37. T.I. “Whatever You Like”
Album: Paper Trail
Genre: Pop, Hip-Hop
Producer: Jim Jonsin
US Billboard Hot 100: #1
Whatever You Like is the first song of two singles by T.I. to appear in my list this year. T.I. drops a song where he sings more than he raps, but it is still coming from the 'King of the South', as he likes to call himself. The song is completely different from anything he has released before, definitely showing his versatility. With this song, T.I. finally got to crossover to pop radio and score one of the biggest hits of his entire career, it was so successful that Weird Al chose to put his spin on it. The song isn’t that great lyrically, but that doesn't stop it from being so damn catchy. Definitely one of the best singles released this year.
36. Katy Perry “Hot N’ Cold”
Album: One Of The Boys
Genre: Dance Pop
Producer: Dr. Luke
US Billboard Hot 100: #3
Hot N Cold is the follow up single to her #1 smash
I Kissed a Girl, and with this track, Katy Perry leaves any concerns over one hit wonder status in the dust. Katy Perry continues her lyrical edginess here about her frustration with a boyfriend, with lyrics like
"Yeah you BMS, like a bitch" and
"you change your mind, like a girl changes clothes." The highlight of the song got to be the irresistible sing along chorus, I had a hard time trying to get it out of my head. Katy Perry is one of the brightest new pop artists to emerge in 2008 and this song is simply pop perfection.
35. Day26 “Since You’ve Been Gone”
Album: Day26
Genre: R&B
Producer: Bryan-Michael Cox, Adonis
US Billboard Hot 100: ---
This song is my favorite track from their debut album, and it's such a shame it failed to hit the charts, obviously because Diddy is an asshole and did nothing to promote the song. Since You’ve Been Gone is the typical R&B song about a romance where the girl leaves the guy because she is tired of him and the guys is trying to get her back, nothing amazing lyrically. The song definitely showcases the guys’ vocals, Will and Robert automatically became my favorites from the group after listening to this song. The video is cheap and dull, once again Diddy’s fault. Since You’ve Been Gone spent many weeks in my personal countdown hitting number one more than once. Overall, one of the highlight of R&B music this year, can’t deny that.
34. M.I.A. “Paper Planes”
Album: Kala
Genre: Alternative
Producer: Diplo, Switch
US Billboard Hot 100: #4
I discovered this song by the end of last year, so it couldn’t make my chart for 2007. I instantly loved it at first listen. I was surprised to see this song become so popular, after being used in the advertising for the film “Pineapple Express”, introducing M.I.A. to millions of people that never heard of her before; all that success was very well deserved after all. The gunshots make the song impossible to ignore and the angry lyrics about the treatment of immigrants truly put this song in another level. I also love the video for the song, it’s very simple but it fit’s the song and that’s all that matters. I haven’t heard her whole album, but if the other tracks are as good as this song, I need to give it a listen asap.
