Obviously we’re dragging it out ridiculously! We’ve already named 40 of our Top 50 singles of the year, and today we carry it through to the Top 10. It’s been a great year for pop, and now we’re at the business end as we take it into the Top 10.

Don’t worry, the Top 5 – including the No1 – will be revealed tomorrow.

10. Paloma Faith – ‘New York’
September, Peak #15
NYC has had a good year music-wise, thanks to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ brilliant ‘Empire State of Mind’ and this gem by 2009 newcomer Paloma Faith. This is the year’s best use of a gospel choir, one of the best middle-8s, and one of the most theatrical singles of the year. True, on Faith’s album she goes a bit too melodramatic with her uber-poetical lyrics and orchestration, but on ‘New York’ she’s wistful, heartbroken, and captivating throughout. The track missed the Top 20 when it was first released, but thanks to a bit of use on the TV and plenty of radioplay it managed to gain a second wind and shoot up to the Top 15, gaining a Top 10 placement for the album ‘Do You Want The Truth or Something Beautiful’ in the process.

9. Kelly Clarkson – ‘Already Gone’
September, Peak #66
Kelly kicked up such an almighty fuss when ‘Already Gone’ was confirmed as a single that its amazingness was in danger of being overshadowed. Its similarities to Beyoncé’s ‘Halo’ are certainly there, but then doesn’t every Ryan Tedder track have that trademark sound? ‘Already Gone’ recieved a cruel amount of promo in the UK, with an occasional play on a music channel and barely any radioplay whatsoever, and as such limped to a lowly No66 in the charts, despite being a Top 20 hit across the pond. ‘Already Gone’ is brilliant if only because it shows a new side to its vocalist. Clarkson isn’t shattering glass with her almighty belting in this single; instead she’s got the whole “haunting” thing going on, and the result is an endearing and affecting contemporary ballad that deserved alot more attention than it got.

8. Pixie Lott – ‘Boys and Girls’
September, Peak #1
Despite being the lowest-selling chart-topper of the year, Lott’s second single was a step up from ‘Mama Do’ in its nifty sample of a recognisable hook and a light pop sound that could appeal to pretty much anyone of any age. Live performances were something of a struggle due to the multi-harmony chorus, but this track was all over the radio for literally AGES in the run-up to its release, and the video was an effortlessly cool affair showing Our Pix raving it up at a house party. A perfect pop tune to wrap up the summer and the first release by the star to showcase her own songwriting ability. She’s written tracks for Alexandra Burke and Girls Can’t Catch as well as herself, you know.

7. Tinchy Stryder feat. Amelle – ‘Never Leave You’
August, Peak #1
Grime-Pop was a bit of a ‘thing’ in 2009, and the whole charge was pretty much led by Tinchy Stryder. His collaboration with N-Dubz was pretty nifty, and his effort with Sugababe Amelle Berrabah was even better. Bringing the urban and pop worlds together seamlessly, ‘Never Leave You’ had a brilliant chorus and a heart of gold, storming to the top of the charts over the summer. Of course Amelle’s reputation was soon hanging in the balance thanks to the whole Sugababes drama, but at the time of this single she saw her profile go up a heap as well. The song also provided a handy lead-in for Tinchy’s album ‘Catch 22′ which glided to No2 in the album charts in the same month.

6. Cheryl Cole – ‘Fight For This Love’
October, Peak #1
On first impressions this was a bit of a shock to many – definitely not like a Girls Aloud single, and definitely a bit of a grower. ‘Fight For This Love’ was an accessible pop tune with a smattering of light R’n’B and some surprisingly strong vocals from Cole (auto-tuned or not, we may never know). There’s no denying that without ‘The X Factor’ this wouldn’t have been nearly as huge as it was, but in all fairness this did prove over time to be a bit of a guilty pleasure for almost anyone. Its seven-day sales record for 2009 was soon overtaken by Joe McElderry and Rage Against The Machine, but this is officially the single with the highest first-day sale of 2009, the most-played song on British radio this year, and it also sold faster than any of the twenty-one Girls Aloud singles. ‘3 Words’ may have technically been the “cleverer song”, but for a carefree breezy pop gem that sets the dancefloor alight whenever it’s played, ‘FFTL’ is one of the year’s best.

So what’s in our Top 5, and more importantly, what’s our No1? All will be revealed tomorrow!