3January

It's still list of good music season. Anthologie says that she cannot seriously analyze why I like I write sins not tragedies, or this band, so much. For my money, it's the staccatto rhythm, the way the jerkiness of the song suddenly turns into the extended notes of the late chorus. I'm far from convinced that the Red Hot Chili Peppers have any relevance any more - or, indeed, that they were ever more than one-album wonders.

Kieron Gillen is right to put the Arctic Monkeys in the top 40, and right to put them down the bottom of the top 40; I see no evidence that they're anything more than one-song wonders. My Latest Novel make my top twenty-odd, and with When we were wolves, because it's a well-crafted song.

Welcome to the black parade as a reincarnation of the Polyphonic Spree? Good call, sir. Is the beating heart of Smile the first two words of At first, when I see you cry, it makes me smile? That a single pop lyric allows such divergent readings is a sign of literary quality.

Did I publish my top twenty-five in public? No? Careless. In alphabetical order by performance name, then.

• Smile, Lily Allen. See above.
• Aimer jusqu'a l'impossible, Tina Arena. A tremendous song about the nature of a love that cannot happen. The studio original is grand; the version from TV5's Acoustic programme is better.
• John the revelator, Depeche Mode. Ver Mode were ever-present on North Europe's Top 40 this year; I think this was the best single off a great album.
• What's in it for me?, Amy Diamond. Everyone's favourite young Swedish singer, still too young to make a full international tour.
• Nature's law, Embrace. For about a month, this band looked to be on course for greatness. Then they released the England world cup song.
• Call me when you're sober, Evanescence. Give us your number, dearie.
• Maneater, Nelly Furtado. In short, what Gillen said. Another day, I could have gone with Promiscuous.
• You are the generation that bought more shoes and you get what you deserve, Johnny Boy. Not just for the title, but for the way it combines an anti-consumerist seniment with handclaps.
• La camisa negra, Juanes. I have no idea what he's going on about, but it sounds wonderful.
• Just be good to me, Karmah. In a year of dodgy 80s covers from German bands, this one stood out as being actually quite good. Better than the original, and different from the Beats International reworking.
• Empire, Kasabian. Promoted by the novel method of not releasing it to radio until it was available as a single. The triumphalist riff in the chorus helped.
• Rooftops, Lostprophets. Plenty of opportunities for cover versions here - I can seriously hear this one performed by a counter-tenor.
• When we were wolves, My First Novel. See above.
• It's not that easy, Lemar Obika. It's perhaps the first time I've been convinced by Lemar's soul work; the string figure running through the track helps far more than it should.
• Nolwenn ohwo!, Nolwenn Leroy. A call-and-response song, remarkable for the way it almost combines alpine yodelling with African beats. Acoustic performance.
• Once and never again, Long Blondes. It's the lyrics that clinch it - clever, without being smart-arse.
• Roc, Nadiya. Worth €20,000? Perhaps not, but the percussion bridge is one of those four-note stabs that stick in the mind. Another Acoustic performance.
• Un ange frappé a ma porte, Natasha St-Pier. Again, it's the performance on Acoustic that clinched the deal.
• You and your hand, Pink. The video helped.
• Pull shapes, Pipettes. Again, Gillen's nailed it.
• I belong to you, Eros Ramazotti and Anastacia. Two people shouting at each other from six inches apart.
• Hips don't lie, Shakira. A deliberate and concerted attempt to have a massive hit single - and, do you know what, it worked!
• Ugly, Sugababes. The first pop song I remember hearing during 2006, and I don't think there's a better way to start the year.
• No no never, Texas Lightning. The one entry from this year's Eurovision crop - I've had my fill of Lordi - the Germans deserved better.
• Baila Morena, Zucchero. See Juanes, really.