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Top 40 Essential Pop Songs

Songs That Define Pop Music Today

By Bill Lamb, About.com Guide

These are the 40 current songs that the world is hearing. They are the current definition of pop music.

Most recent additions:

  • John Mayer - "Who Says" - #20
  • Justin Bieber - "One Less Lonely Girl" - #31
  • OneRepublic - "All the Right Moves" - #34
  • Michael Buble - "Haven't Met You Yet" - #35
  • Jesse McCartney featuring T-Pain - "Body Language" - #40

21. Colbie Caillat - "Fallin' For You"

Colbie Caillat - Falling for YouCourtesy Universal

Colbie Caillat keeps alive the cheerful, happy singer-songwriter tradition with the first single from her second album.

Listen

Entered chart: July 10, 2009

Peak position: 9

22. Justin Bieber - "One Time"

Justin Bieber - One TimeCourtesy Island Records

Justin Bieber is only 15 and hails from Ontario, Canada. However, none of that has prevented him from becoming one of the most promising new R&B edged pop artists of the year.

Watch Video

Entered chart: September 4, 2009

Peak position: 17

23. Pink - "Funhouse"

Pink - FunhouseCourtesy LaFace Records

The title song for Pink's album Funhouse moves her back into more uptempo rock-oriented territory. Her husky rasp is one of the more uniquely appealing instruments in current pop music.

Watch Video

Entered chart: September 18, 2009

Peak position: 21

24. Flo Rida featuring Ne-Yo - "Be On You"

Flo Rida - R.O.O.T.S.Courtesy Atlantic

Flo Rida smooths out his sound here with the assistance of Ne-Yo. The rapping is just as melodic and pop-friendly here as in his more frenetic chart-topping hits.

Listen

Entered chart: September 4, 2009

Peak position: 18

25. Boys Like Girls - "Love Drunk"

Boys Like Girls - Love DrunkCourtesy Columbia Records

Boys Like Girls have emerged out of the pop punk arena, but their sound is much closer to classic power pop with huge, catchy melodies.

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Entered chart: August 28, 2009

Peak position: 9

26. Leona Lewis - "Happy"

Leona Lewis - HappyCourtesy J Records

Stellar songwriting, production and performance all come together in one glorious picture on this first single from Leona Lewis' upcoming album Echo.

Entered chart: September 18, 2009

Peak position: 14

27. Green Day - "21 Guns"

Green Day - 21st Century BreakdownCourtesy Reprise Records

Green Day present a near picture perfect rock power ballad from the album 21st Century Breakdown.

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Entered chart: August 28, 20009

Peak position: 15

28. Shakira - "She Wolf"

Shakira - She WolfCourtesy Epic

Shakira is back with a very tight use of classic 70's disco effects to tell the story of a woman who craves expression of her sexuality. Shakira once again transcends any boundaries between Latin and Western pop structures.

Watch Video

Entered chart: July 21, 2009

Peak position: 8

29. David Guetta featuring Akon - "Sexy Chick"

David Guetta - One LoveCourtesy Astralwerks

Cleaned up a bit from the original version, "Sexy Chick" is another track from the hottest dance music producer of the moment who is crossing over into pop. David Guetta is also easily the biggest French pop export in recent years.

Watch Video

Entered chart: October 2, 2009

Peak position: 30

30. The Fray - "Never Say Never"

The Fray - Never Say NeverCourtesy Epic

The Colorado-based band The Fray deliver another solid pop-rock song. Their songs may sound a bit similar too each other, but the sound of the band fills a distinctive niche on the rock side of the pop mainstream.

Watch Video

Entered chart: September 4, 2009

Peak position: 23

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