3. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Let Me Be": The '90s weren't the best time for the sax in pop and rock. The instrument never completely went away but it was rarely as prominent as in the '80s. Outside a few groups like the Dave Matthews Band, you rarely saw the sax outside of ska and big bands.

The most successful of the ska/punk hybrid bands of the era, ignoring No Doubt (who were more trumpet/trombone people), were the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, whose songwriting abilities put them just a little bit further ahead of their contemporaries.

2. M83 - "Midnight City": M83 mastermind Anthony Gonzalez is the first to admit that the sax solo might be considered cliché or cheesy, but when "Midnight City" needed a big retro finish it was a natural fit.

Last year's album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is full of a retro '80s vibes with songs sounding like they're from the greatest John Hughes soundtrack that never existed. "Midnight City" was one of the best-reviewed songs of 2011, thanks in no small part to a sax solo that takes it from being a great song to an instant classic.

Lady Gaga, "Edge of Glory": Here at the end we return back to where we started: Clarence Clemons. When the biggest pop star in the world needed something special for the closing track for newest CD, something to take it from album closer to anthem, she called in the Big Man.

Clemons rose to the occasion, laying down another classic solo just a few months before he passed away. We may have been sad to see him go, but hearing him on the radio in 2011 made things a little bit easier.