19 Songs We Can't Believe Are Turning 10 In 2019

The year we got Ke$ha, solo Cheryl and when Black Eyed Peas dominated the charts...

Tuesday, December 18, 2018 - 17:08

Ah, 2009. When you'd have to text Twitter to tweet because it didn't have an app, when X Factor was in its prime with Cheryl as the nation's sweetheart, and politics was more or less separate from music altogether.

You could argue that it was a much simpler time but for pop music it was not. Lady Gaga's rapid ascent to the top was cemented with a blood-soaked VMAs performance, Ke$ha greeted the world with a whiskey kiss ready to party, David Guetta made his move into the mainstream to infiltrate pop with EDM and the UK's biggest girl group's biggest star made her solo debut in a big way.

Pop was back on top of the charts and everything was about to change massively as 2009 kickstarted a four-year-long dance party that brought everyone from all genres to the dance floor, competing to see who could drop the biggest beat. Beyond that, music videos were still extravagant, big budget affairs with slick choreography and storylines to leave you gagging.

Some of the songs on this list were the year's biggest-sellers, some are still on heavy rotation, and others have simply became cult classics. Let's dive in...

Lady Gaga - 'Bad Romance'

View the lyrics

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance

Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance

Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance

I want your ugly, I want your disease
I want your everything as long as it's free
I want your love, love, love, love
I want your love

I want your drama, the touch of your hand
I want your leather-studded kiss in the sand
I want your love, love, love, love
I want your love (love, love, love, I want your love)

You know that I want you
And you know that I need you
I want it bad, your bad romance

I want your love, and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your love and all your lover's revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance

Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance

I want your horror, I want your design
'Cause you're a criminal as long as you're mine
I want your love, love, love, love
I want your love

I want your psycho, your vertigo shtick
Want you in my rear window, baby, you're sick
I want your love, love, love, love
I want your love (love, love, love, I want your love)

You know that I want you
And you know that I need you ('cause I'm a free bitch, baby)
I want it bad, your bad romance

I want your love, and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your love and all your lover's revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance

Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance

Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance

Walk, walk, fashion baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk, walk, fashion baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk, walk, fashion baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk, walk, passion baby
Work it, I'm a free bitch, baby

I want your love, and I want your revenge
I want your love, I don't wanna be friends
J'veux ton amour, et je veux ta revanche
J'veux ton amour, I don't wanna be friends

No, I don't wanna be friends (caught in a bad romance)
I don't wanna be friends, want your bad romance
Caught in a bad romance
Want your bad romance

I want your love, and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your love and all your lover's revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh, oh-oh-oh
Want your bad romance
Caught in a bad romance
Want your bad romance (oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh...)
Want your bad romance
Caught in a bad romance

Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance

Writer(s): Nadir Khayat, Stefani Germanotta Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

Gaga. Ooh la la! 'Bad Romance' catapulted Lady Gaga to the tallest point of pop. It was her grandest production, best vocal performance and catchiest banger until that point, and came with a scandalously good video that gave us iconic looks, an iconic murder and introduced the monster paw. What a time to be alive.

Kesha - 'Tik Tok'

View the lyrics

Ke$ha - Tik Tok
Wake up in the morning
Feeling like P Diddy
Grab my glasses I'm out the door
I'm gonna hit this city
Before I leave brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack

I'm talking pedicure on our toes toes
Trying on all our clothes clothes
Boys blowing up our phones phones
Drop-toping playing our favorite CDs
Pulling up to the parties
Trying to get a little bit tipsy
Don't stop make it pop
DJ blow my speakers up
Tonight I'm a fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop no
Woah-oh oh oh
Woah-oh oh oh
Don't stop make it pop
DJ blow my speakers up
Tonight I'm a fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop no
Woah-oh oh oh
Woah-oh oh oh
Ain't got a care in world
But got plenty of beer
Ain't got no money in my pocket but I'm already here
And now the dudes are lining up
Cause they hear we got swagger
But we kick em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger

I'm talking about - everybody getting crunk crunk
Boys trying to touch my junk junk
Gonna smack him if he getting too drunk drunk
Now now - we goin till they kick us out out
Or the police shut us down down
Police shut us down down
Po-po shut us
Don't stop make it pop
DJ blow my speakers up
Tonight I'm a fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop no
Woah-oh oh oh
Woah-oh oh oh
Don't stop make it pop
DJ blow my speakers up
Tonight I'm a fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop no
Woah-oh oh oh
Woah-oh oh oh
DJ you build me up
You break me down
My heart it pounds
Yeah you got me
With my hands up
You got me now
You got that sound
Yeah you got me
DJ you build me up
You break me down
My heart it pounds
Yeah you got me
With my hands up
With your hands up
Put your hands up
Now the party don't stop until I walk in

Don't stop make it pop
DJ blow my speakers up
Tonight I'm a fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop no
Woah-oh oh oh
Woah-oh oh oh
Don't stop make it pop
DJ blow my speakers up
Tonight I'm a fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop no
Woah-oh oh oh
Woah-oh oh oh

Writer(s): Lukasz Gottwald, Benjamin Levin, Kesha Sebert Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

How has it been ten years of Kesha? The party girl with a dollar sign in her name burst into our lives with this massive electro-pop anthem that name-dropped Diddy, make whiskey cool again and got the world dancing.

Miley - 'Party In The USA'

View the lyrics

I hopped off the plane at L.AX
With a dream and my cardigan
Welcome to the land of fame excess (woah)
Am I gonna fit in?
Jumped in the cab, here I am for the first time
Look to my right, and I see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy
Everybody seems so famous

My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda home sick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous
That's when the taxi man turned on the radio
And a Jay-Z song was on
And a Jay-Z song was on
And a Jay-Z song was on

So I put my hands up
They're playing my song, the butterflies fly away
I'm noddin' my head like, yeah
Movin' my hips like, yeah
I got my hands up, they're playing my song
They know I'm gonna be okay
Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.
Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.

Get to the club in my taxi cab
Everybody's looking at me now
Like, "Who's that chick, that's rockin' kicks?
She gotta be from out of town"
So hard with my girls not around me
It's definitely not a Nashville party
'Cause all I see are stilettos
I guess I never got the memo

My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda home sick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous
That's when the DJ dropped my favorite tune
And a Britney song was on
And a Britney song was on
And a Britney song was on

So I put my hands up
They're playing my song, the butterflies fly away
I'm noddin' my head like, yeah
Movin' my hips like, yeah
I got my hands up, they're playing my song
They know I'm gonna be okay
Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.
Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.

Feel like hopping on a flight (on a flight)
Back to my hometown tonight (town tonight)
Something stops me every time (every time)
The DJ plays my song and I feel alright

So I put my hands up
They're playing my song, the butterflies fly away
I'm noddin' my head like, yeah (noddin' my head)
Movin' my hips like, yeah (ooh yeah)
I got my hands up, they're playing my song
They know I'm gonna be okay (gonna be okay)
Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.
Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.

So I put my hands up
They're playing my song, the butterflies fly away (flying away)
I'm noddin' my head like, yeah (noddin' my head like, yeah)
Movin' my hips like, yeah (movin' my hips like, yeah)
I got my hands up, they're playing my song
They know I'm gonna be okay (I'm gonna be okay)
Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.
Yeah (ha-ha-ha-ha), it's a party in the U.S.A.

Writer(s): Lukasz Gottwald, Claude Kelly, Jessica Cornish Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

'Party In The USA' is a special song that has stayed with everybody and has essentially became the soundtrack for America. The song itself is so massive even now that it's easy to forget what a moment it was at the time but this was really when Miley Cyrus, not the Hannah Montana girl, arrived.

Jay Z, Rihanna & Kanye - 'Run This Town'

After months of silence, Rihanna returned to the spotlight with a collaboration of epic proportions. Her second track with mentor Jay-Z and first with Kanye West, 'Run This Town' was a gritty, lighters-in-the-air anthem that still stands up well today.

Flo Rida & Ke$ha - 'Right Round'

View the lyrics

You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down

Hey, walk out that house with my swagger
Hop in there with dough, I got places to go!
People to see, time is precious
I looked at my cotty, are ya out of control?

Just like my mind where I'm goin'
No women, no shawties, no nothin' but clothes
No stoppin' now, my Pirellis on roll
I like my jewelry that's always on whoa

I know the storm is comin'
My pockets keep tellin' me it's gonna shower
Call up my homies, it's on
Then pop in the next 'cause this mix'll be ours

We keep a fade-away shot
'Cause we ballin' it's Platinum Patron that be ours
Lil mama, I owe you just like the flowers
Girl you the drink with all that goodie powers

You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down

From the top of the pole I watch her go down
She got me throwin' my money around
Ain't nothin' more beautiful to be found
It's goin' down down

From the top of the pole I watch her go down
She got me throwin' my money around
Ain't nothin' more beautiful to be found
It's goin' down down

Hey, shawty must know I'm the man
My money love her like her number one fan
Don't open my mouth, let her talk to my fans
My Benjamin Franklins

A couple of grands, I got rubber bands
My paper planes makin' her dance
Get dirty all night, that's part of my plan
We buildin' castles that's made out of sand

She's amazin', fire blazin'
Hotter than Cajun, girl won't you move a lil' closer?
Time to get paid, it's maximum wage
That body belong on a poster

I'm in a daze, that bottom is wavin' at me
Like, "Damn it, I know you"
You wanna shoot like a gun out of holster
Tell me whatever and I'll be your gopher

You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down

From the top of the pole I watch her go down
She got me throwin' my money around
Ain't nothin' more beautiful to be found
It's goin' down down

From the top of the pole I watch her go down
She got me throwin' my money around
Ain't nothin' more beautiful to be found
It's goin' down down

Yeah, I'm spendin' my money, I'm out of control
Somebody help me she takin' my bank roll
But I'm king of the club and I'm wearin' the crown
Poppin' these bottles, touchin' these models
Watchin' they asses go down down

You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down

You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down

Writer(s): Peter Jozzepi Burns, Stephen Coy, Tramar Dillard, Justin Scott Franks, Lukasz Gottwald, Allan Peter Grigg, Peter Gene Hernandez, Philip Martin Ii Lawrence, Timothy John Lever, Michael David Percy Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

Prior to 'Tik Tok', Ke$ha - sorry, Kesha - was already everywhere at the beginning of 2009 on Flo Rida's Number 1 single 'Right Round'. The only thing was she wasn't credited and didn't appear in the video so we had no idea we'd already been singing along to her for a long time.

Cheryl - 'Fight For This Love'

View the lyrics

Too much of anything can make you sick
Even the good can be a curse
Makes it hard to know which road to go down
Knowing too much can get you hurt

Is it better? Is it worse?
Are we sitting in reverse?
It's just like we're going backwards
I know where I want this to go
Driving fast but let's go slow
What I don't wanna do is crash, no

Just know that you're not in this thing alone
There's always a place in me you can call home
Whenever you feel like we're growing apart
Let's just go back, back, back, back, back to the start

Anything that's worth having
Is sure enough worth fighting for
Quitting's out of the question
When it gets tough gotta fight some more

We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
If it's worth having it's worth fighting for

Now every day ain't gon' be no picnic
Love ain't a walk in the park
All you can do is make the best of it now
Can't be afraid of the dark

Just know that you're not in this thing alone
There's always a place in me you can call home
Whenever you feel like we're growing apart
Let's just go back, back, back, back, back to the start

Anything that's worth having
Is sure enough worth fighting for
Quitting's out of the question
When it gets tough gotta fight some more

We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
If it's worth having it's worth fighting for

I don't know where we're heading I'm willing and ready to go
We've been driving so fast we just need to slow down and just roll

Anything that's worth having
Is sure enough worth fighting for
Quitting's out of the question
When it gets tough gotta fight some more

We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
If it's worth having it's worth fighting for

We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
If it's worth having it's worth fighting for

Writer(s): Wilkins Wayne, Merritt Andre Darrell, Kipner Stephen Alan Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

Here she is! Girls Aloud star Cheryl stepped onstage alone for her solo debut and everybody loved it. The nation's sweetheart responded to rumours of her then-husband Ashley Cole's infidelity with a punchy pop banger that defended their marriage in one super optimistic melody. With a military-themed video and debut performance, and ridiculous slitted trousers, it is truly a debut to remember.

David Guetta & Kelly Rowland - 'When Love Takes Over'

View the lyrics

It's complicated
It always is
That's just the way it goes
Feels like the wait it is so long for this
I wonder if it shows

Head under water
Now I can breath
It never felt so good
'Cause I can feel it coming over me
I wouldn't stop it if I could

When love takes over (Yeah-ah-eah)
You know you can't deny
When love takes over (Yeah-ah-eah)
'Cause something's here tonight

Give me a reason
I gotta know
Do you feel it too?
Can't you see me here all over alone
And this time I blame you

Looking out for you to hold my hand
It feels like I could fall
Now love me right, like I know you can
We could lose it all

When love takes over (Yeah-ah-eah)
You know you can't deny
When love takes over (Yeah-ah-eah)
'Cause something's here tonight

Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight

And I-I-I-I-I'll be loving you all the time, is true
'Cause I-I-I-I wanna make it right, with you

When love takes over
When love takes over
When love takes over
When love takes over
When love takes over
When love takes over
When love takes over

Over,
Over, over, over
Over, over, over,
Over, over, over...

When love takes over (Yeah-ah-eah)
You know you can't deny
When love takes over (Yeah-ah-eah)
'Cause something's here tonight

Writer(s): David Guetta, Frederic Jean Riesterer, Miriam Nervo, Kelendria Trene Rowland, Olivia Margaret Nervo Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

Let us just say something quickly: 'When Love Takes Over' is one of the best songs of all time. David Guetta leaped into the mainstream with this glorious, sunkissed, euphoric banger and brought Kelly Rowland back into our lives at the same time. Forever amazing.

Black Eyed Peas - 'I Gotta Feeling'

View the lyrics

I got a feeling
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

A feeling
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

A feeling (woo-hoo)
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

A feeling (woo-hoo)
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

Tonight's the night, let's live it up
I got my money, let's spend it up (fee-)
Go out and smash it, like "Oh my God"
Jump out that sofa, let's kick it, off (fee-)

I know that we'll have a ball
If we get down and go out, and just lose it all
I feel, stressed out, I wanna let it go
Let's go way out, spaced out, and losin' all control

Fill up my cup, mazel tov
Look at her dancin', just take it, off (fee-)
Let's paint the town, we'll shut it down
Let's burn the roof, and then we'll do it again

Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it, let's do it
And do it, and do it, let's live it up
And do it, and do it, and do it, do it, do it
Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it

'Cause I gotta feeling (woo-hoo)
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

A feeling (woo-hoo)
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

Tonight's the night (hey), let's live it up (let's live it up)
I got my money (I'm paid), let's spend it up (let's spend it up)
Go out and smash it (smash it), like "Oh my God" (like "Oh my God!")
Jump out that sofa (come on), let's kick it, off (fee-)

Fill up my cup (drink), mazel tov (l'chaim)
Look at her dancing (move it, move it), just take it, off (fee-)
Let's paint the town (paint the town), we'll shut it down (shut it down)
Let's burn the roof (ooh-woo), and then we'll do it again

Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it, (Let's do it) let's do it
And do it (do it), and do it, let's live it up
And do it (do it), and do it (and do it)
And do it, do it, do it (and do it)
Let's do it (and do it), let's do it (and do it)
Let's do it (hey), do it (hey), do it (hey), do it

Here we come, here we go, we gotta rock
Easy come, easy go, now we on top
Feel the shot, body rock, rock it, don't stop
Round and round, up and down, around the clock
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (do it)
Friday, Saturday, Saturday to Sunday (do it)
Get, get, get, get, get with us, you know what we say, say
Party every day, p-p-p-party every day

And I'm feeling (woo-hoo)
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

A feeling (woo-hoo)
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good, good night (woo-hoo)

Writer(s): Adams Will, Ferguson Stacy Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

'When Love Takes Over' wasn't David Guetta's only big hit that year as he produced the Black Eyed Peas' third Number 1 single 'I Gotta Feeling'. Now a staple song to get your parents and aunties on the dancefloor at weddings, 30ths and so on, the low-key basic banger felt oddly revolutionary at the time.

Kelly Clarkson - 'My Life Would Suck Without You'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRM70Jw7F4M

MY LIFE! WOULD SUCK! Kelly Clarkson chanted her way back into our lives with 'My Life Would Suck Without You', a 'Since U Been Gone' 2.0 stadium-ready pop banger that let us flex her insane vocal range and bring pop-rock back to the forefront. Bravo, KC.

Shakira - 'She Wolf'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=booKP974B0k

Ah-ooooooh! Shakira is undoubtedly one of the most unpredictable artists we're lucky to have because some of her ideas are just so odd that only she could pull them off. 'She Wolf' is another prime example of this, as she made the seemingly bizarre concept into a disco-tinged floor-filler - and made the entire world howl in unison without questioning it.

JLS - 'Beat Again'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEYhGhdwMKI

Ah, JLS. The all-singing, all-dancing X Factor boy band who brainwashed the nation so much that people bought condoms with their logo on them. 'Beat Again' was the group's debut and it went right in at Number 1 on the charts, and it wasn't their last.

Lily Allen - 'Not Fair'

View the lyrics

Oh, he treats me with respect, he says he loves me all the time
He calls me fifteen times a day, he likes to make sure that I'm fine
You know I've never met a man who's made me feel quite so secure
He's not like all them other boys, they're all so dumb and immature

There's just one thing that's getting in the way
When we go up to bed, you're just no good, it's such a shame
And I look into your eyes, I want to get to know you
And then you make this noise, and it's apparent it's all over

It's not fair and I think you're really mean
I think you're really mean, I think you're really mean
Oh, you're supposed to care, but you never make me scream
You never make me scream

Oh, it's not fair and it's really not ok
It's really not ok, it's really not ok
Oh, you're supposed to care
But all you do is take
Yeah, all you do is take

Oh, I lie here in the wet patch, in the middle of the bed
I'm feeling pretty damn hard done by, I spent ages givin' head
Then I remember all the nice things that you've ever said to me
Maybe I'm just overreacting, maybe you're the one for me

There's just one thing that's getting in the way
When we go up to bed, you're just no good, it's such a shame
And I look into your eyes, I want to get to know you
And then you make this noise, and it's apparent it's all over

It's not fair and I think you're really mean
I think you're really mean, I think you're really mean
Oh, you're supposed to care, but you never make me scream
You never make me scream

Oh, it's not fair and it's really not ok
It's really not ok, it's really not ok
Oh, you're supposed to care, but all you do is take
Yeah, all you do is take

There's just one thing that's getting in the way
When we go up to bed, you're just no good, it's such a shame
And I look into your eyes, I want to get to know you
And then you make this noise, and it's apparent it's all over

It's not fair and I think you're really mean
I think you're really mean, I think you're really mean
Oh, you're supposed to care, but you never make me scream
You never make me scream

Oh, it's not fair and it's really not ok
It's really not ok, it's really not ok
Oh, you're supposed to care, but all you do is take
Yeah, all you do is take

Writer(s): Kurstin Gregory Allen, Allen Lily Rose Beatrice Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

A stomping rodeo-ready pop tune about an unsatisfactory sexual partner? Only Lily Allen could do it so well. The timeless classic is bloody hilarious but legitimately brilliant, and still goes off.

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys - 'Empire State of Mind'

View the lyrics

In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York
New York, New York
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
Welcome to the melting pot
Corners where we selling rock
Afrika Bambaataa shit
Home of the hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
For foreigners it ain't fair they act like they forgot how to add
Eight million stories out there in the naked
City it's a pity half of y'all won't make it
Me I gotta plug Special Ed "I got it made"
If Jeezy's payin' LeBron, I'm payin' Dwayne Wade
Three dice Cee-lo
Three-card Monte
Labor Day parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade
Long live the king yo
I'm from the Empire State that's
In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York
New York, New York
Lights is blinding
Girls need blinders
Or they can step out of bounds quick
The sidelines is lined with casualties
Who sipping life casually, then gradually become worse
Don't bite the apple Eve
Caught up in the in crowd
Now you're in-style
And in the winter gets cold en vogue with your skin out
The city of sin is a pity on a whim
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
Hail Mary to the city you're a virgin
And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church ends
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Ballplayers, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
MDMA got you feeling like a champion
The city never sleeps better slip you a Ambien
In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York
New York, New York

Writer(s): Shawn C Carter, Alicia J Augello Cook, Robinson Sylvia, Angela Ann Hunte, Alexander William Shuckburgh, Bert Keyes, Jane't Sewell Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

We couldn't only have one Jay-Z song on this list when 'Empire State of Mind' exists. Now the unofficial anthem of New York City, Alicia Keys had everyone from Coventry to Aberdeen pretending they were in the Big Apple all year long.

Britney Spears - '3'

View the lyrics

One, Two, Three
Not only you and me
Got one eighty degrees
And I'm caught in between
Countin' One, Two, Three
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Gettin' down with Three P
Everybody loves... oh, countin'

Babe, pick a night
To come out and play
If it's alright
What do you say?
Merrier the more
Triple fun that way
Twister on the floor
What do you say?

Are you in?
Livin' in sin is the new thing
Yeah, are you in?
I am counting

One, Two, Three
Not only you and me
Got one eighty degrees
And I'm caught in between
Countin' One, Two, Three
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Gettin' down with 3P
Everybody loves... oh, countin'

One, Two, Three
Not only you and me
Got one eighty degrees
And I'm caught in between
Countin' One, Two, Three
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Gettin' down with Three P
Everybody loves... oh

Three is a charm
Two is not the same
I don't see the harm
So are you... game?
Let's make a team
Make 'em say my name
Lovin' the extreme
Now are you... game?

Are you in?
Livin' in sin is the new thing
Yeah, are you in?
I am counting

One, Two, Three
Not only you and me
Got one eighty degrees
And I'm caught in between
Countin' One, Two, Three
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Gettin' down with Three P
Everybody loves... oh, countin'

One, Two, Three
Not only you and me
Got one eighty degrees
And I'm caught in between
Countin' One, Two, Three
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Gettin' down with Three P
Everybody loves... oh

What we do is innocent
Just for fun and nothing meant
If you don't like the company
Let's just do it you and me
You and me
Or three
Or four
On the floor

One, Two, Three
Not only you and me
Got one eighty degrees
And I'm caught in between
Countin' One, Two, Three
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Gettin' down with Three P
Everybody loves... oh, countin'

One, Two, Three
Not only you and me
Got one eighty degrees
And I'm caught in between
Countin' One, Two, Three
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Gettin' down with Three P
Everybody loves... oh

Writer(s): Amber Tiffany, Martin Max, Schuster Johan Karl Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

With the big comeback a huge success, Britney kept things moving while on the Circus Tour and dropped a greatest hits album to remind everyone yet again why she just is that bitch. (It's Britney, bitch.) A cheeky ode to threesomes, '3' was another massive hit for her and the second time in 2009 when she got away with singing so freely about sex on the radio. Legends only.

La Roux - 'Bulletproof'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk8eJh4i8Lo

La Roux quite frankly snapped on this karaoke classic. Good luck reaching those notes, though!

Pitbull – 'I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S3foICf5uI

The one and only Pitbull was just at the beginning of his reign in 2009 but that didn't stop him from dropping songs as huge as 'I Know You Want Me'.

Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo & Kanye West - 'Knock You Down'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_RqWocthcc

#JusticeForKeriHilson: Even in the company of Kanye West and Ne-Yo (who were both at the top of their game when this dropped), Keri Hilson more than held her own on the dreamy single 'Knock You Down'.

Jason Derulo - 'Whatcha Say'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBI3lc18k8Q

Kesha wasn't the only new kid on the block that year as Jason Derulo jumped into our lives with the Imogen Heap-sampling 'Whatcha Say' that stole our hearts.

Owl City - 'Fireflies'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psuRGfAaju4

Perhaps the most unlikely song to live on, Owl City's 'Fireflies' has become a strange cult classic among milennials. We're not complaining though - a bop is a bop. Thanks to Vine, we guess.