The Top 100 Best Hit Songs of the 2010s
The Top 100 Best Hit Songs of the 2010s
In the following few paragraphs, I take a look at the music that filled the decade I grew up during...and highlight the gems one last time.
What’s up guys, welcome back to Fire’s Flaming Hot Takes. And it’s time again, today we’re looking at the top 100 best hit songs of the 2010s!
Yes, you read that correctly. No, this is not a typo. This is a top 100. Quite easily the biggest project I have ever taken on for this blog. But you know what, I had to create a top 100 list for a Pulse Music Board game, so I’m highlighting it. The 2010s have been an insane decade for music. We got the club boom from 2010 to 2012, which gave us the nostalgic electropop dance songs and the pure fun that really paint this time period as a different, less depressing time. Then the transitional period from 2013 to 2015...one might argue that that was a mixed blessing at best. And then we got the trap takeover from 2016 to 2019, where a bunch of catchy as hell trap bangers that left us plenty of quality to find.
I did grow up with music from the 2010s, so this decade was definitely the decade which defined my music taste the most. That said, this list is chalk-full of amazing songs, and the higher up the list we get, the more personal significance those songs have for me. And this list honestly produced some incredibly surprising results. All I’m saying is, if there were songs from my honorable mentions that managed to place higher than songs that made my best list proper, don’t be too shocked. Music tastes always evolve, they are never static. Of course, it’s been only 3 months since I made my first list back in July, but still, opinions change drastically. For example, I don’t know why it was a good idea for me to put “You Say” by Lauren Daigle so high on my best of 2019 list, don’t get me wrong it’s really good, but it’s not quite an amazing song. That said, all these picks have at least made my honorable mentions for my best lists for those respective years.
One more thing, don’t be surprised if one year gets more representation on my list than another, there are very good and very bad years for the Hot 100. As a rule, the songs had to debut on the Hot 100 year-end list from any year between 2010 and 2019 in order to qualify, so if I ever end up doing a best of the 2000s list, the 2009 repeats will go there. But again, this is a top 100, so let’s not waste any more time. No honorable mentions this time, I’m gonna try to keep the first 75 songs brief before getting a bit more heavy for the top 25, and just as a quick disclaimer, my opinions are likely gonna shift wildly and I might regret the order of this list within, like, 3 days, so with all that, let’s get started!
100. Travis Scott f/Drake - SICKO MODE (#42 2018, #9 2019)
One of the most iconic songs of the trap takeover, “SICKO MODE” was and has always remained an absolute banger. The first part, yeah, it might drag on for a bit too long, but the second and third parts of this song absolutely outstrip the rest. Drake actually sounds competent on this song for once! And then Travis Scott, he’s delivering bar after bar after bar across an incredibly bouncy trap beat. Love this song quite a bit, definitely one of the best songs of 2018.
99. G-Eazy f/A$AP Rocky & Cardi B - No Limit (#30 2018)
Okay, G-Eazy is easily the weakest aspect of the song, but you know what, I can’t say that he sounds bad on this song either. But yeah, A$AP Rocky and Cardi B absolutely kill their verses, and the production is energetic and bouncy and fun. The hook is an absolute earworm and Cardi has so much charisma. And given how G-Eazy has essentially been reduced to trying to place all the blame on Halsey and seeing the quality of his music take a nosedive, “No Limit” is still a highlight in his discography.
98. Lil Nas X f/Billy Ray Cyrus - Old Town Road (#1 2019)
The way this song took the world by storm back in 2019 is still quite mind-boggling to think about. But it made for one of the most exciting moments in chart-watching history. And really, it’s quite difficult for me to pinpoint why I love “Old Town Road” so much. Definitely has to do with Lil Nas X’s charisma and Billy Ray Cyrus sounding surprisingly really damn good here. It’s remarkably catchy, and definitely a bright spot in an otherwise rough year for my personal life.
97. Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball (#18 2013, #44 2014)
This song got way too much undeserved backlash over the video for stupid as hell reasons. Everyone really glossed over the fact that “Wrecking Ball” is honestly a pretty beautiful song, with Miley really delivering a lot of raw vulnerability in her vocals and a melody that sounds amazing. Yeah, I would’ve preferred the use of pianos instead of synths, but that’s a minor nitpick, because this is an excellent song.
96. Rihanna f/Mikky Ekko - Stay (#13 2013)
With a song this stripped back and bare, our two performers really have to deliver in their performances for this song to work at all, and man, Rihanna and Mikky Ekko absolutely deliver. Okay, well maybe less for Mikky Ekko, since the writing in this song doesn’t really fit him. This is more Rihanna’s personal writing, all the more helped by her incredibly broken and devastated delivery that showcases some of her most vulnerable vocals ever. And given Rihanna’s incredibly inconsistent track record throughout the 2010s, I’ll take it.
95. Pink - Walk Me Home (#99 2019)
If you’ve read through a few of my worst lists, it might surprise you quite a bit that Pink is even making my best of the decade list at all. But really, unlike Pink’s other generic material from the 2010s, “Walk Me Home” is a song incredibly reminiscent of the indie boom from 2012, which makes sense given that Nate Ruess of fun. cowrote it. The song is a bunch of anthemic swell that sounds legitimately awesome, and Pink certainly sounds better here than any of her other songs this decade. And in a year like 2019, where the music just felt super dark, “Walk Me Home” is a shot of hope in the dark, terrific little song.
94. Juice WRLD - Lucid Dreams (#12 2018, #48 2019)
Something about “Lucid Dreams” hits oddly harder for me now that Juice WRLD is gone. It’s odd. The song is pretty sloppily written, but Juice WRLD’s comfortable lower register allows him to express more emotion in his vocals and the production is really depressing but also catchy enough so that it’s not boring. Rest in peace Juice WRLD, we’re still thinking of you.
93. Thomas Rhett - Die A Happy Man (#64 2016)
So 2016 actually had more representation on this list than I was expecting. Sure, I did defend the year in my best of 2016 list, but still, I don’t really consider it to be one of the best years this decade rather than more towards the middle. But, I don’t know, nostalgia is a hell of a drug. And as naked of an Ed Sheeran ripoff as “Die A Happy Man” is, the song just feels so much more developed than “Thinking Out Loud”, and Thomas Rhett really sells this song well. This definitely deserves some reconsideration, because this is a super cute song.
92. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/Ray Dalton - Can’t Hold Us (#5 2013)
“Thrift Shop” is what broke Macklemore & Ryan Lewis through, and while I do love that song, “Can’t Hold Us” is the triumphant cheer of victory that’s super fun in every aspect possible. Macklemore’s flow is razor tight, Ray Dalton’s soulful hook sounds amazing, the horns sound absolutely triumphant, and the staccato piano keys are remarkably catchy. Love this song so much.
91. Justin Bieber - Love Yourself (#1 2016)
This may not feel like the biggest song of 2016, but that doesn’t change the quality of “Love Yourself”, because it’s an incredibly chill song that Justin Bieber’s lower register suits really well. It’s a simple acoustic guitar instrumental, and you can absolutely tell Ed Sheeran cowrote this, but it’s effective in what it’s trying to do. I’ll take it.
90. Paramore - Still Into You (#100 2013)
Barely a hit, yet still an absolutely fun song that feels so iconic for all the right reasons. I do like “Ain’t It Fun” and “The Only Exception”, but “Still Into You” has always clicked for me more because it’s just pure euphoria and happiness when the chorus hits, with the guitars starting to roar and Hayley Williams’s incredibly goofy yet fun and sincere delivery. Damn fun track.
89. Migos f/Lil Uzi Vert - Bad And Boujee (#6 2017)
One of the biggest contributors to the trap takeover that fully solidified itself in 2017, and it’s a well deserved one to do so as well. Offset, Quavo, and Lil Uzi Vert have a bunch of personality in this song that really elevates this song beyond just another standard trap song. They all have great flows, such a banger, I love it!
88. The Weeknd - In The Night (#61 2016)
Not even one of his biggest hits, yet certainly one that’s stuck around, “In The Night” really creates an insanely dramatic atmosphere about this girl who is a victim of abuse, all while the synths start building up becoming more slick, the bass ramps up, and the percussion gets more weight as soon as the chorus. It’s an incredibly eerie song that in a weird way brings out a feeling of loneliness from within, quite a terrific song, and somehow he managed to continue to top this song in the coming years.
87. Ed Sheeran - Photograph (#34 2015)
True story, when I first heard this song, I somehow kept thinking of my 5th grade crush. Now for the song itself, Ed Sheeran’s sincerity is what really makes “Photograph” work. The instrumental is pretty simple, just an acoustic guitar, piano, and backing vocals, but Ed has enough charisma to really make this work. Super cute track, probably not as remembered as some of his other songs, but definitely one that deserves to be revisited.
86. Ariana Grande & The Weeknd - Love Me Harder (#56 2015)
I’m quite shocked that this song finished down here, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. The synths in the chorus don’t hit quite as hard as they should, and this is entirely dependent on Ariana and The Weeknd’s effortless chemistry and an incredibly pulsating beat. I can’t deny that this song is incredibly sexy. But, I don’t know, maybe if that production in the chorus was replaced with production from, say, “Into You”, it probably would’ve finished way higher. But you know what, on the topic of “Into You”...
85. Ariana Grande - Into You (#51 2016)
This took some time to grow on me, but once it did, it absolutely blew me away. The pulsating beat is so catchy and Ariana’s vocals are fantastic throughout the song. But the part of the song that easily pushes this over the top for me is the bridge, where the huge chords build upon themselves and just inject you with a bunch of euphoria and adrenaline. Definitely a highlight in Ari’s career.
84. Ava Max - Sweet But Psycho (#23 2019)
This was such an outlier in the pop landscape in 2019. It literally sounded like a song from the club boom of the early 2010s! And yet, “Sweet But Psycho” managed to become a hit, and I have to say I’m stunned Ava managed to get another hit after this with “Kings & Queens”. Because a song that literally samples “Down” by Jay Sean isn’t something you can make a career out of. But all that aside, “Sweet But Psycho” is a pretty likeable song, the synth breakdown sounds nice and the song nails the contrast between being danceable fun and yet dark enough to match the song’s subject matter. I don’t know, maybe I just have too much nostalgia for the club boom, but this is a neat little song.
83. Adele - When We Were Young (#83 2016)
This is Adele’s best song by far. The piano melody sounds beautiful and Adele’s delivery is fantastic. She really sells how much she hates that she is getting old, and that she wants to preserve that moment for as long as she can. It’s a reminder to cherish the good times while they last, because they won’t last forever, a message all the more applicable to anybody.
82. Marshmello f/Bastille - Happier (#80 2018, #6 2019)
Yes, the drop is a tad too basic. But that said, the rest of “Happier” is absolutely amazing. Dan Smith of Bastille’s vocals are able to sell the message of wanting the other person to be happier even if he’s not with them. Add to it a melody that sounds amazing to this day, yeah, this works.
81. Katy Perry - Firework (#3 2011)
I have a humongous soft spot for “Firework” since this was one of my favorite songs as a little kid and it’s the 2nd song I ever remember hearing. And it’s still held up incredibly well 10 years later. The strings that build up in the prechorus and the electropop production that has aged really well, it allows this to be an empowerment anthem that doesn’t feel corny. I love this song a lot.
80. Kendrick Lamar - DNA. (#62 2017)
This song becoming a Hot 100 hit is quite mind-boggling, considering how little it’s catered to the mainstream. Sure, it’s got the trap production that was gaining a lot of prominence that year, at least until the second half where the beat just changes entirely! Seriously, there’s no hook, the song is too borderline political! Yet somehow, thanks to streaming, it became an actual hit. Definitely the biggest change of heart I had for any hit song this past decade, I’m so glad I finally came around on “DNA” earlier this year.
79. Post Malone f/21 Savage - rockstar (#56 2017, #5 2018)
This guy went from mediocrity like “Congratulations” to this in a year. It amazes me how quickly Post Malone turned things around for himself. The atmosphere is absolutely intense, and Post Malone and 21 Savage have enough firepower to really make this song work, the melodies are insane! Terrific song.
78. Britney Spears - Till The World Ends (#27 2011)
In 2011, female pop had an incredibly strong showing, and “Till The World Ends” is one of the best examples of that. An electropop anthem that makes you feel like you’re on top of the world and Britney delivering a bunch of personality even through all that processing on her vocals, this is a genuine highlight from the club boom.
77. Jennifer Lopez f/Pitbull - On The Floor (#11 2011)
Another highlight from the club boom. “On The Floor” is an absolute banger from beginning to end, from the incredibly tight beat, the synths, the string work, it all works so effortlessly. On top of the out of this world charisma from both J-Lo and Pitbull, and yeah, nostalgic bop.
76. Train - Hey Soul Sister (#3 2010)
I feel quite embarrassed that I love this song as much as I do. The lyrics are pathetically terrible, we know that one line we’ve all memed “I’m so gangsta I’m so thug”. But Pat Monahan’s ridiculously earnest and charming delivery is what really saves this song. It’s definitely obnoxious at points, but you know what, I have a huge soft spot for it. A corny classic for sure, but I still love it.
75. Ellie Goulding - Lights (#5 2012)
This isn’t Ellie's best song at all, hell it’s not even her best hit song this decade - we’ll get to those - but “Lights” is a terrific little pop song. The twinkling synths and the incredibly tight bass, it’s so well-crafted. It might not really exemplify Ellie’s full potential as an artist, but I’ll eternally be grateful that “Lights” was the song that opened the window for one of my favorite artists of all time to get success.
74. Demi Lovato - Heart Attack (#50 2013)
The reason that this song works as well as it does is because both the production and Demi themselves are able to sell the anxiety that this song needs. The production is definitely very jarring at points, but it’s also very hurried and filled with that feeling of loneliness and anxiousness. Also helped by the way it builds up in the chorus. And then Demi, they have a bunch of vulnerability and anxiety in their vocals, it propels this song out of this world for me. Definitely one of Demi’s best songs, if not their best song.
73. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay (#17 2017)
The beginning of when clocks started to take over Zedd’s music. But “Stay” was the first time that these clocks were used, so this song still feels very refreshing. It really reminds me of the summer of 2017, it has such a chill and nostalgic vibe to it. It’s not my most nostalgic song of 2017 though - we’ll get to that - but “Stay” is an absolute vibe.
72. Khalid - Better (#20 2019)
It saddens me how much Khalid fell off. Because when he was at his apex, he was delivering bop after bop after bop, and among those bops was one of his best songs, “Better”. The melody is an absolute vibe, Khalid’s laid-back delivery works because he sounds like he’s genuinely enjoying the time. I can just picture driving off into the sunset with this song playing and the windows down. Awesome stuff!
71. Zara Larsson f/MNEK - Never Forget You (#46 2016)
This was already an honorable mention on my best of 2016 list, but it only snuck up on me with every listen to the point it would’ve likely made the list proper over other songs that I’d consider easier picks for that list. And yeah, while I still think the drop falls slightly flat, Zara and MNEK have amazing chemistry, and the crescendos sound fantastic. The song is about companionship, and it works so well. What an absolutely adorable song!
70. Hailee Steinfeld & Grey f/Zedd - Starving (#94 2016, #82 2017)
Okay yeah, the drop is definitely a bunch of noises that don’t go together. But when the rest of the song’s elements sound this amazing, why should I care that much? Hailee Steinfeld sounds really nice and the main melody line sounds really breezy, chill, and cute. Yeah, definitely could’ve used a few improvements in the drop, but “Starving” is a really cute song, definitely a forgotten gem from 2016 worth digging back up.
69. Phillip Phillips - Home (#49 2012, #46 2013)
One of the biggest success stories of the indie boom of 2012 was Phillip Phillips, who was a contestant on American Idol and managed to get two hits off of it. And while “Gone Gone Gone” is pretty mediocre overall, “Home” is always the one that stuck the landing for me. The guitar sounds incredibly nostalgic, Phillip Phillips is able to sell his encouraging tone really well, and I just can’t help but remind myself of the memories I made in elementary school. I just wish this song had another verse and had a better chorus rather than just the harmonizing, but I still have a soft spot for “Home”.
68. Sia - Chandelier (#25 2014, #90 2015)
Putting aside Sia’s problematic nature that really exposed her true colors, “Chandelier” is a phenomenal song, all because of that chorus alone. It sends chills down my spine, it’s so powerful. Sia’s belting as the instrumentation builds up, she’s an absolute vocal powerhouse in this track. Damn awesome song.
67. Zedd f/Hayley Williams - Stay The Night (#94 2014)
Look, I like “Clarity”, but for some reason that song never really fully clicked with me. And you could argue that “Stay The Night” is basically the bootleg version of “Clarity”, but I’ve always found this song to be a lot better. I really like Hayley Williams’s vocals here, and I’d argue that they are better than Foxes’ was on “Clarity”. And yeah, my huge ass soft spot for EDM music is what makes this click this well for me, but still, this song’s a bop.
66. Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa f/Bruno Mars - Young, Wild, & Free (#32 2012)
This is a damn vibe. It clicks that hangout vibe so well, with that beautiful piano loop and just the right amounts of low end, and Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa are trading their bars effortlessly. I also love Bruno Mars’s hook here, it’s very blissful. Definitely a very nostalgic song that really makes you feel that you’re living young, wild, and free.
65. The Chainsmokers - Paris (#42 2017)
The Chainsmokers’ titanic reign from 2016 to 2017 is still quite incredible given that they came off of “#SELFIE” of all things. But really, “Paris” is an absolutely magical song. The guitar melody, the perfect touches of bass, Emily Warren’s nice background vocals, and Andrew Taggart actually sounds competent on this song for once! And this is before I mention the final drop that sounds transcendent. Easily one of the Chainsmokers’ best songs.
64. Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE. (#4 2017)
Kendrick Lamar getting so much success with DAMN. in 2017 is yet another reason as to why that year was so glorious for the Hot 100. And while “DNA.” is the song that gets more praise - and it does deserve all that praise, mind you - “HUMBLE.” has always stuck with me much more. With that incredibly tight trap beat, those harsh piano keys, and Kendrick’s absolutely catchy bars, the song goes so hard. Kendrick puts in a lot of charisma to the point that even though the chorus is admittedly slightly repetitive, he makes it work really well. Fun as hell song.
63. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This (#5 2017)
This song works because it creates its own magic, even if the song is basically a “Roses” retread. The keyboard melody and the bass guitar sound amazing, especially in the final chorus, and the synth drop sounds really good too, even if it could’ve been better mixed admittedly. Chris Martin also sounds really great on this song, absolutely nailing the magic of wanting someone to turn to when you really need them. Awesome stuff.
62. Kesha - Praying (#67 2017)
I placed this song this high because of the impact this had upon its release. The song definitely could’ve built up faster, but the piano melody is quite pretty, the organs add a lot of swell, the percussion is thundering, and Kesha herself has a lot of raw vulnerability in her vocals, including a literal whistle note! An effective “fuck you” to Dr. Luke, and a phenomenal song, 100%.
61. Fifth Harmony f/Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home (#16 2016)
There are two songs that come to mind when I think of the summer of 2016. One would be “Cold Water” by Major Lazer, Justin Bieber, and MO - one of the final cuts from my 2016 best list - and the other being this. The tropical beat fits the summertime so perfectly and it brings back some nice memories. All of the members have good chemistry between each other, and it’s just super catchy overall. Yeah, I do wish the bass didn’t just increase drastically when Ty Dolla $ign’s verse came in, but otherwise, this works really well.
60. Calvin Harris f/Ellie Goulding - I Need Your Love (#56 2013)
This song really is starting to show its age...but I can’t help but feel incredibly nostalgic over it. Yeah, the bassline is pretty poorly constructed, but the rest of the song is absolutely amazing. The synth production sounds like pure nostalgia and Ellie Goulding’s vocals work so well on this song. They are incredibly understated and soft, which allows the production to add the power to the song for her. It’s a weird contrast, and definitely not the best example of that - we’ll come back to this - but still, this is an excellent little song.
59. Taylor Swift - Wildest Dreams (#57 2015, #79 2016)
So full disclosure, as of writing this segment the “Taylor’s Version” of “Wildest Dreams” has been out for a bit under a month already and I only listened to it now. But back to the original song! A dreamy, dramatic, beautiful ballad where Taylor begs an ex to remember her even though she won’t be there, “Wildest Dreams” is only amplified with those heavenly strings and that heartbeat which makes for a surprisingly great beat. Beautiful track, definitely worth digging back up.
58. Miley Cyrus - Malibu (#89 2017)
Easily Miley Cyrus’s most underrated track to this day, if not then it’s definitely up there with “Midnight Sky”. From the electric guitars, the beat, and the nostalgic and chill as hell vibe, “Malibu” is an incredible song that I really wish I gave more attention to back in 2017.
57. Selena Gomez - Hands To Myself (#56 2016)
I really didn’t support my stance well when I talked about “Hands To Myself” in my best of 2016 list, so you know what, I’m using this opportunity to make that stance clear. The bassline sounds really damn great, the pianos sound pretty damn nice, and Selena sounds great here. Yeah, I would’ve preferred Julia Michaels to not have her gasping backing vocals in the chorus, but regardless, this song is sexy as hell.
56. One Direction - Night Changes (#98 2015)
I’m not the biggest fan of the key change admittedly, but that’s not enough to discount what’s otherwise an absolutely amazing One Direction song. The guitars and the keys sound amazing, and the song perfectly captures that turning point between innocence and maturity. It’s a song that even One Direction haters will admit is great, damn beautiful song!
55. Katy Perry - Wide Awake (#15 2012)
The Teenage Dream era of Katy Perry really gave us some of Katy’s best ever songs, and this is not an exception at all. The anthemic synthesizers, the swelling bass, the powerful percussion, and Katy delivering a lot of vulnerability in her vocals, it all works so well. It’s absolutely ethereal, it honestly makes me feel like I’m flying through the air! Love this song!
54. Bazzi f/Camila Cabello - Beautiful (#95 2019)
If it were the solo version that became the hit, “Beautiful” would’ve had a strong shot at finishing in my top 20 for the entire decade. Camila Cabello’s contributions are definitely flawed, her falsettos don’t sound particularly great here. But she has good chemistry with Bazzi, who sounds incredibly earnest here too. It captures the same sweetness that “Mine” was trying to capture, but better! Add the elegant harp touches and the remarkably well-fit beat, and yeah, this works very well.
53. Diddy - Dirty Money f/Skylar Gray - Coming Home (#38 2011)
Yeah, Skylar Gray’s hook is easily the best part of this song. Her soft vocals complement the beautiful piano melody in the beginning, and, like Ellie Goulding’s vocals, provide a perfect contrast when the production builds up for the following choruses. But really, Diddy’s part is awesome too. Yeah, his rapping is very offbeat and I do wish it was executed better, but he really sells the fact that he had gone through many losses, and yet he managed to make it past all that in the end. Add the string touches, great beat, and the anthemic horns, yeah, “Coming Home” is an amazing little song.
52. David Guetta f/Usher - Without You (#73 2011, #50 2012)
One of the first signs of EDM replacing the electropop dominant in the club boom, we got “Without You”, a beautiful track and the best song David Guetta made before going on to have a hit-or-miss career throughout the rest of the decade. And really, “Without You” is incredibly likeable. Usher is pushing his vocal performance to the absolute max and he sounds absolutely fantastic. The drop is absolutely amazing too, the synths are powerful without it being overbearing, the guitar helps it buld up, and the underlying keyboard melody sounds great too! Trust me, that drop has aged way better than “Titanium”’s drop. This has gotten a lot better with time.
51. Kesha - We R Who We R (#30 2011)
“Praying” may have had more of an impact on the culture when it was released, but I just have too much of a soft spot for Kesha’s club boom bangers. The buzzing synths, the catchy as hell beat, and Kesha’s vibrant personality, “We R Who We R” is a banger that has held up remarkably well! But it’s not her best song from the club boom, in fact, we got that right up next!
50. Kesha - Die Young (#85 2012, #57 2013)
And here is that song! Kesha’s still keeping her personality for this track, and it works so well again! The synths sound amazing, the acoustic melody that drives this song sounds awesome, the kickdrum sounds great too, everything works so well here! It might not be the last hit of the club boom, but it’s definitely a last hurrah to go out on.
49. Post Malone & Swae Lee - Sunflower (#2 2019)
This is one of Post Malone’s best songs ever. There was a reason it was that close to being one of the top 10 biggest songs of the 2010s. The song is incredibly funky and dreamy - all thanks to that tight as hell beat. It coasts entirely on its dreaminess and atmospheric vibe, and that bassline really helps balance out those hazy instrumental choices. It’s pure carefree and fun, and definitely a phenomenal song.
48. R City f/Adam Levine - Locked Away (#40 2015)
If it weren’t for R City’s adlibs on this song that sound incredibly random, this would’ve been a lot higher. But that said, they have enough earnestness in their delivery for this to work regardless. And from the piano line, to the dancehall beat, and the synthesizers that really amplify in the chorus, all topped off with Adam Levine delivering one of his best vocal performances of the past decade, yeah, this is very overhated. But let’s continue with an artist that really got a lot of backlash at the time that I still think is quite overblown...
47. Shawn Mendes - Mercy (#54 2017)
For some reason, I really love Shawn Mendes’s humming at the very beginning and end of the track. Funny anecdote aside, “Mercy” works really well. The amazing piano melody, the guitars that really pick up a lot of weight, the beat that adds tension to this track, and Shawn Mendes’s really awesome delivery, this is easily one of Shawn Mendes’s best songs. But let’s keep the conversation at “overhated” for a bit...
46. Charlie Puth - One Call Away (#43 2016)
It will probably never fail to confuse me as to how this song appears on a lot of “worst of 2016” lists. Like, really? This cute and harmless song? Sure, the “Superman got nothing on me” lyric is slightly cringey, but...what else is there to hate about it? This song has an amazing melody and Charlie Puth is able to sell being a companion to someone really well. The song is a friend for you when you really need it, it’s absolutely adorable. And continuing the conversation of “overhated”...
45. Imagine Dragons - Natural (#69 2018)
If you’re gonna scream in your song, have the production be outstanding enough to back you up. And that’s exactly what “Natural” does. Yeah, Dan Reynolds’s vocals do reach points of uncomfortable screaming at points, but this production is just so full of energy and bombast to the point where it actually supports them! The heavy percussion, the strong guitar line, the ominous keys, everything hits you with so much adrenaline. But let’s take a small break from the “overhated” conversation...
44. fun. - Carry On (#76 2013)
It was only a matter of time before we got to fun., the indie rock band that scored 3 hits this decade before they split up. And that was a wasted potential, because they delivered some genuinely fantastic songs, one of them being “Carry On”. It does sound a bit too much like “We Are Young” admittedly, but it works well in its own right. Nate Ruess is able to sell being a companion to this friend, and he delivers an absolutely anthemic chorus, as the guitars and the keys start to build up. It’s a shot of hope in the dark. We’ll get back to fun., but let’s go back to the topic of “overhated”...
43. Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight Tonight (#32 2011)
A song that managed to stand out from the club boom while still keeping that fun nature of the era, Hot Chelle Rae dropped the pop rock anthem of 2011 that is “Tonight Tonight”. And it’s honestly one of the most addicting songs of the last decade, between the remarkably catchy percussion, the bass guitar, the nice electric guitar segment, the basic but incredibly catchy melody line, the subtle details like the synths, and Hot Chelle Rae’s incredibly fun personality in this song. They sound like they’re having a ton of fun here, and they’re bringing in everybody for the ride. Sure, the lyrics are stupid as hell, but again, Hot Chelle Rae’s personality makes it work that well. It’s an absolutely fun and nostalgic banger that I still have a huge soft spot for, and I think I’ve listened to this way more than I wanna admit.
42. Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are (#18 2010, #15 2011)
Yeah, this is pretty cheesy, but I’ve always really loved “Just The Way You Are”. Bruno’s lovestruck vocals that perfectly paint his love and appreciation for this girl, all while the piano and guitar deliver an amazing melody, it works so well! Yeah, this is a super sweet song, and definitely one of Bruno’s best songs.
41. Justin Timberlake - CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! (#9 2016, #49 2017)
I think I’ve made it very clear at this point that I find Justin Timberlake to be one of the most overrated artists in the music industry. But somehow, the song from him that I’ve adored is “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!” of all songs. But it’s still a highly likeable song, with JT’s great charisma and the pure upbeat fun that’s in the production - with that sweet as hell guitar rollick and the catchy beat. Damn fun track!
40. One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful (#10 2012)
And we’ve arrived at the anthem for every teenage girl in 2012, which also happens to be one of One Direction’s most hated singles. But I could care less, “What Makes You Beautiful” slaps hard to this day. The tight guitar riff, the synths, the earnest innocence from all the members of 1D, it makes for a very cute song. Absolutely adorable.
39. benny blanco, Halsey, & Khalid - Eastside (#77 2018, #17 2019)
The way this has aged this well is quite remarkable. Halsey and Khalid have awesome chemistry across a hazy guitar riff that delivers a great melody. It has that feeling of teenage nostalgia that I can’t help but adore, and being a teenager, it’s probably why it connects.
38. Taylor Swift - Delicate (#24 2018)
The Reputation era of Taylor Swift has aged really badly, barring only a few exceptions. But we got the other end of the spectrum, “Delicate”, which in comparison to the rest of that album, has aged like fine wine. The dense synths, the house-influenced beat that is incredibly tight and delivers some great groove, and Taylor’s restrained delivery made for a very jarring pivot compared to the incredibly aggressive nature of the previous three singles. But it was a welcome pivot for sure.
37. Pitbull f/Ne-Yo, Afrojack, & Nayer - Give Me Everything (#5 2011)
This song, to me, is pop music in 2011 in a nutshell. Fun personality to match a fun electropop production that absolutely bumps at a club or pretty much anywhere honestly. The synth in the chorus is definitely wonky, but it just adds to the fun nature of the entire track. Pitbull’s rapping with bucket loads of personality, Ne-Yo’s fantastic chorus, the buzzing synths that help the piano keys build up really well, it’s a pure fun club banger that I absolutely love. Fantastic song.
36. Taylor Swift - Style (#29 2015)
This is one of Taylor’s best ever songs. Yeah, “All Too Well” is a very hard bar to climb over, but you know what, “Style” is a nice second. A tight as hell beat helping to support that sweet guitar rollick, it’s very much like “Wildest Dreams” in that it’s super dreamy, except we got the fact that it’s so upbeat! And when you add Taylor’s elegance that propels this song into vibrant pop perfection territory, yeah, this song isn’t going out of style any time soon.
35. The Weeknd f/Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming (#34 2017)
A sexy as hell jam this is indeed! With Daft Punk’s production giving this a lot of groove, the ethereal melody, and Abel’s slick as hell vocals, it’s a sexy track that feels incredibly euphoric at the same time - definitely helped by that melody feeling so bright. This would be a career high for virtually any other act, but The Weeknd somehow managed to outdo himself when he released “Blinding Lights”. But let’s go to something...less sexy.
34. Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things (#41 2017)
I know why this song gets a lot of hate. MGK’s rapping isn’t exactly the greatest and he could’ve been more emotive in his delivery. And this is the furthest thing from sexy, but as I said in my best of 2017 list, I don’t think that was the point of the song. Camila really shines on that hook, and MGK’s rapping provides a great contrast to that. It’s a picture that this relationship is pretty toxic, and they do seem to realize that, but in the end it’s just love and teenage dumbness from two artists who have no clue what they’re doing. It’s helped by the chorus feeling oddly euphoric and nostalgic, with the piano melody and Camila executing the fastball interpolation really damn well. “Bad Things” went HARD in 2017, and it goes hard today.
33. Justin Bieber - Sorry (#2 2016)
Justin Bieber does electronic music the best of the genres he’s tried to dabble in, including that failed attempt at R&B that was the entirety of Changes. The horn blasts in the chorus sound really well, the dancehall beat is super catchy, and Justin Bieber actually sounds really good on this song, especially in the chorus. Yeah, the drop could’ve had slightly more substance, but this is still an absolute bop.
32. B.o.B. f/Hayley Williams - Airplanes (#6 2010)
One of my biggest ever nostalgia bombs. The amazing piano melody, the guitars in the chorus, and the nostalgic and euphoric vibe the song has, I love it all so much. Hayley Williams sounds phenomenal on the hook, and B.o.B., man, he’s really spitting bars that resonate with me so hard. It’s about yearning to go back to simpler times, and as a junior in high school, I do wish to go back to less stressful times in my life. I really wish B.o.B. didn’t squander all his potential, because he delivered some incredible tracks at the beginning of the decade.
31. Gym Class Heroes f/Adam Levine - Stereo Hearts (#36 2011, #61 2012)
It’s a weird song to say that has this effect on me, but as soon as Adam Levine’s chorus comes in, I just feel like tearing up because it’s just so nostalgic. It was one of the first songs my dad showed to me as a little kid, what can I say? It’s obviously corny, but when the song is just this sincere and this bouncy, who can blame you? Add it on top of the sharp guitar rollick and the gleaming synths, this is absolutely incredible.
30. Becky G - Shower (#69 2014)
Look, the “Call Me Maybe” comparisons are easy to make, but “Shower” just works so much better. For starters, Becky G was actually a teenager when she created this, as opposed to Carly when she made “Call Me Maybe”, so while that song is still good it’s not really all that excellent or anything. “Shower” is about being young and in love, it’s just pure euphoria, especially when the strings come in that earworm in the chorus. This is better than it has any right to be, such an adorable track.
29. Eminem - Not Afraid (#24 2010)
This was the gateway song for me to realize the quality that hip hop could really deliver. The synthesizers supply a damn incredible melody, and I absolutely love the guitars and the piano. And Eminem, this man is dropping some of the most awe-inspiring bars of his entire career. He’s got that encouraging tone in his voice that really lets the audience know that they are not alone in their battle. It’s an absolute anthem for people to overcome their struggles, and despite the general consensus that the Recovery era of Eminem hasn’t aged very well, this is still a highlight.
28. Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do (#13 2015)
Again, Ellie Goulding is one of my all-time favorite artists. And I absolutely adore “Love Me Like You Do”, a euphoric and powerful song that really hits all my weak spots. It captures the feeling of being in love so perfectly. The percussion is right in that healthy medium that adds the power yet gives enough breathing room for Ellie to shine. And boy, does she absolutely slay. Her vocals are usually soft and understated, but...wow, she crushes her performance here when she belts in the chorus. Add the massive synthesizers, the pianos, and the strings that add that extra beauty to this track, yeah, absolutely breathtaking.
27. Swedish House Mafia f/John Martin - Don’t You Worry Child (#26 2013)
One of the best EDM songs of the 2010s, easily. “Don’t You Worry Child” is an absolutely fantastic song about a father telling his son to not worry because he has a purpose in life and that everything will work out. It features John Martin’s husky delivery, a synth hook, and impeccable crescendos everywhere. And while they would later make music 8 years later, this was originally gonna be their final song, and man, what a sendoff it would’ve been.
26. Wiz Khalifa f/Charlie Puth - See You Again (#3 2015, #99 2016)
Absolutely deserving of being considered one of the biggest songs of the past decade. Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth are walking a very thin line of being cheesy and being sweet, and man, do they both absolutely nail it. Wiz Khalifa sounds amazing on the verses, the beat actually supports the piano melody really well, and Charlie Puth’s vocals on this song are outstanding - especially in the bridge and the post-chorus. I can’t help but think of the friendships I’ve had on the way, where the bonds between each other are too strong to be broken, no matter what comes my way. Terrific track, definitely glad it was such a monstrous hit.
Okay, those were the first 75, now it’s time to get a bit more heavy for the last quarter of this list.
25...This is definitely a bit of a surprising entry to see on this list, let alone this high, because out of any song on this top 100 list, this is arguably the most flawed entry, even in comparison to my other controversial picks on this list like “Tonight Tonight” or “Bad Things” or even “Hey Soul Sister”. But what can I say, this helped me out immensely at the time, and I’ve grown such a big personal connection to this song that, while it has admittedly shrunken on me slightly over the years, well...
25. Logic f/Alessia Cara & Khalid - 1-800-273-8255 (#31 2017, #84 2018)
Yeah, the “who can relate, WOO!” lyric is definitely awkward and can come across as slightly insensitive. And there are a lot of obvious flaws with this song. The idea that one phone call is able to instantly cure depression and suicidal ideation is laughable at best and misinformed at worst. Logic’s rapping isn’t that emotive, and while you can tell he’s trying to have an encouraging tone in his voice it doesn’t fully come through, and thus falls pretty flat. And the lyrics are full of obvious clichés that have become quite banal because of overuse. So, why is it in my top 25 favorite songs of the 2010s? Well, the production for starters is quite beautiful, with that haunting piano melody and the strings really create that atmosphere of despair, and the beat keeps the listener engaged throughout the entire song. Both Alessia Cara and Khalid sound gorgeous on their parts. Also, when I hit a low point in my mental state sometime in early 2018, this song helped me out a ton at the time. Yes, the lyrics are cliché, but still, it felt like someone was actually there to listen to me. And it was that reassurance that really helped me out. Plus, when you tack on the fact that it had such a positive impact on the culture, with calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline increasing by 27% since the song’s release, yeah, definitely a flawed song, but when I needed it the most, it was there for me.
24...But we’re gonna keep the conversation at the ever fragile topic that is mental health, and look, this artist’s career seems to be declining drastically, but still, in 2018, he put forth his best song to date...
24. Shawn Mendes - In My Blood (#46 2018)
Shawn Mendes started off in everyone’s good graces, and then briefly got panned by everybody in 2016, but as he eased his way back into good graces, he put forth this song. “In My Blood” comes from an incredibly raw place for Shawn Mendes, where he is faced with anxiety and the feeling of losing all hope. And the production is incredibly bleak enough so that it fits it, with the acoustic guitar and the percussion that open up the song already making it feel minimalistic, and then you got the electric guitar that really adds to that feeling of inner loneliness. And then we got Shawn Mendes himself belting out some of his most raw and powerful vocals to date. And as someone who has hit points where I feel like giving up, even though I can’t at the cost of the disappointment of everyone around me if I did that, the lyrics hit me so hard. I’ve gotten better at handling this over the years, but still, this song really hits all my weak spots in terms of its lyrics. I’m glad we got this track from Shawn at least, if nothing else.
23...The unfortunate thing that can happen is that sometimes an artist’s passing can put forth an entirely new meaning towards a song. Take a look at how quickly everyone came around on “Heavy” by Linkin Park and Kiiara for example after the tragic death of Chester Bennington. And if it’s not an entirely new meaning, then it’s an odd emotional feeling towards a song - it’s why I don’t hate “Robbery” by Juice WRLD like many other people do. But if there was a song that really hit hard after this artist passed away, it would be this...
23. Avicii - Wake Me Up (#19 2013, #22 2014)
This song works so much better than it should. The melody line might be repeated on loop throughout the entire song, but when that melody line sounds this good, well, it can’t hurt at all. And Avicii applied the smoothest transition possible between the folk and the EDM instrumentation. Then, we got Aloe Blacc, and he absolutely nails his performance on this track. He has the charisma to sell wanting to live in your dream and when he belts for the second chorus, he sounds incredible. The song nails the feeling of wanting to go back to your younger days so well, and it’s absolutely killer to this day. Rest in peace, Avicii.
22...But let’s go back to my earlier claim that the Teenage Dream era of Katy Perry was her at her very best. And while both “Firework” and “Wide Awake” are phenomenal, if we want the Katy Perry song that has kinda fallen through the cracks since 2012, but really proved that this era of Katy Perry was amazing...
22. Katy Perry - The One That Got Away (#41 2012)
“The One That Got Away” is one of the most underappreciated songs in Katy Perry’s discography. The piano progression sounds incredibly melancholic, the strings are very subtle but still sound amazing, and the beat is super tight, giving this song a nice feeling of being catchy yet really sad. Katy Perry somehow manages to have more vulnerability and emotion in her vocals in this track than she did in “Wide Awake” if that was even possible! And they really complement the lyrics as well. The feeling of wanting to still be with your ex because you’d be able to experience all the things that you weren’t able to, and that in another life, you’d still be with this person, as you turn the page back on all the memories that you had together, it’s a subject matter that Katy Perry absolutely nails. And when you pair it all with a production that manages to walk the very thin line of being anthemic yet depressing, you got Katy’s best song to date. Katy, I’d like more of this.
21...This is the lowest of my picks for the best songs of their respective years on this list. It just doesn’t click with me as much as my other picks for higher on this list, but still, I have to acknowledge one of the best country songs of the past decade, and a song that made me and every other critic reconsider our opinions of Thomas Rhett...
21. Thomas Rhett - Marry Me (#76 2018)
Seriously, the fact that Thomas Rhett managed to defy three different expectations in one song is quite fascinating. The first being that he actually made a song this fantastic after creating trash like “T-Shirt” and “Vacation” - two of the worst country songs I’ve heard, period. Everything about this track is super elegant and poignant. The warm guitars, the beautiful piano melody, and the perfect amount of percussion in the low end that really allows this song to exercise its full emotionality. And then we got the other two expectations, both of which in the lyrical content. Thomas Rhett sets the song up like a traditional wedding song...only for it to be revealed that he blew his chance and that he’s not the person that’s getting married. And the second expectation is in the bridge, where the instrumental really gets more dramatic and more tense, and you think there’s gonna be some huge climax where Thomas Rhett confesses his love for the bride...and yet, he doesn’t do it. Nope, he takes the mature route, and stands at the back of the church and lets this girl enjoy her special day. And that maturity is something that’s so little seen in country today. So yeah, phenomenal track, and easily the best song that Thomas Rhett has made.
20...I’m really shocked that I wound up putting this song so high. Like, I do think that this is the best song on Hollywood’s Bleeding, and I do think it’s the best song that he’s ever made, but it’s nothing special enough to be top 20 on this list...right?
20. Post Malone f/Young Thug - Goodbyes (#30 2019)
I’ve said before that 2019 was a low point for my mental state. And it might just be the fact that I’m happy that there’s a song that captures the same feeling of anger and resentment towards this ex that I have towards this year as a whole, but I really love “Goodbyes”. Yeah, while Young Thug can’t stay on topic to save his life, this might be the best I’ve ever heard him sound on a song. It’s a song full of intense emotions with an intense production that’s able to match it. It’s all swamped out, sure, but it’s able to capture the messiness of Post Malone’s emotions in this song. He has a bitter resentment towards this girl, and he wants to end this relationship where neither side is seemingly in the right. And Post Malone doesn’t even need to be sympathetic in this song. It’s a track full of messy emotions that was the highlight of an otherwise absolutely depressing year for the Hot 100.
19...I mean, this song has developed a reputation as a modern country classic for a reason. It’s often overlooked by many people, it was barely a hit. But you know what, it was a hit and it qualifies under my rules as a hit. So, I present to you, the best country hit of the 2010s...
19. Zac Brown Band - Colder Weather (#99 2011)
“Colder Weather” takes you on a journey and it executes that journey so well. The instrumental is incredibly spare and empty, it’s super bleak, with the piano keys and the cymbals and literally nothing else, at least until the bridge comes in and never fails to absolutely blow me away, with the cymbals and guitars picking up a lot of weight to deliver an absolutely amazing climax. And Zac Brown himself, he sounds beautiful on this track. His lower register sounds amazing, and then he starts belting for the bridge and the final chorus with some of the best vocals I have ever heard in a country song. Then the lyrics. It’s about a man who has to leave his family behind in the cold of Colorado, and he’s unable to come back to them, and by the song’s end, he accepts that he is never gonna change. It’s sweeping and beautiful, it’s fantastic and it always absolutely blows me away every single time I hear it.
18...But you know what, on the topic of songs that blew me away when I first heard it, I think it’s safe to say that I wasn’t the only person blown away by this at the time of its release. Like, a former One Direction member getting a rock song to become a hit in a trap climate? That has to be impossible, right?
18. Harry Styles - Sign Of The Times (#87 2017)
A really frontloaded single that didn’t have a lot of longevity on the charts at the time, but “Sign Of The Times” seems to have stuck around in the cultural memory 4 years later. And really, it’s a spectacular song. The piano melody, the guitars that roar right into the stratosphere - especially in the chorus - the bass that has a lot of swell, and Harry Styles absolutely slaying his performance here. His belting sounds incredible. The track has so much power behind it, and every single listen takes me back on that same journey over and over and over again. It’s so hard to notice that this song is nearly 6 minutes long! And it was a sign of great things to come from Harry. I might really like a decent chunk of Fine Line, but I’m ready for the day Harry manages to make a song just as good as this.
17...I’ll be the first to admit that a song that has pretty toxic lyrical themes will be what keeps a song off of my best list. Okay, maybe “Bad Things” does have a lyrical theme of toxic relationships, but I’ve already said that they seem to know it and that the song was mainly about young teenage love where they have no idea what the hell they’re doing. This song, though, definitely has a pretty toxic lyrical theme, and it only plays right into it. I’m just saying, this song should not work as well as it does...
17. Taio Cruz f/Ludacris - Break Your Heart (#10 2010)
If the framing were any different, this would’ve put Taio Cruz in a really bad light. The song is about being a heartbreaker. But Taio Cruz is painting this as more giving off warning signs rather than showing him as playing the “nice guy” card. Also, Taio Cruz has a lot of charisma, even through all that autotune. His slick vocals give him a certain kind of swagger in his delivery that really makes him work in this song so effectively. The production is damn awesome, with the tight beat and the slick synths. Not to mention in a year where Ludacris’s guest verses were often very interchangeable, he sounds damn great here! So yeah, this is a damn jam, and definitely a highlight of the club boom.
16...It was only a matter of time before we got to another song from this band. Now, towards the middle of the decade, the quality of their music took a drastic nosedive and they basically became a punchline in the alternative music scene. I’d like to say that they’re on their way back into everybody’s good graces, but you know what, I feel that people are starting to discredit their earlier work because of the quality of their music towards the middle or end of the decade. So you know what, I’m gonna make sure their best work gets the reconsideration it deserves...
16. Imagine Dragons - It’s Time (#91 2012, #47 2013)
Another act that blew up thanks to the indie boom in 2012, here we got Imagine Dragons. Now, I already talked about “Natural” earlier in this list, but now it’s time to move onto their truly spectacular songs, one of them being “It’s Time”. And even though it wasn’t as big as some of their other songs at the time, it’s the one that has stuck around all these years later. And yeah, “It’s Time” is a glorious song written when Dan Reynolds was at his lowest point. The lyrics are about overcoming your obstacles no matter what life throws at you and not changing who you are in the process, and Dan Reynolds is able to sell this so well. He’s singing in his most comfortable range rather than screaming into uncomfortable levels, so he sounds terrific on this song. And it tops off with one of the best instrumentals of Imagine Dragons’ career, with the amazing mandolin melody line, the subtle keyboard line, and the percussion that gives this song a lot of power and room to build up, especially when we get to the final chorus. But you know what, this isn’t even their best song...
15...because just a year later, they’d release this song, which is the Imagine Dragons song that has held up better than any of their other songs...
15. Imagine Dragons - Demons (#62 2013, #23 2014)
The Night Visions and Smoke + Mirrors era of Imagine Dragons were them at their very best. And “Demons” is easily the best song they have ever created. It’s a dubstep song that has managed to hold up remarkably well all these years later, especially in comparison to the other dubstep productions from this era. The piano melody is haunting and beautiful, and then we got the percussion in the chorus that really adds a bunch of power and punch to this song. And it’s even further helped by Dan Reynolds managing to belt in this song without going into his more uncomfortable screaming levels! He’s able to sell that acknowledgement that sometimes, he is the real monster in this entire relationship, and that his inner demons can sometimes really overtake you and change who you are for the worse. It’s a cry to his lover to make sure she doesn’t fall into the same dark depression that he’s fallen into. And that makes the song feel incredibly bleak. I’d love to see more Imagine Dragons songs like this, and it looks like they might be on the right path with “Wrecked”.
14...I feel that this next act is one of the first names people think of when they think of “one year wonders”. Yes, they did get more success in the alternative scene, but in the pop music scene, after this song, they pretty much vanished. But, at least they gave us some fantastic hits in the process, so let’s talk about one of them right now...
14. Twenty One Pilots - Heathens (#21 2016, #58 2017)
It still startles me that of all three of Twenty One Pilots’ big hits, it was this that made the Hot 100 decade-end, even though “Stressed Out” always felt like the bigger hit. But anyway, onto “Heathens”, a song released as part of the Suicide Squad soundtrack. Let me make this clear, its production is what carries this song. The percussion is incredibly powerful which helps this song not be a slow, boring dirge. And every element of this song gives off that incredibly creepy vibe that this song really needs. The heavy bass guitar, the sick guitar solos, the sour keys, and the heavy synthesizers, they all work so seamlessly together to create such a damn awesome instrumental. And Tyler Joseph sounds dejected on this song, and he’s embracing the spooky vibe. This kicks all amounts of ass.
13...This artist has had arguably one of the most hit-or-miss careers of the past decade. She notched two songs on my “worst of the decade” list, and has generally made either very good or very bad songs. Yet, she’s also notched two songs on this list, the first one being “Stay”, which I already covered, the other being this...
13. Rihanna - Diamonds (#94 2012, #27 2013)
And we’re at another song that I have an immense nostalgic soft spot for. Because, you guessed it, it was another one of the first songs my dad showed to me as a kid. You can tell Sia wrote this song, even based on Rihanna’s delivery, but you know what, Rihanna absolutely kills it, she sounds gorgeous on this song. She’s in her most comfortable range, allowing her to express more emotion in her vocals. The instrumental is absolutely superb, the 80s-style keyboard, the strings, the synthesizers, and the simple drum beat, they all sound so clean. And this song is about being blinded by love, and it absolutely nails that feeling right on the head. The song feels so ethereal and so free, it’s absolutely amazing. I’m standing by my assertion that this is Rihanna’s best song, likely until the day I die.
12...Is it enough for me to say that finding out I could rap the rap section of this song was a highlight of my 2016?
12. Twenty One Pilots - Ride (#20 2016)
This song absolutely slaps, and is such a hot summer jam. The bass has a lot of swell, the choppy beat is actually really catchy, the organs sound terrific, and the synths sound so damn chill. It really brings out that summery vibe so well, and I just can’t help but get reminded of summertime in general, not just in 2016. Tyler Joseph himself is able to sell that feeling of anxiety really well. It’s about him admitting that he’s stressing out too much about life and that he should take some time and chill. It’s about not dwelling on your past or future too much, and that you should enjoy the ride while you can. And you know what, I’m enjoying it alright.
11...When it comes to the turning point between innocence and maturity from One Direction, people often point towards “Night Changes”. And yeah, that song is excellent, I talked about that song earlier on this list! But people seem to often overlook this song, which, to me, felt like the real turning point of maturity for One Direction...
11. One Direction - Story Of My Life (#24 2014)
I’m a huge fan of One Direction’s more fun and nostalgic bops like “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Live While We’re Young”, just to name a few. But it was “Story Of My Life” that really showcased the true talent of One Direction. All the members’ vocals come from a very emotional place as they go through the cycle of going through a tumultuous relationship and breaking up in the end and start going back on all the memories they created together. I adore the production on this song too. The acoustic guitar melody, the piano keys, and even a hint of strings very subtly added in the chorus. One of One Direction's best songs, if not their best.
But before we get to our top 10, I’m gonna do something a bit different. See, I’ve really only highlighted throughout these lists the hits, but I’ve left the other songs that were still a huge part of my life out of it. So, in alphabetical order, these are the songs that weren’t hits, but if they were, would’ve been a lock to land in the top 50 on this list at the very least:
Afrojack f/Wrabel - Ten Feet Tall
Alesso f/Tove Lo - Heroes (We Could Be)
Andy Grammer - Don’t Give Up On Me
Backstreet Boys - No Place
BANNERS - Someone To You
Camila Cabello - Consequences
Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me
Dean Lewis - Waves
Ellie Goulding - Still Falling For You
George Ezra - Shotgun
Guy Sebastian - Like A Drum
Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso f/Florida Georgia Line & Watt - Let Me Go
Hailee Steinfeld & BloodPop - Capital Letters
Hoang f/Kianna - Gone
Hoang f/Nevve - Don’t Say
Imagine Dragons - Bad Liar
Imagine Dragons - Walking The Wire
Kacey Musgraves - Rainbow
Kelly Clarkson - Dark Side
Kelly Clarkson - Piece By Piece
Kygo & Imagine Dragons - Born To Be Yours
Louis Tomlinson - Two Of Us
Lorde - Green Light
Macklemore f/Kesha - Good Old Days
Marshmello f/CHVRCHES - Here With Me
Niall Horan - Too Much To Ask
One Direction - Live While We’re Young
OneRepublic - I Lived
OneRepublic - Let’s Hurt Tonight
OneRepublic & SeeB - Rich Love
The Chainsmokers & ILLENIUM f/Lennon Stella - Takeaway
Tom Walker - Leave A Light On
Twenty One Pilots - Chlorine
WALK THE MOON - Different Colors
WALK THE MOON - One Foot
WALK THE MOON - Timebomb
WALK THE MOON - Work This Body
Wrabel - 11 Blocks
Wrabel - The Village
Zara Larsson - All The Time
...wow, that’s nearly 40 songs that would’ve locked for at least the top 50 had they been hits. But anyway, now for what you guys have been waiting for, the top 10! So let’s continue with...
10...Sometimes songs will pick up more emotional weight as time passes on. Sometimes it might be as simple as the song aging really well. But most of the time, it’s likely due to an outside event that you can’t help but associate the song with. Sometimes it’s for the better, in that the song brings back some fantastic memories. But on the flipside, sometimes the song brings back painful memories, which makes listening to this next song to this day, a bit of a heavy listen...
10. Ariana Grande - One Last Time (#67 2015)
This is Ariana’s most underappreciated track and I will die on this hill with that assertion. And it’s the type of song that’s become all the more heavy to listen to over the years. It’s already a pretty likeable song: the three-note synth line sounds fantastic, the percussion gives this a steady groove, and Ariana’s vocal performance is absolutely incredible. Her lower register in the verses to later belt in the chorus, it all sounds very vulnerable and very raw. The song does a really good job at framing Ari as the one begging for forgiveness, and she is able to sell it really well. But the reason this song lands all the way up here is the fact that it took on an entirely new meaning after the Manchester attacks at one of Ariana’s shows back in 2017. This was the finale to her One Love Manchester concert, and now I see this song as a beg to spend one last moment with someone, because it may be the last time you ever see them. It shows that you really never know when your final moments with someone are. And that really makes this song hit harder. And the older this song gets, the better it ages, and the more emotional it gets. It’s a song that’s commonly overlooked in comparison to Ariana’s other hits, but it’s a song that definitely deserves to be revisited and given the proper attention it deserves.
9...We’ve reached the point on this list where all these songs have some significant value for me, whether it be nostalgic or in terms of music discovery. If you know me personally enough, you know that I actually used to have a YouTube channel that was active from 2016 to 2019. And if you followed it from the very beginning, you know that this next track was my intro music for that channel. Which makes this song feel all the more nostalgic for me...
9. Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out (#5 2016)
The general consensus seems to be that this song hasn’t aged well, and I wholeheartedly disagree with that sentiment, because “Stressed Out” is quite fantastic if you ask me, and easily Twenty One Pilots’ best song. It opens with a tight drum beat that still slaps hard to this day and a really damn good bass, then followed by an eerie keyboard line which helps the main melody line develop. Then that chorus comes in. And it’s a huge avalanche of nostalgia that comes in, with the synthesizers and the piano that really rings that theme of nostalgia and wanting to turn back time to your less stressful days. Now, the way this song is personally significant for me. It was my favorite song of all time in 5th and 6th grade, and I can’t help but remember the times I constantly sang this song with my friends as happy as can be. And this track only gets more relatable as I get older. I also wish I could turn back time to 2016 where I still sung this song with all my heart without a care in the world. And yeah, I’ll admit, seeing comments that this aged really badly does sting quite a bit, but you know what, this is personally significant for me, and I don’t give a crap about the general consensus, because this is a slapper.
8...36 songs after I reveal their first entry on this list, look they were always pretty much locked for my top 10, and it is a shame that they disbanded, but man, they were able to deliver one hell of a song before then...
8. fun. f/Janelle Monae - We Are Young (#3 2012)
fun. is one of the first names you think of when you think of the indie boom, and “We Are Young” was arguably the gateway song for the indie boom to actually happen. And man, is it one hell of a way to kick it off. Yeah, Janelle Monae could’ve done slightly more on this than just the bridge, but the rest of the song is so transcending that I could care less honestly. It’s really fun. themselves that propel this song to “best of the decade” tier. The verses open with a quick drum beat and a few piano notes, before the tempo slows down for the pre-chorus. And then it absolutely explodes in the chorus. Nate Ruess is belting and delivering a very great Queen impression, and he makes this song feel that much more anthemic. The swell in the bass, the guitar, the piano line, they all sound terrific. And this is all before the outro, which for some reason I’ve always absolutely adored. Those piano notes at the very end are very effective at helping the song die down, and it just makes the song that perfect. So one could only hope that they’d be able to make better music than this.
7...Well the thing is, we didn’t have to hope for too long, because the single immediately after was somehow even better than this...
7. fun. - Some Nights (#14 2012, #58 2013)
I wouldn’t be surprised if “Some Nights” ends up becoming a classic of the 2010s, because it’s gotten just the perfect amount of arena rock worship and is just utterly timeless. Like “We Are Young”, it’s a song with Queen influences, and it works so well. Nate Ruess absolutely kills it in his delivery, he’s able to sell the idea of being in a quarter-life crisis so effortlessly. But you know what, it’s the production that’s the star of this show. The production has so many incredible aspects that really make it work so well: the frequent vocal layering, the autotune that actually works in the song’s favor, Nate Ruess’s potent vocals, the thundering percussion, the electric guitar, the keyboard, it’s such an impeccable piece of pop perfection that has never really been recreated throughout the rest of the decade. “Some Nights” is lightning in a bottle, a magic that manages to stick out in the best way possible. I adore this track with every fiber of my being, and if there ever is a fun. reunion in the future, I’ll be ready.
6...So we can’t really avoid talking about the 2010s without talking about Ed Sheeran. I mean, he scored the biggest song of 2017 and the 3rd biggest song of the entire decade with “Shape Of You”...only for it to be a slice of basic gunk that was grossly overplayed on the radio at the time and has never managed to really recover from it, and it’s a track that really hasn’t held up well at all. No, if you want the Ed Sheeran song that has really stuck around and is the one that’ll hold up better compared to “Shape Of You”, it’d be this track, which is simultaneously the best song that he has ever made…
6. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (#40 2017)
If there was a track from Ed Sheeran that deserved to be a 12-week #1 and one of the biggest songs of all time, it wasn’t “Shape Of You”, it was this, which was basically the B-Side to that song. It’s a track that truly showcased what Ed Sheeran could do at his very best. The guitar line and the drum beat give this song an amazing melody, then we get the backing vocals in the prechorus, and then we get that chorus. The gleaming guitars roar right out of the stratosphere as Ed Sheeran starts to belt with some of his best vocals, period. It literally sounds like something that U2 would create! But the real reason why “Castle On The Hill” clicks so well for me is its lyrical content. It’s a love letter to his childhood friends, and how they’ve shaped him up over the years. He mentions many little details of his past, like how he messed up his first kiss on a Friday night, how he broke his leg at the age of 6, and how he watched that sunset over the castle on the hill. And then we got that bridge, where Ed looks back on his friends and where they are now. Some have succeeded in life, others aren’t in a good spot, but in the end, they all share the same memories and helped Ed become who he is today. It’s a beautiful addition to the song that really proves what a talent he could be. But the way this resonates even more for me is that I can’t help but picture a big tree I used to hang out with my friends at in elementary school. It’s just a tree, but to me, it has such a powerful magic that makes that place feel like a literal castle on a hill. And I just picture the damn fun times I had back then. This is a beautiful track that Ed Sheeran is yet to top - he came close with “Visiting Hours” - but for now, his castle is still standing tall.
5...Okay really, this was the song that made me start exploring music outside of my dad’s recommendations, was it ever not gonna make this list?
5. WALK THE MOON - Shut Up And Dance (#6 2015)
WALK THE MOON to this day remains as one of the most underappreciated bands in the music industry. They have a knack of being able to combine catchy productions with positive and fun lyrics. And that is indeed the case for “Shut Up And Dance”, which, overplayed as it may have been at the time, has still held up as one of the most fun songs ever created. The gleaming guitars, the groove, the synths in the bridge and the final chorus, and Nicholas Petricca’s goofy yet incredibly sincere delivery, they all make this song one hell of a fun banger. And yeah, sometimes, you just need to shut the hell up and dance. It’s basically a Killers song, sure, but when it’s this fun, who cares? This, like “Stressed Out”, was my favorite song of all time back in 4th and 5th grade, and, again, like “Stressed Out”, I just kept singing this with all my heart like there was no tomorrow. And it got to the point where I adored this song so much that I actually turned on the radio just to listen to this song. And that’s when I started discovering other songs that I love to this day without my dad having to recommend them to me in the first place! This was very defining in expanding my music taste, and it remains the best alternative crossover of the 2010s.
4...Let’s go back to my comments about “One Last Time” for a bit - about how a song can get more emotional weight over time, whether it be in a good or a bad sense. And while “One Last Time” has become more of a heavy listen over time because of the bad memories it sparks, this got more of a nostalgic and happy emotional weight as the years passed, because I’ll say it, it’s the closest I’ll get to having a time machine. And if you read through my best of 2017 list and how much I gushed over how this song reminds me of the best parts of that year, yeah, you know what it is...
4. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain’t Me (#27 2017)
Like I just said, “It Ain’t Me” acts like my own little time machine for me, because it transports me back to a simpler and happier time with vivid memories that show up. It also really helps that “It Ain’t Me” is already an impeccable song from the jump. From the lovely melodic acoustic guitars, the keyboards, the tropical snaps, and a drop that manages to embrace all of the above, it’s already such a phenomenal song on a production level alone! It’s that tropical, summery drop at its very freshest, and Kygo knew he struck gold with it, he’s been cribbing from it for years now! Oh yeah, the melody in this song is also one of the best melodies I have ever heard. “It Ain’t Me” also has one of the best hooks of 2017, where Selena is expressing herself at her most emotive, this is the best she’s ever sounded on a track! And back to the point I made about this song being my own time machine, as soon as that chorus hits, I’m transported back to 4 years ago, where I can picture all the fun things my cousins and I did back in the summer of 2017, I remember us singing to this without a care in the world. It’s a huge and sweeping song that leaves me with that bittersweet feeling of reliving the memory, but also the realization that I may never experience this again. Yeah, I adore this song with every fiber of my being, and I’m thrilled to see what else Kygo has in store.
3...well, a 2014 song finishing higher than a 2017 song is not what I was expecting at all. But you know what, if there’s one good thing I can say about 2014, it’s that the best songs that year gave me a lot of nostalgia. And I have to highlight a song that rose up to stand out in that wasteland of a year, and one of the last traces of the club boom before its inevitable collapse. And I’ve praised this artist multiple times on this list already...yeah, at this point, you know who this superstar is...
3. Ellie Goulding - Burn (#39 2014)
Yeah, I have absolutely zero regrets in saying that this is quite possibly Ellie Goulding’s best ever song. “Burn” is a track that has a lot of nostalgic value for me, and I absolutely adore it. While everyone seems to miss when Ellie made songs like “Lights”, “Burn” is that thunderclap that has always worked for me. The explosive electropop production makes this song feel so huge. There are buildups everywhere, with every section feeling stronger than the previous one. The production feels so massive that Ellie’s soft and understated vocals are able to provide a brilliant contrast to it that never ceases to amaze me every single time. She has so much fun in her delivery that makes even the repetition work so well for this song! That repetition of the word “burn” gives that word more and more power as the production gains even more momentum. There are two key elements of this song, though, that are able to drive this home for me. The first being the bells, which first come in the first chorus of the track and appear frequently throughout the rest of the song. They ring that nostalgic and happy vibe. And the second element would be the bridge, which utilizes those bells and Ellie’s power in her delivery increasing as she repeats the line “we can light it up up up so they can’t put it out out out”. The song is an adrenaline rush that absolutely lets loose everywhere. It’s a brilliant buildup and payoff in the end. And every time that prechorus plays, it just fills me with so much joy, nostalgia, and happiness and it feels absolutely euphoric. And for one brief shining moment, I feel like I’m on top of the world, like I can do anything, and as soon as the song dies down, I just want to experience it all over again, with the bells calling me to take that journey again. This fire is still burning strong 7 years later, and will likely continue to burn strong for the rest of my life.
2...Well obviously, since I’ve acknowledged pretty much every landmark song throughout the course of my childhood on this list, this would have to place all the way up here. And I know it’s an odd pick to put as your 2nd best song of the decade, but I have to acknowledge what’s possibly the first song I ever remember hearing, and a song that was the biggest reason I even like music today...
2. Taio Cruz - Dynamite (#9 2010, #44 2011)
And here, we got the 2nd of Taio Cruz’s two hits from the club boom, and while this peaked lower than “Break Your Heart”, “Dynamite” is the song that has remained more relevant in culture today. And on the surface, “Dynamite” is an incredibly dumb song, but it’s saved almost entirely by the production and Taio Cruz himself. It’s essentially the club boom all wrapped up in one song: explosive electropop production requiring a lot of personality to work and incredibly dumb lyrics about partying until the very end, and man does Taio absolutely nail it! The autotune isn’t done too excessively so Taio Cruz is able to keep his presence and charisma. And the production is so bombastic and nightclub ready, and it slaps so hard! That piano line, the synths, the tight beat, they work so well. And I can’t tell you enough how transcendent that bridge feels, it’s a perfect climax to this song, where you just feel like putting your hands in the air and like you’re on top of the world. Also, as I said, this was the first song I ever remember hearing on the radio, and the second I heard it, I instantly fell in love with it. It might be why I look back on the club boom era so fondly. If it weren’t for this track, I probably wouldn’t even like music in general to begin with! And yet, there was one song I found better...
1...I’m a little bit shocked at my own #1 pick. I mean, I knew that it would be a lock for this list from the get go, and it’s a song that I’ve seen get put on a good chunk of “best of the decade” lists, but to top my list is really shocking. But the more I thought about it, the more it fit. Is it a monumental decade-defining song? No. Is the music itself absolutely breathtaking that it stands as a classic? No. Is it spreading an incredibly important message? No. But that’s not how I define a song as being “good”, if that were the case then at least half of these songs wouldn’t have made this list to begin with. I define good as how much it truly resonates with me or the least bad. And again, nostalgia will always play a key role in my lists. And while I just went through several entries that fill me with a lot of happiness, I don’t think any two artists have filled me with it more than Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen...
1. Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time (#38 2012)
Out of these two artists, I didn’t think Carly Rae Jepsen would be the artist more critically acclaimed than Owl City. Yet, it was “Good Time” that managed to give her the push she needed to show off her true talent. Both her and Owl City have fantastic chemistry with each other. They have the charisma and the energy and the fun in their vocals that help make this incredibly silly song feel all the more fun. They both are clearly loving it and are bringing in everybody for the ride. The production sounds phenomenal too. A pure summery and fun vibe that bounces off the gummy keyboards and the tight beat, in addition to those synths that really become prominent in the prechorus, again, such a fun song. It’s an incredibly silly and upbeat song that’s literally about being happy and having a good time. It’s a special lightning in a bottle that makes me feel so happy and it makes even the worst days feel better. Every other song on this list - Hot Chelle Rae’s fun personality on “Tonight Tonight”, Kygo and Selena Gomez’s nostalgic time machine that is “It Ain’t Me”, Ellie Goulding’s explosive and fun potency on “Burn”, WALK THE MOON’s goofy yet sincere delivery on “Shut Up And Dance”, the emotional weight from songs like “One Last Time”, “1-800-273-8255”, or “Colder Weather”, no song ever makes me nearly as happy or fills me with nearly as much joy as “Good Time” by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen, and it is the best hit song of the 2010s. I’m gonna continue to hold onto this good time for as long as I possibly can, and I really think I’d be better off for it.
Wow, that took a long time to compile. But I’m glad this is finally finished! Agree with this result or not, this is my list, and those are my picks. With that, I’m officially done with the 2010s! As for what I’m gonna do next, I have absolutely no clue. There’s a 1966 year-end Hot 100 rankdown open on Pulse Music Board, but I don’t 100% have an idea if I’m actually gonna sit through it. For all I know, I might take a break from making best and worst lists until the 2021 Hot 100 year-end comes out. Either way, we’ll see. By the way, after a month on the backburner, Friday’s Chill Pick will be returning tomorrow, so stay tuned for that! But until then, you’ve been reading Fire’s Flaming Hot Takes, and I’ll see you next time.
I can't even imagine how long this took to write! I plugged it into a word counter and you hit over 15,000 words!
ReplyDeleteTyping my thoughts as I read so sorry if this gets long lol.
- Does "Sweet But Psycho" actually sample "Down" though? I feel like I read stuff that said it was just a rumor and not confirmed by Ava, but I could be wrong.
- I share your love for "Still Into You." It's my favorite song from them.
- "Never Forget You" is so underrated. You were spot-on in saying their chemistry was amazing.
- "Coming Home" is another underrated one I really enjoy! Cool to see it here :)
- Yeah, "One Call Away" is adorable <3 I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I actually kinda like the Tyga remix of this one. Tyga's verse is a cute little diversion that doesn't detract from the song at all.
- "Stereo Hearts" has a ton of nostalgia for me as well. The song was huge when I was in middle school and listening to it now gives me a lot of good memories of that time :)
- Omg "Don't You Worry Child" was supposed to be their LAST song? I did not know that. I feel like I have a new appreciation for the song now.
- Ari's "One Last Time" is so underrated and I'm glad to see someone mention it among their favorites. It remains one of my favorite songs from her to this day.
Overall, I loved with almost all your picks, with the exception of the country ones (I'm not a fan of country music lol). You've mentioned it in a few posts, but I liked how you talked about a person's mental state can determine whether they like songs from a certain year. As I think I mentioned in another comment recently, most of last year was awful for me and I find myself judging the music from that time a lot more harshly...but it's more because I hated that time in my life itself rather than actually hating all music from 2021. It's a fascinating phenomenon to me so it was cool to hear you talk about your experience with it too. :)
maybe "sample" was the wrong word lol, but it does sound a shit ton like "down" to me lmao
Deletealso if you're wondering...it took me 12 days to make this lmao