#5 The Script, "Breakeven"

What am I supposed to do
When the best part of me was always you?
And what am I supposed to say
When I'm all choked up but you're OK?

American radio, are you listening? OK, here goes: I need "Breakeven" to be the next "She Will Be Loved." It could do it, it really could--how could Americans resist singing along with this Irish-penned song, one of those ballads with a gorgeous soaring melody but enough oomph behind the rest of it (especially in that percussion part) to make it mid-tempo and give it the punch it needs to keep your attention before you have time to fall in love with the lyrics (and there are more than enough lyrics to fall in love with in "Breakeven")--but you're going to have to start it; if people don't hear this song, they're never going to get the chance to fall in love with it.

Find it on: The Script

#94 The Script, "The Man Who Can't Be Moved"

I know it makes no sense, but what else can I do,
How can I move on when I'm still in love with you?

Kind of like a modern day "Every Breath You Take" (though doesn't it seem like it gets claimed that there's a new one every year?), "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" is radio-ready pop with guitars approaching its ballad best, the sort of song that feels like it's meant to be hugely popular. With a percussion part that refuses to give the song a moment to rest its weary feet, the song's key is nothing other than a strong melody. The lyrics probably helped the song in its quest for popularity in Ireland and the UK--they feel designed to make you take the song to your chest and treasure it, make it the sort of song that means something to you--but the best lines of all are some of the simplest, the ones that feel the most natural. "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" isn't quite as deserving of universal appeal and ubiquity as it wants to be, but it's darn close.

Find it on: The Script

Still got time for someone

I got in my car yesterday, plugged in my iPod, cued up the Script's album, started the car...and lost my breath for a moment, for what should come pouring out of my car's speakers but "The Man Who Can't Be Moved," being played by an actual Ohio radio station.

Anyhow, we've now entered a season I love for many reasons, one of which is the year end countdown lists that proliferate during this time of year. They're an addiction for me, but the ones below (accompanied by a few artists to try to give you a feel for each list's flavor) are worth your time even if you don't read every single one you see like I do.

• Europe Crazy counted down her top 50 singles of the year, featuring BWO, Salem al Fakir, Matt Pokora, September, and Jack McManus
• Adem's just begun his countdown lists; the first is the top 10 videos of the year, featuring Lily Allen, Girls Aloud, the Last Shadow Puppets, and Justice
• Duane Moody is counting down his 32 favorite albums of the year, featuring Same Difference, Ladyhawke, Rachael Yamagata, and the Weepies
• XO began his lists with his ultimate favorite songs of the year, featuring Goldfrapp, Sam Sparro, Coldplay, Will Young, Ne-Yo, and the Gadsdens
• Chart Rigger began with the worst pop singles of the year, including Mariah Carey, Madonna, and Beyoncé
• Nikki of Pop Reviews Now is counting down her 72 favorite songs of the year, featuring New Kids on the Block, Lemar, Britannia High, Vanessa Amorosi, and Agnes
  
• #1 Hits From Another Planet is counting down the best singles and best albums of the year, featuring The Feeling, M.I.A., Walter Meego, Neo, Kylie Minogue, the Guillemots, the Killers, and M83.
• Rachel of Work Your Magic is counting down her top 50 singles of the year, featuring Giusy Ferreri, Dima Koldun, Annie, and Philipp Poise

There will, luckily, be more to come.

My own countdown of my favorite singles of the year is a work in progress at the moment. I should warn you all that it'll probably be longer than last year, though, and I STILL won't be including all the singles I loved on it. The ranking is ridiculously hard to do and will ultimately probably be pretty arbitrary, but I can't not do it.