The Best Music of 2011 - The "Ambies"

Well, 2011 is nearly a wrap and it's time to take a walk down memory lane.  If we were on the 'Board' of an artistic academy (such as for the Grammys), what artists and songs would we nominate for the 'Best of' 2011?

In lieu of an the Academy, Ambient DJs' staff members - as well as several industry friends, opined on their nominees for the "Best of 2011."  Contributing DJs include DJ Iron Mike, DJ Spinz, DJ AllDay, DJ Greg Nice, DJ Brett Gash, DJ Garrett B., DJ Austin, DJ "Stav the Greek," DJ Gill "the Dream" and myself, DJ Gregg Ambient.  Keep in mind that our esteemed academy is based in Central NJ, a land where dance music and hip hop reign, and country music is seldom heard.

Introducing, the categories and nominations for the first annual "Ambie" awards!  Winners are announced at the bottom of the blog.

TOP DANCE SONG OF THE YEAR
1) Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
2) Give Me Everything Tonight - Pitbull f/Ne-Yo, Nayer and Afrojack
3) Paris - Jay-Z and Kanye West
4) Cinema (Skrillex Remix) - Benny Benassi
5) Barbara Streisand - Duck Sauce

BEST NEW ARTIST
1) Mumford and Sons
2) Foster the People
3) J. Cole
4) Wiz Khalifa
5) Avicii

BEST ALBUM
1) 21 - Adele
2) Watch the Throne - Jay-Z and Kanye West
3) Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites - Skrillex
4) Sorry for Party Rocking - LMFAO
5) Torches - Foster the People

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1) Pitbull
2) Adele
3) Jay-Z and Kanye West
4) The Black Eyed Peas
5) Chris Brown

BEST HIP HOP/R&B ACT
1) Rick Ross
2) Nicki Minaj
3) Drake
4) Trey Songz
5) Miguel

TOP POP ACT
1) Lady Gaga
2) Katy Perry
3) Rihanna
4) Justin Bieber
5) Bruno Mars

TOP ELECTRONIC ACT
1) Avicii
2) Skrillex
3) David Guetta
4) DeadMau5
5) Afrojack

Based on staff consensus and the executive powers of DJ Gregg Ambient, the winners of the first annual Ambie Awards are shown below!

TOP DANCE SONG OF THE YEAR

Nearly every DJ selected either LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" or Pitbull's "Give Me Everything Tonight."  In a very close call, the award goes to "Mr. Worldwide" Pitbull... this track really works crowds into a frenzy!

BEST NEW ARTIST

In a close battle against J. Cole, Mumford & Sons takes the Ambie!



BEST ALBUM

As one DJ commented, Adele's 21 has the best production, vocals and lyrics, and most of us agreed.  The album of the year goes to Adele, and let's hope that her voice problems are resolved soon.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

And the Ambie goes to..... Jay-Z and Kanye West for their collaboration on "The Throne"  Their music is "provocative and really gets the people going!"



BEST HIP HOP/R&B ACT

Dancefloors could just not get enough of the barks, grunts and boasts of the Teflon Don, aka Ricky Rosay, aka Big Meech - congratulations Rick Ross!



TOP POP ACT

Our DJs were most impressed by the efforts of Rihanna in 2011.  Lady Gaga's latest album was good, but not ground-breaking.  Bruno Mars' charisma and talent should take him far.  Bieber and Perry made us yawn.



TOP ELECTRONIC ACT

As a general comment, electronic dance music made great strides in 2011, breaking through into mainstream radio.  But the biggest break-through artist of them all was Skrillex, best known for his bass-heavy dubstep and electro productions.



Thanks to the Academy!

We look forward to partying with you in 2012!  To learn more about our award-winning DJ services, visit us online at www.ambientdj.com.

To view DJ Gregg Ambient's Top 50 songs of 2011, click here.
To view his 25 Recommended songs for New Year's Eve, click here.

Winter 2011 - DJ Gregg's Playlist

On a quarterly basis, Ambient DJs' music mixologists prepare playlists reflecting their top dance floor selections.  Listed is below DJ Gregg's (aka DJ Jagged's) Winter 2011 playlist, reflecting a wide variety of tracks across multiple genres.  Songs are listed in no particular order!

1) Animals - Neon Trees (alternative)
2) Uprising - Muse (alternative)
3) Dog Days are Over - Florence and the Machine (alternative)
4) Rocketeer - Far East Movement f/Ryan Tedder
5) Firework - Katy Perry (dance)
6) Only Girl in the World - Rihanna (dance)
7) Hey Baby - Drop it to the Floor - Pitbull (w/T-Pain) (dance)
8) Forget You - Cee Lo Green (dance)
9) Raise Your Glass - Pink (pop/dance)
10) Time (the Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas (dance)
11) We No Speak Americano (Chew Fu Rosetta Stone Dub) - Yolanda f/D-Cup (dance)
12) I Can't Go for That (Members Only Mix) - Hall & Oates (80s/dance)
13) Take Over Control - Afrojack f/Eva Simons (electro)
14) Tarantella - Chicco Secci Hurricane Radio Edit (electronic)
15) Stereo Love - Edward Maya f/Vika Jigulina (electronic)
16) Bromance (Avicil's Radio Edit) - Tim Berg (electronic)
17) Raise Your Weapon - DeadMau5 (techno/dubstep)
18) Carbonated - Mt. Kimbi (dubstep)
19) C'Mon - Tiesto (f/Diplo) (trance)
20) Grenade (DJ Joey C. Remix) - Bruno Mars (dance)
21) Black & Yellow - Wiz Khalifa w/Snoop Dogg & Friends (hip hop)
22) When a Woman Loves - R. Kelly (R&B)
23) Sweat (Wet) - Snoop Dogg (hip hop/R&B)
24) Roman's Revenge - Nicki Minaj (hip hop)
25) Hold it Against Me - Britney Spears (dance/electro)
26) Teach Me How to Dougie - Cali Swag District (hip hop)
27) Fancy - Drake f/T.I. and Swizz Beats (hip hop)
28) Barbara Streisand - Duck Sauce (dance)
29) Party Rock - LMFAO (electro)
30) Coma Cat - Tensnake (electronic)
31) Bromance (Aviciii's Radio Edit) - Tim Berg (dance)
32) Hello - Martin Solveig f/Dragonette (dance)
33) Cowbell - DJ Shiftee (dubstep)
34) Make the Floor Shake - Afrojack w/Wiz Khalifa (MaxMethods Remix)
35) Take Me Back - Kings of Tomorrow f/April (Sandy Rivera's Original Mix)
36) Rolling in the Deep - Adele (Vocalist)
37) The Cave - Mumford & Sons (Alternative)
38) Yeah (3x) - Chris Brown (Dance)
39) Born This Way - Lady Gaga (dance)
40) Marry Me - Train (acoustic)
41) Beautiful People - Chris Brown f/Benny Benassi (Disco Fries Electro Remix) (Dance)
42) Loca - Shakira w/Dizzee Rascal
43) On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez (dance)
44) Down on Me - Jeremih w/50 Cent (hip hop)
45) You Be Killin' Em - Fabolous (hip hop)
46) Heat You Up (Melt You Down) - Shirley Lites (house)
47) Grand Central (Deep Into the Bowel of House) - DJ Sprinkles (house)
48) One - Swedish House Mafia (electro)
49) Ripple Effect - Evey Styles (ambient)
50) Cut the Lights (Acid & Skribble's Lights Out Edit) - Chris Reeder
51) Hey Muma - Cam'ron w/Vado (hip hop)
52) I Do - Colbie Caillat (pop)
53) Bow Chicka-Wow - Mike Posner (pop)

Classics in Rotation

1) Show Me Love - Robin S. (90s dance)
2) Make the World Go Round - Sandy B. (90s dance)
3) Sing Hallelujah - Dr. Alban (90s dance)
4) Around the World - Lisa Stansfield (90s)
5) Say It Ain't So - Weezer (alternative)
6) Where It's At - Beck (alternative)
7) True - Spandau Ballet (80s)
8) Oh Sheila - Ready for the World (80s)
9) I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince (80s)

10) Take Your Time (Do it Right) - S.O.S. Band (80s)

11) Didn't Mean to Turn You On - Cherrelle (80s)

12) Flashlight - Parliament (funk)
13) Low Rider - War (funk)
14) Do I Do - Stevie Wonder (soul)
15) I Wanna Know - Joe (R&B)
16) Cry for You - September (dance)
17) Chameleon - Herbie Hancock (jazz)
18) Lambada - Kaoma (Brazilian/world)
19) Waiting on a Friend - Rolling Stones (rock)
20) Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes (rock)
21) Sara - Starship (80s)
22) London Calling - The Clash (Punk)
23) How Soon is Now - The Smiths (80s)
24) Karma Chameleon - Culture Club (80s)
25) Return of the Mack - Mark Morrison (90s)


To see DJ Jagged's Top 50 tracks of 2010, click here.  For booking information, please visit Ambient DJs' corporate website here.