Hopefully you haven’t yet had your fill of year-end best-ofs, because here my contribution to add to the growing pile. Pop, rock, indie, major—check out my picks for the Top Tracks of 2008.
Though certainly not exhaustive, the list represents what I enjoyed listening to (and listening to again) this past year: Singles, album tracks, huge hits, and songs that deserved to be as big but weren’t.
These 100 tracks are not ranked, but arranged alphabetically by artist name (really, the only way that Paula Abdul would come out on top). Counting three mashups, double-shots of Britney and several Brit Poppers, plus one Wrigley gum commercial courtesy of Chris Brown, let the critiquing commence!
Popservations’ Top 100 Tracks of 2008
“Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow” – Paula Abdul & Randy Jackson
“Chasing Pavements” – Adele
“Hometown Glory” – Adele
“Keeps Gettin’ Better” – Christina Aguilera
“10,000 Nights” – Alphabeat
“Fascination” – Alphabeat
“Touch My Hand” – David Archuleta
“The Way It Is” – Nicole Atkins
“Juliet of the Spirits” – The B-52’s
“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” – Beyoncé
“I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You” – Black Kids
“Right Here (Departed)” – Brandy
“Runaway” – The Bridges
“Forever” – Chris Brown
“What Hurts the Most” – Cascada
“Viva La Vida” – Coldplay
“If (Dave Aude Radio Mix)” – Colette
“Let Me Think About It” – Ida Corr vs. Fedde Le Grand
“Not Nineteen Forever” – The Courteeners
“Pop Culture” – Creature
“Love Is All There Is” – Sheryl Crow
“Rat Is Dead (Rage)” – CSS
“Damaged” – Danity Kane
“Beautiful (The RJ Radio Edit)” – Taylor Dayne
“Hooray” – The Delays
“Dawn of the Dead” – Does It Offend You, Yeah?
“Mercy” – Duffy
“Stepping Stone” – Duffy
“I Don’t Care” – Fall Out Boy
“Superstar” – Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos
“Witness To Your Love” – Garbage
“Witches! Witches! Rest Now In The Fire” – Get Well Soon
“Call The Shots” – Girls Aloud
“Give Me A Beat” – Girl Talk
“Here’s The Thing” – Girl Talk
“A&E” – Goldfrapp
“All That You Have Is Your Soul” – Emmylou Harris
“This Lonely Love” – Juliana Hatfield feat. Richard Butler
“Blind” – Hercules and Love Affair
“Spotlight” – Jennifer Hudson
“Whiteboy” – James
“Spiralling” – Keane
“All Summer Long” – Kid Rock
“Human” – The Killers
“Spaceman” – The Killers
“Poker Face” – Lady GaGa
“Just Dance” – Lady GaGa feat. Colby O’Donis
“Into the Nightlife” – Cyndi Lauper
“Bleeding Love” – Leona Lewis
“Cryin’ For The Queen” – Little Jackie
“Kim & Jessie” – M83
“Beat Goes On” – Madonna feat. Kanye West
“Freeway” – Aimee Mann
“Shake It” – Metro Station
“Time To Pretend” – MGMT
“Paper Planes” – M.I.A.
“In My Arms” – Kylie Minogue
“Wow” – Kylie Minogue
“Disco Lies” – Moby
“Violet Stars Happy Hunting!” – Janelle Monáe
“Underneath” – Alanis Morissette
“Movie Star” – Róisín Murphy
“Shattered (Turn The Car Around)” – O.A.R.
“Cathedrals” – Joan Osborne
“Hot N Cold” – Katy Perry
“Under The Night” – Sam Phillips
“So What” – P!nk
“The Rip” – Portishead
“I Hate This Part” – The Pussycat Dolls
“When I Grow Up” – The Pussycat Dolls
“Supernatural Superserious” – R.E.M.
“Don’t Stop The Music” – Rihanna
“Disturbia” – Rihanna
“Nothin’ Better To Do (Soul Seekerz Radio Edit)” – LeAnn Rimes
“With Every Heartbeat” – Robyn
“Work (Freemasons Mix)” – Kelly Rowland
“L.E.S. Artistes” – Santogold
“Pictures” – Sneaky Sound System
“Take Back The City” – Snow Patrol
“I Decided, Pt. 2 (Freemasons Remix)” – Solange
“Sandcastle Disco” – Solange
“One Step At A Time” – Jordin Sparks
“Radar” – Britney Spears
“Womanizer” – Britney Spears
“Denial” – Sugababes
“Stamp Your Feet” – Donna Summer
“White Horse” – Taylor Swift
“I’m In Love With A German Film Star” – Sam Taylor-Wood & Pet Shop Boys
“Great DJ” – The Ting-Tings
“That’s Not My Name” – The Ting-Tings
“Monsoon” – Tokio Hotel
“Song To Self” – Travis
“Love Is Noise” – The Verve
“Mick ‘n’ Carly” – Mark Vidler
“Teen Lovers” – The Virgins
“After Hours” – We Are Scientists
“Love Lockdown” – Kanye West
“We Break The Dawn” – Michelle Williams
“Sidedish Friend” – Rachael Yamagata
To listen to clips or purchase any of these, visit the Popservations – Top Tunes of 2008 iMix posted on iTunes. Thirteen tracks on my list aren’t available there; some are UK-only releases, the Girl Talk and Mark Vidler mashups are available via their respective sites, and the previously unreleased Garbage track can be found on Give. Listen. Help., sold exclusively at Urban Outfitters.
I’ve written about many of the songs and artists on the list, so use the Search box in the left-hand column to read up.
Here’s hoping 2009 brings an equally eclectic mix of good tunes!
