Pop Rock 2012:

As you prepare your playlist for this evening's celebrations - whether celebrating with friends or quietly at home - here's a reminder of the year just about gone in pop and rock music.

Grinspoon take on Kanye

Grinspoon went up against Kanye West at the Sydney Big Day Out in January with seasoned fire in their belly. Booked on a smaller stage, singer Phil Jamieson made no secret of his disdain for a hip-hop headliner, a ploy that appeared to work when hundreds of festival goers migrated from West's set in favour of the Sydney band. Later admitting he was blind drunk, Jamieson showed his appreciation to fans by falling off stage several times.

Kylie strips back

Not since her Neighbours days has Kylie kicked back effortlessly in cut-off jeans and T-shirt. Celebrating her 25th anniversary in music, Australia's princess of pop showed in March she can also rock with a canny step back in time through her B-sides, rarities and bonus tracks. It was a far cry from the flamboyant stage production of last year's Aphrodite tour and for hardcore fans a rare and close-up experience.

Gotye conquers world

It was the song that captured a nation - then the world - and made Gotye the first Australian act in 12 years to top the American charts. Somebody That I Used To Know put Wally De Backer in the company of Savage Garden, INXS and Men At Work as Aussies who topped the US Billboard chart. The song hit No.1 in 18 countries, including the UK, France and Canada, making it one of the most successful homegrown singles ever.

One Direction mayhem

Their screams suggested something horrifying but the opposite was true for thousands of teenagers who fell in love with boyband One Direction. Emerging from Britain's The X Factor to become the biggest pop group in the world with sales of 10 million and counting, the five lads of One Direction unleashed pandemonium from the minute they landed in Sydney in April - even putting a trip by Justin Bieber in the shade.

Prince Hits

On his first tour in 10 years, Prince referred to himself as "the little guy with all the hits". He wasn't joking, rejigging his set between shows and often deciding on the spot what to play. With a rich supply of classics, the elfin performer was as unpredictable and enigmatic as ever. The only certainty was a 15-minute version of Purple Rain performed at every concert.

Guy's baby brain

First time fatherhood was an emotional time for Guy Sebastian back in June. The floodgates opened when he performed Big Bad World, written for baby Hudson, at the opening of his tour in Cessnock. "It wasn't even a case of shedding a few tears and moving on," Sebastian said later. "It was real ugly crying where I couldn't even sing the song." Fortunately the singer showed a tougher side on his No.1 single Battle Scars, a duet with rapper Lupe Fiasco.

Royal Gurrumul

The indigenous star's stellar year was capped at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert in London in June. It was a double celebration for the blind singer who met his idol Stevie Wonder and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Sir Cliff Richard and Sir Elton John at the who's who gig of 2012. The royal endorsement was extended when Gurrumul was invited to sing for Prince Charles and Camilla on their Australian visit.

Ol' Missy Higgins

Australia's most reluctant pop star had a change of heart. Three years after retiring due to disillusionment with the music industry, the singer was back with her third and most accomplished album yet, The Ol Razzle Dazzle. An assured performance at Falls Festival on the eve of 2012 set a course for the pop comeback of the year and a No.1 album and ARIA for Best Adult Contemporary Album, were just deserts for the diminutive star.

The Voice and The Factor

The moment shy Karise Eden stepped on stage everybody connected with The Voice knew they were onto something special. The Central Coast teenager's raw talent was a refreshing discovery and helped the Nine series become a massive ratings hit. It was no shock when Eden won the final or spent weeks at No.1 with her album My Journey. More surprising was Samantha Jade beating boyband The Collective in The X Factor final, making it a TV double for the girls.

Solid rock

The last time the indigenous community of Mutitjulu came under the spotlight was during the Howard intervention. On a spring day in October crowds gathered for a happier cause; to celebrate the 25 anniversary of Shane Howard's land rights protest song Solid Rock. Archie Roach, John Butler, Dan Sultan and Natalie Pa'apa'a all took part in the historic concert that called for greater understanding of aboriginal issues.

Australia goes Gangnam Style

The odds on a South Korean rapper becoming the most talked about man in music would have been pretty lucrative this time last year. It was shortly afterwards that Psy decided to put his song Gangnam Style on YouTube and it's now the most viewed clip of all time - not bad for a song that features on only four English words and an infatuation with horse riding. The giddy dance craze only intensified on Psy's Australian visit in October.

Radiohead v Coldplay

A bumper fortnight of concerts in November included everyone from Beck and Beirut to Elton John and Emmylou Harris. But the must see gigs came from two of Britain's most innovative bands. Coldplay arrived with their fluoro-and-fireworks stadium spectacular, while Radiohead's suspended screen show was an understated flash of brilliance. For Thom Yorke's dancing alone, the latter band narrowly nudged it.