What a year it has been. In 2009 Lady Gaga emerged as the one of the biggest stars in the world while Jay-Z solidified his stand as the greatest rapper alive. U2 came back with a vengeance (and their best album since Achtung Baby). And then there was the emergence of several indie acts in 2009, including the critical darlings, Animal Collective. 12 months ago, the music world didn't know what to expect in 2009. 12 months later, we witnessed one of the craziest, randomest, and awesomest years in music since Y2K.
Here is how the charts will be unveiled:
December 23, 2009: Songs 20-16, Album 10, Most Influential People of 2009 10
December 24, 2009: Songs 15-11, Album 9, Most Influential People of 2009 9
December 25, 2009: Songs 10-9, Album 8, Most Influential People of 2009 8
December 26, 2009: Songs 8-7, Album 7, Most Influential People of 2009 7
December 27, 2009: Songs 6-5, Albums 6-5, Most Influential People of 2009 6-5
December 28, 2009: Song 4, Album 4, Most Influential People of 2009 4
December 29, 2009: Song 3, Album 3, Most Influential People of 2009 3
December 30, 2009: Song 2, Album 2, Most Influential People of 2009 2 NEW YEAR'S EVE: BEST SONG, BEST ALBUM AND MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON OF 2009
In 2009, Chairlift followed in the footsteps of U2 and Feist as they let Apple use "Bruises" in their iPod commercials. Caroline Polacheck and Aaron Pfenning swap vocals on the track, which talk about how people will do absolutely anything for the people they love.
19. Gary Go "Wonderful"
Synthpop became the hottest genre in 2009. In a year filled with synthpop tracks, this one, by UK-singer-songwriters Gary Baker, was one of the best. After taking the UK by storm with his debut single, "Wonderful," he's finally crossing the Atlantic. He has started touring with Lady Gaga here in the States. It's a small world after all.
18. Paolo Nutini "Candy"
Paolo Nutini ditched his new shoes for a more mature sound on his follow-up to the mega-hit These Streets. The first single from Sunny Side Up is straight acoustic pop about recapturing the sweetness of a relationship after the initial spark is gone.
17. Raekwon featuring Inspectah Deck, GZA, Ghostface Killah & Method Man "House of Flying Daggers"
It's like he never left. 14 years ago, Raekwon released the classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Part I. In 2009, the sequel was finally released, and first single "House of Flying Daggers" showed the Raekwon never missed a step in the 14 years between the two discs.
16. Jamie Cullum "Not While I'm Around"
Jamie Cullum caught the world's attention earlier in the decade with the release of Twentysomething. Since then, Cullum has been working to prove that his debut disc wasn't made out of luck. In 2009, lightning struck again for Jamie Cullum on his wonderful album The Pursuit. The best moment on the disc: his cover of the Sweeney Todd song "Not While I'm Around." Originally from the Steven Sondheim musical, Jamie's take captures all the emotion of the original, but with a delicious pop hook. Steven Sondheim would be so, so proud.
Check here later for the #10 album of 2009 and 10th most influential person of the year.
And if you like that, you should check out his cover of "Don't Stop the Music". It's also on his new CD. If you can't find it anywhere, let me know and I can send it to you.
Top 10 Albums and Most Influential People of 2009 (#10)
Top 10 Albums of 2009
10.
Del the Funky Homosapien and Tame One Parallel Uni-Verses
Gold Dust Media
October 13, 2009
Two of underground rap's most legendary artists, Del the Funky Homosapien and Tame One, came together in 2009 to create the incredible Parallel Uni-Verses. Produced by Parallel Thought, the album featured old-school hip-hop beats and features raps that are just as good as anything that was released in 2009.
KEY TRACKS:
Flashback
The Franchise
Before This
Teddy
BEST LYRICS:
"I didn't even get high til the 90s, didn't feel the need to/my life was simple, just a preview"
-Del the Funky Homosapien, "Before This"
Most Influential People of 2009
10.
Adam Lambert
His Year: Became most successful runner-up in American Idol history (who won this year, anyway?)
Featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine; admitted he was gay
Shocked millions at the AMA's with performance of "For Your Entertainment" and was subsequently cancelled from performances previously scheduled on ABC
Today we count down videos 15-11 on the Best of 09 list, as well as showing you the #9 album and most influential person of 2009. But before we get into any of that, here's a recap of videos 20-16...
20. Chairlift "Bruises"
19. Gary Go "Wonderful"
18. Paolo Nutini "Candy"
17. Raekwon featuring Inspectah Deck, GZA, Ghostface Killah & Method Man "House of Flying Daggers"
16. Jamie Cullum "Not While I'm Around"
15. Phoenix "1901"
2009 was a very good year for the French band Phoenix. Not only was their song "1901" used in a Cadillac SRX commercial, but the band also garnered several Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year in the Alternative Music category. "1901", the best moment on the disc, is pure synthpop at it's best, with one of the greatest guitar hooks of the year.
14. Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse featuring Gruff Rhys "Just War"
The best song from the best album no one was supposed to hear. After a disagreement with the EMI label, the album the song comes from, Dark Night of the Soul, the album's release was halted. The song features Welsch-singer Gruff Rhys, who has worked with several artists and bands, including Super Furry Animals. The song laments about a post-apocalyptic world where bombs are falling constantly and we are left wondering if this is "just war."
13. Miike Snow "Song for No One"
In 2007, singer-songwriter Andrew Wyatt formed the group Miike Snow with fellow members Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, better known as Bloodshy & Avant, the producers of Britney Spears' mega-hit "Toxic." However, it wasn't until the 2009 release of Miike Snow when the band made a name for themselves. This stand out track features one of the cleanest, most recognizable guitar riffs of 2009. A promising start in what hopefully becomes a full time endeavor.
12. Julian Casablancas "11th Dimension"
The beginning of the decade saw Julian Casablancas and his band, The Stokes, release the great Is This It. Since then, Casablancas has been trying to get back to that critical and commercial success of that debut, and in 2009, he finally succeeded. The first single off of Phrazes of the Heart features the best lyrics of any song in 2009. During the refrain, Julian sings, "Forgive them, even if they are not sorry." Maybe we should all heed his advice.
11. K'naan "Waving Flag"
K'naan, the Somalian born rapper/poet, had made a name for himself before 2009 by working with artists such as Nelly Furtado, Damian Marley and The Roots. But in 2009, K'naan released the album Troubadour, which features the eleventh greatest song of 2009, "Waving Flag." And don't just take it from me; "Waving Flag" has been named the official anthem of the 2010 World Cup, making sure that everyone will hear this song in the coming year.
Best Albums of 2009 and Most Influential People (#9)
Yesterday I unveiled the #10 album and most influential person of 2009. Today, I give you the 9th best album and 9th most influential person of the year. But first, here's what you missed yesterday:
BEST ALBUMS OF 2009
10. Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One "Parallel Uni-Verses"
MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2009
10. Adam Lambert
Now on to today's list...
9.
Kid Cudi Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Motown
September 15, 2009
Kid Cudi made a name for himself if 2008 with a cameo appearance on the Kanye West track "Welcome to Heartbreak" off of the rappers album 808s and Heartbreak. In 2009, Scott Mescudi's hot streak continued, as he landed guest appearances on Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and on David Guetta's One Love. He also released the ninth greatest album of the year, creating a mix of hip-hop and electronic music, thanks to his collaboration with Ratatat.
KEY TRACKS:
Soundtrack 2 My Life
Day 'n' Nite
Enter Galactic (Love Connection, Pt. II)
Alive (Nightmare) [feat. Ratatat]
Make Her Say (feat. Kanye West & Common) [samples Lady Gaga's "Poker Face"]
Pursuit of Happiness (feat. MGMT & Ratatat)
Up, Up and Away (The Wake and Bake Song)
BEST LYRICS:
"If I fall, if I die, know I lived it to the fullest / If I fall, if I die, know I lived and missed some bullets"
Kid Cudi, Pursuit of Happiness
MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
9.
Rihanna
Her Year: Assaulted by then-boyfriend Chris Brown hours before the 2009 Grammy Awards
Took time off to work on fourth studio album, Rated R.
Dumped Chris Brown and was interviewed by Diane Sawyer on ABC in one of the most talked about interviews of the year.
Featured on Jay-Z's "Run This Town." Rated R was released in November to critical acclaim and debuted in top five of the Billboard 200. The albums sales of over 180,000 copies bested her previous album, Good Girl Gone Bad.
Day N Nite, Make Her Say & Pursuit of Happiness are the best from Kid Cudi's album !!!
Yeh, Adam Lambert & Rihanna are really the influential people this year.
The strange style & different music, good voice of Adam impressed people a lot this year, already from American Idol though
The scandal between Rihanna & Chris Brown keeps Rihanna in news the whole year and still going on until now, the album RATED R also contributed to her influence this year
Top 20 Songs of 2009 (10-9), Top 10 Albums & People (8)
Before we got on with today's list, here's a recap of the Top 20 Songs, Top 10 Albums, and Top 10 People from the past 12 months:
TOP 20 SONGS
20. Chairlift “Bruises”
19. Gary Go “Wonderful”
18. Paolo Nutini “Candy”
17. Raekwon featuring Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Method Man “House of Flying Daggers”
16. Jamie Cullum “Not While I’m Around”
15. Phoenix “1901”
14. Danger Mouse & Sparklehourse featuring Gruff Rhys “Just War”
13. Miike Snow “Song for No One”
12. Julian Casablancas “11th Dimension”
11. K’naan “Waving Flag”
10. Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One "Flashback"
In 2009, two of underground rap's most influential rappers, Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One came together to create the tenth greatest album of 2009, Parallel Thought. On this standout track, Del and Tame One put the rap game on blast, as Del raps about a time "before hip hop turned to a fashion show." And while we may never get back to the rap era pre-ringtones, iTunes and Auto Tune, Del and Tame promise to not go down without a fight.
9. La Roux "Bulletproof"
While her hair style might lead people to believe that she is Conan O'Brien's sister, listening to "Bulletproof" will squash any of those thoughts. This defiant anthem, built on top of a beat that Lady Gaga would eat up, is no doubt the best song off her band's self-titled debut album. The song became a hit overseas, debuting at #1 on the UK Singles Chart in June and the song later found its way across the Atlantic, making it to #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Charts.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
10. Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One Parallel Uni-Verses
9. Kid Cudi Man on the Moon: The End of Day
8.
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse Dark Night of the Soul
Unreleased
This album, featuring Danger Mouse, the man responsible for The Grey Album is one of the best of 2009. Too bad record label EMI axed the project right before it was supposed to get a proper release. The album is a collaboration with Sparklehorse, who worked with Radiohead's Thom Yorke on a cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" for the Lords of Dogtown soundtrack. And Dark Night of the Soul features several high profile collaborations that would make any indie music fan melt. The Flaming Lips stop by on the incredible "Revenge", while James Merces of The Shins stops by for the help out with the chaos that is "Insane Lullaby."
KEY TRACKS
Revenge (feat. The Flaming Lips)
Just War (feat. Gruff Rhys)
Little Girl (feat. Julian Casablancas)
Everytime I'm With You (feat. Jason Lytle)
Insane Lullaby (feat. James Mercer)
BEST LYRICS:
"Once you've sought / the path of revenge / There's no way to stop / and the more I try to hurt you / The more that it hurts me"
Wayne Coyne, Revenge
TOP 10 PEOPLE
10. Adam Lambert
9. Rihanna
8.
Beyoncé Knowles
In 2009, the Queen continued her quest for world domination. Here are some highlights of her year:
- Sang "At Last" at President Barack Obama's inaugural ball, where the President and Michelle Obama had their first dance as President and First Lady.
- Set out on her I Am... Tour, one of the most successful tours of the year.
- Won the BET and MTV awards for Video of the Year for her single "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)"
- Named "Woman of the Year" by Billboard magazine
- Led all nominees at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards with 10 nominations, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Top 20 Songs of 2009 (8-7), Top 10 Albums & People (7)
Here's a recap of what's been happening so far...
TOP 20 SONGS
20. Chairlift “Bruises”
19. Gary Go “Wonderful”
18. Paolo Nutini “Candy”
17. Raekwon featuring Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Method Man “House of Flying Daggers”
16. Jamie Cullum “Not While I’m Around”
15. Phoenix “1901”
14. Danger Mouse & Sparklehourse featuring Gruff Rhys “Just War”
13. Miike Snow “Song for No One”
12. Julian Casablancas “11th Dimension”
11. K’naan “Waving Flag”
10. Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One "Flashback"
9. La Roux "Bulletproof"
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Zero"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs burst onto the music scene earlier this decade with the incredible single "Maps". In 2009, the band, led by lead singer Karen O, released their 3rd album, It's Blitz. The album was proceeded by lead single "Zero", the eighth greatest song of the year. Moving away from the garage rock sound of their first disc and the chilled out sound of their second disc, this song set the standard for what was to come on the disc.
7. U2 "Unknown Caller"
In 2009 Bono took a break from trying to save the world to release one of the best albums of the year, No Line on the Horizon. The best track on the disc is unquestionably "Unknown Caller". The track is apparently about a phone call from God, and features lyrics like "force quit and move to trash" that anyone with a Mac can relate to. Throw in one of Edge's trademark guitar solos and it's a perfect equation for one of the best tracks of the year.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
10. Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One Parallel Thought
9. Kid Cudi Man on the Moon: The End of Day
8. Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse Dark Night of the Soul
7.
Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Domino
January 26, 2009
Franz Ferdinand exploded onto the scene with "Take Me Out" in 2004. Five years later, the band released their best album yet, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand. While the album lacked any big time singles like their first two discs, the third one is their most cohesive to date. It tells the story of a typical night for the members of Franz Ferdinand, filled with booze and dance parties and whatever else you can imagine a rock band would do. The album starts with the rollicking "Ulysses" and ends with the quiet, introspective "Katharine Kiss Me" which takes the lyrics from "No You Girls" and turns the song from a dance track to an acoustic track.
KEY TRACKS:
Ulysses
No You Girls
Can't Stop Feeling
Lucid Dreams
Katherine Kiss Me
BEST LYRICS:
"Sometimes I say stupid things / But I think, well I mean I / Sometimes I think the stupidest things / Because I never wonder / How the girl feels"
Alex Kapranos, No You Girls
TOP 10 PEOPLE
10. Adam Lambert
9. Rihanna
8. Beyoncé
7.
Sarah Palin
Love her or hate her, you can't deny the influence Sarah Palin had in American in 2009.
- Formed the political group SarahPAC to help her with funding for her possible 2012 run for the White House
- Resigned as governor of Alaska
- Release her memoir, Going Rogue, in November 2009
- Interviewed by Oprah Winfrey after her book release (highest rated Oprah telecast in over 2 years)
Before we break into the top 4 spots on these countdowns, here's a recap of what you may have missed:
TOP 20 SONGS
20. Chairlift “Bruises”
19. Gary Go “Wonderful”
18. Paolo Nutini “Candy”
17. Raekwon featuring Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Method Man “House of Flying Daggers”
16. Jamie Cullum “Not While I’m Around”
15. Phoenix “1901”
14. Danger Mouse & Sparklehourse featuring Gruff Rhys “Just War”
13. Miike Snow “Song for No One”
12. Julian Casablancas “11th Dimension”
11. K’naan “Waving Flag”
10. Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One "Flashback"
9. La Roux "Bulletproof"
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Zero"
7. U2 "Unknown Caller"
6. Lady Gaga "Bad Romance"
5. Animal Collective "My Girls"
4. Franz Ferdinand "No You Girls"
The best moment off of Franz Ferdinand's incredible 2009 album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand is also the fourth best song of 2009. The song is pure pop awesomeness about how everyone underestimates their impact on others ("No you girls never know, how you make the boy feel"). After "Do You Want To" and "Take Me Out", no one was entirely sure if Franz Ferdinand could outdo themselves. Well, in 2009 Franz Ferdinand proved that yes, they could improve. And in a very big way.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
10. Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One Parallel Uni-Verses
9. Kid Cudi Man on the Moon: The End of Day
8. Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse Dark Night of the Soul
7. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs It's Blitz
5. Jay-Z The Blueprint 3
4.
The New Broadway Cast Recording Hair (The New Broadway Cast Recording
Ghostlight
June 23, 2009
In 2009, the Broadway musical Hair returned to the big stage to celebrate the 40 years since the opening of the show. The new recording does not feature any new songs, but then again, it doesn't need to. The themes of the show, from peace to tolerance to love are all still very much the basic human needs of today. Songs such as "Aquarius" and "Let the Sun Shine" have been used in several movies (The 40-Year Old Virgin, anyone?). A great soundtrack and a show definitely worth the price of admission.
KEY TRACKS:
Aquarius
Ain't Go No
I Got Life
Hair
Where Do I Go?
Black Boys/White Boys
The Flesh Failures (Let the Sun Shine In)
TOP 10 PEOPLE
10. Adam Lambert
9. Rihanna
8. Beyonce Knowles
7. Sarah Palin
6. Michelle Obama
5. Tiger Woods
4.
Lady Gaga
She burst onto the music scene in 2009 to become one of the most talked about pop stars of the year
- First headlining tour (The Fame Ball Tour) began in March 2009
- In May 2009, Lady Gaga appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine
- Nominated for 9 MTV VMAs inclduing Video of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best Female Video
- Performed on Saturday Night Live
- Had her first 4 singles reach the top of the Airplay charts
- Nominated for Album of the Year for The Fame
- Topped eight Billboard year-end charts, including Best Hot 100 Artist
Top 20 Songs, Top 10 Albums & People of 2009 (3 & 2)
Here's a recap of what's been happening so far:
TOP 20 SONGS
20. Chairlift “Bruises”
19. Gary Go “Wonderful”
18. Paolo Nutini “Candy”
17. Raekwon featuring Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Method Man “House of Flying Daggers”
16. Jamie Cullum “Not While I’m Around”
15. Phoenix “1901”
14. Danger Mouse & Sparklehourse featuring Gruff Rhys “Just War”
13. Miike Snow “Song for No One”
12. Julian Casablancas “11th Dimension”
11. K’naan “Waving Flag”
10. Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One "Flashback"
9. La Roux "Bulletproof"
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Zero"
7. U2 "Unknown Caller"
6. Lady Gaga "Bad Romance"
5. Animal Collective "My Girls"
4. Franz Ferdinand "No You Girls"
3. Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind"
You have all heard this song by now. Jay-Z's ode to the city that never sleeps is the most deserving #1 hit on the Hot 100 in 2009. While Jay brings you in with is great rapping (what's new?) it's Alicia Keys' soaring chorus that makes this song as great as it is. We all new Keys had an amazing voice, but she even outdoes herself on this track, making everyone wish they were from the Big Apple.
2. Michael Franti & Spearhead "Say Hey (I Love You)"
Michael Franti has been known for his protest music for over 20 years now, but it wasn't until his 2009 song with Spearhead, "Say Hey (I Love You)" that he got the credit he deserves. The song became his first Hot 100 hit in his long career. The upbeat tune was just what we needed in America in a year filled with turmoil and uncertainty.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
10. Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One Parallel Uni-Verses
9. Kid Cudi Man on the Moon: The End of Day
8. Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse Dark Night of the Soul
7. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs It's Blitz
5. Jay-Z The Blueprint 3
4. The New Broadway Cast Recording Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical
3.
Jamie Cullum The Pursuit
Verve
November 10, 2009 (UK) / March 2, 2010 (US)
Jamie Cullum released his third album in November of 2009 in the UK. The album has not yet been released in the states but if you do enough searching, you'll be able to find it around. The disc features Jamie's trademark blues sound on the Cole Porter cover "Just One of Those Things". After that first track, he branches out to a much wider palette of sound, as he goes from the groove-funk of "We Run Things" to the seven-minute jam "Music Is Through". Throw in a cover of Rihanna's hit "Don't Stop the Music" and you have one of the best albums of 2009.
KEY TRACKS:
I'm All Over It
If I Ruled the World
Don't Stop the Music (Rihanna cover)
Mixtape
We Run Things
Not While I'm Around
Music Is Through
2.
U2 No Line on the Horizon
Interscope
February 27, 2009
U2 came back to the music scene in 2009 with their best album since their early 90s album Zooropa. The album features some of U2's most experimental music since Pop, just better executed. The album features such instant classics as "No Line on the Horizon", "Unknown Caller", and the epic "Moment of Surrender". This album shows that there is no surrender in sight for arguably the biggest band in the world.
KEY TRACKS:
No Line on the Horizon
Moment of Surrender
Unknown Caller
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
White as Snow
Breathe
Cedars of Lebanon
TOP 10 PEOPLE
10. Adam Lambert
9. Rihanna
8. Beyonce Knowles
7. Sarah Palin
6. Michelle Obama
5. Tiger Woods
4. Lady Gaga
3.
Taylor Swift America's Sweetheart went from country music's best kept secret to pop sensation overnight.
Her Year:
- In January 2009, Swift was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, becoming the youngest musical guest on the show's 33-year history
- In February 2009, "Love Story" became the first country song to top the Mainstream Top 40 chart
- At the CMA awards, she received the award for Album of the Year for Fearless, becoming the youngest artist to ever win that honor
- Tickets for her May 2009 show in Los Angeles' Staples Center sold out in under 2 minutes of them going on sale
- Was interrupted onstage at the 2009 VMAs by Kanye West after winning the award for Best Female Video, beating out Beyonce's mega-hit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)"
- In November 2009, she set the record for most songs on the Hot 100 chart at one time with eight songs reaching the chart
- Won 5 AMAs, including Artist of the Year
- Received 8 Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Album of the Year for Fearless
2.
Barack Obama America's first black president changes the world's view of America while saving the US from collapsing.
His Year:
- In January 2009, President Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President on the United States
- Ordered the closing of Guantanamo Bay
- In May 2009, nominated Sonia Sotomayor to become a Supreme Court Justice
- In October 2009, signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expands a previous hate-crime law to also include crimes committed on a person's gender, sexuality, etc.
- Signed a bill for a $787 billion stimulus package to help turn around the American economy; many have credited this bill for saving the American economy
- Got closer to overhauling the health care in American in December 2009, as both the House and Senate approved bills for universal health care
Who had a song better than Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" in 2009? Who was more important in 2009 than the President of the United States? There's only one way to find out, and that is to check out the countdown tomorrow for the Best Song, Album, and Most Influential Person of 2009.
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Adam Lambert 
