When ranking the best pop songs of 2010, you have to try to approach the Billboard Charts cautiously, and without bias. What about these songs (lyrically, melodically, or otherwise) resonates with people on such a mass level? Regardless of whether you have respect for the artistic component of the creation of pop music, it’s fascinating to think that literally millions of people respond to these songs emotionally. With that in mind, let’s look at our list of the Best Pop Songs of 2010.

10. Janelle Monae feat. Big Boi – “Tightrope”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjWj5gJ6Kvc

After this track came out, I kind of expected to see more than we did from Janelle in 2010. Still, the modern-Motown style of production makes this a standout track. “Tightrope” is a guide for keeping a balanced lifestyle regardless of outward praise or criticism. Hopefully Monae can follow her own instructions, and deliver more bangers like this in 2011.

9. Big Boi feat. Cutty – “Shutterbugg”

OutKast’s last record, Idlewild, was met with lukewarm reception, and I don’t think anyone saw this coming. When Big Boi released Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty he secured his seat as my favourite member of OutKast. The production is great, and Big Boi’s flow has never been better. Big Boi is the epitome of cool.

8. Cee-Lo Green – “Fuck You”

How can you do a 2010 Top 10 without talking about this song? “Fuck You” exploded in a matter of minutes after being uploading to YouTube, going viral almost instantly. Since then, it’s been nominated for several Grammys, and even covered by Gwyneth Paltrow on Glee. The mass appeal this song carries is hard to deny, even if its overexposure is already beginning to annoy me.

7. Rihanna – “Only Girl (In The World)”

Rihanna seems to evoke dance diva Kylie Minogue on this track, and it’s a voice we’ve never heard her use before. It lends her a vulnerability that is often lacking in her other singles, and gives this massive club anthem a ton of heart. Rihanna owes much of the success of this track to producers StarGate. The beat is super heavy, and the production is lush. Rhi-Rhi’s voice has never been as powerful as it is in the chorus of this song.

6. Usher feat. Pitbull – “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love”

Usher is still King of the Club Anthem in 2010. Pitbull is atrocious on this track, but luckily Ursher destroys every other section of this song. When the verse, pre-chorus, and the chorus can all stand on their own as solid hooks, you know you’ve got a successful pop song.

5. Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg – “California Gurls”

“California Gurls” was the song of the summer, without a doubt. Feel good slap bass drives the chorus, and the addition of the hi-hat half way through brings it to that next level of pop bliss. I don’t know if this song would have charted this high if Snoop hadn’t lent his cool to this track. But he did, and it’s an undeniable smash. Well-produced, catchy, fun, and feel-good – the perfect summer song.

4. Robyn – “Call Your Girlfriend”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJnjNw6rbeI

There are few topics that resonate more in pop music than love gone wrong, and no one did it better in 2010 than Robyn on Body Talk. In “Call Your Girlfriend” Robyn gives her ex some relationship advice, underscored by a killer electro-pop backbeat. And the chopped and screwed vocal bridge is mind-blowingly good.

3. Kanye West – “Monster”

This song earns a high seeding, if only for the triumphant verse delivered by Nicki Minaj. “Monster” gave us an idea of what to expect on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, with a hefty list of featured performances, Kanye’s out-of-the-box production techniques, as well as his so-bad-they’re-good lyrics (“My presence is a present, kiss my ass”). Just awesome.

2. Alicia Keys – “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart”

This Prince-flavoured ballad was first released as a single in late November 2009, but it didn’t really make an impact on the charts until early 2010. The song is just too perfect to ignore on a technicality like that, so it’s the number two track on my list for 2010. Reverb soaked drums and synths pave the way for one of the best vocal performances Alicia Keys has ever given.

1. Justin Bieber feat. Usher – “Somebody to Love”

There’s no denying that 2010 was the year of Bieber Fever, and it’s only fitting that the finest cut from My World 2.0 tops the year end list. This song was originally written for Usher, who recorded a demo of the song, only to pass it on to his protégé. Catchy, danceable, “Somebody to Love” is a fusion of sparkling synths, four-on-the-floor beats, and sugary sweet vocals. This is the sound of pop music in 2010.

Honourable Mentions: The-Dream “Yamaha” & Ke$ha “Your Love Is My Drug”

Snubs Acknowledged: Eminem, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga. Hey, there’s no such thing as an objective Top 10 list, right?