Cat analyses the top hits of each year dating back to 1999, reviewing the hits and delves into their anatomy to explain how they are structured and why they are today's hits (and may continue to be hits well into the future).
Versace On The Floor” is an impeccably written, artfully sung neo-R&B-pop sexy romantic ballad laden with sophisticated sensual imagery and memorable uplifting music.
Read Why the song Versace On The Floor is a hit →
“Hello” is a well-crafted and produced emotional recording that shows Adele is back stronger in voice and more expressive than ever.
Read Why the song Hello is a hit →
John Legend’s most positive love song to date, one that evokes the beauty, sensuousness, and passion of romantic love.
Read Why the song All Of Me is a hit →
Magic—Rude
“Rude” is an excellent reggae-pop recording by a uniquely gifted underground Canadian group with its contemporary sound and lyrics
Read Why the song Rude is a hit →
Lovato’s high-voltage electro-pop hit is a state of the art intense and emotional expression of a young woman struggling not to fall in love.
Read Why the song Heart Attack is a hit →
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert—Same Love
“Same Love” is a soulful sung-rap recording that makes a strong civil rights case for same sex couples and marriage equality.
Read Why the song Same Love is a hit →
A quirky, idealistic folk-rock song paying tribute to a relationship in a style reminiscent of traditional folk music updated for a contemporary audience.
Read Why the song I Will Wait is a hit →
Adele’s powerful emotionally sorrowful song delivers her straight from the gut soulful style and performance while it crosses many pop genres.
Read Why the song Someone Like You is a hit →
2010
Katy Perry/Snoop Dogg—California Gurls
2010’s hot dance groove hit ala Prince with an updated ode to California Dreaming, Surf City, and Hot Fun In The Summertime all rolled into one.
Read Why the song California Gurls is a hit →
Lady Gaga delivers a hot fun campy trip that grabs and keeps the dancer and dance music listener from start to finish.
Read Why the song Just Dance is a hit →
A release from the late Michael Jackson archives shows how his writing and singing are still relevant some twenty-five years after this was originally recorded.
Read Why the song This Is It is a hit →
Taylor Swift’s song of young romantic desire twists the tragedy of the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet with a fairytale ending.
Read Why the song Love Story is a hit →
Alicia Keys blockbuster hit that many young (and not so young) couples may make their own special love song.
Read Why the song No One is a hit →
Amy Winehouse—Rehab
Britain’s bad girl takes us on a retro journey to a detox center with lots of attitude in this modern lounge lizard classic.
Read Why the song Rehab is a hit →
Ne-Yo shows that not only can he write hits for others, he can do the same for himself with this romantic lament.
Read Why the song So Sick is a hit →
Brad Paisley—The World
In this uptempo country-rocker Brad Paisley values the woman in his life even if the rest of the world doesn’t see how special sh
Read Why the song The World is a hit →
Kelly Clarkson sings young adult angst the way it needs to be expressed, honestly and with just enough edgy attitude that we really feel the chip on her shoulder, all her hurt and disappointment.
Read Why the song Since U Been Gone is a hit →
Usher confesses truly from the heart and soul about the conflict of his emotions in one of his tortured love relationships.
Read Why the song Burn is a hit →
Evanescence—My Immortal
Evanescence's moody teen angst recording hits the pop charts with its dark expressive classical rock music and somber theatrical lyrics.
Read Why the song My Immortal is a hit →
Gretchen Wilson—Redneck Woman
Gretchen Wilson launched her career with this anthem-like hit for all rebellious country woman who refuse to be the southern belle stereotype, yee-haw!
Read Why the song Redneck Woman is a hit →
2003
Beyonce—Crazy in Love
Beyonce excites dance audiences with her playfully seductive and compelling case for being out of control over her current love interest.
Read Why the song Crazy in Love is a hit →
Toby Keith—I Love This Bar
Toby Keith records a joyful rowdy ode to barroom customers everywhere complete with crowd noises and a colorful cast of characters.
Read Why the song I Love This Bar is a hit →
Avril Lavigne turned this well written song into a breakthrough hit that crossed a touch of youthful punky attitude with middle of the pop.
Read Why the song Complicated is a hit →
Sisqo seemed to be just a hot flash in the pan with his "Thong Song", but this ballad of romantic regret shows he can really sing.
Read Why the song Incomplete is a hit →
Destiny's Child—Say My Name
Destiny Child's cleverly conceived, written and produced dance hit blazes its way to the charts carving out new territory in pop and dance recordings.
Read Why the song Say My Name is a hit →
Santana (featuring Rob Thomas)—Smooth
This hot flavored sensual dance record was an international hit that expanded Santana's popularity to a new generation of fans.
Read Why the song Smooth is a hit →
1999
Ricky Martin—Living La Vida Loca
Ricky Martin's blockbuster dance hit successfully crossed over salsa and 60s rock to launch the first wave of the "Latin Invasion" of pop at the end of the 90s.
Read Why the song Living La Vida Loca is a hit →
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