Regular PopWatch readers may recall that earlier this year we engaged in a not-so-harmonious debate over whose single would take the title of "Song of Summer 2008." And while names like Katy, Rihanna, Estelle, and Duffy lit up our comment board, many readers weren’t sure whether "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis (pictured) had the staying power to make it through Labor Day weekend. Well, if iTunes downloads are any indication, the songstress’ soulful ballad might actually be the most popular song of the year. "Bleeding Love" topped iTunes’ 2008 best-selling singles list while Lewis’ UK brethren Coldplay scored the top-selling album spot with Viva La Vida.
Obviously digital sales are only one piece of the "it song" puzzle, so tell us, PopWatchers, what is your ditty of 2008? Did Perry’s "I Kissed a Girl" (which also made iTunes’ top 10 singles list) leave you craving the taste of cherry Chapstick all year long? Or did Rihanna (who made the list twice) and her "Disturbia" grab you like a thief in the night? And while you’re at it, what album (if you still listen to entire records) was your most-played of the year?
More Music News:
Coldplay’s Streaming NYC Concert: On the Scene
Stephen King: 10 Best CDs of 2008
Leona Lewis: The Next Mariah Carey?
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Duffy, Rockferry.
The song I’ve been humming to this day is Coldplay’s Viva La Vida. Bleeding Love seems like an overproduced, Oprah-endorsed Mariah throwaway.
Viva la Vida is definitely my most listened to this year.
Bleeding Love: Written By Jesse McCartney (and the guy from One Republic)…I didn’t know any song involving him could be the song of the year. But check out his remake of “buy You A Drank”. Classic.
Leona’s “Better Over Time” is getting to the point it may give “Bleeding Love” a run for its money.
I’ve listened to lots of great songs this year (‘Bleeding Love’ not included) but my most listened-to pop albums this year are Elbow’s ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’ and John Legend’s ‘Evolver.’
“Bleeding Love” may have been the most downloaded song on iTunes, but it’s up against some stiff competition for Billboard’s Hot 100 song of the year. That honor is a toss-up between Leona and a few other songs:
“Low” – FloRida featuring T-Pain
“Whatever You Like” T.I.
“I Kissed A Girl” Katy Perry
“Better In Time,” unfortunately, is fading quickly, Elizabeth (it’s dropping down the Hot 100 after peaking at #11). She needs to get a third single out ASAP!
My ditty of 2008 was “Leavin” by Jesse McCartney. It’ll be interesting to see where he ends up on the year-end chart, since the song spent nearly half a year bouncing around between #10 and #20 on the big chart.
Truth be told, although I really liked some of the releases, I actually that the most inspired work came out now, late in year.
My favorite song of 2008: “Circus” – Britney Spears
My favorite album of 2008: “808 & Heartbreak” – Kanye West
Not only is Viva la Vida the top song of 2008, I would say it is one of the best songs of all time.
oh wait, change that to “Paper Planes”. That Clash sample with the gunshots and cash register effects, and it’s american capitalism critic were simply the most unpredictable recipe for a hit of the year. M.I.A. really knows what she`s doing, so thank God “Pineapple Express” helped her show people that.
My song of the summer “If This is Love” by The Saturdays and “Let Me Think About It” by Freddie Le Grand (technically, I have listened to this song for over a year, but it became a serious song for the summer for me). My album that I still listen to all the time “Tangled Up” by Girls Aloud.
“Love” by Sugarland. If this song had come out of the mouth of Leona Lewis, or Bono, or Chris Martin, it wouldn’t even be a contest. Years from now, someone will have the sense to cover it, a la Whitney Huston with “I Will Always Love You,” and everyone will realize what a classic it is.
If you can’t stand country, all I can say is give this one tune a chance.
Mercy or Warwick Avenue by Duffy
Bleeding Love is definitely the song of the year in terms of widespread and long-term contagiousness, but in the actual quality category, I vote for ‘Single Ladies.” I know that it still has some serious legs (pun SO intended) even though we’re unfortunately running out of 2008.
Album of 2008: this is a purely American choice (since the album was originally released three years ago), but Robyn’s self-titled independent debut earned my vote. Not only is every song on the album a certified hit, but it’s a true statement of Robyn’s independence from confining record labels that wanted to trap her unique femininity in objectifying and marketable templates.
Weren’t the objections to the original Songs of The Summer article that Bleeding Love had been the Song of the Spring and had already peaked at #1 on the Hot100 on three separate occasions?
It’s been a massive hit throughout the year – 10 weeks straight at ‘#1 on both CHR/Pop (where it broke the spin and audience record) and HotAC radio plus 24 weeks in the top two on AC radio.
Throw in the huge sales and it clearly deserves its place in the top 3 on any discussion for the year.
Whenever I hear “Bleeding Love” I want to vomit. It’s too repetitive and over-saturated with angst. Yuck!
I kept playing that song (Bleeding Love) over and over until i got fed up with it. But then my friends and cousins were always playing it soon after i got fed up and all the radio stations here played it almost every hour, every day (not anymore these days though). After that, my most-played songs are from the following artists:
- Rihanna
- NE-YO (especially Miss Independent, and now his song Mad keeps playin even in my head)
- Keyshia Cole feat Mario (Heaven Sent)
- Chris Brown
- Daughtry
- Jesse McCartney (i prefer his bleeding love version over that of leona’s)
- David Cook
- One Republic
- Boys Like Girls
- Paramore
- COLDPLAY, of course, which i think has the best album for this year 2008.
Bleeding Love should be called the most annoying song of 2008. I cannot hear it another time or I think my ears will bleed. Leona Lewis is a wannbe Mariah Carey, and that song was so overplayed. Also, it is the only song anyone really knows from that CD, so obviously the CD was crap. Viva la Vida is a million times better than that garbage
So my best song for 2008 would be any Coldplay song, especially my favorite tracks “Viva la Vida” or “Lost.”
I think I kissed a Girl was definitely the song of the summer over bleeding love…bleeding love is good and all but it doesn’t have the fun-ness that I kissed a girl does!
Ladies, do not have this song as your ring tone. To hear a lady’s cell phone go off and to hear “I keep bleeding” screeched repeatedly is such a turn off.
Am I the only one that thinks “Bleeding Love” is so whiny? Don’t get me wrong, LL has a beautiful voice, but this particular song – ugh – at a few points I wondered: Is she actually cry-singing? Seriously, I can’t even listen to it – girl, you’re too young to be so melodramatic!
Is this song about menstruation? Is the girl singing it even old enough to have experienced menstruation?
Just because a song sells a lot online does not make it the song of 2008. I think songs that made statements, created new trends in music (both song and video) and pushed the boundaries of music should be criteria for selecting the Song of the Year. “Bleeding Love” didn’t really do that. My nominees (although a final choice has not been made on the ultimate winner) in no particular order are:
-Coldplay: Fix You
-Katy Perry: I Kissed a Girl
-Paramore: Decode
-Adele: Chasing Pavements
-MIA: Paper Planes
-Santogold: L.E.S. Artiste
-Duffy: Mercy
-Sia: Soon We’ll Be Found
-Pink: So What
-Metro Station: Shake It
-Rihanna: Disturbia and Breakin’ Dishes
Songs like “Lollipop” simply played on Rihanna’s “umbrella-ella-ella” trend of Summer 07. Been there, done that. And Coldplay had WAY better songs than “Viva La Vida” on X&Y
You know, someone (can’t remember who) deemed David Cook’s, “Time of My Life,” as the song of the summer: It was played at the Olympics, on numerous reality shows and finales — it was seriously one of those songs that played a great deal all summer. As for song of the year, Bleeding Love was bleedin’ annoying. I do think Leona is quite talented, but the song is, well, ‘blech’! I nominate Bebo Norman’s Britney song. From Britney to Sara Palin the press has been rather ruthless this year…not that I didn’t watch it all ublinkingly…but this has been a year of change in so many ways, let’s pick a song that builds on that and encourages us to continue to do better….
Viva La Vida is for sure the number 1 album. It’s been on repeat in my car for months. I could listen to Yes or Violet Hill all day.
Bleeding Love is crap! It’s whiny and annoying. I never liked and I’m glad people are finally realize how annoying it is.
My vote would have to be Mariah’s ‘Touch My Body’, light fun, with catchy lyrics, beat, and I LOVED the video.
My most played song of the year would definitely be “So What” by Pink. Her album “Funhouse” has also had quite a few spins in the old CD player (yes, I still buy CDS). Santogold’s self-titled album is also one of my faves of ‘08.
My most played song of the year would definitely be “So What” by Pink. Her album “Funhouse” has also had quite a few spins in the old CD player (yes, I still buy CDS). Santogold’s self-titled album is also one of my faves of ‘08.
Steph, you’re not the only one. Bleeding Love defintely sounds whiny. It’s not like Leona Lewis has the most distinctive voice, either. Any number of music industry puppets could sing that song. I’m surprised it wasn’t used in a Tampax ad campaign by now.