Clayton's a poet and you didn't even know it

Once upon a time on CUBS, I tried my hand at poetry. Because I don't sleep anymore, I've been trying to get my thoughts on paper (both actual and virtual) in poetry form. This idea popped into my head at about 6 a.m. and I had the whole thing written in about ten minutes. So here goes.

There we were
A poem

There you were
Broken, damaged, beaten, destroyed
Struggling to make another day

There I was
Innocent, naïve, full of life
Not an ounce of sorrow in my way

There we were
Our paths crossing
Your world intersected in mine

There we were
Our journeys intersecting
My joy, your sorrow intertwined

There you were
Realizing your potential
Your dreams, your ambitions, achieved

There I was
Rejoicing in every milestone
My affection and love you received

There we were
Our paths had met
Halfway between glory and defeat

There we were
The roles for the first time reversed
You helped me get back on my feet

There I was
Realizing my potential
My dreams, my ambitions, achieved

There you were
Rejoicing in every milestone
Your affection and love I received

There we were
Our paths separating
Your world becoming less like mine

There we were
Our journeys disconnecting
My sorrow, your joy lost their binds

There you are
Content, happy, full of life
A thousand miles away

Here I am
Broken, damaged, beaten, destroyed
Struggling to make another day 

The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 30-21

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

30. Boom Clap - Charli XCX

Peak: 8 (October 4); Weeks on chart: 25; December 27 position: NR

The voice behind the chorus of "Fancy" brought forth another annoyingly catchy tune in the second half of 2014. "Boom Clap" was the featured track from the teen lovey-dovey book-turned-movie The Fault In Our Stars. Naturally, with the tumblr and fangirl communities behind it, "Boom Clap" soared into the top 10 in late August. The beat went on (na na na na na) for 11 top-15 weeks.

Don't Tell 'Em - Jeremih feat. YG

Peak: 6 (October 25-November 1); Weeks on chart: 25; December 27 position: 29

"Don't tell 'em, don't tell 'em, you ain't e'en, don't tell 'em, you ain't e'en, you ain't e'en gotta tell 'em, don't tell 'em, don't tell 'em." "On my late night thirsty, 'cause it was late night and I was thirsty." Enough said, Jeremih and YG. Enough said.

28. Break Free - Ariana Grande feat. Zedd

Peak: 4 (August 30); Weeks on chart: 22; December 27 position: NR

Ariana broke free from her TV past and into pop stardom into 2014. "Break Free" perfectly encapsulates this ride, complete with a nasty dance breakdown courtesy of DJ Zedd. The song debuted at No. 15, spending all but two of its first 17 weeks in the Hot 100 as a Top 20 song. "Break Free" also notched eight weeks in the top 10.

27. Summer - Calvin Harris

Peak: 7 (July 19); Weeks on chart: 26; December 27 position: NR

Calvin Harris's 2014 hit makes the most obvious case for "Song of the Summer," after all "Summer" is its title and a predominant lyric throughout the song. What makes "Summer" such a good record, however, is the excellence of the EDM elements in the instrumental track. The song spent nine weeks in the top 10, you guessed it, from June 14 to August 9.

26. Story Of My Life - One Direction



Peak: 6 (one week in 2013); Weeks on chart: 32; December 27 position: NR

Abandoning their original poppy sound for a more acoustic-type feel was a superb choice for One Direction last year. "Story Of My Life" shows the band's vocal skills and directs focus to the lyrics. The song was part of the top 10 to begin the year and remained a top 20 entry through mid-April.

25. Let Her Go - Passenger

Peak: 5 (February 22); Weeks on chart: 43; December 27 position: NR

"Let Her Go" was one of the bigger hits of the winter. After its first top 10 appearance last December, the Passenger song spent the first nine weeks of the year in the Top 10. It registered such massive success that it was featured in a Budweiser Super Bowl ad in February. "Let Her Go" remained in the top 20 through June 21 and in the top 30 through July 19. Jasmine Thompson's cover of the track remains one of Pandora Radio's favorite songs.

24. Drunk In Love - Beyonce feat. Jay-Z

Peak: 2 (February 15); Weeks on chart: 20: December 27 position: NR

The debut single from Beyonce's surprise eponymous album skyrocketed all the way to No. 2 in February before spending seven more weeks in the top 10. Three weeks after falling from the top 30, "Drunk In Love" left the Hot 100 altogether. Now excuse me as I go listen to "Crazy In Love" to remind myself of what Beyonce once was.

23. Maps - Maroon 5



Peak: 6 (August 9); Weeks on chart: 22; December 27 position: NR

"I was there for you in your darkest times; I was there for you in your darkest nights. But I wonder where were you when I was at my worst down on my knees" This lyric spoke strongly to me this year. I appreciate Maroon 5 for voicing one of my own thoughts at a time when I needed my thoughts to be vocalized.

22. Say Something - A Great big World feat. Christina Aguilera



Peak: 4 (December 28, 2013-January 4, February 1-8, February 22-March 1); Weeks on chart: 26; December 27 position: NR

I heard an interview with Christina Aguilera in which she said upon hearing the original "Say Something", there was an obvious harmony; this was the harmony she added in the version that sailed into the top five at the start of the year. Similarly, there is a third part harmony that is screaming to be sung in the popular version of the song. That is the primary reason I enjoy the track so much.

21. Habits (Stay High) - Tove Lo


My cousin and I were listening to this song long before it was one of the five biggest songs in America. Even now "Habits" is an entrancingly captivating track. The musical tone perfectly portrays the deep desolation and lack of emotional attachment described in the song's lyrics. The video, in which Tove Lo mindlessly makes out with anything with a tongue, is further illustration of the furthest depths of despair.

The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 40-31

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

40. Hot Boy - Bobby Shmurda

Peak: 6 (November 22); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: 24

Of the rap songs on the 2014 Top 100 list, "Hot Boy" is one of the more tolerable, despite "Boy" not being the word originally in the title. Although Shmurda is likely a one-hit wonder, his debut single is already certified platinum by the RIAA.

39. Anaconda - Nicki Minaj

Peak: 2 (September 6); Weeks on chart: 19; December 27 position: 55

Sampling one of the greatest songs in music history, "Anaconda" is surely one of the worst songs ever created. Nicki Minaj shows off her entirely not-natural silicone rear end in the expletive-filled ode to the derriere of which Sir Mix-A-Lot is undoubtedly ashamed. Thankfully, "Anaconda's" reign of terror in the top 10 was relatively short-lived, and its decline has been steady since it jumped to No. 2 in September.

38. Royals - Lorde



Peak: 1 (9 weeks in 2013); Weeks on chart: 44; December 27 position: NR

Hitting its peak in 2013, the smash hit that launched the career of New Zealander Lorde sustained op 10 success into this year. "Royals" started 2014 at No. 5 and stayed in the top 10 for the first seven weeks of the year. The song finally fell out of the top 30 in mid-April.

37. Wiggle - Jason Derulo feat. Snoop Dogg



Peak: 5 (June 21-28); Weeks on chart: 21; December 27 position: NR

This summer we were all wiggling along to one of the more subtle tributes to the big butt released in 2014. Teaming up with a rap legend in his second single of the year, Derulo created an infectious hit that spent nine weeks in the top 10. The song also inspired one of the greatest TV-based memes of 2014.

36. Latch - Disclosure feat. Sam Smith



Peak: 7 (August 9); Weeks on chart: 33; December 27 position: NR

One of the most OK artists in 2014 teamed up with English electro band Disclosure to create one of the top dance tracks of the year. The song spent 10 weeks in the top 15 and seven more weeks inside the top 30, good enough for a significant spot in the 2014 Top 100.

35. The Man - Aloe Blacc

Peak: 8 (April 12); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

An empowering song that launched the advertising career of Football Gonzo, "The Man" reached its zenith early in the year. Aloe Blacc's solo hit rose into the top 30 in the December 11 Hot 100, eventually spending the entire month of April in the top 10.

34. Not A Bad Thing - Justin Timberlake

Peak: 8 (May 3, May 17-31); Weeks on chart: 22; December 27 position: NR

The final single- thus far - released from Timberlake's 20/20 Experience, "Bad Thing" was the third-most successful track of the acclaimed album and J.T.'s only solo performance in this year's Top 100. The song had a six-week run in the top 10. If you're listening to the album version of the song, be sure to stay tuned for the hidden track "Wings".

33. Animals - Maroon 5

Peak: 3 (November 22); Weeks on chart: 17; December 27 position: 8

The most recent of two Maroon 5 songs in this list, "Animals" is basically a giant innuendo. The sexual overtones are quite obvious in some places, and subtle elsewhere, but present everywhere throughout the song. "Animals" jumped from No. 33 on October 11 into the top 10 on October 18, and spent the rest of the year within the top 10.

32. The Monster - Eminem feat. Rihanna

Peak: 1 (December 21, 2013-January 11); Weeks on chart: 29; December 27 position: NR

The first number one song of 2014 had a fair amount of holdover success from last year. "The Monster" spent the first two weeks of the year atop the Hot 100 and did not fall from the Top 30 until April 26. Rihanna's voice complements Eminem's possessed frantic rapping style to make this song tolerable, even nearly a year since its peak.

31. Rather Be - Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne



Peak: 10 (October 11), Weeks on chart: 27; December 27 position: 36

"Rather Be" spent an impressive 19 weeks in the Top 30 this fall, including a 13-week run in the Top 15. Although only peaking at 10, the Clean Bandit hit remained relevant through the end of the year.

The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 50-41

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

50. Take Me To Church - Hozier


Peak: 2 (December 20-27); Weeks on chart: 18; December 27 position: 2

Ireland's Andrew Hozier-Byrne burst onto the scene late this year with his hit "Take Me To Church". At year's end, the song interrupted a three-month run of Taylor Swift and Meghan Trainor owning the top two songs on the Hot 100. The song about institutional oppression of the global LGBT community hits home because, as Hozier told New York Magazine in March, "it's not even a gay issue or a civil rights issue, it's a human rights issue, and it should offend us all."

49. Show Me - Kid Ink feat. Chris Brown


Peak: 13 (February 15); Weeks on chart: 31; December 27 position: NR

Another DJ Mustard-produced hit, "Show Me" spent the last three months of 2013 climbing the charts, breaking into the top 30 last December. The Kid Ink track with guest vocals from Chris Brown spent the first 10 weeks of this year in the top 20. Despite spending the entire second half of 2014 off the Hot 100, "Show Me" ended up as one of the year's biggest hip-hop hits.

48. Bailando - Enrique Iglesias feat. Sean Paul, Descember Bueno and Gente de Zona



Peak: 12 (August 9); Weeks on chart: 30; December 27 position: NR

One of my favorite songs this year was "Bailando", a catchy Latin dance track by an artist of whom I'm not particularly fond. Although I actually prefer the Spanish version popular on Spotify to the English that played on most U.S. radios this year, both versions of the song are easy to dance to. We danced to Enrique, Sean Paul et al. in the latter half of the summer and into the fall; "Bailando's" 11-week top-20 run stretched from July to October. If you have a small knowledge of the Spanish language as I do, the following line from the "Spanglish" version of the song should amuse you: "[I've] gotta have contigo."

47. Demons - Imagine Dragons

Peak: 6 (December 28, 2013-January 11, one other 2013 week); Weeks on chart: 61; December 27 position: NR

One of the greatest modern rock albums, Imagine Dragons' Night Visions just completed its second full year listed in the Billboard 200, with two singles spending over a year each on the Hot 100. "Demons" had the most 2014 success of the two, remaining one of the top 30 songs in America through the first four months of the year. Dragons' most recent single, "I Bet My Life", sat at 63 in the last Hot 100 of 2014 and is a song to watch as the band's success continues.

46. Wake Me Up! - Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc

Peak: 4 (six weeks in 2013); Weeks on chart: 53; December 27 position: NR

"Wake Me Up!" enjoyed a yearlong stay on the Hot 100, but was on the decline during its 28 weeks on the chart in 2014. Still, Avicii's breakout hit spent the month of January in the top 10, February and the first two weeks of March in the top 20 and was a top 30 song through the first week of May. The song was also the frontrunner for Aloe Blacc's solo success with "The Man" in the first half of 2014.

45. Ain't It Fun - Paramore



Peak: 10 (May 24); Weeks on chart: 24; December 27 position: NR

When Paramore charted with "Still Into You" last year, they created the ultimate disconnect between lyric and music: a hardcore grunge song about being head-over-heels in love. This year's Paramore hit took the same hit, but flipped the script. With a happy backing track, First Lady of Rock Hayley Williams sarcastically sings about how life in the real world in fact sucks. The catchy tune and snarky lyrics earned "Ain't It Fun" one week in the top 10 and a year-end finish in the top half of the Top 100.

44. Don't - Ed Sheeran

Peak: 9 (November 15); Weeks on chart: 27; December 27 position: 17

Ed Sheeran's most successful single of the year ended 2014 with 12 straight weeks in the top 20. The song, presumably about Sheeran's relationship with the incredibly underrated Ellie Goulding, was one of the biggest songs this fall. My favorite moments of the song are when Sheeran replaces the f-bomb with a sharp intake of breath - subtle, but effective.

43. Loyal - Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne, French Montana Or and Too $hort

Peak: 9 (May 3); Weeks on chart: 36; December 27 position: NR

Chris Brown's signature 2014 hit spent the first two weeks of May in the top 10; "Show Me" had five additional top 15 weeks. This R&B track, just like many 2014 contemporaries, is a not-so-wholesome examination of the false loyalty of certain promiscuous women. The track proved to be a smash for Brown.

42. Burn - Ellie Goulding



Peak: 13 (December 28, 2013, January 11-18); Weeks on chart: 36; December 27 position: NR

My favorite song on this entire list, "Burn" began an obsession with Ellie Goulding that lasted all spring and into the summer. I now own three Ellie Goulding CDs thanks to this song; Spotify listed Halcyon Days as my most-listened to album as 2014, which I feel is incredibly accurate. Nationally, "Burn" spent the first 11 weeks of the year bouncing around between No. 13 and No. 16, staying in the Top 30 through May 3.

41. Best Day Of My Life - American Authors



Peak: 11 (April 19, May 10); Weeks on chart: 36; December 27 position: NR

This unique crossbreed of Imagine Dragons and One Direction had the right formula with their Hot 100 debut, "Best Day Of My Life". The song broke into the top 30 in the last chart of February and remained there nearly four months. "Best Day" peaked in April and May, when it spent nine weeks in the top 15.

The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 60-51

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

60. Trumpets - Jason Derulo



Peak: 14 (November 8-22); Weeks on chart: 29; December 27 position: 31

"Trumpets" became the third song by Jason Derulo to crack the Top 15 this year in November. The light and carefree nature of the hit complements Derulo's oft-annoying falsetto singing to make for a generally enjoyable song, certainly the tamest of the three Jason Derulo tracks in the year-end Top 100.

59. Play It Again - Luke Bryan



Peak: 14 (April 26); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

Country star Luke Bryan had quite a successful 2014; in addition to being the featured artist in Florida Georgia Line's "How We Roll", his own song "Play It Again" was the second-highest finishing country song in this year's Top 100. "Play It Again" spent 12 weeks in the Top 30, including a nine-week run in which it was in the Top 20 eight times.

58. Classic - MKTO



Peak: 14 (July 12); Weeks on chart: 27; December 27 position: NR

Everything was so throwbackish for MKTO this summer, whose song that sounds vaguely Jackson 5-like spent 15 weeks in the Top 30. It invokes the name of some of pop culture's biggest icons (Michael Jackson and Marilyn Monroe, among others). As for the rap? Let's just say "I've never heard a rap like it ever 'til I heard it."

57. Love Me Harder - Ariana Grande feat. The Weekend

Peak: 7 (November 22); Weeks on chart: 10; December 27 position: 9

Few pop stars had a bigger 2014 than Ariana Grande, who is the primary singer in three Top 100 tracks and a collaborator in one more. The former Nickelodeon starlet spent five of the last six charts this year in the Top 10 with her current hit, "Love Me Harder". As big as 2014 was for Ariana, we can only hope next year will be even greater for her.

56. Burnin' It Down - Jason Aldean

Peak: 12 (August 9); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

The top country song of 2014 was in the Hot 100 through December 20, with its first 14 weeks on the chart in the Top 30. Jason Aldean sipped his cold Jack Daniels whiskey to an impressive year-end finish. For me, "Burnin' It Down" was one of the more enjoyable country songs of 2014, so I approve of this placement in the Top 100 chart.

55. Cool Kids - Echosmith


Peak: 13 (November 1); Weeks on chart: 23; December 27 position: 46

"Cool Kids" was one of the top indie hits of the year, preaching a message of inclusion despite stereotypes. Echosmith became the cool kids of pop when their debut single spent seven weeks in the Top 20. In addition to the brilliance of the original track, "Cool Kids" provided one of the best covers of 2014.

54. Sing - Ed Sheeran

Peak: 13 (June 7, July 5); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

Ed Sheeran's first successful single from his album X spent its first 12 weeks in the Hot 100 tottering anywhere between No. 13 and No. 16. The infectious "Sing" first burst onto the charts in April and fell off them in September, while Ed's next single "Don't" was slowly climbing into the Top 30.

53. Roar - Katy Perry



Peak: 1 (two weeks in 2013); Weeks on chart: 35; December 27 position: NR

When 2014 rolled around, "Roar" was still the No. 11 song in America. The Katy Perry megahit spent the first quarter of the year in the top 30. By the time "Roar" was a Hot 100 has-been, Perry's next single had also reached its number one summit.

52. Blank Space - Taylor Swift

Peak: 1 (November 29-December 27); Weeks on chart: 7; December 27 position: 1

Currently the hottest song in the United States, "Blank Space" only misses the year-end top 50 by virtue of its late-year debut and that fact that it only reached its peak in its third week on the Hot 100. "Blank Space" caps Swift's triumphant fall launch into the world of pop.

51. I'm Not The Only One - Sam Smith

Peak: 5 (December 27); Weeks on chart: 15; December 27 position: 5

In full disclosure, I don't find the appeal of Sam Smith. Teenage girls must latch onto the sappy nature of his lyrics and his castrato high notes. His second solo hit of 2014, "I'm Not The Only One", takes the same chords and structure from "Stay With Me" and changes the lyrics and melody only. Recycled hits aren't fun, Sam Smith, even less so when your voice is more suited for Glee than for actual music.