Justin Bieber Beats Out Lady Gaga for Most Viewed YouTube Video

     Tween singing sensation Justin Bieber recently over took pop artist Lady Gaga for the most viewed video on YouTube.  Bieber's "Baby" featuring Ludacris topped Gaga's "Bad Romance" yesterday afternoon.  "Baby" has managed to receive 246,353,903 views.  "Bad Romance", the former top video, has received 245,688,071 views.  In distant third is the classic baby video, "Charlie bit my finger".

     In terms of music video, Miley Cyrus has a strong YouTube presence.  Her "Party In The U.S.A." is the third most watched video, while "7 Things" lands at No. 5 and "The Climb" at No. 7.  Strangely, Pitbull's "I Know You Want Me" is No. 4 (Who watches that?).  Lady Gaga also placed a second video in the top ten with "Just Dance" at No. 6.

     See the full list after the jump.

17 Tracks Presents the Top 25 Songs of 2009

The 2000s were a decade ripe with fragmentation and it saw old ways of doing things crumble and fail, yet 2009 was full of instances of cultural unity. The Black Eyed Peas dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for six whole months. Michael Jackson's death resulted in wall-to-wall coverage and commemoration that will continue well into next year. The world collectively glared at Kanye, comforted Taylor, and applauded Beyonce following the MTV Video Music Awards. Gagamania swept the globe becoming the biggest pop phenomenon since the teen pop reached its peak at the turn of the century. It was quite the year.


Below are the top 25 songs of 2009. Each song has an embedded video below so you can enjoy the sights and sounds of each song. Most of the videos are provided by Vevo, something that wasn't even available a few short weeks ago when 17 Tracks counted down the top 100 songs of the decade. Basically, its a way for record companies to monetize the vast Internet frontier that is YouTube. The bad thing is you might get commercials prior to watching the video, but just keep watching because it will show up. The good thing is now bloggers everywhere can embed high quality music videos put out by the record labels without them being blocked or getting yanked hours later. I support Vevo.


And with that, I humbly present to you for your consideration, the 17 Tracks Top 25 Songs of 2009. Enjoy.

1. Lady Gaga - "Poker Face"

When Lady Gaga made her debut last year, she seemed destined for indie electro-pop greatness. She would be hailed as the savior of pop on such sites as Popjustice, mentioned on Pitchfork every once in a while, and would develop a cult following among music fans who are obsessed with obscure Scandinavian pop stars. Boy, was I wrong.

Although Lady Gaga ended 2008 as an underground artist, 2009 saw her rocket to a world famous superstar. "Just Dance" became a No. 1 hit in January, but any notion that the singer would be a flash in the pan ended when "Poker Face" followed its predecessor into the penthouse in April.

While "Just Dance" was an amazing pop single (and 17 Track's No. 7 song of 2008), "Poker Face" has quickly become Gaga's signature song. Its grinding synth as suggestive lyrics that use poker as a metaphor for bisexuality cemented her status as one of the 2000s definitive pop stars despite emerging in its final eighteen months.

2. Kasabian - "Underdog"

"Underdog" manages to combine post-punk sensibilities with electro-crunch and a slightly western folk swagger in "Underdog". The results are an anthemic and defiant opener to their horribly titled West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

3. Girls Aloud - "The Loving Kind"

"The Loving Kind" is Girls Aloud's twentieth and final (so far) top ten single, and one of the best songs they've recorded. A desperate plea for a final shot at love, the track has enough bounce to make it danceable, but enough sophistication to keep it classy.

4. Phoenix - "1901"

I can't hear Phoenix's "1901" without thinking of the Cadillac commercial it soundtracks. "All designed to reignite the soul," the announcer says about 2009 SRX, but it can also be said about the song that features synth reminiscent on 1970s "high-tech" sound effects.

5. Cheryl Cole feat. Will.I.Am - "3 Words"

Former Girls Aloud singer takes a break from her award winning group to make music with Will.I.Am. Earlier this year, that didn't exactly sound like a recipe for success, but both Cheryl Cole and "the new Bob Dylan" proved us wrong with this haunting hypnotic masterpiece.

Cheryl Cole '3 Words' from Tom Lindsay on Vimeo.

6. MPHO - "Box N Locks"

"Box N Locks" was this year's "L.E.S. Artiste", a new wave tune by a female black singer that challenged the idea that she has to make a certain type of music singing, "Supposed to be this ghetto chick making all this urban music...bet you never knew that I could do this too."

7. Kanye West feat. Kid Cudi - "Welcome To Heartbreak"

Kanye West made Taylor Swift cry so he's keeping a low profile for a while. Chris Brown physically assaulted Rihanna and he's got a new album out. Doesn't make much sense, but it also doesn't take away from the greatness of "Welcome To Heartbreak", the thesis for 808s & Heartbreak.

8. Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys - "Empire State of Mind"

Jay-Z has never had a No. 1 single without the help of a leading lady, and even though Hova has lead credits on "Empire State of Mind", it wouldn't have become the smash hit that it is without Alicia Key's and her larger than life hook.

9. Bat For Lashes - "Daniel"

"Daniel" is the most instant track British-Pakistani singer Bat for Lashes has ever recorded. The mystic track channels Stevie Nicks with poetic lyrics about love, loss, and the fictional character Daniel who may or may not be the karate kid.

Daniel from Bat for Lashes on Vimeo.

10. Beyonce - "Diva"

A diva is a female version of a hustler, and "Diva" is a female version of "A Milli", Lil Wayne's freestyle critic charming rap. Beyonce's foray into rapping comes as no surprise considering who her husband is. The track oozes swagger and attitude.

11. Kid Cudi - "Day 'N' Nite"

Kanye West protege Kid Cudi proved he deserved Ye's praise with his debut single. Both the laid back album version and the dancefloor pleasing Crookers remix are steller, telling the tale of "the lonely stoner" and his quest for happiness.

12. Lady Gaga - "Paparazzi"

Lady Gaga capitalized on her two No. 1 hits with "Paparazzi". The insistent beat and obsessive lyrics were set to a stunning music video that clocked in just under eight minutes and provided commentary on the fatal cost of fame. And then you have the blood drenched VMA performance. Lady Gaga was only beginning.

13. La Roux - "Bulletproof"
La Roux lead singer Eleanor Jackson has weird hair and an...interesting...voice. I originally compared it to an electric drill to the head. A few months later, her voice has grown on me, and its definitely not bad enough that you can't enjoy their marvelous "Bulletproof" for three minutes and thirty seconds.

14. Lily Allen - "The Fear"

As a self made Myspace celebrity, British singer Lily Allen has a few things to say about fame. "I want to be rich and I want lots of money, I don't care about clever, I don't care about funny," she sings. Drowning in irony and poking fun at the notion of 15 minutes of fame, the track won over critics' hearts and consumers' wallets in the UK.

Lily Allen - The Fear from Alex Gilbert on Vimeo.

15. Girls Aloud - "Untouchable"
Its a shame that Girls Aloud's 6:44 epic had to be edited for radio. Still, this icy neo-disco track finds the Girls waxing poetic over blissfully pulsing synth. "Without any meaning, we're just skin and bones, like beautiful robots dancing alone." Amen.

Untouchable - Girls Aloud from Mark Adcock on Vimeo.
16. Beyonce - "Halo"

Ryan Tedder has got a lot of flack this year, but can you write songs as good as "Halo", "Apologize", "Bleeding Love", or "Already Gone"? This single was the most beautiful song to pass from Beyonce's lips, especially juxtaposed with her fire breathing Sasha Fierce stuff she did.

17. Shakira feat. Lil Wayne - "Give It Up To Me"

It's a mystery how Shakira's She Wolf never took off with singles like "She Wolf", "Did It Again", and "Give It Up To Me". "Up" features the ubiquitous Lil Wayne and was produced by Timbaland. It should have been a homerun. What does the average American know about good music though anyways?

18. Annie - "Anthonio"

"This may come as a surprise, my baby has your eyes," says Annie to her one time lover over a sophisticated thumping beat. Despite being dropped by her record label, Annie has maintained near universal popularity and acclaim from major music sites and minor blogs alike, and with songs like "Anthonio", it's not hard to hear why.

19. Kasabian - "Fire"

"Fire" is an extremely overused word in the post-punk genre. How else do you show how edgy you are? I'm on fire, you're on fire, sex is on fire. Still, I'll give it to Kasabian for putting the word to good use in their propulsive yet twangy track.

20. Basement Jaxx - "Raindrops"

"Raindrops" made 17 Tracks Summer mix and was then called an Amazonian rainstorm from the future. There's no better way to describe this song which packs primitive beats, colossal synth, and electric guitar into one euphoric track.

21. Lady Gaga - "Bad Romance"

Lady Gaga turned her stage name into a primal chant that has become a catch phrase that you can become a fan of on Facebook, as well as made a music video with a dance that's the closest thing to becoming a cultural phenomenon since "Single Ladies". The dark and danceable beat of "Bad Romance" continued her streak of critic charming hit songs.

22. Rihanna feat. Young Jeezy - "Hard"
Rihanna proves she stronger than before in "Hard". The musical middle finger incorpirates lyrical elements from her recent hit with Jay-Z, "Run This Town", and is the darkest and...well hardest song she's ever recorded.

23. Beyonce - "Sweet Dreams"

Beyonce's first electro-song shares a title with one of the most famous electro-songs ever. That's always a gamble, but B pulls it off, singing about a love that's either, "a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare," that she doesn't want to wake up from.


24. Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me"
Love rarley seems to work out the way you wish it would. You like someone who likes someone else who likes someone else, and no one's happy. That's why "You Belong With Me" works. That, and its perfect blend of Nashville and Kelly Clarkson which made it a radio smash.


25. Britney Spears - "Circus"
Although it became evident this year that Britney isn't into being a pop star like she used to, when the heavy breathing and guitars kick on in the pre-chorus of "Circus", it's impossible to not be excited. And has she ever had lyrics as thought provoking as, "There's only two types of people in the world: The ones that entertain and the ones that observe"?

Take a look back at: 17 Tracks presents the Top 25 Songs of 2008

The Decade: A Retrospective The Best Songs 85-71

"Ms. Jackson"
OutKast
Stakonia (2000)

OutKast's first No. 1 single brought this innovative, largley sample-free hip-hop duo to the general public's attention and marked the first step towards the genre's domination of America. While Andre 3000 apologized to his baby mama's mama, Big Boi stuck up for himself telling her that her grandchild is a baby and not a paycheck. The woeful account of of post-break up politics in a post-nuclear family world is for reeeeal.

"Without Me"
Eminem
The Eminem Show (2001)

"I'm not the first king of controversy, I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley to do black music so selfishly and use it to get myself wealthy," rapped Eminem in 2000. The biggest white rapper became one of the most important musical forces on the planet at the turn of the century. A cross-over star, his incredible talent made critics look the other way as he celebrated drugs and murder and bashed women and homosexuals.

"Sexyback"
Justin Timberlake
Futuresex/Lovesounds (2006)

It's a pretty bold claim to say you brought sexy back, especially if no one is really sure wthat it left in the first place. Dropping the new Michael Jackson schtick for a song, Timberlake channeled Prince in his fiersest, cockiest, and sexiest song yet. The haphazard and hypnotic synth grooves along with vocals that sound like they were recorded over a cell phone and gives the song an apocolyptic futuresex sheen.

"Viva La Vida"
Coldplay
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)

Its not often that a song that doesn't use its title anywhere in its lyrics becomes a trans-Atlantic No. 1 smash. Of course, most of those songs don't get massive exposure via an iPod commercial or come as heavily anticipated as anything Coldplay puts out. Religious references and church bells raise "Viva La Vida" to the level of a rock hymn which, put out by the band at its peak of popularity, ironically chronicles a man recollecting his past glories.

"Underdog"
Kasabian
West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2009)
Competing with the hordes of post-punk bands in the United Kingdom, Kasabian needed to keep the caffinated in-your-face rock songs coming while still evolving their sound.They did so on "Underdog" which used pulsating droid synth, hip-hop-like percussion beats, and fuzzed out country guitar riffs. The song, an ode to sticking it to the man, is defiant and danceable, angry and energetic, and ensures that Kasabian is no underdog in the battle for Brit rock supremacy.

"I'm A Slave 4 U"
Britney Spears
Britney (2001)
Britney Spears completely shed her squeaky clean Mickey Mouse club image with her Prince influenced, N.E.R.D. produced single. A radical shift in her sound, "I'm A Slave 4 U" succeeded in sounding dirty before Spears even starts panting thanks to the off-kilter minimalistic backing track. Just as you start to get dizzy, Spears begins demanding respect. "All you people look at me like I'm a little girl but did you ever think it would be OK for me to step into this world?" No Britney, we expected it.

"Beautiful Day"
U2
All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)
With an opening is reminiscent of the "Chariot of Fire" theme , and a simplicity that enhances its beauty, "Beautiful Day" is not only one of U2's most triumphant moment of the decade, but one of the greatest moments of their career. Bono said the song was about a man who was optimistic despite losing everything. It seems to encapsulate everything the band stands for. It's epic, it's beautiful, it's love, and it's hopeful.

"No One"
Alicia Keys
As I Am (2007)
Alicia Keys is hip enough and catchy enough to win over mainstream radio yet friendly enough for your mom to go out and buy her album, which is exactly what Clive Davis was hoping for. "No One" is a song that you hear for the first time but you swear you've heard it before; an instant classic. The soulful and melodic Stevie Wonder-esque tune charms you with its emphatic declaration that, "no one can get in the way of what I'm feeling".

"Cry Me A River"
Justin Timberlake
Justified (2002)
Breaking up is hard enough, but having your ex tell you to cry a river and for the world to hear (not to mention make a music video where he breaks into your house and puts a video of him kissing another woman on your television) makes it a million times worse. The song is claustrophobic with Timberlake's falsetto traversing the organic soundscape created by Timbaland. Interestingly enough, Britney Spears responded to Justin Timberlake's attacks with an apology in the form of "Everytime".

"Whenever, Wherever"
Shakira
Laundry Service (2002)
Scoring hits in Spanish and English with equal ease, Shakira is the postergirl for international boundary-defying pop and "Whenever Wherever" is its theme song. Shakira's vocals are like a wild Latin version of Alanis Morisette singing over an orchestra of tribal drums and Australian didgeridoos. Her pleas that, "we're meant to be together" sound not only like a fiesta in your ears, but a call for world peace.

"In Da Club"
50 Cent
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003)
50 Cent has become so irrelevant that its hard to remember the time he was one of the most important rappers around, if only for a moment. "In Da Club" was a slurred club banger and a bold debut for the one time drug dealer. Even with Curtis Jackson's rough past, including being shot nine times, his invitation, "come give me a hug," as well as reminding us that everyday is someone's birthday somewhere, made him lovable.

"Beware of the Boys"
Panjabi MC feat. Jay-Z
Legalised (2002)
There was a time in the mid-2000s when every pop hit had an Eastern flavor to it. Jay-Z's "Beware of the Boys" with Panjabi MC is one of the reasons why. Hova outsourced his backing track, using "Mundian To Bach Ke" by Panjabi MC and adding a rap over it. Like a snake charmer, Jay brings Brooklyn and Lahore together for four unifying minutes. The chorus is sung in Punjabi (no, that's not a slur, Punjab is a region in India) and the instrumentation is of the hypnotic bhangra variation.

"The Scientist"
Coldplay
A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
I still don't understand how Chris Martin pulled off the video for "The Scientist". Singing the entire song forwards while time moves backwards, Martin delivers one of the most poignant songs in Coldplay's body of work. "Nobody said it was easy," he sings, "Take me back to start". The piano is simple and steady, the percussion light and understated. Written about man's powerlessness in the face of love, the song was inspired by the solo work of George Harrison.

"Don't Tell Me"
Madonna
Music (2000)
Madonna kick-started the decade with a tripped out electro-folk album and had the balls to simply name it Music. With "Don't Tell Me", the pop star waxes poetically over a stuttering guitar lick that was so ahead of its time that some listeners tried to return their copy of the album thinking it was faulty. Tell the bed not to make, take the black off a crow, but please, don't ever tell Madonna to stop.

Shakira Throws Together Crappy Video for "Give It Up To Me"

Lil Wayne is making his way into all my favorite songs of the moment. He is featured on Shakira's "Give It Up To Me", the third single from her delayed album She Wolf. The song is produced by Timbaland, and the title sounds an awful lot like another Timbaland song ("Give It To Me" w/ Justin and Nelly in 2007). Come to think of it, Shakira's second single, "Did It Again" sounds an awful like another famous pop song. Hopefully these familiar sounding song titles will sell well at iTunes. I'm pretty sure this video won't do anything for it.

Britney Spears' "Toxic" Named "Sexiest Music Video of All Time"

British newspaper the Telegraph reported both the top ten sexiest as well as least sexiest music videos of all time.

The lists, a result of an online poll by music video website muzu.tv, reveals that either we're living in the sexiest era in the history of mankind, or that people who use the Internet have a compulsive attitude about sexiness.

Britney Spear's Joseph Kahn directed clip for "Toxic" topped the list. "She Wolf" by Shakira was runner-up and "Beat Again" by British boy band JLS came in third.

Eight of the top ten sexiest videos were released this decade, and four of them ("She Wolf", "Beat Again", "Untouchable" by British girl group Girls Aloud, and "Single Ladies" by Beyonce) are a year old or less. Have video producers really brought sexy back in such a dramatic way these past ten years?

The least sexy list was topped by Madonna's "Hung Up". Her John Travolta inspired disco video barely beat out "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga. The "Least Sexy" list is a lot less 2000s-centric than the other one, with Pink's "Get The Party Started" the only other clip from the decade to make the top ten.

"So was this just the most roundabout way of saying that 20-somethings are hotter than 50-somethings? Go figure!" said chachwitablog on Idolator.

Let's be honest, if you say "Toxic" is the sexiest video ever, "Hung Up" can't be the least sexiest. "Hung Up" is what Britney is going to be doing in 30 years.

"I think number one and two in the Least Sexy category points to the general public’s fear and hatred of leotards," said Nicolars, another Idolator commenter.

People need to quit hating on leotards and realize that "Jump In My Car" by David Hasselhoff is much much worse than "Hung Up".



Sexiest Music Videos "of All Time"
1. "Toxic" - Britney Spears
2. "She Wolf" - Shakira
3. "Beat Again" - JLS
4. "Untouchable" - Girls Aloud
5. "Spinning Around" - Kylie Minogue
6. "Umbrella" - Rihanna
7. "Love, Sex, Magic" - Ciara feat. Justin Timberlake
8. "Pray" - Take That
9. "Single Ladies" - Beyonce
10. "Addicted To Love" - Robert Palmer

Least Sexiest Music Videos "of All Time"
1. "Hung Up" - Madonna
2. "Poker Face" - Lady Gaga
3. "Wannabe" - Spice Girls
4. "Get the Party Started" - Pink
5. "Never Gonna Give You Up" - Rick Astley
6. "You Are Not Alone" - Michael Jackson
7. "Do What You Like" - Take That
8. ""Achy Breaky Heart" - Billy Ray Cyrus
9. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" - Wham!
10. "Jump In My Car" - David Hasslehoff

Top Twenty Biggest Selling Singles of the Decade Announced

"Robert of the Raddish", a blogger for Y! Music posted the top twenty biggest selling singles of the decade today. The article claims that every song on the list has sold over 5 million copies but the article is absent of any other numbers and there are zero sources to back any of this. I have serious doubts about the validity of the article because 1. I don't believe that many people bought "My Humps" and 2. The New York Post said "Womanizer" is Britney's biggest selling single.

Regardless, the decade is almost over and I am ready to overwhelmed with all manner of lists. This list is devoid of rock songs save one Green Day track and, it's dominated by pop stars. 80% of the singles were released by female pop singers. Shakira leads with four entries including the alleged best selling single of the 00s, "Hips Don't Lie". Britney Spears is the only other artist with multiple entries, landing three right next to each other.

Another interesting thing to note is how many of these songs are still relatively new. Two of the songs, "Oops!...I Did It Again" and "Stan" were released in 2000 giving them almost ten years to rack up sales but "Womanizer", "I Kissed A Girl", "Just Dance", "Bleeding Love", and "So What" are all less than eighteen months old. That equates to a quarter of the songs on this list not even being two years old showing how dominant a player in music sales iTunes has become.

Once again, not too sure how legit this list is but, for what it's worth, take a look.
1. "Hips Don't Lie" - Shakira
2. "Crazy In Love" - Beyonce
3. "My Humps" - The Black Eyed Peas
4. "Toxic" - Britney Spears
5. "Womanizer" - Britney Spears
6. "Oops!...I Did It Again" - Britney Spears
7. "Stan" - Eminem
8. "Low" - Flo Rida
9. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
10. "I Kissed A Girl" - Katy Perry
11. "Just Dance" - Lady Gaga
12. "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
13. "Hung Up" - Madonna
14. "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey
15. "So What" - Pink
16. "Umbrella" - Rihanna
17. "Whenever Wherever" - Shakira
18. "Underneath Your Clothes" - Shakira
19. "La Tortura" - Shakira
20. "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" - Kylie Minogue

17 Tracks Summer 2009 Mix

The other day I dusted off 17 Tracks Summer 2008 Mix and it was like a time capsule to twelve months ago. Rihanna ruled the world, free promotional downloads were all the rage, trans-Atlantic No. 1 hits dominated the charts and, Barack Obama was just another presidential hopeful.

This year's mix is a lot lighter on "hits for hits sake". Track 1 is the only song that's reached No. 1 in the US or UK and I'm fine with that (I couldn' stomach "I Kissed A Girl" from last year's CD. That was definitley a "hit for hits" sake song). To those of you who only listen to Top 40 radio, fear not, there's plenty of songs from big name acts but there's also plenty of new music to sink your teeth into.

Hope you guys enjoy the mix and this last month of summer.

01. "I Gotta Feelin'"
Artist: Black Eyed Peas
Album: The End
Why: Summer 2009 is the summer of the Black Eyed Peas whether we like 'em or not. President Obama commissioned Will.I.Am to create an album that would help Americans forget that they were in a recession and part of the bailout money went to buying the most expensive synthesizers money can buy. Between "Boom Boom Pow" and "Feelin", the Peas have had a lockdown on the No. 1 spot for 16 weeks and I'm beginning to think they'll outlast the recession.


02. "I Talk Too Much"
Artist: Just Jack feat. Kylie Minogue
Album: Overtones
Why: Because its a cool song. How can you say no to a hipster pop ditty from an indie electronic artist featuring one of the biggest pop stars in the world? It pleases Pitchfork and Popjustice readers alike.


03. "Fireflies"
Artist: Owl City
Album: Ocean Eyes
Why: This song was iTune's free single of the week a week ago and it sounds like a Postal Service reject. Maybe a few years ago it wouldn't have many a blip on my radar but after Ben Gibbard announced there would be no follow up to 2003's Give Up, I'll take whatever I can get.


04. "Hold The Line"
Artist: Major Lazer feat. Santigold
Album: Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do
Why: Nothing says summer like a cartoon musician. Like the Archies and Gorillaz before "him", Major Lazer is a collaborative musical project fronted by a cartoon character. Diplo is the mastermind behind the Jamaican commando and he team's up with summer mix favorite Santogold who landed two songs on last year's mix. I just love the part about "fresh from California".


05. "Lisztomania"
Artist: Phoenix
Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Why: Any song that references a movie in which Ringo Starr plays the Pope deserves a spot on a mix. Plus, Phoenix is the shiz.


06. "Awesome"
Artist: The Bloody Beetroots
Album: Romborama
Why: Because this song is AWESOME!!! Seriously, this track is so hot.


07. "She Wolf"
Artist: Shakira
Album: To Be Announced
Why: Shakira pronounces words like Alanis and she makes disco like the Bee Gees. Props to her for being the first artist to use the word lycanthropy in a pop song.


08. "Paranoid"
Artist: Kanye West
Album: 808s & Heartbreak
Why: Kanye is a perennial 17 Tracks favorite and "Paranoid" is one of 808s highlights. The new single mix makes the song about distrust and paranoia in a relationship gone haywire that much catchier.

09. "The Loving Kind"

Artist: Absent Elk

Album: None

Why: Originally a UK No. 10 hit by Girls Aloud, this Pep Shop Boys penned track shines no matter who sings it and Absent Elk's low key take on the track proves it.

10. "Already Gone"

Artist: Kelly Clarkson

Album: All I Ever Wanted

Why: Sure Kelly hates it but Ryan Tedder didn't become the songwriter of the moment for nothing. It's a breakup song but its a happy breakup song. Those are far and few between.

11. "Sweet Dreams"

Artist: Beyonce

Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce

Why: You didn't think we'd put "Halo" on here did you?

12. "1901"

Artist: Phoenix

Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Why: Lucky Phoenix, they get two songs on the mix! "1901" is their best song. There is absolutely nothing French about it, actually, it sounds very Strokes-ey. Mark my words, this will end up as one of the year's most critically acclaimed songs.

13. "One More Chance"

Artist: Bloc Party

Album: None

Why: "One More Chance" is the healing balm to Intimacy's scars. Kele's desperate pleas for "one more chance to love you" and "don't say another word about the other boy" amid the swirling house beats and insistent driving guitar make for another Bloc Party classic.

14. "Obsessed"

Artist: Mariah Carey

Album: Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
Why: This song and its travails have provided so many rich story lines that it would be a crime to not put it on here. It has gone from the moment Mimi "jumped the shark" and used auto-tune to the first shot in a massive blog fueled war of superstars.

15. "Raindrops"

Artist: Basement Jaxx

Album: Scars

Why: It's like an Amazonian rainstorm...from the future! The raindrops equals moisture dripping from your lips is...interesting...and its dramatic build is euphoric. Always on the cutting edge of electronia, the Basement Jaxx deliver another hit.

16. "Run This Town"

Artist: Jay-Z feat. Kanye West & Rihanna

Album: The Blueprint III
Why: It would have been just another cocky song by Jay-Z but Rihanna adds the same attitude that she showed on "Live Your Life" minus the cumbersome Numa Numa sample and then you have Kanye's rapping. It's good to hear him do that again, isn't it?

17. "Box N Locks"
Artist: MPHO
Album: Pop Art
Why: I predict that this song will end up one of critic's favorite songs of the year. Like the lovechild of Prince and the Cars, "Box N Locks" is a hipster surf-guitar pop declaration of independence. MPHO's sentiments are similar to those of Santogold last year, challenging the notion that black artists have to make "black" music. Even their voices are two peas in a pod.