The Hits 18 is the latest addition to “The Hits” compilation series. It is packed with some of the biggest songs of 2007, and the album boasts with names such as Danny K, Matchbox 20 and Jennifer Lopez. The album starts off with music by Sean Kingston. Aged 17, the Jamaican American reggae singer and rapper took the world by storm with his singles “Beautiful Girls” and “Me Love”. Kingston is the first artist born after 1990 to top the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. The song “Beautiful Girls” samples Ben E. King's classic "Stand by Me" and has also gone on to occupy the top spot on the “U.S. Hot 100 Airplay” and the “Canadian Hot 100”.

The 23 year old British singer, songwriter and record producer, Calvin Harris, makes his contribution to The Hits 18 in the form of the dance track Acceptable in the 80’s. He cleverly utilises electro 80’s sound effects and gives it a modern twist. It’s great fun, especially “if you were born in the 80’s” – as the lyrics say. An eighties baby himself, Calvin has already written and produced songs for Kylie Minogue and is currently working with British pop star Sophie Ellis Bextor. Taken from James Blunt’s second studio album “All the Lost Souls”, 1973 was inspired by the club scene in Ibiza, where Blunt maintains a residence and enjoys the social scene. James’ big success started in 2005 with the release of his album “Back to Bedlam”. The hit single 1973 was inspired by Blunt's nights out at Pacha, an Ibiza club that opened in that year, and Blunt has also stated that “Simona” was indeed based on a real woman he had met in a club.

An interesting inclusion on the Hits 18 is a single from My Chemical Romance’s album The Black Parade. The track Teenagers, featured on The Hits 18, was written by Gerard Way after he found himself in a subway car full of teenagers: “That was the first time I felt old… I was nervous and I was a target. ” The song addresses the pressing violence issue in American Schools.

Moving on to lighter matters, the song A.I. from the band Cassette is a great addition to this album. I loved the comfortable style and relaxed presentation of this song, taken from their outstanding debut album, Welcome back to Earth. The song was such a pleasant surprise, and best of all – they’re local. Look out for this band in 2008 – they have the potential to do great things in the South African music industry.

With 21 hits squeezed onto one CD, it is not possible to mention, and give credit to, every track featured on The Hits 18, but you can look forward to songs like NKD’s Snakebite, 1973 by James Blunt and Stereo by John Legend, among others.