Maroon 5, PSY, FUN, and Ke$ha top the Billboard 500 charts with their recent hits.
Number one on the “Hot 100” chart is Maroon 5 with their June 12 release, “One More Night.” The song consists of an upbeat guitar chord over the classic kick and snare line. Cleverly alluding to popular phrases, vocalist Adam Levine carries the weight of the simple instrumental with his extensive and energetic vocal range.
“The energy is what I like so much about it,” senior Harper Fagerquist said, “Adam Levine’s voice is very unique.”
Second on the chart is PSY with his sudden hit, “Gangnam Style”. The bilingual lyrics mask the dramatic instrumental produced by the solo artist. Extended pauses, dramatic synthesizer and keyboard lines, all reverting back to the phrase “Gangnam Style,” made this July release an instant classic.
“PSY is very entertaining to watch and to listen to,” junior Gabriel Quinn said.
Next is FUN with their track, “Some Nights.” Instantly recognizable by its many vocal layers, the song takes on a larger-than-life feel with the applied vocal technique (similar to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”). The song is laid by a seemingly tribal drum beat, with varying instrument tracks over it, including keyboards, pianos, and even distorted guitar.
“The song reminds me of The Lion King,” senior Cameron Le said, “making it very nostalgic.”
Fourth on the chart is Ke$ha with her September release, “Die Young.” Using the contrast of delicate acoustics when transitioned into bombarding electronic music, Ke$ha’s producers create a dramatically changing environment for maximum club crowd response. Reflecting the wild instrumental is Ke$ha with her usual sharp and wild attitude.
“Her music is just so deep and meaningful,” senior Nick Hastings said, “I really get the message she’s trying to convey.”
Some honorable mentions on the chart (places 5th, 6th, & 7th) consist of Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Bruno Mars.
For more information pertaining to the top 100, please visit: http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/charts/hot-100
