Thank you to everyone who filled in this year’s survey. I always enjoy getting new recommendations, and I look forward to listening to each and every song listed by you. Here are my favorite songs and albums of the year.
Previous Music Survey Results: 2010 2011
In previous years, I listed songs in order of how many times they were mentioned. However, I decided that it makes more sense to give weight to where you placed a certain song, since your favorite song of the year is probably worth more to you than your fifth favorite. However, I didn’t want to weight first selections so much that they became the only songs that counted. So, in a totally arbitrary manner, I have weighted first selections twice as much as fifth selections, using an 8-7-6-5-4 scoring system. Does that make sense? As my friend Stacy told me last night, as I was compiling our Fountain Circle album (see the end of this post): “These are all arbitrary, self-imposed rules, Andrew!”, which I think is going on my tombstone.
So here’s the list of all songs chosen, embedded in a spreadsheet:
If you couldn’t see the embedded spreadsheet, the top songs this year are:
- “Some Nights” by Fun
- “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons
- “Lights” by Ellie Goulding
- “Ho Hey” by the Lumineers
- “Skyfall” by Adele
- “Home” by Phillip Phillips
- “We Are Young” by Fun
- “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele
“Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen is close by, but come on now, people. I didn’t love the song, but I didn’t hate it, either, and I’m pretty sure if I did this survey in August, “Call Me Maybe” would have had 600 out of 45 1st place votes. Also, if you were wondering, Gangham Style by PSY was the top “Guily Pleasure” song choice, with 4 votes.
Thank you for sending in you responses. Again, I look forward to listening to every song you sent in. If you’re interested in other results from the survey, let me know.
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I originally started this music survey as a way to make a compilation of my college roommate’s favorite songs. A refresher from last year:
The FC12 Music Project started when I wanted to gather favorite songs from my college roommates and their families and turn it into a CD. We lived in the 12th unit of a somewhat dingy apartment complex called Fountain Circle, hence the name of the project (FC12). So the final track listing mainly represents songs chosen by them but with some input from friends. Here’s the priority list:
- Number #1 song chosen by Fountain Circlers – 10 songs this year
- Any duplicates on top 5 lists of Fountain Circlers (meaning a song was on 2 lists) – this added 1 more song, as most of the duplicates were already #1’s
- 1 of the 3 most mentioned songs from all Friends – this didn’t add any songs, as they were all already chosen
- If only one song from a Fountain Circler’s list has been chosen–and they listed 5 songs–an additional song is chosen from #2 through #5 – this added 6 more songs
1 of the 3 most mentioned songs Overall (Friends + Students)- Editor’s Choice (a song chosen at my discretion) – 1 more song
- Others at my discretion, based on fit, sound, smell. – 1 mashup of a bunch of popular songs
And something I forgot last year, which should be slotted in at #2: marriages and kids get automatic songs. For example, Dan and Nadia chose “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz a few years ago in the year they married. This year, Heather and I are choosing a song for our son.
Each year, the album takes on a theme about halfway through the process. Last year, it was Top 40. This year, it’s folk, but maybe I pushed it that way because of my personal preferences. Who cares. Here’s the track listing, along with some videos for you to enjoy. And yes, it’s worth listening to the pre-song ads to hear these songs.
1. John Mayer – Queen of California (Andrew #1/Heather #5)
Here’s an awesome acoustic version. Enjoy.
2. Brandi Carlile – Hard Way Home (Stacy #1/Heather #2/Andrew #2)
Here is a live version from the cabin in which the album was recorded.
3. Fun. – Some Nights (People’s Choice #1/Brian #1/Brett #2/Dan #4)
Here’s the official video. The song is in here somewhere.
4. Passion Pit – Take a Walk (Brett #5)
Good choice, Brett! No more EuroPop! Alright, Brett!
5. Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know (Dan #5)
357 million views!!!???? For this video!!??? I like the song, but come on now.
6. Frank Ocean – Thinkin Bout You (Norris Family #3)
7. Ellie Goulding – Lights (Heather #1/People’s Choice #3)
Good workout song! Here comes Pop Row, songs 7 through 13.
8. David Guetta & Sia – Titanium (Brett #1)
Oh okay, I spoke too soon, Brett. It’s okay, I still enjoy your choices.
9. Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Nadia #1)
This should be everyone’s guilty pleasure song for the next ten years. I love this video. No regrets. Live hard.
10. Tanlines – All of Me (Norris Family #1)
11. M83 – Midnight City (Blake #1/Brian #4/Stacy #5)
I’m in favor of any song with a saxophone solo.
12. Apples – Theo (Heather and Andrew’s Baby Choice)
Chosen for obvious reasons, as we have named our son Apples.
13. Pop Danthology 2012 by Daniel Kim
I included this because it’s pop music on steroids, and it kind of sums up a whole genre in 7 minutes.
14. Mumford & Sons – I Will Wait (People’s Choice #2/Dan #2/Diana #4/Blake #5)
We’re now entering the stretch run of mostly folksy songs.
15. The Lumineers – Ho Hey (Diana #1/Brian #2/People’s Choice #4)
16. Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans (Stacy #4)
17. Zac Brown Band – Day That I Die, featuring Amos Lee (Dan #1)
Live version
18. Brandi Carlile – That Wasn’t Me (Andrew #4)
19. Michael Kiwanuka – I’m Getting Ready (Editor’s Choice)
20. Phillip Phillips – Home (Heather #4)
If Heather didn’t choose this one, it would have been my Editor’s Choice, as I try to choose a song with a good message to end on. Thanks, Heather!
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Let me know if you want a copy of this album. Have a Merry Christmas, and see you all in the New Year!