By the end of each year, I think back of all the amazing tracks that came out and all these songs are just too good not to talk about. Because at the end, that’s what iIdo for a living: sharing good music with good people. Some of those songs made it to the charts and some of them didn’t. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are not good enough. I ranked the tracks in different categories that I make up underneath my afro just to understand when and why to play them. I chose 15 tracks. Why 15? Don’t know, just a number.
So here’s my top 15 tracks of the year 2011.
In the catagory “best headbanger” the winner is:
Deadmau5 – Cthulhu Sleeps
This song is a weird son of a bitch. It has the dark stuff the mau5 always seems to be looking for when working on a track. Crazy ravy buildups and sick drops.
But the melody… When you close your eyes and listen, it’s like you‘re walking through a ghost house, but your’re not affraid, no. You’re feeling liberated, because this song makes you feel at home in this dark and twisted place. It’s like you’ve overcome your fears and you just don’t want to leave. I imagine myself in Super Mario’s 8bit castle.
In the category “play this when nobody dances” the winner is:
Myback – Fewra
Myback is a collab between John Dahlback and Albin Myers. When I spoke with John Dahlback at Extrema Outdoor (Holland) he told me that this project is “just Albin and me having FUN”. Well that’s what everybody can hear when listening to this. It has all sorts of fun elements that are recognizable to anyone. Short breaks, short buildups and really LOUD drops. When playing this song, experience guaranteed crowd control.
In the category “motivating progressive song” the winner is:
Erick Morillo & Eddie Thoneick – Stronger ft. Shawnee Taylor
I remember when I heard this song for the first time I immediately got the feeling I was listening to a song from the 90s. This vocal is just so inspiring. Shawnee Taylor nailed it. It feels like Erick Morillo wrote this according to his own life’s experience. But I have to be honest, the breaks are better than the actual beat. Listen to those lyrics and feel motivated!
In the category “best festival melody” the winner is:
Michael Woods – Bullet
Any producer agrees with me that Michael Woods’ tracks always sound perfectly mixed and mastered. His low end.. my god. The melody in this song is so recognizable. When it hits after the big build, it’s like a giant nuclear warhead drops on top of your head and explodes. It’s the ultimate festival melody. I can understand why a lot of festivals used this song in their after movies. And the arrangement of the song is awesome. Because of this arrangement, it’s possible to play this song in the clubs and get the same result. Nuclear warheads for everyone!
In the category “cool gig needs a cool ending track” the winner is:
Wolfgang Gartner – Menage A Trois
Sometimes you have a quite unexpected mind blowing gig, in a small club in a small city somewhere. Sweaty people, wet shirts, arrogant security, too many people in your booth.. Yeah you know what I’m talking about. It’s those gigs that stand out each year, because those are the places to try out crazy stuff. For example this song. This is a typical encore song. Play this as a closing track and you’ll definitely gonna get some results.
In the category “song to cry to” the winner is:
Moby – Lie Down In Darkness (Arno Cost Remix)
I’m not gonna lie. I cried to this song when I heard it the first time. Not really cried, just a small tear of pure bliss. Arno Cost killed it in this remix. It has that authentic progressive feel and perfect top melody. Visualize this song and you’ll see a group of beautiful young people jumping on a beach on the Galapagos Islands, during sunset, in fucking slowmotion man. Grab a tissue.
In the category “shotgun song” the winner is:
Arty – Around The World
Shotgun song! It’s like Arty is putting all his trance influences into a big shotgun and is firing it into a crazy electro-ish progressive banger. The drops sound like pulling an actual trigger. I think every house/electro/progressive/trance DJ played this track last year. With this track Arty proves that there is a thin line between trance and house. Talking about crossover! BOOM!
In the category “best pop-house song” the winner is:
Calvin Harris – Feel So Close
This song illustrates that you don’t need a lot of instruments to make a hit. All you need are some simple drums, a piano and a genius guitar riff. And you can’t deny, his voice is amazing. His music always has some kind of epicness to it. For me, this song is the best pop-house track. Radio stuff. Love his music!
In the category “next level producing” the winner is:
Style Of Eye - We Are Boys
Style of Eye is one of those rare producers who doesn’t give a rat’s ass about styles. He just turns all his ideas into music, and it works. I met him a couple of times, and I can say he has turned into a good friend. With this track he made it very obvious he’s one of the groundbreaking producers of 2011. When listening to this song, it’s like watching a movie. Really cool stuf. You can’t deny! The melody is epic and the arrangement works perfectly. Great stuff! Big up Linus!
In the category “best vocal track” the winner is:
David Guetta ft. Usher – Without You
Le David Guetta. CROISSANT! Yes everybody knows this song and it’s clear why. It’s the ultimate crossover track he has made. It reminds me a bit of the Axwell sound a couple of years ago. Feelgood melody and vocals. Awesome work! And yes, it’s commercial as hell, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad, right?
In the category “a track everyone plays, but I play it as well because it’s that good” the winner is:
R3hab & Swanky Tunes – Sending My Love
Dutch R3hab and the Russian Swanky Tunes teamed up to make this incredible song. The vocals are done by Max C. Everything about this song is cool. Especially the melody combined with the vocals. It has a bit of a dark edge to it, and I love it. The buildups and drops are simply WOW. Dirty saw basslines and ravy synths. This track delivers every time I play it out. Chainsaw Madness!
In the category “best breakdown” the winner is:
John Dahlback ft. Erik Hassle – One Last Ride (Tommy Trash Remix)
When hearing this for the first time, I got goosebumps all over my spine. It isn’t really clear what the actual meaning of the lyrics are, but I interpet them as if he’s saying goodbye to someone who is going to die. Let’s just say it feels like that! Tommy Trash made this remix with a dose of pure emotion. Way better than the original, really loving this!
In the category “best indie track” the winner is:
Justice – Audio Video Disco
This song proves that Justice are one of the most original indie producers out there. This is not just a dance track. This is more. If you listen to the chords you’ll discover that these French sons of bitches rule the electro big time. They are known for their original vocals which they also showcase in this track.. It has an 80s feel to it. Though I could never play this version out in my sets, because it’s got a too high BPM rate, I have it on high rotation in my studio. Truly inspiring.
In the category “best track of 2011” the winner is:
Dirty South & The Usual Suspects – Walking Alone
I was really surprised that Dirty South ended 93rd in the DJMAG100. He dropped 18 spots this year. Unbelievable. I think it’s due to the fact he didnt really pay much attention to the votings. He was making music, good music. Dirty South is a long time favorite for me. Since he started out I’ve always loved his work. Last year, he released ‘Alive’, and his famous ‘Coming Home Remix’. Great anthem-like music. But when he released ‘Walking alone’ it was like the clouds ripped open and the sun shined on the coldest of days. Double rainbows, hell, even tripple rainbows! The lyrics are really contagious. Quite easy as a matter of fact. But that’s the pure quality of this song. The melody is a real strange one, it has no beginning and no end, but the chords tell a story. Im not going to add much more , just listen to it. And enjoy the, according to my taste, best song of 2011.
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