Kick-Ass Songs for December

Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down (Alicia Keys) - A hit after hits, Alicia Keys proves to be indomitable. Fresh from the monster hit Empire State of Mind (with Jay-z) and the critically-acclaimed Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart, Alicia’s new track Empire State of Mind Part II proves to be just as fierce and as luscious as the previous two. Though it is always an enormous risk to do a sequel on a previous hit, Alicia manages to provide an even more soulful melody, heartrending lyrics and a clever acoustic vibe. The offshoot: A track so gripping that is literally hair-raising. After listening to Empire State of Mind Part II, it has come to pass that: Alicia’s vocal growth has been glorious and for the critics calling Ms Keys’ lyrics to be generic, clichéd, and revolving around generalities, this song is a big slap to their faces!



All The Right Moves (OneRepublic) - When a singer writes a song for other artists, one fears that the singer’s musical authenticity loses. Thankfully, OneRepublic’s front man, Ryan Tedder, steers clear of that catch-22. All the Right Moves, from the band’s upcoming album Waking Up, is a testament of originality and genius that we have related to their smashing hit Apologize. As always, the song’s substance lies on its somewhat obscure but transfixing lyrics (Am I bright enough to shine in your spaces?/Between the noise you hear/And the sound you like/Are we just sinking in an ocean of faces?). Coupled with the seductive drum rolls and engrossing piano, you have a “recording lovingly structured by an expert at work.” All the Right Moves has all the flavors of a hit that makes someone anticipate more kick-ass songs from Waking Up.



Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) - Lady Gaga is such a polarizing figure: either you love her or hate her (sadly, there’s no straddling the fence). Such polarizing that her crazy antics had made her an omnipresent artiste and grabbed worldwide attention. The collective fear, though, was a matter of sustainability. But Lady Gaga vindicated all the naysayers of whether she’s a one-hit wonder with her new song Bad Romance. Talking about romantic entanglements, the song starts with the annoying repetition of words but redeems itself with the catchy verses (e.g., I want your psycho/Your vertigo stick) and the infectious chorus. Having the same bravura as Poker Face and Just Dance, Bad Romance is Lady Gaga’s best vocals ever and may put her out of the oblivion.