50. Placebo - Kings of Medicine
An album track off their most recent (2009) album, Battle for the Sun, Placebo's return to form this year has been critically-acclaimed and popular with the fans following slight slumps on the album "Meds". Equipped with instruments the band have never used before such as brass, the song reaches an emotional and exciting climax. But I bet none of you will listen to it.



49. Christina Aguilera - Beautiful
It received the Best Female Vocal Performance Grammy. It was nominated for song of the year in 2002. It hit #1 in 14 countries and her second single from the Stripped album is one of her most celebrated. With a controversial video depicting anorexia, homosexuality and self-harming, 'Beautiful' is what it says - an inspiring and beautiful song and performance.



48. The Fray - How To Save A Life
One of 2006/7's most enduring ballads, this spent a staggering 58 weeks on the US Billboard 100. Described by lead singer Isaac Blade as a song about reaching out to troubled teenagers, its pure emotion helped to get it used on shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs, Ghost Whisperer, The Hills, One Tree Hill and the series best bits for Big Brother 8 (2007).



47. Beyoncé - Crazy In Love
Borrowing one of the catchiest unknown pop hooks from the Chi-Lites' song "Are You My Girl? (Tell Me So)", Beyoncé's solo career kicked off with an almighty bang in 2003 thanks to this summer smash. Cementing her sex appeal with an eye-catching video and featuring her soon-to-be lover Jay-Z, is there anyone who DOESN'T like this song?



46. Britney Spears - Everytime
Without a doubt her most poignant and emotional ballad, Britney's 2004 single from 'In The Zone' is rumoured to document her heartbreak over split with Justin Timberlake. Rumours aside, the controversial video (in which Spears is seen to have a ferocious argument with a boyfriend after intense media invasion, and then takes her own life, arguably accidentally) ensured its success around the world, hitting top spot in the UK, Ireland and Australia.



45. Lily Allen - Smile
Summer of 2006. MySpace artist and daughter of actor Keith, Lily Allen burst onto the UK music scene with one of the year's most-played and omnipresent records. Combining reggae, pop and soul, Allen's revelry in an ex-boyfriend's misery is one of the catchiest pop records in recent years.



44. The Strokes - Someday
A single from their debut album "This Is It", The Strokes teamed up with former Guns N Roses members Slash, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan for a tongue-in-cheek video in which the American band play against the rock legends in a game of Family Feud (an American quiz show). One of the 2000's catchiest guitar riffs, and instantly uplifting too.



43. Coldplay - Fix You
Released in 2005 in the aftermath of the London bombings, Fix You was seen as a moving tribute to the victims of the attacks - but is also believed to be a dedication to Gwyneth Paltrow's father who had recently passed away. Proving to be a fan favourite and providing incredible numbing performances, Fix You is one of the band's most moving and spine-tingling exploits.



42. Asobi Seksu - Thursday
American indie band Asobi Seksu are mostly unheard-of over here. Their 2006 album 'Citrus' [from which this track is taken] achieved No#21 on the UK Indie charts...but that's not exactly much of a coup. However, it was this track's use in the first episode of popular teen drama 'Skins'' second series that I stumbled across the track. It's an ambient, cute and sugary-sweet anthem.



41. Sigur Rós - Hoppípolla
The icelandic ambient post-rock band Sigur Rós have had a huge underground and indie following this decade, and with songs like this it's not hard to see why. Literally translated as "Jumping in puddles", Hoppipolla is a euphoric, beautiful and touching melody, perfectly matched with a sweet video featuring elderly people acting like children. Used in a spectrum of movies and TV ranging from BBC's Planet Earth documentaries and the Slumdog Millionaire trailer, it goes down as one of the decade's most distinguished and recognisable tunes. I'm not entirely sure I'd put it down this low really, but...I'm too lazy to change the chart now.

Just to spite you I listened to Kings of Medicine :P. I like it, keep 'em coming!

omg so excited :D

40. Moby - Porcelain
Released ahead of the whole piano-tunes turned into dance hits era where songs like "Heaven" by DJ Sammy took hold, Moby's influence on the dance/electronic circuit is undeniable. And this track demonstrates why.



39. [b]Goldfrapp - A&E[b]
The video's a bit odd. But ignore that, Goldfrapp's rise to fame this decade has seen them on playlists everywhere - 'Strict Machine' was their big hit, and other electronic/dance singles followed. But in 2007 they released this ballad, and Alison Goldfrapp's vocals are perfect.



38. Dido - Here With Me
One of those "well it was in my favourite movie so yeah" moments here, Love Actually's soundtrack has been rather prominent, but it ends here. The moment in which it plays during the film is at a point where a secret love/lust for someone has been inadvertedly revealed, and the character's heartbreak and desire is pinpointed to a tee with this song.



37. Outkast - Hey Ya!
This is one of three songs from this decade to make the Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" and it's not hard to see why. It's one of the most iconic pop songs of modern times, combining a retro video, killer lyrics (shake it like a polaroid picture, anyone?) and clap-along catchiness. Perhaps one of the most universally-liked songs of all time.



36. The Supermen Lovers - Starlight
I remember seeing this video for the first time - I didn't get it. I still don't. There're potato men and a mouse who wants to go into space? But ah well, it's all blown out of the water by the utter FUNKINESS of this song. Brilliance.



35. White Lies - Farewell to the Fairground
Another of the few 2009 tracks to make the list, White Lies' breakthrough this year has been brilliant. They sound like a less depressing Joy Division, and this track is epic.



34. Oasis - Stop Crying Your Heart Out
This time last year I'd have probably put this song at around #90 in the chart. However, my sister decided to go and play it at my dad's funeral and as such it has a heightened personal meaning for me. Without a doubt the band's saddest and best record from this decade.



33. Scissor Sisters - Filthy/Gorgeous
I blame this song for my homosexual tendencies. Their breakthrough album in 2003 is one of my favourites of the decade, and this song is pure dirt. And seeing it live was the cherry on the cake. The video's a bit freaky though. In a hotmess way.



32. The Script - Breakeven
The lyrics and meaning of this is simple and effective. "What am I gonna do when the best part of me was always you?" It's mine and a best friend's "song" in a way...only we sing it in ****zy voices. Anyway. It's pretty. And I love it.



31. The Killers - Read My Mind
Another single from "Sam's Town", Read My Mind has a cute video set in Japan where a costumed green character cuddles up to one of the band members and yah. The song slowly builds into something special, and lyrics like "I wanna breathe that fire again" help. *orgasms*

Omg Scissor Sisters - Filthy/Gorgeous top song, love it!!!

Omg I'm still so excited!! AHHH top 10 please x

I think 40-31 I like every song.

Thumbs up, the list is really good Shaun!

I love.

Breakeven,Fix You,Everytime,Crazy in Love,How To Save a Life are all huge favourite songs of mine. I LOVE Christina,but hate Beautiful,too many bad memories.

thanks for the comments all, I'll probably finish this tomorrow :)

Shaun will bring this out on a 5CD boxset..
£7.99 from amazon.co.uk

Beyonce has been in it twice since I last seen the list.
You've got my vote of "This is an AMAZING list!" -ness!
Now, where are the Destiny's Child tracks? lol!

OutKast and "Miss Jackson" should be on there too.
And Alicia Keys "Fallin'"
and Gnarls Barlkley "Crazy".
And Kelis' "Milkshake".
And "Single Ladies" (well, ok, maybe not, But it's no. 1 on my list of songs from this decade lol!)

Some songs from Bjork would've been nice in this list too. :)

pmsl andyman, great idea.
and one of those is yet to come, MiuMiu - and I totally forgot about Destiny's Child :( i'd have probably put in Bootylicious/Lose My Breath by them. I do love the others you suggested as well.

Dido = Amazing

Any song by her

30. Elbow - One Day Like This
Though being around a lot longer, Elbow made their major breakthrough last year courtesy of a little Mercury Award for their recent release (The Seldom Seen Kid). The signature track from the album was used as the "best bits" music for Big Brother 9, if you think you recognise it, but only reached #35 on the UK Charts. But ah well. Soaring strings and singalong choruses made this one of the last year's festival highlights.



29. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Her 2007 follow-up album of the same name to her debut 'Frank' saw the Winehouse take on a darker, more wistful tone, but was one of the most critically celebrated albums of recent years. Though "Rehab" and "Tears Dry On Their Own" proved a little more radio-friendly and light-hearted, for me her doomed love affair ballad is her best. Now stop being a mess, Amy Dearest.



28. All Saints - Pure Shores
The theme tune to the 2000 film "The Beach", All Saints' modest success in the early half of the decade (and latter of the 90s) saw a small string of hits such as 'Never Ever', 'Black Coffee' and a cover of 'Lady Marmalade'. But topping the charts in April 2000 and produced by William Orbit, 'Pure Shores' went down as "the song of the year" according to Capital.FM and it's not a thoroughly ludicrous claim.



27. Orson - No Tomorrow
Aaah, Orson. They were EVERYWHERE for a brief few months and then nothing. But yes, the hat-wearing pop anthem of 2005...I don't need to/can't be arsed to describe it any more.



26. Bloc Party - Flux
A video with people dressed up as Japanese-style monsters fighting in a model city can't really go wrong. Peaking at #7 in 2007, Bloc Party's Intimacy album got off to a kicking start with this...and then disappointed. But ah well. Tune.



25. Sugababes - Freak Like Me
A bit of a cheat really, since it's actually a mashup of two pre-existing songs; Gary Numan's "Are Friends Electric?" and Adina Howard's "Freak Like Me". Apart they were fairly credible songs, but together they mixed brilliantly. And this was when the Sugababes made decent songs. What's that Amelle? Here come the girls? **** off.



24. Robyn ft. Kleerup - With Every Heartbeat
I doubt many would have predicted that Robyn, a one-hit wonder from Sweden in the 90s, would make a comeback in 2007, but somehow she did, even with an unknown dance outfit. "With Every Heartbeat" spent 3 weeks at the top spot but then seemed to disappear off the face of the Earth, which is a shame. I love it.



23. Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses
They enjoyed much more success with their debut album and hits such as "Take Me Out" or "Matinee", but after their utter failure of a second album they returned third time lucky with "Tonight" - the first single from which was this. Released in two different versions, Ulysses was a slow-starter but once I 'got it' I got it bad.



22. The Killers - A Dustland Fairytale
A stand-out track from their 3rd studio album [ignoring Sawdust, an album of B-Sides and one new track <_<] 'Day & Age', the Killers went down a number of experimental routes (disco with Joy Ride, electronic with The World We Live In) and some were unsuccessful. However, it was the song most similar to the Sam's Town era which caught my sizely ears. Penned by Flowers as the story of how his parents met, it's...how do I put it? Well. I have a playlist on my iPod which I change every couple of weeks with new and good songs I want to listen to. This is still on it.



21. M.I.A. - Paper Planes
Enjoying a brief blast of success in the latter half of last year, 'Paper Planes' saw the unknown M.I.A. being used on Slumdog Millionaire, Pineapple Express and being named in a handful of "best songs of 2008" lists. Described as "an alternative hip-hop dance song", it's a vicious attack on many's perception of Asian youths as terrorists or extremists. But on a lighter note it's lovely to shake my moobs to.

how did amy winehouse end up in this list!!!!! :O

Dustland Fairytale and Pure Shores<33333

"But on a lighter note it's lovely to shake my moobs to."

ROFLMAO

ingredients:
-talent
-brilliant songwriting
-brilliant voice
-emotion

instructions:
1. mix carefully.

TA-DAH.

Pure Shores - very Noughties for me, I used to bum this back in the day. Black To Black, A Dustland Fairytale, A&E [forgotten, but epic], Filthy/Gorgeous [brings me back to that 4 month period where I just played their album non stop] and Hey Ya! [another classic Noughties track] <3

Nefi + Girly - Asobi Seksu :love:

25. Sugababes - Freak Like Me


:dance::dance::dance::dance::dance:

27. Orson - No Tomorrow

forgot all about that song

30 and 22<3333

Seriously, I love the effort that's gone into this. You're reminding me of songs that I forgot existed! Aaah, nice. I can't wait for the completed list!

:joker:

Brilliant.

Still though, This Is The New ****? Weakest Manson single of the decade, IMO. And he only recently recovered form I reckon. Thank god Tim Skold got out and Twiggy Ramirez got back in.