As every year comes to a close, I tend to look back and see it as a consecutive pattern of songs, and although things like my Transformer album from Lou Reed or my Best of The Smiths had a long history pre-Nic, Pop songs released within the year often define the blueprint because they are the thing in common that everybody heard at the same time as me. And although there’s still 31 days for music to make a difference in my life I’d like to present the 11 popular singles this year that defined the course of the last 11 months pour moi. I just couldn’t narrow it down to 10. Sue me.

11. Million Dollar Bill – Whitney Houston

Remember when we all thought that Whitney woulda rotted away in her crack bathroom published in National Enquirer, and then she got her gnarly shit together and actually kinda’ wowed us with a return? And it wasn’t like a false wow, like Britney’s Blackout (don’t get me wrong, loved the album, but it made as much a blip as a mosquito on a zapper), it was like a real return, with music videos, and Oprah. I applaud the Houston for sewing herself up and giving us Million Dollar Bill, a song that always makes me want to snap my fingers and put on a fedora.

10. Party In The U.S.A. – Miley Cyrus

Okay this wasn’t the first Miley Cyrus (although there have been VERY FEW) that I’ve secretly and forbiddenly loved, but this is the first one that I didn’t really have to keep that much a secret. The general concensus was kinda’ like “yeah manufactured bubblegum pop crap, but you know, it’s just SO CATCHY!” I’M SINGING IT RIGHT NOW! And after those funny little homos on vacation got a blow up and an ocean and HD’d a little handy cam video onto YouTube, I actually think of them and NOT Miley when I hear it. Cyrus, you’ve been officially downgraded by a couple skinny tans and some lycra bathing suits.

9. Not Fair – Lily Allen

I will start this out by saying I have a friend that will follow Lily Allen into a 10 foot grave if she wanted him to, but I’ve just never understood what the mass appeal is. I love that people love her. I mean she’s a little Debby Downer even though you can bop your head to her music, and she’s a hot freakin’ mess in real life, nonetheless, there’s not a lot out there like her, and that I like. “Not Fair” is really the first song that really caught my attention that I could get behind. The music video’s cute, I love her low fringe, and she’s singing what she’s best at singing about: an ex that was bad in bed. Not so unrelatable.

8. Fixin’ To Thrill – Dragonette

Now Dragonette is a group I go a litte loopy over. I love their combination of definitive Pop mixed with a little but not too much indie edge. I love their sassy lyrics, catchy hooks, and I think Martina grosses me out just enough to keep looking at her. The long awaited sophomore album of the same name came out just a couple of months ago and led with a great single that I didn’t love immediately. I find the songs that I gotta work a little harder to get used to are the ones that last longer though, and “Fixin’ To Thrill” rocks my world from humble beginning to smashing end.

7. Heavy Cross – The Gossip

Beth Ditto is the love of my life. We’re actually two parts of the same person a la Hedwig, and we’ve been searching for each other ever since. You can read ALL about my love for her, how I accidentally touched her clam shell, and how much their show rocked my world in a previous article. But seriously, Heavy Cross made a sonic boom when it came out because it was exactly what The Gossip fans were looking for. Catchy and intense with a ridiculously cool music video, and Beth just screaming her gorgeous lungs out because WHOOOO GURRRRL, that chico can SING.

6. We Are The People – Empire Of The Sun

So I’ve had a hardon for Pnau for quite a while now, and when the lead singer hooked up with a member of Sleepy Jackson, neo-hippy chic beyond MGMT was created and worked for them. I MAY have heard their first single “Walking On a Dream” on the Hills (when The Hills was still interesting), maybe? But I do remember seeing a music video with feathered headresses, and thought, “Wait, I know that voice!”. Because of a couple remixes “We Are The People” became the most definitive for me though, and also, probably now one of my favourite songs of all time. It gives you a little acoustic folk, a little dreamy instrumental, and a whole lot of catchy chorus.

5. My Girls – Animal Collective

Although not very Pop, “My Girls” was the first single off the mind blowingly talented Animal Collective’s new album. When it came out in March, renouned music critics were already like “THIS IS IT! The best album of the year!!” still with 9 months to go. The album really challenged me though, and challenged everyone I gave it to. Kinda made me look at music a little differently, not so much as a destination as more of a journey. As soon as I saw the music video for this single I was awed! What? All they do is play keyboards and they rule?? This song got me through a rainy spring and carried me into a hot summer and I never switch my iPod when it comes on.

4. Sweet Dream – Beyonce

Honestly, until she proved herself with the singles that came out of her album this year, the whole Sascha Fierce thing was an automatic joke. I don’t think it’ll end up being definitive history, but in the end it ended up working. Despite most of us wanting to drive a screwdriver through our nostril hearing “Single Ladies” on radio repeat, it was a great song, but alas officially released in 2008. But that’s okay! “Sweet Dream” ended up being way more memorable for me. It wasn’t overplayed, it was an original pop single, she did a ridiculously sexy performance of it on the Europe Music Awards, and it comes in as the second coolest video of the year.

3. Took The Night – Chelley

Off the beaten track now! Everytime I hear this song I’m going to remember where I was the first time I heard it because I was staring at the music video on my computer trying to figure out if I was watching girls born girls, or girls born guys ya know? And I’m sorry who is Chelley? With a little wider release this coulda’ been “Groove Is In The Heart” huge, and still might actually. It’s a whole lotta fluff, a whole lotta beat, a little lyrical counting for good measure, and has diva club anthem for the next decade written all over it.

2. Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

The minute I heard Bad Romance I was convinced it was the best song The Gaga had ever come out with. I felt it in my gay little heart. Some say irritating, I say BRILLIANT! It reinfused the love for her I felt pre me getting sick of her first album. That gesture of me scratching my head while dancing with a smile on my face. True story.  What I didn’t know when hearing it, is that in just a few weeks I would be seeing the greatest music video of the decade to accompany it. Blew my loafers off. Gaga has staying power, and regardless of whether you loved it or hated it, this was definitive even in such a short time.

1. When Love Takes Over – David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland

I’m sorry what was playing when you had that definitive moment during Pride? Thought so. I started by applying firm pressure to push this away but it pushed back and I gave up and let it. Sometimes when the piano comes on, I still think it’s “No Air”, I’m not gonna’ lie, but talk about Summer Anthem this year. I’m always gonna be at the Davie Street Party, or at The Odyssey, or at Sunset Beach festivities, or in my living room during a heat wave trying to decide what body part to towel dry while rehydrating. It was a hot summer, it was a hot single, and 2009 wouldn’t have been the same without it.

Okay I’m done glorifying my own year with radio singles. What made ’09 pop for you?

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