[Shaun]

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.

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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.

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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).

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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