1. Kimbra, "Miracle"
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Kimbra, the New Zealand singer best known for duetting with Gotye on the smash hit "Somebody That I Used to Know," released a bold, funky album called The Golden Echo this summer, but for whatever reason, it hasn't really taken off. This is a shame, as it's a huge step forward for her as a songwriter and as a performer. "Miracle" is the second single from that record, and it's the kind of extraordinarily joyful pop song that can nudge any mood a bit closer to ecstasy.
7. QT, "Hey QT"
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PC Music's A.G. Cook and Sophie joined forces to produce "Hey QT," a single that's so cheerful and adorable that it's easy to ignore that the vocals are so processed they barely seem like they were ever sung by an actual human being.
10. Bernhoft, "One Way Track"
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The Norwegian singer Jarle Bernhoft's third album has been mostly ignored in the United States since it came out this summer, which is a real shame, as it really should be on the radio alongside like-minded R&B singers like Bruno Mars and Sam Smith. "One Way Track" isn't a single, but it's the one that really ought to be a hit, or at least something you'd regularly hear at a Starbucks or something.
11. Shamir, "On the Regular"
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Shamir's first single for the XL label is a ridiculously catchy bubblegum rap tune with a bouncy electro-pop beat and a vaguely androgynous vocal performance. The song is great on its own, but Shamir's goofy and charismatic presence in the video makes it even more fun.
13. Slow Club, "Suffering Me, Suffering You"
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The British indie duo Slow Club have been making great music for half a decade, but really hit their stride this year with Complete Surrender, an album full of songs that fully embrace the style and raw emotion of R&B music. "Suffering Me, Suffering You," a song written and sung by Rebecca Taylor, is a stunning single that starts off as a fragile soul ballad, but shifts into a full-on Motown tribute by the second verse.