2007 – Perhaps one of the worst years in music history. When it pertains to singles that topped the "Billboard Hot 100"charts, most songs were the mecca of garbage and why I began hating top 40 music at a young age. From the controversial middle school dances to dreading listening to these songs playing on radio, I might was well review and grade each number one song from 2007.
Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” (Jan. 6-Feb. 17) – 8/10
In 2007, 18 singles reached the top spot in the Hot 100. Although Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” being a number one song for the final three weeks of 2006, I will count it in my gradebook. The song as a whole, is defined under one line “to the left, to the left.” However, the song is pretty tolerable to listen if you’re bored and has some meaning in her lyrics.
Nelly Furtado’s “Say It Right” (February 24) – 8.5/10
Before Taylor Swift and dare I say Miley Cyrus, Nelly Furtado ruled the world in women’s pop music. There’s something about this song I enjoy, perhaps Timbaland’s craft has some influence of why this song is awesome eight years later. The lyrics has some a deep meaning about what’s best for her and simply adds a unique element to this short lived number one single.
Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around…Comes Around” (March 3) – 8.5/10
Timberlake’s success of FutureSex/LoveSounds got stronger with this hit.The song is captivating and as the title suggests, consequences comes at a higher price. To some people, similar to “Cry Me a River” from Timberlake’s 2002 album Justified. Again, Timbaland was killing it with his production work. He was one of the top dogs in music production in the 2000's.
Mims’ “This Is Why I’m Hot” (March 10-17) – 6.5/10
The ringtone era is one of the reasons why I hated music from 2007. However, if I had to choose one that isn’t horrible, this ringtone rap "classic" would be one of my options. Probably one of the hottest songs in school at the time and also a reason why music is about choruses these days. Don’t get me started with Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball” or Drake’s “Hotline Bling” but listen to the rest of Mims’s only hit and think about whether or not this song is good besides the beat.
Fergie feat. Ludacris’ “Glamorous” (March 24-31) – 7.5/10
Fame comes with benefits, but remembering their roots is sometimes ignored. Sums up the song as a whole. Nothing special other than being pleasured when I heard it on "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team 2." Sex sells? Probably with this song but not a stand-out.
Akon’s “Don’t Matter” (April 7-14) – 5.5/10
The start of the song made me cringe because I haven’t heard this song in quite some time and let me tell you, the song is alright. The lyrics isn’t bad, but the beat isn’t all fantastic and loses points with me. The fact the bridge is loosely based from R. Kelly’s “Ignition (Remix)” ends this conversation.
Timbaland’s “Give It to Me” (April 21-28) – 8/10
“Is it going” to get a good grade? Yes! Accompanied with Nelly Furtado’s wise words and Justin Timberlake being JT, pretty good dance record that demands respect. It’s sad to think how Timbaland was awesome and then Shock Value II came out two years later. Rocky what do you think about the sequel? Does it stink?
Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” (May 5) – 7.5/10
Why does is it sound so similar to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off?” Beats me but yes a punk rock record topped the chart. Way past the days Creed and Nickelback topped the charts in 2001 (I’m not lying, look it up!), Lavigne comes out with this bratty record. So yes, rock music was still kicking butt on the charts. But that depends what you describe rock music.
Maroon 5’s “Makes Me Wonder” (May 12-19, June 2) – 8/10
Continuing the “rock” style of music, we have this quote on quote throwback. What do I think of the song? It sort of reminded me of how it sounded like All American Rejects’ “Move Along” when it comes to the chorus. Overall, the song isn't annoying as I once thought. Pretty much a love/hate song that I would recommend listening to if you liked Maroon 5 back then.
T-Pain feat. Yung Joc’s “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’) (May 26) – 2/10
This song is trash and the fact this topped the chart for a week doesn’t surprise me. That’s 2007 for you! Auto tune has no purpose in music when it’s abused, this song is a prime example of why top 40 isn’t the same.
Rihanna feat. Jay-Z’s “Umbrella” (June 9-July 21) – 7/10
Some people preferred the pre-Chris Brown Rihanna. But without Jay-Z’s intro, the song loses its luster. A typical money, cars and clothes record accompanied with an etched chorus (under my umbrella-ella, ella) made me hated the song at the time. But a relatively dirty meaning with a good beat makes me get over the hatred I had for this record.
Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah” (July 28-Aug. 4) – 9/10
This song is pure nostalgia but a corny tale you'll hear in a love letter. Not a bad record to play in an acoustic and serenade to a bunch of high school girls at a summer camp near you. As one YouTube comment suggests, “the internet relationship song.” Pretty much so but I prefer writing letters on a piece of paper. However, this basically ends the better part of 2007 and like L7 said, most of the next singles make my (explicit) list!
Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” (August 11-September 1) – 1/10
If there’s one thing I can’t stand about today’s music, its artists ruining classic songs. How dare Kingston ruined the late Ben E. King’s 1961 golden hit “Stand by Me” that only made it to No. 4 on the charts. The storytelling of the song is fine, but the chorus and poor sampling gets an automatic fail.
Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (September 8) – 6.5/10
Like “Glamorous,” this song is not bad but not necessarily a song I would put in my 2000's playlist. It’s calm and a reminder how this song buries “Beautiful Girls” and showcases there wasn’t any strings attached on Fergie at the time. So two acoustic songs topped the charts, you don’t see it often in this generation of music.
Soulja Boy’s “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” (Sept. 15-22, Oct. 6-Nov. 3) – 0/10
The reason why I was inspired to grade and review every song that topped the charts in 2007, is this god forbidden “record.” It doesn’t even deserve to be called a record. The dance, the chorus, the disgrace and repulsive single made me hate top 40 music for years. I’m sorry, you would never see me dance to this record or crank up my volume to this “record.” How dare people thinking this was a hot hit and how dare this song become number one twice. This is why music as we know it nearly died in 2007.
Arnold please put me out of people's misery:
Kanye West’s “Stronger” (September 29) – 7.5/10
Nicolas Cage take it away:
Hallelujah! This song saved 2007…for only a week. The song itself, pretty good with a memorable electronic beat and a reminder of what Kanye once was as an artist to many people. Now promoting a show about horse racing on the other hand? You be the judge.
Chris Brown feat. T-Pain’s “Kiss Kiss” (Nov. 10-24) – 0/10
After “Stronger” lasted a week at number one, “Crank That” was number one for the next five weeks. Then yet another grotesque song topped the charts for three weeks. Not a fan of Brown and another song T-Pain was involved in a number one song makes it worse. It’s just unbearable and epitomizes everything bad about top 40 music.
Alicia Keys’ “No One” (Dec. 1-29) – 7/10
For 10 out of the past 11 weeks, “No One” could stop the demonizing songs from Soulja Boy and Chris Brown. From out of nowhere came Alicia Keys to end 2007 with a compelling single. Not the greatest song to end the year, but the way 2007 ended up, I’m glad people saw something in Keys’s record. It was pleasing to hear the song then and still remains the same in 2015.
Final Grade – 6/10
With great production, powerful and quality music to start 2007, it looked very promising. But with ringtone rap, mediocre lyrics, and horrible beats, it ruined everything. Top 40 music would never be the same again and I blame the year 2007. Looks can be deceiving like the final rating (based on averaging each number-one song) but it was a year of ridicule and only got worse.
You want quality music, branch out and explore the songs of back in the day like Talking Head’s “Once in a Lifetime” or artists that aren’t top 40 artists like The xx or Colter Wall.
