Top 40 Essential Pop Songs

Pink's new single "Just Give Me a Reason" began as a part of a songwriting session with Nate Ruess of the band fun. When it seemed apparent to Pink that the song would work best as a musical conversation, she convinced Ruess to record the song with her.

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As the follow up to the #1 smash "Locked Out Of Heaven," this is another swift change of pace for Bruno Mars. "When I Was Your Man" is a piano ballad that will call to mind classic 1970s hits by artists like Billy Joel and Elton John. This song represents the ongoing reverence of pop fans for these classic sounds.

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The piano based ballad is a change of pace for Rihanna and shows off her mature vocals. The song was co-written and co-produced by Justin Parker who is best known for his work with Lana Del Rey. This is the first chart appearance for featured performer Mikky Ekko who also co-wrote and co-produced the song.

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Macklemore and Ryan Lewis celebrate their success in this triumphant follow up to the massive hit single "Thrift Shop." The sound is upbeat and catchy. It is accompanied by a music video that skips across six continents.

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This is Demi Lovato's first new music since her appearance as a judge on X Factor. The uptempo pop rock track is a strong showcase for Demi Lovato's vocal range.

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Seattle based rapper Macklemore and his production partner Ryan Lewis roared to #2 on the album chart last fall with their debut full-length release The Heist. The single "Thrift Shop" did one better and hit #1 on the pop singles chart. It combines hip hop and humor in an irresistible recording.

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Country duo Florida Georgia Line had an end of summer good time hit last year with "Cruise." Now with a new remix featuring rapper Nelly, the song looks set to be a big hit on pop charts for the summer of 2013. Crank this one up in the car.

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Pitbull digs once again into classic pop music for a big sample. This time it is the 1980s classic Take On Me" by A-Ha. The result is an epic sound with a nostalgic side and a towering, inspiring featured vocal from Christina Aguilera.

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This is the second track released from Justin Timberlake's upcoming The 20/20 Experience album. It is an epic eight minutes in length. Many observers have compared the track to other classic recordings such as "Cry Me a River" and "My Love."

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"Radioactive" has a darker, heavier sound than Imagine Dragons' breakthrough hit "It's Time." However, it doesn't dispense with hooks and emotional impact. This track proves that Imagine Dragons plan to stick around in the spotlight for awhile.

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