90. David Guetta - "Without You" featuring Usher
Courtesy Virgin
David Guetta scored a massive hit with this tribute to both slow ballads and uptempo dance music. Usher's vocals are beautiful here. "Without You" is the first David Guetta song to top the mainstream pop radio chart.
89. Christina Perri - "Arms"
Courtesy Atlantic
Christina Perri followed her "Jar Of Hears" breakthrough with this pop ballad which starts out gentle but moves into bold upbeat territory. Christina Perri's voice is arresting and distinctive here. "Arms" hit the top 15 of the adult pop chart.
88. Matt Nathanson - "Faster"
Courtesy Vanguard
Matt Nathanson carried the banner this year for sweet, singer-songwriter pop. "Faster" is upbeat and charming. The addition of horns adds depth to the mix. "Faster" became a top 15 adult pop hit.
87. Beyonce - "Best Thing I Never Had"
Courtesy Columbia Records
Beyonce delivers one of the more memorable pop song lines of the year here with, "I bet it sucks to be you right now." She pleased long-term fans with a nod to other midtempo hits like "Irreplaceable." "Best Thing I Never Had" reached the top 5 of the R&B chart and topped the dance chart.
86. Lady Antebellum - "Just a Kiss"
Courtesy Capitol Nashville
Lady Antebellum continued to straddle the pop and country worlds this year. While chosen as the lead single for the album Own the Night, it was one of the last recorded for the project. "Just a Kiss" effortlessly crossed genres topping the country singles chart and hitting the top 10 pop.
85. Hot Chelle Rae - "Tonight Tonight"
Courtesy Jive
"Tonight Tonight" is the breakthrough single for Nashville based pop band Hot Chelle Rae. All four band members are sons of established songwriters and performers. "Tonight Tonight" hit #1 on the adult pop radio chart while landing in the top 10 at mainstream pop.
84. The Script - "For the First Time"
Courtesy Epic
"For the First Time" is the lead single from the Script's second album Science and Faith. The emotional pop-rock landed in the top five on both the adult pop and adult contemporary charts. The band has said the song is about harsh reality for many people in the world that came to mind for the band after they returned from touring.
83. Britney Spears - "Criminal"
Courtesy Jive
The violence of the music video generated all of the headlines surrounding Britney Spears' fourth single from Femme Fatale. The song itself is the closest we get to a slow pop ballad on the album. The flute driven melody gives it all a light feel compared with the harder edged dance pop on Femme Fatale.
82. Breathe Carolina - "Blackout"
Courtesy Fearless Records
Electronic duo Breathe Carolina broke into the pop mainstream with this single. It is drenched in electronic effects that propel a catchy hook. There is a strong influence of classic synthpop in the song.
81. Jennifer Lopez - "I'm Into You" featuring Lil Wayne
Courtesy Island Def Jam
Jennifer Lopez keeps the party going here, but the real star of this record is one of Lil Wayne's most charming featured raps. His contribution is clever and fun in radio-friendly fashion.
