• 'American Idol' bids farewell to Janelle Arthur

    By Craig Berman, TODAY contributor

    Frank Micelotta / FOX

    Janelle Arthur finished in fifth place on "American Idol."

    For the first time since the finals began, “American Idol” sent one of its women packing, though for a minute it seemed like the judges weren’t prepared to let any of the final five go.

    Janelle Arthur was the lowest vote-getter, which wasn’t a shock once Amber Holcomb was deemed safe. As the country singer performed her final song, the judges huddled together and talked things over.

    They have one save that would allow them to keep a singer they feel has been unjustly eliminated, and they have to use it at some point or the show’s going to end a week early and a lot of product placement people are going to be mad. (In past seasons, the judges have had to use the save by the time they get to the top 5.)

    Moreover, the panel really has to use it soon, unless FOX plans on stretching the finale -- scheduled for May 15 and 16 -- over two weeks. Given the show’s propensity for dragging things out, this isn’t out of the question. And as Randy Jackson did say at the start of the show, “This is the best top five we’ve ever had!” which is the biggest compliment he’s offered since he said the same thing about the talent a year ago, two years ago, three years ago and so on.

    But though the judges made the to-save-or-not-to-save decision dramatic, Randy announced that only two of the four wanted to keep Janelle (with Keith Urban being one, judging from his Twitter feed). The decision had to be unanimous, so Janelle finishes her "Idol" journey in fifth place.

    It was hard to argue the result, since Janelle’s been the fourth or fifth best among the women all season. Saving her would probably have just bought her that extra week, two at the most.  And she did get to hear Ryan Seacrest read a note from Dolly Parton praising her, even if it came in the form of the worst impression of the superstar ever. (Don't quit your numerous day jobs, Ryan.)

    Candice Glover had better luck, as original judge Paula Abdul showed up in person to offer kudos for Wednesday’s “Straight Up” cover. This came after Randy claimed that he’d tried to text, call and tweet the woman who used to sit next to him with no response. What does it say about Paula’s reputation that this was a completely plausible thing to say, and that it looked like it genuinely fooled Candice?


    Also looking surprised was Amber. She became the third singer declared safe, after Candice and Angie Miller, and seemed stunned she wasn’t in the bottom two again. All that love from the judges following her second solo on Wednesday clearly paid off. If only she could close the show every week.

    Kree Harrison was the second-lowest vote-getter, and as perennial killjoy/realist Jimmy Iovine noted, she didn't have her best series of performances this week. She’ll have to start cutting loose like she did earlier in the season instead of playing it safe with the vocals, but she would almost certainly have gotten that save if needed.

    Maybe we’ll find out for sure next week, assuming the save is still on the table.

    Were you surprised by the elimination and that the judges didn't use the save? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!

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  • Don't hate! Nicki Minaj is awesome on 'American Idol'

    By Craig Berman, TODAY contributor

    Michael Becker / Fox

    New "Idol" judge Nicki Minaj is adding some much needed spice to the singing competition.

    Opinion: When "American Idol" judge Nicki Minaj is unhappy,  she's not afraid to show it. Just last week, after it was revealed that contestant Curtis Finch Jr. was in danger of being sent packing, she threatened, "If you go home, I’m going home." And when the hopeful got the boot, Nicki left the stage.

    Her exit was great news for the vocal portion of the Internet who would've been thrilled had she carried out her plan and stayed away for good.

    But she didn’t, and thank the reality TV gods for that. Though the Nicki haters may be muting their sets whenever she opens her mouth, she’s the best thing to happen to “Idol” in ages.

    The "Starships" singer is clearly polarizing. She says wacky things. She shows up late sometimes and -- as viewers saw last week -- departs early when it suits her. There are some nights when she seems to be paying limited attention.

    And who among us can turn away from that action?

    Judge drama essential
    As judge Randy Jackson reminds us every time he can’t think of anything else to say, "American Idol" is a singing competition. It’s a high-end talent show, the likes of which go on in every small town in the world and are available 24 hours a day to anyone with a basic cable TV package. Particularly given the increasing competition in the marketplace, “Idol” needs more than its brand name and Ryan Seacrest’s smiling face to avoid being tossed off its perch and lumped in with every other network’s copycat effort.

    “Idol” found its secret right away: drama from the judges. Simon Cowell was the original bad boy who people thought they hated but secretly loved. For all the faux outrage over all the barbs he's thrown to guileless teenagers with outsized dreams, he guaranteed that every week, “Idol” would have something worth watching other than forgettable vocalists singing disco tunes.

    Ever since he decided to leave the show for “X Factor” (and how’s that working out for him?), "Idol" has drifted into dullness and safety, relying heavily on the idea that viewers in the habit of DVRing the show will keep watching on autopilot.

    Replacing Simon and the rest of the crew (aside from Randy, who’s apparently indestructible) with Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler was a great way to add buzz, and there was always the chance that Steven would do something wacky like hit on a teenage female contestant or show up in drag. But most weeks, viewers saw average contestants given below-average and unmemorable feedback from the judges, and sitting through the commercial-padded episodes got harder and harder.

    Newbies to the rescue
    The show needed a reboot, and it’s gotten one. Keith Urban has been outstanding in his opening season, offering encouragement, advice and gentle but firm criticism as warranted. Mariah Carey provides the tight outfits and forgettable prose. Randy is also back to remind people that this is technically the same show that saw Kelly Clarkson burst from obscurity to stardom in its first season.

    But Nicki is the key. She’s the one person on the show who’s impossible to ignore because she’s impossible to predict. You literally have no idea what you're getting when you turn on the TV every Wednesday and Thursday. She might use an upper-crust British accent in the night’s commentary, or she might cause the Fox censor to work overtime. She might undress all the men with both her eyes and her feedback, or tell her favorite woman that she reminds her of pancakes with syrup and butter. It’s like combining a talent show with performance art.

    She’s the first judge since Simon whose comments are impossible to ignore, and she’s under no pressure to conform. She’s a top-selling artist who’s only going to gain credibility among her fans if she’s controversial. She has a lot of rope, and she knows it.

    What’s with the kindness?
    Surprisingly, where she’s not like Simon is in her evilness.


    Simon was, let’s face it, a jerk. Many thought that given her status and reputation in hip-hop, Nicki would have more to gain by being cutting than being nice. She fed into that soon after taking the job, noting that she didn’t plan to advance people just because of their touching backstories.

    She hasn’t done that. If Nicki doesn’t like something, she’ll say so, but there’s no likening a bad performance to a lounge act on a sinking cruise ship, or whatever simile Simon is beating into the ground these days. She’ll offer useful ideas when she has them, and she’ll passionately urge those she doesn’t like to mend their evil ways.

    Put bluntly, Nicki makes "Idol" worth watching again.

    Has Minaj made the season more interesting? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!

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  • Nicki Minaj praises her 'wife' on 'American Idol' as top 10 girls perform

    By Craig Berman, TODAY contributor

    FOX

    "American Idol" judge Nicki Minaj and contestant Kree Harrison.

    “American Idol” has done so much cheerleading for its women this season, it’s a wonder that Ryan Seacrest doesn’t show up each week with pom-poms and a megaphone.

    On Tuesday, the 10 remaining girls did a fine job of letting their performances do the talking, again making viewers wonder why only five of them can make the top 10 on Thursday’s results show (though Randy Jackson did drop a hint that he’d like a wild card, so stay tuned). In case the performances weren't enough to draw in the votes, Nicki Minaj and the judges got their chance to add their own ... creative praise.

    Who did the panel love the most? Particularly for Nicki, the answer changed with every new singer.

    Angie Miller gave another showstopping performance with her Colton Dixon cover. "The trumpets should sound when you walk in the room, little girl," Nicki said. “I love that you do not stray too far from what you are.”

    Who knows how Angie handle disco night or whatever random themes make her step away from the piano, but she set the tone as the woman to beat right now.

    Then again, Amber Holcolmb got even more raves when she followed Angie. “Your vocals are surpassing even this competition. Nothing that came before you is even on that level.” Nicki said as Angie sat backstage and likely thought, “How could you forget me so quickly? I’m sitting right here!”

    But Amber, too, had to stand aside.

    “You already know that you’re my wife,” Nicki said to Kree Harrison. (Which if true would be a rules violation.) Much like she would a spouse, Nicki covered Kree with praise, as did Keith Urban. “The first letters in 'Idol' are 'I' 'do,' and I do love to hear you sing,” he said.

    Candice Glover got a standing ovation from Keith, a “that was ridiculous” from Randy, and a “goosebumps” from Mariah Carey. Plus she got to sing last, and it’s always good to go right before the phone lines open.

    But Candice didn’t get anything funny or wacky from Nicki, so she can’t feel totally perfect about her performance.

    All four sang in the final hour of the show, which made it tough for the girls who went earlier to be memorable. Janelle Arthur was the star of the early singers, now that she’s learned not to sing Lady Antebellum songs. “You are back! You are a little marshmallow that I want to eat,” Nicki said.

    “I loved that, baby! I love how you have that classic country voice and blend it with modern vocal runs,” Keith added.

    Aubrey Cleland didn’t get those kind of raves ... except from Mariah, who gushed, “You so obviously have multi-platinum potential.” It isn’t a bad quote to have on your resume.

    On the other hand, it looks like the Zoanette Johnson experience may be coming to an end. “If we were giving the award for the most joyous, unbridled, free-spirited, confident girl, you would win it,” Keith told her. But they aren’t, so she won’t.

    The judges also didn’t have nice things to say to Adriana Latonio, which was surprising considering her vocals were pretty good. "After Angie, Amber and Kree, I would suggest you work a little bit and come back next year," Nicki said.


    Breanna Steer sang very well, but got mixed reviews. Keith predicted she’d make the next round, Nicki predicted she wouldn’t, and Randy and Mariah hedged their bets. Tepid praise for what seemed to be excellent vocals.

    But it was Tenna Torres who got the strangest performance of the night from Nicki, which shouldn’t have been a surprise. Last week, the jduge focused on how she didn’t like Tenna's hair. Tuesday ... well, things were different.

    “I liked your hair like that. Good job,” Nicki said, then added, “I liked your boobs too.” That made Torres smile uncomfortably and Randy giggle and stammer like a schoolboy.

    Wednesday night, the boys take the stage for their own semifinal round, and Nicki gets to fall in love all over again.

    Which performances were your favorite on Tuesday night? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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  • Nicki Minaj lusts for all of the 'real sexy' men on 'American Idol'

    FOX

    Nicki Minaj.

    By Craig Berman, TODAY contributor

    Nicki Minaj is in love. That’s clear after the last episode of “American Idol." But that doesn’t mean that any of the 10 semifinalists who performed Thursday night should start planning for how they’d help her spend her millions -- the object of her desire changed as soon as the next guy took the stage.

     “You look real sexy tonight … do you have a girlfriend?” she asked Johnny Keyser. “I think there’s something real masculine and sexy about you.”

    But that didn’t last. “Excuse me Chris (Watson) … you are the prettiest man I’ve seen in my life. I want to marry your vibrato. I am obsessed with you, and I might be the only one. It doesn’t matter what you sing. I hear pain; I hear soul; I hear struggle. I just love you.”

    Maybe she likes the quieter types? “You’re a nice looking guy and you have a nice spirit, a warmth about you that shines through your eyes,” she told Devin Velez

    Velez’s status lasted only as long as it took the next teenager to take the stage. “You are a super duper star, little boy. I want to have your babies. I am so serious,” she salivated over Elijah Liu. “You’re 18 years old. You’re sexy. You’re my new favorite boy. I’m obsessed with you.”

    Sadly for Charles Askew, she decided her feelings towards him were merely akin to family. “Your weirdness, your awkwardness, it excites me … I want to cradle you in my arms. You know you remind me of my little brother. I love you so much,” she told him.

    And the scary thing is … we’ve still got 10 more guys to go!

    Sadly for Minaj, she had to say goodbye to some of her boy toys. As the “Sudden Death Round, As Opposed To Every Other Round In Which The Losing Singers Get Eliminated” rules dictate, half of the 10 were sent home by the judges.


    Keyser was a surprise elimination, and Watson also was sent home. They’ll have to content themselves with being the brief object of Minaj’s affections.

    Among the other’s exiting, JDA was the most entertaining performer of the night, but his vocals weren’t strong enough to keep going. Kevin Harris and Jimmy Smith were too forgettable.

    The five singers to advance were Askew, Liu, Velez, Curtis Finch Jr. and Paul Jolley. Jolley needed Jimmy Iovine’s assistance, as the judges declared themselves deadlocked on his fate. This might be the most nonsensical gimmick in “Idol” history, and remember that these are the same folks who brought you Group Night and bloated results shows, so that’s no small feat.

    When it was Jolley’s turn to hear his results, the judges called in Iovine to break the tie. They didn’t say who else they were considering in his place, so it’s hard to say whether Iovine made the right call or not, but at least he got to do something besides sit in the audience.

    It might not have mattered. Finch was the star of the night, and Askew has a chance to advance with his endearing honesty, but Liu, Velez and Jolley?

    Liu and Velez are the type of singers who get lost in the competition every year, and Jolley was memorable only because he required the intervention of the tiebreaker. That didn’t matter on Thursday, however, so they’ll get two more weeks to rise above the rest in Minaj’s heart.

    What did you think of Minaj's comments to the men? Did she cross the line? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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  • Nicki Minaj storms off set of 'American Idol'

    By Craig Berman, TODAY contributor

    If you’re reading this story, you’re probably expecting to hear about the huge fight between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey. After all, it was all over the gossip sites, and the teasers heading into Wendesday’s “American Idol” episode all indicated that a major blowup was pending. Surely there would be fisticuffs, thrown beverages, screaming and cursing.

    Boy, are you out of luck.

    The much-hyped drama ran out of gas quickly. Far from being an intimidating figure capable of frightening Carey off the show, Minaj instead was a spoiled brat who stalked off because she got sick of the other judges trying to pigeonhole contestants into a particular genre. Who knows what happened afterwards, but all the viewers saw was a hissy fit.

    And in her defense ... man, were the judges tiresome in Charlotte.

    First, they got knocked off-kilter by Taisha Bethea, who said she was the lead singer of an alt-rock band and then auditioned with “Folsom Prison Blues.” An alt-rocker auditioning with country? Minds blown! It’s the first time ever that rockers have put their own spin on a Johnny Cash song! Except not so much.

    Still, three of the judges couldn’t wrap their heads around that choice, even when she followed it up with Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know.” The result was a split decision, with Minaj and Keith Urban prevailing thanks to Urban’s status as the Charlotte tie-breaker.


    Then came Summer Cunningham, who didn’t get off on the right foot when she told the judges, “I did the country thing.” Free tip: When you’re 20 years old, singing before one of the biggest country music stars of recent vintage, don’t say you’ve already finished with his genre before you’re old enough to drink legally. It just makes him feel old.

    She sang well enough, and Urban, Carey and Randy Jackson proceeded to get into a debate about country music and whether she should be signing it and why was she so dismissive of it and didn’t she listen to it when she was growing up and blah blah blah enough already as Minaj seethed watching precious minutes of her life slipping away forever. When she finally got to talk, she began with “Thank you -- for a minute I felt like this was a country music debate,” and a who-can-talk-over-each-other-more argument ensued that ended with Minaj stalking off the set.

    That gives her the early lead on the diva meter over Carey, but the season is still young. Also, watch out for Urban, who now has had to leave the auditions early in two out of the three cities. That work ethic gets most people in big trouble. I’m just sayin’.

    Oh, the singers? You want to know about them?

    Despite the focus on judges conflict, and a ton of scenes that featured Ryan Seacrest hanging around the Charlotte Motor Speedway like he was a NASCAR fantasy camp, there did appear to be a lot of talent in the city that eventually made it onto the airwaves.

    Candice Glover is a good bet to go far. She came back after getting cut in Vegas last year while groupmates Jessica Sanchez and DeAndre Brackensick moved on, and was the star of the auditions on Wednesday.

    But she wasn’t the only big voice among the women. Janelle Arthur was the best of the country singers, and scored well with her easy banter with Ryan and the judges. Seretha Guinn not only had the cutest 3-year-old in “Idol” history, she put her own spin on “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and marked herself as a favorite. Sweet Isabel Gonzalez got on the Randy Jackson bus and went straight from her high school to Hollywood.

    We also had Rodney Barber, the former homeless man who sings on the streets of Charlotte, and Brian Rittenberry’s tale of his wife who beat her stage 4 cancer. And Ashley Smith, who was set up to be one of the joke contestants but surprised everyone with the quality of her performance.

    There was a lot to like in Charlotte, even if the judges’ snippiness was the story.

    Do you think Nicki Minaj was right to walk off in the middle of a discussion? What did you think of the Charlotte hopefuls? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!

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  • Nicki Minaj's most bizarre 'American Idol' premiere moments

    Dave M. Benett / Getty Images

    By Ree Hines, TODAY contributor

    Love her or hate her -- and yes, "American Idol" fans, we know where many of you stand -- Nicki Minaj has already made her mark on the talent competition. That's quite some feat after just two episodes, but it's hardly a surprise to any familiar with her work.


    Minaj has always been a performer who demands attention, whether for her music, her characters or her can't-be-ignored wigs and costumes. But on "Idol," she found new ways to stand out -- and not necessarily in a good way.

    First there was the odd British invasion from night one of the two-part season premiere, in which Minaj put on her best fake accent (or worst Simon Cowell impersonation) for the panel and hopefuls. The effect soon spread to co-diva Mariah Carey.

    For night two, the hip-hop and dance-music hitmaker shifted her focus from playing posh to checking out the talent on stage -- the male talent.

    Both nights featured plenty of moments of her dishing out exaggerated reactions, making scene-stealing exclamations and of course, trading barbs with Carey.

    Which Minaj moments stood out most to you? Tell us your picks for her best or worst attention-grabbing "Idol" scenes on our Facebook page. And be sure to take our poll below to let us know just what you think of her "Idol" stint so far.

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  • Forget the Mitt Romney rap, Nicki Minaj confirms support for Obama

    Paul Buck / EPA

    Nicki Minaj.

    By Kurt Schlosser, NBC News

    President Obama managed to get the truth out of Nicki Minaj in regards to who she's supporting come election time in November.

    Despite rapping on a new Lil Wayne mixtape that she was a "Repulican voting for Mitt Romney," the rapper-singer set the record straight on Twitter Monday: "Ha! Thank you for understanding my creative humor & sarcasm Mr. President, the smart ones always do ... *sends love & support.*"

    Obama had earlier expressed skepticism about the Romney endorsement during a radio interview with Orlando's Power 95.3, according to a New York Daily News story. "I'm not sure that's actually what happened," Obama said about Minaj backing his GOP rival. "I think she had a song on there, a little rap that said that, but she likes to play different characters."

    "Awesome!" Minaj tweeted. "Now I can tell my grandchildren that the 1st black President of the United States took the time to address a Nicki Minaj question."

    Retweets by the singer confirmed her delight in having the president understand that she frequently uses alter egos.


    But, as the Daily News points out, not everyone on Twitter was impressed with Obama dropping hip-hop knowledge. "What Obama spoke on the record about today: Nicki Minaj lyrics. What he refused to comment on: the Chicago teacher strike," wrote Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus.

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  • Nicki Minaj raps: 'I'm a Republican voting for Mitt Romney' on mix tape

    Charles Sykes / AP

    Nicki Minaj.

    By Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter

    Is Nicki Minaj voting for Mitt Romney? The rapper-singer, who is nearing a deal to become a judge on Fox's "American Idol," gives what appears to be an endorsement of the Republican presidential nominee on Lil Wayne's "Dedication 4," the recently released fourth installment in his mixtape series.

    PHOTOS: Young Hollywood's secret breakfast with Obama

    During an instrumental on "Mercy," the fifth track on the album, Minaj raps: "I'm a Republican voting for Mitt Romney, you lazy bitches are [expletive] up the economy." (Listen to the track below.)

    RapDose, which first pointed out the lyrics, noted that her rap was performed over Kanye West-produced beats; West attended the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver in support of President Obama.

    (Warning: Songs below contain vulgar language.)

    Nicki Minaj berates, curses fans after U.K. concerts cancellation

    Minaj has previously vented to Obama over Twitter, including messages expressing her frustration with U.S. healthcare in June on the heels of Moesha and The Parkers actress Yvette Wilson's death from cervical cancer. Before her death, Wilson's friends and family had been trying to raise money online to cover her medical costs.

    PHOTOS: Nicki Minaj's 17 most outrageous fashion moments


    “What’s sad is that when Yvette was bringing home the bacon, the gov’t was probably taking millions. On her deathbed though, #Nowheretobefound,” she wrote. “That should be a God given right! Even with Obama Care, too much involved. Just give FREE health care to all. @BarackObama what can we do?”

    She added: "@BarackObama I wouldn’t mind the millions they took if it was going to healthcare. Why should a poor person struggle to pay for MEDS sir?"

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  • Nicki Minaj cancels U.K. concerts due to strained vocal cords

    By Erin Carlson, The Hollywood Reporter

    Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

    Nicki Minaj

    Nicki Minaj has pulled the plug on her concerts in the U.K. this weekend because of vocal cord damage.

    In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the rapper-singer's publicist said she "regretfully cancelled" her shows at the V Festival in England on Saturday and Sunday "due to strained vocal cords."

    PHOTOS: Nicki Minaj's 17 Most Outrageous Fashion Moments

    Minaj's rep adds that, "Despite doctor's orders, she performed on a bruised vocal chord in (New York City) on August 14. As a result, the chord has gotten worse."

    Following an X-ray, a doctor has advises Minaj to rest her voice for the next several days.

    On Tuesday, the pop star performed a two-hour concert at New York's Roseland Ballroom, her first official headlining concert in the Big Apple. The show was part of her Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded World Tour and featured assists from Foxy Brown, Drake and Lil Wayne.

    REVIEW: Nicki Minaj's New York Fan Appreciation Show

    Meanwhile, Minaj remains at the top of the list for the open seat on the judges' panel for season 12 of "American Idol." According to a source with close ties to the Fox competition, a war is brewing between rivals Coke and Pepsi: Minaj is the new face of Pepsi, an endorsement deal that includes commercials along with touring and album promo, and longtime "Idol" sponsor Coke is none too thrilled at the prospect of her joining "Idol."

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  • Nicki Minaj says her dancers were not involved in Tokyo murder

    Kevin Winter / Getty Images

    Nicki Minaj

    By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor

    Singer Nicki Minaj is denying claims that one of her dancers was involved with the death of a fan, who died shortly after attending Minaj's Tokyo concert on May 23. 

    According to MTV.com's RapFix, the 21-year-old fan -- Nicola Furlong -- was a foreign exchange student from Ireland's Dublin City University. She attended the show at Zepp Tokyo, and was discovered strangled in her hotel room just a few hours later.

    "Saddened to learn one of my precious fans; found tragically murdered in Japan. My love & prayers are with the family of Nicola Furlong," Minaj tweeted later.

    Irish Central reports that two Americans, 23-year-old dancer James "King Tight" Jamari Blackston and another musician (whose name was being withheld since he is considered a minor under Japanese law) have been held and questioned over Furlong's death.


    The controversy began when Perez Hilton alleged on May 30 that one of those arrested on suspicion of rape and murder was a backup dancer for Minaj. This did not go over well with Minaj, who took to Twitter to refute the claim.

    "My dancers had nothing to do w/this tragedy. No one in my entourage was questioned or arrested. They all flew home from Japan," she tweeted Thursday. She added, "@PerezHilton that person on your sight is NOT my dancer. We do NOT know the men in custody. Too much misleading information."

    A new blog post on Hilton's site went on to offer this mea culpa: "Sounds to us then like these monsters may have lied about being associated with Her Minajesty just to lure these poor girls in."

    Tokyo police released a statement that Irish Central published, noting: "These two men allegedly took advantage of a female unable to resist due to the fact she was in a comatose state from a highly alcoholic beverage.... As that is an indecent act, they have been charged with quasi forcible indecency."

    Quasi-forcible indecency is a Japanese legal term used to describe sexual assault.

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  • Boom! DJ Earworm mashes top songs of 2011

    By Sierra Marquina, E! Online

    Boom, he's done it again! DJ Earworm has kept to his annual tradition of fusing together the top songs of the year, entitling 2011's mash up "United State of Pop 2011 (World Go Boom)."

    RELATED: Top 10 Jams of 2011

    DJ Earworm, also known as Jordan Roseman, revealed on his website that 2011's edition was inspired by the year's "songs of regret and anger, pride and perseverance, and lots of fire."

    As for how the DJ decides which songs make the cut? Earworm says he looked to the year's weekly charts to ensure even the "late-breaking hits" like Rihanna's "We Found Love" and LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" were sure to be included.

    Other artists featured in the catchy mashup include Adele, Britney Spears, Cee Lo Green, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, and more!

    CHECK OUT: Top 10 Greats We Lost in 2011