Download These Songs Now.

Here are the best songs of 2007, each among the most played on my iPod, and never fail to bring a smile to my face.


SHUT UP AND DRIVE by Rihanna
This year’s “Little Red Corvette” as it combines plenty of innuendo and well, gear-shifting power. Plenty of people stepped under her Umbrella, but really should step into her car instead. This song explodes with all kinds of energy and tension. Play it loud.


APOLIGIZE by Timbaland Featuring OneRepublic.
Take an unknown, nothing special, Colorado band in the right place at the right time with a catchy ballad and partner them with uber-producer Timbaland and you have a hit. The old-fashioned, pre-American Idol way. Timbaland has a unique and addictive sound and brings a hip vibe to this and to…


NITE-RUNNER by Duran Duran (featuring Timbaland and Justin Timberlake and Jim Beanz)
…this sleek, sexy club hit from the boys who made us Hungry Like The Wolf. JT certainly has the wild boys to thank for his career, but also Timbaland, with whom he made one of 2006’s most important pop albums “FutureSex/LoveSounds.” Just like what JT mixed with Duran Duran should sound like. Hot.


BETWEEN MY LEGS by Rufus Wainwright
I had the pleasure of seeing Rufus in concert in Seattle this summer. What a showman. This song is both funny and sexy and spooky and one of the better cuts from his uneven-but-buy-it-anyway-because-it’s-Rufus CD “Release the Stars.” And he does a spot-on Judy Garland in concert.


NIGHT AND DAY by Bebel Gilberto
There might not be a more perfect pop song than this gem from Cole Porter. Gilberto’s version brings a breezy feeling to a heavy song and turns in a version as good as the one by U2 and by the Chairman.


THE STORY by Brandi Carlile
Listen to this song just once and you will be haunted by its power. I had the joy of watching Seattle’s own Carlile and I was blown away by her presence. Wisdom and pain beyond her years.


PLANET EARTH by Prince.
It helps to get a gig at the Super Bowl, which is how his royal badness started 2007. A great track with stunning guitar work and an Al Gore-friendly message. Still an under-valued influence on today’s music, give Prince a chance again.


SOCCER GIRL by Brother Love
The Tom Jones of his generation- woman threw underwear at him when I saw him this year. NYC’s BroLo is in love with a podcast host. From his second album, this track is playful for its driving drums and guitar work. Nowhere near as amazing as the work from his appropriately titled “Album of the Year” from 2004.


WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW by Melissa Etheridge
A song of hope that was a showstopper that moved Davey and I at LIVE EARTH this past summer. A gifted storyteller, Etheridge writes this one for her kids, both literally and figuratively, and convinces us to believe and work to become the change we want to see.



THE UNDERDOG by Spoon
If Phil Spector were to produce The Jam, this is what it would sound like. Infectious power-pop with a message. This is one of those songs that makes it into a TV commercial and will be a hit in four years. Stay tuned.