fun. (4) - Week of May 12, 2012

We’re still in our Golden Age, but let me tell you, that status is more precarious than it’s ever been.  Before we get on to this week’s Fresh 45, here’s a list of all the songs we’re saying good-bye to this week:

• Jessie J – Domino (DTHNOBx2)
• Hot Chelle Rae – I Like It Like That

The Countdown:

1. fun. feat. Janelle Monáe- We Are Young (#1) [Fourth Week at #1]

2. Kelly Clarkson- Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) (#4)

3. Flo Rida feat. Sia- Wild Ones (#7)

4. One Direction- What Makes You Beautiful (#2)

5. Gotye feat. Kimbra- Somebody That I Used to Know (#3)

6. Nicki Minaj- Starships (#9)

7. Train- Drive By (#10)

8. Carly Rae Jepsen- Call Me Maybe (#11)

9. Neon Trees- Everybody Talks (#12)

10. Calvin Harris- Feel So Close (#16)

11. Usher- Scream (#39) [Biggest Jump]

12. Karmin- Brokenhearted (#13)

13. The All-American Rejects- Walk Over Me (#20)

14. Havana Brown feat. Pitbull- We Run the Night (#31)

15. Taylor Swift- Eyes Open (#22)

16. Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa- Payphone (#17)

17. Gym Class Heroes feat. Ryan Tedder- The Fighter (#21)

18. The Cab- La La (#15)

19. Chris Rene- Young Homie (#14)

20. Cher Lloyd feat. Astro- Want U Back (#19)

21. Andy Grammer- Fine By Me (#26)

22. Lucas Prata feat. Lenny B- First Night of My Life (#27)

23. Hot Chelle Rae- Honestly (#24)

24. Sammy Adams- Only One (#41)

25. Adele- Rumour Has It (#32)

26. David Guetta feat. Sia- Titanium (#23)

27. Gavin DeGraw- Sweeter (#28)

28. The Wanted- Glad You Came (#5)

29. Skrillex feat. Sirah- Bangarang (#42)

30. Katy Perry- Part of Me (#6)

31. K'naan feat. Nelly Furtado- Is Anybody Out There? (#37)

32. Grouplove- Tongue Tied (#30)

33. Flo Rida- Good Feeling (#35)

34. The Black Keys- Lonely Boy (#44)

35. Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull- Dance Again (#18)

36. Alex Clare- Too Close (DEBUT)

37. Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch- Ass Back Home (#33)

38. Imagine Dragons- It's Time (DEBUT)

39. Justin Bieber- Boyfriend (#43)

40. Adele- Set Fire to the Rain (#8) [Biggest Drop]

41. David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj- Turn Me On (#45)

42. Gavin DeGraw- Not Over You (#40)

43. September- Party in My Head (#29)

44. M83- Midnight City (#38)

45. B.o.B- So Good (#25)

Biggest DDDDRRRROOOOPPPP!!!!....of the week: Adele – Set Fire to the Rain (-32)

Biggest Jump of the Week: Usher – Scream (+28)

Two newbies to talk about this week.  I am a big fan of Imagine Dragons – It’s Time.  I was not optimistic about all of the potential new entrants to the countdown, this week, but It’s Time took a big leap forward and surprised me.  It’s got a pretty unique sound.  Alex Clare – Too Close is so dull and useless, it’s in commercials for Internet Explorer 9!  Ha!  Nerd joke!  But seriously, it’s the first pure undeniably weak new entrant in quite some time.  The most disappointing part of it is that the first 30 seconds (of the full, non-radio version) make you think it’s going to be awesome.  But most of the song is uninteresting, and the chorus is particularly terrible.

Unfortunately, songs like Too Close might be the way of the future.  I had the (dis)pleasure of listening to Hit-Bound last weekend, and there’s a lot of crap on the way.  A couple of decent songs, but mostly crap.  If the song rotation during this week is any indication, we’re in for a lot of new entrants this upcoming weekend.  Normally it’s exciting to talk about new music, but I have a feeling it’s going to be a situation where I’m lamenting the loss of a few winners to make room for garbage.  That’s not a write-up to get excited over.

All three of last week’s new entrants got the typical “2^nd week boost” and then some, jumping 28, 17, and 17 spots.  At the very least.  Usher – Scream and Havana Brown Ft. Pitbull – We Run the Night seem to have some staying power, collecting votes from people who treat their car like a dance club.

I’m ready for the fun. – We Are Young era to end.  It’s a good song, and at 4 weeks at the top spot, I think it’s gotten its due and then some.  Ideally I’d hope that none of the Top 3 are still in the Top 3 next week (despite all being good songs), but I’ve learned that it’s a pipe dream to root for songs on the countdown that have run their course to make a quick exit.

I originally labeled Karmin – Brokenhearted as a clone of the recently DTHNOBbed (x2!) Jessie J – Domino.  I feel like that’s still an apt comparison, but I was wrong about which one is superior.  It’s definitely Brokenhearted.

I’ll use this last paragraph as an (prebituary?) apology to B.O.B. – So Good.  I hate to admit it, but B.O.B. managed to put something out there that I liked (all by himself!!!!!).  I think the difference is that he carries the singing parts in that song.  He’s a terrible rapper, but a decent singer.  I feel like this song is going to get kicked out shortly to make room for his new duet with Taylor Swift.  But we’ll get to that.  I feel like I might need 500 words to cover that one…..

Enjoy this rotation of Hits-1 music while it lasts, kids.  It’s all going to crap in the next few weeks.

Editor’s Picks – Top 5 Songs

1) Maroon 5 – Payphone

2) Karmin - Brokenhearted

3) Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know

4) Imagine Dragons – It’s Time

5) M83 – Midnight City