The 40 Best Songs of 2004

With the 2003 explosion of new sounds from old artists, 2004 was wide open for current artists to dominate our radios. Usher was the luckiest in this aspect, since he scored four number one singles this year alone. Kelly Clarkson and Gwen Stefani started to make their breakthrough as artists on their own terms, we saw the arrival of R&B princess Ciara, and then rock band Green Day made the biggest comeback, both with songs and albums. There was a lot of songs this year, but these 40 were the best that the year had to offer. Complete with their peak positions on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard year-end chart, here is a list of the best of 2004:

40. Green Day-American Idiot
Peak: 61                          Billboard Year-End: NA

39. Joss Stone-You Had Me
Peak: NA*                      Billboard Year-End: NA

38. Gwen Stefani-What You Waiting For?
Peak: 47                          Billboard Year-End: NA

37. Ryan Cabrera-On the Way Down
Peak: 15                          Billboard Year-End: 73

36. Sheryl Crow-The First Cut is the Deepest
Peak: 14                          Billboard Year-End: 28

35. Jessica Simpson-With You
Peak: 14                          Billboard Year-End: 50

34. Destiny's Child and TI-Soldier
Peak: 3                            Billboard Year-End: NA

33. Ashlee Simpson-Pieces of Me
Peak: 5                            Billboard Year-End: 39

32. Keane-Somewhere Only We Know
Peak: 50                          Billboard Year-End: NA

31. Five for Fighting-100 Years
Peak: 28                          Billboard Year-End: 77

30. The Black Eyed Peas-Hey Mama
Peak: 23                          Billboard Year-End: 95

29. No Doubt-It's My Life
Peak: 10                          Billboard Year-End: 38

28. Usher-Confessions Part II
Peak: 1 (2 weeks)           Billboard Year-End: 12

27. OutKast and Sleepy Brown-The Way You Move
Peak: 1 (1 week)            Billboard Year-End: 5

26. Britney Spears-Toxic
Peak: 9                           Billboard Year-End: 48

25. Linkin Park-Breaking the Habit
Peak: 20                         Billboard Year-End: 79

24. Beyonce-Naughty Girl
Peak: 3                           Billboard Year-End: 18

23. Bowling for Soup-1985
Peak: 23                         Billboard Year-End: NA

22. Evanescence-My Immortal
Peak: 7                           Billboard Year-End: 19

21. Los Lonely Boys-Heaven
Peak: 16                         Billboard Year-End: 37

20. Switchfoot-Meant to Live
Peak: 18                         Billboard Year-End: 51

19. Switchfoot-Dare You to Move
Peak: 17                         Billboard Year-End: NA

18. Maroon 5-She Will Be Loved
Peak: 5                           Billboard Year-End: 35

17. Destiny's Child-Lose My Breath
Peak: 3                           Billboard Year-End: 58

16. Usher and Alicia Keys-My Boo
Peak: 1 (6 weeks)          Billboard Year-End: 24

15. The Killers-Somebody Told Me
Peak: 51                         Billboard Year-End: NA

14. Alicia Keys-If I Ain't Got You
Peak: 4                           Billboard Year-End: 3

13. Nelly and Tim McGraw-Over and Over
Peak: 3                           Billboard Year-End: 96

12. The Black Eyed Peas-Let's Get It Started
Peak: 21                         Billboard Year-End: 88

11. Avril Lavigne-My Happy Ending
Peak: 9                           Billboard Year-End: 54

10. Gavin DeGraw-I Don't Wanna Be
Peak: 10                         Billboard Year-End: NA

9. Jet-Are You Gonna Be My Girl?
Peak: 29                         Billboard Year-End: 76

8. Maroon 5-This Love
Peak: 5                           Billboard Year-End: 4

7. JoJo-Leave (Get Out)
Peak: 12                         Billboard Year-End: 40

6. Usher-Burn
Peak: 1 (8 weeks)          Billboard Year-End: 2

5. Kelly Clarkson-Breakaway
Peak: 6                           Billboard Year-End: 74

4. Hoobastank-The Reason
Peak: 2                           Billboard Year-End: 6

3. Ciara and Petey Pablo-Goodies
Peak: 1 (7 weeks)          Billboard Year-End: 9

2. OutKast-Hey Ya!
Peak: 1 (6 weeks)+        Billboard Year-End: 8

1. Usher, Ludacris, and Lil Jon-Yeah!
Peak: 1 (12 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 1

*This song was not released as a single in the US, but still received airplay
+This song topped the Hot 100 for 3 weeks at the end of 2003

The 40 Best Songs of 2005

2005 was a great year for music. First and foremost, Mariah Carey made the best comeback ever after a string of commercial failures in the early 2000s. Kelly Clarkson asserted her place in the mainstream as all of the singles from her 2004 effort "Breakaway" reached the top 20 of the Hot Billboard 100. Green Day also continued to rule the airwaves with the singles off their 2004 album "American Idiot". 2004 newcomer Ciara was the R&B princess this year, and we also saw re-appearances from the Backstreet Boys, The Black Eyed Peas, Rob Thomas, and Madonna after her early 2000s failure "American Life". Then came the numerous debuts from Rihanna, Chris Brown, the Pussycat Dolls, the Killers, and the solo arrival of Gwen Stefani. So much happened this year, and it started a massive music blow-out that would still influence the industry for many years. So, with their peak positions on the Hot 100 and the Billboard year-end chart, here are the 40 songs that were the best of this eventful year:

40. The Black Eyed Peas-Don't Lie
Peak: 14                       Billboard Year-End: 81

39. Mariah Carey-It's Like That
Peak: 16                       Billboard Year-End: 69

38. R Kelly-Trapped in the Closet
Peak: 22                       Billboard Year-End: NA

37. Backstreet Boys-Incomplete
Peak: 13                       Billboard Year-End: 64

36. Alicia Keys-Karma
Peak: 20                       Billboard Year-End: 56

35. Eminem-Mockingbird
Peak: 11                       Billboard Year-End: 59

34. 50 Cent and Olivia-Candy Shop
Peak: 1 (9 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 8

33. Kelly Clarkson-Because of You
Peak: 7                         Billboard Year-End: 72

32. Destiny's Child-Cater 2 U
Peak: 14                       Billboard Year-End: 66

31. Shakira and Alejandro Sanz-La Tortura
Peak: 23                       Billboard Year-End: 60

30. Madonna-Hung Up
Peak: 7                         Billboard Year-End: 91

29. The Black Eyed Peas-Don't Phunk With My Heart
Peak: 3                         Billboard Year-End: 13

28. Will Smith-Switch
Peak: 7                         Billboard Year-End: 28

27. Gorillaz-Feel Good Inc.
Peak: 14                       Billboard Year-End: 37

26. Missy Elliot, Ciara, and Fat Man Scoop-Lose Control
Peak: 3                         Billboard Year-End: 14

25. Coldplay-Speed of Sound
Peak: 8                         Billboard Year-End: 57

24. Natasha Bedingfield-These Words
Peak: 17                       Billboard Year-End: 80

23. Anna Nalick-Breathe (2 AM)
Peak: 45                       Billboard Year-End: NA

22. DHT and Edmee-Listen to Your Heart
Peak: 8                         Billboard Year-End: 35

21. Weezer-Beverly Hills
Peak: 10                       Billboard Year-End: 20

20. 3 Doors Down-Let Me Go
Peak: 14                       Billboard Year-End: 38

19. Mariah Carey-Shake It Off
Peak: 2                         Billboard Year-End: 15

18. Gwen Stefani and Eve-Rich Girl
Peak: 7                         Billboard Year-End: 31

17. Lifehouse-You and Me
Peak: 5                         Billboard Year-End: NA

16. The Killers-Mr. Brightside
Peak: 10                       Billboard Year-End: 16

15. The Black Eyed Peas-My Humps
Peak: 3                         Billboard Year-End: 32

14. Cascada-Everytime We Touch
Peak: 10                       Billboard Year-End: NA

13. Kelly Clarkson-Behind These Hazel Eyes
Peak: 6                         Billboard Year-End: 10

12. Rihanna-Pon De Replay
Peak: 2                         Billboard Year-End: 18

11. Rob Thomas-Lonely No More
Peak: 6                         Billboard Year-End: 22

10. Green Day-Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Peak: 2                         Billboard Year-End: 7

9. Ciara and Missy Elliot-1, 2 Step
Peak: 2                         Billboard Year-End: 5

8. Chris Brown-Run It!
Peak: 1 (5 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 42

7. Mario-Let Me Love You
Peak: 1 (9 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 3

6. Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes-Don't Cha
Peak: 2                         Billboard Year-End: 9

5. Gwen Stefani-Hollaback Girl
Peak: 1 (4 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 2

4. Snoop Dogg and Pharrell-Drop It Like It's Hot
Peak: 2*                       Billboard Year-End: 23

3. Kanye West and Jaime Foxx-Gold Digger
Peak: 1 (10 weeks)      Billboard Year-End: 6

2. Mariah Carey-We Belong Together
Peak: 1 (14 weeks)      Billboard Year-End: 1

1. Kelly Clarkson-Since U Been Gone
Peak: 2                         Billboard Year-End: 4

*This song achieved a peak of 1 for 3 weeks in 2004

Madonna-"Hard Candy" Review

"Having sex with you is incredible", Madonna says in "Incredible", the seventh track on her eleventh album, "Hard Candy". While it's no secret that sex has fueled much of Madonna's music, there's a distinct irony in her explicit mumblings on "Hard Candy". True, she openly explored the subject back in 1992, with "Erotica" and her coffee table book Sex. Both offered many suggestive songs and images, but that's the point, they were suggestive, not explicit. "Hard Candy" isn't suggestive, nor does it even try to toy with sensuality; it's ruthlessly pornographic (the audio to a bottom-barrell, lite porn, but still cheap pornography all the same). Then there's a distinct awkwardness considering "Hard Candy" was released in 2008, a full sixteen years after Madonna already dissected the topic of sex (Magellan circled the globe in a quarter that time, but then again is anyone really counting?). Perhaps if she were still in her 20s and she had yet to find her sexual identity, she could possibly get away with it, but on the edge of 50 (and a full 25 years into her career), Madonna has no viable excuse to still be obsessed with the matter. Therefore, you have to wonder if she's running back to safe territory, as her previous releases of the 2000s have been her least successful.

Indeed, Madonna may finally be admitting that she's no longer on the cutting edge, and instead of working tirelessly to expand her music, she holds on to her comfort zone. She's certainly stepped well outside of it before in "Ray of Light" and "Like a Prayer", but they were also released at a time when it was still possible to score a crossover hit. An artist as sharp as Madonna knows that the late 2000s have pretty much obscured the Top 40, so she cedes her strong melodic foundation to rhythm and beats, all supplied by the Neptunes and the production team of Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. In theory, this would be a smart play as they've produced some of the biggest hits of the decade, and in certain moments the collaborations click. "Candy Shop", while certainly overcooked, showcases Pharrell's knack for slick and stylish beats, while "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" and "Dance 2Night" capture Timbaland's finest examples of deep, hip-hop grooves. Then there's "Miles Away", one of the few moments where Madonna actually has something heavy to say (maybe things aren't alright in the house of Guy Ritchie?). It stands out easily because it's one of the few cuts on "Hard Candy" that reminds us that Madonna, a shameless provocateur, is still present in the joylessly mechanical creations that surround it. In actuality, the loud synths and stale hip-hop productions are what work against "Hard Candy". Pharrell and Timba-Lake are good producers, but only when given a task. Much of this album relies on them alone, as if Madonna has just handed the reigns over to her collaborators to sweeten up this piece of stale candy. That's not the best way to make an album, but maybe it's the best that Madonna could do in 2008, as her mind is tellingly focused on the greener grass of Interscope. But it would have been better to end her career with Warner on a more positive note, as all we're left with is an overwrought, overproduced, and under cooked product that's joylessly mundane and simply much too long. This is easily Madonna at her worst, and the overt sexuality that underscores "Hard Candy" isn't just awkward, it's embarrassing.

Recommended Tracks in Bold:

1. Candy Shop        2. 4 Minutes                                    3. Give It 2 Me

4. Heartbeat              5. Miles Away                                 6. She’s Not Me

7. Incredible              8. Beat Goes On                               9. Dance 2Night

10. Spanish Lesson  11. Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You    12. Voices 

Katy Perry-"One of the Boys" Review

"I Kissed a Girl" fell out of the sky somewhere in the Spring of 2008 (nine days after Madonna released her garish "Hard Candy", make of that what you will), but the mastermind behind this surprise hit was, in actuality, lucky to have had a song serviced to radio at all. Based off that song alone, it's easy to assume that Katy Perry (once named Katy Hudson) will do anything to get attention; looking into her long history of botched attempts at stardom prove this suspicion true. When her eponymous 2001 debut failed both commercially and artistically, Perry spent the next half-decade tearing through two record labels and many high-thread producers to give her the mainstream presence she craved. She was able to get people talking sometime in 2004, but this buzz wasn't enough to actually warrant another record, so a major re-think in her career was necessary.

Unfortunately for us, her breakthrough happened in the age of "The Hills", where Heidi Montag is the model of popularity. Since she worked so hard to find the right collaborators, it's not surprise to hear Katy Perry giving into Montag's gay-baiting, Vegas debauchery, and gender-bending just to get this record in stores. Indeed, she somehow manages to pack every reprehensible aspect of this decade into twelve tracks, all ranging from kissing girls and not liking girls, telling her lover that he can't afford her, comparing her inadequate lover to a mannequin, cursing for no reason, and dropping designer names as if they were going out of style. Even more so, it's no blessing that Perry hired Butch Walker, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin to gloss these songs with every modern trend available. Under their influence, Glen Ballard (the man behind "Jagged Little Pill") and Greg Wells assist in constructing a masturbatory daydream, all with many provocative premises but none of it actually arousing. And make no mistake, "One of the Boys" may have the biggest hit-makers of the last century on board, but they're high-thread confections actually work against the purpose of this record, which was to put Katy Perry at the top of the mainstream pack. Since the lyrics are repugnant and the production flat, they turn this into a washed-up, faceless wall of sound that try to tip the balance into making these songs seem less offensive than they are. Needless to say, it doesn't work, at least not in the way it was supposed to. There's nothing wrong with wanting to push boundaries and make it all sound innocent (Lily Allen's "Alright, Still" being one example), but the sad thing is, "One of the Boys" isn't breaking boundaries by providing old-school drum machines and synths to accompany such lines as "Ur so gay and you don't even like boys" or "I want to break the mold...leave my fingerprints". The latter is the most problematic, because Perry really could have produced something ground-breaking here. She writes with sharp detail and knows the strongest names in big-budget pop, but not one aspect of this record breaks the mold, it fits the mold. This will ensure that this music plays in the background of movies and malls, but beyond the superficial, "One of the Boys" is not only disappointing, it's just plain embarrassing. Coming from a woman with a Christian background, it's tragic to hear her sink to rude and craven depths just to acquire fifteen minutes in the spotlight. Maybe if the music was as appalling as the lyrics, then Perry could get away with it; the record would have a junky thrill. But this is a pop record, so these songs grate upon the first listen and don't give any reason to sit through a second one. But in the end, congratulations to Katy Perry, because she's finally the mainstream trollop she wanted to be, even if it meant tarnishing her name, and pop music, in the process.

Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. One of the Boys      2. I Kissed a Girl                 3. Waking Up in Vegas
4. Thinking of You     5. Mannequin                         6. Ur So Gay
7. Hot n Cold            8. If You Can Afford Me        9. Lost
10. Self-Inflicted         11. I’m Still Breathing            12. Fingerprints

The Best 40 Songs of 2006

2006 continued the music blow-out of 2005. However, we saw the comebacks of Nelly Furtado and the Dixie Chicks, the ultimate music breakthroughs of Justin Timberlake and Fergie, the greatest one-hit wonder of the 2000s, Daniel Powter, and then the arrivals of Cassie, Ne-Yo, and The Fray would keep the music business thriving for many years to come. There was a lot of songs to choose from this year, since so many great hits blew up the radio, but I was able to narrow it down to the 40 best. Complete with their peak positions on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard year-end charts, here are the songs that best defined 2006:

40. Jessica Simpson-A Public Affair
Peak: 14                           Billboard Year-End: NA

39. Kelly Clarkson-Walk Away
Peak: 12                           Billboard Year-End: 45

38. Corinne Bailey Rae-Put Your Records On
Peak: 64                           Billboard Year-End: NA

37. Chamillionaire-Ridin'
Peak: 1 (2 weeks)            Billboard Year-End: 8

36. Brooke Hogan and Paul Wall-About Us
Peak: 33                           Billboard Year-End: NA

35. Fergie-London Bridge
Peak: 1 (3 weeks)            Billboard Year-End: 22

34. Evanescence-Call me When You're Sober
Peak: 10                           Billboard Year-End: 77

33. The Fray-Over My Head (Cable Car)
Peak: 8                             Billboard Year-End: NA

32. Snow Patrol-Chasing Cars
Peak: 5                             Billboard Year-End: 29

31. Nickelback-If Everyone Cared
Peak: 17                           Billboard Year-End: NA

30. Ok Go-Here It Goes Again
Peak: 38                           Billboard Year-End: NA

29. John Mayer-Waitin' on the World to Change
Peak: 14                           Billboard Year-End: 87

28. Pink-Who Knew?
Peak: 9                             Billboard Year-End: NA

27. Nick Lachey-What's Left of Me
Peak: 6                             Billboard Year-End: 54

26. Pink-U + Ur Hand
Peak: 9                             Billboard Year-End: NA

25. KT Tunstall-Suddenly I See
Peak: 21                           Billboard Year-End: NA

24. KT Tunstall-Black Horse and the Cherry Tree
Peak: 20                           Billboard Year-End: 57

23. Mary J Blige-Be Without You
Peak: 3                             Billboard Year-End: 11

22. Weird Al Yankovic-White and Nerdy
Peak: 9                             Billboard Year-End: NA

21. Pussycat Dolls-Buttons
Peak: 3                             Billboard Year-End: 15

20. Gnarls Barkley-Crazy
Peak: 2                             Billboard Year-End: 7

19. Nickelback-Far Away
Peak: 8                             Billboard Year-End: 53

18. Dixie Chicks-Not Ready to Make Nice
Peak: 4                             Billboard Year-End: NA

17. All American Rejects-Move Along
Peak: 15                           Billboard Year-End: 21

16. James Blunt-You're Beautiful
Peak: 1 (1 week)              Billboard Year-End: 4

15. Red Hot Chilli Peppers-Dani California
Peak: 6                             Billboard Year-End: 23

14. Panic! At the Disco-I Write Sins, Not Tragedies
Peak: 7                             Billboard Year-End: 20

13. Christina Aguilera-Ain't No Other Man
Peak: 6                             Billboard Year-End: 32

12. The Fray-How to Save a Life
Peak: 3                             Billboard Year-End: 27

11. Ne Yo-So Sick
Peak: 1 (2 weeks)            Billboard Year-End: 17

10. Rihanna-SOS
Peak: 1 (3 weeks)            Billboard Year-End: 19

9. Hinder-Lips of an Angel
Peak: 3                             Billboard Year-End: 30

8. JoJo-Too Little Too Late
Peak: 3                             Billboard Year-End: 72

7. Sean Paul-Temperature
Peak: 1 (1 week)              Billboard Year-End: 2

6. Cassie-Me & U
Peak: 3                             Billboard Year-End: 14

5. Daniel Powter-Bad Day
Peak: 1 (5 weeks)            Billboard Year-End: 1

4. Natasha Bedingfield-Unwritten
Peak: 5                             Billboard Year-End: 6

3. Nelly Furtado and Timbaland-Promiscuous
Peak: 1 (6 weeks)            Billboard Year-End: 3

2. Shakira and Wyclef Jean-Hips Don't Lie
Peak: 1 (2 weeks)            Billboard Year-End: 5

1. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland-SexyBack
Peak: 1 (7 weeks)            Billboard Year-End: 9

Disclaimer: Some of these songs did not reach their peak on the year-end charts until 2007.

The 40 Best Songs of 2007

After the music boom of 2005-2006, the die-down period could only happen in 2007. With this, new artists could take the forefront and take the music scene by storm. First there was Daughtry, led by Chris Daughtry who somehow lost American Idol. Then Taylor Swift made her small impact, followed by newcomer Sean Kingston, and then music veterans such as Beyonce, Akon, Alicia Keys, and Justin Timberlake could still keep their grip on the mainstream. 2007 wasn't going to be an epic year for music, but it still brought plenty of songs that defined the decade. With their peak positions on the Billboard Hot 100 and the 2007 Billboard Year-End charts, here are the best songs of 2007:

40. Elliot Yamin-Wait for You
Peak: 13                        Billboard Year-End: NA

39. Fall Out Boy-This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race
Peak: 2                          Billboard Year-End: 32

38. Rihanna-Shut Up and Drive
Peak: 15                        Billboard Year-End: 90

37. Avril Lavigne-Keep Holding On
Peak: 17                        Billboard Year-End: NA

36. Britney Spears-Gimme More
Peak: 3                          Billboard Year-End: NA

35. Hurricane Chris-A Bay Bay
Peak: 7                          Billboard Year-End: NA

34. Fergie-Fergalicious
Peak: 2                          Billboard Year-End: 19

33. Gwen Stefani-Wind It Up
Peak: 6                          Billboard Year-End: 52

32. Taylor Swift-Teardrops on My Guitar
Peak: 13                        Billboard Year-End: 89

31. Akon-Don't Matter
Peak: 1 (2 weeks)         Billboard Year-End: 11

30. Kelly Clarkson-Never Again
Peak: 8                         Billboard Year-End: NA

29. Avril Lavigne-When You're Gone
Peak: 24                       Billboard Year-End: 78

28. Daughtry-Home
Peak: 5                         Billboard Year-End: 25

27. Fergie-Clumsy
Peak: 5                         Billboard Year-End: NA

26. Kanye West-Stronger
Peak: 1 (1 week)          Billboard Year-End: 27

25. Jordin Sparks-Tattoo
Peak: 8                         Billboard Year-End: NA

24. HelloGoodbye-Here (In Your Arms)
Peak: 14                       Billboard Year-End: NA

23. Beyonce and Shakira-Beautiful Liar
Peak: 3                         Billboard Year-End: 62

22. Fergie-Glamorous
Peak: 1 (2 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 10

21. Fall Out Boy-Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
Peak: 11                       Billboard Year-End: 37

20. Nickelback-Rock Star
Peak: 6                         Billboard Year-End: NA

19. Nelly Furtado-Say It Right
Peak: 1 (1 week)          Billboard Year-End: 9

18. Gwen Stefani and Akon-The Sweet Escape
Peak: 2                         Billboard Year-End: 3

17. Amy Winehouse-Rehab
Peak: 9                         Billboard Year-End: NA

16. Justin Timberlake-What Goes Around...Comes Around
Peak: 1 (1 week)          Billboard Year-End: 22

15. Maroon 5-Makes Me Wonder
Peak: 1 (3 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 13

14. Sean Kingston-Beautiful Girls
Peak: 1 (4 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 31

13. Plain White Ts-Hey There, Delilah
Peak: 1 (2 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 7

12. Avril Lavigne-Girlfriend
Peak: 1 (1 week)          Billboard Year-End: 6

11. Finger Eleven-Paralyzer
Peak: 6                         Billboard Year-End: NA

10. Timbaland and Keri Hilson-The Way I Are
Peak: 3                         Billboard Year-End: 18

9. Sara Bareilles-Love Song
Peak: 4                         Billboard Year-End: NA

8. Daughtry-It's Not Over
Peak: 4                         Billboard Year-End: 17

7. Timbaland and OneRepublic-Apologize
Peak: 2                         Billboard Year-End: 66

6. Colbie Caillat-Bubbly
Peak: 5                         Billboard Year-End: 67

5. Beyonce-Irreplacable
Peak: 1 (7 weeks)*      Billboard Year-End: 1

4. Alicia Keys-No One
Peak: 1 (5 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 76

3. Rihanna and Jay Z-Umbrella
Peak: 1 (7 weeks)        Billboard Year-End: 2

2. Fergie-Big Girls Don't Cry
Peak: 1 (1 week)         Billboard Year-End: 4

1. Carrie Underwood-Before He Cheats
Peak: 8                        Billboard Year-End: 6

Disclaimer: A lot of these songs did not reach their peak on the year-end chart until 2008
*This song spent 3 weeks at number 1 in 2006, bringing its grand total to 10 weeks

The Best 40 Songs of 2008

2008 was defined by one genre: rap. From the arrival of Flo Rida, to the complete domination of the radio by T-Pain, TI, Kanye West, Akon, and Lil Wayne, this genre was inescapable this year. It even eclipsed the breakouts of Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift, and then came the new-comer Katy Perry, and then the world would never be the same when Lady Gaga appeared on the scene this year. In actuality, 2008 was an exciting year for music, as all of those artists will definitely remain with us for years to come. From their peak positions on the Billboard Hot 100 to their year-end rank, here are the songs that best defined 2008:

40. Miley Cyrus-7 Things
Peak: 9                      Billboard Year-End: 92

39. The Killers-Human
Peak: 32                    Billboard Year-End: NA

38. Chris Brown-Forever
Peak: 2                      Billboard Year-End: 10

37. Rihanna-Don't Stop the Music
Peak: 3                      Billboard Year-End: 17

36. Kardinal Offishall and Akon-Dangerous
Peak: 5                      Billboard Year-End: NA

35. Ne Yo-Closer
Peak: 7                      Billboard Year-End: 20

34. Estelle and Kanye West-American Boy
Peak: 9                      Billboard Year-End: 39

33. Madonna, Justim Timberlake, and Timbaland-4 Minutes
Peak: 3                      Billboard Year-End: 23

32. Pussycat Dolls-When I Grow Up
Peak: 9                      Billboard Year-End: 49

31. Matt Nathanson-Come On, Get Higher
Peak: 59                    Billboard Year-End: NA

30. Miley Cyrus-See You Again
Peak: 10                    Billboard Year-End: 31

29. Mariah Carey-Touch My Body
Peak: 1 (2 weeks)     Billboard Year-End: 22

28. Daughtry-What About Now?
Peak: 18                    Billboard Year-End: NA

27. Lifehouse-Broken
Peak: 83                    Billboard Year-End: NA

26. Rihanna-Take A Bow
Peak: 1 (1 week)       Billboard Year-End: 12

25. Leona Lewis-Better in Time
Peak: 11                    Billboard Year-End: NA

24. Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown-No Air
Peak: 3                      Billboard Year-End: 6

23. Adele-Chasing Pavements
Peak: 21                    Billboard Year-End: NA

22. Gavin Rossdale-Love Remains the Same
Peak: 27                    Billboard Year-End: NA

21. Jordin Sparks-One Step At A Time
Peak: 17                    Billboard Year-End: NA

20. Nickelback-Gotta Be Somebody
Peak: 10                    Billboard Year-End: NA

19. Kevin Rudolf and Lil Wayne-Let it Rock
Peak: 5                      Billboard Year-End: 32

18. OneRepublic-Stop and Stare
Peak: 12                    Billboard Year-End: 33

17. TI-Whatever You Like
Peak: 1 (7 weeks)     Billboard Year-End: 15

16. Christina Aguilera-Keeps Gettin Better
Peak: 7                      Billboard Year-End: NA

15. Britney Spears-Piece of Me
Peak: 18                    Billboard Year-End: 83

14. Rihanna-Disturbia
Peak: 1 (2 weeks)     Billboard Year-End: 16

13. Natasha Bedingfield-Pocketful of Sunshine
Peak: 5                      Billboard Year-End: 18

12. Britney Spears-Womanizer
Peak: 1 (1 week)       Billboard Year-End: 80

11. TI and Rihanna-Live Your Life
Peak: 1 (6 weeks)     Billboard Year-End: 37

10. Pink-So What?
Peak: 1 (1 week)      Billboard Year-End: 24

9. Flo Rida and T Pain-Low
Peak: 1 (10 weeks)  Billboard Year End: 1

8. Katy Perry-Hot n Cold
Peak: 3                    Billboard Year-End: 36

7. Taylor Swift-Love Story
Peak: 4                    Billboard Year-End: 55

6. Kid Rock-All Summer Long
Peak: 23                  Billboard Year-End: NA

5. Coldplay-Viva la Vida
Peak: 1 (1 week)     Billboard Year-End: 13

4. Jason Mraz-I'm Yours
Peak: 6                    Billboard Year-End: 27

3. Lady Gaga and Colby O'Donis-Just Dance
Peak: 3                    Billboard Year-End: NA

2. Leona Lewis-Bleeding Love
Peak: 1 (4 weeks)   Billboard Year-End: 2

1. Katy Perry-I Kissed a Girl
Peak: 1 (7 weeks)   Billboard Year-End: 14

*Disclaimer: A lot of these songs did not reach their peak position of either Billboard charts until 2009, since the magazine bases their ranks based on sales more than airplay*