Etta James, known for her captivating and inspiring vocals, died today at age 73 in Riverside, California. The singer passed away at Riverside Community Hospital and sources report that the cause was complications of leukemia, which she had been battling for some time.

It would not do justice to say that Etta James was simply a music legend. Known best for her famed hit, “At Last,” Miss James achieved six Grammys and forever holds a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Blues Hall of Fame.

“Mean” is a banjo thumping, hand clapping number from America’s sweetheart, Taylor Swift. The song was written to address Swift’s critics, in which she explained during an interview with Does.ca: “there’s a song called ‘Mean,’ that I guess you could categorize it into feelings and or relationships but it’s actually about a critic.”

“Bad Kids” is a metal-coated pop jam dedicated to well, all bad kids. The ninth single off Lady Gaga’s monumental Born This Way album (released in 2011) was written by Mother Monster in collaboration with producers Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow.

Jason Mraz is back with another mellowed-out love song to follow up his smash hit, “I’m Yours,” back in 2008. Although it’s a bit too early to tell if “I Won’t Give Up” will live up to the international success of its predecessor, this fresh single carries the easy melodies and blissful lyrics that will make it a staple for romance flicks and the like — perfect for February’s upcoming Valentine’s Day festivities.

Growing up I was one of those kids who knew all the lyrics and names to every single Beatles track and album. From their most obscure work to their famed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, I knew it all. I lived and breathed their music, which sparked a chord of creativity in me every time I listened to their work.

In honor of the birth of Lady B and Jay-Z’s newborn daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, we have declared “Glory” as today’s pick of the day. This past Sunday morning, January 8, welcomed the couple’s first child after a decade long relationship.

Dawn Richard, former member of Danity Kane, released “SMFU” to follow up her holiday treat “December Sky.” For those of you who need refreshing, Dawn is one fifth of the all-girl band Danity Kane, which was the third group to result from the reality TV contest Making the Band run by music mogul, Diddy.

Little do many know that Demi Lovato, a rising force in pop, landed one of her first gigs as Angela on Barney & Friends. Luckily, her career has surpassed purple dinosaurs and magic bags, and since then she’s starred in the film Camp Rock with the Jonas Brothers, debuted her album Don’t Forget at No. 2 on Billboard 200, released Here We Go Again at No. 1 and her third album, Unbroken peaked at No. 4 on the charts.

“Waterfalls” defines the 90s. A Grammy-nominated hit song by legendary all-female group, TLC, “Waterfalls” brings us back to the time when Left Eye, T-Boz and Chilli ruled the radiowaves.

If the world is going to end this year, a Britney Spears song will definitely be playing on my most epic, end-of-the-world playlist.