The Best of '07 in Music

At the turn of every new year, we look back fondly (or not so fondly) at our memories from the previous year. And often enough, music is a great marker for remembering what was going on in the background of those memories.
So, as all the professionals roll out their year-end list, I figured I'd make my own. I'm sure many will disagree with my choices, but it's my list, so there! The only criterion a song had to meet to get on the list was, duh, it had to be made in '07, not released in '07. So, here they are, my favorite songs of 2007.

30. If That's OK With You - Shayne Ward
X-Factor champ Shayne Ward just makes the list with this, the first single from his album Breathless. The lyrics are cheesy as all hell but, the melody is nice, and I enjoy his voice.

29. Open Toes - Katharine McPhee
Generic AI runner up Katharine McPhee managed to not be so generic on this track, easily a standout on her eponymous debut album.

28. Potential Break-Up Song - Aly & A.J.
Hated this song for quite some time, but there's only so many times you can hear "la la la la la la" and not sing along. Though they've been pushing hard on the Disney circuit for some time now, this song sort of solidified their awkward place with the current MTV generation.

27. He Said, She Said - Ashley Tisdale
Seemingly very eager to break the High School Musical image, Ashley's borderline annoying vocals take the backseat to the bangin' beat on this track. Can't help but dance. *shrugs*

26. Over It - Jordan Pruitt
This girl's a rarity; she got her start from the Disney Channel but she can actually sing. Cute little number from her cute little debut album, but young Jordan's pipes should take her far.

25. Boyfriend - Samantha Jade
Hands down, the best new talent I've heard all year, Samantha Jade can sing your socks off. However, apparently having trouble getting exposure, Samantha has yet to release an album. Get to know this voice early, though.

24. いきがい (Ikigai) - Tanaka Roma
Another newcomer, Tanaka Roma released his self-titled debut early this year and considering he wrote most of the songs himself, it's pretty decent. He's bilingual; this is the only English track on his Japanese album, and he shows a lot of promise. Looking forward to what he does next.

23. This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race - Fall Out Boy
Great song from a band that was able to give us more of what we liked the first time around, but better.

22. Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
I can't stand Carrie Underwood. (May have something to do with her dating Chace Crawford...). But, the lyrics in this song are just too fresh to ignore. "RIGHT NOW, he's probably dabbing on $3 worth of that bathroom Polo..." lol.

21. COLORS - Flow
The opening theme to the anime Code Geass, it's sure to become the song all the anime heads will be singing when the series comes to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim this year. The song and the anime are both awesome.

20. Fuego - The Cheetah Girls
As humiliating as it is to include "Growl Power" on my list, this song is f***in' catchy, and I've been singing it for three months now. Don't hate.

19. She Said, I Said (Time We Let Go) - NLT
Four young men also having trouble kick-starting their careers, NLT is a solid pop boy-band reminiscent of N*Sync. This Timbaland-produced ballad is a pretty good way to start out.

18. Super Villain - Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole has not exactly been riding her solo success to the bank as of yet, but this track off of her serially delayed album is a jumper. And, she "just wants Batman alone."

17. Love Like This - Natasha Bedingfield
Huge NB fan, love her voice and her music. Love Like This is her first U.S. single for her new album to be released this year. She teamed up with Sean Kingston for the radio edit (God knows why) but I prefer the version where Natasha flies solo.

16. Headturner - Joss Stone
Joss Stone allegedly f***ed for some of the tracks from her Introducing Joss Stone album released early this year. And if she did, it was worth it! An amazing, amazing album, and this track is one of my faves.

15. Whine Up - Kat DeLuna
One of my favorite club jams of the year. 2007 wasn't all that kind to newcomers to the game; Kat is struggling to find her spot in the industry as well. But, she definitely has talent and a unique flair.

14. You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse
Everyone's new favorite crackhead (later, Whitney), Amy Winehouse's awesome talent and amazing album have been overshadowed by her tabloid-worthy antics and drug issues. I doubt that will get in the way of her winning the 'Best New Artist' grammy, but here's hoping she cleans up her act in '08. Love this song.

13. Everything - Michael Bublé
I love Michael Bublé, his voice is just phenomenal. Everything is a great little ditty and Michael's voice shines.

12. We All Want the Same Thing - Kevin Michael
Yet another new, stunning talent, I can't wait for Kevin to become mainstream. His music deserves to be heard by as many people as possible. He's so dope.

11. Way I Are - Timbaland/Keri Hilson/D.O.E.
The hit-maker himself! Not satisfied with having his hand in everyone else's album, Timbo put out his own this year, and this is my favorite track. Be on the lookout for Scream, though - that joint is fly, too.

10. Gimme More (Remix) - Britney Spears/T.I.
I didn't want to like anything Britney put out this year, but as soon as I heard this remix I knew the battle was over, and I had lost. Say what you will about Britney (and I say a lot), this song is inescapable.

9. No One - Alicia Keys
This song took a while to grow on me; I only really started to enjoy it once she performed it live. Another classic to add to the list. Alicia should make music for the rest of her life.

8. Love Don't Cry - m-flo L♥Ves Crystal Kay
My favorite collab of the year! (Beautiful Liar can go suck an egg.) Crystal and m-flo work so well together, and practically anything Crystal sings I can listen to on repeat forever and ever.

7. 4 In The Morning - Gwen Stefani
Didn't perform too well on the charts, but I absolutely love this song. Definitely my favorite song from The Sweet Escape. Can't wait for the No Doubt reunion!

6. Feedback - Janet Jackson
I know it just dropped, but this song is fire! Janet always brings the heat! Her last album was totally underrated, but this year she will not be robbed! Discipline me, Janet, Discipline me.

5. Love Today - Mika
Ah, Mika, where have you been all my life? Life in Cartoon Motion is one of my favorite albums of 2007, and Mika is just so brilliant. Like, uh, yes.

4. You Give Me Something - James Morrison
I love this song so much that I bought his album just to hear what else he had come up with. New artists came from every which way in '07. I wasn't prepared...

3. Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
Another X-Factor champ makes the list; Leona Lewis has such a fantabulous voice she could sing me the ABCs and I'd shiver. Can't wait 'til she comes to the U.S.
Download 'Bleeding Love'

2. Umbrella - Rihanna/Jay-Z
How could it not make the list? Ubiquitous throughout most of 2007, Umbrella was the hit nobody was expecting. Breaking Rihanna into the world market, this track definitely pushed her career to the next plateau. And, I hear Breaking Dishes will be a single in '08!

1. こんなに近くで (Konna ni Chikaku De) - Crystal Kay
Hands down, my #1 song for 2007. My iTunes logs 337 plays. Uh huh, it's that serious. This song is perfection. Perfection, I say!
Download 'Konna ni Chikaku de'

That's the list! Feel free to comment if you agree or disagree, or have never heard of most of these damn songs anyway.