by Jasmine O'Neil

There are songs that are musical masterpieces, songs that are just fun to get up and dance to, songs that mark the peak or breakthrough of an artist. There are even songs from bad artists that are actually rather annoying that you secretly can’t get enough of.  Billboard’s music charts are respected and recognized across the country and track the popularity of songs and albums. Whether you love them or hate them, here are six songs that have taken over the country and worked their way high up the Billboard charts.

“I Kissed A Girl”- Katy Perry

Any song that involves a girl talking about something wild, fun, crazy or naughty over a powerful, pounding yet danceable beat is likely to gain attention and airplay. Katy Perry’s I Kissed a Girl is no exception. The sassy song is reflective of Perry’s overall artistic persona as well as the theme of her album (titled Just One of the Boys). It isn’t exactly a piece of musical genius nor is it the best representation of Perry’s true talents as her voice gets hidden under the production and overshadowed by the beat and semi-controversial lyrics. But it is the kind of song that’ll brighten up the party or make you grab your hairbrush and sing into it as you dance around your room; the kind of truly fun song that has recently been lacking on the airwaves. And if you aren’t already aware...it’s very, very catchy.

“Lollipop”-Wayne

After years of having built a respected name for himself within the rap world and having guest-starred or collaborated on other hit singles, New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne has finally scored a mainstream hit single of his own. With a vocoder in hand, the self-proclaimed “best rapper alive” has burned his way to the top of the charts and has achieved a level of success uncommon for rappers of his kind. Lollipop has a trippy, drum and bass heavy beat and is smoother and slower than most rap songs that hit the charts. While it isn't Wayne’s best work lyrically, it does allow him to show a different style and has won over rap fans and non-rap fans alike.

“Shake It”-Metro Station

If you didn’t know better you might think you were back in the 80s when listening to Shake It by Metro Station. The electro-pop song brings a unique sound to the current music scene. The Hollywood-based band founded by Mason Musso and Trace Cyrus, the teenaged big brothers of Hannah Montana stars Miley Cyrus and Mitchel Musso, rose to fame via the internet and started drawing the attention of music fans and industry members in only a matter of months. They were eventually signed to a record deal after a label intern came across their Myspace page. Shake It’s energizing, body-moving beat and the enthusiastic but mildly seductive vocals have combined to create the groups’ breakthrough single.

“Love In This Club”-Usher

After a four year hiatus, the prince of contemporary urban R&B has returned. The leadoff single from Usher’s latest album mixes his soothing vocals with sex appeal. It’s laid back  but has just enough bounce to make it a favorite with club goers. The popular urban music producer Polow Da Don provided his talents for the track and Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy is also featured. The remix/sequel (Love in This Club, Part II), which features Beyonce and Lil Wayne and does a better job at showcasing Usher’s voice, was released a little while after the original and has also been positively received. Given the overall success of Usher’s singles over the past decade, it’s no surprise that the song and remix both cracked the Billboard’s Top 20, with the sequel peaking at 18 and the original reaching number 1.

“Viva La Vida”-Coldplay

Viva La Vida, Coldplay’s most successful single to date, is one of those songs that grows stronger and stronger as it progresses. The song is laced with spiritual and religious references but the lyrics can be interpreted and related to in a number of ways. No matter what your perception, most would surely agree that the words are intriguing and beautiful. The song manages to have a “simple,” natural feel despite the fact that it’s a very delicately crafted combination of piano and pumping, joyous strings. Putting the final stamp on the song’s success is the latest commercial for Apple’s iPod which features the song and the band in iPod's signature ad style.

“Bleeding Love”-Leona Lewis

Co-produced by minor teenybopper pop star Jesse McCartney and Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic fame, Bleeding Love has been repeating in the heads of millions all across the globe. Though it was released in late 2007, Leona Lewis’s Bleeding Love is still charting among Billboards top singles. It has the traditional catchiness of a pop song but the beat has a slightly larger R&B feel than most songs in the genre. The track is pushed over the top by Lewis’s strong vocals.  At just 23 years old, Leona Lewis is the latest in a long line of British stars to make their way across the Atlantic and onto American radio stations. After landing in the spotlight in 2006 by winning the UK’s American Idol-like show The X Factor, she has become an international superstar with high sales and critical acclaim in less than two years.

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