Pazz & Jop: Top 42 Singles

Artist—TitleBallots

Courtesy carlyraemusic.com

#1 single: Carly Rae Jepsen

Details

See the full 2012 Pazz and Jop Critics Poll.

ESSAYS:

Miguel Is Living The Dream
Sex takes center stage on his sophomore album
By Brian McManus

Frank Ocean's Sea Change
His musical and personal honesty made waves in 2012
By Eric Sundermann

A Trip Through Fiona Apple's Wheelhouse
The singer-songwriter wrestles with the idea of mind as machine
By Audra Schroeder

Kendrick Lamar, Finally Compton's Most Wanted
It took quite some time for the rapper to become an overnight success
By Jeff Weiss

The Confounding, Inexplicable Splendor of Rapper Future
Space is the place
By Rob Harvilla

Pazz & Jop: Taylor Swift, Grimes, and Lana Del Rey: The Year in Blond Ambition
How dare they have an image
By Jessica Hopper

You Don't Know Jack (White)
After a dozen years in the public eye, the man proves he can still surprise us
By Alan Light

Riff Raff Is Keeping It Surreal
He's believable as a hip-hop star because nothing he says is true
By Ben Westhoff

Travel Tips From Touring Bands
By Kiernan Maletsky

A Note on Crap
True art lives where no one is paying attention. Or probably not.
By David Thorpe

COMMENTS:

Top 40 Albums
The year's big albums, from Frank Ocean on down

Top 42 Singles
"Call Me Maybe" kicks off the top of the pops

Pazz & Jop Comments
The who, the what, the where, and the why, why, why

The Top 25 Album Covers
A lovingly hand-assembled gallery

Tabulation Notes
Weak consensus versus inspiring diversity
By Glenn McDonald

Related Content

• Pazz & Jop: The Comments
  January 16, 2013
• The Best Tweets and Photos From Last Night's Grammy Awards
  February 11, 2013
• The Food Lineup at Governors Ball 2013
  January 25, 2013
• Defend Your Ballot: Eric Sundermann, Pazz and Jop 2012 Contributor
  January 29, 2013
• The Worst of Coachella, Weekend One
  April 15, 2013

More About

• Kendrick Lamar
• Frank Ocean
• 2 Chainz
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media
• Celebrity News

1. Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe" 94

2. Miguel "Adorn" 54

3. Usher "Climax" 53

4. Frank Ocean "Thinkin' 'Bout You" 47

4. Japandroids "The House That Heaven Built" 47

6. Taylor Swift "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" 42

7. Solange "Losing You" 40

8. Gotye (ft. Kimbra) "Somebody That I Used to Know" 39

9. Kanye West (ft. Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz) "Mercy" 38

10. Frank Ocean "Pyramids" 34

11. Alabama Shakes "Hold On" 30

12. Psy "Gangnam Style" 26

13. Grimes "Oblivion" 25

14. Fun. (ft. Janelle Monáe) "We Are Young" 23

15. Icona Pop (ft. Charli XCX) "I Love It" 21

15. Sky Ferreira "Everything Is Embarrassing" 21

17. Fun. "Some Nights" 20

17. M.I.A. "Bad Girls" 20

19. Bruce Springsteen "We Take Care of Our Own" 19

20. Kendrick Lamar "Swimming Pools (Drank)" 17

21. Frank Ocean "Bad Religion" 16

21. Ke$ha "Die Young" 16

23. Bruno Mars "Locked Out of Heaven" 15

23. Grimes "Genesis" 15

23. Tame Impala "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" 15

23. Todd Terje "Inspector Norse" 15

27. Chairlift "I Belong in Your Arms" 14

27. Juicy J (ft. Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz) "Bandz a Make Her Dance" 14

27. Kacey Musgraves "Merry Go 'Round" 14

27. Nicki Minaj (ft. 2 Chainz) "Beez in the Trap" 4

27. Santigold "Disparate Youth" 4

32. Bat for Lashes "Laura" 13

32. Father John Misty "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" 13

34. First Aid Kit "Emmylou" 12

34. Kendrick Lamar "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" 12

34. Killer Mike "Reagan" 12

34. Passion Pit "Take a Walk" 12

38. Bob Dylan "Duquesne Whistle" 11

38. Future "Turn on the Lights" 11

38. Jack White "Sixteen Saltines" 11

38. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis "Thrift Shop" 11

42. Beach House "Myth" 10

42. Chief Keef "Love Sosa" 10

42. Kanye West (ft. Jay-Z and Big Sean) "Clique" 10

42. Kendrick Lamar (ft. Gunplay) "Cartoon & Cereal" 10