Extra: Year in Review

Hi everyone!

Choose of the Week wish you all a wonderfull 2011, hopefully, better then 2010!

By way of thanks, here's a video of the Year of 2010 in review, by Google!

See you next year!!!!

Best of Country for Business 6

U.K.

Overall rank: 6
GDP per capita: $37,400
GDP, real growth rate: 1.1%
Population (millions): 60.9
Trade balance as % of GDP: -7.8%
Federal budget balance as % of GDP: -5.9%

With financial services accounting for 21% of private-sector employment pre-crisis, rising unemployment will be difficult to reverse. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made raising more money for the developing world via the International Monetary Fund a priority amid a deepening recession. (in Forbes)

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Best of Europe Place to Live 6

Frankfurt, Germany
Score: 107

The financial capital of Germany has some spectacular architecture, including the opera house and cathedral, and a vibrant cultural scene. The city has excellent hospitals, shops and a thriving economy (home to Europe's second-largest stock exchange and Deutsche Bank's headquarters). The poor availability of housing in the city center and heavy traffic, however, drag Frankfurt down Mercer's rankings. (in Forbes)

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Best of USA Place to Live 6

Fort Collins, CO

Population: 141,000
Unemployment: 7.4%

Bikers and beers. In most parts of the country, those two elements may be reasons to move elsewhere. But in the foothills of Colorado's Front Range, bikers mean cyclists: Fort Collins has 29 miles of well-used trails.

As for beers, this town has become a high-end microbrew mecca. New Belgium Brewery (maker of Fat Tire) is based in this entrepreneurial town, and competitors are moving in.

People here aren't slackers either. Bolstered by Colorado State University, which employs 7,000, "the Fort" is a center of economic activity. Hewlett-Packard, the city's second-largest employer, announced worldwide layoffs in June, but they won't affect Fort Collins. In fact, the company is adding jobs here.

This idyllic town -- No. 1 in 2006 -- would rank even higher but for one thing. (No, it's not last summer's Balloon Boy hoax, perpetrated by the local Heene family.) Colorado schools are hurting. After the state sliced public schools budget this year, Fort Collins's Poudre School District laid off 139 full-time employees. --Pieter van Noordennen (in CNN Money)

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Best of Country for Business 5

New Zealand

Overall rank: 5
GDP per capita: $28,500
GDP, real growth rate: 0.6%
Population (millions): 4.2
Trade balance as % of GDP: -1.3%
Federal budget balance as % of GDP: 0.4%

Tiny island nation has embraced free trade policies, recently becoming the first developed nation to sign a free trade agreement with China. (in Forbes)

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Best of Europe Place to Live 5

Munich, Germany
Score: 107

With an estimated population of 1.3 million, Munich is the largest city to make it into Europe's top 10. Best known for its annual beer festival, the city also enjoys a thriving economy, driven by the information technology, biotechnology and publishing sectors, and has excellent connections across Europe from its international airport. However, the city has a dearth of international schools and air pollution is high. (in Forbes)

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Best of USA Place to Live 5

McKinney, TX

Population: 125,000
Unemployment: 7.8%

Lots of towns near Dallas have low crime, affordable homes, and good jobs; McKinney is no exception. What makes it stand out is its gem of a downtown. Lovingly restored 19th-century buildings house restaurants, boutiques, and galleries; the 1875 courthouse contains a new performing-arts center.

McKinney's employment opportunities are robust, sparing many residents a rush-hour drive of up to an hour to Dallas. Defense contractor Raytheon has a 3,700-person division here, and a mix of businesses in financial services, medical technology, and eco-friendly manufacturing are moving in.

Though McKinney has grown like mad over the past decade, you'd never suspect it when driving through its tree-filled communities surrounded by ponds, parks, and hiking trails. --Vanessa Richardson (in CNN Money)

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Best of Country for Business 4

Singapore

Overall rank: 4
GDP per capita: $52,900
GDP, real growth rate: 3.0%
Population (millions): 4.6
Trade balance as % of GDP: 17.2%
Federal budget balance as % of GDP: 0.6%

The city-state's tax and regulatory environment have made it a competitor to Hong Kong as an Asian center for finance. Advantageous trade routes, balanced budgets and high levels of individual wealth have insulated the nation from major disturbance due to volatility in the financial markets. (in Forbes)

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Best of Europe Place to Live 4

Düsseldorf, Germany
Score: 107.2

Düsseldorf has invested heavily in building up its infrastructure and international transport connections over the past few years. The city, situated on the banks of the Rhine, has a plethora of consumer goods and is considered the fashion and shopping capital of Germany. Düsseldorf has a thriving economy, with some of Germany's largest companies, including energy giant E.ON and engineering company ThyssenKrupp, headquartered there. (in Forbes)

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Best of USA Place to Live 4

Bellevue, WA

Population: 124,000

Unemployment: 5.8%

If forested cityscapes are your thing, this is your kind of place. Bellevue's compact downtown bristles with new skyscrapers that seem to hover above Lake Washington -- and when the clouds part, mountain views loom.

Real estate isn't a bargain, but the town's jobless rate is more than two points below that of the Seattle metro area, thanks to a recent influx of jobs from such employers as Microsoft (which has moved 6,500 positions here), T-Mobile, Verizon, and Expedia. In fact, Bellevue has more jobs than it does residents.

And the population is diverse: Nearly a quarter of residents are Asian, and nearly a third are foreign born.

The town's high schools consistently land at the top of state rankings. There's also an embarrassment of arts and entertainment, including a philharmonic orchestra, fine arts museum, botanical garden, youth theater, annual jazz festival, and 74 (!) parks. --Jessica Levine (in CNN Money)

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Best of Country for Business 3

Canada

Overall rank: 3
GDP per capita: $40,200
GDP, real growth rate: 0.7%
Population (millions): 33.2
Trade balance as % of GDP: 1.9%
Federal budget balance as % of GDP: 0.2%

Trade and budget surpluses, tax relief from the current administration and conservative lending practices of its banks have left the U.S.' northern neighbor in an enviable position amid global tumult. Reignited demand for commodities in the face of U.S. inflation could help reverse export declines in this gold- and oil-sands-rich nation. (in Forbes)

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Best of Europe Place to Live 3

Geneva, Switzerland
Score: 107.9

Over 50% of Geneva's population has a foreign passport, according to the region's statistics office OCSTAT--not surprising given the heavy presence of United Nation agencies and organizations such as the Red Cross. As a result, the city is geared to an international population, with extensive private banking facilities, private hospitals and international schools. (in Forbes)

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Best of USA Place to Live 3

Newton, MA

Population: 82,000
Unemployment: 6.0%

Less than 45 minutes from downtown Boston via train, subway, or express bus, Newton is divided into 13 "villages" loaded with classic New England charm. Most have pedestrian-friendly shopping districts, parks, and playgrounds.

The town weathered the economic downturn fairly well, thanks to such stable local employers as Boston College and Newton-Wellesley Hospital. And Greater Boston, of course, offers a wealth of health care, education, and government jobs.

Residents rave about the top-ranked schools, and parents are excited for the new high school. "It's absolutely beautiful," says Claudia Wu, 51, an attorney with three school-age kids who has lived in Newton for 20 years. It should be: The school cost $197 million, an amount that sparked plenty of local outrage.

After all, living in this community is expensive enough: a three-bedroom house runs nearly $600,000. If it weren't for those hefty price tags, this town would be pretty close to perfect. --Beth Braverman (in CNN Money)

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Best of Country for Business 2

U.S.

Overall rank: 2
GDP per capita: $48,000
GDP, real growth rate: 1.4%
Population (millions): 303.8
Trade balance as % of GDP: -5.6%
Federal budget balance as % of GDP: -3.1%

The biggest economy in the world and third-largest population, the U.S. continues to support business-friendly economic policies, despite a recent move in the balance of power from Wall Street to Washington. Broad policy shifts such as Cap and Trade, though, threaten to damage its economic competitiveness, particularly in industrial sectors. (in Forbes)

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Best of Europe Place to Live 2

Vienna, Austria

Score 107.9

The entire city center of Austria's political, cultural and economic capital has been designated a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage site. As it has excellent education and infrastructure, as well as high-quality housing in the city center. (in Forbes)

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Best of USA Place to Live 2

Columbia/Ellicott City, MD

Population: 155,000

Unemployment: 5.2%

Ellicott City boasts grand homes, a lovely 18th-century downtown, and lots of restaurants. Columbia offers a wide range of housing, tons of parkland, and a major music venue. But those varied amenities are far from the only reasons this duo has risen to No. 2 from No. 8 in 2008. It's also an economic powerhouse with a jobless rate just as enviable as Eden Prairie's.

The nearby National Security Agency and the Fort Meade Army base together account for more than 8,000 jobs, and the government plans to move thousands more positions there by next year. Baltimore and D.C. are within commuting distance (30 and 60 minutes, respectively).

As for housing, the foreclosure rate is one of the lowest in Maryland, yet homes are affordable -- by Northeast standards, anyway. Factor in excellent schools and a diverse population (17% of residents are black, 14% Asian), and you can see why this place has become a magnet for families. --Donna Rosato (in CNN Money)

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Best of Country for Business 1

Denmark

Overall rank: 1
GDP per capita: $38,900
GDP, real growth rate: 0.3%
Population (millions): 5.5
Trade balance as % of GDP: -0.6%
Federal budget balance as % of GDP: 6.7%

After a long consumption-driven upswing, Denmark's economy began slowing in early 2007 with the end of a housing boom. Along with the U.K., one of the notable holdouts from the group of 15 European countries using the euro currency. (in Forbes)

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Best of Europe Place to Live 1

Zürich, Switzerland
Score: 108

According to Forbes, Zürich is the best place to live in Europe. Zürich's tiny population--376,815 at the end of 2007--is spoiled with over 2,000 bars and restaurants, (including one with original Picasso and Cezanne paintings on the walls) and a breathtaking view of the Alps and Lake Zürich. Taxes are also among the lowest in Switzerland, and residents pay no inheritance tax. The city has top scores practically across the board, whether for its medical facilities or international banking services, though its gloomy weather and traffic bring it down. (in Forbes)

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Best of USA Place to Live 1

Eden Prairie

According to CNN Money, Eden Prairie is the best place to live. Why? Because not only is it family-friendly, it has a dynamite economy too.

At 5.1%, its unemployment rate is nearly one percentage point below the county rate and more than four points below the national average. It helps when you've got 50,000 jobs right in town.

Major employers include Fortune 500 trucking company C.H. Robinson, hearing-aid maker Starkey Labs, and the Minnesota Vikings, whose practice facility and front office are here. As for fiscal strength, Moody's gives the town a perfect AAA bond rating.

While it doesn't have much of a downtown, there's plenty of outer beauty: from gently rolling hills to 17 lakes that residents flock to year-round for swimming and ice skating. Town parks are laced with 125 miles of running, hiking, and biking trails.

No wonder residents rank among the healthiest people in the nation. Add in top-notch schools and safe streets and you've got a place that's tough to beat. --Ismat Mangla (in CNN Money)

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Week Themes

Hello everyone!

I hope that Christmas went as well as you wished. But now is time to show the next week themes.

They will be:

- Best of USA Place to Live;
- Best of Europe Place to Live;
- Best of Country for Business

Hope you enjoy and vote a lot!

Have fun!

Happy Holiday!!!!

In the name of the Choose of the Week blog, I wish you all a happy holiday!

Merry Christmas! And happy voting!!!!

Best of 2008 Music 6

So What - Pink

"So What" is a song written by American pop rock singer Pink, Max Martin and A. Scott McCallum. It was released as the first single from Pink's fifth studio album Funhouse. "So What" was performed by Pink at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, on September 7, 2008, and was used to promote the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Latin America. Pink performed "So What" on MTV Europe Music Awards 2008 on November 6, 2008. In September 2008, the song became Pink's first solo number-one hit in her native USA. It has also reached #1 in twenty-five other countries. It is also the fourth song to reach number one in all four major music markets. It was one of the songs played in the music game Lego Rock Band and the 2009 video games for Dance Dance Revolution. The Uncensored Verson is also featured as a downloadable song on Guitar Hero: World Tour and SingStar. It is also a song on the DS version of Band Hero and available (along with Get the Party Started) on the popular app for the iPhone/iPod Touch Tap Tap Revenge 3. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2009 Music 6

Use Somebody - Kings of Leon

"Use Somebody" is a song by the American alternative rock group Kings of Leon. It was the second single from the band's fourth studio album Only by the Night (2008), released on December 8, 2008.

The single received heavy airplay in Scandinavia, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, the UK and Australia, where it was number one on the Official Airplay Chart for six consecutive weeks. It was a huge success in the U.S., where it topped multiple airplay formats and reached number four on the Hot 100 and number one on the Pop Songs chart. The song received positive reviews and won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rock Song and was also nominated for Song of the Year. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2010 Music 6

Just the Way You Are - Bruno Mars

"Just the Way You Are" is a song by American recording artist Bruno Mars, and is the lead single from his debut studio album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans. It was released in the United States on July 20, 2010. It has also received airplay from AOL Radio's New Pop First station. The song was written by The Smeezingtons, Khalil Walton, and Needlz and produced by The Smeezingtons, and Needlz. The music video, directed by Ethan Lader, was released on September 8, 2010[4] and features actress Nathalie Kelley. The track has been added to Radio 1 A Playlist in the United Kingdom, and was released in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2010 as "Just the Way You Are (Amazing)". The official remix features rapper Lupe Fiasco and is included on the deluxe edition of Doo-Wops & Hooligans. The song earned Mars a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2008 Music 5

Take a Bow - Rihanna

"Take a Bow" is a song written by singer-songwriter Ne-Yo and production-team Stargate for R&B Barbadian singer Rihanna's re-release of the third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad. It is the fifth single from Good Girl Gone Bad overall, but first single from the re-release edition of the album, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded.

The song premiered on KZZP and KRQQ's JohnJay and Rich in the Morning on March 14, 2008, and was made available to media outlets later that same day. It was officially released to U.S. top 40 radio on April 15, 2008 and to iTunes on May 6, 2008 where it has proven to be immensely popular both in the United States and internationally. To date the single has reached the number 1 position on iTunes in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland, and has achieved top 10 chartings in over eighteen countries across the globe. In U.K the single was release on May 12. In Europe it was released a month later on June 6. Due to digital downloads, "Take a Bow" charted at number 45 in Italy before its official release set for July 28, 2008, according to an Italian music channel which has inserted "Take A Bow" in its playlist on that date. In France the song has been released nearly two months after the European release date, set for June 6, 2008, on July 21, 2008. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2009 Music 5

I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

"I Gotta Feeling" is the second single from The Black Eyed Peas' fifth studio album The E.N.D., produced by the French DJ David Guetta. The song was released on May 21, 2009 and debuted at number two on the Canadian and Billboard Hot 100 on the week of June 27, 2009, behind the group's "Boom Boom Pow", making the group one of 11 artists who have occupied the top two positions of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. The song later reached number one on the US charts and 20 charts worldwide. The song was nominated for Record of the Year at the 52nd Grammy Awards and won the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. "I Gotta Feeling" was 5th on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade.

The song was also nominated as Song of the Year at the 2009 World Music Awards and is the most downloaded song on iTunes. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the song has sold over 6,000,000 copies in the United States making it the highest selling digital single in the US ever, surpassing "Low" by Flo Rida. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2010 Music 5

Need You Now (2010 Mix) - Lady Antebellum

Need You Now is the second studio album from country music group Lady Antebellum. The album was released on January 26, 2010, via Capitol Nashville. It is the follow-up album to their 2008 self-titled RIAA Platinum certified debut album. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 with 481,000 copies sold in its first week. It has been certified 3x platinum by the RIAA. The album is nominated for Album of the Year at the upcoming 53rd Grammy Awards.

Need You Now debuted at #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 with first week sales of 481,000. It is the third best-selling album of 2010, behind I Dreamed a Dream by Susan Boyle and Recovery by rapper Eminem.  As of the chart dated January 1, 2011, the album has sold 2,995,136 copies in the US. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2008 Music 4

Viva la Vida - Coldplay

"Viva la Vida" is a song by the English alternative rock band Coldplay. It was written by all members of the band for their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), and became its lead single. On the album, this song segues directly into the next track on the album, "Violet Hill". Viva la Vida means "Long live life" in Spanish.

The lyrics to the song contain historical and Christian references, and the track is built around a repeating string section with a percussion background. Coldplay performed some of the song live in The Simpsons episode "Million Dollar Maybe".

The song was released on 12 June 2008 as the album's second single, debuting to critical and commercial success. "Viva la Vida" reached the top spot of the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's first number-one single and a Transatlantic number-one. The song won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009. The song became the sixth song in digital history to reach the 4 million mark in paid downloads. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2009 Music 4

Poker Face - Lady Gaga

"Poker Face" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga from her debut album, The Fame. Produced by RedOne, it was released as the album's second single in late 2008 for some markets and in early 2009 for the rest of the world. The song is an uptempo dance-pop song in the key of A flat minor, following in the footsteps of her previous single "Just Dance" but with a darker musical tone. The main idea behind the song is bisexuality and was a tribute by Gaga to her rock n' roll boyfriends. Lyrically "Poker Face" is about sex and gambling.

"Poker Face" was well-received by most critics, who praised the robotic hook and the chorus. The song attained worldwide success, topping the charts in twenty countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many European countries. "Poker Face" is also the most downloaded song in the British chart history. It is among the best-selling singles of all time, having sold over 9.8 million copies. The accompanying music video for the song portrays Gaga singing it in various costumes and playing strip poker in a getaway villa.

Gaga performed the song for the eighth season of the television show American Idol as well as the Fame Ball and Monster Ball tours. The live performances included an electronic version and an acoustic version, which she played on the piano. It was nominated for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the 52nd Grammy Awards, and won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. Rolling Stone ranked it number ninety-six on their list of 100 Best Songs of the 2000s decade. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2010 Music 4

Airplanes - B.o.B

"Airplanes" is the second official and third overall single from B.o.B's debut studio album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. The track features Hayley Williams, the lead vocalist of the alternative band Paramore, and was produced by Alex Da Kid with DJ Frank E receiving a co-production credit on the song. The music and chorus were written by Kinetics & One Love. The song was released to urban radio on April 27, 2010.

"Airplanes" reached number one in New Zealand, and also in the United Kingdom, as well as the top three in Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and the United States. "Airplanes, Part II", the sequel to the song, features rapper Eminem as well as Williams. This collaboration led to a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2008 Music 3

I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

"I'm Yours" is the first single released by Jason Mraz from his third studio album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The song was originally released on a limited edition EP called Extra Credit as a demo in 2005 to promote his second studio album Mr. A–Z. It was performed in his 2004 and 2005 gigs and already became a crowd favorite before its release. "I'm Yours" was nominated for Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 51st Grammy Awards. It was also used for the Australian Seven Network's promotion of the season premiere of Packed to the Rafters.

"I'm Yours" was immensely successful in the U.S. on the Billboard charts. At 76 weeks on the Hot 100, it holds the record for most weeks spent on the chart, breaking the previous record set by LeAnn Rimes' song "How Do I Live" in 1998. It is currently the sixth best selling digital song of all time in the U.S., selling in excess of 5 million downloads. It remains Mraz's biggest hit single in the USA to date, and his only one to reach the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Mraz even sung a version of the song on Sesame Street, instead of "I'm Yours" the song was titled, "Outdoors." (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2009 Music 3

Replay - Iyaz

"Replay" is a song performed by British Virgin Islands recording artist Iyaz. It is the first single released from his debut album Replay, which was released on 8 June 2010.

The single "Replay" was produced by J. R. Rotem and as such is credited at the beginning of the song, by the mention of "J.R." "Replay" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #96 and has peaked at #2. "Replay" was released in the UK on 4 January 2010 and charted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart on 10 January 2010. The combined figure of the official music video and prequel video on YouTube is about 65 million views. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2010 Music 3

Nothin' on You - B.o.B

"Nothin' on You" is the first single from B.o.B's debut studio album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. The song features singer Bruno Mars. An official remix version of this song, which was featured by Big Boi, debuted on March 21, 2010. The song reached number one in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. The song was nominated for three Grammys, including Record of the Year, on December 1, 2010 for the 53rd Grammy Awards. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2008 Music 2

Just Dance - Lady GaGa

"Just Dance" is the debut single by American recording artist Lady Gaga. The song was produced by RedOne and co-written by RedOne, Gaga and Akon (who also provides additional vocals), while also featuring labelmate Colby O'Donis. It was released in 2008 as the lead single from Gaga's debut studio album The Fame. The song was written by Gaga in ten minutes as "a happy record". "Just Dance" also has influences of R&B and lyrically speaks about being intoxicated at a club.

The song has been critically appreciated, with reviewers complimenting its club anthem-like nature and the synthpop associated with it. The song has also achieved commercial success by topping charts in the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, as well as reaching the top ten in many other countries. In the United States, "Just Dance" was a sleeper hit, spending almost five months on the Billboard Hot 100 before finally reaching the summit of the chart in January 2009, after being released in April 2008. It scored the third-biggest single-week sum of all time selling 419,000 downloads in just one week and went to become the third best-selling digital song of all time in the U.S. The single is among the best-selling singles of all time, having sold over 7.7 million copies. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2009 Music 2

Down - Jay Sean

"Down" is a song by British artist Jay Sean. The song was released in North America as his debut single from his debut album there, All or Nothing. In other markets, including the UK, the song serves as Jay Sean's lead single from his third studio album. The single features American rapper and label mate Lil Wayne and is produced by J remy and Bobby Bass. "Down" is the seventh-best selling single of 2009, having sold more than three million digital copies in the United States alone, and has been certified Platinum in several countries. The song has sold six million copies worldwide, and also received a large airplay of two billion listener impressions on radio worldwide.

The track was released to US radio on May 31, 2009, and digital retailers on June 30, 2009. "Down" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the issue dated October 17, 2009, knocking The Black Eyed Peas off the top of the chart after their 26 week reign at number one. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2010 Music 2

Love the Way You Lie - Eminem

According to AOLRADIOBLOG, the song from Eminem and Rihanna "Love the Way You Lie" is one of the top musics of 2010.

No introduction text will be present because it was already recently posted.

So, simply enjoy the video one more time!

Best of 2008 Music 1

Love Story - Taylor Swift

"Love Story" is a song written and recorded by American country pop artist Taylor Swift. It is the lead single from her second studio album, Fearless. The song was released on September 12, 2008, and by November of that year, reached the top of the Billboard country chart, becoming her third Billboard No. 1. It also became her biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit at the time, peaking at numer 4. "Love Story" was Swift's first international single, venturing into other markets outside North America and Australia. Additionally, "Love Story" is the fourth-best selling digitally downloaded song by a female artist. The song was part of the track list for Now That's What I Call Country Volume 2.

As of December 2010, the song had been certified five-times-platinum in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2009 Music 1

You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift

"You Belong with Me" is a country pop song performed by American recording artist Taylor Swift. The song was co-written by Swift and Liz Rose and produced by Nathan Chapman with Swift's aid. It was released on April 21, 2009, by Big Machine Records as the third single from Swift's second studio album, Fearless. Swift was inspired to write "You Belong with Me" after overhearing a male friend of hers arguing with his girlfriend through a phone call; she continued to develop a story line afterward. The song contains many pop music elements and its lyrics have Swift desiring an out-of-reach love interest.

The song was ranked #8 on CMT's list of the 40 greatest songs of the decade. (in Wikipedia)

Best of 2010 Music 1

California Gurls - Katy Perry

"California Gurls" is an electropop song by American singer-songwriter Katy Perry. It serves as the lead single of her third studio album, Teenage Dream. The song features rapper Snoop Dogg, and was produced by Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Benny Blanco. According to Perry, the song is an answer song to "Empire State of Mind". The song was originally intended to be sent to mainstream and rhythmic airplay on May 25, 2010. However, after clips from Perry's new album were leaked online, her label rushed released the song to radio on May 7, 2010, and also began to stream it on her website. It was subsequently released to iTunes on May 11, 2010. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks, giving Perry her second US number-one single and Snoop Dogg his third. The song reached number one in over 10 countries, including United States, UK, Canada, Australia, Scotland, Ireland, and New Zealand. (in Wikipedia)

This week themes will be.....

Hi everyone!!!!

This week themes will be about music. It will be about the Best Musics from 2010, 2009 and 2008, according to AOLRADIOBLOG.

So:
- Best of 2010 Music
- Best of 2009 Music
- Best of 2008 Music

Hope you have fun, listening and voting for your favourites!

Extra - Gran Turismo 5

Gran Turismo 5

Gran Turismo 5 (commonly abbreviated as GT5) is the fifth edition of the Gran Turismo racing simulator series. Developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, it was released for PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010. It was one of the most wanted videogames for this Christmas.

Enjoy the review from Gamespot and vote in your favourites posts of this week!

Best of Xbox 360 Game 6

Forza Motorsport 3

Forza Motorsport 3 is a racing video game developed for Xbox 360 by Turn 10 Studios. It was released in October 2009. It is the sequel to Forza Motorsport 2 and the third installment in the Forza Motorsport series. The game includes over 400 customizable cars (Over 500 cars in the Ultimate Collection version) from 50 manufacturers and over 100 race track variations with the ability to race up to 8 cars on track at a time.

Forza 3 was highly praised by critics. On GameRankings, the game has an overall score of 91.98%, based on 63 reviews, while on Metacritic, the game has an overall score of 92 out of 100, based on 87 reviews. IGN called it 'One of the best racing games of this generation'. Criticism mainly stemmed from the grid being much smaller than rival games (only 8 cars), the inability for users to tune their vehicles during public multiplayer racing, and the inability to create custom public multiplayer races. Turn 10 however is adding more modes to the online lobbies in an attempt to counter this problem, such as the Playground lobby which lets users play Tag Mode online in public races but custom public lobbies are currently unavailable.

Forza 3 has won numerous awards. At the Spike Video Game Awards, it was named the Best Driving Game of 2009. Gamespot awarded it the Driving Game of the Year award, and also received a nomination for Best Xbox 360 Game of the Year. G4TV also awarded it the Best Driving Game of 2009, while IGN named it the Best Xbox 360 Driving Game of the Year. (in Wikipedia)

Best of PS3 Game 6

FIFA Soccer 11

FIFA 11 (FIFA Soccer 11 in North America) is the 18th title in Electronic Arts' FIFA series of football video games. Developed by EA Canada, it was published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label. The PC version of FIFA 11 is the first in the series to use the same game engine as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions.

FIFA 11 has so far received praise, with IGN UK rating it 9.5 out of 10 and Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) rating it a 10/10, the first game in the series to be given a full score. Eurogamer rated it 8/10 summing up, "At its best FIFA 11 is enormous fun and brilliantly engineered, but in its battle to be more varied and realistic it has lost some of its momentum, and off the pitch returns are starting to diminish too". The PC version scored its highest ever score of 84 on Metacritic with critics and users praising its contents, but criticised the lack of new features introduced on the consoles this year. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Wii Game 6

The Beatles: Rock Band

The Beatles: Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games, and distributed by Electronic Arts. It is the third major console release in the Rock Band music video game series and, like other games in the series, it allows players to simulate the playing of rock music by using controllers shaped like musical instruments. The game's soundtrack consists of 45 songs by the popular British rock group The Beatles and features virtual depictions of the band members performing the songs. Additional songs and albums by The Beatles were made available for the game as downloadable content.

The game was released internationally on 9 September 2009, coinciding with the release of new, remastered compact disc versions of The Beatles albums.

The Beatles: Rock Band was well-received by the press, both as a genuine means of experiencing the music and history of The Beatles and as a standalone music video game. Although the game's sales were considered respectable, with more than half a million units sold during its first month of release in the United States, analysts had projected larger sales volumes and attributed the lower sales to waning interest in the rhythm game genre and the video game industry recovery from the late-2000s recession. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Xbox 360 Game 5

Halo: Reach

Halo: Reach is a first-person shooter video game, developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 console. The game takes place in the year 2552, where humanity is locked in a war with the alien Covenant. Players control Noble Six, a member of an elite supersoldier squad, during the battle for the world of Reach. As the Covenant begin their assault on the planet, the UNSC begin their heroic yet ultimately futile effort to repel the alien invaders.

Reach was originally announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 in Los Angeles, California, with the first in-engine trailer shown at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards. Players who purchased Halo 3: ODST were eligible to participate in a Reach multiplayer beta in May 2010; the beta allowed Bungie to gain player feedback for fixing bugs and making gameplay tweaks before shipping the final version. The developers focused on creating a compelling world, more difficult enemies, and updated graphics and audio.

Halo: Reach grossed US$200 million on its launch day, setting a new record for the franchise. The game sold well in most territories, moving more than 3 million units its first month in North America. Critical reception was positive; reviewers from publications such as IGN, GamePro, and Official Xbox Magazine called it the best Halo title yet. Reach was the final Halo title by Bungie, with future games overseen by the Microsoft-owned studio 343 Industries. (in Wikipedia)

Best of PS3 Game 5

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Call of Duty: Black Ops is a first-person shooter video game developed by Treyarch, published by Activision and released worldwide on November 9, 2010 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Nintendo DS (separate version developed by n-Space) consoles. Announced on April 30, 2010, the game is the seventh installment of the Call of Duty series, and the first to be set in the Cold War. It is the third in the series to be developed by Treyarch, and is a sequel to the developer's Call of Duty: World at War.

Within 24 hours of going on sale, the game sold more than 7 million copies, 5.6 million in the U.S. and 1.4 million in the U.K., breaking the record set by its predecessor Modern Warfare 2 by some 2.5 million copies. A subtitled version was released in Japan on November 18, 2010. A Japanese-dubbed version will be released on December 16, 2010. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Wii Game 5

WarioWare: Smooth Moves

WarioWare: Smooth Moves, known in Japan as Odoru Made in Wario, is a party video game developed by Nintendo SPD and Intelligent Systems. It is the fifth game in the WarioWare series of games. Like its predecessors, WarioWare: Smooth Moves is built around a collection of microgames that last about five seconds each, and which require that the player hold the Wii Remote in specific positions. The game offers the microgames to the player in rapid succession, by first instructing the player to hold the Wii Remote in a specific manner, and then showing them the microgame. The microgames are divided into several stages, which each loosely connect the microgames with the help of a story.

Smooth Moves was given generally favorable reviews, receiving aggregated scores of 83% from Metacritic and 82% from Game Rankings. Praise focused on the game's entertainment value, especially at parties, while criticism targeted its length. WarioWare: Smooth Moves received a ToyAward in the Trend and Lifestyle category from the 2007 Nuremberg International Toy Fair. It was also given the award for Best Action Game at IGN's Wii Best of E3 2006 Awards; the website later named it their Game of the Month for January 2007. WarioWare: Smooth Moves was the United States' 4th best-selling game in its debut month of January 2007. In Japan, it sold 63,954 copies in its debut week of November 27 – December 3, 2006, making it the 4th best-selling launch game for the Wii after Wii Sports, Wii Play, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Xbox 360 Game 4

Super Meat Boy

Super Meat Boy is a platform game developed by Team Meat and is the successor to Edmund McMillen's and Jonathan McEntee's flash game, Meat Boy, originally released on Newgrounds in October 2008. It was released on Xbox Live Arcade.

Super Meat Boy was the winner of the Pax 10 at Penny Arcade Expo 2010 and was awarded Game of the Show by Destructoid. It also received a nomination for Game of the Show from Machinima. The game also received nominations for Grand Prize and Excellence in Audio in the 2010 Independent Games Festival. It won the award for Most Challenging Game in IGN's Best of 2010 awards and also received nominations for Best Soundtrack, Best Retro Design.

The game currently has an aggregate score of 90 on Metacritic based off of 38 critic reviews and 91.10% on GameRankings based on 29 reviews, indicating universal acclaim. IGN gave the game a 9.0 score and an Editor's Choice award, praising its perfect controls and inventive challenges. 1UP.com gave the game an A rank. GamesRadar gave the game 9/10, saying "while it’s always tough and demanding, it never feels cheap, or like the game is cheating you." Gamespot gave the game 9.5, praising precise control, excellent level design, and a smooth difficulty curve. Joystiq gave the game a score of 4.5/5, with the reviewer calling it "one of the best platformers I've ever played." Eurogamer gave the game 9/10, saying "Super Meat Boy starts out as just another indie game that revels in driving you crazy, but you end up crazy in love." Destructoid gave the game 9.5/10, calling it "the world's newest 2D platforming legend." MTV Multiplayer reviewer Russ Frushtick said the game is "easily one of the best games on Xbox Live Arcade and should be considered one of the finest 2D platformers ever made." Official Xbox Magazine gave the game 10/10 calling it "the best tenner you'll ever spend". G4's X-Play gave the game a 5/5, saying it has "one of the best dollar-to-fun ratios around". PC Gamer gave the game 90%, calling it "a delightfully challenging platformer." (in Wikipedia)

Best of PS3 Game 4

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is an action-adventure video game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the sequel to the 2007 game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. It was first shown and announced on December 1st 2008.  Officially announced in the January 2009 issue of Game Informer, it was released in October 2009. A major critical and commercial success, it was named by Metacritic as the most critically acclaimed game of 2009, and won Game of the Year awards on IGN, Giant Bomb, AIAS, X-Play, Reviews on the Run, Game Developers Choice Awards, and the Spike Video Game Awards for the year 2009. A sequel, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, was announced on December 9 2010. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Wii Game 4

Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition

Resident Evil 4, known in Japan as Biohazard 4, is a survival horror third-person shooter video game developed by Capcom's Production Studio 4 and published by multiple publishers, including Capcom, Ubisoft, Nintendo Australia, Red Ant Enterprises and THQ Asia Pacific. The game was originally released on January 11, 2005 in North America, and on January 27 in Japan.

First hinted at in early December 1999, Resident Evil 4 underwent a long development time during which four proposed versions of the game were discarded. Initially developed for the PlayStation 2, the first attempt was directed by Hideki Kamiya after producer Shinji Mikami requested him to create a new entry in the Resident Evil series. Nevertheless, it was decided to start development over again. The game was intended to be a Nintendo GameCube exclusive, but a PlayStation 2 version was announced before the game was released for the GameCube. Resident Evil 4 was subsequently released in full for PC (Microsoft Windows) and Wii, and in heavily condensed versions for other platforms, including the iOS, Mobile phones, and Zeebo.

Resident Evil 4 has garnered great critical acclaim, averaging a score of 96 on Metacritic. It has received stellar reviews from various video game magazines and websites. The game was considered by most critics as a top contender for 2005's Game of the Year, and was seen as a successful crossover hit; the new gameplay alterations and immersive style appealed to many not previously familiar with the series. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Xbox 360 Game 3

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (often referenced as Oblivion) is a single-player role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks and the Take-Two Interactive subsidiary 2K Games. It is the fourth installment in The Elder Scrolls action fantasy video game series, following The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.

Oblivion's main story revolves around the player character's efforts to thwart a fanatical cult that plans to open the gates to a realm called Oblivion. The game continues the open-world tradition of its predecessors by allowing the player to travel anywhere in the game world at any time and to ignore or postpone the main storyline indefinitely. Developers opted for tighter pacing and greater plot focus than in past titles.

Development for Oblivion began in 2002, directly after the release of Morrowind. In order to achieve their goals of designing "cutting-edge graphics" and creating a more believable environment, Bethesda made use of an improved Havok physics engine; high dynamic range lighting; procedural content generation tools that allowed developers to quickly create detailed terrains; and the Radiant AI system, which allows non-player characters (NPCs) to make choices and engage in behaviors more complex than in past titles. The game was developed with fully voiced dialogue—a first for the series—and features the music of BAFTA-award-winning composer Jeremy Soule.

Oblivion was generally well received and won a number of industry and publication awards. The game had shipped 1.7 million copies by April 10, 2006, and sold over three million copies by January 18, 2007. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition, a package including both Shivering Isles and the official plug-in Knights of the Nine, was released in Autumn 2007 for Windows PCs, the Xbox 360, and the PlayStation 3. (in Wikipedia)