The Top 10 Best Hit Songs of 2017

The Top 10 Best Hit Songs of 2017

In the following few paragraphs, I take a look at the best year of the 2010s for the Hot 100 and look at the reasons why this year was indeed the best year of the 2010s for the Hot 100.

Hey folks, welcome back to Fire’s Flaming Hot Takes. And today, we got a list that I inevitably always look forward to making more, especially for this year, it’s the top 10 best hit songs of 2017!

I’m just gonna say it. I don’t just think 2017 is the most underappreciated year of the 2010s for the Hot 100. I don’t just think it’s the best year of the 2010s for the Hot 100. I’m going as far as to call it my favorite year of all time for music, no I’m not joking. 2017 may have only happened 4 years ago, but it still feels like a completely different timeline for me, like a lifetime ago. I have immense nostalgia for this year’s music, hits or not, and I have a special relationship with so many songs here, including some that couldn’t even make my list!

Seriously, so much stuff happened in my personal life during 2017 I’m questioning if it was really all in one year. It was me leaving elementary school, then me and my cousins visiting so many places over the summer and my mood being at what I’d like to say is my all time high so far, and then I started middle school off in a great way. I’m astonished this all happened in one year honestly, but a huge chunk of the songs here take me back to a lot of those amazing times, and even if there were a few spots during this year where I felt really bad - and there were a few, I’m not gonna say 2017 was completely sunshine, rainbows, lollipops for me - there were songs that seriously helped me out on this year-end list. It was also the first year I started following the Hot 100, and it allowed me to be more open-minded with music genres rather than only listening to pop. Seriously, this year was such a landmark year for me in so many ways, I’m not sure if I’d have the same appreciation or fondness for music as a whole if it weren’t for this year.. As for the music itself, trap finally saw its rise to dominance this year, and with it being such a new trend in music at the time there were so many brilliant trap hits this year. Pop and EDM had strong showings and delivered some fantastic songs. We even got some psychedelic soul and even rock this year! And then country...yikes, I think it’s for the best that it didn’t really have that good of a showing on the Hot 100 this year. But the point is, there were so many highlights this year, making 2017 such a colorful and vibrant year for the Hot 100, and easily my favorite year I’ve ever looked at.

And with all that into consideration, it left me with a list of songs where I actually had to cut some amazing tracks, which I really can’t say about years like, say, 2014. And overall, there were 74 songs on the Hot 100 year-end list for 2017 - including 2016 repeats - that fell into my decent tier or higher. YES, 74 SONGS. THIS IS A FANTASTIC YEAR FOR MUSIC. And now it’s time to get started with this list, and good lord it was indeed a very competitive list. As a rule, the songs had to debut on the year-end Hot 100 for 2017 in order to qualify. Also fair warning, this year is also arguably my music taste at its most unpopular, so be prepared to see many, many, many hot takes on this list. So it’s time for me to take one of the biggest nostalgia trips I’ve probably ever had, starting with the honorable mentions! And we’re starting with one specifically where, if you saw a few of my worst lists, may shock you slightly.

HM #1: Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes (YE: #77, PEAK: #4)

Look, “Stay With Me” and “I’m Not The Only One” are still absolute dregs of songs and still painfully boring. But, I don’t know, Sam Smith really delivered an amazing ballad when they dropped “Too Good At Goodbyes”. The melody is definitely way prettier than it was in their previous ballads, and Sam Smith is seriously at their most vulnerable here. It’s the tone of being broken yet still having the strength to leave the relationship in their vocals that really drives it home for me. Add in a solid bass and fantastic string work, and this song really works.

HM #2: Migos f/Lil Uzi Vert - Bad And Boujee (YE: #6, PEAK: #1)

One of the biggest attributors to trap music seeing so much success this year, “Bad And Boujee” is an absolute banger. The bassline is so good, the trap percussion is actually a nice addition to the rest of the instrumentation, and the keyboards are very dark and eerie but in a great way. But really, the reason this song works so well is both Migos and Lil Uzi Vert. Offset, Quavo, and Lil Uzi Vert all have a lot of energy and charisma that really help this song not be boring, it’s such a banger! Yeah, I do wish Takeoff got a verse, but still, it's a terrific song.

HM #3: Kendrick Lamar - DNA. (YE: #62, PEAK: #4)

It startles me how many songs there were that would’ve likely made my top 5 in other years that got shoved down to my honorable mentions this year. This song was easily the biggest change of heart I’ve had for any hit song this past decade. Because back in 2017, I didn’t like this song and I couldn’t understand why it was getting so much acclaim. But I’m so glad I finally came around to it earlier this year because it is awesome. The song doesn’t even have a hook, it’s just 3 minutes of Kendrick spewing bars and he is going in hard! The trap production is so dark and matches Kendrick’s intensity so well, and then we got that second half, where the beat just completely switches and Kendrick’s delivery gets even more aggressive and really makes this song all the more intense. Legitimately fantastic song, fucking love this song so much.

HM #4: Miley Cyrus - Malibu (YE: #89, PEAK: #10)

There are a lot of songs from 2017 that while I’ve always really enjoyed, I never really gave them the proper love they deserved until now. And “Malibu” was indeed one of those songs. The electric guitar really gives a surprisingly chill vibe, and Miley’s vocals sound really amazing here. I absolutely love the vibe of this song, it’s so carefree, and it may just be Miley’s best song to date.

HM #5: Post Malone f/21 Savage - rockstar (YE: #56, PEAK: #1)

The critics can screw off, “rockstar” is amazing and still stands as one of Post Malone’s best ever songs. The melodies on this song are absolutely insane, the guitars create some intense atmosphere, the pianos are dour but really fit the vibe incredibly well. 21 Savage really delivers a lot of intensity in this song, easily the better of our two performances here. But Post Malone does really well here too, and yeah, while I do wish the chorus was slightly less monotone, “rockstar” just kicks all amounts of ass, definitely one of the best hit songs of the year.

HM #6: Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay (YE: #17, PEAK: #7)

Ah yes, the beginning of when Zedd’s ticking clocks started taking over the rest of his music. But the reason I love “Stay” so much is both nostalgia and the fact that he didn’t really make the clocks a mainstay before this, so I wasn’t really sick of them at all yet. The song is super chill, and I really dig Alessia Cara’s vocals here. And plus it really brings back some really great memories from the summer of 2017. It’s not the best EDM hit of the year by any means - we’ll get to that - but still, an amazing song.

HM #7: The Chainsmokers - Paris (YE: #42, PEAK: #6)

Hey, it’s a Chainsmokers song that actually doesn’t sound like they recycled “Roses” for the nth time! And you know, while I never really considered that to be a bad thing - because each of their songs create their own magic so that style doesn’t overshadow the song itself - this just feels like a breath of fresh air. The guitar melody sounds amazing, and yeah, while I’m still not totally wild about Andrew Taggart’s vocals, he doesn’t sound bad on this song, I’ll give him credit. Emily Warren also provides some amazing background vocals, and then we got that final drop, it just sounds so transcendent. Really sweet song, still not the best EDM song this year though!

Fantastic start there, and it’s only gonna get better, because it’s time for the top 10!

10...Again, I’m so glad I finally came around on “DNA” earlier this year. It has excellent flows, excellent lyricism, excellent production, it just goes hard all the way around. But there was another Kendrick song that I’ve always liked more than it, it probably doesn’t have the complex lyricism that “DNA” has, but- screw it, you guys know what it is at this point...

10. Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE. (YE: #4, PEAK: #1)

The reason I put this song above “DNA” is because of this song’s production, it’s awesome. Despite how much I did praise “DNA”’s production earlier, I’ve always felt that the first half could’ve been slightly tighter. “HUMBLE” gives us an incredibly tight trap beat, and when you add the harsh piano chords and the guitar, it all just sounds incredible. Kendrick flows on this beat so damn well, and there’s just so many interesting aspects of this production, so much that even when we get to the admittedly slightly repetitive chorus, I’m still incredibly hooked all the way through, because that hook is such an earworm. Yeah, this is easily one of the biggest bangers of the year, potentially of the entire decade, I genuinely love this song a lot.

9...I know for a fact I’m gonna contradict myself for this entry. Because for me to place this song above “Paris” by the same guys, it has to really be something special since that song is among the best in their discography as it is. That said, I do still really love this song, so let me make my case...

9. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This (YE: #5, PEAK: #3)

Let me clarify something. This is not Coldplay’s best song at all, “Fix You” in particular should’ve absolutely been their biggest hit. But “Something Just Like This” is still an amazing song, even if, yes, it is a blatant retread of “Roses”. The way this song works is that it creates its own magic instead of coasting on the magic that “Roses” created. Let’s start with the production, the bass guitar, keyboards, and the piano provide a melody that sounds really damn good, especially in the buildup to the final chorus. The synth drop, yeah, could’ve been better mixed, but still, incredibly towering. Then we got Chris Martin, he honestly sounds really damn great here. Now the magic that this song creates. The way the song builds up creates an incredible atmosphere, which, for a song just about wanting someone who you could turn to, The Chainsmokers and Coldplay nailed it. Damn terrific song.

8...This song doesn’t need an introduction, it’s been widely acclaimed and considered as one of the best hit songs of the 2010s for a reason...

8. Kesha - Praying (YE: #67, PEAK: #22)

I know some people are gonna be surprised that this didn't finish higher. But if I’m being unfortunately honest, “Praying” on its own is a song that I’ve liked less over time. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still good, the piano melody is quite pretty, the string work and the orchestral work sounds really good, the percussion is incredibly thundering, and the organs give this song a lot of swell. And Kesha herself, while I do really love her party songs and her bangers from the club boom, man, she is delivering some powerful, raw, and emotional vocals, walking that very thin line between moving on and never forgiving something, including a literal whistle note! But...the song does take a little bit long to get going, and that does bring my score down slightly. But the reason this song made my best list is its lyrical content and the cultural impact this song had. The lyrics entail Kesha’s strength after being abused for years by Dr. Luke, and it really provides that raw, personal resonance for Kesha. Then the cultural impact. Now, I know I said that if a song on its own is good, then I usually tend to ignore the cultural impact a song has, but the impact that “Praying” had on the culture in 2017 is absolutely undeniable. It proved Kesha’s full potential as a superstar, it effectively killed Dr. Luke’s career - until somehow it managed to see a resurgence in 2020 for some ungodly reason - and it’s such a monumental song in every way possible. Incredible song, it might’ve ridden its cultural impact to this placement on my list, but that doesn’t matter, it deserves it.

7...I’m quite shocked that this song is placing this low on my list, hell, in other years this would normally contend for my top 3!! But it’s a goddamn excellent song, quite perfect in my eyes, and with probably only the exception of “Blinding Lights”, it’s The Weeknd’s best song to date...

7. The Weeknd f/Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming (YE: #34, PEAK: #4)

Ah yes, the 2nd of 2 collaborations that we’d get in late 2016 from The Weeknd and Daft Punk, and while “Starboy” is pretty good, “I Feel It Coming” was the true masterpiece between the two. And yeah, this song is sexy as hell. The Weeknd’s incredibly slick vocals, Daft Punk’s incredible production really giving this song a lot of groove, the beautiful melody, it’s already quite a perfect song. And yeah, the title is an obvious double entendre, but The Weeknd’s delivery really makes it work. It’s oddly euphoric as well, probably helped by that melody making this song feel all the more brighter. Definitely a highlight from The Weeknd’s discography, and a criminally underrated gem, check it out!

6...This next song appears on a lot of “worst of 2017” lists, and I’m not saying that I don’t get why it does, because I do, but I do think the hate this song gets is pretty overblown, and while it’s been largely forgotten for the most part, I still do adore this song, and thus...

6. Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things (YE: #41, PEAK: #4)

Let’s get the criticisms made against this song out of the way first. Machine Gun Kelly’s incredibly lifeless rapping is the furthest thing from sexy and Camila’s higher vocals can get a big squeaky at times. And given Machine Gun Kelly’s pivot into pop punk and then him releasing “forget me too”, this shouldn’t be anywhere close to this list...right? Well, there are multiple reasons as to why “Bad Things” works as well as it does. MGK’s more lifeless rapping is definitely not sexy, but I’d argue that that’s not the point of the song. The song to me paints a picture of two lovers who have no idea what they’re doing just doing some risky things with each other, with those being the “bad things” being referenced in this song. This is also coupled with the oddly euphoric and nostalgic vibe that the song has. Camila’s hook...okay I think I have a higher tolerance for her vocals than pretty much everybody else in the world, because I think she really shines on this song. She rides off the Fastball interpolation really well - which by the way supplies a fantastic piano melody. Yeah, “Senorita” might’ve overtaken this song in the cultural conversation, but “Bad Things” went HARD in 2017, it was so catchy at the time, and it’s super catchy today, definitely pretty underrated to this day. Incredible song.

5...And speaking of songs that appear on a lot of “worst of 2017” lists, funny story, if I’d done this list in 2017 itself, this would’ve been my #1. It has slightly shrunken on me, but I do still adore this song. And I get why this song gets a lot of hate, but as I said, 2017 was mostly an excellent, fun-filled year for me, and even during moments when it wasn’t such, this song really helped me out at the time, it would feel very wrong for me to leave this song off my list...

5. Logic f/Alessia Cara & Khalid - 1-800-273-8255 (YE: #31, PEAK: #3)

Okay let’s get the obvious out of the way, I don’t know why in the world Logic thought it was a good idea to drop the “who can relate, WOO!” lyric in this song, it can be read as slightly insensitive. But on the other hand, I can see why he dropped the line in, it’s definitely quite bizarre, and it does grab the listener’s attention, even if it isn’t necessarily in a good way. But outside of that, “1-800” is honestly quite a terrific song. The production is haunting and beautiful, the piano melody and the strings really create an atmosphere of despair, which only increases when the beat comes in. Logic’s rapping is incredibly solid, and yeah, I do wish he was a bit more emotive in his delivery, but still, he rides this beat so well. Alessia Cara sounds absolutely gorgeous on this song, she has that hopeful tone that Logic is trying to create in his delivery, it’s a contrast that works surprisingly well. Then we got Khalid’s outro which is absolutely gorgeous. As the song starts to slow down his incredibly emotional vocals really describe that realization that there’s so much to live for. And I don’t wanna get into too many details, but towards the end of 2017 or the beginning of 2018, I had hit a really low point, and this song helped me out tremendously. Are its lyrics incredibly cliche? Yeah, but did it help out a lot back then? Yes, and that’s what really matters to me. And the bizarre thing is that this song actually got radio traction, it caused calls to the suicide prevention lifeline to increase by 27%. This song had such a positive impact for culture and society in general, and it’s a song that will forever be personal to me. I understand why this song is hated, but you know what, it got the job done when I needed it the most.

4...Well, that last one went quite heavy. Let’s go for a song that’s a bit more simple in its reasoning as to why it’s so terrific...

4. Shawn Mendes - Mercy (YE: #54, PEAK: #15)

And by simple, I mean really simple. “Mercy” managed to land this high on my list because of its production. The piano melody is fantastic, the guitars pick up to deliver a really damn great foundation for the production, the beat adds some tension to this mix, and the way this song climaxes is just so amazing. Shawn Mendes also sounds really damn great on this song, and he can sell asking this girl to just dump him pretty well. And I also for some reason really like the humming at the beginning and the end, it honestly sounds really good. Yeah, there really isn’t that much to this song, but it works with those elements well enough to make it fantastic.

3...So when the One Direction members went solo, this guy’s debut solo single was one that absolutely shocked the world and the fact it was a hit in this trap climate is insane. You wouldn’t expect legitimate rock to actually get traction this year...right?

3. Harry Styles - Sign Of The Times (YE: #87, PEAK: #4)

In hindsight, I really wasn’t aware of how much of an anomaly that this song charting on the Hot 100 in 2017 was. And it’s deserving of every bit of critical acclaim it has received. The piano melody, the guitars that absolutely soar high into the stratosphere, the swell that builds up, and then we got Harry Styles himself. “Sign Of The Times” is a song that allows Harry to express himself fully, and he is able to showcase his full potential in this song, between his lower notes and then his belting in the outro, he’s a fantastic fit for a song that’s honestly already perfect. It takes that very bleak situation and somehow manages to turn it into an emotional journey that Harry propels out of this world. It’s so difficult to notice that the song is nearly 6 minutes long, everything about this song just keeps you engaged for the entire time, it’s pure bliss in every way possible. And yeah, maybe Harry might’ve set the bar too high when he released this song, and he is yet to top this, but “Sign Of The Times” is a flawless song that I’m so glad received the chart success and critical acclaim that it received.

2...As I said in my worst list, 2017 was a fantastic year for the Hot 100, and it’s a shame the overplayed, basic gunk that is “Shape Of You” had to be the biggest song of this year. However, there was another Ed Sheeran song that, even if it wasn’t the bigger hit, still was one acclaimed by many, showcased the true potential that Ed Sheeran had, and was easily the best song that Ed Sheeran had ever made...

2. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (YE: #40, PEAK: #6)

Somehow in 2017, Ed Sheeran managed to create a better U2 song than U2 did that year. And it’s a damn shame that this song wasn’t the song that became the 12-week #1 smash or one of the biggest hit songs of all time, because “Castle On The Hill” is a fantastic song that again, showcased what Ed Sheeran could do at his best. The production is absolutely perfect, the guitar line and the drum beat that open up the song supply a nice enough melody, then with the backing vocals starting to rev up in the pre-chorus, and then we get the guitars roaring out of the stratosphere with Ed Sheeran belting his absolute heart out. This is easily the best I’ve ever heard Ed Sheeran on a song, his raw charisma really soars in that chorus. But the song’s strongest point is definitely its lyrical content. The song is a love letter to Ed Sheeran’s childhood friends. He’s looking back on his past with immense nostalgia, and he mentions the little details, like how he broke his leg, how he messed up his first kiss on a Friday night, and how he watched the sun set over the castle on the hill. Todd In The Shadows' insight in the titular lyric made me appreciate this song though, and that's that this castle could just be a garbage dump where you and your friends hung out, but all the memories and fun times you had with them make that terrible place absolutely magical, and that’s your castle. Again, I may be overthinking this, but it’s still a detail I absolutely wanted to point out. But easily, the part of this song that pushes this over the top for me is the bridge, where Ed Sheeran starts reflecting on his childhood friends and where they are now. Some have succeeded in life, whereas others have not, such as one friend’s brother overdosing, one friend already on his second marriage. But in the end, these people are who made Ed Sheeran who he is today, and that no matter where they are in life, they will forever cherish those fun memories together. Yeah, “Castle On The Hill” is Ed Sheeran at his very best, it’s a phenomenal song that’s easily the best song that Ed Sheeran has ever made, and for a while, this would’ve easily been my #1. If I did this list just one year earlier, this would’ve run away with my top spot. No song could’ve ever been nearly as monumental as this song for me to manage to overtake it...right?

1...This was another song that while I’ve always really enjoyed, it wasn’t until sometime late last year when I finally realized how truly transcendent this song is. And I know this pick will be slightly contentious, given how there are very few “best of 2017” lists where I see this song on it, but as I’ve said time and time again, to gain considerable placements on my best lists, nostalgia will always be a factor. And this song strikes one of my most nostalgic chords ever, and it’s a song that quite literally encapsulates why this year was so fantastic, both for my personal life and for music in general. Yep, Kygo and Selena Gomez are my #1.

1. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain’t Me (YE: #27, PEAK: #10)

I’m not even gonna deny it. “It Ain’t Me” is one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s incredibly significant for me in terms of what it does for me, and it’s such a perfectly crafted EDM song. But before I gush over why this song means so much to me, let’s take a look at its production. Kygo has become notorious for recycling the same tropical beats over and over again, but you know what, he nails that drop every single time, I’ve never gotten tired of it. But even despite that, “It Ain’t Me” was that drop at its absolute freshest, and it manages to simultaneously embrace the lovely melodic guitars and the tropical snaps. Oh yeah, and the melody is one of the best melodies I’ve ever heard. I’m not joking. And then Selena Gomez, these are her absolute best vocals. She sounds outstanding on this song!! Especially in that hook, which is easily one of the best hooks of 2017, where Selena is pulling in all of her power and emotion as the instrumentation just becomes super towering. With all that, “It Ain’t Me” is already quite a perfect EDM song, but that’s not the complete reason I absolutely adore this song with all my heart. I could make the more miniscule claim that it was what led me to liking this lane of EDM to this day, but this song just captures a specific type of magic that I don’t think I’ve felt in any other song in my immediate memory. As soon as that hook comes in, I’m immediately transported to 4 years ago, to the summer of 2017, where this song was always on the radio and I was just singing my heart out to this with my cousins, I was just having the time of my life. And in this song, I’m also able to think of all the fun things I did that summer, from our visit to the Grand Canyon, to Universal Studios, to Disneyland, the song just fills me with so much pure euphoria and happiness, it’s a truly magical song for me. This song is probably the closest I’ll ever get to having a time machine, because reliving some of the happiest moments of my life gives me immense nostalgia, an incredibly bittersweet feeling. Sweet being that those moments were incredibly fun and I’m having fun reliving them in my memory. Bitter though because it’s the sad realization that there’s a strong chance you will never get to experience those moments ever again. It’s such a powerful song for me and I’ll keep it close to me for the rest of my life. So with all that, “It Ain’t Me” by Kygo and Selena Gomez is the best hit song of 2017, it’s a song I adore with all my heart, and it becomes an increasingly transcending song with every subsequent listen I give it. I await the day I can experience all this again, or find a song that can capture the same magic for me as this one does.

So that’s the list!! Definitely the most nostalgic list I’ve ever put together, and if anything this affirms my assertion that 2017 was the best year of the 2010s for the Hot 100. And with all that, I’ve officially covered every single year-end list for the Hot 100 in the 2010s, with the best and worst hits of the year. Which means my next step is making lists for the best and worst hit songs of the entire decade. I’ll hopefully be able to get it out by the end of the month, or at least sometime mid-next month. Until then, take care!