One of the aspects of pop music that surprises me the most is that there hasn't been more of a rivalry between Beyonce and Rihanna.

Sure, it would make for an exciting cat fight (think: tub of jello), but for whatever reason, at least musically, the pop stars have kept to themselves. For one thing, Rihanna was discovered and promoted primarily by Jay-Z, who happens to be Beyonce's main man.

But for another, in the pop music world, there is plenty of room for both of them. Beyonce scored the biggest hit of the year, according to Billboard magazine, with a song called "Irreplaceable," a tune that grates at my every nerve.

However, Rihanna scored big in 2007 with several hits, too. And I just happen to count myself among those who preferred Rihanna last year. While her first album a couple years back did nothing for me, it was a summer hit that made me think she had something.

And then she released "Shut Up And Drive," and I knew she had something.

My former colleague, now in greener Arizonan pastures, kept telling me about this song and how addictive it was. Well, the first time I heard it on the radio, I loathed it. The second time, I loathed it a little bit less.

And by the third listen, I realized that whoever penned this pop tune had stumbled upon a gold mine.

First and foremost, "Shut Up And Drive" craftfully meshed rock and pop. Rihanna made an awards-show appearance with FallOut Boy doing a more rock version of this song, which was twice as sexy as the original.

Speaking of "sexy," my No. 6 song for 2007 is one big innuendo. What's under my hood. A whole lot of boom in the back. This song shouldn't have been called, "Shut Up And Drive," it should have been called, "Shut Up And F*** Me."

All kidding aside, the automobile metaphor ensured that this catchy pop hit can be used in all sorts of commercials. Now, that could carry some pop culture weight in years to come, but "Shut Up And Drive" earns its spot at No. 6 on its songwriting merits alone.

Like every other tune from here on out that completes my year-end chart, this one exudes brilliant pop songwriter crasftsmanship.

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

No. 20 - Streetcorner Symphony - Rob Thomas

No. 19 - Two - Ryan Adams

No. 18 - Penny On A Train Track - Ben Kweller

No. 17 - Paralyzer - Finger Eleven

No. 16 - Vegas - Sara Bareilles

No. 15 - Bubbly - Colbie Caillat

No. 14 - Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

No. 13 - Give It To Me - Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake

No. 12 - U + Ur Hand - Pink

No. 11 - You Never Get Over It - Ladybug Mecca

No, 10 - The Pretender - Foo Fighters

No. 9 - What Comes Around ... Goes Around - Justin Timberlake

No. 8 - Grace Kelly - Mika

No. 7 - Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood