The Best Song, Album, and Most Influential Person of 2009
I have been counting down my favorite songs, albums and people of the past 355 days. Today I bring to you the best of the best, the cream of the crop.
But before I do, here's a recap in case you've missed the countdown 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"
2. Michael Franti & Spearhead "Say Hey (I Love You)"
1. Thom Yorke "Hearing Damage"
The frontman of arguably the greatest band of our generation shocked a lot of people earlier this year when he announced that he would contribute a song to the newest movie in the Twilight-saga, Twilight: New Moon. What was Thom Yorke, a man who by all means seemed like the antithesis of anything "pop", doing recording a song for NEW MOON!? Stephanie Myers book series, which has started the craziest pop culture phenomenon this decade, seems to stand for everything that Thom Yorke is not.
However, all those concerned were left feeling at ease after hearing the track he contributed to the soundtrack, "Hearing Damage". The song goes back to Radiohead's Kid A era, with a driving synth beat and the perfect amount of goth-rock to appeal to all those Twilighters. In the song, Thom Yorke sings "You can do no wrong / in my eyes". After hearing this song, it is clear that Thom Yorke can do no wrong either.
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
2. U2 No Line on the Horizon
1,
Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion
Domino
January 6, 2009
The first major album released in 2009 was also the year's best. Animal Collective released their best album yet in 2009. The critics' choice for album of the year, and who can blame them. It featured the the sound of the Beach Boys, only updated to fit this generation. The wonderful "My Girls" is an outstanding tune preaching the comfort of domesticity. The saying is normally "save the best for last" but in 2009, Animal Collective gave us the best album way back in January.
KEY TRACKS:
In the Flowers
My Girls
Also Frightened
Bluish
Guys Eyes
Lion in a Coma
Brother Sport
TOP 10 PEOPLE
10. Adam Lambert
9. Rihanna
8. Beyoncé Knowles
7. Sarah Palin
6. Michelle Obama
5. Tiger Woods
4. Lady Gaga
3. Taylor Swift
2. Barack Obama
1.
Michael Jackson The King of Pop gets a royal send-off.
His Year:
- In March 2009 announced plans for his This Is It tour at London's O2 Arena
- Originally scheduled for 10 dates, the tour was expanded to 50 dates
- Died on June 26, 2009
- Memorial held on July 7, 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles
- Memorial was seen by over 31 million people
- Nightly news programs devoted 34% of air time on his death
- Had 19 albums in the Top 40 of the iTunes Albums chart
- At one point had the top 12 albums on the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums
- Also had 25 of the top 75 songs on the Hot Digital Songs chart
- By August 2009, his albums had sold 3.8 million copies and he had sold 7.6 million tracks
- Number Ones was the top selling album 5 out of the 6 weeks following his death
- Movie documentary This Is It debuted at #1 on the box office charts.
Thank you for checking out these countdown. Was Michael Jackson not the biggest celebrity of 2009? Did Lady Gaga have the best song of 2009? Did Animal Collective really have the best album of the year?
Discuss below!
And starting January 1, I will give you the Top 100 Songs of the 21st Century so far! Stay tuned!
The first decade of the 21st Century is officially over and what a better time to unveil the list of the greatest songs of the decade, from the year 2000-2009. Some important notes to throw out at first:
- Each artist is allowed 3 songs where they are the main artist
- There is no limit on how many songs an artist can have on the list if they are the featured artist
- I generally stayed with singles and didn't look at every song from this past decade
So without any further delay, here are the best songs of the 21st century, starting with songs 100-91...
100. Daft Punk "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"
99. Coldplay "The Scientist"
98. Gomez "How We Operate"
97. The White Stripes "We're Going to Be Friends"
96. Mary J. Blige "Be Without You"
95. Band of Horses "No One's Gonna Love You"
94. OutKast featuring Sleepy Brown "The Way You Move"
93. My Morning Jacket "One Big Holiday"
92. Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"
91. Gnarls Barkley "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
Tomorrow I will post songs 90-81.
Here's the calendar of how the countdown will be released:
January 1, 2010: 100-91
January 2, 2010: 90-81
January 3, 2010: 80-71
January 4, 2010: 70-61
January 5, 2010: 60-51
January 6, 2010: 50-41
January 7, 2010: 40-31
January 8, 2010: 30-21
January 9, 2010: 20-11
January 10, 2010: 10-1
11/20 Songs of 2009. Say Hey (I Love You) :heart:
5/10 albums. (What is up with the #1 album it is moving.)
9/10 People. Hate Sarah Palin; R.I.P. MJ
6/10 song of the 21st century. Jet favorite of the set.
11/20 Songs of 2009. Say Hey (I Love You) :heart:
5/10 albums. (What is up with the #1 album it is moving.)
9/10 People. Hate Sarah Palin; R.I.P. MJ
6/10 song of the 21st century. Jet favorite of the set.
Albums: That's the cover art for the album... it is an optical illusion
People: Agreed, I don't like her either but I couldn't deny the impact she had this year (unfortunately)
Top 100 Songs of the 21st Century... so far (90-81)
Today I give to you songs 90-81 on my list of the Greatest Songs of 21st Century (so far)... but before I do, here is a recap of 100-91:
100. Daft Punk "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"
99. Coldplay "The Scientist"
98. Gomez "How We Operate"
97. The White Stripes "We're Going to Be Friends"
96. Mary J. Blige "Be Without You"
95. Band of Horses "No One's Gonna Love You"
94. OutKast featuring Sleepy Brown "The Way You Move"
93. My Morning Jacket "One Big Holiday"
92. Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"
91. Gnarls Barkley "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
SONGS 90-81
90. Adele "Chasing Pavements"
89. Madonna "Hung Up"
88. Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell "Drop It Like It's Hot"
87. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club "Windows"
86. Lady Gaga "Poker Face"
85. Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dani California"
84. Rihanna "Disturbia"
83. JJ Grey & Mofro "Fireflies"
82. T.I. featuring Rihanna "Live Your Life"
81. Foo Fighters "Times Like These" (Acoustic)
Tomorrow I will show you songs 80-71 on the list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century.
Top 100 Songs of the 21st Century... so far (80-71)
Songs 100-81:
100. Daft Punk "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"
99. Coldplay "The Scientist"
98. Gomez "How We Operate"
97. The White Stripes "We're Going to Be Friends"
96. Mary J. Blige "Be Without You"
95. Band of Horses "No One's Gonna Love You"
94. OutKast featuring Sleepy Brown "The Way You Move"
93. My Morning Jacket "One Big Holiday"
92. Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"
91. Gnarls Barkley "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
90. Adele "Chasing Pavements"
89. Madonna "Hung Up"
88. Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell "Drop It Like It's Hot"
87. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club "Windows"
86. Lady Gaga "Poker Face"
85. Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dani California"
84. Rihanna "Disturbia"
83. JJ Grey & Mofro "Fireflies"
82. T.I. featuring Rihanna "Live Your Life"
81. Foo Fighters "Times Like These" (Acoustic)
SONGS 80-71
80. Snow Patrol "Run"
79. The Cool Kids "Gold and a Pager"
78. Mika "Grace Kelly"
77. Amy Winehouse "Back to Black"
76. Wilco "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart"
75. Mariah Carey "We Belong Together"
74. Robert Plant & Allison Kraus "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)"
73. Jay-Z "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...)"
72. Fleet Foxes "Mykonos"
71. Beyonce "Irreplaceable"
Top 100 Songs of the 21st Century... so far (70-51)
70. Bjork “Earth Intruders”
69. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
68. Maroon 5 “Makes Me Wonder”
67. Bon Iver “Skinny Love”
66. Peter Bjorn & John “Young Folks”
65. The Shins “New Slang”
64. U2 “Vertigo”
63. Arcade Fire “Rebellion (Lies)”
62. Radiohead “Pyramid Song”
61. TV on the Radio “Wolf Like Me”
60. Justin Timberlake featuring T.I. “Let Me Talk To You Prelude / My Love”
59. Missy Elliott “Get Ur Freak On”
58. Loretta Lynn “Van Lear Rose”
57. The Flaming Lips “Do You Realize”
56. Alicia Keys “Fallin’”
55. Scissor Sisters “Take Your Mama”
54. Dixie Chicks “Not Ready to Make Nice”
53. Wyclef Jean featuring Akon, Lil Wayne & Niia “Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)”
52. Beyonce featuring Jay-Z “Crazy In Love”
51. JJ Grey & Mofro “Brighter Days”
Tomorrow I start showing you the top 50 songs of the last decade, starting with songs 50-41 on the chart.