Well, here it is — Popservations’ Top 100 Tracks of 2012.

As anyone who compiles year-end lists can attest, the process of winnowing down one’s favorites is accompanied by both absolute joy and crushing heartache. Even with 100 available slots — a final tally more generous that most — over 150 possible contenders were eventually redlined along the way. Determinations were made only marginally easier when I realized Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” was on last year’s list.

Some artists scored a spot with a huge hit that also happened to be quite good, while others’ flops deserved far better (J. Lo lives to dance again). Official singles were skipped over in favor of far superior album tracks (Madonna, Nelly Furtado). Apropos for 2012, a dozen acts secured two songs apiece in a year that was especially strong for music and pop music in particular.

In previous years I’ve declined to rank the 100 tracks that made the cut, but this year I decided to give it a go. As I predicted ten months ago, Saint Etienne’s “Tonight” lands the top spot. See what songs fell in line behind via the slideshow below, or if you’re not one for surprises, browse the full list that follows immediately after. Preview what’s available on iTunes via the “Now Playing” box to the right of this post or cue up this (nearly complete) Spotify playlist.

Let the quibbling commence!
 

– “Safe/Pain”
21. Pet Shop Boys – “Leaving”
22. Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX – “I Love It”
23. Carly Rae Jepsen – “This Kiss”
24. Cinnamon Girl – “Devil In Me”
25. Vanbot – “Got To Get Out”
26. Betty Who – “Fire With Fire”
27. Lana Del Rey – “Born To Die”
28. Adele – “Skyfall”
29. Sky Ferreira – “Lost In My Bedroom”
30. Queen of Hearts – “Neon”
31. Kelly Clarkson – “Catch My Breath”
32. P!nk – “Try”
33. School Of Seven Bells – “Faded Heart”
34. JJAMZ – “Heartbeat”
35. Bright Light Bright Light – “Waiting For The Feeling”
36. Kylie Minogue – “Timebomb”
37. Kate Boy – “Northern Lights”
38. Marina and the Diamonds – “Primadonna”
39. Dragonette – “Live In This City”
40. Adele – “Rumour Has It”
41. Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull – “Dance Again”
42. Florence + The Machine – “Spectrum (Say My Name)” (Calvin Harris Remix)
43. HAIM – “Don’t Save Me”
44. Fiona Apple – “Werewolf”
45. Garbage – “Battle In Me”
46. Metric – “Youth Without Youth”
47. Gossip – “Get A Job”
48. Madonna – “Gang Bang”
49. Diamond Rings – “I’m Just Me”
50. Charli XCX – “You’re The One”
51. Passion Pit – “Take A Walk”
52. Agnes – “One Last Time”
53. Christina Aguilera – “Your Body”
54. Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
55. Pandr Eyez – “Again And Again”
56. Santigold – “The Keepers”
57. Stars – “Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It”
58. Little Boots – “Headphones”
59. Rob Giles – “Keep Calm Carry On”
60. Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch – “Sweet Nothing”
61. Strange Talk – “Cast Away”
62. Ice Choir – “Teletrips”
63. Esthero – “Never Gonna Let You Go”
64. Niki & The Dove – “Tomorrow”
66. Cassie – “King Of Hearts”
66. Sinead O’Connor – “The Wolf Is Getting Married”
67. Florrie – “To The End”
68. Alphabeat – “Vacation”
69. VISITOR – “Coming Home”
70. [STRANGERS] – “Shine On You”
71. The Knocks – “The Feeling”
72. Bananarama – “La La Love”
73. MS MR – “Hurricane”
74. I Am A Camera – “Factory Boys”
75. Twin Shadow – “Five Seconds”
76. Nelly Furtado – “Bucket List”
77. Blondfire – “Where The Kids Are”
78. No Doubt – “Looking Hot”
79. Casey Stratton – “When The Fates Came”
80. Meg Myers – “Monster”
81. MNDR – “#1 In Heaven”
82. Wolfette – “Risk For You”
83. Florence + The Machine – “Never Let Me Go”
84. Rufus Wainwright – “Out Of The Game”
85. Sam Sparro – “I Wish I Never Met You”
86. Girls Aloud – “Something New”
87. 3OH!3 – “Youngblood”
88. Hoodlums – “Dark Horses”
89. Steed Lord – “Hear Me Now”
90. Nneka – “My Home”
91. Big Boi feat. Kelly Rowland – “Mama Told Me”
92. Sneaky Sound System – “Really Want To See You Again”
93. Kindness – “That’s Alright”
94. Sarah Jaffe – “Glorified High”
95. Thomas Azier – “Red Eyes”
96. The Limousines – “The Future”
97. Kosheen – “Get A New One”
98. Tanlines – “All Of Me”
99. George Michael – “White Light”
100. Nas feat. Amy Winehouse – “Cherry Wine”