Top 50 Songs of 2010

So, the end of the year is nigh, and thus time for end-of-the-year best-of lists! 2010 was a wonderful year for music, with the potential to get even wonderfuller (*cough*Radiohead*cough*). This week I'll present my 50 favorite songs of 2010 (in some semblance of order). Next week you'll get my 20 favorite albums. So, without further ado, here's the list!

50. Slowdance - Matthew Dear

49. Indestructible - Robyn

48. Lucidity - Tame Impala

47. Celestica - Crystal Castles

46. Ready to Start - Arcade Fire

45. Shutterbugg - Big Boi

44. Latin America - Holy Fuck

43. Too Much - Sufjan Stevens

42. Bloodbuzz Ohio - The National

41. Drugs - Ratatat

40. Wut - Girl Unit

39. Runaway - Kanye West

38. Empty Room - Arcade Fire

37. He Would Have Laughed - Deerhunter

36. Careful Crossers - Fang Island

35. Sorrow - The National

34. I Feel Better - Hot Chip

33. Drunk Girls - LCD Soundsystem

32. Rill Rill - Sleigh Bells

31. Little People (Black City) - Matthew Dear

30. I Didn't See It Coming - Belle and Sebastian

29. Rambling Man - Laura Marling

28. On Melancholy Hill - Gorillaz

27. Power - Kanye West

26. Crockett's Theme - Michael Cassette

25. Pow Pow - LCD Soundsystem

24. Does It Look Like I'm Here? - Emeralds

23. Kids - Sleigh Bells

22. Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club

21. Take It In - Hot Chip

20. Boyfriend - Best Coast

Singer/guitarist Bethany Cosentino's debut was a wistful, funny group of catchy songs about love and weed, and her first single was the best of the bunch. "Boyfriend" is a firsthand account of longing after a boy, but realizing that his current girlfriend is way more qualified than you are.

19. Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna
After Rihanna's much-publicized run-in with Chris Brown and the introspective outpouring of emotion that manifested itself in Rated R, Rihanna returned this year doing what she does best; making catchy as hell pop singles. Only Girl (In The World) is a raucous return to form for the pop star, with a hook that is as irresistible as any out there.

18. I Want The World To Stop - Belle and Sebastian

The Scottish twee icons released one of their best albums to date this year in Write About Love, and this is sure to become one of their most recognizable songs. "I Want The World To Stop" features a fun guitar hook and the same pleasant wistfulness we've all come to expect from B&S.

17. Viktorious - Big K.R.I.T.

Definitely the shortest entry on this list, the Mississippi rapper's track about his climb to fame and representing his home state is a masterpiece of flow and lyrical brilliance.

16. Schizophrenia - Jukebox The Ghost

This piano-pop group began their rise to fame this year after they appeared on Letterman to perform this insanely infectious single. (Watch the Letterman performance to see lead singer Ben Thornewill do hilarious things with his eyes!)

15. Conversation 16 - The National

Brooklyn-via-Cincinnati group The National put out perhaps their best album this year, and "Conversation 16" is one of the standout tracks. Singer Matt Berninger uses his addictive deep baritone voice to lament 'I was afraid/I'd eat your brain,' to show he's scared of turning his lover into someone as depressed as he is.

14. Doncamatic (All Played Out) - Gorillaz

After releasing his critically acclaimed album Plastic Beach earlier in the year, Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn began recording more music while on tour for a promised second Gorillaz release on Christmas Day. This is presumably one of the tracks from that forthcoming album, a hopping vocal-intensive song featuring British soul singer Daley.

13. Daisy - Fang Island

Brooklyn outfit Fang Island released an album of the year contender with their self-titled debut, and 'Daisy,' a raucous romp of dueling guitars and catchy hooks, sets the tone for the rest of the record.

12. Empire Ants - Gorillaz

Gorillaz' third album Plastic Beach is a sprawling genre-defying journey to a new world, and it couldn't be as good as it is without some excellent guest appearances. This is one of the best, as Little Dragon contributes vocals to this standout.

11. Desire Lines - Deerhunter

This standout track from Deerhunter's 2010 record Halcyon Digest seems to be moving quickly and slowly simultaneously. Singer Bradford Cox croons 'Walking free (whoa-oh)/Come with me (whoa-oh)/Far away (whoa-oh)/Everyday (whoa-oh) before the song twirls into a trippy guitar breakdown.

10. Fuck You - Cee-Lo Green

By now you've all heard this insanely catchy soul single from newcomer Cee-Lo Green. His tale of pursuit of the girl of his dreams is one of the anthems of 2010.

9. Hell Of A Life - Kanye West

Kanye hit the mic again this year in a big way; his record My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has received spectacular reviews from critics and fans alike. 'Hell Of A Life' contains the central theme of that record...'No more drugs for me/pussy and religion is all I need.' We hear you Yeezy, we hear you.

8. I Walked - Sufjan Stevens

This gorgeous piece of minimalistic pop really brought the new Sufjan to light. Stevens pleads his case to a lost love, explaining what went wrong and hoping things can be made better again.

7. Eat That Up, It's Good For You - Two Door Cinema Club

Two Door Cinema Club's debut album passed relatively unknown in the States, which is a shame. Their new brand of catchy, danceable pop-rock songs is irresistible, as showcased on this track.

6. Tell 'Em - Sleigh Bells

Once the rapid-fire drum machine of 'Tell 'Em' first reaches your ears, you know you're in for something special. This song is just that, with Alexis Krauss' vocals bursting through the chaos that swirls around them.

5. England - The National

High Violet really is an incredible album, and this is the best song off it. Matt Berninger sings of cathedrals and the pain of separation over a majestic piano melody.

4. Tenderoni - Kele

Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke took a break from his main band to go solo this year, and an intriguing collection of moody electronic songs was the result. This is the best of them though; 'Tenderoni' is a different breed of dance track, with a catchy falsetto chorus at its forefront.

3. Kites - Geographer

Another one of the criminally under-noticed bands of 2010, San Fransisco indie group Geographer crafted its own brand of electro-pop, with beautiful vocal melodies and soothing cello backing each of the songs on 2010's Animal Shapes EP. This is an excellent track from that EP, with the most enthralling intro of the year.

2. All Of The Lights - Kanye West

Majestic. Epic. Bombastic. All are words that can describe the best track on Kanye West's acclaimed 2010 masterpiece My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. 'All Of The Lights' a story of redemption, a fitting soundtrack to Kanye's recent life struggles.

1. Verona - Geographer

I really didn't want to put two Geographer songs in the top 3, but I really had no choice. This song's perfect blend of melodies and gorgeous vocals made it the perfect choice for my favorite song of 2010.

So there you have it! Tune in next week sometime for my 20 best albums of 2010!