MikeD’s Top 10 Singles/Songs of 2005

Here’s my 2005 best of songs/singles list. Yes it’s belated but life and the holidays got in the way. So note that all songs and singles considered were from the 2005 calendar year. On this list they'll be none of this crap about a 2005 domestic release of a 2004 import material. Reissues also don’t count. It has either got to be original material or an original recording released in 2005. Note that in order to avoid repeating myself I’ve only included songs from albums which didn’t make my best of list. You'll see that shortly. Note all song links are of the control/right click variety.

10.Fistful of Love—Antony and the Johnsons

Even if you’ve got a tough time getting over his vibrato it’s hard to deny that Antony made a heartbreakingly beautiful album. This tune has to be the most beautiful of the bunch. Antony’s usual trill is toned down a bit ad floats over a sparse piano line. Then the brass section comes in. Finally the backup singer’s comes out and it all makes for a gorgeous triumph. This tune has got some feeling and soul that's oft missing in today's popular music.
Buy it

9. Do You Want To—Franz Ferdinand

After Take Me Out earned its ubiquity it became fashionable to hate the good ol’ lads from Glasgow—I can’t understand why. It’s not like they have huge egos and claim to be saviours of rock. They just want to make music to get girls on the dance floor. In my experience they’ve succeeded at this oh so noble goal with all of their singles. This one has cheeky lyrics about making fun of a scene they helped create and now live in. But the real genius of the song is in the beat. It just screams 'get out there and own the floor like you’re cock-of-the-walk', especially during the guitar break down leading to the last third of the tune. If you still want to hate the band after the video then that’s fine. But do know that the archdukes have millions of women shakin’ it for them and when their tunes come on I’ll be happy to dance it up with your girl while you stand there perfecting your-cooler-than-thou arm cross.
Bonus
The video
Buy it

8.My Doorbell—White Stripes

So Jack White might be weird and kind of creepy as a mustachioed dude who performs for the little kiddies in the video. But who cares when the ab.-fab.-looking Meg White is pounding the drums like this? Forget Kidz Bop, just play this tune and I guarantee all the hipsters will be bounding around the floor doing the most joy core kind of dance and shouting some nonsensical rant about how much they heart Meg—alright, fine, it'll just be me declaring my love for Meg but the rest of the kids will be dancing.
Bonus
Live Glasto 2005 version‘cause the Stripes sound so loud live and Meg’s drumming never sounded as full as on this track.
The music video
Buy it

7.Breakfast Club—Z-Trip

Now if you were anything like me you somehow got up at ungodly hours to watch Saturday morning cartoons. Who wouldn’t with classics like Transformers, Voltron, G.I. Joe, Thundercats and my favourites He-Man and She-ra? That’s right I dug the Princess of Power. Well Z-Trip’s combined all these classics and more to tell a silly little, somewhat perverted story that shames R. Kelly’s vastly over-praised Trapped in the Closet—people have made multipart pop songs before, they just had the sense to separate them and call them rock operas. At first Breaksfast Club might seem like a novelty song or an ad for your favourite Kellogg breakfast, but it’s really an excellent example of Hip-Hop’s ability to construct a compelling narrative out of pop culture references. If there’s one weakness it’s the kitschy drum-machine beat, but it serves its purpose in minimalism and allows the narrative to dominate. But if all that sounds hyperbolic at least listen to Murs’ intro “If you can’t relate to this song you’re taking this shit too seriously. It’s Hip-hop, man. It’s fucking fun.” Indeed.
Buy it

6. Fake Palindromes—Andrew Bird

This is the highlight of the Mysterious Production of Eggs. I enjoy the morbid little story Bird sings, but when I just read the lyrics it kind of creeps me out. For me that’s the power of the tune. The melody and the slow build of the drums, guitars and tambourine disarms; it keeps from overanalyzing the morbid lyrics of S&M snuff zombie love. But what I really dig about the tune is the looping violin used when he isn’t singing, plus the man knows to keep this tight— he quits as soon as the story’s done.
Buy it

5. Lazer Beam—Super Furry Animals

A wacky electro space intro, a robotic finish, howling and a preamble rant—this tune is quirky. But it’s weird in a good way much like the band itself. The lyrics are kind of a throw away, but who really cares ‘cause the band’s having so much fun it’s infectious. ‘Sides the music is what makes this tune. The distorted guitar carries the tune all the way through, but it’s the chaotic chorus where this tune flourishes.
The music video (in Windows Media. I apologise profusely:(
Buy it

4.Since U Been Gone—Kelly Clarkson

Yes it’s an obvious choice but it’s damn good tune. Who cares if Swede Max Martin had a hand in Hit Me Baby One More Time plus a whole bunch of even more loathsome pop bunkum. The Swede made a perfect song here—with a borrowed riff from Ms. O, Mr. Zinner and Mr. Chase. A testament to the song’s perfection was that it didn’t matter whether the Kidz Bop Kids were singing, Ted Leo was using it to practice his falsetto, or the lady herself was belting ‘er out, this ditty always sounded great and never sounded tired. Except for that Jason Nevins remix, which ruined the tune’s taught length and eschew that superb guitar riff. Still despite a strong challenge from Mr. Leo and the video of the year from those Kids no one could usurp Kelly and her golden pipes—shout on girl, shout on!
Bonus
Ted Leo Cover
Kidz Bop Kids cover (music video)—do not miss the Asian Kid with what is possible to most unwittingly hilarious moment recorded this year.
Buy it

3. Entertain—Sleater-Kinney

This tune absolutely rocks in a way that nothing else did this year. The guitars are turned up to 11. Janet Weiss is beating the tar out of her drums. Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker throw down dueling guitars and belt out a half-critique half-call to arms so convincing that I’d be willing to follow them on crusade against my brethren—but we know they wouldn’t incite that kind of behaviour. The tune hits perfection when they soften things up just a skosh before belting out the chorus one more time.
Buy it

2. Hide and Seek—Imogen Heap

All hail the return of the vibraphone. Essentially all we’ve got here is Heap singing a capella in a vibraphone. It’s only after the climax that the absolute skeleton of a piano track is heard. Yet the lady creates a richer sound than most people manage with a whole orchestra backing them.
Buy it

1.Fuck Forever—Babyshambles

Nobody in the business can write an anthem that connects with youth like Pete Doherty. The usual suspects claim this is the antithesis of a certain Britpop anthem by some Mancunians. You’ll hear none of that from me ‘cause this tune stands on its own as a nice response to all the chaos and absurdity that was his 2005. From his slurred delivery, biting lyrics and sharp guitar, this is Pete at his best. I find the straightforward and slightly streamlined delivery of this Zane Low version a better match with songs message than his the slightly more subdued guitars and melodramatic delivery of the album cut. But in any form this is the song of 2005.
Buy it

Laudable Also-rans
These tunes just missed out on a top ten but they’re still worthy of some praise and ear time.

Diamonds from Sierra Leon (Capski refix)—Kanye West

This is the definitive version of Diamonds. There’s none of the after-the-fact attempt to make the title actually relevant to the lyrics—it’s just Kayne and his ego at their best. Now, I respect the album remix’s attempt at social conciseness, but the tune’s originally a tribute to Roc-A-Fella and it shows. The other improvements Capski brought are a nice sampled guitar riff and punched up drums to add to a subtle, but effective choir sample. Now it could’ve used some of the sound effect flourishes of Kayne’s versions, but that’s a minor qualm. This is most definitely aptly named as a refix ‘cause after listening to this you’ll wonder why people are groovin' along Gold Digger instead of Diamonds.
Diamonds from Sierra Leon (Capski refix) (Click. It's a Savefile link).

Please Stand Up—British Sea Power

Now if anybody in the English-speaking world can write a perfect anthem it’s the British, and damn is this a good one. The chorus is absolute perfection with the strings layering under the ringing guitar; the steady drum-beat stays appropriately in the background to give Yan’s tale of lovers and longing the headline slot. Now if it has a fault it’s that the song finishes too quickly. I still can’t believe the dolts at MTV banned the video for the line “A little excitement makes us wetter, wetter.”
Bonus
The banned video
Buy it

Dear Sons and Daughter of Hungry Ghosts—Wolf Parade

Many say Isaac Brock’s polish on the album version of this tune ruined it (when compared to earlier versions). Fuck that indie elitism. If you want clean-up some lo-fi playing and make the instruments actually sound lively as well as drop the extraneous intro it’s cool with me Isaac—but that doesn’t mean you’re forgiven for feeding the frat boy bear with Float On. While I enjoy the quirky synth playing and banging drums this song’s charm is its chorus of La-La-Las. Who am I kidding this song’s on here for one reason: “But God doesn’t always have the best Goddamn plans, does he?"
Buy it

I Bet you Look Good on the Dance Floor—Arctic Monkeys

Now lead singer Alex Tuner told the Guardian the tune’s “a bit shit” and the lyrics are “rubbish”. He’s right. But that’s its charm, really. Those of you who regularly frequent the clubs that play this kind of tune can surely relate to the tale of seeing a hottie and your interest in her/him goes as far as how she/he’d look on the dance floor. But the music’s not that bad either. The steady drum and the double time pace of the chorus make this tune perfect for some jerky-type goofy moves to try and impress that hottie—what more can you ask for in a tune?
Buy it

Mary—The Subways

The jangly hook is dead simple and deceptively catchy, especially when that piano kicks in, but what really resonates are the lyrics. After feeling pretty aimless upon finishing school this tune was pretty much the soundtrack to my summer activities. So a song about a character who just can't seem to accomplish anything and the friend who takes him in and just makes him feel better definitely deserve to be on the list.
Stream it hither.
Buy it

Other Notables

I Said Never Again (But Here we Are) & So Good —Rachel Stevens
All About Us—t.A.T.u
Forever Lost—Magic Number
Indie Boys Don’t Deserve It—Queens of Noize
Itch You Can’t Scratch—Junior Senior
Dance with Me—The Juan Maclean
Ooh La La & Lovely 2 C U—Goldfrapp
Heard About Your Band—The Brakes
Hey Scenesters—The Cribs
From the Floorboards Up—Paul Weller