Top Ten Moments in Music of 2010

10. Janelle Monae

Janelle made what is easily one of the best albums of the year, evoking early Bowie, P.Funk, Prince and a dozen other influences, but making it all her own.

9. Prince Tours NY

He hasn’t had opening acts for a while, but look who he chose: Janelle Monae, Cassandra Wilson, Esparza Spaulding…get out of my head, Prince!

Gotta love Sherry Shepard on THE VIEW:

I’m not jealous that I didn’t get to see any of the shows…he’s going to bring that tour west…right?

8. Cee-Lo’s FUCK YOU

Great song by Bruno Mars, and of the two videos produced, I like the first one:

7. Katy Perry

Katy Perry showed great staying power with these songs and videos:

6. Old School Legends on the Tom Joyner Cruise

I’ve had some of my best music moments on the Tom Joyner Cruise. And this year was amazing. The old school funk night was unbelievable: Ohio Players, Confunksion, Brick, Slave, the Bar Kays…I really have to resort to terms like funkgasm.

But the old school night topped that. Doug E. Fresh hosting ten legends from Biz Markie to Arrested Development to Common, topped by a 3am appearance to Minister Louis Farrakhan that had the house silent in rapt attention.

5. AfroCubism

I loved the Buena Vista Social Club when it came out, and love this album, which teams old school Cuban giants with African legends…which was the intent of the first concert.

This album is a jam top to bottom.

4. Mark Ronson & The Business Intl – Bang Bang Bang

My kids love this song and video – me too.

3. Cassandra Wilson

I got to see Cassandra Wilson twice this year – at Catalina’s, then again at the Grammy Museum. Both times we got to hang out afterwards. I can’t tell how extraordinary and wonderful both experiences were. There is no substitute for seeing her live.

2. M.I.A. Born Free

Best video of the year:

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo

1. Artist of the Year: Kanye West

Kanye cannot be denied. Love him, hate him, be irritated, be inspired – you can feel all those things at once about him. But you cannot ignore him.

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