27 Best Songs From 2009

2009 was quite a year for music. Club beats were going mainstream, and many of the big artists we know and love today were just getting started.

Join us as we take a trip back in time to visit some of the most listened-to and best songs of 2009.

Just Dance – Lady Gaga

Before she was the legend she is today, Lady Gaga was a New York girl trying to break into the music industry. Her first big success, Just Dance, was a club banger that told the story of someone experiencing a disorienting, drunken evening.

The song itself was very much in line with 2009's signature sound, yet it stood out in many ways, not the least being Gaga's solid vocals and unique charisma.

I Got A Feelin' – Black Eyed Peas

The Great Recession of 2008 saw financial firms go under, markets plummet, and the housing bubble burst. But, in the summer of 2009, people began seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

The Black-Eyed Peas ‘I Got A Feelin' captured that optimistic moment perfectly. While it's technically about the excitement of looking forward to a night out, the song speaks to anyone who wants to believe that things are improving.

Single Ladies- Beyonce

If you've been to a wedding, bachelorette party, or other similar events, you've likely heard Single Ladies by Beyonce. The song and its accompanying dance have become iconic in our culture, and 2009 was the year it was born.

Boom Boom Pow – Black Eyed Peas

To say that 2009 was a good year for the Black Eyed Peas would be an understatement. Their fifth studio album, The E.N.D. produced one Top 40 smash after the other, including I Got a Feelin', Rock That Body, Imma Be, and of course, Boom Boom Pow.

The bass-heavy hit topped the U.S. Billboard 100 chart for 12 weeks and was named Billboard's 2009 Song of the Year.

Fireflies – Owl City

In 2009, pop music was full of heavy bass beats and lyrics about “bottles and models.” Amid all this partying, we needed a song that helped everyone wind down and take a breather.

Fireflies by Owl City is a dreamy electronic lullaby featuring the soothing vocals of lead singer Adam Young. It topped the Billboard 100 Charts in the U.S. and several other countries, helping their album Ocean Eyes go six-times platinum.

Day n Nite – Kid Cudi

The brooding, repetitive sound of Kid Cudi's Day n Nite makes perfect sense considering the lyrics were about a lonely guy who wanders around, seeking a connection he cannot find.

My Life Would Suck Without You – Kelly Clarkson

Yes, it's a song about a dysfunctional relationship that both people would likely be better off leaving. But, that aside, it's still a fun, sing-along anthem that people of all ages were rocking out to in '09.

Viva La Vida – Coldplay

Coldplay's Viva La Vida received both critical acclaim and excellent public reception. The song's sweeping, triumphant strings-based instrumental served as a perfect companion to its cryptic lyrics about a ruler's downfall. Viva La Vida won Song of the Year at the 2009 Grammy Awards, and is mentioned on several “bests” lists.

Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

For many people, Bad Romance was their first introduction to Lady Gaga's avant-garde “Mother Monster” persona. The song was inspired by German techno and industrial music, and its memorable video featured an array of bizarre imagery.

Musicologists, psychologists, and art experts all weighed in on the song's deeper meanings. Most importantly, though, people loved dancing to Bad Romance, and the chorus was incredibly catchy. Despite -or more likely, because of-  these unusual features, the song shot to the tops of music charts around the world.

I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) – Pitbull

Cuban-American rapper/singer Pitbull was a significant contributor to the increase in the popularity of Latin music in the late 2000s. His hip-hop/reggaeton hit I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) made it to number 2 on the American Billboard 100 and also charted high in the international markets. With its sexy, playful lyrics and danceable beat, it was one of the top party songs of 2009.