7 Usher, performing Climax
I've only heard this song twice. The first time was when the video first came out. I was so distracted by the confusing video that I wasn't actually listening to the song. This time, however, I was much more affected. The instrumental is very exciting, and Usher gives a good vocal performance. There needs to be more instrumentals like this in the mainstream; I like it!

1 Katy Perry, performing Hot N Cold
-

3 Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Otherside
I didn't recognize this song's title, but I think I may have heard it before. It's okay.

5 Youth Lagoon, performing July
Not really feeling this song, but there wasn't any other place for it so it gets the 5. It has a pretty melody in the "chorus" or whatever; that part sounds like something for iPhone and/or Target commercials.

6 Jennifer Lopez, performing Love Don't Cost a Thing
Jennifer gives a very impassioned vocal performance. This song is high on my list mainly b/c of nostalgia.

2 No Doubt, performing Hella Good
This song is getting too much love this week. I remember this song was my first encounter with the word "hella", which I always thought was strange. Bassline is really good.

9 Kanye West, performing Power
Just love it. It was a return to form after the confusing 808s era. Agree w/ Ace that a Graduation song would have been a better #1 for him.

8 Beyoncé, performing 1+1
So good. The guitar in the last minute takes this to a whole notha level. The video is ridiculous, though. LOL.

4 Britney Spears, performing Anticipating
A poor choice, Britney fans. It's not THE BEST of THE BEST. I blame Bart for giving it an FYC in all-caps. But she'll be wildcarded so hopefully her 2nd song is better.

9 Hella Good
8 Climax
7 Power
6 Otherside
5 1+1
4 Anticipating
3 Hot N Cold
2 July
1 Love Don't Cost a Thing

9 Hot n Cold This song is just pure awesome, still jam to this!
8 Climax THIS IS SUCH A HIP HOP JAM!
7 Hella Good This was my favorite song for YEARS back in the day!
6 1+1 This song is just pure hit to me. It should've been a single
5 Power This song isn't the best song over, but it's a good effort.
4 Otherside I love RHCP, but this isn't their best song.
3 Anticipating I really don't like this song, but it's Britney so it's not the worst song.
2 Love Don't Cost A Thing THIS SONG IS SO ANNOYING! I hated it and I still hate it!
1 July This just isn't my cup of tea.

Poor Katy her song.

See, the fact that his ego is fueled by his corniness just makes the whole situation better for me. I don't think all his lines are corny but that one on Power definitely is, but I love it for it.

Britney Spears, performing Anticipating: 9
Brilliant in much the same way as "Call Me Maybe": the explosive disco fantasia perfectly captures the exuberance and euphoria of Britney's young love at first sight. How are you all not swept away by the surge at "We can get down to the DJ's sound!"?

Usher, performing Climax: 8
Playing on the title's double entendre, Usher laments a dying relationship in a sexy pillow-talk tone that serves as a potent reminder of what a powerful, expressive tool his voice can be. It's a triple entendre if you consider that "Climax" might just be the best song of his career.

No Doubt, performing Hella Good: 7
Like Ace, I find great appeal in its barrage of melding contrasts: fuzzy guitars meet spacey bloops, Gwen goes hard but sounds incredibly sexy doing it, the song is grungy yet eminently danceable. "Hella Good" won't allow itself to be easily pinned down, and it's held up well as a result.

Kanye West, performing Power: 6
Ego or not, the sheer for force of vision on display here is undeniable. And there are flashes of wit that make me think perhaps Kanye isn't taking himself entirely seriously. Aren't staggering genius and delusions of grandeur just two sides of the same token anyway?

Beyoncé, performing 1+1: 5
Is there anything better than the soulful electric guitar of a quiet storm ballad? I only wish Beyoncé had given more of an arc to her performance. By song's end, the full-force blast loses some of its impact.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Otherside: 4
Like "Climax," there's power in the moments of musical minimalism, pushing Anthony Kiedis' impassioned vocals to the forefront. The harmonies are gorgeous as well.

Katy Perry, performing Hot N Cold: 3
Back in 2008, I would have ranked this at the top of the year's pop heap. It still kind of bops, but as Graduation pointed out, maybe just for the kid(z) in me.

Youth Lagoon, performing July: 2
Several minutes of steadily swelling guitars is one of my musical weaknesses.

Jennifer Lopez, performing Love Don't Cost a Thing: 1
Sorry, conseeded. This is about as iconic and remembered as Jenny's first marriage.

Anymore before we close up shop this week? PATRICK?

I'm coming!

No time to comment, but I wanted to get these in before you moved on to next week.

Usher Climax (9)
Britney Spears Anticipating (8)
Katy Perry Hot N' Cold (7)
Beyoncé 1 + 1 (6)
Youth Lagoon July (5)
Red Hot Chili Peppers Otherside (4)
Kanye Power (3)
No Doubt Hella Good (2)
Jennifer Lopez Love Don't Cost a Thing (1)

Kind of pressed for time.

9. Climax by Usher
8. Hella Good by No Doubt
7. Power by Kanye West
6. Anticipating by Britney Spears
5. 1 + 1 by Beyoncé
4. Otherside by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
3. Love Don't Cost a Thing by Jennifer Lopez
2. July by Youth Lagoon
1. Hot N' Cold by Katy Perry

Good showing, one and all.

Next week is seriously ... sexy. And Song of the Year nomineey.

Call Me Legendary?

Motivation for the sexy, Call Me Maybe for Song of the Year, and Adorn for both? Here. for. it.

Not so fast.

9. Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Otherside"
8. Usher, "Climax"
7. No Doubt, "Hella Good"
6. Beyoncé, "1 + 1"
5. Kanye West, "POWER"
4. Youth Lagoon, "July"
3. Jennifer Lopez, "Love Don't Cost A Thing"
2. Britney Spears, "Anticipating"
1. [bayonse & brintey simultaneously hang up on kety perr]

Not counting that troll vote. The indecency!