Due to an overflow of entries on my list, some forgotten additions, and songs heard later in the year..... My #10 position is a tie.
10 (1). Pixie Lott - Boys & Girls
I was immediately drawn to Pixie as soon as this video began. First of all, she's gorgeous. Second, her voice is perfection (see her cover of "Use Somebody"?) Third, the video is great. It's basically the basement hipster party that GaGa attempted to have in her "Just Dance" video. Pixie even gets in on the choreography, which is just more reason to love her. Great song.
10 (2). Florence + The Machine - You've Got The Love
Florence + The Machine put out one of the best albums in recent memory with "Lungs". I was immediately captivated to Florence when I first heard "Kiss With A Fist". however, Florence has a much bigger voice than that song lets on. That voice is perfectly showcased in the album standout "Girl With One Eye", but in this song as well. "You've Got The Love" is an improved cover of a 70s disco hit. The song displays a voice like no other and the video is a perfect Studio-54 inspired good time. It's no wonder this song recently started smashing in the UK, Florence has got IT.
09. Ida Maria - Oh My God
What if Courtney Love had the pop-sensibility of Pink? Well, then she'd be Ida Maria. She's a little Courtney, a little Pink, a little Karen O, but all awesome. She put out one of my Top 5 albums of the year when she finally released "Fortress 'round My Heart" in America in 2009. Most people were immediately drawn to the crazy catchy, and attention seeking "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked". Which had a more expensive video and far more radio-play. However, I was drawn to this song. With it's repetitive verses, ball-busting chorus, and insane raspy-screamed finale. (The high-note at 2:18 never fails to give my shivers. This is one Norwegian I hope to hear more from, lots more. Ida is brilliant.
08. Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
Though my initial obsession with this song has faded over time, Katy won me over with this song. It was always her standout for me. (Though now that honor has moved on to the vastly underrated tracks "I'm Still Breathing" and "Brick By Brick") It chimes in with clever verses, a kickass chorus, and Katy Perry's always attention-grabbing voice. Some find it grating, I find it GOLD. The video was great, a good time in good ole Vegas. Katy stormed radio with his song, and this year, I hope she goes on to do it again.
07. Paramore - Brick By Boring Brick
Paramore underwhelmed slightly with Ignorance, but then I heard this song. Never before have they brought so much to the table on a song. With the great "ba ba ba das" mixed with an insanely catchy, radio-ready chorus. Paramore came to own. Now to mention they put out their greatest album yet "Brand New Eyes." (Which features the standout tracks "Playing God" and "All I Wanted".) The video was brilliant as well, with an ending I will never forget. Great song.
06. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You
Kelly, Kelly Kelly, why you gotta slay me? Some expressed disappointment with this song. To that I say, WTF? Why? This is pop/rock-perfection at it's best. A stellar voice, bouncy verses, a brilliant and catchy chorus. What more do you want? This unofficial sequel to "Since U Been Gone" is exactly the way I wanted to start out my year. Though her album offered even better songs (like "Save You" and the CRIMINALLY underrated "I Want You" which is my personal fave) this song still holds it's own. The video was cute, but didn't hit as hard as it could. However, when a song is as good as this, who needs a video?
You've Got the Love an IMPROVED cover? DON'T DO ME CHAD. I'm so angry over that I can't even comment on how much I love no.6 (and especially) no. 8. DON'T DO ME.
You've Got the Love an IMPROVED cover? DON'T DO ME CHAD. I'm so angry over that I can't even comment on how much I love no.6 (and especially) no. 8. DON'T DO ME.
Lady GaGa came, saw, and conquered 2009. She put out 4 smash singles in a row from her debut album "The Fame". The best video of the year was clearly 'Paparazzi"... well, that is, until GaGa released her next video. "Bad Romance" was unlike anything I'd seen before. Pure genius. The song itself is also brilliant. The "Ra Ra Ah ah ah, Ro ma, Ro ma ma, GaGa, ooh la la" alone is good enough to have it's own group on Facebook. The "lav lav lavs" are just as memorable. The standout, though, is the incredibly catchy chorus. GaGa outdid herself in every way with this song. Pop perfection.
04. Metric - Help I'm Alive
I'm all about originality, and Metric gave it to me this year. Narrowly edging out their other great track "Gimme Sympathy" is "Help I'm Alive". I just wish they made an official video for this track, I have so many ideas for how epic it could be. The "beating like a hammer" is an incredible build-up to the chorus. I can't express how much I love this song in words. It just has something special about it. All of the percussion follows a heartbeat rhythm, I find that so great. This song is something I haven't heard before, only comparable to another personal fave of mine, Garbage.
03. Lily Allen - The Fear
Narrowly missed my 2008 cutoff, this song had to own my countdown this year. Hell, even this was a tough choice though. "Not Fair" was brilliant, but didn't have the song-video combination that "The Fear" had, nor did "**** You" "22" and "Who'd Have Known" had the best videos of the era, but weren't able to stick with me as much. Regardless, Lily Allen put out what is indisputably the best album of 2009 with "It's Not You, It's Me". It also featured the best song of the year, "Him". If only that song had been a single. Regardless, "the Fear" was pure brilliance. The closing instrumental is amazing. My personal favorite line being
"I am a weapon of massive consumption, and it's not my fault, it's how I'm programmed to function."
I first heard this song long ago, but it really struck me when I heard it during the movie "500 Days Of Summer" (which was undoubtedly my #1 film for 2009.) The instrumental is incredibly haunted, and the amazing vocals only add to it. Absolutely no one else could create a song with such ambiance and lasting effects in 2009. This song is pure perfection.
01. Ke$ha - TiK ToK
No contest.
I first heard this song back in late May/early June when it was simply known as "Dolla" and I knew I was on to something. I had over-listened this song before it even had an official title. However, with each listen, I only loved it more and more. It was my summer theme-song. Then my fall theme-song, hell it was even my Winter theme-song when it finally reached it's massive amount of success. Ke$ha just has IT. The stans can bash her all they want, we all know they just feel threatened by the Ke$ha takeover. I personally think there is room for one more, and room has been made DAMMIT! My favorite trashy alcoholic pop-sensation is here to stay.
, I like the fear too , but no so much :-/