Hits: Best Singles Of 2008, Part 1 (Nos. 21-40)

Apologies for the lost momentum in finishing the 2008 round-ups. It took me a lot longer to whittle down the list than I anticipated, and I ended up expanding the list to 40 singles and replacing last year's dance singles list with a countdown of the 30 best remixes of the year (soon to come). Compiling these best-of lists has made me realize some things about our most recently departed year. While it lacked some of the absolute classic albums of 2007 (like Overpowered or Back to Black), the wide variety of great newcomers, and the flood of outstanding singles, made it a worthwhile year for music, despite the rapid, well-publicized decline of the music industry. All is not lost after all, so put on this playlist of (half of) the best singles of the year if you need any convincing.

21. Estelle Feat. Kanye West, "American Boy" (from Shine): Further proof that Kanye West may actually be the future of hip-hop came in the form of Estelle's career-revitalizing "American Boy," a trans-Atlantic hit that had everyone singing along at one point or another over the past year.
22. Rihanna, "Disturbia" (from Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded): Somehow, despite her near-ubiquitous presence across all forms of media, it's hard to get sick of Rihanna, with every limp ballad ("Take A Bow") instantly remedied by a killer dance single like "Disturbia." Saturation airplay aside, it's an impossible feat trying to get Rihanna out of your head.
23. Yelle, "Ce Jeu" (from Pop-Up): A bouncy electro pop treat, "Ce Jeu" is an uplifting, insanely addictive single. French pop never sounded so sweet.
24. The Killers, "Spaceman" (from Day & Age): The Killers are on a roll with their recent singles, with "Spaceman" proving one of the catchiest rock songs of the year, in addition to easily surpassing many of their own finest moments.
25. Goldfrapp, "Happiness" (from Seventh Tree): Simple and dreamy, "Happiness" is Goldfrapp at their midtempo best, with its cynical outlook concealed by a soothing, hands-in-the-air chorus worth chanting along to.
26. Lady GaGa Feat. Colby O'Donis, "Just Dance" (from The Fame): Perhaps not the most instant hit, "Just Dance" is a trashy, fun introductory single that's easy song to love.
27. Kanye West Feat. Dwele, "Flashing Lights" (from Graduation): With its driving, bombastic synthesized beat, "Flashing Lights" is one of Kanye West's unquestionable best, with epic phrasing, and an equally flashy video, to match.
28. Britney Spears, "Break The Ice" (from Blackout): Coming out at the tail end of her last album's promotional cycle, with no input from Britney herself on the video or even really the track itself, "Break The Ice" transcended her personal trauma and upheld her status as one of the brightest stars in post-millennial pop music.
29. Solange, "I Decided" (from Sol-Angel And The Hadley St. Dreams): A soulful, classy slice of R&B produced by the Neptunes, "I Decided" is the kind of carefree, empowering singalong anthem that older sister Beyoncé would kill for, if only she could ever loosen up enough to record it.
30. Duffy, "Mercy" (from Rockferry): A striking breakthrough hit, "Mercy" is a brilliant, immediate throwback R&B jam, infused with all the soul of Amy Winehouse with none of the drug-fueled tragedy.
31. Hercules And Love Affair, "Blind" (from Hercules And Love Affair): A lovingly-curated voyage back to the roots of modern dance, "Blind" is a surprisingly amazing juxtaposition of Antony Hegarty's androgynous croon and DFA-approved disco grooves.
32. Janet Jackson, "Rock With U" (from Discipline): Janet has not been on top of her game for nearly the whole of this decade, but "Rock With U" stands out as a seductive, alluring fusion of R&B and electronica.
33. Vampire Weekend, "A-Punk" (from Vampire Weekend): A spiky, exhilarating taster from their unmatched debut record, "A-Punk" is one of the many reasons Vampire Weekend can claim a spot at the top of 2008's indie rock ladder.
34. Keane, "Spiralling" (from Perfect Symmetry): With its jarring vocals, odd rhythmic structure and in-your-face chorus, "Spiralling" is by no means an instant win, but with repeated listens its complexities amount to an undeniable success.
35. P!nk, "So What" (from Funhouse): Always outspoken, P!nk compromises nothing on the brash "So What," working with pop's best to deliver a powerhouse single that blows competitors out of the water by the end of the first chorus.
36. Ladyhawke, "Dusk Til' Dawn" (from Ladyhawke): Ladyhawke strikes it big with a short but sweet, electro-infused 80s revival single that will have you humming along with just one listen.
37. The Ting Tings, "Shut Up And Let Me Go" (from We Started Nothing): The perfect infusion of pop and punk melodies, "Shut Up And Let Me Go" is another reason to be thankful for the debut of the Ting Tings.
38. Duffy, "Warwick Avenue" (from Rockferry): Taking a distinctly different approach to the blues than her smash "Mercy," "Warwick Avenue" is a stunning, deeply affecting rendition of longing and vulnerability that goes a long way towards establishing Duffy as a standout performer.
39. Katy Perry, "Hot N Cold" (from One Of The Boys): Less gimmicky and catchier than her introductory number one hit "I Kissed A Girl," "Hot N Cold" is a confirmation of the modern pop magic that producer Dr. Luke and team can work.
40. Sam Sparro, "Black & Gold" (from Sam Sparro): Over a sinister, throbbing bassline, Sam Sparro burrows his way into your mind with his distinct snarl. It's too bad "Black & Gold" wasn't followed up by a similarly cutting-edge parent album, but at least we'll have this standout to maintain the genre for some time to come.

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