After last week's first half of Pop Shots' Top 10 Pop Songs of the Decade I know how much you've been eagerly awaiting the next installment, which is why this week's Pop Shots is coming to you a day early. So without further adieu, here are Pop Shots' picks as the top five pop songs of the decade.
5) Justin Timberlake - Cry Me a River (2002)
"Sexyback" may have launched Timberlake to new heights as an adult artist, but it was "Cry Me a River" that set him up for such a launch. The tale of betrayal, complete with a creepy operatic sample that helped to make the beat one of Timbaland's best, wasn't subtle when it came to who it was about, and the personal nature of it made it that much more hard hitting. "Cry Me a River" was also that rare song that took advantage of Timberlake's full range as a singer. This was his most mature work up to that point, and, in my opinion, is still his best song. The video was also fantastic and our first hint that JT might also be able to act.
4) Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl (2008)
Katy Perry took over the world with the release of "I Kissed a Girl." Nothing like the sing-songy Jill Sobule song of the same name, Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" was a raucous celebration of experimentation for the sake of experimentation. Perry expressed her jovial personality throughout the song, which is why it wasn't considered lewd, or crude, but rather a fun romp. This was the true genius of "I Kissed a Girl" as anyone could write about the subject, but with lines about Cherry ChapStick and hoping that her boyfriend won't mind, Perry managed to find the right mix of the silly and the salacious. The blistering bass line of the beat made it an instant hit in nightclubs and bars and everyone who was conscious in 2008 can recite the lyrics of the chorus
3) Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
Although "Paparazzi," for my money, is still Lady Gaga's best song, and "Just Dance" was the single that introduced her to the world, to try to argue against the power of "Poker Face" is just plain ridiculous. All of Lady Gaga's singles have been fantastic. "Poker Face," however, was the one that assured everyone that not only was she no one hit wonder, but Lady Gaga was ready to take the throne as the queen of pop. As addictive as a cocaine laced cupcake, "Poker Face" will forever be one of the songs mentioned when people talk about the first decade of the new millennium. Not only was it a fantastic song, but it gave us a new superstar. South Park further immortalized "Poker Face" when Eric Cartman sang it over a montage of Stan killing Japanese whalers. (There's a sentence you don't get to say very often.)
2) Shakira w/ Wyclef - Hips Don't Lie (2006)
For as big as Shakira's English language debut, "Whenever, Wherever," was, it was "Hips Don't Lie" that would end up her biggest, and most unavoidable, hit. Ignoring the nonsensical Spanish Wyclef gave us on the song, the production was amazing, ‘Clef's English verses were on point, and Shakira was her usual fantastic self. Using the same horn sample that Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz used for "Deja Vu," "Hips Don't Lie" starts off triumphantly and quickly builds on that feeling. By the time the first chorus is over you already know this is the hip-shaking anthem for all-times. Oh, and then there was the video, which featured Shakira... shaking her hips. FTW!
1) t.A.T.u. - All The Things She Said (2002)
Not a lot of people expected to see Trevor Horn linking up with what many assumed to be nothing more than a gimmick musical act of two Russian teens claiming to be lesbians. As fate would have it, though, that highly unlikely teaming of the man who produced hits for Seal, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Art of Noise, and Simple Minds, and the two young ladies with the controversial lyrics, ended up being just the right ingredients for pop perfection. The beat for "All The Things She Said" was absolutely insane, both Lena and Yulia sounded great on the track, giving the right emotions when needed, and the breakdown is possibly one of the best in pop music history. Everything about this song is great and when I hear it today, eight years later, it not only holds up, but it still blows almost everything that's on the radio out of the water. Throw in a video that features the two teens making out in the rain, and the use of the song as the ring entrance music for former WWE wrestler Victoria, and you have the icing on the cake of what is the greatest pop song of the decade.
That's all for the countdown. I hope you enjoyed the list. I'll be back in 2010 with more shots on all things pop. Until then, have a great holiday!
5) Justin Timberlake - Cry Me a River (2002)"Sexyback" may have launched Timberlake to new heights as an adult artist, but it was "Cry Me a River" that set him up for such a launch. The tale of betrayal, complete with a creepy operatic sample that helped to make the beat one of Timbaland's best, wasn't subtle when it came to who it was about, and the personal nature of it made it that much more hard hitting. "Cry Me a River" was also that rare song that took advantage of Timberlake's full range as a singer. This was his most mature work up to that point, and, in my opinion, is still his best song. The video was also fantastic and our first hint that JT might also be able to act.
4) Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl (2008)Katy Perry took over the world with the release of "I Kissed a Girl." Nothing like the sing-songy Jill Sobule song of the same name, Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" was a raucous celebration of experimentation for the sake of experimentation. Perry expressed her jovial personality throughout the song, which is why it wasn't considered lewd, or crude, but rather a fun romp. This was the true genius of "I Kissed a Girl" as anyone could write about the subject, but with lines about Cherry ChapStick and hoping that her boyfriend won't mind, Perry managed to find the right mix of the silly and the salacious. The blistering bass line of the beat made it an instant hit in nightclubs and bars and everyone who was conscious in 2008 can recite the lyrics of the chorus
3) Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008) Although "Paparazzi," for my money, is still Lady Gaga's best song, and "Just Dance" was the single that introduced her to the world, to try to argue against the power of "Poker Face" is just plain ridiculous. All of Lady Gaga's singles have been fantastic. "Poker Face," however, was the one that assured everyone that not only was she no one hit wonder, but Lady Gaga was ready to take the throne as the queen of pop. As addictive as a cocaine laced cupcake, "Poker Face" will forever be one of the songs mentioned when people talk about the first decade of the new millennium. Not only was it a fantastic song, but it gave us a new superstar. South Park further immortalized "Poker Face" when Eric Cartman sang it over a montage of Stan killing Japanese whalers. (There's a sentence you don't get to say very often.)
2) Shakira w/ Wyclef - Hips Don't Lie (2006)For as big as Shakira's English language debut, "Whenever, Wherever," was, it was "Hips Don't Lie" that would end up her biggest, and most unavoidable, hit. Ignoring the nonsensical Spanish Wyclef gave us on the song, the production was amazing, ‘Clef's English verses were on point, and Shakira was her usual fantastic self. Using the same horn sample that Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz used for "Deja Vu," "Hips Don't Lie" starts off triumphantly and quickly builds on that feeling. By the time the first chorus is over you already know this is the hip-shaking anthem for all-times. Oh, and then there was the video, which featured Shakira... shaking her hips. FTW!
1) t.A.T.u. - All The Things She Said (2002) Not a lot of people expected to see Trevor Horn linking up with what many assumed to be nothing more than a gimmick musical act of two Russian teens claiming to be lesbians. As fate would have it, though, that highly unlikely teaming of the man who produced hits for Seal, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Art of Noise, and Simple Minds, and the two young ladies with the controversial lyrics, ended up being just the right ingredients for pop perfection. The beat for "All The Things She Said" was absolutely insane, both Lena and Yulia sounded great on the track, giving the right emotions when needed, and the breakdown is possibly one of the best in pop music history. Everything about this song is great and when I hear it today, eight years later, it not only holds up, but it still blows almost everything that's on the radio out of the water. Throw in a video that features the two teens making out in the rain, and the use of the song as the ring entrance music for former WWE wrestler Victoria, and you have the icing on the cake of what is the greatest pop song of the decade.
That's all for the countdown. I hope you enjoyed the list. I'll be back in 2010 with more shots on all things pop. Until then, have a great holiday!
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