Jody Rosen's Best of 2010

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Singles

1. Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris, "Baby"
Resistance is futile.

2. Easton Corbin, "A Little More Country Than That"
In an off-year for country, newcomer Easton Corbin was a standout. This Number One hit was a declaration of down-home traditionalism with clever lyrics and limpid singalong tune.

Critic's Picks: Christian Hoard's Best Album and Singles of 2010

3. Ke$ha, "Your Love is My Drug"
The world's most obnoxious human being has the world's catchiest choruses.

4. Trey Songz, "Love Faces"

5. Katy Perry, "Teenage Dream"

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

6. Easton Corbin, "Roll With It"

7. The-Dream, "Turnt Out"

8. Taio Cruz, "Dynamite"

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

9. Lindstrom & Christabelle, "Lovesick"

10. Waka Flocka Flame, "Hard in Da Paint"

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
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  MOVIES The 10 Best Zombie Movie Scenes
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  TV The Most WTF? Moments of 'Mad Men'
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  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Everyday People”

Sly and the Family Stone | 1968

"Everyday People" managed to trailblaze in two different ways -- it was one of the first pop hits to deal with the subject of racial harmony, and it utilized Larry Graham's "slap" technique on the bass guitar, which would soon be copied by countless other bassists. Graham once said about his pulsating style, "I'd never done that before … that's where the freedom of creativity came in for the band, that we'd be allowed to do that." In 1978, the song's line "Different strokes for different folks" would be borrowed for the title of the hit television show Diff'rent Strokes.

More Song Stories entries »

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