My favorite 30 songs of 2014

...and here's the BIG ONE!

Hmm... you don't look excited :-/

While you build up some energy, I'll say this: As the new year approaches and everyone prepares their resolutions that won't last until February, I salivate at the chance to display my favorite songs to the entire universe. Or my mom. Whatever. I love making this list. I love sharing this list. I love reading it more times than I'm willing to admit after it's done. I just love it.

A refresher for those who haven't read this post before... this is a list of my favorite songs of the past year. See that word there? Favorite? That's the key word right thurr (#chingy). My favorite songs are not always the best songs. Shit, I would argue they hardly ever are. But I am an equal opportunity song selector, so along with your usual high-quality jams, you'll get some guilty pleasures that would make even the most confident man blush. I put careful consideration into this list, tracking the songs I frequently play on my iPod and jotting them down throughout the year. Once December dwindles down, I start finalizing the list and prepare it to get presented to the public.

And the time has come to unveil the magic.

An added note, which is sad, actually... When I first started this list, it was a top 50. Then last year I slimmed it down to 40 because I wanted to write more about each entry. Well, that and music sucks now. Guess what happened to music in 2014? It sucked more than the year before. This is a far too familiar trend that has happened for at least the past ten years. So with much disgust, I say that this year, I shrunk the list even more, down to my favorite 30 songs. And I'll be honest, even that was a challenge. I don't care who you are in the industry, whether you're a platinum-selling artist, a CEO at a giant label or a damn intern sending out e-mail blasts to a bunch of local fucktards... I hate you all. Do better, or this sacred list will become a top 5 next year.

Ok no more nonsense... here is my favorite songs of 2014! Enjoy!

30. Echosmith 'Cool Kids'
I love when artists make songs about me & my friends

29. Romeo Santos feat. Drake 'Odio'
The moment you realize a Canadian rapper speaks better Spanish than your Latino ass

28. Taylor Swift 'Welcome To New York'
Welcome to New York? No, welcome to my heart, you beautiful, blonde beast

27. Sheppard 'Geronimo'
Can you feel my love? Bombs away in this bitch!

26. Sia 'Chandelier'
Who knew a song about alcoholism would make me wanna drink a brewski and start interpretive dancing?

25. Drake 'Trophies'
I do listen to rap occasionally

24. Coldplay 'A Sky Full Of Stars'
The only way I'm ever listening to Chris Martin is over a funky dance beat

23. Kid Cudi 'Satellite Flight'
Would've been higher except I saw him in concert and he didn't do an encore. Not cool, Cudi

22. Shakira feat. Carlinhos Brown 'La La La'
21. Aloe Blacc & David Correy 'The World Is Ours'
My world cup-themed treadmill anthems

20. Ed Sheeran 'Sing'
And they say gingers can't get funky

19. Tove Lo 'Habits'
I shazamed this song while in a bar in Feb. Welcome to the party six months later, sleepyheads

18. Taylor Swift 'New Romance'
It might be a new romance but it's a real romance. I love you, Taylor Swift

17. Alicia Keys feat. Kendrick Lamar 'It's On Again'
The best part about 'The Amazing Spider Man 2'

16. E-40 feat. T-Pain, Kid Ink & B.o.B 'Red Cup'
Most of the time I like intelligent rap. The other times I like shit like 'booty big enough to put a red cup on it'

15. Fabolous feat. Ryan Leslie 'Lay Down'
'The Soul Tape 3' was the mixtape of the year. I only heard about 3 but still

14. Tinashe feat. Schoolboy Q '2 On'
Added this just so I could say MUSTARD ON THE BEAT, HOE

13. Paramore 'Ain't It Fun'
The song that finally got me to stop crying to my mama

12. Kendrick Lamar 'I'
A rap song with a positive message? *gasp* THIS is what we need in 2015

11. Hozier 'Take Me To Church'
As someone who has not visited a holy house in quite some time, I can appreciate the title

10. Michael Jackson 'Love Never Felt So Good'
My favorite artist of all-time... Michael Jackson. I feel confident that that answer will remain the same until the day that I die. After MJ died years ago, I thought I was done being delighted by new MJ material. While I still have the classic MJ jams on repeat, this gem is just another to add to my enormous collection. Love never felt so good, and MJ never sounded so great. RIP to the king.

9. B.o.B 'Coastline'
When I'm naming my favorite hip-hop artists, I never mention B.o.B. And maybe he's not one of them. But every year, he always ends up on my favorite songs list. There's an honesty in his music... a truth that is absent in a lot of current rap. 'Maybe I'm blind by human desire or human design.' I mean, WHOA. You're not getting that type of insight in a Young Thug song.

8. Eminem feat. Sia 'Guts Over Fear'
I know Eminem has been a monster on the mic for over 15 years, mainstream-wise. But it took his most recent compilation, and more specifically this song, to make me realize he is easily a top 5 all-time MC. Yes, he's done his share of underdog anthems but that doesn't take away from the awesomeness of this one. Plus it's the perfect hook for Sia's emo ass. Bravo, man.

7. Fitz & The Tantrums 'The Walker'
Saw these guys open for Bruno Mars in 2013 (have I mentioned how delightful that concert was?) and knew they would eventually break out. Well, they did, and in a big way. 'Oh! Here we go! Feel it in my soul!' EFF YEAH. Sometimes it's that simple, folks.

6.  J. Cole 'Love Yourz'
You would be a fool if you didn't consider J. Cole one of rap's biggest talents. For years, he has shown glimpses of why he deserved to be considered in such high regard. However, he was lacking that one album that people could point to as indisputable evidence. Finally, he delivered. Not only was '2014 Forest Hills Drive' easily his best project, but it was also the genre's finest offering of the year. His simple message on this track... to love and appreciate what you have... is simple, yet escapes many of us. The reminder is appreciated.

5. Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne 'Rather Be'
Every time I'm catching a Mets game at Citi Field on a warm summer night, sipping on a delicious, cold brewski, I think to myself... why isn't there a song that sums up how I am feeling right now? How, out of any place in the entire world, I would rather be right here in this perfect paradise? I think you can guess what I'll be listening to on the 7 train next season.

4. Maroon 5 'Lost Stars'
My favorite movie of the year starred Adam Levine. Yes, that's something I thought I'd never say. But 'Begin Again' was that SHIT. Indie singer/songwriter tunes with my hometown as it's backdrop? Highly recommend it. This song was the crown jewel of a spectacular soundtrack. 'Are we all lost stars trying to light up the dark?' Sing it, you lil bearded divo.

3. Taylor Swift 'Shake It Off'
2014 will always be remembered as the year I fell in love with Taylor Swift. As recently as a few months ago, I couldn't stand her. I hated the way she dropped an album every year, only to whine about some bitch boy who broke her heart. But this new Taylor? That's bae. My favorite song off my favorite album of the year, which also doubles as my favorite video of the year. The trifecta. And you deserve it, boo.

2. Katy Perry feat. Juicy J 'Dark Horse'
Just to make 2014 any stranger... if you would've asked me 12 months ago which entertainers I hated the most, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry would've comfortably been in my top 5. And now they both have songs in my top 3. I remember the disappointment I felt when I shazamed this and saw that it was Katy Perry. I felt abused. But I can't lie, addictive song. Plus one of my proudest achievements of 2014 was memorizing Juicy J's verse. You win for now, Perry.

1. Pharrell Williams 'Happy'
If you know me, you know there's no other choice. And I don't care if you're sick of it. I've heard it several thousand times myself and guess what? I WANT MORE. Isn't good music supposed to make you feel... good? When people say music sucks now, what they really mean is there's no feeling. You know what I like feeling? Muthafuckin' happy. Thank you, Pharrell, for proving that you could still have a massive hit without having a negative impact on society. Now lose the giant hat and let's focus on having an equally happy 2015.

Until next year, I bid you adieu. Let's just hope I have enough good songs to choose from.