Summer 2010 was the summer of Katy Perry, Eminem, and men. Pop radio airwaves also welcomed some bright new voices. These are the 10 most successful pop songs based on chart performance for the summer of 2010.
1. Katy Perry - "California Gurls" featuring Snoop Dogg
Courtesy Capitol Records
Katy Perry has had the biggest summer pop song for two of the last three years now, and she is the only artist to appear in the top 10 of the summer for each of the last three years. Upon release, her web site proudly announced, "Summer starts now!" and that statement was correct.
2. B.o.B. - "Airplanes" featuring Hayley Williams
Courtesy Atlantic Records
Rapper B.o.B. turned to a more serious tone for his powerful follow up to the #1 hit "Nothin' On You." While "Airplanes" never hit #1, it remained prominent on the radio throughout the summer.
3. Usher - "OMG" featuring will.i.am
Courtesy LaFace
Black Eyed Peas ruled the pop singles chart last summer, and this summer group member will.i.am made his presence known by helping Usher to a huge #1 hit in the spring that stuck around through much of the summer.
4. Travie McCoy - "Billionaire" featuring Bruno Mars
Single cover courtesy Fueled By Ramen
The honey sweet voice of Bruno Mars played counterpoint to the raps of Gym Class Heroes' Travie McCoy on his first solo single. The song seems to say it all for many of us, "I want to be a billionaire so f**king bad."
5. Eminem - "Love the Way You Lie" featuring Rihanna
Courtesy Interscope
6. Mike Posner - "Cooler Than Me"
Courtesy J Records
Just after college graduation Mike Posner blasted into the pop spotlight with this clever, sweet sounding song of mistreatment by the opposite sex. He is one of the top new artists of 2010.
7. Drake - "Find Your Love"
Courtesy Young Money
Drake turns from rapping to singing here. He worked with Kanye West, one of his key inspirations, on songwriting and production. The accompanying music video ran afoul of government authorities in Jamaica for presenting a negative image of their country.
8. Eminem - "Not Afraid"
Courtesy Interscope
"Not Afraid" was Eminem's first single from the Recovery album and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it was soon eclipsed by the runaway success of "Love the Way You Lie." However, "Not Afraid" stuck around inside the top 20 all summer long, and may rise again as "Love the Way You Lie" relinquishes its hold on the top of the charts.
9. Taio Cruz - "Dynamite"
Courtesy Island Records
Taio Cruz' follow up to the #1 smash "Break Your Heart" uses the same production and songwriting team behind "California Gurls." The result is another huge hit single.
10. Ke$ha - "Your Love Is My Drug"
Courtesy RCA
Ke$ha continued her streak of major hits with this singalong ditty. The lyrics may be cute or supremely annoying depending on your tolerance of cute, obsessive infatuation.
