Drake, “Over”
Daniel Boczarski/Redferns/Getty
Drake rhymes about how stardom is both terrifying and awesome. With a huge, clattering beat, it's also irresistible.
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
Christie Goodwin/Getty
Ke$ha, “We R Who We R”
Over Dr. Luke's arena-electro beat, Ke$ha takes stupid-savvy pop to bombastic heights.
• Video: Ke$ha on Ke$ha: Pop's Party Animal Asks Herself the Tough Questions
Harry Scott/Redferns
Elizabeth Cook, “El Camino”
A twangy, hilarious vignette about a schoolgirl who becomes powerless against the charms of a mulleted, El Camino-driving skeezeball.
Roger Kisby/Getty
Das Racist, “hahahaha jk?”
NYC trio transcend joke-rap status by making a song about transcending joke-rap status, set to a finely stoned beat.
Mark Cunningham/Detroit Lions/Getty
Kid Rock, “Born Free”
Rock throws on a fringed jacket and cuts a Seventies-rock anthem that's perfect for cruising in a vintage Chevy — or just pumping your fist.
Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage
MGMT, “Congratulations”
The psych-pop jokers let down their guard and rip off the Band for a hazily pretty singalong about fast fame.
Greetsia Tent/WireImage
The Rolling Stones, “Plundered My Soul”
An expertly reconstructed track from the Exile on Main Street sessions, with Keith Richards' damaged licks crying across the years.
• Gallery: Photos from the Making of Exile on Main Street
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
Steve Jennings/WireImage
Neil Young, “Love and War”
"I've been in love, and I've seen a lot of war": Young wrestles with his two biggest topics — and meditates on his entire career.
• Gallery: Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and More Play the 2010 Bridge School Benefit
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
B.o.B. feat. Bruno Mars, “Nothing on You”
A nearly perfect pop-rap ballad, with the Atlanta MC telling his one and only, "You the whole package, plus you pay your taxes."
• Gallery: B.o.B., Bruno Mars and More at the Grammy Nominations Gallery
Marc Broussely/Redferns
Surfer Blood, “Floating Vibes”
Florida guys combine a Beach Boys-style surf tune with Nineties alt-rock riffs. Why didn't anyone think of this before?
Ollie Millington/Redferns
Junip, “In Every Direction”
Pale-voiced Swede José González kicks up the volume for a supremely pretty folk swirl.
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kanye West, “Power”
The first sign of how crazy Twisted Fantasy would be: 'Ye goes all schizoid while sampling King Crimson.
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
Mark Holloway/Redferns
The Gaslight Anthem, “The Diamond Church Street Choir”
Brian Fallon triangulates doo-wop, Bruce Springsteen and New Jersey emo. Result: a finger-snapping ode to basement gigs and lost love.
C Brandon/Redferns/Getty
Spoon, “The Mystery Zone”
2010's most mesmerizing guitar groove — a dark, dubby burner with lyrics about basement gigs and lost love.
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Lloyd Banks feat. Juelz Santana, “Beamer, Benz, or Bentley”
Two New York badasses team up over the year's rawest beat to celebrate paying way too much in car insurance.
Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Drake feat. Nicki Minaj, “Up All Night”
One of the year's great driving songs, with Minaj "doing doughnuts in a six-speed."
Jordi Vidal/Redferns
Massive Attack feat. Hope Sandoval, “Paradise Circus”
The U.K. trip-hoppers call in guest moaner Hope Sandoval for a narcotic ballad that's both surreal and unnervingly erotic.
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
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Gorillaz feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack, “Stylo”
Your favorite cartoon primates cook up a disco jam that's sexy enough to make Donna Summer sigh with pleasure. And that synth-bass line? Unstoppable.
Rick Smee/Redferns
Wavves, “Post Acid”
The San Diego trio turn in a sweetly psychedelic punk nugget: part Buzzcocks, part acid-damaged beach rock.
Die Antwoord, “Enter the Ninja”
The year's freakiest rap song: Three South Africans mix machine-gun flows with warped hooks, suggesting Eminem's "Lose Yourself" on mescaline.
Michael Burnell/Redferns
Gil Scott-Heron, “I’m New Here”
The long-lost Seventies rap pioneer rasps his way through an acoustic version of a Smog ballad. He turns indie-rock melancholy into the darkest, deepest country blues.
Douglas Mason/Getty
Jakob Dylan, “Nothing but the Whole Wide World”
Dylan delivers a roots-folk lullaby with a hushed melody James Taylor would kill to have written.
• Video: Jakob Dylan Performs with Neko Case in the Rolling Stone Offices
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “The Trip to Pirate’s Cove”
A classic Petty road story, outfitted with black-ice organ and sneering guitar.
C Brandon/Redferns/Getty
Band of Horses, “Laredo”
A country-rock ballad about needing to get away, built around shimmering guitars that go on for miles.
Helen Boast/Redferns
The National, “Bloodbuzz Ohio”
"I still owe money to the money to the money I owe," croons Matt Berninger, singing so seductively you'll want to toss him a few bucks.
Robyn, “Dancing on My Own”
The Swedish diva spots her beloved with another girl — then turns her sadness into sparkling pop, perfect for solo freakouts.
Michael Caulfield/Getty Images for VH1
Nicki Minaj, “Did It On’em”
A hazy, synapse-butchering throwdown. Nicki: "If I had a dick, I would pull it out and piss on 'em."
• Gallery: Nicki MInaj's Best Looks
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
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Eminem, “Not Afraid”
Em opens up about sobriety, disses his last album and pledges to be a better dad. His most inspiring song ever.
Erika Goldring/FilmMagic
Jamey Johnson, “Macon”
Johnson rolls slow and steady on this rough diamond of Seventies Southern rock.
Michelly Rall/Getty
Rick Ross feat. Styles P, “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)”
Ross flows like the Barry White of white powder on this lush drug-lord fantasia.
Roger Kisby/Getty
Sleigh Bells, “Infinity Guitars”
A classic girl-group tune set against skull-rattling guitar fuzz that hurts so good.
Noel Vasquez/Getty
Best Coast, “Boyfriend”
A heartbreaker about a lonely summer — imagine Brian Wilson as a sensitive stoner girl.
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
Denise Truscello/WireImage
The New Pornographers, “Your Hands (Together)”
The indie-rock collective harmonizes about silver bullets and piles on the classic-rock guitars. Result: bizarro pop that's hard to shake.
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty
Jenny and Johnny, “Scissor Runner”
Power pop finds its own George Burns and Gracie Allen. Her best borscht-belt joke? "I'll forgive you/If I outlive you."
Robert Marquardt/Getty
LCD Soundsystem, “I Can Change”
The year's best Depeche Mode song is also its best Smiths song. James Murphy shows off a great falsetto while expressing pain with wild humor.
Taylor Hill/WireImage
Cold War Kids, “Coffee Spoon”
SoCal kids hallucinate about the high life, turning "ascetics wring their hands" into a killer chorus.
Daniel Boczarski/Redferns/Getty
Drake, “Over”
Drake rhymes about how stardom is both terrifying and awesome. With a huge, clattering beat, it's also irresistible.
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
Don Arnold/Getty
Big Boi feat. Cutty, “Shutterbugg”
OutKast's brawnier half throws an electro party, coaxing players to the dance floor with a nasty ghetto-tech bass line.
Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage
The Dead Weather, “Hustle and Cuss”
Jack White and Alison Mosshart howl over the dirtiest riff of the year, generating ungodly amounts of sexual electricity.
Matt Kent/Redferns/Getty
Mark Ronson and the Business International feat. Q-Tip and MNDR, “Bang Bang Bang”
Ronson turns a French kiddie tune into a Technicolor hook on this synth-pop fire starter.
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty
The Black Keys, “Everlasting Light”
A steady-grooving blues-rock ballad, with Dan Auerbach's falsetto floating over craggy funk like some beautiful ghost.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kanye West feat. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver, “Monster”
On this rumbling id-fest, Minaj delivers the cameo of the year, switching personae and voices like she's rap's Meryl Streep. Kanye has the good sense to let her go on for 31 thrilling bars.
• Video: Kanye West's Surprise Visit to Rolling Stone
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty
Broken Bells, “The Ghost Inside”
This noirish jam mixes Danger Mouse's steely funk with a creepily addictive chorus from the Shins' James Mercer. Bet you loosen your collar.
Andy Sheppard/Redferns/Getty
Janelle Monáe feat. Big Boi, “Tightrope”
Sister-from-another-planet Monáe delivers a ferocious, horn-splashed burner that mashes up Cab Calloway, hip-hop, James Brown and art-pop wackiness.
John Shearer/WireImage
Vampire Weekend, “White Sky”
Synth foam, perky digital rhythms, joyful whoops and African-flavored guitars. The sound of a young band discovering how much is possible.
Paul Morigi/WireImage
Mavis Staples, “You Are Not Alone”
A modern hymn, written by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and sung with maternal assurance by the voice that once told you to "Respect Yourself."
Marc Broussely/Redferns
Arcade Fire, “We Used to Wait”
"Now our lives are changing fast," sings Win Butler, spooked and sleepless. But his empathetic croon — and his band's orchestral- rock wallop — make high anxiety sound almost sublime.
• Gallery: Arcade Fire Rock Madison Square Garden
• Rolling Stone's Best of 2010: Albums, Singles, Movies and more
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty
Katy Perry, “Teenage Dream”
Co-written by Max Martin and Dr. Luke, this buoyant electro-pop singalong is 2010's catchiest tune. As for that "teenage dream," Perry doesn't mince words: "Let's go all the way tonight."
Kevin Mazur/Child/WireImage
Sade, “Soldier of Love”
Nobody knows where Sade disappears to for years at a time between hits, but "Soldier of Love" proves she knows how to make a hell of a re-entrance. She sings about emotional devastation over a beat that mixes quiet-storm synths with acid-damaged riffs straight out of TV on the Radio's playbook. It's as close as she's ever come to blowing her cool.
Joe Kohen/WireImage
Cee Lo Green, “F**k You”
The title alone would have guaranteed hundreds of thousands of Web clicks. But Cee Lo didn't just say "Fuck you" — he said it with humor and serious panache. Despite the bummed-out lyrics, the Motown-style beat is DayGlo-bright, and Cee Lo's lovelorn lament doubles as an anthem for lean times: "If I was richer/I'd still be with ya/Ha, now ain't that some shit?"
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kanye West feat. Pusha T, “Runaway”
It takes a special kind of dark, twisted genius to raise the white flag of surrender while raising a middle finger. Kanye West is that genius. "Runaway" is Kanye's musical response to the Taylor Swift affair, but it's much more than that: a nine-minute meditation on romantic failure and public infamy. Kanye creates a huge, eerie beat out of thunderous drums and plinking piano, and he turns the phrase "Let's have a toast for the douchebags" into a refrain nearly as catchy as "She loves you — yeah, yeah, yeah." In 2010, no other song was so crazily epic or jaw-droppingly gorgeous — not on the radio, not anywhere. Now, everyone raise your glasses.
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