When I was growing up, particularly in the years between 1988-94, I wanted nothing more than to become a famous pop songwriter. Of course, thousands have this same fantasy, and most of them can't play, sing or -- well -- write.

However, 35-year-old Rob Thomas is living that dream, and he's already been recognized in the music industry as being probably its best pop songwriter of the past several years. Some would classify him as a singer-songwriter, and I guess he is. However, Thomas is at his core a pop songwriter.

He co-wrote the 1999 anthem "Smooth," which he performed with Santana, and he's since written for many others in pop, rock and country. The guy is a machine, and it would be shameful not to note that he's a bright one, too.

Thomas has made numerous appearances on Bill Maher's HBO program, "Real Time," and he's a knowledgable political creature -- even if he was once the cover boy for High Times magazine.

His 2007 resume was capped though by what became a corporate commercial for ABC and its Thursday-night lineup. Most folks will know "Streetcorner Symphony" as that tune from Grey's Anatomy promos, and while it was not a major commercial hit (peaking at No. 64 on the Billboard Hot 100), it proved to be pervasive in the pop culture palette of the year.

What's striking about this song, to me, is how perfect it is in its musical structure while at the same time being sort of white-boy soulful. Thomas has never been what one would call a blue-eyed soul artist, a designation better left to dudes like Daryl Hall and the guy from Simply Red.

However, the guitar hook intermingled with the horns and the backup singers refuse to prevent one from bobbing their head to what is the No. 20 song on my Top 25 of 2007 countdown.

See others:

No. 25 - Everyday America - Sugarland

No. 24 - Le Disko - Shiny Toy Guns

No. 23 - Famous In A Small Town - Miranda Lambert

No. 22 - Colorful - Rocco DeLuca & The Burden

No. 21 - Never Again - Kelly Clarkson