10.Tiesto (ft. Tegan and Sara) “Feel It In My Bones”
When DJ Superpower Tiesto teamed up with shrill-voiced indie goddesses Tegan and Sara, something amazing was bound to form. Tegan and Sara’s vocals add an ethereal quality to Tiesto’s supremely crafted beats making a driving dance track unparalleled this year.
09. Ida Maria “Oh My God”
Ida Maria forced herself into the music industry this year with “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked,” and the rest of her album proves she deserves some attention. “Oh My God” is so full of emotion that every strained note feels like a rend to the heart. The lyrics are a bit silly, but the feelings beneath carry the weight of the world.
08. Shakira “She Wolf”
Eighties-influenced dance music was everywhere in 2009, and Shakira’s She-Wolf is the best of the bunch. Her Latin sizzle is turned all the way up on this track that will make you howl.
07. Glee Cast “Somebody To Love”
After the atrocities American Idol has wrought on music (i.e. Clay Aiken), Fox is repaying its debt to the world with Glee. The show-choir version of hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Take a Bow” are all well and good, but none reach the powerful and expertly crafted level of “Somebody to Love.”
06. Ke$ha “Tik Tok”
Silly dance music fans rejoice: our leader has arrived. Ke$ha (note the clever use of a dollar sign, “S” is so yesterday) hits hard with fluffy pop. The opening line “Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy” lets the listener immediately know that this song will lack both depth and meaning, but wow, is it fun to dance to.
05. Marina and the Diamonds “I Am Not A Robot”
So she doesn’t have a full-length album yet, but Marina Diamandis is about to explode. Her pop is perfect. “I Am Not A Robot” straddles the line between serious and silly dazzlingly.
04. Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce “Telephone”
With the release of The Fame Monster, Lady Gaga was out to prove that she was more than just sequins and mirrors. While, she may have just put on darker eyeliner, “Telephone” is bold and fresh. While Beyonce’s rap sounds more like Lil Wayne, Gaga still makes this song a sure-fire club smash.
03. Regina Spektor “Dance Anthem of the 80’s”
The opening spunky keyboards of this track immediately signal that the warm and funky pop of Spektor is in full swing. Whimsical lyrics and light-hearted melody are the perfect cure for a rainy day.
02.Gossip “Love Long Distance”
After dropping a “The” and adding a world-famous producer, Beth Ditto fronted number Gossip feels even stronger than they did in their garage band days. “Love Long Distance” deals with the pain of long-distance relationships and it does it well. Ditto’s voice is top-notch. She screams her frustration, and the listener can feel it in every bone. That’s right honey, just let it out, and just let us listen.
01. Florence and the Machine “Cosmic Love”
Florence and the Machine’s full-length debut Lungs is packed with songs full of life and energy. “Cosmic Love” is the exemplar of her work. It’s harp-heavy and full of distorted vocals. The lyrical quality is superb; Flo releases her discomfort with amour by singing lines like “A falling star fell from your heart/and landed in my eyes/I screamed aloud, as it tore through them/and now it’s left me blind.” It’s dark and lovely. Whether it’s on earth or in space, Florence is certainly deserving of some love.
--Nathan Nye
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