Cardi B – Bodak Yellow
Original type of rap flow, or at least popularizing it, with a good song. Ubiquitous at parties
Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
This guy is known to everyone you meet around the world. He’s not that good, I guess kind of like Avril Lavine once was. This song was everywhere for a couple years, was super famous on the internet for breaking records for views.
Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Bass
Guess what? Miley Cyrus from Hannah Montana is naked on a wrecking ball in her new music video. Huge chorus, big impression, combined with her magazine shoots, private life tabloid coverage, etc.
Sia – Chandellier
One of three or four poppy ballads by the songwriter and singer. I don’t know if it was much of a statement (maybe Elastic Heart is moreso), but this one was one everyone noticed, both because of the huge chorus, good hook, and music videos featuring the little ballerina Maddy (and absent the photo-shy Sia).
Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepson
Everyone sang this and referenced it. It’s catchy and a good song.
Katy Perry – Dark Horse
One of several songs that were all not really memorable (compared with I Kissed a Girl from 2008) but dominated airplay and playlists.
Haters Gonna Hate – Taylor Swift
Not an amazing song, but suited her and all that was going on. Good song.
Bruno Mars – 24 K Majic
Yeah, he rips MJ and others a lot, and just redoes past successes. But this song has a lot to it, and a lot of oritinal popiness. It was everywhere for a year or so.
The Weeknd – I Can’t Feel my Face
Another sort of rip off artist (again MJ, and the song I like from him is the total MJ rip off song apparently because when it comes up people literally say ‘This is by Michael Jackson, right?’ which is the Daft Punk I Feel It Comin). I Can’t Feel My Face, though, I think stands out to people more, it refecences drugs which party people like to do. The Weeknd is also one of the only artists on here, too, that a lot of people actually consider sexy.
Drake – Hotline Bling
Drake sucks, as everyone knows. But this song was good, and it was ubiquitous
Rihanna – Diamonds in the Sky
Kind of a stupid song but it was apparently catchy to a lot of peole. We Found Love and Don’t Stop the Music were pretty similar. These were definitely common at clubs though, reminding me of 90s dance tracks like Do You Think You’d Be Better Off Alone and Strong Enough. However she also dropped Work and Cake, which were also kind of annoying sounding but made a slight impression.
Childish Gambino – This Is America
The year this track was released, you could run all the other top of the charts hip hop songs together because they had the same beat, all except this one and a couple others
Childish Gambino – Redbone
This song was literally covered by every person on YouTube
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee – Despacito
This was the first massive Spanish language track. It was everywhere. It was catchy and danceable. I don’t know if it will be remembered, though.
Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines
Along with ‘Get Lucky,’ these were two of the best pieces of music you were gonna hear on the radio that summer, and hear every night at every club. A good song, one that everyone noticed and stuck out.
Daft Punk – Get Lucky
This was a summer jam and had a defining, sweet sound and great hook.
Adelle – Someone Like You
I think as well as being among her top, pretty similar in style ballads this one is more of a statement than Rolling In The Deep or Hello or Rumor Has It
Sugar – Maroon 5
Not a strong song, but a good enough hook and a girl-friendly music video. Several girlfriends wanted to ‘show me’ this song.
Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Golding
Strong hook. Good song for a (meaningless) pop song.
Meghan Trainor – All About That Bass
We’ve entered a part of the list where there’s going to be several fairly indistinguishable pop songs which all stood out, but didn’t really define anything or really make an original music statement
Nicky Manaj – Super Bass
Like quite a few songs on this list, I had to Google it to find out which pop icon sang it, because it could have been any of them.
Icona Pop – I Love It
Super poppy. Good song. I got the feeling this one was a bit more hard core than the other very similar bands on here, although actually I thought this was by one of the other pop stars for a while (I forget who, whether Taylor, Carlie, or Katy)
Justin Beiber – Where Are U Now
Several hooky but annoying songs by Beiber could be listed here in the same way. They were popular, I didn’t realize any of them were Beiber until I read it each time. This one used the EDM “break” which was important in the 2010s. Sorry and Let Me Love you were just as annoying but fairly catchy.
Closer – Chainsmokers
I don’t know if this was considered to be a good song when it came out even, and it’s kind of more annoying and flat now. However it was massive. These guys were DJs and I think headlined Cochella with their DJ remixes or whatever before they put their pop tracks out. They had massive build up from Cochella and lots of requests for Closer to be released. It exploded with a girl-friendly lyric promo video. Basically a song about the most bland everygirl fantasy life. Wide appeal.
Daddy Yankee – Gasolina
Every club where there is a Spanish person present. 99% of other clubs.
Kanye West – (You’re Such a Fuckin Ho) I Love It
This was a favorite at dance parties and clubs among pretty much every DJ around.
Big Sean – I Don’t Fuck With You
Along with I Love It, this was a big DJ favorite at basically every outdoor party or club.
Lorde – Royals
A favorite among a lot of the younger girls I knew, it stood out on the radio.
Beyonce – Formation
Kind of seems like low participation on her part on this song, and she’s not dropping fun songs anymore. A lot of references to herself here. Alabama and Luoisiana rymed well though.
All the other ones which weren’t worth a mention
TOP INDIE
These songs I don’t think have wide popular era-defining power like the ones above. Instead, their the best of the fairly successful songs by smaller artists.
Lana Del Rey – Video Games
Maybe the only artist on this second list that could have been put on the other list. She has massive plays numbers on her songs, like hundreds of million, not just like 10m or less like most of these. I could have put any of like 10 or 15 songs as the title as she’s released a ton of good songs this decade.
Sky Ferreira – Everything’s Embarassing
It seems this album might be a one-off but still such a great combination of Sky and Dev Hynes (producer).
Solange – Losing You
I don’t know why Solange is as popular as she is, because besides this song I didn’t ever hear any pop, but people still love her. This song is also by Dev Hynes in the same era as Sky’s, but I would say today Solange is still really popular while Sky is largely forgotten / never known, except by her fans who are kind of cultish about how much the like her.
Future Islands – Seasons
Such a good song, right? A lot of original singing elements here, too (at least to be inserted into a pop / indie song).
Borders – M.I.A.
Along with Born Free, Freedun, and Bad Girls, M.I.A. put out some great, great sounding, unlike anything else, ucompromising-seeming tracks.
Bon Iver – Any tracks
I don’t think people listen to Bon Iver by the song. I could be wrong. People listen to the first two albums in their bedrooms and cars.
M83 – Midnight City
Indie stars for a while. This album was good. Wasn’t it a double album, too?
Neon Indian – Polish Girl
That whole album was good. I don’t think it makes much difference which track you hear. The next two albums were also good, which makes Neon Indian stand out among a lot of the late 00s/early 10s indie bands.
Grimes – Oblivion
Poppy and slightly gothy, unlike most girls on these lists, Grimes produces and sings her own music.
Bill Callahan – Riding for That Feeling
Not a lot of people putting out top music on guitar and voice alone, or with just a folk band backing.
Death Grips – The Money Store
I don’t think it matters which track is listed. I don’t think anyone had heard anything like Death Grips when they heard them the first time.
While grilling is a favorite pastime during the spring and summer months, smoking meat in lieu of grilling is more of a fall and winter activity, which sounds nice until the wind is blowing through your jacket and chilling you down to your bones while you check the progress on the meat.
Fortunately, there’s a workaround that you can set up and get going in almost no time, whether you’re on a budget or a DIY-er who wants a new challenge. If you’re looking for a small, outdoor smoker, you can create one using a hot plate, a grate, and a flowerpot.
Mother Earth News has a simple DIY tutorial with photos that you can make in an afternoon. You’ll need a drill, some washers and bolts, a small piece of wood, and a handle as well as the aforementioned basic materials, as well as pot tray (which will be used as part of the lid).
Once you’ve assembled this relatively easy, inexpensive smoker, you can get to work smoking a variety of fish, fowl, or cuts of beef, pork, or even exotic meats. However you choose to use it, you’ll be fielding questions and compliments from anyone who gets to try the resulting dishes.
If you want to build your own outdoor cooker, you can find the complete tutorial at Mother Earth News.
In 1 minute, you’ll understand the right way to use these things.
The trick is the right angle and coming at it with the strap from the correct side. If you do that, it’s easy. Take your ratchet strap and make a 90 degree angle with it. Then grab your strap end (the end of the other strap) and feed it through the hole and back around and out that same hole again. Pull it taught. Then you can ratchet it down.
And to release, just pull the lever.
Easiest to just watch the little video.
The reason I made this little video is because actually before you use ratchet straps correctly, they seem confusing. Some people never learn how to use them, and go through their lives struggling with them each time. Not necessary, because they’re simple and it only takes a minute to learn how to use them.
I show a regular ratchet strap (with 2 parts, each having hooks at the end), as well as an “endless ratchet strap” which just has one part. Good to show them together because they both use the same type of ratchet, and seeing them both reinforces the learning.
2-stroke engines have more horsepower, but poorer fuel efficiency than 4-strokes. Why? Because 2-strokes repeat the process of combustion more than 4-strokes.
A 2-stoke engine lacks the kinds of valves a 4-stroke has, so air intake and exhaust of fumes are handled entirely by the motion of the piston (ie the 2-stroke is simpler, and was usually used in the early days of motorcycles).
A 4-stroke engine has valves
Soichiro Honda thought to improve fuel efficiency of his motorbikes by fitting them with 4-strokes.
A 4-stroke has special valves. There’s a valve for letting in fuel and air (into the cylinder), and another valve releases fumes (exhaust gases) after the mix of fuel and air has been ignited by the spark plug (and under compression provided by the piston). They open at different times.
A 2-stroke just has openings to let in fuel/air and let out fumes. The openings are covered by the piston at different times, so they are open at different times to let stuff in or out.
Imagine your sink is full of water, then eventually, when you drain it, the water will go down the sink like a tornado in a birds eye view. That is what a whirlpool looks like. It is a swirling body of water produced by the meeting of opposing currents. Usually, it is because of the tides that a whirlpool is created. The majority of whirlpools are not very powerful. However, the more powerful ones are properly termed maelstroms. And the proper term for any whirlpool that has a downdraft is Vortex.
One of the most powerful whirlpools is created in narrow, shallow straits with fast flowing water. If ever you have seen the Niagara Falls, then you can imagine the powerfully strong waterfalls which whirlpools can be quite strong compared to.
There had been several noted whirlpools in the world: the Saltstraumen in Norway, which reaches speeds of 37 km/h (23 mph); the Moskstraumen also in Norway (the original maelstrom), which reaches speeds of 27.8 km/h (17.3 mph); the Old Sow in Canada, which has been measured with a speed of up to 27.6 km/h (17.1 mph); the Naruto whirlpools in Japan, which has a speed of 20 km/h (12 mph); and the Corryvreckan in Scotland, which reaches speeds of 18 km/h (11 mph).
Many seafarers have been killed and boats were destroyed by the powerful whirlpools. However, because of gossip and the exchange of words by mouth, stories have been changed and exaggerations have been passed down. If you have heard the tales like those by Paul the Deacon, Edgar Allan Poe, and Jules Verne, then you should know that those are entirely fictional.
“If ever there’s a strong reminder to be sure you’re fully rested when driving the rig, here it is: Imagine nodding off behind the wheel, and suddenly waking up to find this RV in the lane immediately in front of you,” writes RV Travel about this outstanding paintjob. The whole rig is painted except for the licence plate and center window.
This looks alot like Skateboard artist Jimbo Phillips’ work, right? Apparently, according to at least one commenter, it is a “stolen” design. Do you count using designs you like and reusing them as stealing?
These custom camper vans bring easy living to the great outdoors
For those who would rather camp off the grid…
Combining city vehicle and country camping, these camper vans are really adaptable. I guess all vans are adaptable, depending on what you put in them. The option many people look at is price, which is based a lot on how new of a camper van they buy, as well as features — do you want to go full-on camper or just some couches that fold into beds and maybe a cookstove?
This particular one is an offroad 4X4 new-style Sprinter van. There’s a whole scene of people who live in and customize Sprinters, which have been found to be one of the better designs for off-grid, travel, or camp-style living.
From the manufacturer: “Our latest 4×4 Outside Van creation compels you to do more, by allowing full access to conversion treats. Whether it be an extended overland adventure or a day trip to your favorite trail head; This stunning Graphic Grey Metallic 4×4 170 Mercedes Benz Sprinter will allow no compromise. Highlighted features include – Webasto heating and water system, Stage 3 Magnum battery power, duel micro galleys w/drop down sink and induction stove top, OSV stainless shower enclosure, OSV 3 panel bed, custom leather rollover bench, Isotherm refrigerator, Solar charger, paint match awning, OSV rear step bumper, retractable running boards (driver and passenger sides) and high-output LED driving lights.”
For options as far as cost and features, Outside Van offers vans with what it calls “core,” “configurable,” and “custom” conversions, none of which come cheap. A core van conversion generally takes 4-7 weeks to build, costing buyers between $48,000 to $53,000, which doesn’t even include the original price of the van. The more deluxe versions with heat and power, which takes months for them to complete, puts the price at around 80-135K total.
These Truck Drawers Make the Most of Your Space
This is awesome. period. Put anything you want on top. Keep everything inside secure.
I saw one of these for the first time a while ago. Since I’ve seen people put raised beds in their pickups in order to get enough width to put ATVs on top, which leaves some space underneath, I notices them, because these could fill the space under a flat bed.
There’s a couple of options here. One is to buy one for your pickup or even other type of vehicle (pictures below). The other is to make one, DIY style (there’s a picture of that, too).
From the manufacturer: “The normal TruckVault product adds a secure storage solution to virtually make and model of vehicle available. With the whole unit concealed beneath its carpeted surface, there’s nothing to catch the attention of wandering eyeballs. Within the unit’s interior, sensitive equipment and firearms are protected within a locked environment that does not promote either condensation or heat damage. Choose between Standard or Magnum heights and configure drawers to meet your needs.”
“TruckVault has a solution for every secure in-vehicle storage need whether it be for a Pick-up, SUV, Sedan, Van or any other vehicle on the road today. In addition to our vast array of stock designs, we also work meticulously with you on your custom needs. Our team of highly skilled Territory Representatives will walk you through every step of the process to ensure you get the product you need to tackle your tasks. We take great pride in our products and the quality they represent. Thanks for taking a look.” Contact a TruckVault sales representative for more information: (800) 967-8107.
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