My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson!

This monster hit, created by pop Frankensteins Max Martin and Dr. Luke, has rhythm and melody lines ripped indiscriminately from all their other hits and lyrical inspiration courtesy of a high schooler’s Facebook wall. (“I know that I’ve got issues/ But you’re pretty messed up too.”) Where a lesser singer might have tried to animate the parts with a vocal lightning storm, Kelly Clarkson sings the words with her signature ease, building to an emotional crescendo that’s pointless to resist. Nearly a decade after her journey from waitress to American Idol, Clarkson’s lack of pretension remains her greatest asset. -Time.com

Congrats Kelly Clarkson for the #1 song in 2009!!!!

Also, at #10 is “Mad World” by Adam Lambert.

“Talent is a trend,” goes the old record-company proverb, and Adam Lambert proved it repeatedly on the reality talent show that no one remembers he didn’t win. In particular, Lambert’s performance of this slowly building Tears for Fears track shows off his ability to interpret a song and create dramatic tension — a lost art in pop music. It also helps that he holds his notes with remarkable clarity and has such obvious vocal star power that America couldn’t help but make him the … well, whatever. -Time.com

Not to shabby for a new artist who didn’t even win Idol.