The top songs this year were solid pieces of craftsmanship. Tunes like “Bad Day” and “You’re Beautiful” offered tasty melodies and sweet harmonies – and become runaway hits. Yet plenty of this year’s music was, at best, disposable. There’s no chance that we’ll be listening to Dem Franchize Boyz’s “Lean Wit It Rock Wit It” five years from now – or even next year. The same is true of this year’s hits by Ne Yo, The Pussycat Dolls (haven’t they disapeared yet?), or Chamillionaire. Not that there weren’t some bright moments. Gnarls Barkley, the year’s most significant emerging voice, touted a hipper-than-thou mix of DJ beats and soul vocals. Also quite cool: KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree,” which has real spirit.
100. Love, Keyshia Cole
99. Rompe, Daddy Yankee
98. Do It To It, Cherish
97. When You’re Mad, Ne-Yo
96. Stay Fly, Three 6 Mafia and Young Buck
95. Hate Me, Blue October
94. When I’m Gone, Eminem
93. For You I Will (Confidence), Teddy Geiger
92. Stupid Girls, Pink
91. Soul Survivor, Young Jeezy and Akon
90. I’m Sprung, T-Pain
89. Do I Make You Proud, Taylor Hicks
88. Waiting On The World To Change, John Mayer
87. Feel Good Inc, Gorillaz
86. I Think They Like Me, Dem Franchize Boys and Jermaine Dupri
85. We Be Burnin’, Sean Paul
84. Get Up, Ciara and Chamillionaire
83. Show Stopper, Danity Kane
82. Bossy, Kelis and Too $hort
81. Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down, Fall Out Boy
80. Why You Wanna, T.I.
79. Deju Vu, Beyonce and Jay-Z
78. Too Little Too Late, JoJo
77. Pump It, The Black Eyed Peas
76. I Know You See It, Yung Joc and Brandy Hambrick
75. Jesus, Take The Wheel, Carrie Underwood