Christian Hoard's Best of 2010

Singles

1. Ke$ha, "Tik Tok"
She's almost as polarizing as Kanye — people really hate this song, which I take as more proof of its genius. I like to imagine she and Dr. Luke kept listening to playback and going, "Not dumb enough!"

2. Robyn, "Dancing on My Own"
The most perfect of all the perfect songs she gave us in 2010.

Critic's Picks: Jody Rosen's Best Albums and Songs of 2010

3. Die Antwoord, "Enter the Ninja"

4. Kanye West, "Power"

5. The National, "Bloodbuzz Ohio"

6. Les Savy Fav, "Let's Get Out of Here"
Archers of Loaf-style guitar clamor plus raw boy-voices singing, "we got mouths, let's make 'em moan." Overtly horny indie-rock — sort of rare, right?

Critic's Picks: Will Hermes' Best Albums and Singles of 2010

7. Far East Movement, "Like a G6"
The song puking one stall over from "Tik Tok."

8. Lindstrom & Christabelle, "Lovesick"

Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Music, Movies, Videos, Photos and More

9. Spoon, "The Mystery Zone"

10. Gucci Mane, "Lemonade"

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  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
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  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
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  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
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  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »

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