Two superstar pop divas. Two iconic anthems. Two #1 smashes. Two of my favorite songs of all time. But only one can emerge as the winner of this survivor...
After seven months and 20 rounds of voting, during which the 100 most-played songs from my iTunes library were pitted against each other in a battle of epic proportions, 98 songs have fallen by the wayside and two titans of contemporary pop music stand above the rest. But in a heated final vote-off, one has emerged as the champion. Will it be "Toxic," Britney Spears' first major comeback effort and a much-heralded new classic that cemented her status as the Princess of Pop? Or perhaps "Since U Been Gone," an all-time great break-up anthem that launched Kelly Clarkson beyond the "American Idol" franchise and into superstardom?
By a vote of 10-8, the winner is...
"Toxic" by Britney Spears!
Considering that she started the game with more entries than any other single artist (15, to be exact), perhaps it's only appropriate that the legendary Ms. Spears would wind up as the ultimate champion.
Nevertheless, this means that Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," a fierce competitor throughout, winds up in a respectable, and close, second place.
Thanks to everyone who voted throughout my very first personal survivor. I am so excited to have successfully completed such a giant undertaking and it wouldn't have been possible without all of your constant support!
If you care to take a stroll down memory lane, check out the results for the entire survivor below:
9.The Veronicas "Untouched" 10.Destiny's Child "Say My Name"
Pink "Sober" (Round 13)
Rihanna "Shut Up and Drive" (Round 13)
The Calling "Wherever You Will Go" (Round 12)
Duffy "Mercy" (Round 12)
Kelly Clarkson "Already Gone" (Round 12)
Alanis Morissette "Ironic" (Round 11)
Britney Spears "If U Seek Amy" (Round 11)
Lady Gaga f/ Space Cowboy and Flo Rida "Starstruck" (Round 11)
Michelle Branch "Everywhere" (Round 11)
Britney Spears "Circus" (Round 10)
Lady Gaga "LoveGame" (Round 10)
The Veronicas "4Ever" (Round 10)
Mary J. Blige and U2 "One" (Round 10)
Britney Spears "Piece of Me" (Round 9)
Amerie "1 Thing" (Round 9)
Britney Spears "Gimme More" (Round 9)
Danity Kane "Damaged" (Round 9)
Pink "I'm Not Dead" (Round 9)
Third Eye Blind "Jumper" (Round 8)
U2 "Beautiful Day" (Round 8)
Vanessa Carlton "Hands On Me" (Round 8)
Santogold "L.E.S. Artistes" (Round 8)
Justin Timberlake "Cry Me a River" (Round 8)
Katy Perry "I Kissed a Girl" (Round 8)
Seal "Amazing" (Round 7)
Lady Gaga "Boys Boys Boys" (Round 7)
Melissa Ethridge "Breathe" (Round 7)
Missy Elliot "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" (Round 7)
Brandy "Long Distance" (Round 7)
Flo Rida "Right Round" (Round 7)
Rihanna "Take a Bow" (Round 7)
M.I.A. "Boyz" (Round 7)
Ciara "Promise" (Round 6)
Imogen Heap "Hide and Seek" (Round 6)
Imogen Heap "The Walk" (Round 6)
Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes" (Round 6)
Kelly Clarkson "Just Missed the Train" (Round 6)
Rolling Stones "Sympathy For The Devil (Neptunes Remix)" (Round 6)
Timbaland f/ Keri Hilson and Nicole Scherzinger "Scream" (Round 6)
Brandy "Right Here (Departed)" (Round 6)
Imogen Heap "The Moment I Said It" (Round 5)
Imani Coppola "Raindrops From the Sun (Hey Hey Hey)" (Round 5)
INOJ "Love You Down" (Round 5)
Sia "Breathe Me" (Round 5)
Kerli "Walkin On Air" (Round 5)
The Pack "Candy" (Round 5)
Imogen Heap "Just For Now" (Round 5)
Kate Bush "This Woman's Work" (Round 5)
Lady Gaga "Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)" (Round 5)
Solange "Sandcastle Disco" (Round 5)
Britney Spears "Radar" (Round 4)
Death Cab for Cutie "Transatlanticism" (Round 4)
Little Jackie "The World Should Revolve Around Me" (Round 4)
Deborah Cox "Beautiful U R" (Round 4)
Imogen Heap "Have You Got It in You?" (Round 4)
Cyndi Lauper "I Drove All Night" (Round 4)
Kanye West f/ Jay-Z and J. Ivy "Never Let Me Down" (Round 4)
Outkast "B.O.B." (Round 4)
Kid Cudi f/ Kanye West, Common and Lady Gaga "Make Her Say" (Round 4)
Selena Cross "Silence" (Round 4)
Tegan and Sara "Walking With a Ghost" (Round 3)
Lady Gaga "Poker Face (Acoustic)" (Round 3)
The Kills "Sour Cherry" (Round 3)
Eve 6 "Inside Out" (Round 3)
Dilana "Roxanne" (Round 3)
Estelle f/ Kanye West "American Boy" (Round 3)
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova "Falling Slowly" (Round 3)
Hope "Who Am I To Say" (Round 3)
Macy Gray "Still" (Round 3)
Niia "Bang Bang" (Round 3)
Bird York "In The Deep" (Round 2)
Amiel "Lovesong" (Round 2)
BC Jean "If I Were a Boy" (Round 2)
Beth Hart "Hiding Under Water" (Round 2)
Britney Spears "Stronger" (Round 2)
Aaliyah "U Got Nerve" (Round 2)
Cyndi Lauper "Echo" (Round 2)
Death Cab for Cutie "The Ice Is Getting Thinner" (Round 2)
Lady Gaga "Brown Eyes" (Round 2)
Lady Gaga "Paparazzi" (Round 2)
Britney Spears "Toy Soldier (Round 1)
Britney Spears "Mmm Papi" (Round 1)
Britney Spears "Touch Of My Hand" (Round 1)
Britney Spears "Blur" (Round 1)
Britney Spears "Kill the Lights" (Round 1)
Britney Spears "Out From Under" (Round 1)
Britney Spears "Shadow" (Round 1)
Britney Spears "Unusual You" (Round 1)
Danity Kane f/ Missy Elliot "Bad Girl" (Round 1)
Willa Ford "I Wanna Be Bad" (Round 1)