Best Single 17-11

17) Dirt Off Your Shoulder - Jay-Z - The Black Album - 2004


Another Timbaland production, his best in the Hip Hop genre, this is one of Jay's best hooks. When he asks you to 'turn the music up in them headphones' you can't help but oblige.

UK Chart Position - 12

16) Stronger - Kanye West - Graduation - 2007


Kanye's only solo number 1, this is his most club friendly track. The Daft Punk sample was brilliant before Kanye came in and delivered some flawless verses, Stronger is deserved of a place in my list.


UK Chart Position - 1

15) Russian Roulette - Rihanna - Rated R - 2009


Rihanna may be at her best when grinding around an island beat, but Russian Roulette is an incredible song. The slight change of key in the second verse is amazing, with new things appearing with each listen. An emotional record.


UK Chart Position - 2

14) Jóga - Bjork - Homogenic - 1997


The oldest song on my list is also the newest entry. Bjork is an incredible artist and Jóga has everything I love in music. Emotional doesn't even describe the effect this record has on me, the vocal and production coming together into something truly beautiful.

UK Chart Position - 191

13) The Girl and The Robot (Feat. Robyn) - Röyksopp - Junior - 2009


3 emotional songs in a row, The Girl and The Robot is the most tragic of them all. Robyn delivers another impeccable vocal over one of Röyksopp's most hypnotic productions. 'I'm in love with a Robot' never sounded so heartbreaking.

UK Chart Position - Did Not Chart

12) Poker Face - Lady GaGa - The Fame - 2009

A song that everyone in the world knows, Poker Face may not be GaGa's best produced, best written or deepest song, but it's most definitely the one I know I'll be playing for years to come. Simply a perfect pop hit.

UK Chart Position - 1

11) Biology - Girls Aloud - Chemistry - 2005

A song that deserves a place in the top 10 but only just missed out, Biology sees Girls Aloud revolutionise UK pop. With about 4 discernible hooks, and very little structure, its a magnificent showcase of how great Xenomania are at writing Pop songs.


UK Chart Position - 5

Top 10 Singles - #5

Be Mine - Robyn - Robyn - 2005/2008


I knew that both Be Mine and Dancing On My Own would appear in my top 10 songs, but deciding which Robyn classic would come out on top was a tough decision. The best track on her near perfect eponymous fourth album, Be Mine is devastatingly sad, the middle 8 being the best 'talky bit' I've ever heard on a record. When she explains 'I just miss you, that's all' the emotional resonance of the track comes into full effect, the string led production echoing her sentiment. A modern Pop classic and the most emotive song on the list.


UK Chart Position - 10
Best Lyric - 'It's a good thing tears never show in the pouring rain, as if a good thing ever can make up for all the pain'

Top 10 Singles - #7

Dancing On My Own - Robyn - Body Talk - 2010


Looking back at my 2010 end of year list article, I don't feel like I did the quality of Dancing On My Own justice. My point about the song being one of few songs to truly make me feel something when I hear it is still true, but the extent of this wasn't expressed. Emotional through and through, Robyn pours her soul into every line of Dancing On My Own. It's a devastatingly sad song yet still remains an empowering dancefloor anthem that will always have a special place in my music library.


UK Chart Position - 8
Best Lyric - 'I just came to say goodbye.'