It’s been an incredible year for R&B and there are two artists who have made their mark on the charts. Beyoncé and Usher have dominated 2012, with both of them topping the Best of 2012 R&B Songs list. If you’re a fan of quality music then these two superstars should be at the top of your playlist. They’ve come out with tunes that make us want to dance, feel inspired and reflect on our lives – all in one song! So let’s take a closer look at why these two musicians have had such success this year.
Award-winning singer Beyoncé Knowles has had quite an impressive year; her fourth studio album ‘4′ was released in 2011 but it wasn’t until 2012 when she really took off. She achieved an astounding 10 number 1 hits from this album alone, making her the only female artist ever to do so. It seemed like everywhere you looked there was something related to Queen B; whether it was news articles, interviews or performances. Her hit singles ‘Love On Top’, ‘Countdown’ and ‘End Of Time’ were some of the most popular songs amongst fans this year and they definitely deserve a place on any best-of list.
Usher Raymond IV is another name synonymous with R&B excellence – he’s been around since 1994 and over his career has sold more than 65 million albums worldwide. In 2012 he finally achieved his fifth consecutive US number 1 single with “Scream” which featured on his seventh studio album ‘Looking 4 Myself’. Other tracks from this record also did extremely well including “Climax”, “Lemme See” (featuring Rick Ross) & “Numb”. These powerful vocals combined with cutting edge beats create a sound that can bridge generations together – no wonder his latest work has seen him awarded multiple awards already this year!
Popular R&B Tracks Of 2012
The year 2012 was an incredible one for R&B music. Many popular and talented artists released hit singles that topped charts around the world. Usher, Beyonce, and Rihanna were just a few of the many names dominating the radio waves throughout the entire year.
Usher’s song “Scream” quickly became a fan favorite with its catchy beat and signature dance moves. His other track “Climax”, which he described as his most personal record to date, also made a big splash on airwaves across the globe. Meanwhile, Beyonce scored her fourth consecutive number-one single with “Love on Top” —the third release from her highly successful album 4—and Rihanna charted another success story with “Diamonds”. The Barbadian singer had seven songs in total reach the top ten of Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles Chart; making it quite clear why she is considered one of today’s biggest pop stars.
It wasn’t all about mainstream hits though; independent acts like Frank Ocean and Miguel also had massive successes this past year with their respective albums Channel Orange and Kaleidoscope Dream earning them widespread critical acclaim . This only goes to show that there is something special happening at present within the genre: both established superstars and rising talents are delivering strong work and creating some fantastic music in 2012.
Notable Artists In The Genre
As the year progressed, it became increasingly clear that R&B was teeming with talent. Some of the most noteworthy artists included Chris Brown, Drake, Ne-Yo and Pharrell Williams — all of whom had a number of hits throughout 2012.
Chris Brown released his fifth studio album Fortune in July to positive reviews; while its lead single “Turn Up The Music” topped charts worldwide. Drake followed up on 2011’s mega success Take Care by releasing Club Paradise, which featured collaborations with some impressive names like Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross. Ne-Yo also delivered a strong performance this past year with his sixth studio album R.E.D., featuring singles such as “Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)” and “Lazy Love”. Lastly, Pharrell dropped two albums: In My Mindand Girl—both showcasing his diverse range of music production capabilities.
It’s fair to say that these artists are setting themselves apart from their peers by delivering quality material and pushing the boundaries of what is possible within the genre. They have certainly made an impact on popular culture over the course of 2012 and will continue to do so for many years to come.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Beyonce and Usher have cemented their places as two of the top R&B artists of 2012. Their songs were immensely popular with fans around the world. It’s clear that these two musicians are here to stay in the music industry for many years to come.
Usher’s track “Climax” was a smash hit, topping numerous charts worldwide and winning multiple awards including Best R&B Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards. Meanwhile Beyonce released her fifth studio album which featured chart-topping singles like “Love On Top,” “Countdown,” and “End Of Time.” She even kicked off her Mrs Carter Show World Tour at London’s 02 Arena.
It goes without saying that both of these artists have made an impact on today’s musical landscape. They’ve provided us with some great tunes over the last year and it’ll be exciting to see what they have in store for 2013!
