“Pray” is a song recorded by Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor Justin Bieber, who also wrote the song. “Pray” is set in common time with a tempo of 80 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of B major with Bieber’s vocal range spanning from the low-note of F♯3 to the high-note of B4. The song follows in the chord progression of B/G♯–B/F♯–E–B. Present throughout the songs background is the use of violins and a choir, as well as guitar, string instruments, congas and a cajon. However it does make subtle use of synths and electronic sounds. Musically and lyrically, it is influenced by contemporary christian music, and has a gospel feel, while including standard pop and R&B. The song opens with Bieber singing, “And I pray” over a keyboard, while the songs chorus repeats one simple refrain, “I close my eyes and I can see a better day/ I close my eyes and pray.” In the lyrics, Bieber “recognizes the pain and suffering in the world” and then offers “a passive solution” through lines such as “Children are crying / soldiers are dying / Some people don’t have a home,” before compromising, “I know there’s sunshine beyond that rain / good times beyond that pain.” Vocally, Bieber’s vocals are sung in a lower key compared to previous singles.

“Better Than Today” is a song recorded by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. The track was originally written and produced by Nerina Pallot and Andy Chatterley for Pallot’s 2009 extended play, Buckminster Fuller EP. It was re-recorded by Minogue in 2009, and received additional production by Stuart Price. The song was taken from Minogue’s eleventh studio album Aphrodite (2010). “Better Than Today” was released digitally in Minogue’s native Australia on 28 February 2011 and physically on 18 March 2011. It made its debut on the ARIA Singles Chart at number 55.This proved to be her third single to miss the top-fifty along with “Finer Feelings” (1992), which peaked at number 60, and “Get Outta My Way” (2010), which peaked at number 69. “Better Than Today” is a pop song that emulates other styles using guitars, synthesizers and drum programming.

The song “Mean” was solely written and performed by Taylor Swift, an American singer-songwriter. The song was taken from her third studio album, Speak Now. The song was produced by Nathan Chapman and Swift was first released as a promotional single on October 17, 2010 by the Big Machine Records. The song was later released as an official single on March 14, 2011. “Mean” became Swift’s thirteenth consecutive single to reach top ten on Hot Country Songs when it jumped from number 12 to number 9 on the week ending May 14, 2011. This achievement makes Swift as one of the two women (the other being Carrie Underwood) to begin their chart histories with as many consecutive top 10s dating to the survey’s 1944 launch. “Mean” was performed for the first time by Swift at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 3, 2011.

“Smile” is the title of the song written and recorded by Canadian recording artist Avril Lavigne, taken as the second single from her fourth studio album Goodbye Lullaby. The song was produced by Max Martin and Shellback, the song is a pop punk track. “Smile” was released on 11 April 2011 to Australian radio stations and then on 17 May to U.S. radio as the second single. After officially being released as a single, “Smile” debuted on the Australian Singles Chart and New Zealand Singles Chart. In Australia, it debuted at number forty-two on 2 May 2011 and has peaked at number 25.The song has sold over 60,000 units of digital copies in the Australia. In New Zealand, the song debuted at thirty-three on 25 April 2011 and has peaked at number thirty. The song debuted at 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the charting week of July 16, 2011, rising to number sixty-eight in its fifth week. The song has sold over 170,000 units of digital copies in the USA.

“Don’t Wanna Go Home” is the title of the song performed by American singer-songwriter, actor and dancer Jason Joel Desrouleaux (born September 21, 1989), better known by his stage name Jason Derülo.  “Don’t Wanna Go Home” was written by Jason Derülo, and Chaz William and David Delazyn of production team The Fliptones.The latter duo also received production credits on the track. “Don’t Wanna Go Home” is an up-tempo dance song, deriving from electropop and dance-pop genres. A sample of “Show Me Love” by Robin S. runs throughout the song, while the chorus is partially constructed from lyrics of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” by Harry Belafonte. “Don’t Wanna Go Home” serves as the lead single from Derülo’s upcoming second studio album, Future History. A thirty-four-second preview of the single premiered online on May 3, 2011. That same day, the cover art was also revealed. The song was sent to US contemporary hit radio on May 10, 2011. It was released for download on May 20, 2011 through the United States iTunes Store.