This is admittedly a subjective list based on judgments of quality instead of sales figures or radio airplay. A number of songs have expanded reviews - click on the word 'Review' to read more information about the song.
This list should be a great conversation starter and feel free to agree or disagree. Either way there is a lot of great pop music to be found here.
10. My Chemical Romance - Teenagers
Courtesy Reprise Records
My Chemical Romance are true heroes for many teens who feel misunderstood and on the outside of the mainstream. This song explains exactly why. Don't miss the amazing video either.
9. Janet Jackson - Feedback
Courtesy Island Def Jam
Rolling in at the very end of the year, this song is Janet Jackson revitalized and in fine form. One listen to this song makes it understandable why she is one of the most successful recording artists of all time.
8. Kelly Clarkson - Never Again
Courtesy RCA Records
Extremely controversial among her fans, this song is a declaration of independence from corporate music powers from Kelly Clarkson, and it is a powerful rock vocal performance.
7. Britney Spears - Piece of Me
Courtesy MTV Networks
Britney Spears answers her critics and the tabloid press in this sexy, writhing piece of futuristic electro-pop. It's her best single since "Toxic" and one of the best of her career.
6. Feist - 1,2,3,4
Courtesy Interscope
It is really impossible to fully experience this song brimming with pop joy without also watching the video, so click below and enjoy!
5. Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
Courtesy Wind-Up Records
It took a long time, but a song with this kind of sonic power would not be denied its time in the upper reaches of the pop charts. "Paralyzer" is the first pop top 10 hit in the US for veteran band Finger Eleven.
4. Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
Courtesy J Records
This song has not yet had time to reach the US pop charts in official release, but it is the biggest selling single of 2007 in the UK. Leona Lewis, winner of the UK talent show X Factor, is a stunning vocal talent, and this is a song that is a perfect fit for her skills. This very well could be one of the biggest singles of 2008 in the US.
3. Rihanna featuring Jay-Z - Umbrella
Courtesy Def Jam
This song was a monster hit around the world and it is a stunning production as well as a brilliant song. For Rihanna it is simply another in an increasingly long line of major pop hits. However, few songs in recent years have generated more immediate cover versions than "Umbrella."
2. Mika - Grace Kelly
Courtesy Universal
For the second year in a row, American pop radio has completely ignored a stunning pop single that was a major hit in much of the rest of the world. Trying to tease out the reasons "Grace Kelly" was ignored is probably a futile exercise, but if you've not heard it, treat yourself and find out what the rest of the world knows about the brilliant pop instincts of Mika.
1. Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah
Courtesy Hollywood Records
The simple brilliance of "Hey There Delilah" is that it takes a very heavily trodden area of pop songs - the love song about a relationship separated by distance - and makes it fresh, new, and filled with emotional resonance. There is still room for a near perfect love song and this is it.
