# 1: Jordan Pruitt - Unconditional

I've had an extremely hard time choosing my favorite song of 2008, mainly because there were so many amazing releases this year, as the countdown proves.

But I've made my decision, and I know I picked the right song.

Jordan Pruitt, I think, is one of the most underrated Disney artists. Even if she is kind of unnoticed by the general music-buying public, she's one of the few artists Disney has gotten spot on this year.

I always say that the transition from first to second album is the hardest part of any singer's career, because it will reveal if you were really being you during your first album or you were being controlled by your record company. Vanessa and Miley failed miserably for their sophomore releases but Jordan made it look so effortless, so easy.

Of course, she had to have an all-star cast of songwriters to help her, and she definitely got that.

The lead single was co-written by a woman who'd written two of the most amazing pop songs ever made, Christina Aguilera's Come On Over and What A Girl Wants. Could it get better than that? Of course it could.

A swedish guy called Savan Kotecha also did some stuff on her album. This guy is amazing when it comes to writing pop songs, he wrote two of the best Westlife songs ever, Amazing and Something Right, he practically wrote Shayne Ward's second album and he did some stuff for Celine Dion as well.

Can you imagine? The same guy who'd worked with all these huge artists worked with Jordan Pruitt this year. The product was amazing, he wrote another of my favorite tracks on the album, My Shoes.

Because of how hard it is on Jordan and songwriters and producers to make a sophomore album, I wasn't expecting a song as gorgeous as Unconditional to appear on the album, but it did.

If I was to choose the most beautiful melody this year, it would be this one. Above all the number one singles, the seasoned artists, the amazing performers and the beautiful voices, a song's melody is what made me so into music. How the notes intertwine with each other and make something so gorgeous just baffles me up to this day, and Unconditional just makes me want to cry.

I'm not kidding. When I hear this song, it just makes me want to burst out into tears.

Gar, I'm getting toooooooo emotional. Unconditional is not just brilliant, it's stunning and it instantly made Jordan Pruitt one of my favorite artists of all time. 

Better than any other song this year, this is the song that really made me shut up and listen. Which is why I think it deserves to be my favorite song of the year.

Well, that's it for 2008. Everything that needed saying was said(although I did forget a few releases...noo!), and so we close this amazing year.

I hope you guys had fun reading about the best of the year, because this is the part where we say farewell to 2008 and hello to 2009, hopefully filled with even more amazing music(and a Westlife release!!! AAAHHH!)!

There's still the final 'What I Used to Listen To' post, but have a happy New Year everyone!

# 2: Girls Aloud - The Loving Kind

Read my review of Out Of Control here.

They can't sing this song live, that's my only complaint.

The Loving Kind came very close to becoming my favorite song of the year, it was between this one and the one I chose. So it's technically my second favorite song of the year.

I find it ironic that I keep humming it but the girls can't seem to be able to sing it live. Still, I don't hum songs a lot(mainly because I always have my iPod stuck to my ears..) but if I do, that means the song has got something really special for me and it does.

This has got an amazing, gorgeous, beautiful, stunning melody, something that's obviously very important for me. It's got an amazing melody but it's not just an idea of an amazing melody, the execution of it is just sheer brilliance.

So what's my favorite song of the year then? Find out tomorrow, I assure you, it's an amazing one.

# 3: Chris Brown - Forever

I've said this over and over and over again, but let me say it again, Chris Brown is no match for Craig David.

But Forever is pretty close.

It's like a fuse of electro-pop and R&B, and the melody's once again stunning. I love the version that was used on the ad as well, I guess I have a soft spot for songs that can be ad soundtracks..

I won't rant about it much, mainly because I might start saying even more things that I've said before.

# 4: Craig David - Insomnia

I've professed my love for Craig David over and over and over and over again here, and I think you guys are getting a bit sick of it but this guy just keeps coming up with amazing music after all the artists who started with him have either broken up, stopped making music or are releasing all this crap.

Craig David has what other R&B artists want, groove. The ability to make people want to get up and dance or tap their toes or 'bang' their heads(for lack of a better term..) even if he's singing a slow song. That's what I want in an R&B artist, because isn't R&b RHYTHM and Blues? You need groove and rhythm, and Craig David's got that.

Insomnia was off his Greatest Hits album this year, and it's brilliance all over again, as if he's not brilliant enough. You've got the trademark Craig David word repetition at the beginning and then once the chorus kicks in, the melody goes from amazing to stunning.

I really admire him as well, because he said during an interview that he doesn't have to change his style just to break the US, if they don't like him the way he is then so be it. That's solid proof that he knows exactly who he is and he's not changing it for anyone. That's what I want to see in all these Disney and record label clones, a sense of identity.

# 5: Same Difference - We Are One

It's not very often that I love the singles of an amazing album more than the album tracks but I had a really, really hard time choosing which song from the album to put in.

I remember the first time I heard a part of the song was when Pop Justice put up a snippet. I was amazed and drawn in, the song was AMAZING. It's really is very HSM-y but the difference is that these two don't have the wimpy Disney voices, they can sing and the album isn't really full of Breaking Free wannabes, it's actually very much like a cross between Steps and HSM.

We Are One has very Steps-like verses but the choruses are Disney all the way. It's not a mutant though, the way the two were fused makes it look like it wasn't done on purpose(but do we know if it was or wasn't? haha..) because the flow of the song is just so natural.

I think I read somewhere that it's strange how a brother and sister sing about 'becoming one'. I find it pretty strange as well but hey, it's an amazing song! haha..

# 6: Gia Farrell - Can and Cannot Do

I personally adored Hit Me Up to a point where that was all I was listening to and I even got my best friend addicted to it. When Syesha murdered it on Idol, I thought the performance lacked the kick that Gia's voice has.

So when I saw some new material by her earlier this year, I literally jumped at it and I got an amazing pop song.

Now tell me why all these mainstream, established artists can't do what this girl's doing? She's making amazing pop music that's clearly amazing with amazing melodies and a catchy chorus.

I'd say it's something in the vain of Queensberry/Eva Avila track No Smoke. It's smoother but it's still got that character and kick of the other song and it really, really matches her voice.

Amazingness!

# 7: Lady GaGa - Just Dance

Read my initial review of Just Dance here

I don't know why and how I actually like Lady GaGa but I do.

Just Dance is this uber-catchy and even more infectious 'dance' track and I personally think melodically, it's brilliant. I said during my review of the song and album(it's on Pop Addicted!) that this song is like the basis of all the other songs on her album, like it was stripped into pieces and those pieces became the album tracks.

Then, I also noticed very RedOne elements, mainly because the song sounds a lot like Darin's Girl Next Door(thanks to Mel for pointing that out..) and the two songs have the same production team.

Now isn't that pure genius? haha.. The whole song is brilliant and the album is almost as brilliant, although I've gotten a bit sick of it.

# 8: Girlicious - Save the World

I really don't know why I listened to their album, but I did and to be honest with you, it wasn't half bad.

There were a few tracks that just stood out by a mile, melodically and instrumental-wise. Save the World was one of them. It's mid-tempo that kinda sounds a bit in the minor key(just a wild guess..), with the 'sharp' notes(not sharp as in flat and sharp, sharp as in the sound.. haha.. ok.) and a few harmonies here and there.

Melodically I love it. I love the melodies when the harmonies come out and I love the verses, they're a perfect mix.

# 9: Jennifer Hudson - Spotlight

She's come a long way since American Idol, and I remember when I first heard this song, I was blown away.

I won't go into much detail about her or the song, your heads must be spinning after reading the Cook review.

It's an amazing song, an R&B mid-tempo with lots and lots of groove. It's something that's really easy to tap you foot and 'bang' your head to, something that only a few artists have managed to do.

The melody is amazing, it's flow-y and gorgeous.

# 10: Taio Cruz - I'll Never Love Again

Listening over to the song while I'm writing this, I just discovered who he sounds like.

A less annoying Akon.

Think about it, his pronunciation is similar and this song, with a little tweaking on the arrangement, could actually be an Akon song.

The first time I ever heard of him was when I first heard the Sugababes album, their duet with him was the bonus track. I liked the song, so I got curious and did my research before getting a hold of the album.

I loved the album.

He's kinda like Lemar actually, but I think Lemar has a nicer voice and makes even more brilliant melodies. Taio Cruz's melodies are amazing as well of course.

I mean, why would he be on the countdown if the melody of this song wasn't amazing? It just doesn't make sense.

# 11: David Cook - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

The day David Cook's debut album was released was the day Sony BMG and Simon Cowell murdered David Cook.

Seriously! I know that pop is a formula and all, and I know the American Idol formula is to give the winner all these tasteless ballads and just watch and see if they hit it big. But you see, that formula only really did work for Carrie Underwood.

David Cook was one of Idol's most creative and musical contestants in years and what did they do to him when he won? They murdered his identity, they stripped him of his creativity, the creativity that made him so different. They made him this boring rock-ballad singer with songs that sound the same and just hoped that people wouldn't notice.

Well I noticed.

The Cook that was on American Idol, the amazing singer, performer and the guy who could find all these uncommon arrangements and use them to his advantage was gone and had been replaced by this American Idol clone.

If they're gonna give him a ballad, they better give him a good one with an arrangement to die for along the lines of the stuff he did on Idol, Billie Jean, Always Be My Baby or this song. And they better give him the freedom to make it how he wants it, why was he able to win the whole contest if the music-buying public were the ones deciding? Because the people who go out and buy records liked what he was doing.

Sometimes I think the people at Sony BMG are stupid.

He performed I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For during the finals and I told myself, "If he doesn't win, the people voting must be deaf..".

The song was amazing, he sang it amazingly and at that moment, he seemed untouchable. It was brilliant.

If you don't agree with me on this, then I'm fine with that, but remember, this is MY blog, and I write MY opinions. I respect yours, so respect mine as well.

# 12: Elin Lanto - Speak N Spell

This was actually the last song I added to the list, but I certainly didn't make a mistake in putting it here.

The mere fact that she's Swedish got me to listen to her single(is this on an album? I haven't done my research yet..), and I loved what I heard.

I'm not usually a big fan of all this Swedish dance/techno/'trance' stuff, but this seems to fall somewhere between that and Agnes-type pop.

The instrumental is more techno but you can stick that melody into an Agnes arrangement and it'll be amazing. Kinda like Darin, only he's more R&B than hardcore dance so yeah.

That's what I love about the Swedish pop I've heard so far, they're somehow sure of who they are musically as a country. I don't know if it's the right way to put it so lemme explain. The artists are themselves, but there are certain songs that the minute I hear the melody I can tell their Swedish. Something like that.

I don't think you got a thing I said.

ANYWAY. I love the melody, I love the instrumentation so I ADORE the song!

# 13: V Factory - These Are The Days

V Factory, another BRILLIANT boyband to come out from the US this year, they're certainly making up for lost time.

Can you believe Darin wrote their upcoming single? It's amazing, and it sounds so Swedish!

Anyway. They released an EP earlier this year, and I was blown away.

They may have a really wimpy set of vocal chords but hey, the songs they've got are amazing. Amazing to the level that These Are The Days was the only thing I listened to for maybe two days, thus I've played it like 100 times already.

It's like a more R&B-influenced Ordinary Days(the Leon song I just reviewed yesterday..) but with another gorgeous melody.

As I said, the vocals are probably my only problem. They're a bit too Disney for me, but I guess that's what American boybands are, so who am I to change a tried and tested formula? After all, pop is a formula.

If I was to judge just the song, I would say it's stunning. After months of listening to it, I haven't gotten sick of it yet and that's definitely a good sign.

# 14: Corbin Bleu - Fear Of Flying

I actually have no idea where this song will be, but I love it so yay!

I think Corbin Bleu's first album was amazing, there were some amazing songs on it(including an OPM cover, who'd have thought of that?), but if this was on the album, it would've been light years better than all the other tracks.

It's current but it's Disney but it's brilliant. It's got a very recognize-able hook and these strange sounds at the start, which are both cool and strange to listen to. His voice is like a weaker Drew Seeley, I think it's the best way to put it. It's got the nasal thing, but I'm not so sure if his voice is processed or not. I think it is, but it might not be since I haven't heard him sing live yet.

This guy knows how to move with the trends while retaining his identity. His first album was very 2007, and this song is very 2008. He knows who he is so he can easily manipulate that and make songs that'll move with the times.

Brilliant, right? Of course!

# 15: Leon Jackson - Ordinary Days

Read my review of Right Now here.

Leon Jackson hasn't reached the commercial success that Leona or even Shayne Ward have, but I think he should've with this album. Some of the songs were just gorgeous, and his voice is just as gorgeous. There was one song however that stood out by a mile.

I said when I first reviewed this song that this is probably one of the most gorgeous songs I've heard this year, and I stand by that. Melodically it's a beautiful song, but what I think makes it even better is his voice. I mean come on, can you resist a voice like his? I can't, so I take it as a no.

It sounds a lot like Vanessa Amorosi's Simple Things and it's got a similar feel as well, which I why I love it so much. The song starts out quiet, but towards the end it's an explosion of brilliance, I think.

At the moment I'm worried about one thing, what will he do for his second album? He can either stand by this sound and keep doing it, or he can say "OK, I'm through with all this pretending(side comment: if he is..), I want to make music that's me..", I just don't know which one he'll actually go out and do. Either one, he's got an amazing voice and he's got to use it.

# 16: Karina - 16 @ War

Merry Christmas guys! Hope you all get stuffed with good food and even better music! Let's get on with todays songs..

I reviewed her album a few days ago, right after I had written this entry so if you want to read that review, go here.

So 16@War is this R&B mid-tempo, I wouldn't call it standard, there are a lot of elements that separate it from the other song in it's genre. The instrumentation differs, it has this strange instrument that sounds a lot like a synthesizer(maybe it is!) laying the groundwork for the rest of the song. It's cool, actually, it's one of the main reasons why this song just works and why it's exceptional.

The drums as well are kind of a bit different from what I usually hear on tracks liks this, it sounds like a drum you'd use in a marching band. The timbre, I think of the instrument makes the song sound heavy but light. Plus the fact that it's not processed.

Melodically it's quite unusual as well. Not sure if it's more on the melody or the phrasing, but the way this song is sung is edgy, young and I bet you JoJo can't sing a song like this(but she's a completely different artist..). This kind of proves that her voice is smooth, but it can be egdy as well. It's an amazing combination.

# 17: Jennifer Paige - Wasted

I remember her 90's hit Crush playing all the time when I was a kid, but I never really knew her. So when I saw this album, my curiosity took over and once I heard this song, I loved the whole album!

Wasted is more pop/rock as opposed to her previous stuff, but it just works for her. I love the bridge, and the chorus is amazing!

I don't have anything else to rant about her actually. The song's amazing, her voice is amazing and the album is brilliant, need I say more?

# 18: Danity Kane - Key To My Heart

It's Christmas eve!!!!

Those were the days when there were still five girls in Danity Kane. Oh, well.

So earlier this year, when they were still a five-piece, they released Welcome to the Dollhouse. I quite liked the album, actually. It was a nice transition from their first album, which I thought was just amazing.

I loved Damaged as well, it was a brilliant single and the the melody was amazing. The song itself was amazing, and the vocals were strong.

Key To My Heart reminds me a bit of Ooh Aah from their first album, actually. The feel of the two songs are similar and melodically they're both brilliant R&B songs.

I've always liked their vocals, how the five voices fit with each other, something I find very important in a girl group. No one actually overpowers someone else, and harmony-wise they're strong. They can't do five-part harmonies as far as I know but they can hold maybe a three-part one, which is good enough for me.

I adore this song, and even if they're a three-piece now, I'm looking forward to their new album, hopefully next year!

# 19: Take That - Said It All

Read my review of The Circus here.

So this year, Take That released another album as a four-piece but I wasn't that impressed by it. Don't get me wrong, there were some amazing tracks, but most of the stuff there weren't my cup of tea.

Anyway, I absolutely love this track, it sounds very, very Take That right now. The somewhat simple start and the gradual build-up to a big end. It actually reminds me a bit of Rule The World at the start for some strange reason.

As usual, Gary's vocals are amazing, and so are the rest of the guys. Fair play to them, at least they make amazing songs. I mean, Rule The World last year was huge(it even beat Westlife of all bands!)

I love Greatest Day as well, it's an amazing single and the perfect choice. I wonder what's in store for them next year?

# 20: Ricki-Lee - Wiggle It

Ricki-Lee most probably started my adoration to Australian music. I remember Poster Girl writing about her cover of Love Is All Around and I got curious, so I got her second album and I was blown away.

This year, she released Wiggle It and despite the strange title, it actually did quite well on the ARIA charts.

Plus, the melody is amazing, it shows just how versatile she can be within the sound she's planted firmly in our heads during her first two albums. It's like an even more dance/R&B-y Can't Touch This, I think. The rap part can be ignored I think, but it's grown on me, and it's actually a nice accent to the song.

Now, let's all take the time to worship her amazing voice.

Seriously, that huge voice has got all the control it needs. Some songs on her second album are a bit slower and softer than what she usually does and she does it beautifully. But, the way she pulls off the big songs are equally amazing, she's got that powerful voice that puts Delta Goodrem to shame(although she's a completely different singer.)