Top 10 Songs of 2008

Here we are... another year has gone by, and in all intents and purposes it wasn't one of the most pleasant ones. However, like every year there has been some great music that has come our way, and its time to release what I think the best 10 songs of 2008 were. What is interesting about this list this year, is that not a single band earned multiple songs, and none of the big names were present this year (although 2009 will be a beast of a year with a new Blue October, Kelly Clarkson, and Rob Thomas at least coming our way). Anyway, here are my ten favorite songs of 2008.

10. Shake It (Metrostation): This song is the beneficiary of a few songs being cut last minute for not actually being made in 2008 (Tegan and Sara being the main culprits of this). This is a song that I like, but I don't know why. Lyrically it is weak, no doubt about that. Despite that though, I have heard it a decent amount this year, and enjoyed it enough to make it's way on this list. There were a few close songs to making it, including some Taylor Swift or a Katie Perry song (Hot and Cold) but I feel that Shake It was slightly more enjoyable, and I've heard it a whole lot more without changing the station.

9. Gives You Hell (All American Rejects): The lower parts of this list are clearly the more typical Don music, as I have been an on-and-off AAR fan for awhile. While I don't love the band and find a lot of their songs crap, I actually enjoy this song. Its got an addictive chorus, and a nice little feel to it. Its not the most intelligent song, nor one that I enjoy admitting I like, but I like it nonetheless.

8. Fall For You (Secondhand Serenade): Now we are getting somewhere. This song is far and away better than the previously two songs, and the last song for a bit of what I would consider my "typical music". It starts with a very simplistic piano piece, yet if there is one thing I love in music its a well used collection of piano notes. Sometimes I don't even listen to the song, but the influx of piano and guitar when the song picks up. It's all about the music in this song, there is no doubt about that.

7. Paper Planes (MIA): 2008 was a time when odd songs started to get noticed, and this is the first of three songs on this list which are really way out of my norm. I originally heard this song in the trailer of Pineapple Express, and one day I actually heard it on the radio, and I realized that this was a superb fun song to listen and sing all along with. You don't have to take it serious in any way, its got a fun beat, and of course... a cash register.

6. Time To Pretend (MGMT): This song might be controversial, but it was remastered and singled in 2008, so in my mind it counts (plus its my list, so I don't care if you complain). Similar to Paper Planes this is outside my norm of music, and is brought to me through another type of media. The song was used in the final scene of the first era of the tv show Skins and hearing it as the credits rolled by was something amazing. Thank god for youtube, of course, because from there on out I can listen to the song whenever I want. Plus, its got some of the truest words ever spoken "We were fated to Pretend". This song could arguably be higher on this list, but the top 5 is a powerful force.

5. Handlebars (Flobots): The last of the extremely strange songs for me in this run, Handlebars is an interesting journey of a song, which is based upon a stream of consciousness. Its got a great beat, an interesting underlying point. It does lose charm as time goes on, though, and its not a song you can really listen to over and over, although don't let that keep you away. Handlebars is a superb quasi-rap song that shouldn't be ignored.

4. Shattered (O.A.R): I absolutely love this song. While its a wee bit predictable lyrically, I definitely enjoy them, as its one of the few songs that I feel I can partially relate too. Music-wise, the song is exactly what I enjoy with a nice mellow rift, although this is very atypical for the band O.A.R. This is one of the few elite songs this year, as I will continue to listen to it, day-in and day-out.

3. Love Song (Sara Barielles): I absolutely love her voice, I just want to throw that out there before I move along. Basically, Love Song is an ironic song, because she only wrote it as a way of getting back at her manager (although you really can't get back at someone by making them millions). Its beautiful melody, a great voice, and decent lyrics combined. With Kelly out of the picture in 2008, it is my run away for best female song of the year, and along with Unwritten from years ago, one of the best female singer's songs in recent history (of course not including Kelly)

2. Viva La Vida (Coldplay): Along with All American Rejects, this is the only song from a band I listened to prior then 2008. I have always enjoyed Coldplay, and while their newest CD has some problems, it also has some high points. Where it really stands out, however, is in its newest single Viva La Vida, that has the only thing that trumps piano in music.... Violins. A great orchestra, with catchy (and non love centered) lyrics. It really can do no wrong, and most years would win this entire thing.

1. Stop and Stare (One Republic): Before I go into the song, I want to talk a bit about Ryan Tedder, and his band One Republic. If I had a list for best bands of 2008, One Republic would be the run away winner for it. They are everything I love about music, and their first CD was varied and amazing. The reason I originally asked to get the CD was because of this beautiful single, although exactly why I don't understand. Lyrically, the song is probably the second worst on this list (Metrostation runs away with that), and musically its very simplistic. And yet, its beautiful in its own peculiar way. Sometimes there is not a reason for why you love a song, just that you do. Stop and Stare is like that. It is my favorite song of 2008, even if I don't really know why.