Best R&B and Soul Songs of 2010

This is another strong, extremely well-sung track from Monica's Still Standing album, which was easily one of the best releases of the year. It's also one of the best songs Monica has ever recorded.

The highlight of Fantasia's Back to Me album, which dropped in August is the first single, "Bittersweet," during which 'Tasia agonizes over a former lover whom she can't get out of her mind or heart, even though he treated her bad: "Part of me wants you, part of me don't/part of me is missin' you, part of me is gone," she sings.

This catchy, Michael Jackson-esque track is one of the better songs on Ne-Yo's concept album Libra Scale, which was released in late November.

New Jersey native Jaheim, who started out his career with a very rough around the edges image years ago, shows how much he's grown and matured on this love song. It's a tender jam about wanting to be with the love of your life and Jah manages to sound sweet, yet strong at the same time.

Aloe Blacc is an R&B/Soul singer from Orange County, California, who's the son of Panamanian immigrants. his hard times anthem "I Need a Dollar" is a perfect theme for the recession-era times that we live in now. It's from his Good Things album, which dropped in September.

Bilal released his first album in almost 10 years back in September, but the song on this list wasn't on it. And that's a shame, because "Free" is way better than anything on his non-cohesive and disappointing Airtight's Revenge project.

"Soul Strut," which is the second single off Funk/Soul singer Lady Daisey's debut album, In My Pocket, is a retro-sounding reminder about the need to relax and enjoy life every once in awhile, and not let work and stress overwhelm your life.

for all the men out there who are getting ready to propose marriage to your lady and need a little inspiration, this just might be the perfect song for you. It starts out softly as Kem tenderly makes his case to his love, then gains power and momentum as his starts to declare his love in a bolder, stronger voice. The song is from Kem's Intimacy album, which came out Aug. 17 via the Universal Motown label.

This is the one song on the list that wasn't actually released as a single. It was actually supposed to be the lead track off Erykah's New Amerykah Part 2 album, but after it leaked early, the label went in another direction and dropped "Window Seat" (and it's now-infamous video) instead. "Jump Up in the Air," which features both Bilal and Lil Wayne, wound up being left off the album entirely, but it still makes the About R&B/Soul list of best songs.

"Bulletproof" is arguably the best tune of Raheem's career so far. The song, which is about war overseas and violence in the 'hood, is the rare social commentary track that manages to be grim but entertaining at the same time. The lyrics are dead serious: "(They) murder your sons, ravage your daughters/Here, overseas and across the waters/Tanks and missiles, bombs and grenades/Inject your land with guns and AIDS." But at the same time, the catchy chorus and the song's slinking '70s Soul beat make the song addictive.