The 5 Best Singles Of 2012

When we began compiling our Best Songs of 2012 list, there were many conflicting opinions, but after a great deal of research and head scratching, we finally managed to pick a handfull of the most successful singles of the year. So without further ado, D’Banj is up first.

5.  D’Banj – ‘Oliver Twist’

With the help of  DJs Abantree and Edu, this year we saw Afrobeats tranformation from being played in exclusive inner city raves to the radio in the café on Eastenders!  Afrobeats hit the UK charts back in May when Nigerian singer D’Banj, released his top ten single ‘Oliver Twist’ off his album ‘Mr Endowed’, firmly placing Afrobeats on the UK map. Of course his G.O.O.D Music label boss, Kanye West had to put his stamp on the song by making a cameo appearance in the video. All we’ll say is please D’Banj, we want more.

4. Gotye ft Kimbra – ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’

What do you get when you put together a Belgian born Indie rocker with a New Zealand singer/songwriter? Answer is the  biggest selling single of the year. Gotye and Kimbra helped the broken hearted across the world ditch the Kleenexes for a Karaoke machine with their international post break up single ‘Somebody That I used To know.’ And how could we forget how up close and VERY personal the pair got in their video.

3. Carly Rae Jepsen – ‘Call Me Maybe’

Thanks to Carly Rae Jepsen millions around the world have gained exceptional confidence in asking the person standing alone at the office party “Here’s my number, call me maybe?” The tale of a girl who bumps into a boy, and hands him her number scored over 300million views on YouTube and bagged the number one chart spot in 19 countries.  Not bad for the Canadian pop sensation with her infectious teen-pop banger making her one of 2012’s best loved artist.

2. One Direction – ‘What Makes You Beautiful’

You may have heard of a little boy band that go by the name of One Direction. The five piece teen sensation, who  managed to outsell The Beatles, make American Billboard history, perform at the VMAs and win a Brit award for their world wide smash single ‘What Makes You Beautiful ‘all in the space of a year. With over three million followers on Twitter plus having a string of celebrity fans including Chris Martin, Rihanna and even Kate and Wills, It’s fair to say that Niall, Harry, Zayn, Liam and Louis are kind of a big deal.

1.Psy – ‘Gangnam Style’

The summer of July 2012, saw the whole world turn K-Pop crazy all because of a certain South Korean pop star who’s catchy lyrics, notorious dance routine oh and not forgetting his one billion Youtube viewed music video that had us all unashamedly shouting,  “Hey sexy lady!” Whether you like it or not, there’s no denying Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’ was one of year’s most defining singles. Come on, you know you did the dance at least once.

Written by Nsofwa Kangwa [@SaffMKC]