Published: Thursday, 18th December, 2008 9:40am

Top 20 singles of 2008

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AFTER countless debates and arguments in the Press office, Matt Meade finally reviews our top 20 singles of 2008. Applaud the inclusion of Screaming Tea Party! Pound fist on desk at the exclusion of X Factor’s Alexandra Burke! Agree? Disagree? Add your favourites on our comments section.

20. RIHANNA – Disturbia

The Press tried, but we couldn’t avoid it. Continuous rotation on all forms of media outlets led the song to become firmly lodged in our brain’s auditory cortex alongside Latin school hymns and long forgotten Blur B-sides. Lets have a round of slow sarcastic clapping for Rihanna.

19. THE VIEW – 5 Rebeccas

Baby faced singer Kyle Falconer was initially refused entry to a Dunfermline pub this year. This has nothing to do with the song. Just though we’d give it a local angle.

18. EVERYTHING EVERYTHING – Suffragette Suffragette

Manchester-based band hide possibly vulgar lyric in an infectious chorus. A more palatable Field Music, and that’s high praise indeed. This time next year, they’ll be on your iPod.

17. SCREAMING TEA PARTY – Today Is The Day

Like a lost 7” single from your big brother’s cupboard. Minor pop gem of the year. Thank BBC 6’s Marc Riley for playlisting this belter.

16. 50 CENT – Get Up

The Big Man with bullets up his backside pulls off the bangin’ hip-hop hook of 2008. Makes you wanna hold a piece in your hand and give it some.

15. NOAH AND THE WHALE – Five Years Time.

Cute, whimsical tune that grabbed the nation’s lugs in August upon being re-released. Increased membership queries to the National Whistling League (NWL) ten-fold, if such an organisation actually existed.

14. WHITE DENIM – Shake Shake Shake

Texas Boys’ ramshackle, revelatory, radio-friendly, rock ‘n’ roll riff of the year.

13. MAGNETIC FIELDS – California Girls

Reverb-laden track about blonde and pretty (vacant) east coast wannabe Beauty Queens. The singer’s probably just a dumpy, jealous cow. But what panache!

12. LATE OF THE PIER – Heartbeat

The kids love this. That’s why they all have haircuts in hirsute homage of photogenic frontman Samuel Eastgate.

11. ELBOW – Grounds for Divorce

Lyrical masterstroke, with Guy Garvey using cunning metaphor (or is it analogy?) to compare broken marital dreams with a rather bolshy cocktail favoured by homewreckers.

10. GRACE JONES – Williams’ Blood

The contralto vocalist (thank-you Wikipedia) from Jamaica performs the kind of track that pseudo soul singer Sharleen Spiteri can only dream of. This lady is real deal (and she was great in A View To A Kill).

9. VAMPIRE WEEKEND – Oxford Comma

If it was albums of the year, Vampire Weekend would be top of the list. As it happens, this is the single chart and they are placed at Number 9.

8. TV ON THE RADIO – Golden Age

The Press saw this played live on Jools Holland’s TV show (and it’s still available on You Tube). The chorus of the year in terms of sending shivers gallivanting up your spine.

7. ROBYN – With Every Heartbeat

A track that reaffirms the importance of music being central to the rehabilitation of mind, body and soul after a heartbreak. Pop has never sounded so indispensable.

6. VERVE – Rather Be

Only last year did Richard Ashcroft say there was more chance of the Beatles getting back together than the Verve reforming. Praise Jah he was wrong.

5. ESTELLE featuring Kanye West – American Boy

Despite ‘bigging up’ American lads, this song had it all. Beats the Americans at their own game.

4. KAISER CHIEFS – Never Miss A Beat

Leed’s boys never miss a trick when it comes to singles. Contains the baffling brilliant lyric of 2008: ‘What do you want for tea? I want crisps’.

3. FUTUREHEADS – Beginning Of The Twist

Out of favour Sunderland/Glasgow-based boys write song of the year, bar two.

2. DIZZEE RASCAL featuring Calvin Harris – Dance Wiv Me

Recently involved in an alleged road rage incident where he set about another car with a baseball bat. See what happens if you don’t dance wiv him?

1. MGMT – Time to Pretend

Ethereal, wondrous and unforgettable. These New York space cadets are worthy of topping every esteemed musical publication’s chart of the year. And ours too.