Best Songs of the (Half) Year

The first half of 2011 ends today. This year has been totally different from previous years. Everything changed on March 11 when the earthquake and tsunami hit the northeastern Japan.

I was one of hundreds of thousands of commuters walking home that night. My relatives and friends were hit hard by the natural disaster. For weeks I could do nothing. Nothing but following the news coverage on the disasters for a month. Then, my job turned super busy. Overwhelmed by the tsunami of projects, and followed by the very last semester which started the late April.

My taste has also changed. New generations of Korean hip-hop became my latest favorite music. My iPod only repeated songs of BigBang and 2NE1 again and again.

So, I supposed there were only a few songs I could name for this year's best. But, was wrong. Here's my top 10 list of the 1st half of the year. Do I miss something?

1. "Rocketeer" (Far East Movement ft. Ryan Tedder)
This song still comes on to the top of my track list. A-maz-ing.

2. "Never Forget You" (Lupe Fiasco ft. John Legend)
What an irony. One of last year's top 10 songs is "Forget You" (Cee-Lo Green). And now comes with the other way around. Lupe's 3rd album is, however, one of the best in 2011. My fav songs also include "The Show Goes On", "Till I Get There" and "Coming Up", but every single song in the album is a masterpiece. I mean it.

3. "Fly" (Nicki Minaj ft. Rihanna)
Nicki's 1st debut album "Pink Friday" is another best. Sometimes I feel the songs are too young for me, but she is a very talented female rapper. "I'm the Best", "Right Thru Me", "Moment 4 Life", "Dear Old Nicki" and "Last Chance" are all so good.

4. "See Me Now" (Kanye West ft. Beyonce & Charlie Wilson)
Kanye never disappoints me. Ever. By the way, "Lost in the World", a song in the latest album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy", is originally written by a Wisconsin-native. What a pleasant surprise!!

5. "Pretty Girl Rock" (Keri Hilson)
I have no problem with pretty girl rock at all. I like this PV which reminds me of female singers in the old times.

6. "Born This Way" (Lady Gaga)
Lady Gaga isn't my favorite musician. Neither is making her song on this list a courtesy to her for doing charity to the tsunami-hit region in Japan. Just this song keeps playing in my head...

7. "No Sleep" (Wiz Khalifa)
I really need a sleep though...

8. "Marry You" (Bruno Mars)
Reportedly many people decided to get married after a life-threatening experience.

9. "Friends & Family" (Talib Kweli)
"Nothing else matters more than friends and family." Indeed.

10. "Hot-n-Fun" (N*E*R*D ft. Nelly Furtado)
Given the shortage of power generation capacity, Tokyo is gonna be literally super HOT this summer. It is already. But, I haven't found a way to enjoy it yet. Any suggestion?