Slant Magazine

Great list, but what about Adele's "Someone Like You?" It was reviewed favorably in 21's album review and ended up doing much better than anyone thought (it should also be noted it was the first strictly-piano-and-vocals song to go number one on Billboard's Hot 100). I was admittedly surprised not to see it on this list.

denvercash77, I was not surprised by the absence of "Someone Like You". To be honest, I was more surprised that the track listing from "Born this Way" didn't make up the top 14 positions on the chart...

Well, I'm glad I agree on your #1 choice. But... "Till the World Ends"?!?! "The Edge of Glory"??!!?!? I know I must come off as an insane person defending Rihanna and Ke$ha in other articles but... seriously; WHAT?! "Till the World Ends" is nothing but a rip-off of "Blow," which is infinitely superior (yeah, I know Ke$ha had a hand in writing it but isn't that all the more reason to see that it isn't half the song?). And "Glory" puts me to sleep (isn't that the opposite effect Gaga was going for and just an abuse of the word's intent?). Hardly a shock, I know, but a song that eats my brain is "S&M." And... this only just occured to me: no "Super Bass"? Another track easily superior to "Till the World Ends." As a matter of fact, it was the "Poker Face" of 2011 and you guys decided to favor that with a mention of the best singles of the decade in 2009. I wanted to comment on the album article but there was way too much freaky discussion by sad Spears fan of how critics aren't fair to her, blah blah blah. But, for Spears songs better than "World Ends": "I Wanna Go" (also featuring a bit that rips off of Ke$ha's "Dinosaur") and "Up N' Down" (deleted from the standard album, kept on the Deluxe Edition).

Agreed on "Cruel" as well.

Singles, Mike321, singles.

I, too, am surprised at some of the choices on here. "Born This Way"?? Really? I mean, I don't care about her ripping off Madonna's "Express Yourself", but the song is so damn overproduced, I can't stand it. And "The Edge of Glory". It's an okay song (I prefer her acoustic rendition on Howard Stern. Check it out sometime, it's actually one of the best performances I've seen from her), but critics (including Slant) hated it initially. Also, that bit where you tried justifying Spears' "Till The World Ends" was kind of lousy. I guess that "surviving the apocalypse" bit was kind of interesting, but doesn't make up for all of Ke$ha's whoa-oh-oh's that she puts in to cover up the fact that she doesn't know any words, and sure as hell doesn't warrant a place on a year-ends list, much less in the top twenty.

I don't know if everyone's just grown to love the songs, or if it's a sign of where music is today that Lady Gaga and Britney Spears could, combined, have three songs in the top twenty of a year-end's best songs list. I expect this from someone like Rolling Stone, but a bit surprised to find it on Slant.

Very refreshing to see K-pop on this list! I've been waiting for the US to get on the K-pop boat with the rest of the world, but I always suspected it would have to be 2NE1 to do it, since they're the most akin to Western styles of music. It seems like they're doing just that, with their recent MTV win and this feature of their single "I Am The Best" in Slant. 2NE1 is perhaps the most unique girl band to come out of Asia, and if anybody can break down the wall between the East & the West, these girls can do it! They're style, sound, and attitudes definitely make them a group to look out for in the coming years! I don't doubt they'll be making more "Best Singles" lists in the future, and maybe even some "Best Albums" lists! Their US project should be coming out in 2012, and hopefully they'll put an end to the poorly executed US projects that other K-pop, J-pop, and J-rock artists have tried.

Utterly dissapointed. Lady Gaga? Seriously? You think that putting her (horrible) face in your homepage would attract more viewers?

There are more, way more best singles this year.

Das Racist is a sweet choice...though The Rapture's "How Deep Is Your Love" is missing.

Wow, people really have to say something about Gaga—female pop is just so looked down upon. Take your snobbery elsewhere—the lady deserves it. She deserves every last bit of it.

Thank you, Slant, for making outstanding lists.

Psyched to see Kanye at number one. It's a damn good song and even with all the hyped out production values, it's got a dark story line that still shines through. Also good to see Patrick Wolf, although "Time of My Life" is my favorite on that album. As for Gaga, I'm not surprised to see her a couple of times on the list due to all the love she gets from this blog for some reason. I just don't find her authentic and her music doesn't stand out to me as anything interesting or different. A couple I would have added in replace of Gaga, Kate Bush for "Misty" and Erasure for "Whole Lotta Love Run Riot", but I don't think the latter was even reviewed here. Oh yeah, Blondie had one of their best singles out this year too, "Mother".

Decent list - I don't mind Gaga, but her placements on this list concern me.

I agree wit No-Personality that 'Super Bass' should've featured here...and surely 'We Found Love'?? Instead of Britney....

Love 'Rolling In The Deep', great to see Beth Ditto on here - the EP is gr8.

I keep hearing about K-pop...everywhere....seriously

Your list is a bit whack if u ask me..it consists of mainly a bunch of eith brand new or indie groups that most people haven't even heard of, accompanied by the WORST songs On Lady Gagas Born this way album..personally, the only one on that album that is good enough to make the list was "Bloody Mary"..That is a flippin AWESOME SONG..I was very disappointed with it after waiting FOREVER for it to be released..Adelle s only good one is "Set Fire To The Rain"..the rest of them are just a bunch of whiny sappy LESBIAN POWER ballads...puke..she has an INCREDIBLE voice, but all she wants to do is DWELL in her past..get the hell over it already..youre rich now..

Britney s Album was pretty damned good too..but the ONE song u chose is typical of Keisha to have co-written..Shes an Illuminatti puppet bar whore who is not only trashy but ugly and talentless except for her song writing abilities..all she sings about is getting wasted in the clubs all night...TIRED..Til The World Ends isnt a bad song, however it is dark and depressing..they FINALLY managed to rope Britney into their false little NEW WORLD ORDER doomsday shit beliefs..."Inside Out" is the best one on Femme Fatale...Her Circus album was PHENOMENAL..this one was just good...Kanye West was a decent choice for spot one..but Rihanna wasnt even credited for it and she is half the song if not more...and she got ZERO nominees??? WTF? The Rated R album was better but come on...give me a break.."Only Girl in the World" or "Whats My Name" were both HUGE this year..And "Skin"..wow INCREDIBLE SONG...I have over 1700 cds..Im a MUSIC PHENATIC and there were people on ur list I have never heard of, which is RARE..Im gonna update this after I look into those ones so that maybe I can give yall a bit more positive quotations...

Woah, peacock, I couldn't disagree with you more on "Bloody Mary." Easily the weakest song on the album in my opinion. As for Rihanna, I only wish "Skin" had been a single rather than "Cheers." Then, yes, it would have been my #2 vote for best single of the year (right after "All of the Lights"). I was under the impression Slant had yet to catch Adele fever. I seem to remember they've given both of her albums 3/5.

Thanks, OK. But I'd say "We Found Love" was good, not great. Better than "Til the World Ends" but not better than Britney's "I Wanna Go" (which again is why it's too bad Slant went for Ke$ha's sequel to "Blow" instead). As for Gaga, "Judas" is still the best single she's released from the album yet. Though I'm still hoping "Government Hooker" and "Highway Unicorn" become singles (this is why I really resent "Edge of Glory" as a choice for single since almost no major artist releases more than 6 singles from an album anymore). Or "Heavy Metal Lover" - DAMN that thing grows on you!

Unlike the crazypants above me, I'm just wondering where "Barton Hollow" is.

There are 4 letters in your screenname which you really don't need.

Guess which.

Great list. I was pretty surprised to see some of my favorites on here, particularly "Till the World Ends", "Call Your Girlfriend", "Rolling in the Deep", and "All of the Lights".

Till the World Ends was the biggest surprise for me, and I guess it's understandable for other people to question its position. Personally, I thought it was one of Britney's best singles in years, there's just something about that song that hits you. I definitely don't care if Kesha wrote the song, it stands completely alone from Blow (hated that song).

I would've loved to see Time Machine - Robyn, and Heavy Metal Lover - Lady Gaga, but they weren't released as singles, so I'm still happy to see the artists' presences on this list anyway with the songs that were released as singles.

Heh, No-Personality, I wasn't simply referring to you, but *all* the crazypants. Debating the merits of Rihanna v. Britney v. Ke-dollarsign-ha is a particularly amusing task to me.

I'm all for "All of the Lights" and Lana Del Rey. I'd be great if I never heard another word from Tyler, the Asshole again. I'm guessing it was too late in the game to get the Black Keys' "Lonely Boy" on the list, as well, but I'm willing to forgive.

protools: Still. I do agree that Tyler's overrated, at the very least, though.

clearly: You're wrong. (All that need be said, really.)