Sweet 16 Party

That sweet spot between the tail end of tweenerdom and the real-world responsibilities of late-teen trials? It's Sweet 16 and life couldn't be better, especially when you've got your own kickin' soundtrack to tell the world who you are and what, exactly, it is you groove to. So throw a kiss to your Jonas Brothers poster, 'cause you know they'd be "Burnin' Up" over your own hot self if they only had the chance, then kick off your shoes and "Just Dance" along with Lady GaGa & Colby O'Donis, while you let the Pussycat Dolls worry about "When I Grow Up" — right now you're just perfect, thank you very much. More of your Sweet 16 sounds await, in Next Steps.

So, maybe Paramore is detailing your love life a little too well with their chunky hunk of a daydream, "Crushcrushcrush," but when that clueless homeroom cutie just isn't catching the hint, round up your best buds, whip out your rock moves, and dial up some Avril Lavigne for a rowdy "Girlfriend" sing-along. You are Sweet 16 and right now it's all about believing in your own awesomeness — before you know it, Christina Aguilera's going to be singing your "Keeps Gettin' Better" theme song, and the object of your affection is gonna be making like Soulja Boy Tell 'Em and pleading "Kiss Me Thru the Phone." You've got a whole year to celebrate — hit Deep Cuts for more Sweet 16 treats.

Sure, there's plenty of teen angst radiating from "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You," from Black Kids, and there's some serious break-up/kiss-off action running through "Say It Right" from Nelly Furtado . . . , but the life of a Sweet 16'er is about so much more than drama. Especially when there are movers like Cobra Starship's dance-party extravaganza "Guilty Pleasure" and Vanessa Hudgens' tongue-twisting "Sneakernight" to turn up the heat and move the feet. And when the dancing's over and everything in your beautiful life is falling into place, Plain White T's are there to break it down into a sweet and simple "1, 2, 3, 4."

"Come on, baby, we ain't gonna live forever," sing the Veronicas on their rockin' power-pop heart-starter "4ever," but when you're Sweet 16 and the world is your pearl-packed oyster, it sure feels like destiny is yours for the shaping. You're becoming the person you were meant to be all along, and your music is more important than ever, helping you say the things you have inside you, whether it's a righteous, fed-up kiss-off (Miley Cyrus' upstanding "7 Things," Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold"), a go-for-broke love call (David Archuleta's aching "Crush"), or simply your firm intention to have a good time while you've got the chance (Madonna's "4 Minutes (feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland)"). It's your life in a playlist, and it's sweet.