The Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 2012

 

Hey everyone, Drake, known online as Urtar Reviews here and it's December now! For most pop critics this is list season, when they drop their Top 10 lists for the current year. However, because I use the January-December Year End lists, I cannot actually do list season until January. So I am going to do a top 10 list for another year, 2012. Today we are going to be looking at what I consider to be the top 10 worst hit songs of 2012. So how was 2012 for pop music? Fantastic. It is widely agreed to be one of the best years of the 2010s for pop music and I would agree. However it wasn't all great.  The thing with 2012 is that while the best of the year is damn exceptional classics, the worst of the year is absolutely abysmal! 2012 was the year of the start of the indie boom which would also continue into 2013 as well. A lot of artists who we had never heard of before 2012 had absolutely massive hits this year. Which was mostly a good thing as it brought some fantastic music to the charts, although there were exceptions. But that didn't mean  other genres didn't have success too. Pop, hip-hop, country, and more also had big hits. 2012 had a lot of variety and I consider that to be a good thing. Anyway, before we start, some rules and disclaimers.

Songs are eligible for this list if they either made the Jan-Dec Year End Hot 100 for 2012 or the Billboard Year End Hot 100 for 2012 and didn't make either list in 2011. This means that the following songs on the 2012 Jan-Dec and Billboard Year End lists are ineligible for both this list and my best list and will instead be eligible for my 2011 lists: 

Without You by David Guetta and Usher

Someone Like You by Adele

The One That Got Away by Katy Perry

Ni**as In Paris - Jay-Z, Kanye West

Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 and Christina Augilera

It Will Rain by Bruno Mars

Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO, Lauren Bennett, and GoonRock

Good Feeling by Flo Rida

Sexy And I Know It by LMFAO

We Found Love by Rihanna and Calvin Harris

5 o'Clock by T-Pain, Lily Allen and Wiz Khalifa

Rolling In The Deep by Adele

Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes and Adam Levine

Now a disclaimer. This is all just my opinion and if you like a song I put here that is totally fine because music is 100 percent subjective, and I will respect your opinion if you do mine. 

With that out of the way, let's get into what I consider to be the Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 2012! 

10. Girl In Fire (remix) - Alicia Keys, Nicki Minaj

I like Alicia Keys usually, most of her hits  I've heard range from good to great and her solo part 2 of Empire State Of Mind is one of the best songs I've ever heard. That said, this song is a total dud and easily the worst song I've heard from her. First the production is absolutely terrible, incredibly stiff and grooveless. Alicia sounds awful, espicially during the chorus and the ultra repetitive oh oh ohs  and then we have Nicki delivering a guest verse and sounding terrible. I'm no Nicki Minaj fan but her output I've heard from 2010-2012 is pretty damn good for the most part with great hits like Starships and Super Bass as well as great guest appearances on songs like Bottoms Up, Turn Me On and more. But on this song her verses are god awful! She sounds awful and like she doesn't give a shit about being here, and the lyrics show this too. The lyrics in her verses don't fit in with the rest of the song. Like the rest of the song is about some girl overcoming her challenges and then Nicki comes in rapping about the ghost of Marilyn Monroe (I assume), God, deer, and a horse ranch, just whatever shit she could put in to fill in her bars because she didn't want to be here she just did it for the paycheck. But even without Nicki this song would still be pretty bad because the rest of the lyrics don't work either. It's the story of some girl overcoming her struggles, but it is told in such a generic passionless way that it makes me believe that this song was made not because it was something Alicia wanted to make but something she did as a cash grab because empowerment anthems were big in 2012 (this was the same year as What Doesn't Kill You [Stronger] after all]. And considering what Alicia Keys is capable of, the fact that her biggest hit of the 2010s is a song like this disappoints me. You're better than this Alicia Keys! You too Nicki! 

9. Justin Bieber

Ah yes 2012 was the year where Justin Bieber released his second album Believe after becoming the laughingstock of the internet in 2010 with songs from his first album like Baby. Now I actually don't mind Baby, and in fact, the songs I've heard from Believe are far worse than it. 

9a. Boyfriend - Justin Bieber

Ah yes the lead single from Believe, where Justin Bieber tries to get his Justin Timberlake on and make the next Sexyback and fails. Say what you will about Sexyback, but Timberlake had the charisma and great production to make it work. Bieber sounds terrible and the production is abysmal.  

9b. As Long As You Love Me - Justin Bieber, Big Sean

This is a more dubstep leaning track although it still has some Justin Timberlake influences. Anyway, it sucks. Bieber can't sell the lyrics and the dubstep production is even worse than the production on Boyfriend. It is incredibly stiff and has no groove. Also the hook is incredibly annoying and repetitive. Big Sean comes in with an okay verse to give us a break from Bieber but he doesn't save this. 

Overall, Justin Bieber's 2012 hits removed the charm and charisma from Justin that he had in 2009 and 2010. Sure his voice in 2009-10 was not great but it had a certain charm to it that I didn't mind. These two songs and his late album single from Believe that wasn't a hit till 2013, Beauty And A Beat which is also awful for the record, removed that charisma, his biggest positive before this. 

8. Wanted - Hunter Hayes

I have no idea why this doesn't get more hate. I mean yes I'll admit, the production snd instrumental is actually pretty decent which is the only reason this isn't higher. However, I hate Hunter Haye's voice, just the way he sings annoys me so much. Now on to the lyrics. Is it just me or do these come across as kinda creepy? Lines like "you know I'd fall apart without you" "everything that don't make sense about me makes sense when I'm with you" "Anyone can tell you're pretty. You get that all the time. I know you do". Do I need to explain why these lines are creepy? But of course none of those are the worst line in Wanted. Nope that's "put aside the math and logic of it". What! Now I'm not saying that Hunter Hayes is a pedophile although he could be, but the fact that there's a line that could possibly imply pedophilia in a song that's supposed to be a cute love song means that either it was intentional or someone made an editing error and let a line like this through. Either way this song is awful and the only reason it isn't higher is that it has a decent instrumental. 

7. Chris Brown 

in 2012 Chris Brown released Fortune, an album that I have not listened to, but have heard is one of his worst. And I've heard from people who put both of the hits from it on their worst lists that there's far worse on the album, and if that's true well I am definitely gonna agree with the consensus on this album because both of these songs are awful. 

7a. Don't Wake Me Up - Chris Brown

This song is like a musical rollercoaster if you ask me. Now some of you are probably saying "cool that sounds like a good thing why are you saying that about a song you're putting on a worst list". Well, while I enjoyed rollercoasters as a kid, for the past few years I have had a big fear of most carnival rides, including rollercoasters. While, the climbing up the high track is enjoyable and the other parts of it are as well, the downhill part of the tall track is a very scary experience for me these days and I hate it. Dont Wake Me Up is like this because it actually has a decent buildup and some good production until the chorus, but the chorus completely kills the buildup and is just flat out audio torture! The production during the chorus is abysmal, and Chris's vocals have some of the worst autotune I've ever heard it's painful to listen to. So yeah the verses and prechorus may be decent but it has one of the worst choruses of the year that completely ruins the buildup. 

7b. Turn Up The Music - Chris Brown

This one is just a really bad club song with awful mixing and bad vocals. Not much more to say except Turn Up The Music more like Turn Off The Music. And Don't Stop The Music by Rihanna outsold. 

6. Ho Hey - The Lumineers

You know You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift? One of the signature hits of her country era? How that song had details of her relationship to actually paint a picture of why this guy belonged to her. And she was young when she wrote it so she could actually sell it and not have it come across as obnoxious, but as normal for a young woman. Well, what if you removed all the things that make it work from it? You would get Ho Hey by The Lumineers. This song has hardly any details about either their relationship or why he wants her back and thinks they belong together.

And the singer of The Lumineers was in his 30s when he wrote this so the 2nd positive about You Belong With Me I mentioned doesn't apply either making this kinda obnoxious and annoying. And you add in the awful instrumentation and annoying vocals and you have an abysmal song that somehow managed to make the decade end list.  

5. Fly Over States - Jason Aldean

I don't think I've said this before on this blog, but I fucking hate Jason Aldean. At his best his songs are just forgettable and at his worst he has made some of the worst country music I have ever heard. And this falls into the worse category because oh my god I can't stand this! The production has aged like shit, is incredibly watery and has no groove, the solo is terrible, and Jason Aldean's voice sounds as awful as always to me. But the lyrics are the worst part. It's basically just Jason Aldean shitting on city folk because they supposedly haven't experienced struggles like country folk do. Which is bullshit and comes across as incredibly ignorant. Like sure, city life may not be as physical work oriented as country life but there's still many challenges that city folk face. Like I understand what he was trying to do, bring attention to the problems that country folk face, and that is a noble attempt but he should have made a song like that that focused on highlighting their struggles rather than shitting on city folk. 

4. Birthday Cake (remix) - Rihanna, Chris Brown

Oh I bet a lot of you are surprised this isn't higher. This is not only the most widely despised hit of 2012 in this community but you could argue its the most widely hated hit of the entire 2010s in this community. We all know why this song sucks so if you're new to this community watch basically anyone else in this community's 2012 worst list for an explanation because I don't want to talk about this song and give it more attention. 

Now why isn't this higher. Well, as awful as it is, it was never a massive hit in the way the songs above it on this list were and most people don't even remember it these days outside of chart nerds and fans of these artists. And I don't think I ever heard Birthday Cake until I listened to the 2012 Year End the first time. I had heard the songs above it many many times before listening to the Year End, and they continue to follow me around refusing to die. I only have to hear Birthday Cake when I seek it out. The Same cannot be said about the top 3. 

3. Drive By - Train

I cannot tell you how many times I've heard this fucking song over the last 9 years. My parents are, as I've said before, Train fans. I heard this song over and over around the house as a kid so fucking much. Not to mention in grocery stores and other public places and on the radio. And I still hear it all the time from on the radio to my parents playing it around the house. And despise it so much. The production and instrumental is definitely the best part but it's still mediocre. Pat Monahan's vocals are god awful and this song has one of the most annoying choruses I've ever heard. But the worst part of this song is easily the lyrics, just like with Hey Soul Sister. In fact I would argue the lyrics on this song are even worse than on Hey Soul Sister. This song is about him meeting a girl that looks just like his ex who moved away to get away from him, because he was being an asshole., However, that girl turns out to be her and he tries to convince her to get back with him by COMPARING THEIR LOVE TO A DRIVE BY SHOOTING! But there's more terrible lines like "hefty bag for my love", "When you move me everything is groovy" "they don't like it sue me" " and more. This song comes across like an asshole who got dumped pretending that he's better now and always loved her just to get her to come back and then he will undoubtedly continue being an asshole. The fact that there's lots of people who find this song cute absolutely stuns me! Also if you want a good Train song from 2012 just listen to Bruises, which is actually really good. Anyway, Drive By is god awful and I never want to hear it again in my life! 

2. We Are Young - Fun., Janelle Monae

Ugh this song. Now before you ask, I like Fun. While I haven't listened to any of their songs outside of their three YE hits, both of their other hits are very good. Some Nights is an anthemic rock masterpiece that has a shot at my best list and Carry On is one of the best hits of the entire 2010s! That said, they also made one of my least favorite hits of the decade in We Are Young, which was unfortunately their biggest hit. Now a lot of people in this community like this song, and I unfortunately was right there with them. I used to like how it sounded and hadn't payed attention to the lyrics. However now I really don't like how it sounds. The production is god awful and has aged like shit, the instrumental is very weak espicially compared to their other hits, and the vocals are very annoying and weak. Also this song completely wastes Janelle Monae who I've admittedly not heard much from, but from what I've heard is much much better than this. However the thing that got this song to #2 on this list is the lyrics. This is a song where a guy meets a girl who he gave a scar to, apologizes to her but she sees right through his pathetic unconvincing apologies, and instead of giving her more convincing ones, he waits until they both get drunk and then gets her to get back with him because she's drunk and not able to think properly! So yeah this is the Take Your Time by Sam Hunt of 2012 except this is even worse because the guy here has clearly already hurt her where in that song Sam Hunt hadn't done anything to her in the past. Absolutely wretched song and I don't get why it doesn't get more hate. Before we find out what beat it, some Dishonorable Mentions!

DM1. Somethin' Bout A Truck - Kip Moore

This is worse than all but one bro country hit of 2013 change my mind. 

DM2. We Run The Night - Havana Brown, Pitbull

This has some good moments but it also has some of the worst synths of the decade so it had to get a mention. 

DM3. Take A Little Ride - Jason Aldean 

Jason Aldean.

DM4. Drank In My Cup - Kirko Bangz

The Say Aah of 2012 except not as bad but still pretty bad. 

DM5. Cruise - Florida Georgia Line 

Remix is great in my opinion but the original version sucks. 

DM6. 50 Ways To Say Goodbye - Train

Why did I like this as a kid?

DM7. Want U Back - Cher Lloyd 

I dont hate this as much as I used to. I mean sure it's obnoxious and annoying but that's what she was trying to do and giving in to it and despising this is giving her what she wants. 

DM8. No Lie - 2 Chainz, Drake

This is a lot worse than I'm Different and always has been change my mind. 

DM9. Rack City - Tyga 

Tyga.

DM10. Blow Me (One Last Kiss) - P!nk

I like P!nk but this is just very bad. There's nothing this song does that isn't done better by her two big hits right before this, Raise Your Glass and Fuckin' Perfect let alone her 2000s hits. 

DM11. Wild Ones - Flo Rida, Sia

I like Flo Rida a lot more than most people in this community but yeah this is pretty bad and one of his worst. Also fuck Sia. 

DM12: Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith 

Just really fucking annoying. 

1.  I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz

Like most people in this community I hate Jason Mraz.  His first hit The Remedy (I Won't Worry) was pretty awful, and I'm Yours was even worse, one of the worst hits of the 2000s. And yet, I Won't Give Up is even worse than both of them. Sure it's better than them on a musical level although still pretty awful sounding, but this song has god awful lyrics! Basically, this song is Jason Mraz gaslighting this girl into coming back to him by first comparing them to stars and then saying later "even the stars they burn, some even fall to the earth" which is basically him telling her that if she leaves him, she's gonna burn! He also says that they both have to work together to keep this relationship but then says later that he has already done his part which is BS! And of course there's the chorus where he says "I won't give up on us" which given the other things he says in this song is creepy and manipulative as shit! But the worst line in the song is this "God knows we're worth it"! Ah yes girl you have to stay with me because that was the way God intended for it to be and you don't want to anger God, do you? That line sets my teeth on fire! This fucking creep is telling this girl that she has to stay with him or else she's disobeying God! This song is incredibly manipulative and disgusting and easily deserving of the title of worst hit of the year! I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz, the Worst Hit Song Of 2012!