Raise your glass... The Anthems of 2010

As I soundly reflect upon the year 2010, I did not contract Bieber Fever, but instead found Passion for a certain lesser known. The planets aligned when a man named Mars sang a sweet song, while Cee-Lo supplied the words for any suitable battle. 

Note: Roughly 90% of the listed are from 2010, with a few exceptions. Sometimes my head transcends to the past...

2010 Song Anthems:

• New Years Eve Anthem: "Neon Lights" - Natasha Bedingfield

• Needs to Stay in 2010 Anthem: "Hey, Soul Sister" - Train

• TV Series Theme: The Walking Dead  – Bear McCreary

• TV Ad Anthem – "Home" - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (Ford Fiesta spot)

• Movie Score (TIE): Book of Eli – Atticus Ross & Black Swan – Clint Mansell

• Movie Soundtrack Pick: "Cobrastyle" – Performed by Teddy Bears– Date Night

• Party Anthem: "I Like It" – Enrique Iglesias (feat. Pitbull)

• Just Do It Anthem: "Marchin On" – OneRepublic

• Smart Phone Ringtone Anthem: "Telephone" – Lady GaGa & Beyoncé

• Defines Current Economy Anthem:  "The Persuaded" – Faded Paper Figures

• Back to School Anthem: "A to G" - Blackalicious

• Holiday Stress Buster Anthem:  "Coming Home" – Diddy, Dirty Money & T.I.

• Winter Anthem: "Christmas Lights" - Coldplay

• Spring Anthem: "Daisy Cutter" – 311

• Summer Anthem: "Airplanes" – B.O.B (feat. Hayley Williams)

• Fall Anthem: "Thieves in the Night" – Hot Chip

• Mourning a Loss Anthem – "All of Creation" - MercyMe

• 20-something Anthem: "Kings and Queens" – 30 Seconds to Mars

• Night Life Anthem: "Night Life" – Scissor Sisters

• I Love America Anthem – "Empire State of Mind" – Jay-Z

• International Anthem –The Beatles (iTunes arrival)

• Angst Anthem – "F**k You" – Cee Lo Green

• Late Night Discovery Anthem – "Father’s Son" - Fistful of Mercy- (performed on Conan )

• The Mainstream Crooner: Bruno Mars (track of choice: "Somewhere in Brooklyn")

• Girl Power Anthem:  "Indestructible" - Robyn

• Man Power Anthem:  "Power" – Kanye West

• Shoulda Woulda Anthem:  "Just a Dream" – Nelly

• Start Anew Anthem: "A Beautiful Day" – India.Arie

• The Gem of 2010 - "Little Secrets" - Passion Pit

Hidden TV Gems of 2010

2010- The year of *Boardwalk Gangstas and Jersey Guidos, Hungry Zombies and Bloody Gorgeous Vampires, oh, and that half hour contemporary Family sitcom...

The above references deserve the credit and notable recognition in "The Best of TV: 2010" - However...

The following listed are a personal compilation of underdog, yet wonderful television programs that I enjoy(ed).

Note: Some of the listed items have been cancelled, and therefore exponentially deserve recognition for wrongful termination. It is ok friends, Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks, and Dollhouse, are doing just fine in the afterlife (thank you home entertainment systems.)

Hidden TV Gems of 2010

• How to Make it in America - HBO
• 1/2 hour single camera day in the life of a 20 something trying to find his way in NYC. Fun, yet personal. As a 20 something kid trying to make it in.. hmm life? I find the 2 main characters very relatable and much more realistic than another certain HBO show who is making it in a certain Hollytown. 
• Life Unexpected - CW - canned
• Herein lies a show that has been canned. One of the CW's finest, and I mean that in the most genuine way possible. For a network with a reputation for being somewhat one dimensional, this show filled the other 2 sides of an otherwise flat network. Perhaps my praise roots from childhood nostalgia: alums Shiri Appleby (Roswell), Kerr Smith (Dawson's Creek), and Emma Caulfield (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) reunite under one show. Due to its cancellation, now we'll never know if Jessica Biel would walk through the door!
• Fringe - Fox
• Slowly gaining recognition. Slowly...
• Haven - SyFy
• If you like Fringe, Haven is a nice mystery sci fi substitute when the former is on leave for summer vacation. Based on Stephen King's "The Colorado Kid" 
• Undercover Boss - CBS
• It's fun. Everyone can relate to it. Those who can't identify, should/could be featured on show. It displays the missing heart that is void from cross network rival The Apprentice. 
• Better Off Ted - ABC - canned
• The ginger sister to The Office and 30 Rock. The paternal twin to Arrested Development. It was funny, it was dry, it was on ABC. It's Better suited for TBS. The show's potential audience is laughing away on cable with the ginger king of comedy, Conan O'Brien. 
• Mercy - NBC - canned
•  Yes, it was another "medical drama" on network tv, but it was the only "medical drama" to focus on the personal and emotional struggles for a female Iraqi war veteran, returning home to quasi-normal life. Now, I know the popular kids at Seattle Grace recruited a Iraqi war veteran as well, but Mercy's thematic premise ultimately focused on the female character's pre and post combat stress. Each episode directly or indirectly focused on her struggles in everyday life including work, family, and self. 
• Cougar Town - ABC
•  It better stay around. It is not about hungry Cougars in search of tasty meat - no four legged nor two legged felines of any kind. The Freaks and Geeks fans will enjoy a familiar face -  Busy Phillips, who I believe to be the comedic gem of the series. 
• The Talk - CBS
• If you enjoy a talk program which requires minimal use of the "mute" button, this is a nice supplement that pleasantly compliments afternoon tea time. 

*Items listed include: Boardwalk Empire, Jersey Shore, The Walking Dead, The Vampire Diaries, Modern Family