2009 was not my favorite year so far, but there was some pretty great pop music to be had, and I’ve pulled together my top 40 singles from the year. Here are the usual disclaimers:
1. I know that there’s probably a lot of other good stuff out there, but all I can talk about are the tracks that came across my laptop or iPod.
2. Country seems to have made a small resurgence in the countdown. Please remember that my definition of “pop” tends to be a bit less strict than others.
3. The number in parentheses is the peak position on the Billboard Hot 100.
4. I attempt to keep artists to one song per year-end chart. That potentially was an issue with the Saturdays this year, but in the end, “Forever Is Over” didn’t quite make the cut.
Before we get started, here are the runner ups. It seems that I can’t keep to just 40 songs.
45. Cowboy Casanova/Carrie Underwood (11)
44. No You Girls (Vince Clarke Remix)/Franz Ferdinand (NA)
43. Consider Me Gone/Reba McEntire (38)
42. Shooting Stars/Bag Raiders (NA)
41. I’m Not Alone – Calvin Harris (NA)
And now, the Top 40 of 2009:
40. Floating Off The Ground/Chris Richardson – A late-year release for CRich proved that Chris still has relevance over two years out from his fourth-place finish on American Idol. Here’s hoping that his album finally makes it out in 2010 (which I was also hoping for last year). (NA)
39. Raindrops/Basement Jaxx – The Jaxx have always been on my radar, but not until this year did a single song register with me like this one. (NA)
38. Make Me/Janet Jackson – Joke all you want, but “Make Me” was a return to form for Miss Jackson with Rodney Jerkins at the helm, securing her yet another #1 dance hit. (NA)
37. Empire State Of Mind (feat Alicia Keys)/Jay-Z – Debuting this song at the end of the MTV VMAs was one of the best moves Jay made in a high-profile year. This combo was nearly unstoppable at the end of the year, holding down the #1 spot for 5 weeks. (1)
36. The Fear/Lily Allen – Like so many others that I know, 2009 was the year that Lily Allen became bearable. This was a grower for me, but when it did, it wouldn’t let go. (80)
35. Confusion Girl (Shame Shame Shame)/Frankmusik – The darling of pop blogs everywhere turned out to be a chart disappointment, but from all reports, he isn’t letting this keep him from moving forward. (NA)
34. Runaway/Love And Theft – Kris Allen actually got pop radio airplay for a weak Script cover, and these guys got relegated to Country radio. Apparently, there is no justice for a stellar country pop song. (65)
33. Whataya Want From Me/Adam Lambert – And speaking of Idols, here is the clear winner from season 8, despite what the final vote may have said. While first single “For Your Entertainment” got slagged a bit, this one has received near-universal praise. I can’t believe P!nk gave this away, but it really works for Adam. (72 to date)
32. – I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)/Pitbull – Don’t ask me to explain what it is about Pitbull that I like, but he really has a knack for finding hooks that translate well to the dancefloor and the radio. (2)
31. Permanent (American Idol Charity Song)/David Cook – To perform a song written for your brother shortly after he dies takes a lot of courage and strength. To perform that song with so much passion that the listener feels your pain and sorrow is talent. Simply stunning. (24)
30. Use Somebody/Kings of Leon – I originally hoped that “Use” would just get the Kings a top 40 hit, but who knew it would linger in the top 10 for almost two months? (4)
29. Remedy/Little Boots – I wasn’t sure if LB would live up to the hype piled on her early in the year, but this track definitely did the job. (NA)
28. Please Don’t Leave Me/P!nk – P!nk has become the little engine that could, racking up three top 20 hits off of Funhouse, despite being a bit more low-key than some of her other pop counterparts. (17)
27. Never Forget You/Noisettes – There was a good three-week stretch where I couldn’t get this song out of my head. This is a modern update of a classic R&B sound that should have gotten a lot more attention than it did. (NA)
26. Wonderful/Gary Go – Despite the record company’s attempts to get this track some attention in the US (they even gave it away on iTunes for a week), it just didn’t catch on. (NA)
25. Syndicate/The Fray – Recently announced as their next single, this track was my highlight of their self-titled sophomore release back in February, as well as of the show I saw in January. (NA)
24. 3/Britney Spears – Part funky jam and part smart strategy on the part of the record label got Brit her second #1 track in a year’s time. (1)
23. Rain/Mika – “We Are Golden” truly underwhelmed me, but the rest of Mika’s second disc picked up where his first album left off. (NA)
22. When Love Takes Over (feat Kelly Rowland)/David Guetta – While “Sexy Bitch” may have been Guetta’s pop breakthrough in the US, his first collaboration with Kelly Rowland proved to be a perfect pairing (and a #1 dance track). (76)
21. Uprising/Muse – They already had buzzworthy cred, but a hot performance on the MTV Video Music Awards got Muse their biggest hit to date in the US. (37 to date)
And now, the Top 20:
20. Baby/Alcazar – Alcazar was a group that never resonated with me until a full-court press by Paul over at Fizzy Pop convinced me to give them a go. This is a classic pop song written by Chris and Neil of the Pet Shop Boys, and it meshes perfectly with the group’s vocals. How is it that this was never released as a single, even in their homeland of Sweden? (NA)
19. Need You Now/Lady Antebellum – Lady A’s debut CD produced three Country hits (two of which went Gold) and was certified Platinum within 18 months of its release, but to most people they were strictly seen as a Country group. That all changed with their performance of “Need You Now” on the Country Music Awards last month. It is great that they are getting their due, and it happens with a song that could have easily been recorded as a pop power ballad. Maybe a song choice for a Steps reunion? In the meantime, watch this one cross straight over to the pop side. (5 to date)
18. Work/The Saturdays – In the world of pop music blogging, opinions can be extremely polarizing. While some folks loved this track, others thought it was just a b-side quality song. The British public spoke and determined that it wasn’t that strong of a single, only pushing it up to #22 and becoming their only single to not go Top 20. (NA)
17. Meet Me Halfway/Black Eyed Peas – While my love of this song is solid, “Meet Me Halfway” became a victim of its own success, because I just got burned out on the track. Overplaying aside, this track shows that the combination of will.i.am’s production and Fergie’s vocals, which apart are nothing to brag about, are gold when combined properly. (7)
16. Release Me/Agnes – It seems like this song has been around forever, but it finally saw the light of day in the US back in August. I thought the song stood a good chance of making it, but as of right now, it has only been a hit on the Dance chart, where it went to #1. That didn’t stop the rest of the world from falling for it, though. (NA)
15. New York/Paloma Faith – I fell in love with Paloma the first time I heard “Stone Cold Sober”, but she cemented my interest with this smoky mid-tempo ballad that portrays the Big Apple as a lady who steals Paloma’s boyfriend away. The video was beautifully done, and it got some decent attention outside of the UK. (NA)
14. Heartbreak on Vinyl/Blake Lewis – When Blake released “Sad Song” in advance of his second CD, I initially liked it, but upon release of the full disc, it was clear that the best hadn’t seen the light of day. “Heartbreak” uses a record shop to tell the story of a relationship that has gone past its chart peak, never to revisit those glory days. The song deserves to be a hit, but the fact that Blake even got to record a second album is a victory in itself. (NA)
13. Untouchable/Girls Aloud – “Like beautiful robots dancing alone” is my favorite lyric of 2009, but I believe part of that is because of the lush song that it comes from. Born of Xenomania, this song holds the distinction of not only being the classiest single that Girls Aloud have ever released, but also the single the broke GA’s string of top 10 singles. No matter…when history looks back on their discography, this will absolutely be a highlight. (NA)
12. Day ‘N’ Nite (Crookers Remix)/Kid Cudi – I remember hearing this track back in January and thinking that this futuristic track was unlike anything on the radio, and yet deserved to be a smash. While the stark original version became a hit here in the US, it was the Crookers remix that was a smash in the UK which became my favorite. His full-length Man on the Moon was one of the best full-length hip-hop CDs of 2009, and he’s currently up for 2 Grammy awards as well. (3)
11. Crash & Burn/Jesse McCartney – I am still in awe of this track, and although it doesn’t look like it will have an official single release, I still stand by my assertion that “Crash” is the best track from either version of McCartney’s Departure. The new tracks on the Recharged version show much promise for his next release, on its way in October. (NA)
10. Pop Goes the World/Gossip – If I had disappointment over “Crash and Burn” not being released as a single, that disappointment would need to be multiplied over and over to express my feelings over the promotion of the Gossip’s Music for Men. While “Pop” is slated to be the next single, I feel like the momentum has been lost. (BTW, the Gossip was my favorite concert of the year.) (NA)
9. Love Struck/V Factory – Here is another prediction from this year that didn’t pan out: V Factory would instigate the return of the boy band in 2009. Maybe it will still happen, but “Love Struck” should have been an instant hit. Instead, it barely grazed the bottom of pop radio’s top 40, and quickly disappeared. For me, though, it was one of two jams that defined the summer. (70)
8. Evacuate The Dancefloor/Cascada – Well, for every prediction that didn’t come true, I can usually find one that at least found a little traction. Cascada was a slow-burn Energizer Bunny this year with “Evacuate the Dancefloor”, which is STILL climbing the chart after five months of release. The song is contagious, and even after all this time, I still love hearing it on the radio. (25 to date)
7. Broken Strings (feat Nelly Furtado)/James Morrison – Coming in a close second on my favorite concerts this year was the double-bill of Adele and James Morrison, whom I got to meet after the show. Even in a solo acoustic setting, you could really feel the power and emotion that made “Broken Strings” such an amazing song. Their voices blend so effortlessly, but the single barely made an impact here in the US. (NA)
6. Did You See Me Coming/Pet Shop Boys – I know they technically didn’t go anywhere, but the Pet Shop Boys earn a Best Comeback for amazing singles like “Love Etc” and “Did You See Me Coming”, which fueled my summer playlist before summer even got here. The Boys haven’t been quite this joyful and upbeat since “Go West”, and it earned them a #1 dance hit here in the US. Now if we could arrange for their tour to stop in Denver, I will be satisfied. (NA)
5. This Tornado Loves You/Neko Case – In a sea of dancey pop music, Neko Case provided me with a much lusher landscape to escape to in “Tornado”. While Neko has been around for several years, her music finally clicked with me this time around. Apparently it did with other people as well, as she got her first top 10 album with Middle Cyclone.(NA)
4. Bad Romance/Lady Gaga – I resisted…I admit it. It just seemed so over the top that I couldn’t bring myself to give into the hype and the adulation. Resistance was, as usual, futile, and it just snowballed from there. The chanting latches onto your brain like a barnacle and doesn’t let go, but it’s the chorus that unlocks the secret power pop formula. (2 to date)
3. Supernova (feat Kanye West)/Mr Hudson – My declaration back in June was “this just FEELS like a #1.” So much for my gut instinct, although it did reach #2 in the UK in July. The album was supposed to be released December 1st here, but no sign of it. You think that might have something to do with its #25 debut in his homeland? The next time you hear about this, the word “retooled” will probably be used. (112)
2. I Wish (Cahill Mix)/Mini Viva – “I Left My Heart In Tokyo” prepped the palate for pop music greatness, and then the original version of “I Wish” was released, making “Tokyo” seem like an outtake in comparison. But when the Cahill Mix of “I Wish” was released, it was clear that these ladies meant business. There is probably no chance of an American release of Mini Viva’s soon-to-be-released debut, but it is still pretty close to pop perfection. (NA)
1. The Spell/Alphabeat – Last year, Alphabeat’s “Boyfriend” made it to #9 on the year-end chart, and that was off the strength of a Pete Hammond remix. This year, they changed up the formula a bit and went back to the late 80s/early 90s for a much dancier sound. The song goes from zero to 60 in about three seconds, and doesn’t look back. I couldn’t get enough of this song, but the promotion seemed all over the place. Did it pay off? Well, in Denmark, it went to #1, but in the UK, it petered out at #20. (NA)
There you have it…another year’s worth of singles in the books. Did it match up with yours? Any glaring omissions? Hit me up!
1. Adele/19 – I went back and forth between the top 3 for weeks, but in the end, 
2. Jason Mraz/We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things – Don’t get me started on this one. If Oprah can have her muses and advisors, then I call dibs on Mr. A-Z. “Live High” became my mantra, “I’m Yours” held multiple meanings through the year, “A Beautiful Mess” hit a little too close to home, and “Details in the Fabric” walked me through my darkest moments.
3. Will Young/Let It Go – I “found” Will this year. It’s not like I didn’t know who he was, but Will Young found a body of songs worthy of his interpretation. The title song moved me like few songs this year, and the rest of this opus didn’t disappoint, either. I may have to admire him from afar for years to come, but it will be worth the effort. Key tracks are “Changes”, “Let It Go”, “Love”, and “Won’t Look Down”.
4. Keane/Perfect Symmetry – Watching Keane grow as a group has been an interesting activity, especially with the way that their music has evolved. While many were more focused on watching lead singer Tom Chapin for some type of stumble after his time in rehab, I was more concerned about the music, and it didn’t disappoint. In addition, “Symmetry” inspired some pretty 
5. Solange/Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams – I’ve seen a lot of slogging of Beyonce this year when Solange’s album is mentioned, and while I have my issues with “I Am…Sasha Fierce”, I won’t play into those negative comments. Solange was in the enviable position of having the money behind her as a new artist to create a record that had musical integrity, and she definitely made the most of it. “Sandcastle Disco” was a revelation, “I Decided” stands as a tribute to those Motown legends that paved the way, and “Cosmic Journey” turned out to be a perfect pairing between Solange and Bilal. Solange, you are now forgiven for your debut record.
6. Kanye West/808s & Heartbreaks – “Graduation” was my #3 CD last year, and it’s very possible that, had this come out earlier, “808s” may have been higher, but I hope that doesn’t detract from my respect for the disc. Kanye decided to take his pain and channel it into his work, and the results are, at times, breathtaking. “Paranoid” is a personal best for him, “Love Lockdown” is sonically stunning, and “Heartless” does a great job of bridging the gap between the current sound of hip-hop, and some new territory that only Kanye can take us to.
7. David Cook/David Cook – This disc was a grower, for me, as 
8. Killers/Day and Age – For me, no release this year was as fraught with expectations as the Killers’ third CD, due to the amazing impact of “Human”. Would they be able to carry it off and deliver a consistent record, or would they have one flash of inspiration, surrounded by mediocre filler? Hopefully, you’ll gather my decision based on its ranking. “The World We Live In”, “Joy Ride”, and “Neon Tiger” all carried the torch. My only complaint about “Day” is the closing track, “Goodnight, Travel Well”, which just seems out of place. Anyone want to wager on Stuart Price coming back for disc #4?
9. Ne-Yo/Year of the Gentleman – I referred to this record 
10. Keyshia Cole/A Different Me – Wow…the newest CD on the list, and I’m just blown away. Keyshia and her producers definitely stepped up, adding a level of sophisticated to her music that threatens to add credibility to the “next Mary J Blige” title that people have been throwing around for the past few years. Highlights include the trifecta of “Playa Cardz Right”, which features a downright spooky cameo from 2Pac, “Brand New”, and “Trust”, a beautiful duet with Monica.
1. Closer/Ne-Yo (Year of the Gentleman) – No song this year stuck with me more than this one, which took a good three months to catch fire, but when it did, it headed straight to the Top 10. When future generations want to see how to write a perfect dance-pop song, they’ll look to “Closer”. (#7)
2. Run (Bonus Track)/Leona Lewis (Spirit – Deluxe Edition) – How impressive is it that a cover song performed live almost six months earlier finally ended up being a single all its own, while topping the UK charts in the process. If there was any question of Leona’s validity as a pop vocalist, this should erase those doubts. (#81 to date)
3. Human /The Killers (Day & Age) – There were two questions that came up when this song first hit the Internet: 1) was it “dancer” or “denser”? 2) how high will this end up on everyone’s year-end list? (#32 to date)
4. Chasing Pavements/Adele (19) – Best debut single of the year by a mile, this tale of reconciling the conflicted feelings of a dying relationship showed much depth, and sounded years beyond a 19-year-old newbie. When she hits that final chorus, it gives me goosebumps. (#82)
5. I’m Yours/Jason Mraz (We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things) – We can’t all be visionaries like Fizzy Pop (this was on his list in 2006), but when it finally came around for the rest of us, it just wouldn’t let go. It’s the feel-good record of the year, no doubt. Happiness is hearing this track live as part of a sing-along. (#6)
6. Gravity/Sara Bareilles (Little Voice) – The first of several album cuts on the list. From that minimal piano intro, to the simple cry toward the end, it’s an emotional powerhouse from start to finish. One of my live music highlights of the year was hearing this song when she stopped in Denver. (NA)
7. Let It Go/Will Young (Let It Go) – Another album cut from a record that’s guaranteed to be in my Top 10. The pure honesty and stress of recognizing the failings of a man hit me hard upon first listen, and the impact has only grown upon repeated plays. Let’s hope that Will can finally leave the “Idol” title behind, and just be recognized as a true artist. (NA)
8. Damaged/Danity Kane (Welcome To The Dollhouse) – Sadly overlooked on most lists, it was impossible to avoid this song in the first half of the year, but when you break it down, pop music doesn’t come much more pure than this. Killer hook, fluffy lyrics, and vocals just strong enough to hold themselves above all of it. Diddy found the formula, even if it may have only been a one-shot fluke. (#10)
9. Boyfriend (Pete Hammond 7″ Mix)/Alphabeat (This Is Alphabeat) – Talk about taking a good song and making it great, Alphabeat really found their footing by hooking up with Pete Hammond. This song will always be driving down the highway in Michigan in the summer to me. (NA)
10. All Alone/Chris Richardson (All Alone – Single) – While this song didn’t get the attention that it deserved, it hopefully put the tastemakers on alert that C Rich has a genuinely unique perspective that will lead to big things in the future. A simple melody and lyrics belie an emotionally complex song. (NA)
11. Forever/Chris Brown (Exclusive – The Forever Edition) – To some, this might seem like blasphemy, but I’m good with this being at #11. Love the song, but somewhere along the line it overstayed its welcome. Amazing hook, though. (#1)
12. The Loving Kind/Girls Aloud (Out Of Control) – I heard the raves, and paid them no mind originally, since I’ve only met one GA single that really rocked my world (“Call the Shots”). Let’s be honest, though…like a car wreck on the side of the road, I couldn’t help but stop and check it out with the Pet Shop Boys and Xenomania attached to the track, and I’m glad I did. If even for 3 minutes, Girls Aloud seem to know the meaning of sophisticated pop. (NA)
13. Spiraling/Keane (Perfect Symmetry) – “Wooooooooo!” The first time I heard that, I was lost. From a band that innovates how instruments are utilized in pop songs, that vocal flourish marked the beginning of the most uplifting song of the year. (NA)
14. Sweet Dreams/Beyoncé (I Am…Sasha Fierce) – While everyone else is bragging on “Single Ladies”, my jam has been “Sweet Dreams” ever since it leaked as “Beautiful Nightmare”. The final CD version is a tad too busy for my liking, but in it’s purest form, the record is brilliant. (NA)
15. Black and Gold (Album Version)/Sam Sparro (Black and Gold) – On first listen, I proclaimed this song “LAME”. I quickly ate my words, as that chorus just haunted me like the hot wings I had for dinner tonight. His CD was a welcome blast of 80s-inspired freshness, and “21st Century Life” should be up in this piece as well. (NA)
16. Never Ever Gone/Chris Cagle (My Life’s Been a Country Song) – My top country song this year would be burned at the stake by country purists, but Chris has a huge potential hit on his hands with this one. I haven’t heard Chris have this much fun with a record since “Chicks Dig It”. I’m pretty sure his album is dead, thanks to a domestic abuse situation back in Nashville, but the fact this won’t be released is a big ol’ shame. For you non-country heads, I dare ya to go to iTunes and check it out. You won’t be sorry… (NA)
17. Hollywood’s Not America/Ferras (Aliens & Rainbows) – This song hit my radar when it was used during Hollywood week on American Idol, but who knew that a consolation prize theme song would help bring such and amazing CD to the American public. Er, or at least to my attention, as the record barely sold anything. (#62)
18. Beautiful (Feat Colby O’Donis & Kardinal Offishall)/Akon (Freedom) – The newest of the tracks on this countdown comes from 3 people that even six months ago would have caused me to laugh at a potential inclusion, but this track just works for me. As I said a week ago, this could potentially be the biggest record of Akon’s career. (#19 to date)
19. You Found Me/The Fray (You Found Me) – From their February 2nd sophomore release, this song takes the “How To Save A Life” formula to the next level. For me, it’s the epitome of a “why bad things happen to good people” kind of record. (#15 to date)
20. I’m That Chick/Mariah Carey (E=MC2) – So the rumor goes that this song was L.A. Reid’s pick for the first single, instead of “Touch My Body”, and now we’re on single #7 (feels like it), and “Touch” is the ONLY hit she’s had. What gives, Mimi? Give the people what they want, mm’kay? (NA)
21. Girl You Never Knew /Georgia Wonder (Hello Stranger – EP)
26. So What/P!nk (Funhouse)
31. Sandcastle Disco/Solange (Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams)
36. Just Dance/Lady GaGa feat Colby O’Donis (The Fame)
Greetings from the Salt City, aka Syracuse, New York. The sign up above is the first visual many folks have of Syracuse as they arrive at Hancock International Airport, and for a native like myself, it’s a welcome sight. Despite my love of travel and Colorado, I always enjoy returning home to see my folks and reconnect. Funny how we can romanticize such mundane things as grocery stores and neon signs, isn’t it?
So pop music in 2008 was a mixed bag of trends. Every time you thought that something good was in the air, another annoying development would pop up. Here’s a brief list of some trends that drove me batty or gave me a glimmer of hope over the past 12 months.
Bad: Flooding the Market with Singles – Taylor Swift, I’m coming for you, and I’m packing a CD case and a restraining order. iTunes had so much luck with the Jonas Brothers in advancing tracks to their fans prior to the full-length release of “A Little Bit Longer” that the formula was rolled out for the likes of Fall Out Boy, Kanye West, and Ms Swift. By the time “Fearless” was released in November, six of her singles had debuted in the top 20 of the Hot 100, breaking the Jonas Brothers’ record of five debuts in one calendar year. 
Good: The Quick Release of Hot Singles – Case in point, the new Leona Lewis single for “Run”, which is already up on iTunes, despite it being pretty clear that the record label here was going for at least one more single off the original US version of “Spirit”. Record companies have the flexibility to throw things up for public consumption with little lead time, and the consumer wins when that occurs. Think back to American Idol, and the demand for live versions of hot performances. By the following evening, those fans could have a professional-grade recording on their iPod, and I think everyone wins in that equation…
Good: Pet Shop Boys Get Respect – If I had mentioned Girls Aloud and Pet Shop Boys working together six months ago, most of you would have laughed yourselves into epileptic fits. Flash forward to November ’08, and the one track on the new GA CD getting universal respect is “The Loving Kind”, co-written by…the Pet Shop Boys. Add to that their work with the Killers on this year’s Christmas track, and their recognition for Outstanding Contribution to Music in February from the Brit Awards, and you have what’s shaping up to be a banner year for PSB. Now, if we could just get another hit record out of them here in the States.
Bad: Too Much of Too Few – What do these names have in common: T.I., Beyonce, T-Pain, Britney Spears, Ne-Yo, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West. Why, all of these folks had multiple top 10 hits at the same time during some point of 2008. While it’s great to maximize your promotional investment with concurrent singles focused on different demographics (Beyonce, that’s got your weave strands all over it), is it really healthy in the long run? I mean, remember when an album with six singles meant a two-year run on the Billboard 200? Now, six singles come out before the album is released (see Taylor Swift, above). On top of that, you add in all of the incestuous team-ups and collaborations, and it makes for a pretty boring chart. For example, at #26 this week is Ludacris co-starring T-Pain, and at #27 is T-Pain and Ludacris. Do I really need to go further with this?
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Pop Music Notes 