Hit count: You could be a star, it ain't hard

Katy Perry, "I Kissed a Girl": Yeah, it's a bad song, but don't talk yourself into claiming it's not daring. In about forty states this is sizzling stuff, no matter the singer's commitment to lesbianism, or lack thereof. And the "I Kissed a Boy" gay remakes are endearing. Now, if only Perry weren't a horrible singer.

Chris Brown, "Forever": I can't quite say I like Brown now, but I've gained some, gulp, respect for him: he's at least adequate at what he does. Meanwhile, Polow's bubblegum macrohouse is improving. If someone hands him a Roger Sanchez record, he'll be making top-notch schlock in no time.

Natasha Bedingfield, "Pocketful of Sunshine": A career-saving single, thank goodness. The sunny singer gritting her teeth in a grim minor key is a trick so simple, you'd never think it'd work until you heard it.

David Cook, "The Time of My Life": With Katharine McPhee and Jordin Sparks releasing very good and quite alright debut singles respectively, I'd begun to wonder whether it might be worth finally starting to watch Idol. Ha ha. No.