Steph's 2012 Top Song Picks

Nashville Cast "I Will Fall"
If you haven't seen the show "Nashville" then you are missing some awesome music and great acting by Connie Britton in particular (she was the wife on "Friday Night Lights"). The Tim Tebow thinly-veiled plot line is weak, but you can't deny this show is good. This song is by far my favorite from the season, but I also really like "For Your Glory".

Taylor Swift "22"
Don't hate, it is the best Girls' Night Anthem (and wasn't 22 a good year for all of us?). To be totally transparent, I like her whole album and I dare say you would too...

Florida Georgia Line "Cruise"
Classic country. If you grew up in the south and like country, you can't deny that this makes you want to get in an old pick up truck, stick your hand out the window and make that up and down ripple motion with your hand. (For the record, Andrew hates this song. I think his inner grammar police goes wild).

Mumford and Sons "Lover of the Light"
The whole album "Babel" is an A+. This is my favorite song of the year, and when they go crazy on the bridge it makes your soul want to soar. The lyrics are deep, music is incredible; what more do you want?

Jason Mraz "I Won't Give Up"
This is a grown-up love song, and you'd need to be married at least a few years to understand it's depth. "We didn't break, we didn't burn, we had to learn how to bend without the world caving in."

AWOLNATION "Sail"
Turn up the bass on this one. If this doesn't make you want to exercise then you are a serious cream puff. It makes me want to do some kind of kick butt action sequence in an movie... Also this is a fun cat video using the first part of this song. (That was Andrew's contribution, and for the record he does like this song and introduced me to it.)

The Lumineers "Stubborn Love"
The Lumineers have gotten lots of attention this year for their hit "Hey Ho", and they deserve all of it.  This song is rich in lyrics, and the melody is contagious. We've already heard it on TV or a movie trailer. "It is better to feel pain than nothing at all, the opposite of love is indifference." Well said, well said....

Brandi Carlile "Hard Way Home"
Brandi is in my top 3 favorite singer/songwriters of all time. I got to see her live at the Brooklyn Arts Center this summer in Wilmington, and it was AMAZING. When she sang "The Story" I about died. If this song doesn't make you want to clap your hands and sing along, not sure what would. Her voice is incredibly distinctive, and in my mind exactly what a singer/songwriter should sound like: raspy, powerful, rich and layered. She is everything live you would expect...the girl can sing.

Alex Clare "Too Close"
Wait till 1:14 and tell me you don't dig this. It sounds so freakin' cool. The beat and sound are mesmerizing. If you are a runner this might be a good addition to your playlist.

Imagine Dragons "It's Time" 
It will hook you within the first 5 seconds. "I don't ever want to let you down, I don't ever want to leave this town" has become a bit of an anthem for us this year. Who would ever want to leave Wilmington, NC?