Best of 2008... To Me Feb 16 '09 (Updated Apr 16 '09)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line This decade might just be the worst decade music has ever seen... but 2008 is probably the best we will have this decade. (Check Out Best 25 Mainstream Albums of 2008) Sadly, I had almost 100 songs on the list I was going to create but only 65 was good enough to make the cut. As a warning, some of these songs were bad singles, meaning they were good songs but sucked on the charts, which probably means that most of you haven't heard some of these songs. If you don't, I suggest you hear them on youtube or imeem or something because all of these 65 songs caught my ears a thousand times. Without hesitation, let's just begin the countdown. 65. "Closer" by Ne-Yo It's ironic how Ne-Yo once stated he was bored of regular R&B and was trying something new for his album. Unfortunately, he didn't succeed, as YEAR OF THE GENTLEMEN was regular R&B, with only this song sounding like an R&B version of Janet Jackson's "Rock With U." Still, it's difficult not to notice the growth in Ne-Yo's music since his debut with "So Sick." 64. "A Milli" by Lil Wayne I never once stated Lil Wayne is a horrible rapper. I just always hated the fact he declared himself "the best rapper alive" when Kanye West and Jay-Z would totally kill his rapping skills if they had a rap battle. And now that he's doing rock music, I hereby declare him the person who is going to ruin rock music. After all, this is a man who rapped nonsense on a song called "A Milli" and still made it to the top ten. Now that's something to be proud of! 63. "The Way That I Love You" by Ashanti I kinda feel bad for Ashanti. Though the debut single of her album THE DECLARATION was adventurous and different and definitely more dramatic than anything she's ever done before, it was only a top 40 hit and after that, it was downhill for both her future singles and her album. Still, "The Way That I Love You" proves Ashanti's soulful and improved pipes and I give her props for releasing a dramatic ballad first when it's common sense to release an uptempo first. 62. "Forever" by Chris Brown I always found Chris Brown to be a useless version of Usher or a wannabe of Michael Jackson. He can't really sing, his dancing is definitely not up to par with Michael Jackson OR Usher and most of all, he beat up Rihanna!!! He's lucky I even put him on my countdown (like he cares...) but I have to admit, "Forever" is pretty cool. It has a euro-techno feel to it and Chris Brown sounds confident. Still, I don't really listen to his music and therefore, he's low on my list. 61. "I Luv Your Girl" by The-Dream 60. "I Remember" by Keyshia Cole I Don't really listen to Keyshia Cole but her ballad, "I Remember," really stood out to me the first time I heard it. Her voice has definitely left the raspiness of her past hits such as "Love" or "I Should've Cheated" and the emotion in her belting is absolutely amazing. She is really the princess of Hip-Hop Soul, the woman who will ultimately take Mary J. Blige's throne someday. 59. "What You Got" by Colby O Donnis feat. Akon It once said by a critic that Colby O Donnis and Donny Klang were going head to head in rivalry. Well, everybody should know that anyone signed to Bad Boy Records ain't going anywhere in the music business (Danity Kane was lucky) and predictably, Colby O Donnis beat Donny with his single "What You Got," a top 20 hit that ultimately is a catchy, uptempo tune with Akon flourishing ad libs in the background. A good debut for a good singer who definitely is good at competing. 58. "No One" by Alicia Keys Alicia Keys is an artist. An artist who makes music as it is art. These kinds of artists are difficult to find, like Prince, Michael Jackson, at times Madonna, and the woman who brought pop back, Lady Gaga. "No One" is one of those songs. With a universal message and an edgy yet raspy voice tone, Alicia sings in desperation for her lover and is subsequently the best single she's ever released. It would've been higher than #58 but it was released in 2007 so by the time 2008 came along, it was already halfway diminished. 57. "Say" by John Mayer 56. "Nine In The Afternoon" by Panic! At The Disco 55. "Burnin' Up" by The Jonas Brothers The Jonas Brothers are really overrated to me. Joe Jonas' singing is horrible, especially in this song, when he has the vocal hiccups after every line he sings. It's just plain horrible. Without Nick Jonas, the band would have never survived and without him, the song wouldn't have been as catchy nor enjoyable. I hate to say it but I think bubblegum pop is coming back in a different way.... bubble gum rock! 54. "Not As We" by Alanis Morissette Alanis Morissette is always taken for granted. Without her, there probably wouldn't be a P!nk, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, or any other pop/rock princess that is in present day. On her album FLAVORS OF ENTANGLEMENT, Alanis teamed up with Guy Sigsworth to deliver a bunch of diverse dance, euro-rock and ballad type jams that has typical Alanis lyrics. But it is "Not As We," a beautifully done, stripped down ballad, that steals the show. With a beautiful video that shows the process of rehabilitation and recovering alongside the song, Alanis won my heart again in 2008. 53. "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz The song is still in the top ten in 2009 and that's why it's so low on my list. It was a single released near the end of 2008 so of course, on my 2009 list, this song will probably be in the top 40. Till then, it doesn't matter what listen Jason Mraz is on. His silky and soulful voice alongside his funky melodies makes everything cooler... and mellow. 52. "Love In This Club" by Usher feat. Young Jeezy Usher thrashed the competition with his debut of HERE I STAND, "Love In This Club," and nobody messed with him. He was always a force to be reckoned with....until his future singles came in. It was a method in 2008 the charts had. The debut single of an album would be a huge hit and the others would perform so badly. It's sad but "Love In This Club" will always be one of Usher's classics. 51. "Light On" by David Cook David Cook, to me, was the present version of Steven Tyler, without the feminism. His voice is richly poppy and can also sing in a screechy range that screams "sing rock music!" With his debut "Light On," David Cook proves that a rock ballad can also be a huge hit and I'm shocked he also writes his own songs (he wrote most of his debut, which is surprising coming from an American Idol winner). David has already won my respect.  50. "Spotlight" by Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Hudson has one hell of a voice. Not only did she kill "And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going" but "Spotlight," her real single debut, is a mid-tempo, groovy jam that not only shows off her voice but defines her as an artist. If a soulful and powerful voice like that can conquer a ballad like "And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going," she can sing anything.  49. "No Matter What" by T.I. 48. "Superstar" by Lupe Fiasco w/ Matthew Santos 47. "We Break The Dawn" by Michelle Williams It was Michelle's personal choice not to commercialize her singles but to release it on music channels and release the singles as dance singles. It's a shame, since "We Break The Dawn" has one of the best synth loops I've heard so far this decade. Her album is also chock full of synth-like grooves and a worthy contender for the charts called "The Greatest." 46. "Right Now (Na Na Na)" by Akon 45. "Miss Independant" by Ne-Yo Like I said before on his single "Closer," there's nothing really different from his past works on YEAR OF THE GENTLEMEN. Again, I still have to admit that "Miss Independent" has a wonderful R&B synth that quickly gets into the mind.... and stays there. 44. "Mercy" by Duffy Duffy is as soulful as Mary J. Blige can ever be in the department of Jazz/Pop and her single "Mercy" proves that. She swoons through note after note and she does it perfectly to the point where you'll be singing along, trying to hit the notes along with her. Duffy is a great artist and is the un-drunken version of Amy Winehouse. 43. "Crush" by David Archuleta David Archuleta, to me, is an undercover gay man. There's something about him that I can't pinpoint but THAT'S NOT THE POINT. Anyway, "Crush," his debut single, is a catchy piece of R&B pop that does get a bit repetitive because of that Stargate-built beat that was used on Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" and many more but the piano in the song is an adventurous change. 42. "Damaged" by Danity Kane "Damaged" by Danity Kane wasn't a big change for them. Sure, it had a more poppier sound than their debut but it was still catchy and they still repeated lines to drag your mind into repeating them over and over. It's sad they've broken up but hey, if you're on Bad Boy Records, you're bound to. Until they decide to get back together, "Damaged" will remain to be their best single. 41. "Bust It Baby Part 2" by Plies feat. Ne-Yo Sampling Janet Jackson's "Come Back To Me," Plies created a soulful yet hip-hop sound that definitely worked for pop music lovers everywhere. He got a check + in my book and in the future, I'm hoping he samples even more old songs. But he better hurry, as Flo Rida is beating him to it. 40. "Piece Of Me" by Britney Spears BLACKOUT could have been Britney Spears' amazing comeback if she did the rehab and all that other crap before the release of the album. But ironically to her, the album sunk beneath all of her problems and will probably go down as a forgotten masterpiece of pop culture. If you do have BLACKOUT, you know what I'm talking about. Singles such as "Piece Of Me" and "Break The Ice" are pure pop cheese so gobble 'em down. 39. "Take A Bow" by Rihanna Rihanna's a force to be reckoned with. All through 2007 to the end of 2008, she ruled the charts with ALL of her GOOD GIRL GONE BAD singles. "Take A Bow" was one of them and with a stargate-produced beat (you know, the usual?) and Rihanna smirking with a dark tone when laughing throughout the song, "Take A Bow" is one hell of a typical R&B ballad. It's actually sarcastically emotional. 38. "Low" by Flo Rida feat. T-Pain It's a hip-hop dance tune with a pop hook. What more can you ask for? Plus, it stayed on top of the charts for, what, ten weeks? Talk about debut success! 37. "Angel" by Natasha Bedingfield Though the song didn't match the success of her past singles on POCKETFUL OF SUNSHINE (but it should have), "Angel" is still an enjoyable, catchy mid-tempo tune of a loved one, in which Natasha sings with so much soul as she's never done before. Download this one. This is a must have! 36. "Love LockDown" by Kanye West Kanye West singing sounds as bad as Lil Wayne switching territories from rap to rock. But no worries. With auto tune and SOME natural vocal, Kanye West actually succeeded with "Love LockDown," a dark-toned mid-tempo that shifts into a past paced groove that uses 808 Tom Drums to the limit. Pretty adventurous but very skillful. 35. "Underneath" by Alanis Morissette Joined by Guy Sigsworth, Alanis delivers a vocal performance that recalls earlier works and her best hard hitting track since 2001. "Underneath" has a somewhat futuristic twist to it that I like but it isn't so different that Alanis' fans will be turned off. This is typical Alanis, in a different light. 34. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" by Alicia Keys Alicia Keys, again. I stated "No One" is her best single to date but her emotional from AS I AM has got to be this single. With a wonderful, soft melodic music box-like synth, Alicia Keys sings in the most softest she's ever done, soon shifting into that raspy head voice we all know and love. You go Alicia. 33. "Feedback" by Janet Jackson "Feedback" was a wonderful comeback for Ms. Janet. Though it only reached #19 on the charts, everyone was definitely glad to see the legendary diva back on her feet. Ironically, she decided to release the house track "Rock With U" as the second single and therefore, the album went down with it. Still, that doesn't matter. "Feedback" is one of 2008 best singles and if Janet released "2Nite" as the second single, that would have been on the list, too. 32. "Rehab" by Rihanna Rihanna not only rules a rock/pop/dance princess, her ballads are also pretty universal and touching. Though she sounds bored on "Rehab," it's still a classic for all Timbaland fans, especially for his beats. If it wasn't for Justin Timberlake, we wouldn't have this song on our lists so props for him, too, for actually writing the song. 31. "4 Minutes" by Madonna & Justin Timberlake 30. "I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry 29. "No Air" by Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown The duet with an American Idol winner and a useless Usher parody was one hell of a risk. First of all, how would Jordin Sparks fans react to her change to an R&B duet? How would Chris Brown fans react when they realize he's singing with an overweight lady (I don't think she is, it's what they say)? But all hail to heaven, the song worked, it reached the top three on the charts and was nominated for a grammy. Not only does it showcase Jordin Sparks' voice but it pushes Chris' to the limit, creating an intense and emotional drive down Love Hill. 28. "Leavin" by Jesse McCartney Jesse McCartney never stated he had the desire to change genres so when he did, I was shocked at how good it was. He fits the R&B/pop genre very well and his album DEPARTURE is a personal favorite of mines. "Leavin" has a carribean-like vibe that should put anyone in a good mood and even though he isn't no Justin Timberlake, his falsetto sure does sound better than past tries. 27. "Fly On The Wall" by Miley Cyrus Bubblegum rock is definitly Miley's cup of tea, as "Fly On The Wall" is more edgy than any other single she's ever released. Download it. It's a must have. 26. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield This song is the song that made the top 5 on the charts and is probably her second most popular, next to "Unwritten." With an emotional tone to her rap-like singing in the verses and ultra dramatic bridge, "Pocketful Of Sunshine" should be on every list of best of 2008. 25. "Lollipop" by Lil Wayne Let me just say that the only the reason this song went to the top of the charts is because Lil Wayne traded his TRUE RAP antics for pop hooks and therefore, you have "Lollipop," a song that has pop hook written all over it. And like a child, I ate it up. 24. "Shake It" by Metro Station 23. "Better In Time" by Leona Lewis 22. "Give It 2 Me" by Madonna Though HARD CANDY can be called Madonna's least sold album in her entire career (I can see why, she's a damn hypocrite), "Give It 2 Me" is the best track on the album, with its hard hitting drum loops and Pharell's craaaaaazzzzy synth thrashing all over the place during the chorus. This is for the dance floor and whoever dances to this song must dance to the fullest! 21. "I Hate This Part" by The Pussycat Dolls 20. "Womanizer" by Britney Spears I'm still a bit saddened by the fact that BLACKOUT could have been Brit's comeback but "Womanizer," on her album CIRCUS, created a sureshot for the top of the charts. With repeated hooks all over the song, which somewhat annoys me sometimes, the song still remains one of the best comebacks in history and may just be one of Brit's classics. 19. "Let It Rock" by Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne 18. "Don't Stop The Music" by Rihanna 17. "Touch My Body" by Mariah Carey Though I'm angry at Mariah for choosing the wrong singles to be released on her album E=MC2 ("Migrate!" you stupid who*e!), "Touch My Body" will always be one of Mariah's classics. Not only did it reach #1, but since it was released in present day, where hardly nobody knows her past stuff, they will remember this one, as it is one of the most played songs of this decade. 16. "Keeps Gettin' Better" by Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, in a way, is just like Madonna. Though she's always done pop, she's changed the sound of it. Her future release is going to be in the veins of "Keeps Gettin' Better," a taste of techno with a taste of a futuristic twist and a comical pop hook ("HOLD On... it keeps getting better!"). If you like this single, this is just a taste of what's to come for the future. 15. "Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry Katy Perry delivered the controversy singles "Ur So Gay" and "I Kissed A Girl" in the same year but what about "Hot N Cold?" Though not controversial, it proved Katy Perry wasn't no 1 hit wonder and is here to stay... at least I hope. 14. "Love Story" by Taylor Swift 13. "Sober" by P!nk P!nk is growing as an artist. Though her music doesn't really go hit after hit (M!ssundaztood had hit after hit but that's a different story), FUNHOUSE is showing its longetivity on the charts by having two consecutive top twenty hits, a feat P!nk hasn't done since 2001. "Sober" is one hell of a track, with an emotional, dark tone alongside the banging drums and dramatic violins that make it not only a worthy contendor on the charts but one of the most emotional performances this year. 12. "Lovers In Japan (Osaka Sun Mix)" by Coldplay 11. "When I Grow Up" by The Pussycat Dolls 10. "Whatever You Like" by T.I. T.I., with PAPER TRAIL, proved that he's still the 'king' and with "Whatever You Like" and "Live Your Life," two #1 hits, he proved even more that when you're about to go to jail, your music gets better. Paris should've released a single before she left... 9. "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. Though I've had the album over two years ago, the song started getting recognition in the late summer of 2008, soon enough turning into a top five hit that hit every airwave. M.I.A. is a wonderous artist, singing lyrics about weed, fighting, dancing, and just plain crap that doesn't make sense and it works. 8. "Heartless" by Kanye West Though "Love LockDown" was adventerous and new to Kanye West fans, "Heartless" featured both rapping and singing from the same artist, who sounded emotional behind the autotuned vocals. This song is not only catchy but when Kanye sings the word "Heartless" in the chorus, he's anything but. 7. "If I Were A Boy" by Beyonce Beyonce... what can I possibly say about her? Before I Am...Sasha Fierce, I always thought she was annoying. Not only did she take spotlight away from Kelly and Michelle in Destiny's Child but she also was in every movie, tv show and commercial I saw. She was just plain annoying. But when "If I Were A Boy" came along, she was suddenly more emotional and raw than ever. Her vocals definitly improved and Toby Gad makes a great producer for her. 6. "So What" by P!nk P!nk not only got her first solo #1 on the charts with "So What" but FUNHOUSE seems to be the album where it could closely match the success of her biggest selling album, M!SSUNDAZTOOD. "So What" is a catchy tune, possibly P!nk's most catchiest since "U+Ur Hand" and not only is it pop, it can played on rock airwaves, too. 5. "Disturbia" by Rihanna I love this song and always will, since it is present's day version of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." It is the song and video of Rihanna's career so far and it only proves that Rihanna is here to stay. 4. "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga feat. Colby O Donnis Lady Gaga not only brought real Pop Music back into mainstream but she also added some rap into the mix, alongside the rapper singing, too! WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR!? Lady Gaga is the future of pop as we know it and it'll be her, Rihanna, and Britney Spears fighting for the title of Queen of Pop when Madonna retires. 3. "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" by Beyonce Beyonce, in 2008 and probably 2009, ruled the charts with her two singles "If I Were A Boy" and "Single Ladies." But it's "Single Ladies" that will put her in the line where all the legends are at. Not only can she sing catchy tunes but she also has emotion written all over her. She is one force to be reckoned with, that's for sure. 2. "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay 1. "Life Your Life" by T.I. & Rihanna HOPE YOU LIKED MY LIST!!!

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