Having the only debut single on the AOL Radio Top 10 of 2011 list, Foster the People rose from the indie scene in 2011 and made their own mark in the mainstream world with their hit 'Pumped Up Kicks.' The song spread like a wildfire after its debut in 2010 and as the band and the song gained notoriety, DJs across the country found the song fit nicely in playlists that also featured the likes of Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Rihanna. 'Pumped Up Kicks' was a favorite on AOL Radio's playlists across multiple formats, which is why the song has earned it's spot on the Top 10 of 2011 list.
Despite having been released at the tail end of 2011, Rihanna's dance pop single 'We Found Love' with Scottish DJ Calvin Harris made such an impact on AOL Radio stations that it finds a place on our top 10 of the year. From Rihanna's sixth studio album 'Talk That Talk,' 'We Found Love' continued the successful trend of bringing electro-house beats to the mainstream after other smash successes such as Pitbull's 'Give Me Everything,' LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem,' Afrojack's 'Take Over Control' and Alexandra Stan's 'Mr. Saxobeat.'
Adele's success in 2011 is evident by her having not one but two singles on our Top 10 of 2011 list. Released after the wildly successful 'Rolling in the Deep' single, 'Someone Like You' is a heartbreaking ballad that tells of one's heartache after a painful breakup. Adele's powerful vocals shine brightly in this tune which features only the accompaniment of a solo piano. Her voice matched with the heartfelt lyrics will make 'Someone Like You' the theme of hopeless romantics for years to come.
J. Lo has owned 2011, not only by becoming a judge on 'American Idol' and launching her own competition series, but also by releasing her slam-dunk single, 'On the Floor.' The Pitbull-assisted lead track from her seventh studio album topped the charts in dozens of countries, reminding audiences that the New York City native is a mega-multi-talented force.
On the heels of the party anthem 'Raise Your Glass,' Pink unleashed 'Perfect' as the second single from her 'Greatest Hits... So Far!!!' collection. Pink wrote the ballad about ignoring your faults and being proud of yourself, with inspirational lines like, "Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel that you're nothing, you are perfect to me."
When it was announced that Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera would both serve as judges on NBC's reality-competition show 'The Voice,' it's no surprise that the two collaborated on what would be one of the year's biggest radio singles. 'Moves Like Jagger' is a mix of pop, rock and funk and tells of the lead singer's desire to impress the ladies with his moves akin to The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger. After performing the song live on 'The Voice,' the song became an instant hit and introduced Jagger to a new generation of young music fans.
The out-of-this-world fourth single from Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' album got an extra boost from the addition of Kanye West, who appeared on the radio version of the song. The tune peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped the pop star continue her chart-topping reign. Its electronic track has spawned several remixes, including one by famed DJ Tiesto.
'Party Rock Anthem' by electric rhythm duo LMFAO became just that - the party anthem of 2011. With its catchy hook and synthesized sound, 'Party Rock Anthem' became a number one hit not only on AOL Radio, but radio charts worldwide.
'Give Me Everything' was arguably the "feel good" summer song of 2011 and in a time where people look to pop culture as an escape from their problems, Pitbull's collaboration with Ne-Yo, Nayer and DJ Afrojack provided that upbeat relief. The song became the rapper's first #1 hit on the Billboard Top 100 and catapulted the Cuban artist to worldwide stardom.
Adele dominated this year with her flawless sophomore album, '21,' thanks in part to her unstoppable lead single, 'Rolling in the Deep.' The soulful break-up song became an international hit for the British singer, and was certified platinum in seven countries. Naturally, the tune was tapped for a slew of film and TV placements for its universal themes.