Flares of 2011: Album of The Year

I know I'm a little late to post this but better late than never. 2011 had given us great albums to listen to for the whole year. That made compiling a top 10 a little harder. But here it is the top 10 albums of 2011 based on your votes, critics, sales and my personal favorites.


10. Kelly Clarkson - Stronger
9. Britney Spears - Femme Fatale
8. Avril Lavigne - Goodbye Lullaby
7. Selena Gomez & The Scene - When The Sun Goes Down
6. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
5. Demi Lovato - Unbroken
4. Kanye West & Jay Z - Watch The Throne
3. Beyonce - 4
2. Adele - 21
1. Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Flares of 2011: Song of The Year

Pop Flares's Best of 2011 by Popflares on Mixcloud

Flares of 2011: Male of The Year

 5. Chris Brown

After having a few tough years, Chris Brown finally made a comeback album. The album is his first no. 1 album selling 270,000 copies in the first week and is already certified gold for selling more than 500,000 copies. F.A.M.E. is also nominated for three Grammys this year.

 4. Pitbull

A few hits of his own (Hey Baby, Give Me Everything) and few featuring hits (On The Floor, I Like How It Feels), Pitbull is dominating the male music industry. But can he stay on top this year?

3. Justin Bieber

It's been a little over 2 years since we got to know this boy when he release his first single, One Time. Two studio albums later and another one on the way in 2012, Justin Bieber is not slowing down. With his voice changing can he still be the 'teen heartthrob' of 2012.

2. Lil Wayne

Tha Carter IV sold an impressive 964,000 copies in the first week and was already certified two times platinum thanks to the help of the single, How To Love which enjoy mainstream success. Will this actually be his last album? All we can do is wait.

1. Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars is the only artist in this list that didn't release an album this year. Yet he is our no. 1 Male of the Year. Well thanks to his grammy-nominated album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans that spawned several hits and his latest hit, It Will Rain, he didn't need so. Will he continue his success this year or will have a sophomore slump. I think he will do just fine.

Flares of 2011: WATCH OUT 2012!!!!!!

Out of the nominees, Lana Del Rey is the most promising artist that soon will make 2012 her year. June 2011, Del Rey was signed with Stranger Records. To release her debut single "Video Games", in October 2011, she was signed with Interscope Records. While being interviewed by Rosie Swash of The Observer, Del Rey revealed, "I just put that song online a few months ago because it was my favourite. To be honest, it wasn't going to be the single but people have really responded to it. I get very sad when I play that song. I still cry sometimes when I sing it." Del Rey's song "Video Games" was featured for the first time on prime spot on The CW's TV-Series Ringer on September 28, 2011 propulsing Lana Del Rey into mainstream. Del Rey also promoted the album with performances in a number of live appearances, including for MTV Push, and at the Bowery Ballroom, where, according to Eliot Glazer of New York, "the polarizing indie hipstress brought her 'gangsta Nancy Sinatra' swagu." Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone commented that, despite Del Rey being nervous and anxious while performing her songs live, the singer "sang with considerable confidence, though her transitions from husky, come-hither sexuality to bratty, girlish petulance could be rather jarring." Del Rey also performed "Video Games" on Dutch television program De Wereld Draait Door, on British music television show Later... with Jools Holland, and on an intimate show at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California while creating her own music videos for several tracks such as "Blue Jeans" and "Off to the Races".

It was later reported that the singer would release her debut album under the labels in January 2012. During an interview with French TV show Taratata, Del Rey revealed that the album would be named Born to Die that is set to be released on January 27, 2012 in Ireland, January 30, 2012, in the UK, and on January 31, 2012 worldwide. The second single and title track "Born to Die" is set for release on January 22, 2012. The music video for it leaked on December 14, 2011, and was based on a concept created by the singer, while being directed by Yoann Lemoine. The music video received generally favorable reviews from contemporary critics.

And of course happy NEW YEAR!!!!!

Flares of 2011: Female of The Year

  5. Britney Spears

Releasing Femme Fatale in March, Britney start the year with a bang as the album managed to peak the chart and selling 276,000 copies in the first week. It shows how she still managed to still stay on top even though having a decade career. 

4. Rihanna

Many would say that That That Talk was such a rush-release after only a year from her comeback album, Loud. But how could you hold off an album like this that consists of hits such as We Found Love that managed to stay on top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 8 consecutive weeks, the longest for the year and also the longest in the whole Rihanna career. Nothing can stop this chick!!

3. Katy Perry

Katy is the only one in this chart that did not release an album this year. This is because her Grammy-nominated album that was release last year still manage to release no. 1 hits for her with a total of five making her the first female to do so from a single album. The question is can the third album beat the 'sensationalness' of Teenage Dream or would it backfires.

2. Lady Gaga

First, the first single, Born This Way became the fastest-selling single in iTunes history. Then, the album sold 1 million copies in the first week. The power of the Little Monsters couldn't be stop. Releasing a total of five singles in this year alone with five videos accompanied it, finishing her last tour and going around the world to promote her Born This Way culture, she had one of her busiest year yet. But she's not done yet, as the official Born This Way tour haven't even started yet!!!!

1. Adele

Other than her vocal cords injuries, Adele had her biggest year yet. Only releasing three singles this year and two of them already a No. 1 hit while her third single, Set Fire To The Rain is quickly climbing the chart, she managed to be called not only Female of the Year but also Artist of The Year. And her six Grammy nominations for her second studio album, 21 clearly shows how deserving she is. She is currently taking a break before releasing her third album. I'm sure everybody would be anticipating for that album.

Flares of 2011: Video of the Year

5. Katy Perry - The One That Got Away

4. Lady Gaga - You And I

3. Katy Perry - E.T.

2. Rihanna - We Found Love

1. Lady Gaga - Marry The Night

Flares of 2011: Best New Artist

1. Foster The People

Mark Foster founded the band in 2009 after spending several years in Los Angeles as a struggling musician and working as a commercial jingle writer. After Foster wrote the song "Pumped Up Kicks", which became a viral success in 2010, the group was signed to Columbia Records' imprint Startime International and gained a fanbase through small club shows and appearances at the music festivals Coachella and South by Southwest. After releasing their debut album Torches in May 2011, "Pumped Up Kicks" became a crossover hit on commercial radio in mid-2011, reaching number one on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart, number three on the Rock Songs chart, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100, while charting on the Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 charts.

 2. Jessie J
Jessie J began her career as a songwriter for artists including Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus. Her debut single, "Do It Like a Dude", was released in November 2010 and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Charts. Follow-up single "Price Tag" reached number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand, and reached the top 10 in nineteen other countries. Her debut album, Who You Are, was released in February 2011 and charted at number two on the UK Albums Chart. In February 2011 Jessie J won a BRIT Award, Critics' Choice. It was revealed in October 2011 that Jessie J will be a coach and a mentor on the television show, The Voice UK.

3. Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa released his debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006, and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007. His eurodance-influenced single, "Say Yeah", received urban radio airplay, charting on the Rhythmic Top 40 and Hot Rap Tracks charts in 2008. Khalifa parted with Warner Bros. and released his second album, Deal or No Deal, in November 2009. He released the mixtape Kush and Orange Juice as a free download in April 2010; he then signed with Atlantic Records. He finally gained success when he released his debut single for Atlantic, "Black and Yellow", which peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut album for the label, Rolling Papers, was released on March 29, 2011.

Flares of 2011!!!

After the turkey, Black Friday and just before Christmas, Pop Flares will have its annual 'Flares of the Year'. And this year we would have a bigger event because we incorporate our friends from Atrl.net to join in and VOTE!!!

This year we have seven categories to vote from:

Album of the Year (Top 10)

Single of the Year (Top 10)

Video of the Year (Top 10)

Best Female (Top 5)

Best Male (Top 5)

Best New Artist (Top 5)

WATCH OUT 2012!!!

To find out more and to vote click this link.

You have to join the forum in order to vote but I promise, you won't regret it.