# Best #1 single of the year retrospective: 2010 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420 "2014-12-05T16:59:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/1 "2014-12-05T16:59:57Z")
The penultimate poll in our year-by-year survey of your favorite number-one jams of all time takes us now to the long-ago year of 2010. IMO, this was around the time when pop music really started to get good again after being mediocre at best throughout the 2000s, and there are several good choices here (and for at least one of our regular voters, the _ultimate_ dilemma is about to present itself.) There’s no carryover this year, leaving us with 17 songs to choose from. What’s your favorite? Previous polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734168) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734331) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734535) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734741) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735107) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735304) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735502) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735659) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735871) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736076) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736316) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736501) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736705) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736957) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737099) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737315) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737488) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737732) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737957) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738178) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738403) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738639) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738829) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739067) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739360) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739525) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739880) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740122) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740302) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740709) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740859) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741047) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741267) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741450) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741604) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741730) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741915) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742069) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742147) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742282) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742467) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/2 "2014-12-05T17:38:37Z")
For the first time ever, there’s a tie for first place in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System**. Kesha’s “TiK ToK” and Kesha’s “We R Who We R” both get perfect scores. Because I’m only allowed to pick one song in the poll, I picked “TiK ToK” because it came first and is better-known. Consolation prize for best non-Kesha song goes to Eminem with “Not Afraid,” just edging “Love the Way You Lie.” “Firework” finishes fifth. “California Gurls” (despite Snoop Dogg’s presence) and “Teenage Dream,” each produced by abuser/rapist [Dr. Luke](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737413), get AUTOMATIC ZERO scores and finish in a tie for dead-ass last, like all Dr. Luke songs that don’t feature Kesha. Dr. Luke can rot in hell. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/3 "2014-12-05T18:13:12Z")
I find that I don’t care. I am not sure whether it’s just a bad year IMHO, or if this is an illustration of how bland Today’s charts have evolved. I respect a lot of the songcraft and musicianship - Bruno Mars is so talented, for instance - but ultimately feel like the contest is about voting for the best Twinkie, i.e., pop confection, without much really great music happening. ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/4 "2014-12-05T18:44:26Z")
“California Gurls”. Good lord, I thought these lists were supposed to start providing better choices post-2006. What doth give? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/5 "2014-12-05T18:49:45Z")
An all-around terrible year. Can’t vote, as these are all pretty awful, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/6 "2014-12-05T18:51:46Z")
Usher and Will i am, since I never got to vote for Usher and he has had a handful of #1 singles. I feel it’s the best song here, some of these I never liked to begin with or have worn off and become annoying. Bruno Mars is an example, “Just The Way You Are” puts me to sleep. Those Katy Perry entries are her better ones. The Rihanna collaborations deserve the trash bin. Kesha’s “Tik Tok” Was always trash, though her other entry is good. I like her though objectively she has a poor voice. Not a good list. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/7 "2014-12-05T18:58:58Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > For the first time ever, there’s a tie for first place in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System**. > > Kesha’s “TiK ToK” and Kesha’s “We R Who We R” both get perfect scores. Because I’m only allowed to pick one song in the poll, I picked “TiK ToK” because it came first and is better-known. > Consolation prize for best non-Kesha song goes to Eminem with “Not Afraid,” just edging “Love the Way You Lie.” “Firework” finishes fifth. > “California Gurls” (despite Snoop Dogg’s presence) and “Teenage Dream,” each produced by abuser/rapist [Dr. Luke](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737413), get AUTOMATIC ZERO scores and finish in a tie for dead-ass last, like all Dr. Luke songs that don’t feature Kesha. Dr. Luke can rot in hell. This cracked me up! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/8 "2014-12-05T19:51:45Z")
“Tik Tok.” Plenty of songs I like here. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/9 "2014-12-05T20:16:44Z")
I have to go with “Love the Way You Lie” here - it’s a powerful song about a difficult topic (domestic violence) that Eminem and Rihanna both have firsthand experience with, and the lyrics ring true. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/10 "2014-12-05T20:28:08Z")
Well, my kids were starting to listen to music of their own at this point, so at least I’m starting to recognize some songs again after a long drought. I’m still not voting though. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/11 "2014-12-05T21:16:07Z")
My goodness, I actually know these all for once in a great while. I am sorry, however - I will need to hunt you down and kill you slowly for re-implanting _Tik Tok_ back into my brain. No offense, I hope. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/12 "2014-12-05T21:27:10Z")
As you look at the results so far, keep in mind that I have not engaged in any form of ballot box stuffing or voter fraud whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/13 "2014-12-05T21:35:20Z")
I don’t love Tik Tok, and I don’t hate Tik Tok. But I think we can all agree it’s a much better song when set to [clips from Star Trek.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZWaWrvJ7nA) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/14 "2014-12-05T22:07:50Z")
Raising my glass to **P!nk** FTW ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/15 "2014-12-05T22:36:54Z")
The only song I know I’ve heard is “We R Who We R.” I’ll have to listen to the rest to figure out if that’s the one I like best or not. Currently I’m up to 2002 in my listening, so it’ll be a minute before I vote. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/16 "2014-12-06T02:44:54Z")
I like a lot of songs in this list, but I went with Pink. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/17 "2014-12-07T23:19:56Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I don’t love Tik Tok, and I don’t hate Tik Tok. > > But I think we can all agree it’s a much better song when set to [clips from Star Trek.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZWaWrvJ7nA) _adds **Smapti** to the list_ Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/18 "2014-12-07T23:51:51Z")
I’m giving my vote to _Raise Your Glass_, though there are quite a few worthy pieces, such as _OMG_, which was nigh unavoidable and **very** well made . BTW I had a “huh, look at that” moment when I saw P!nk did poorly in the '08 poll with\* So What\*; though I generally like her work I didn’t particularly care for that one, but I expected it to do better. OTOH _Tik Tok_ just grew annoying after the first couple of listens. It’s generic sound-to-act-like-fools-to #536. NTTAWWT, but I mean, normally I can at least appreciate the craft of well-assembled content-free party beats (see prior posts in the series), but this one just does not click with me at all. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/19 "2014-12-08T02:14:57Z")
Hmmph. We R Who We R is clearly the better Ke$ha song of the year. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420/20 "2014-12-08T15:53:45Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I don’t love Tik Tok, and I don’t hate Tik Tok. > > But I think we can all agree it’s a much better song when set to [clips from Star Trek.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZWaWrvJ7nA) A lot of songs are better when set to Star Trek. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-2010/706420.md?page=2)