2009 was a year of ups and downs for Yahoo search. While we wait for the Yahoo/Microsoft search deal to take effect, we know that Yahoo still holds firm as the number two search site, with 18.8% market share (to Google's 64.9%) according to October data from comScore.

Interestingly enough, Yahoo has just followed Microsoft's lead and released their top search data for 2009. They've just published their top 10 overall searches, as well as a top lists across a number of different categories like mobile, the economy, and Obama-specific searches.

While Yahoo top searches definitely depict some hot memes and internet sensations for 2009 — think Michael Jackson, Megan Fox, Twilight, and Cash for Clunkers — Twitter is surprisingly absent from all of the top 10 lists. Clearly, Yahoo searchers are a very different bunch when it comes to their curiosity around the micro medium that made such a macro impact on pop culture and mainstream media this year.

The Top 10 Searches

Top 10 Overall Searches for 2009

1. Michael Jackson 2. Twilight 3. WWE 4. Megan Fox 5. Britney Spears 6. Naruto 7. American Idol 8. Kim Kardashian 9. NASCAR 10. Runescape

Top 10 Mobile Searches for 2009

1. Megan Fox 2. Mobile Games 3. Michael Jackson 4. Movies 5. Rihanna 6. Mail 7. Lady Gaga 8. NFL 9. Ringtones 10. iPhone

Top 10 Economy-Related Searches for 2009

1. Coupons 2. Unemployment 3. Stimulus Plan 4. Cash for Clunkers 5. Student Loans 6. IRS Refund 7. Foreclosures 8. Government Jobs 9. Bernard Madoff 10. Health Care Bill

Top Obama Searches for 2009

1. Obama Inauguration 2. Obama Biography 3. Obama Speech 4. Obama Stimulus Plan 5. Obama Family 6. Obama Health Care Reform 7. Obama Approval Ratings 8. Obama Facebook 9. Obama Overseas (a roundup of his numerous travels) 10. Obama Dramas (a roundup of controversies)

Top 10 Celebrity Farewell Searches for 2009

1. Michael Jackson 2. Farrah Fawcett 3. Patrick Swayze 4. Natasha Richardson 5. Jett Travolta 6. Billy Mays 7. David Carradine 8. Steve McNair 9. Jade Goody 10. Ted Kennedy

Top 10 Sudden-Fame Searches for 2009

1. Jon & Kate Gosselin 2. Erin Andrews 3. Susan Boyle 4. Kris Allen & Adam Lambert 5. Nadya Suleman 6. Carrie Prejean 7. Governor Mark Sanford 8. Portuguese Water Dog 9. Falcon Heene 10. Sonia Sotomayor

Mobile Becoming Mainstream

The only social media related search to crack any of Yahoo's top 10 lists is "Obama Facebook," which does point to a public curiosity about politics and social media. But, while "iPhone" and a number searches related to people who fascinated the web, like Susan Boyle and Balloon Boy, Falcon Heene, made their marks in terms of search, social media doesn't appear to have prominently factored into the search equation for Yahoos.

It's probably fair to conclude that Yahoo searchers are more mainstream, less interested in Twitter, and more curious about pop culture, than Bing searchers.

One interesting thing to pay attention to, however, are the Yahoo mobile searches for 2009. A careful look at this category paints a very compelling picture for the rise of the mobile web and its adoption by mainstream users. There is a definite overlap in popular searches for the web and mobile, which supports findings and predictions that the mobile web is taking over the world. Searches also highlight a growing mobile demand for consuming multimedia content, especially games and entertainment, on mobile devices.