The 10 Best Pop Singles Of 2008…And Then Some

Following last week's Worst Singles Of 2008 list, D'luv and MoogaBoo have teamed up once again to bring you Chart Rigger's fourth annual roundup of the year's best.

But after sifting through to find the cream of the crop, we discovered we had a few tasty leftovers. Therefore, since it's the season of giving and we're feeling generous, below are the 10 best, plus the best of the rest!

10. Ne-Yo, "Closer" (U.K. #1, U.S. #7, AUS #8)

MoogaBoo says: "Ne-Yo could really do no wrong this year. Well, except for when he ran over that homeless hooker, backed up over her again, cranked the volume on the car stereo which was playing 'Closer,' then sped off with her wig still stuck to the exhaust pipe. That was wrong."
D'luv says: "Mom?"

9. Coldplay, "Viva La Vida" (U.S. #1, U.K. #1, AUS #2)

D'luv says: "This decade's 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World.' No, really...!"
MoogaBoo says: "I prefer the Almighty remake, as recorded by Cinnamon featuring Alisha King, but I can't fault the guy who wrote it. Bravo, Coldplay."

8. Cyndi Lauper, "Into The Nightlife" (U.S. Dance #1)

MoogaBoo says: "America, you mean to tell me you liked Old Gristle Arms' rotten candy more than this synth-y Cyndi anthem? Fuck off, I'm moving to Beliz."
D'luv says: "I'd have actually given up beating off for a week for this to become a hit. I mean, thank God it didn't come to that, but, you know..."

7. Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown, "No Air" (U.S. #3, U.K. #3, AUS #1)

MoogaBoo says: "These two hambones really outdid themselves on a summery, feel-good duet. Even people under 40 liked it."
D'luv says: "I still maintain that three-fourths of Jordin Sparks' album is an underappreciated masterpiece. Eh? Which songs in particular do I mean? Hell if I know what they're called."

6. David Archuleta, "Crush" (U.S. #2, CAN #7)

MoogaBoo says: "Until he turns 21, loses all prospects and is forced to star in the HOT Channel event Tasty's First Teaze, this will do."
D'luv says: "Someday, when you're old enough, Archie, a big male stripper is gonna crush your head like a peanut between his thighs."

5. Katy Perry, "Hot N Cold" (U.S. #3, U.K. #4, AUS #4)

MoogaBoo says: "Yeah, she's annoying; also yeah, this song rocks and the video's a hoot."
D'luv says: "This Max Martin/Dr. Luke jam is the closest thing to Hi-NRG to land in the U.S. Top 5 in years. Okay, not really, but I think I want that phrase on my gravestone."

4. Mariah Carey, "Touch My Body" (U.S. #1, U.K. #5)

D'luv says: "Now that Mariah's utterly insane, I'm just so proud of her."
MoogaBoo says: "I love how shamelessly this goofball moos the word YooouTuuuube."

3. Kylie Minogue, "In My Arms" (GER #8, U.K. #10)

MoogaBoo says: "Calvin Harris' spiky production is as fuckable as he is. Oh, and Kylie's good, too. (Calvin, call me?)"
D'luv says: "See, it's all about wearing the right jacket in the video."

2. Rihanna, "Take A Bow" (U.S. #1, U.K. #1, CAN #1)

D'luv says: "Yeah, yeah...you all expect 'Disturbia' to be on here. But this is the true test-of-time champion out of Rihanna's 37 singles this year."
MoogaBoo says: "At once sassy and yet totally detached (but not as zombie-like as that sounds), Rihanna rode this mid-tempo jam straight to the center of my heart. Bonus points for sprinklers."

1. Chris Brown, "Forever" (U.S. #2, CAN #2, U.K. #4)

D'luv says: "Wrigley's tie-in? Who gives a shit. Undeniable from the first listen. And that's how good pop should be."
MoogaBoo says: "When Chris Brown revealed the corporate adware behind his uplifting, state-of-the-dancefloor smash, I felt betrayed and raped. But in a good way. (Call me, Chris?)"

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Best Remix That Didn't Make Us Want To Hang The DJ:
Alphabeat, "Boyfriend (Pete Hammond Mix)"

Best Diamond In A Sea Of Wank:
Santogold, "Lights Out"

Best Residuals Check In Vince Clarke's Pocket:
The Saturdays, "If This Is Love"

Best Excuse To Pretend You're Indie For Three Minutes, 49 Seconds:
MGMT, "Electric Feel"

Best Single To End An Artist's Career On:
Annie, "I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me"

Best Follow-Up To A Subpar First Single Off An Album:
Britney Spears, "Circus"

Best Miley Cyrus-Adjacent Non-Miley Cyrus Jam:
Metro Station, "Shake It"

ALSO SEE:
* Chart Rigger's Best Singles Of 2007
* Chart Rigger's Best Singles Of 2006
* Chart Rigger's Best Singles Of 2005

Written by D'luv on December 19th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on 2008 and Chris Brown and Coldplay and Cyndi Lauper and David Archuleta and JORDIN SPARKS and Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue and MGMT and Mariah Carey and Metro Station and Ne-Yo and Rihanna and Santogold and The Saturdays and list.

If Simon Cowell Wants To Be A Real ‘Hero’, He Should Put On A Cape And Jump Off A Cliff

Oh, now, what a crying shame; Girls Aloud were only, uh, allowed one week atop the U.K. singles chart with "The Promise." Awww. But at least worthy, revered rock legends the X Factor Finalists were the ones to bump the Girls off, with their face-melting power jam "Hero."

Gosh, the guitar solo alone in that one gets me stiff. Plus, it's for a worthy cause; further ensuring Simon Cowell will be raping "talent" for at least four more seasons.

Speaking of shit television at its finest, I actually kind of like Leon Jackson's "Don't Call This Love"...so naturally it's a flop, falling to #20 in its third week.

Meanwhile, have you heard this godawful new Bond theme from Alicia Keys and Jack White (#10)? Lily Allen barfing into a shopping cart probably has more melody. I'm just gonna call it "Another Way To Suck."

Kudos to The Saturdays for hanging in there with "Up," which since its debut two weeks ago at #5, has only slid two positions to #7.

Unfortunately the Saturdays' album Chasing Cars—pretty superb for a debut, when it had the chance to be so, so bad—debuts this week on the Brit album chart at #11. Not that great, but maybe the single will hang in there and draw more attention to the full LP.

Yeah, and maybe I'll go thumb myself now.

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "Hero" - X Factor Finalists *1 week*
2. "The Promise" - Girls Aloud
3. "So What" - Pink
4. "Infinity 2008" - Guru Josh Project
5. "Sex On Fire" - Kings Of Leon
6. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry
7. "Up'" - The Saturdays
8. "Love Lockdown" - Kanye West
9. "Wire To Wire'" - Razorlight
10. "Another Way To Die" - Alicia Keys & Jack White

Written by D'luv on November 2nd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Alicia Keys and Leon Jackson and Simon Cowell and The Saturdays and U.K. chart and X-Factor.

Gary Barlow, Keane And The Saturdays Have A Bloody Good Week

Well, one of those Gary Barlow-penned singles I mentioned last month—"The Winners Song"—charts this week in the U.K. at #2, as performed by "Geraldine," Brit comedian Peter Kay's drag character on his two-hour special Britain's Got the Pop Factor ... and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice (which featured Pete Waterman as a judge).

In a bit of an ironic twist, just behind the reality-show-mocking Geraldine single on the chart is last year's X Factor winner Leon Jackson, who debuts at #3 with "Don't Call This Love." Should Jackson look this boffable with his new haircut? Hmmmm....

Also, besting the #8 chart placing of their debut single "If This Is Love" back in early August, The Saturdays return with "Up," which goes in at an impressive #5. This is what this new contenders for the British girl group throne needed to do to make a case for longevity. Let's see how the gal's album Chasing Lights does upon its release next week.

And speaking of which, Keane's Perfect Symmetry debuts atop the Brit album chart this week. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Boyzone's Back Again—No Matter What, which settles for a #4 placing. Sorry, Ronan Keating...next time maybe drop your shorts on the record cover if you want us to buy your reheated collection of low rent dirges.

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "So What" - Pink *3 weeks*
2. "The Winner's Song" - Geraldine *new*
3. "Don't Call This Love" - Leon Jackson *new*
4. "Sex On Fire" - Kings Of Leon
5. "Up'" - The Saturdays *new*
6. "Take Back The City" - Snow Patrol
7. "Miss Independent" - Ne-Yo
8. "Disturbia" - Rihanna
9. "Raindrops (Encore Une Fois)" - Sash feat. Stunt *new*
10. "Girls" - Sugababes

Written by D'luv on October 19th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Boyzone and Gary Barlow and Geraldine and Keane and Leon Jackson and Pete Waterman and Take That and The Saturdays and U.K. chart.

Brand New Songs From The Saturdays And Aqua, Minus the Protools

Written by D'luv on August 15th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Aqua and The Saturdays.

Sorry, United Kingdom, But Sucking Face With Katy Perry Is Pretty Much Inevitable

Written by D'luv on August 10th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Katy Perry and The Saturdays and The Verve and U.K. chart.