The Year in Pop: 2010 RANKED (Part 2: 50-1)
METHOD: The ‘hits’ on this list were generated based on the US Billboard end-of-year charts and the UK OCC end-of-year charts. The Top 50 from each chart were added together, but obviously as there is overlap between the two the rest of the spots are based on a number of metrics, such as songs I remember being on the radio a lot, those that seem to get referenced a fair bit by other publications, and YouTube views. Some songs (e.g. Lady Gaga - Bad Romance) were released or prominent in more than one year, so will be included for any years applicable. The end of year rating is made up of the average rating for all songs on this list. By reading this list you acknowledge that I am not liable for any terrible takes presented. |
| 54 |  | Eliza Doolittle
Eliza Doolittle
50. Eliza Doolittle - Pack Up
A song that I mostly remember from adverts and TV shows rather than radio play. Actually listening to this I think whoever wrote All About That Bass for Meghan Trainor was listening to this beforehand, because the similarities are obvious. This is better but it’s not great. It’s enjoyable enough in a charming very British summer watch-the-cricket-and-go-for-a-picnic way though, so doesn’t quite cross over into annoying territory.
3.2/5 |
| 53 |  | Adam Lambert
For Your Entertainment
49. Adam Lambert - Whataya Want from Me
Yeah I definitely thought this was a Pink song back in the day. The very driving instrumental is pretty sweet and although I don’t usually go for these kinds of vocals in guys (they tend to get very show-off-y and boring), I feel Adam shows a nice amount of restraint rather than trying to unleash some primal anthemic vocals which I enjoy. I can’t say it’s anything special though, but it’s more than tolerable.
3.2/5 |
| 52 |  | Taio Cruz
Rokstarr
48. Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart (feat. Ludacris)
Ahh Taio Cruz’s other, better hit. A way more interesting, even if still generic, love song. You can legitimately dance to this, a feat that Dynamite doesn’t particularly reach. Others have done this sound better, but hey, passable is sometimes all you need. Yet another useless Ludacris feature drops this a couple of points.
3.3/5 |
| 51 |  | Tinie Tempah
Disc-Overy
47. Tinie Tempah - Written in the Stars (feat. Eric Turner)
I’m really not sure what to make of this coming back to it. Tinie Tempah is uncharacteristically animated and the vocal feature is pretty good. The instrumental is pretty nice. It just never becomes greater than the sum of its parts. And that is puzzling, because this isn’t an Only Girl (In the World) situation where the individual elements don’t mash together. They just never boost each other. I wish I got this more.
3.3/5 |
| 50 |  | Taylor Swift
Fearless
46. Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me
You Belong With Me is a sweet teen love ballad. However as much as I love Taylor and most everything she’s done – this never clicked with me. It feels aimed at an even younger inexperienced audience than Love Story was, without the charm and grace. Pretty soon she would fully embrace her pop sensibilities, ditching the country elements, and this feels very much like its foreshadowing this stylistic change – and is noticeably clumsy as a result. There’s some lovely little vocal melodies in the verses, but the chorus is markedly unsatisfying. She’s capable of better.
3.3/5 |
| 49 |  | The Wanted
The Wanted
45. The Wanted - All Time Low
I was way too cool at 12 for these boy bands and such (how could they compare to the amazing talent of artists like Three Days Grace?), but generally the UK revival of the format had some well-written songs. This is maybe one of them. I can’t help but see where many K-pop artists, not least megastars like BTS, have taken influence from this modern update of the style. Unlike the boy bands of old, there is somewhat of an equity between the members, with each getting a fair amount of time and none overpowering the others. Unfortunately for them in this case that perhaps lead to the stagnation of each member’s careers, but here they sound as clean and tightly-knit as they need to be. Pretty much the same problem killed JLS too.
3.4/5 |
| 48 |  | Puff Daddy
Last Train to Paris
44. Diddy/Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey)
An enjoyable modern hip-hop ballad? It’s closer than you think. Lyrically this is redemptive and somewhat poignant, with Diddy reflecting on his past and his relationship with Biggie in a manner fairly unexpected of him. The song isn’t all too special overall, but in a year with two awful Eminem ballads this was the antidote we needed, even if the dosage wasn’t quite as strong as it could be.
3.4/5 |
| 47 |  | Jason Derulo
Jason Derulo
43. Jason Derulo - Ridin' Solo
I’m Han Solo. Yeah that uhm… song?.. kinda ruined this to be honest. Not that there was much to this anyway, but there’s something to be said about the sentiment on display. Songs about not being able to get over your ex are everywhere. Songs about trashing your ex and being so over them you’re an asshole now are somewhat common. Songs about healing in a positive way after a breakup and feeling confident in yourself again, without being bitter and unlikeable? Fairly rare. And this song nails that feeling which the pop charts make seem way less common than reality. It’s a good vibe. It’s not a great song, but I can’t see it being hateable at all.
3.4/5 |
| 46 |  | Swedish House Mafia
Until One
42. Swedish House Mafia – One (Your Name) (feat. Pharrell)
Kind of a flagship moment for the newly-emerging trancier style of progressive house that went on to dominate the festival scene in the mid-2010’s. It was one of the first to crossover to the pop charts, not helped least by the endorsement-via-vocal-feature of a megastar tastemaker like Pharrell. It’s an enjoyable enough anthem, but like many of its ilk hearing it at home or on the radio betrays its true setting on a damp festival field tripping on substances you’ve never heard. As a pop song it fails, and unfortunately that is the basis upon which I’m critiquing, but in the right setting it’s very solid.
3.4/5 |
| 45 |  | Flo Rida
Only One Flo (Part 1)
41. Flo Rida - Club Can't Handle Me (feat. David Guetta)
A solid David Guetta instrumental with a surprisingly solid Flo Rida vocal. The chiptune-y keys in the verses are a nice touch. There’s a kind of muted sadness here that I can’t really put my finger on. It feels like the end of the night when everyone’s leaving. Just a bit disappointing. Not to say that the track’s bad – it just kinda brings these emotions up, putting me in a strange and confused state. Unfortunate really.
3.4/5 |
| 44 |  | Scouting for Girls
Everybody Wants To Be On TV
40. Scouting for Girls - This Ain't a Love Song
Is it sacrilege to say I like this? I know it’s an accepted truth that Scouting for Girls were super lame. I’m not gonna go against the grain and say any of their other stuff was worthwhile. And maybe I’m just a sucker for The Fray-style pop rock dramatics, but this is just too feel-good and harmless to indulge in trashing this punching bag. I’m going soft I swear…
3.5/5 |
| 43 |  | Maroon 5
Hands All Over
39. Maroon 5 – Misery
Maroon 5’s later discography is… spotty, to say the least. But this is a clear highlight. It has a solid 70s funk-pop groove carrying the whole track along in a pleasant plodding manner. It’s worth noting that this is before Levine started doing his ‘Levine-isms’ for lack of a better word. He actually sounds fairly normal here and that’s why it works. His penchant for whininess hadn’t yet infected his output. Dare I say he’s even likeable here? Maybe that’s a step too far.
3.5/5 |
| 42 |  | Mike Posner
31 Minutes To Takeoff
38. Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me
Ahh 2010’s biggest sleeper hit. And the song that made 12 year old me think Mike Posner was actually some kind of cool guy rather than a massive dork. The funky French house-inspired beat maybe carries this song a little too much to make up for Mike’s extremely mediocre voice, but some of the lyrics here are fairly well-crafted (I unapologetically love the “designer shades just to hide your face” line). I honestly forgot about this song for a long time until looking through my old iPod about a year ago, and maybe that’s for the best as it feels dated in retrospect. But not too dated to forget how fun it was back then.
3.5/5 |
| 41 |  | OneRepublic
Waking Up
37. OneRepublic - All the Right Moves
I think the slight Panic! at the Disco/Fall Out Boy-esque dramatic mall emo tinge is what elevates this otherwise fairly standard pop rock tune into the realms of replayability. A flair for the theatrical does not push into anthemic territory, but it does add a little more character that perhaps OneRepublic have always been missing. Ryan Tedder is by all means an excellent songwriter, but a performer? Not really. The up-tempo strings help set this apart from the rest of the slightly-rocky chart-bothering bands, enough to be memorable among a crowd of soundalikes anyway.
3.6/5 |
| 40 |  | Enrique Iglesias
Euphoria
36. Enrique Iglesias - I Like It (feat. Pitbull)
I’m a sucker for strong completely overdone Autotune when it’s done well, and this is done well. Maybe it’s the song’s overt Eurodance-influenced production that gets me going as a proponent of all things cheesy and clubby, but this is pure fun.- except for the Pitbull verse. Especially except for the Pitbull verse. God it sucks.
3.6/5 |
| 39 | | Jason Derulo
Jason Derulo
35. Jason Derulo - In My Head
Jason Derulo is an enigma to me. He’s completely devoid of personality and yet so many of his hooks are completely addictive. Kinda dated now, but this sounded huge to 12-year old me. Maybe it’s nostalgia points but it has a very instantaneous drive to it missing from a lot of hits.
3.7/5 |
| 38 |  | Jay Sean
All Or Nothing
34. Jay Sean - Down (feat. Lil Wayne)
I like this. Jay Sean was actually an artist I thought would go on to be pretty big, and it’s a shame he didn’t because he has a very soothing voice all things considered. In some other world he has the career Jason Derulo has. The song itself is very cliché, but it is delivered with a kinda charming sincerity. Lil Wayne’s feature is a Lil Wayne feature from 2010, let’s avoid talking about that I guess.
3.7/5 |
| 37 |  | 3OH!3
Want
33, 3OH!3 - Starstrukk (feat. Katy Perry)
I understand a lot of people can’t deal with this obnoxious frat bro energy, but this is such an infectious pop tune. Katy Perry also brings her A-game here with an absolutely killer feature. And I get its super dorky and uncool, but I think at least 3OH!3 are self-aware enough to realise this, or at least put up the impression they are. File it under guilty pleasures if you have to, but it’s disposable and clumsy in all the right ways.
3.7/5 |
| 36 |  | Kesha
Animal
32. Ke$ha - Your Love Is My Drug
This doesn’t quite have the same magic that TiK ToK had, but it’s still a great slice of faux-hippie trashy electro-pop. If you can’t get down to this you’re either a sexually repressed NEET or posturing that your music of choice has any greater intrinsic value. I will say, this is one of Ke$ha’s worse vocal performances, but it’s never really been about her voice anyway, more just the general vibe. Solid not-so-innocent fun.
3.7/5 |
| 35 |  | Katy Perry
Teenage Dream
31. Katy Perry - California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg)
I’m convinced the Snoop Dogg feature here was only for the sake of the “Gin and Juice” reference, because he damn near ruins this track. Aside from that complaint, California Gurls (spelt with a u because of course) is one of Katy’s less memorable singles for half the year, and most memorable during summer. I’ll be generous then, and say that as a summer jam, this hits every bar it aims for. Like an evening beach BBQ with your mates as a gentle breeze rolls in.
3.8/5 |
| 34 |  | Wiz Khalifa
Rolling Papers
30. Wiz Khalifa - Black and Yellow
Ahh throwback to when every kid had this as their ringtone in secondary school. I have to give credit to Wiz, not just here but in general. He just has more of an enjoyable presence than a lot of his contemporaries. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being boastful as well – what would the point of success be if you can’t celebrate it? He nails that feeling of pride and accomplishment here. The lyrics aren’t mind-blowing as expected but once you look past that pretence this is pretty damn enjoyable.
3.8/5 |
| 33 |  | La Roux
La Roux
29. La Roux - Bulletproof
Bulletproof is a song I’d appreciate more if it wasn’t so hyped up by people who generally ignore pop anyway. By all means it’s a great song regardless, the rather spastic and jolty instrumental harkens back to that early 80s British synthpop scene which is somehow dated yet timeless. And very much like that scene, La Roux’s voice isn’t that special, but it doesn’t have to be. Nice track and I definitely see and share a lot of the appeal but uh… In for the Kill is better and should have been the bigger hit. That a track like this was so big is a good thing though.
3.8/5 |
| 32 | | Tinie Tempah
Disc-Overy
28. Tinie Tempah - Frisky (feat. Labrinth)
A characteristically energetic and infectious beat from producer Labrinth, and a characteristically non-characterful vocal performance from Tinie Tempah. This is maybe too British to crossover outside our borders, but I think there’s an undeniable appeal here. Some nice call-backs to the UK’s drum and bass heritage in the latter half too. “Would you risk it for a chocolate biscuit?” is a laughably bad line though.
3.8/5 |
| 31 |  | Iyaz
Replay
27. Iyaz - Replay
Here’s one that soundtracked the summer. And with good reason. This is just a well-written (not over-written for once) pop rap/r&b jam with a subtle Caribbean inflection and an annoyingly catchy hook that reading the name of this song has likely got stuck back in your head again. For a lot of people that’s likely a turn off, but being a sucker for a good hook has got me appreciating its innocent playfulness all over again.
3.8/5 |
| 30 |  | B.o.B
The Adventures of Bobby Ray
26. B.o.B. – Airplanes (feat. Hayley Williams)
Let’s be real, nobody listens to this song for B.o.B. - it’s all about that Hayley Williams chorus. It’s delicate, melancholic and oh so humanising. Despite firmly belonging to the cheesier faction of pop-rap, this song absolutely nails the vibe it goes for, and I have fond memories blasting this during my “Paramore-are-gods” phase. B.o.B. does B.o.B. here, aka nothing of interest, but it doesn’t matter.
3.9/5 |
| 29 | | Katy Perry
Teenage Dream
25. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
I don’t remember any teenage relationships being this Hallmark-esque. Usually they were awkward and clumsy and annoyingly dramatic. But it’s a fun thing to think about. And this is just a fun song to drift off into your own little perfect world to. I’ve never been on a long road trip (the M25 in June whilst it pisses it down is perhaps less appealing than the California coast) but this makes me wish I had.
3.9/5 |
| 28 |  | Stromae
Cheese
24. Stromae - Alors on Danse
It’s always nice when foreign language songs manage to get some recognition in Anglophone countries, and whilst this was of course a bigger hit in mainland Europe, this was somewhat of a constant memory throughout the year, and has survived longer than many songs on this list. Its tired, grey sensibilities are incredibly hard to pull off in a pop song, and that alone deserves praise for tackling an inherently unrewarding mood and making it infectious enough. How many pop songs are there in the “I hate Mondays” fashion, and how many of those are about lifting yourself out of that rather than the dull, grey reality of 9 to 5 life? It’s maybe a bit bleak to become a favourite but that’s more an occupational hazard. For what it tries to do, it overwhelmingly succeeds.
3.9/5 |
| 27 |  | David Guetta
One Love
23. David Guetta - Sexy Chick/Bitch (feat. Akon)
I feel Guetta doesn’t get enough respect for his endless hits around this time. His ability to push that French electro house into a more mainstream dance-pop direction gave way to many who came after, and few who did it with such finesse. For however trashy you may call it, this sounds like a party you want to be at (as if anyone on Sput would get invited to one anyway). Lots of drink, drugs. models and summer sun which is basically what the summer’s made for anyway. I’m a sucker for Akon too, so this gets high marks from me.
4.0/5 |
| 26 |  | Edward Maya
Stereo Love
22. Edward Maya - Stereo Love (feat. Vika Jigulina)
Oh do I fucking love this tune. Where else are you gonna here accordion on the radio but a Romanian Eurodance banger that had no right to get this far? I swear there’s something in the water in Eastern Europe. Highly infectious, danceable as all fuck and charmingly dated and cheesy. Yes please. Jammed this in my PJs one Christmas morning whilst my sisters were arguing. Good times.
4.0/5 |
| 25 |  | Duck Sauce
Quack
21. Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand
How do you take a timeless, lame, yet simultaneously cool artist like Boney M, flip the sample and update it for the modern age? Why, you base the vocal upon the repeated name-dropping of a washed-up has-been celebrity of course! What sounds like a recipe for disaster, is in fact a deliciously infectious slice of nu-disco that could only have been pulled off by the mashing together of two legends like A-Trak and Armand Van Helden. Yes this was everywhere, and sure it got annoying the millionth time you heard it. But it’s maximalist hodgepodge of bizarre elements proved to be way better than could reasonably be expected.
4.0/5 |
| 24 |  | Far East Movement
Free Wired
20. Far East Movement - Like a G6 (feat. Cataracs & Dev)
It’s time to take music less seriously. It’s always been time to take music less seriously. A recurring theme from this era is just how much fun everyone seemed to be having. Like a G6 is not a meaningful song in any regards but it doesn’t need to be. It’s dumb and energetic. Far East Movement’s brief stint as Asian Pitbull clones thankfully didn’t last long (although apparently they’re still going) but it’s a shame that Dev’s career never really took off much, she could carry a chorus very well. As for the duo behind the production ,The Cataracs, one half is now mega-successful EDM DJ KSHMR, so I guess someone from this collaboration lasted.
4.0/5 |
| 23 |  | The Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)
19. The Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be
In stark contrast to many on this list, here is a track way ahead of its time. Some Yeezus-esque production a full four years before Kanye and an immensely satisfying beat switch make this definitely one of the biggest surprises for when I somehow heard this song again a couple years back. Say what you want about the group’s dumb lyrics and awful albums, but a lot of the singles they put out where some of the most infectious pop of the 2000’s, and in this album cycle, perhaps their last cling to relevance, this was on full display. Especially on this track, and two others…
4.0/5 |
| 22 |  | Take That
Progress
18. Take That - The Flood
Robbie Williams’ return to Take That was sorely needed. Whilst the group’s reformation comeback single Patience four years earlier is genuinely one of the best comeback singles ever written (at least in the pop world), he just had that presence that Gary Barlow alone (and the other guys no one knows) have never had. And this, I guess almost the true comeback single, is again among Take That’s best. I’ve never gotten why the group didn’t have that crossover success outside the UK and Europe, but maybe they were just too soft and not edgy enough compared to the American boy bands of the 90s. But this absolutely should have. This is like if Coldplay wrote anthems but with more pop string sections. There are some awkward parts – some of the transitions are needlessly abrupt – but all being said this is at the least very agreeable, reaching up to addictively good songwriting.
4.1/5 |
| 21 |  | Example
Won't Go Quietly
17. Example – Kickstarts
There’s something about the production of dance-pop in the UK that’s just so gratifying. Whereas as (for lack of a better word) EDM’s crossover into the North American market resulted in tame, half-hearted and lazy songwriting, we’ve never been afraid to dig deeper into our musical heritage. The instrumental here was handled by drum and bass star Sub Focus and his finesse in this regard shows. The bittersweet, mellow and inviting synth lead paired with the soothing bassline works wonders here. The thing that makes this is that Example isn’t a technically great singer, but he knows his place in the song. He rides the instrumental perfectly, his vocals coasting atop rather than grabbing the attention. The sentiment lyrically as well is down-to-earth and inviting. One that I still find myself coming back to fairly regularly.
4.1/5 |
| 20 |  | Lady Gaga
The Fame Monster
16. Lady Gaga - Telephone (feat. Beyoncé)
Two icons unite for the greatest track ever made! Well not quite, but it felt like that for me at the time. And it still remains one of Gaga’s best tracks. I have to say a little of the magic has worn off at this point although whether that’s a matter of the song itself or the fact I endlessly replayed this to the brink of insanity is up for debate. The thick in-your-face bassline deserves a great score all by itself. Both artists give a fantastic performance befitting the occasion – there’s really not anything to complain about.
4.1/5 |
| 19 |  | Rihanna
Rated R
15. Rihanna - Rude Boy
Of all Rihanna’s incredible back catalogue this is the most danceable. There are some wonderful rhythms on display here and the way she layers her vocals is effortlessly cool. Effortlessly sexy too. Can songs get you rock hard? I don’t know, if any could, this is one of them.
4.1/5 |
| 18 | | Tinie Tempah
Disc-Overy
14. Tinie Tempah - Pass Out
I do love this despite Tinie Tempah’s mediocre lyricism. And vocals come to think of it. But there’s a reason Labrinth is essentially the UK’s answer to a Timbaland-esque production guru. This beat doesn’t really sound like anything else before or after. The sudden switch into a drum and bass rhythm in the last 30 seconds is still inventive. He also provides the hook here and it’s as smooth as you might expect. I’m kinda glad I revisited this now because it triggered a load of good memories. The shoutout for my current city (Southampton) is sweet.
4.2/5 |
| 17 |  | Taylor Swift
Speak Now
13. Taylor Swift – Mine
Mine speaks in the universal language of love, and yet despite so many traps it never falls too hard into the cliché. “You are the best thing that’s ever been mine” appeals to some native adoration, desire and selfish longing that too many artists try to dance around and pretend isn’t there. As well, it touches on a more mature understanding of relationships that Taylor has perhaps rarely dabbled in since – certainly there is a stark contrast between this and the Romeo & Juliet-referencing Love Story just two years prior. And at still just 21 years old at the time of release, this is worthy of some praise... |
| 16 | | Taylor Swift
Speak Now
13. Taylor Swift – Mine (cont.)
...The main thing though that’s an almost-constant throughout Taylor’s career is her ability to sell a song no matter how much it contradicts her other work. The bratty, dramatic and immature Taylor is as much part of her personality as the adoring, confident and mature Taylor – which perhaps is uncomfortable for some as rarely is any one of us one or the other. The instrumental here is above-average for country-pop as is to be expected – it’s punchy and it has a smooth twang that’s delightfully rough around the edges. The message and sentiment here is where most of the gratification lies.
4.2/5 |
| 15 |  | Lady Gaga
The Fame
12. Lady Gaga – Paparazzi
The Lady Gaga phenomenon changed the whole landscape of pop music with just one album and EP. Is there another modern pop album with so many influential, successful, and unique megahits? Well yes, but that will come up at some point in the near future. The point is her work between 2008 and 2010 was a landmark event that took the world by force like few others have ever done. Paparazzi is yet another fantastic song from a woman who could not stop pumping them out at this point. It’s hard to feel sympathy for artists whining about the downsides of fame, but touching upon the universally despised celebrity gossip merchants who call themselves journalists is the best possible angle to tackle the issue... |
| 14 | | Lady Gaga
The Fame
12. Lady Gaga – Paparazzi (cont.)
There’s a refined, delicate nature and vulnerability to the chorus that is distinctive immediately among Gaga’s other hits – another sound stylistic choice when attempting to garner sympathy. Everything comes together effortlessly. There’s just something about this where despite dealing with an inevitably unrelatable concept such as fame, it has more of a resonant grip within a commoner such as myself than her powerful and authoritative love ballads.
4.3/5 |
| 13 |  | Cee Lo Green
The Lady Killer
11. Cee Lo Green - Fuck/Forget You
I’m gonna ignore the fact that Cee Lo is an awful person for the sake of this. I’m also gonna ignore the radio censoring of this song that removes all power from that chorus. With that out the way, by god this is a fantastic song. Those sexy gospel-meets-doowop style choirs in the chorus would sell it regardless of the rest of it. This belongs in the same space as such classics as Outkast’s “Hey Ya”. It successfully updates the styles it pulls from into a modern pop context with a universal appeal and meaning. None of the lyrics here matter except for “Fuck You”. It’s blunt, straight to the point and applicable to so many situations. And it’s feel-good as fuck – oops I mean forget.
4.3/5 |
| 12 | | Kesha
Animal
10. Ke$ha - TiK ToK
TiK ToK is possibly the trashiest white girl party anthem to ever grace the charts. There are sleazier and sexier tunes out there, but this takes everything obnoxiously vapid and fake to a new level. And because of its unapologetic ridiculousness, it works. Yes, the production feels rather dated now, but the sheer attitude and carefree youthfulness render the track a certain timeliness, to the point (in my experience) this will still rock any party over a decade later.
4.3/5 |
| 11 |  | K'naan
Troubadour
9. K'naan - Wavin' Flag (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix)
I’m sorry Shakira, you’re an amazing artist, but this should have been the official World Cup song. And I think to most people it was. Because this preaches that worldwide unity that the worldwide, beautiful game can solely claim. It breaks down so many barriers built upon selfish nationalist identity with such simple words and concepts. I don’t see how anyone could listen to this and not smile or shed a little tear. It’s beautiful, it’s pure and it’s innocent. It’s a shame that this song (or at least this version of it) was the product of such an evil company as Coca-Cola, but it’s almost beyond their brand name and belonging to the world at large. Everything wonderful and glorious about sport, self-pride and national pride made simple.
4.3/5 |
| 10 | | Lady Gaga
The Fame Monster
8. Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
The phrase ‘larger-than-life’ was made for this song. Still sounds as important as it did a decade ago, still sounds downright alien. Pokerface may have made her a superstar, but Bad Romance made her an icon. The absurdly good video definitely helps, and is perhaps just as memorable as the song. Everything here is lusciously choreographed and coordinated to evoke that timeless feel, which is no mean feat considering the prevailing trends of the era. In ten years’ time this will still sound like the future.
4.4/5 |
| 9 | | The Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)
7. The Black Eyed Peas - Meet Me Halfway
You can’t say The Black Eyed Peas didn’t try everything. This is… very new wave? Very 80s at least. A full five years before we started collectively crying for a synthpop revival – again ahead of the curve. The programmed drums, the lush pads in the background, the vocoder? This is so retro and so modern too. Fergie deliver’s a career-best vocal performance, the rest of the group gel perfectly upon the minimalist verses. There’s a lot going on here very late 90’s trance-influenced too. This is such a weird one, because it’s so different from every other track the group made. So unfortunate – an absolute banger that stands the test of time has been largely forgotten about – I rarely hear this being mentioned anymore.
4.4/5 |
| 8 |  | Cheryl Cole
3 Words
6. Cheryl Cole - Promise This
I’m kind of shocked Girls Aloud aren’t talked about in the same vein as the Spice Girls, when they were even better choreographed and had even better tracks to back it up. And in a stark contrast to the insipid Fight for This Love from Cheryl (no longer Cole)’s debut solo record, this actually lives up to her past group’s legacy. This is an awesome electro-pop track. If Kylie sang this it would be considered classic. I seriously had to replay this several times because the chorus is so good. There are some moments of clumsy lyricism, which I suppose is to be expected from a singer not trying to set the world on fire. It’s a shame the rest of her solo career has never come close to this moment. But this is everything you could ever really want from a pop song, and by far my favourite surprise from doing this list.
4.5/5 |
| 7 | | Lady Gaga
The Fame Monster
5. Lady Gaga - Alejandro
I have no qualms with calling this Gaga’s best song. The pre-chorus filter rise bursting into the chorus is basically an orgasm set to music. Vocally here she is untouchable – not in a quality sense (although she is great of course), but in the sheer power and authority she exudes. She makes you believe she is untouchable, batting away all these eligible bachelors who need her more than she needs them. You are not even her partner; you are a servant for her to use as she pleases. Get used to it cuck.
4.6/5 |
| 6 | | The Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)
4. The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
This is THE Black Eyed Peas song. It renders everything else they did irrelevant in every way. Is it wrong to call this timeless? I don’t want to be right. This was everywhere and anywhere and unavoidable, and if you didn’t give in then I’m sorry for you. Because at its core this is THE song when your pre-ing before a night out. Tonight may not be a good night – unless you accept everything that happens as part of the show and as part of the anticipation. Going out to a club or to a house party is rarely about the actual party itself, it’s about the mystery of what might happen – it’s the journey not the destination. This is all of that distilled into one song. Masterpiece.
4.6/5 |
| 5 |  | Florence and the Machine
Lungs
3. Florence + the Machine - You’ve Got the Love
What’s this, a cover that actually does something interesting? In a year where covers resoundingly lacked identity, it could only take someone as glamorous and unique as Florence Welch to really push something in her own direction. This isn’t an easy song to cover either – reinterpreting the Candi Staton club classic original for a more indie flourish takes guts and it works phenomenally well. Having such a powerful voice helps quite a bit – I’ve always thought of Florence to vocally resemble Adele if Adele really let go and indulged in the glory of her voice. Here, Florence howls, shrieks and wails her way expertly through moments of both silence and operatic climax. It adds up to a song indulgently alluring and charismatic that never misses a chance to add little flourishes wherever there is room for one. Endlessly replayable wherever, whenever.
4.6/5 |
| 4 |  | Kylie Minogue
Aphrodite
2. Kylie Minogue - All the Lovers
If this is going to be the last ‘big’ Kylie track – it couldn’t have been a better choice. Somehow she sounds even sexier than Can’t Get You Out of My Head. She pulls you in with that sultry whisper leading into the breathy release of the chorus bursting in pleasure and relief. There’s something about the way she confidently bigs you up to lose your inhibitions and just roll with it that helps the upbeat positive message ram home even harder. There’s a little manic-pixie-dream-girl attitude about this that only Kylie could pull off without sounding cliché or fake. But this is very real. An exercise in flawless beauty and feeling comfortable in your own skin, on someone else’s skin. Now if it weren’t so awkward in reality…
4.7/5 |
| 3 |  | Ellie Goulding
Lights
1. Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed
Honestly such a unique song made up of so many different sections mashed together. And it’s flawlessly done. The vocal chopping and reversing are way ahead of it’s time (for the charts at least). Alternating between full-throttle driving energy and stopping every ten seconds throwing you around like a mechanicall bull pushing and pulling you all manner of ways. It’s glitzy and glamorous yet intimate. The vowelly bass in the chorus is deep and soul-resonant and keeps the chorus building and building each time. Ellie switches between impeccable high vocal stabs of words and intimate conversational tones. This is everything an upbeat pop song should be. Definitely hit by some kind of lightning. I just wish it wasn’t over in three minutes.
4.7/5 |
| 2 |  | Marina
The Family Jewels
YEAR AVERAGE: 3.175 3.2 *
SUMMARY:
2010 was a pretty decent year for pop as a whole. It was somewhat of a transition in the musical landscape to coincide with the decade transition – on the in was that festival EDM dance sound and on the out were many of the R&B-centred ballads that ruled the mid-2000’s. Between the US and the UK the popular music landscape couldn’t have been more different, with the UK hitting the highest highs and the lowest lows of the year, and the US seeming relatively consistent. |
| 1 | | Marina
The Family Jewels
It was a bad year to be a featured male vocalist on a song, and a good year to be a featured female vocalist. Mainstream hip-hop had one of its worst years on record, electropop prevailed above all else, and many of the year’s best hits came from unexpected sources. Overall, an average rating for the year above a 3 can be considered pretty successful on the metrics I’ve used, and this passes comfortably. And seriously listen to that Cheryl Cole track, it’s so much better than you think It’s gonna be.
(If Marina had charted higher she would have been 1 btw) |
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