The 212 BEST SONGS of 2008

Click on the turntable on the left to listen to a continuous stream of music featured on Pretty Much Amazing - updated every day. For more, you can check out the Best Songs of 2012.

What? Were you expecting a Top 25? Top 50? This is PMA, bitches. I like to thing BIG. No, I get too emotionally attached to a song to not include it in my list of favorites. Seriously. Anyway, I tried this out last year with my “215(ish) Favorite Songs of 2007” — some people thought it was pretentious to pick 215 songs. I hear you, guys. So I shaved it down to 212. Hope that made you guys happy.

I would like to hear your thoughts on this list laden with WTFs and OMGs. Did I miss anything? I’m sure I did, but I honestly did try my best to remember every song that blew we away this year. Oh and don’t forget to include your picks in the comments.

After writing this list I wondered which artists got the most love from it. I’m sort of embarrassed that Lil Wayne ended up with 9 appearances on the list. And who knew I liked Chris Brown so much? I learn things about myself everyday… Anyway, there are a few no-brainers: Santogold (7), MGMT (7), Vampire Weekend (6). There are also a couple that left me confused – Jay-Z and Hercules & Love Affair.

Most Appearances By:

Lil Wayne – 9
Santogold – 7
MGMT – 7
The Killers – 6
Vampire Weekend – 6
Rihanna – 6
Chris Brown – 6
Hot Chip – 5
Jay-Z – 5
Hercules and Love Affair – 5

Without further ado, here are my favorite songs of 2008

My Favorite Songs of 2008
1. MGMT – Time To Pretend
2. Lil Wayne – A Milli (ft. Corey Gunz)
3. Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
4. Lykke Li – Little Bit
5. The Killers – Spaceman
6. Hercules and Love Affair – Blind
7. Coldplay – Viva La Vida
8. Vampire Weekend – Ottoman
9. Hot Chip – One Pure Thought
10. Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire
HM. MGMT – Electric Feel
HM. Fleet Foxes – Mykonos
HM. Cut Copy – Lights and Music
HM. Bon Iver – Skinny Love
HM. Santogold & Diplo – Icarus

Those were my Top 10 songs (ranked) along with a few honorable mentions: for my 212 (give or take) favorite songs of 2008, read on. Rank as you please.

PS: Before you start bitching: yes, I know some of these songs are from a
2007-released album (i.e. Radiohead, MGMT), but they’re on this list
because 1). They were officially released as singles in 2008, or 2) I
didn’t fully appreciate the song until sometime this year.

Gimme That Indie

The Hold Steady – Sequestered In Memphis
Fleet Foxes – Ragged Wood
The Low Lows – Modern Romance
Chairlift – Bruises
Gnarls Barkley – Run
of Montreal – Id Engager
Little Joy – Brand New Start
MGMT – Time To Pretend
Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Ra Ra Riot – Dying Is Fine
The Black Keys – Psychotic Girl
Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue
Low vs Diamond – Don’t Forget Sister
Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma
TV On The Radio – Dancing Choose
Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
Death Cab For Cutie – Cath…
Tokyo Police Club – Your English is Good
Sigur Rós – Gobbledigook
MGMT – Electric Feel
Beck – Chemtrails
Vampire Weekend – Campus
Bob Dylan – Someday Baby
Kaiser Chiefs – Addicted to Drugs
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
The Black Kids – Hurricane Jane
Fleet Foxes – Mykonos
Vampire Weekend – Ottoman
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals – Magick
TV On The Radio – Golden Age
Beck – Gamma Ray
Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
Radiohead – Videotape
Blitzen Trapper – Furr
Los Campesinos! – Death to Los Campesinos
MGMT – Kids
The Dodos – Fool
Vampire Weekend – Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac cover)
LCD Soundsystem – Big Ideas
The Black Kids – Partie Traumatic
Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines
Cold War Kids – Something Is Not Right With Me
The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age of the Understatement
Conor Oberst – Sausalito
Vampire Weekend – One (Blake’s Got A New Face)
Radiohead – All I Need

Mellow Out, Pop!

Santogold – L.E.S Artistes
Adele – Daydreamer
Goldfrapp – A&E
Cat Power – New York
Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m Gone
Jason Mraz – I’m Yours
The Killers – Human
Elisa – Dancing
Yael Naim – New Soul
Coldplay – Lost!
Heidi Newfield – Nothing Burns Like a Memory
Adele – Chasing Pavements
Cat Power – I Believe In You
Lykke Li – Little Bit
Kate Nash – Foundations
Lilly Allen – Everyone’s At It
Regina Spektor – Poor Little Rich Boy
Death Cab For Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart
The Killers – The World That We Live In
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
Michael Buble – Lost
Ingrid Michaelson – The Way I Am
Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love
Santogold – I’m A Lady
Jack Johnson – If I Had Eyes
Sara Bareilles – Love Song
Duffy – Mercy
Goldfrapp – Happiness
Robert Plant / Alison Krauss – Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)
KT Tunstall – Saving My Face
Colbie Caillat – Bubbly
OneRepublic – Apologize

You Rawk So Hard

The Killers – Losing Touch
Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire
Weezer – Pork & Beans
Foo Fighters – Let it Die
Eagles of Death Metal – (I Used to Couldn’t Dance) Tight Pants
Ida Maria – Oh My God
The Raconteurs – Salute Your Solution
The Bravery – Believe
Fall Out Boy – Headslide First Into Coopertown On A Bad Bet
Linkin Park – Given Up
Metallica – The Day That Never Comes
AC/DC – Rock N Roll Train
Foo Fighters – Long Road To Ruin
Disturbed – Inside The Fire
Offspring – You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid
Rise Against – The Good Left Undone
The Killers – A Crippling Blow
Ludo – Love Me Dead
Weezer – Troublemaker
Panic at the Disco – Nine In The Afternoon
Nine Inch Nails – Discipline
Fall Out Boy – I Don’t Care
The Killers – Spaceman
Guns N Roses – Chinese Democracy

Dirty Pop

Rihanna – Disturbia
Danity Kane – Damaged
Fergie – Love or Labels
Britney Spears – Womanizer
Robyn – Be Mine
Pussycat Dolls – When I Grow Up
Lady GaGa – Beautiful Dirty Rich
Kevin Rudolf ft. Lil Wayne – Let It Rock
Mariah Carey – Touch My Body
Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake – 4 Minutes
Rihanna – Don’t Stop The Music
Estelle ft. Kanye West – American Boy
Britney Spears – Circus
Robyn – Konichiwa Bitches
Keri Hilson – Energy
Maroon 5 ft. Rihanna – If I Never See Your Face
Madonna – Give It 2 Me
Christina Aguilera – Keeps Gettin’ Better
Lady GaGa – Poker Face
Jonas Brothers – Burnin’ Up
Metro Station – Shake It
Robyn – Handle Me
Mariah Carey – Migrate
Lady GaGa – Just Dance
Katy Perry – Hot N Cold
Rihanna – Vogue (Madonna Cover)
Britney Spears – Break The Ice

You’re Every Woman!

Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Katy Perry – I Kissed A Girl
Pink – So What
Leona Lewis – Better In Time
Beyonce – If I Were A Boy
The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name
Rihanna – Take A Bow

The Bangers

T.I. ft. Rihanna – Live Your Life
Kanye West – Love Lockdown
Lil Wayne ft. Kanye West – Lollipop
Missy Elliot – Shake Your Pom Pom
Big Boi ft Mary J. Blige – Somethin’s Gotta Give
Kardinal Offishall ft. Akon – Dangerous
Lupe Fiasco – Superstar
Lil Wayne – A Milli
Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco – Forever
T.I. & Jay-Z ft. Kanye, Lil Wayne – Swagga Like Us
Ludacris ft. Chris Brown and Sean Garrett – What Them Girls Like
M.I.A. – Paper Planes
T.I. – Whatever You Like
Nas – Be a Nigger Too
Wale – The Freestyle (Roc Boys)
Kanye West – Heartless
Lupe Fiasco – The Birds and the Bees
Missy Elliot ft. Jay-Z, Ciara – Ching-A-Ling
Jay-Z – Jockin’ Jay-Z
M.I.A. & Rye Rye – Tic Toc
Lupe Fiasco – Hip Hop Saved My Life
Santogold & Diplo – Icarus
The Game ft. Lil Wayne – My Life
Common ft. Cee-Lo – Make My Day
Lil Wayne ft. Jay-Z, Chris Brown – A Billi
Chromeo ft. AC – Momma’s Boy

Hey Shawty

Ne-Yo – Closer
Casely ft. Flo Rida – Emotional
Ne-Yo – Miss Independent
T-Pain ft. Justin Timberlake – Can’t Believe It (Remix)
Chris Brown – With You
Robin Thicke – Magic
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown – No Air
Raheem DeVaughn – Woman
Eric Benet – You’re The Only One
Musiq – Teachme
Justin Timberlake & Beyonce – Until The End of Time
Usher, Lil Wayne, Beyonce – Love In This Club, Part II
Robin Thicke – Lost Without U
Sean Kingston – Take You There
Chris Brown – Forever

Do The D.A.N.C.E.

Cut Copy – Hearts On Fire
Hot Chip – Out at the Pictures
Sam Sparro – Black and Gold
MGMT – Electric Feel (Justice Remix)
Justice – Planisphere (Final)
Hercules & Love Affair – Hercules Theme
Santogold – Creator
Cut Copy – Lights & Music
Hot Chip – Ready For The Floor
Cut Copy – Far Away (Hercules & Love Affair Remix)
Robyn – With Every Heartbeat
The Ting Tings – Great DJ
Crystal Castles – Untrust Us
Neon Neon – Trick For Treat
Justice – D.A.N.C.E. Part 2
Hot Chip – Shake A Fist
Santogold – L.E.S Artistes (XXXChange remix)
Hercules & Love Affair – Blind
The Teenagers – Love No
Justice – DVNO (LA Riots Remix)
Late of the Pier – Space and the Woods
Friendly Fires – Paris
Van She – Kelly
Foals – Cassius
Sam Sparro – 21st Century
MGMT -  Kids (Soulwax Nite Version)
Little Boots – Meddle
Midnight Juggernauts – Into The Galaxy
Pnau – Wild Strawberries
The Presets – This Boy’s In Love
Bloc Party – Signs
Neon Neon – I Lust U
Crystal Castles – Crimewave
Ladytron – Ghosts
Hot Chip – One Pure Thought

by Luis Tovar on December 17, 2008 ‡ 0 reactions