1. Blame It, Jamie Foxx (featuring T-Pain): If Jay-Z is right, and auto-tune is really DOA, Jamie Foxx’s Blame It with T-Pain was a heck of a send-off: This politically incorrect, glorified alcohol ad was also the perfect party starter that aged like a fine wine.

2. The Point of It All, Anthony Hamilton: An amazing love song anchored by perhaps the most soulful voice of this generation. Hamilton captures all the emotion of this song’s moving lyrics without over-singing and, with simplicity, he delivers something that is magical and beautiful.

3. Pretty Wings, Maxwell: A luscious, bittersweet ballad that was the perfect re-entry for Maxwell after an eight-year layoff.

4. Boom Boom Pow, Black Eyed Peas: Hello? They deserve it just for introducing the phrase “you’re so two-thousand-and-late” into the lexicon. Thank you, Fergie!

5. Shuttin Detroit Down, John Rich: Rich’s tone may be low-key, but the anger, frustration and bitterness is on high-tilt in this stirring anthem about what the collapse of the economy has done to the working class.

6. Poker Face, Lady Gaga: Lady Gaga may be single-handedly responsible for making disco music cool again, and this song was her best calling card, with a pulsating beat and that irresistible, stuttering hook.

7. Empire State of Mind, Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys: Any song that gets the Yankees their 27th championship merits a mention, but Jay-Z created an anthem that united more than New Yorkers with a mix of his classic braggadocio, plus a soaring chorus courtesy of Keys.

8. Gunpowder and Lead, Miranda Lambert: Lambert has always been one of the more feisty among country’s young, blond entertainers — and among the most talented. Here, she displays both qualities with her firecracker of a song directed to those no-good, cheating, women-beating men.

9. Chocolate High, India.Arie and Musiq Soulchild: This duet using chocolate and a love metaphor was sexy and sweet without being too sugary, and the blend of India and Musiq’s voice is a recipe that never fails.

10. There Goes My Baby, Charlie Wilson: That clear tenor that made so many hits for the Gap bands still works wonders, as it does for this classy song that sounds like a throwback from a more soulful era.