In the year that brought us a presidential election, a tanking economy and Tila Tequila, there were some great songs. Despite doomsayers proclaiming the music industry is dead, musicians and producers made some great hits this year. Here is Billboard’s list of the top 20 songs and albums of the year.
Do you think the markets got it wrong? Which ones should be at the top in your opinion? Tell us in the comments.
The top songs of 2008 were as follows:
- Low by Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain
- Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
- No One by Alicia Keys
- Lollipop by Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major
- Apologize by Timbaland featuring OneRepublic
- No Air by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown
- Love Song by Sara Bareilles
- Love In This Club by Usher Featuring Young Jeezy
- With You by Chris Brown
- Forever by Chris Brown
- Sexy Can I by Ray J & Yung Berg
- Take a Bow by Rihanna
- Viva La Vida by Coldplay
- I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry
- Whatever You Like by T.I.
- Disturbia by Rihanna
- Don’t Stop The Music by Rihanna
- Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield
- Kiss Kiss by Chris Brown Featuring T-Pain
- Closer by Ne-Yo

The top albums of 2008 are as follows:
- As I Am by Alicia Keys
- Noel by Josh Groban
- Tha Carter III by Lil Wayne
- Long Road Out of Eden by Eagles
- Taylor Swift by Taylor Swift
- Rock N Roll Jesus by Kid Rock
- Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends by Coldplay
- NOW 26 by Various Artists
- Carnival Ride by Carrie Underwood
- The Ultimate Hits by Garth Brooks
- Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus by Miley Cyrus
- Growing Pains by Mary J. Blige
- Exclusive by Chris Brown
- Sleep Through The Static by Jack Johnson
- Black Ice by AC/DC
- Death Magnetic by Metallica
- Jonas Brothers by Jonas Brothers
- Coco by Colbie Caillat
- Spirit by Leona Lewis
- High School Musical 2 (Soundtrack)
The Billboard year-end music tallies represent aggregated numbers from weekly charts tracking the sales of these albums and songs. Most of those numbers are based on data from Nielsen Music, with sales of physical and digital product compiled by Nielsen SoundScan, and radio airplay and digital streams measured by Nielsen BDS.