When applying cheap fake tan, treating yourself to a rich, creamy dessert or deciding how much cleavage to flash at a funeral, less is probably more. However, the opposite is true when updating the '80s arena rock sound for 2009, as OneRepublic frontman and diva-friendly knob-twiddler (Leona's 'Bleeding Love', Beyoncé's 'Halo') Ryan Tedder has realised.

To that end, he lavishes 'Battlefield' with ear-bashing drums, lashings of guitar, piano straight off an old Bonnie Tyler record, chanty backing vocals and, if you listen carefully, an electro effect that sounds a bit like Sonar. To say his production job's bombastic is like calling Lady GaGa a bit of a show off. Fortunately, 'Battlefield' has the killer pop hooks to carry it off and Jordin Sparks is enough of a singer to rise above the rumpus. The result? A strong contender for single of the year.


> Click here to read our recent interview with Jordin Sparks