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Based on results culled from millions of Yahoo Search users, the top searches of 2004 give unique insight into this year's consumer interests and trends.

The Yahoo! Search 2004 Top 10 Searches:

1. American Idol
2. Paris Hilton
3. Jessica Simpson
4. Britney Spears
5. Harry Potter
6. WWE
7. Usher
8. NASCAR
9. NBA
10. NFL

Last year video games and wizards ruled, this year it's all about crooner wannabes and fair-haired beauties. The number one spot in 2004 goes to American Idol, the reality show that boosted winner Fantasia Barrino to stardom. Not surprisingly, a bevy of blondes round out the top four, but the order of appearance is somewhat surprising: heiress bad girl Paris Hilton and Newlywed Jessica Simpson both rank higher than the three-year reigning Top Searches Queen, Britney Spears. Usher is the only non-fictional male to make the top 10 this year, proving that catchy lyrics, smooth dance moves and great abs make him "the man" in 2004.

Nancy Evars, a Yahoo! Search Buzz Index guru, says the shift in America's interest this year from geek to chic is an excellent read on what fascinated consumers' interests in 2004.

"The 2004 results illustrate that while people follow scandals and heartbreaks, they also have other interests. Controversy rocked several of this year's top search queries, but sports searches also made the list thanks to the increase in popularity of fantasy sports and the surging demand for pro-sports statistics," said Evars.

"Movers" Rocket to the Top

Movers are Search topics that see the greatest percentage in increase from one day to the next. Often coming out of nowhere, movers momentarily spark public interest and often disappear just as quickly as they arrived. When viewed month by month, they highlight some of the year's hottest news headlines and events.

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