Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

Now as for the criteria this isn't simply a list of my personal favourites, there are several key criteria songs will make the list on the grounds of popularity, importance, quality and creativity, now tracks can make the list on the back of anyone of those attributes, and I will try to tell the story of the decade through song, so their will be a few silly songs or cheesy songs thrown in (especially early on) but I'll try to strike a balance among the factors as best as I can. And remember this isn't definitive it's just a bit of fun, and only the top 100 or so will be seriously analysed.

I should point out early on that there are a few tracks on the list that weren't actually singles, and these tend to fall into the "club banger", "internet sensation" or "key track" catagory, as in they didn't need a release they got so big anyway. For example Jay Z's Ignorant Shit which spawned sereal alternate versions despite never getting an actual release, or Radiohead's anthem and indie disco stalwart Idioteque, both fit the bill, and both make the list. So that should quiet any of you smart alecs out there.

I also go by UK release date, not US, and EU so there are a couple of songs that were released elsewhere in 1999 but came over to this part of the world in the 2000s, and they will make the list. That should clear everything up.

So hopefully this list should bring back some fond memories, it might introduce you to some new tracks you might have missed, and it might even make you cringe, but whatever the case it should be alot of fun, that I'll try to update as often as possible.

(This year I've decided to link to the video rather than in bed the clip, when we reach the top 500 I'll begin to embed)

Oh dear I promised some cringe inducing singles and this is one of them. Unfortunately the largely flaccid Fight For This Love is already the fastest selling single of 2009 and will undoubtedly rank among this years most memorable tracks for better or worse, and here it is!

A dark, challenging introduction to Arcade Fire's second album, abrasive at first but after a couple of listens a devilish irresistible hook emerges and takes hold.

Back in 2003 Slow Jamz seemed alot cooler than it does to todays ears with an all star cameo crew and a few humours winks and nods people actually though Twista was destined for big things. However most realized it was Kanye West's slick production not Twista's rhymes that were subtly stealing the show.

Amazingly back in 2001 pop was in such a dire state that the question on everyones lips was which Spice Girl would have the best solo career, well it didn't pan out very well for any of them. But Emma Bunton did manage to muster this memorable number one.

In the early 2000s Bryan Adams realized that he simply wasn't cool any more (allegedly he was once) so it dawn on him that the key to shifting records was duets and dance version, this was his most successful attempt.

Now of all the tracks in the countdown I'll probably get the most stick for this piece of euro dance smultz, but it's bloody brilliant! It's so morose, so ridiculous and so shameless it's irresistible, it's the best South Park parody song, that Tre Parker never made.

Oh it seems like a tragedy now, but back in 2004 Giddy Stratospheres was a sensation blowing away the rest of the indie crowd, unfortunately we'd have to wait two years for their debut album, and by then, everyone else had caught up, and the scene had evolved beyond the Long Blondes, it's a great shame..

Dianne Warren wrote a hell of a song, and with the help of a horrible hit movie this track was launched into the stratosphere dominating the charts back in 2000s.

Okay so in 2009 I instantly think of the brain dead fun of Soulja Boy's version but back in 2006 Rich boy created a legitimate hip hop anthem. A rare hip hop track that gets better and better the longer it runs.

Sometimes there's a beauty in simplicity and honesty and there is no finer example of that than Art Brut's Emily Kane, it's the story of a first love, everyone can relate to this track (expect certain lucky bastards), it's the perfect emotional blokey singalong for the broken hearted.

Oh back in 2008, or 2006 to the Danes, Alphabeat were unleashed apon the world with their brand of daffy irresistible pop. Unfortunately they were too cooky for the pop crowd and not cool enough for the indie crowd, so they were dropped by their label, but they did leave behind some pop gems like break through hit Fascination.

Arguably the most divisive band in rock and roll today, you love them or you hate them, of course saying that I'm rather on the fence, I prefer The Knife but with singles as strong as Courtship Dating and the insanely sexy cool Alice Glass heading the group, they sure seem hard to hate, well to me at least.

Ah yes the biggest most slammingest bassarific one hit wonder in recent hip hop history. It's shallow, J-Kwon's flow is weak at best but as long as there are teen comedies this single will hang around, and lets be honest, it's actually quite alot of fun.

With a divinely laid back verse it almost lures you into the blockbuster chorus as Jay Z proclaims "He's Got The Ignorant Shit You Need" before launching into a scatterbrained but brilliant rant on "Ignorant Shit" i.e the mind numbingly conservative and hypocritical attitudes towards hip hop music.

From Jay Z's lyrically brilliance to L...O...V...E...I'll See You Later. Well Shakespeare it ain't but it was more effective than any of us could have imagined. Razorlight shot to fame and for a little while people thought they might be something special, they were soon to see Mr. Borrell's true colours.

Insanely annoying or irresistible brilliance? Well it doesn't really matter because this internet sensation dominated the charts in 2002 and simple refused to go away. Combine annoying euro-dance with a hypnotic video and you have your self as smash hit.

Kasabian's morose brand of catchy lad rock may make for grating lifeless albums but it lead to a string of big hit singles. Processed Beats is perhaps the purest example of their early hit formula.

The X Factor/American Idol phenomenon has been one of the most tragic in musical history, it laid waste to pop music and created hours of repetitive brainless TV; luckily they did produce one gleaming gem, the superb Girls Aloud. Long Hot Summer is actually one of their weakest singles of the decade but it's still a sleek slice of summer pop, these girls simple cannot fail.

Now this track comes from the height of the Sugababes decline from pop chic to supermarket sweep but it's still a good little track and the only highlight from a forgettable phase in the history of one of Britain's greatest hit factories.

So the first band to pull double duty on the list happens to be the most hated of them all, but honestly who cares? This track is a monster, a visceral beast that sounds as though the skynet virus had taken control of your game boy, insane brilliance.

Oh the Vines they were so highly touted once upon a time but they never really had the songs to back up the hype. Yet in 2004 the Vines were determined to have a second run at fame and Ride was a hell of fightback, it wasn't enough to launch them to superstardom but it was a damn good tune.

Doves will undoubtedly be under represented on this list as they've simply never been my cup of tea but Kingdom Of Rust was an undeniably beautiful rumbling soulful rocker, a glorious piece, and their finest single to date.

The Foo Fighters would go on to do much much better but in the year 2000s the Foos were showing signs of become world straddling hit makers and Generator is the lost hit from There Is Nothing Left To Lose. Light, poppy and lots of fun.

Sometimes you stumble across the perfect phrase, a glorious irresistible sound byte and on 2004's Cheap And Cheerful The Kills captured the subconscious desires of our consumerist and then disposable income culture with a sublime knowing irony: "I'm Bored Of Cheap And Cheerful, I Want Expensive Sadness".

Jay Z pronounces that he's the new Sinatra before informing us that he runs New York and on this evidence it'd be hard to argue with him. The Blueprint Part III. was a dissapointment but it sure spawned some massive singles and Empire State Of Mind was the most widescreen effort. It's huge in scope, and it takes on new life live where it's transformed into a Godzilla sized anthem.