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"

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  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

“He Will Break Your Heart”

Jerry Butler | 1960

A lightly swinging Latin-influenced, almost cha-cha groove and close harmonies decorated Jerry Butler's early soul hit "He Will Break Your Heart," delivering a stately warning that his rival would never love his girl like he did. The melody came to Butler as he was driving on the highway from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Philadelphia with Curtis Mayfield, and as Butler told Rolling Stone, "I just sang the melody and Curtis put the chords to it." The song's premise, Butler added, "was something that I'd lived ...The lyric was an experience rather than a revelation. Whereas music is usually a revelation."

More Song Stories entries »

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