The top 40 tracks of the year, as voted for by Guardian writers

The best songs of 2011

1 Lana Del Rey – Video Games

2 Azealia Banks – 212

3 Tyler, the Creator – Yonkers

4 Joe Goddard – Gabriel ft Valentina

5 Frank Ocean – Swim Good

6 Nicki Minaj – Super Bass

7 Beyoncé – Countdown

8 Adele – Rolling in the Deep (Jamie xx Remix)

9 Rihanna – We Found Love

10 A$AP Rocky – Peso

11 Tune-Yards – Bizness

12 PJ Harvey – The Words That Maketh Murder

13 St Vincent – Surgeon

14 Nicola Roberts – Dance to the Beat of My Drum

15 Battles – Ice Cream

16 Gang Gang Dance – Glass Jar

17 Michael Kiwanuka – I'm Getting Ready

18 Lady Gaga – Born This Way

19 Anna Calvi – Blackout

20 Cults – Go Outside

21 Wilco – One Sunday Morning

22 Junior Boys – Banana Ripple

23 Lykke Li – Sadness Is a Blessing

24 Drake ft Rihanna – Take Care

25 Metronomy – The Look

26 Willy Moon – I Wanna Be Your Man

27 Rustie – Ultra Thizz

28 James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream

29 The Horrors – Still Life

30 Beyoncé – 1+1

31 Jamie xx and Gil Scott Heron – I'm New Here

32 lll Blu – Meltdown

33 Cloud Nothings – Heartbeat

34 Maria Minerva – A Little Lonely

35 Machine Head – Darkness Within

36 Diddy Dirty Money – Coming Home

37 June Tabor & Oysterband – Fountains Flowing

38 Radiohead – Morning Mr Magpie

39 Canibus – Brainwash Reversal Remix

40 King Krule – Bleak Bake