BEST SONG of 2010: U Smile by Justin Bieber

1. U Smile — Justin Bieber
The only evidence I can find that Michael is not dead, merely in hiding behind a haircut closely resembling that of a lightly tousled tulip.

2. Swim Until You Can't See Land — Frightened Rabbit

One day I may feel about this song the way I feel about the Pogues Fairytale of New York. I'll report back. Makes me miss scotch.

3. On Melancholy Hill — Gorillaz

Steady, wistful, fond, like toys breaking up with one another, or airport music by Harry Nilsson.

4. Get Outta My Way — Kylie Minogue
There's a series of stepped, consecutive fifths in the chorus that feels like a staircase rising up to meet your feet as you duck and jive your way up towards the mirrorball that awaits you, always.

5. Nothing But Love — Brian Wilson

A little slice of heaven: Wilson does Gershwin. Like finding a brand new Beach Boys single you've never heard of.

6. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa — Peter Gabriel & Hot Chip

Peter Gabriel does Vampire Weekend does Peter Gabriel. Yet the self-reference, instead of being smarmy, comes off as sweet, bashful even.

7. Power — Kanye West

Peter Gabriel does Vampire Weekend does Peter Gabriel. Yet the self-reference, instead of being smarmy, comes off as sweet, bashful even.

8. Heard it on The Radio — The Bird and the Bee

From the Bird and The Bee's album of Hall and Oates covers: a song that sounds like an old number one but turns out, upon closer inspection, to be an original.

9. Who Knows Who Cares — Local Natives

As close as an indie band comes to sounding like Bill Withers without being frog-marhed to the door and ejected on the grounds of tunefulness.

10. Wheels — Jamie Callum

The London jazz crooner channels Neil Diamond and Billy Joel among others. The way to Sophie Dahl's heart, we now find out.