Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 2010. Welcome to our final decade- the 10s!

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 2010, the UK is officially no longer in recession, Tony Blair appears at the Iraq enquiry and is questioned on his decision to take the UK into war against Iraq, American company Kraft Foods takes over British chocolate company Cadburys and the whole country collapses isn’t very happy about it, Levi Bellfield is charged with the murder of Milly Dowler who went missing 8 years ago, a Birmingham couple are charged and sentenced for starving their 7 yr-old daughter Khyra Ishaq to death, volcanic ash from Iceland causes British airports to close for 6 days, the general election takes place and results in a hung parliament, after leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg whores himself negotiates between the Conservative and Labour parties a coalition government is formed between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, David Cameron becomes the new British Prime Minister and Nick Clegg becomes the Deputy Prime Minister, 12 people are killed and 25 injured when gunman Derrick Bird goes on a killing rampage in Cumbria- he then turns the gun on himself, in the North East Roaul Moat shoots dead one person and badly injures two others– a week later a six-hour stand-off with the police and Gazza (yes Gazza) takes place as they try to talk him into giving himself up- he then also turns the gun on himself, Ed Miliband becomes the leader of the Labour Party, Prince Williams becomes engaged to Catherine Middleton, students protest against increased tuition fees and cuts to funding, fashion designer Alexander McQueen dies, the 2010 World Cup takes place in South Africa and Spain win the cup, the world’s tallest building opens in Dubai– it is 2,716ft tall, 33 miners are trapped underground in Chile– they are rescued after being underground for 69 days (I became OBSESSED with the Chilean miners and watched their rescue at 3am), the films Inception, Blue Valentine, Toy Story 3, The Social Network, Black Swan and The King’s Speech were all released, I turn 34 years old and Bessie Dye was born.

Well, there we have it, 2010 is the year that I have struggled the most to come up with 10 songs that I genuinely love. Now, is this because it was a weak year for music OR is it because for most of the year, I was either growing a human being inside of my actual body or I was tending to my tiny, beautiful, very loud human being and trying to keep it alive whist suffering from severe sleep deprivation and leaking milk from my mammaries (am I really selling motherhood to you?). Either way, I somehow came up with 10 songs that I loved from the year my babygirl was born. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. Only Girl (In the World) by Rihanna

2. Tightrope by Janelle Monae (here’s a video of Janelle performing Tightrope at Glastonbury Festival 2011. It is a masterclass in how to give audiences their money’s worth).

3. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

4. Beat the Devil’s Tattoo by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

5. Rambling Man by Laura Marling

6. Rolling in the Deep by Adele

7. We Used to Wait by Arcade Fire

8. All the Lovers by Kylie Minogue

9. Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down by Alicia Keys (yes I know the other version featured last week, but it is beautiful and I told you I’m struggling this week)

10. I’d Do It All Again by Corinne Bailey Rae (Corinne wrote this song about her husband that died suddenly at 32 years old and every time I hear it, it devastates me)

This week my favourite is Laura Marling. Don’t forget to let me know in the comments, which one is yours.

See you next week for 2011!