From "Independent Women" to "Single Ladies," girl power has long been Beyoncé's Topic A, and "Run the World (Girls)" is a blistering return to the theme. She forsakes fashionable sounds — no Eurodisco synths! — to belt over Diplo and Switch's ferocious dancehall beat. The message is party-hearty feminism. But with Gaga, Britney, Katy, Rihanna and Taylor all vying to be the queen of pop, you can bet B isn't looking to share the throne.

Listen to "Run the World (Girls)":

Photos: How Beyoncé and Jay-Z Run This Town

“The A Team”

This debut track from the then-20-year-old British singer-songwriter has a dark story behind it. Sheeran says he culls songwriting inspiration from "viewing other people's situations," which, for the heroine in "The A Team," involves drug addiction and prostitution that began as a teen. Sheeran paints the woman's trials with haunting imagery such as "But lately her face seems/Slowly sinking, wasting/Crumbling like pastries." "I did a gig at a homeless shelter, [and the song] is about one of the women there. It's her story," he said.