▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
5. Jason Derulo: “Whatcha Say”
Speaking of Auto-Tune, this proudly synthetic debut single from the R&B singer Jason Derulo doubles down on vocal effects, prominently sampling Imogen Heap’s 2005 pitch-shifted a cappella tune “Hide and Seek” and heavily processing Derulo’s own voice to match hers. For better or worse, few songs recall the retrofuturistic sound of 2009 more evocatively than this one!
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
6. The xx: “Intro”
Another defining indie release of 2009 came from the London trio the xx. Romy Madley Croft’s hushed vocals lent the trio’s self-titled debut its distinct cool, though this wordless opening track remains the most potent distillation of the band’s vibe.
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
7. Grizzly Bear: “Cheerleader”
On its immaculately atmospheric third album, “Veckatimest,” the Brooklyn band Grizzly Bear mixed tight four-part vocal harmonies with more outré post-rock experimentation, punctuated by blurts of Daniel Rossen’s expressive guitar playing. The bright, catchy “Two Weeks” is the most recognizable song from the album, but this slow, creeping number is just as haunting.
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
8. Dirty Projectors: “Stillness Is the Move”
Yet another unexpected Knowles family favorite, this soulful centerpiece from the Brooklyn group Dirty Projectors’ art-rock opus “Bitte Orca” features a sparse, stuttering groove and an impassioned vocal from the singer-songwriter Amber Coffman, who has since begun a solo career. It is also perhaps the unlikeliest entry on the soundtrack of the video game NBA 2K13.
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
9. Miley Cyrus: “Party in the U.S.A.”
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention this enduring 2009 smash — a profoundly wholesome, universally relatable ode to the superpowers bestowed by a favorite song — which a small portion of the population probably believes is the national anthem. I count myself among them.
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
