Everyone loves a tune that invokes nostalgia.
The opening salvo that can cast you back to a far-gone time when life was simpler.
So, considering that 2020 will only remind us of four walls and zoom quizzes, we feel it's best we dive into the archives to find ten tunes to bop to this summer. We've got it all: pop bangers, the hipster's choices, animated ingenuity, and even some Kylie Minogue.
There's something for everyone in the audience, so let's dive in.
Kylie Minogue - All The Lovers
Although this list is in no particular order, we've decided to start with our best foot forward.
Kylie is a pop powerhouse, with her early 2000s renaissance leading to a decade of dominance. That being said, 2010 may have been her last great year in the spotlight, with 'All The Lovers' the highlight. An atmospheric disco and electropop groover, it is exactly what you come to expect with a Kylie jam.
It's a song that exists perpetually in the back of your head. It doesn't come with immediacy when discussing Kylie, but if it's turned on, you'll know all the words.
K'Naan - Wavin' Flag
When people think of the 2010 World Cup, either 'Wavin' Flag' or Shakira's 'Waka Waka' come to mind. On the balance of things, 'Wavin' Flag' is a superior song.
K'Naan, a Somali-Canadian artist, wrote the song about Somalia and its people with aspirations to be free. The song had connotations which translated across the world, leading to Coca-Cola using the track on promotional adverts for the 2010 World Cup.
The song is as ubiquitous with that time period as vuvuzelas.
Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina - Stereo Love
You can be forgiven for not knowing who Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina are, but you'll know exactly why they're on this list.
It's typical that a house song from continental Europe can become an integral part of a summer soundtrack. In 2010, that was 'Stereo Love', a song borne out of Romania with a key accordion sample from an Azerbaijani folk song.
It's a winning formula.
Big Boi ft. Cutty - Shutterbugg
Big Boi, one half of Outkast, is often overshadowed by his counterpart in the group, Andre 3000.
However, in the aftermath of Outkast's hiatus, Big Boi went head first into a solo career which has reaped dividend. Arguably his finest solo track is 'Shutterbugg', an exercise in Dirty South bass work and pure funk.
This is also one of the highlight's on a stellar NBA 2k11 soundtrack. Honestly, it's impossible to sit still with this on the hifi.
Taio Cruz - Dynamite
Where has Taio Cruz been? This year, more than ever before, have we needed his ear for a pop song, and yet he remains at large.
Either way, 'Dynamite' is probably Cruz's finest moment, especially considering that it sold so well that it was the 50th best-selling song of the decade in the US.
It's an omnipotent song, to this day.
Kanye West - Monster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK2zzhgMlJA
Considering that 2010 was the year of magnum opus, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, it's only fair that he gets a song on this list.
We could go for 'Power', although that song is tired due to being on every advertisement ever. We also could go for 'Runaway', although it probably is out of place on a summer playlist.
So, we've plumped for 'Monster', which contains one of hip-hop's greatest guest verses from Nicki Minaj.
LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
Ah, the hipster's choice.
If you've played FIFA 11, this ear-worm remains stuck in your brain since you first attempted a McGeady Spin with a Brazilian silver player.
We could've went with any of the singles of James Murphy's stellar This Is Happening album, but 'I Can Change' takes the mantle for singalong value.
Iyaz - Replay
Shawty's like a melody in my head
That I can't keep out
Got me singing like
Nananana everyday
It's like my iPod's stuck on replay
No 2010 list would be complete with Iyaz. This song, back then, was the sonic version of Iyaz's 'shawty'.
The biggest cultural movement the British Virgin Islands has ever seen, and we still salute Iyaz to this day.
Gorillaz ft. Mos Def & Bobby Womack - Stylo
It seems like every genre those animated artists in Gorillaz touch, they excel.
'Stylo' is their take at a hip-hop infused electro-funk joint, and with Mos Def and Bobby Womack on the feature, they were always onto a winner.
Also, Bruce Willis is in the video, so bonus points here.
Far East Movement ft. The Cataracs and Dev - Like A G6
For those of us regular folk, we had no idea what Gulfstream private jets were until the Far East Movement. That being said, they had no idea what a G6 was, either, they just knew about G4s and thought that G6 would be flyer than a G4.
Regardless, this is just an excellent hip-house pop song that was always destined to be big.
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