’s best new artist gave us two of the most heartbreaking songs of the last decade (oh, and shame on you Grammy’s for not even nominating him for Best New Artist…truly indefensible).
6. Clouds by Newton Faulkner - Another heavenly offering from one of the most underrated artists of the past few years.
7. Turn Up The Radio by Madonna - Vintage Queen of Pop. Such a shame that American radio didn’t give listeners the opportunity to turn this one up. 
8. The Fear by Ben Howard - Another big component of the British folk/rock uprising that currently is sweeping the globe. Relatively unknown in the U.S. - and that’s a travesty.
9. Daylight by Maroon 5 - Pure pop bliss. Adam Levine’s vocals are simply stunning on this gorgeous track. Also, check out the extremely uplifting video on this one!
10. The Symphony bySnow Patrol - Epic track that marked a return to their roots for one of my all time favorite bands.
11. Underwater by MIKA - Images of singing sirens and Homer’s Odyssey echo throughout the corridors of my mind while listening to the hypnotic harmonies of this subtle (yet brilliant) track.
12. The Veldt by deadmau5 - Based on a literary gem of yesteryear, this eerie and foreboding song was one of the best dance tracks of the year.
13. Anna Sun by Walk The Moon - Infectious track from one of the more talented new bands to come out in some time.
14. Let’s Have A Kiki by Scissor Sisters - HUGE gold star for originality and a GLARING Grammy omission for Best Dance Recording. Tisk…tisk…
15. What To Keep And What To Throw Away by Mary Chapin Carpenter - MCC is quite simply a poet. Her heartbreaking tale of removing a lover’s belongings from her house after a painful divorce reiterates why she is one of the greatest lyrical geniuses of our time.
16. We Come Running by Youngblood Hawke - Awesome tempo shifts abound on this amazingly fun track. Watch out for these guys in the coming year - as they are destined for greatness!
17. Runnin’ by Adam Lambert - Didn’t love his latest cd, but Runnin’ showed that AL still can deliver quality, meaningful songs that cater to the dark/conflicted side that he does SO WELL.
18. Anything Could Happen by Ellie Goulding - Nothing formulaic here. Creativity overflows in this odd and eccentric little piece of musical brilliance.
19. It’s Time by Imagine Dragons - Could not be happier these guys have started to blow up globally. Their debut album is phenomenal…as is their reputation as live performers.
20. Kill Your Heroes by AWOLNATION - Another new act that surprised me this year. This carpe diem type toe tapper is much more life affirming than its title would suggest.
21. Primadonna by Marina & The Diamonds - Sassy and self absorbed. The song, not the artist…LOL. 
22. Little Talks by Of Monsters And Men - Wonderful duality, sadness and conflict displayed in this oddly upbeat song. 
23. City Of Dreams by Dirty South & Alesso - Club heaven. Enough said.
24. Wide Awake by Katy Perry - Say what you want about Katy Perry…but she writes damn good pop songs. Her most honest song to date, is also one of the best of her bright career.
25. Breathing Underwater by Metric - Canada’s hidden gem. They NEED to be much more famous than they are…one listen to this amazing track, and i think you’ll be convinced.
26. Fading Listening by Shiny Toy Guns - Okay i added one extra song to my list because didn’t feel good about omitting this gorgeous track which overflows with the vibe and sound of vintage Fleetwood Mac.