Top Pop Music of 2016
A look at the top pop songs of 2016. These are the songs that were popular on the radio and had everyone singing along.
Introduction
Can you believe it’s already 2017? The past year flew by, and it was an amazing year for pop music. We saw the return of some veteran pop stars and the emergence of new talent. Let’s take a look back at the top pop music hits of 2016.
The Best Pop Songs of 2016
“Formation” by Beyoncé
“Formation” is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her sixth studio album Lemonade (2016). The song was released on February 6, 2016 as the lead single from the album by Parkwood Entertainment.
Musically, “Formation” is a hip hop and trap song with elements of bounce music. Lyrically, it features messages of black pride and police brutality. The song contains a sample of “Bam”, performed by Damian “Junior Gong” Marley. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Beyoncé’s seventh overall chart topper in the US and her fourth in the UK.
The accompanying music video was directed by Melina Matsoukas, who previously worked with Beyoncé on the videos for “Run the World (Girls)” (2011) and “No Angel” (2013). It caused controversy upon its release due to its references to Hurricane Katrina and police brutality against African-Americans.
The video won Best Editing at the 2016 MTV Music Video Awards, while also being nominated for Video of the Year, Best Pop Video, Best Direction and Best Cinematography. It received two nominations at the 59th Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best Music Video.
“Work” by Rihanna
“Work” is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her eighth studio album, Anti (2016). The song was released as the lead single from the album on January 27, 2016. It was written by Rihanna, Ester Dean, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tobias Jesso Jr., and produced by Boi-1da, Fred Ball, Roosevelt “Mbongeni” Wairata and Vinylz. “Work” is a dancehall and R&B track that contains elements of trap music. Lyrically, it features sexually suggestive lyrics.
The song debuted at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Rihanna’s twenty-sixth top ten single in the country and her ninth consecutive one from Anti. It later peaked at number two on the chart, becoming her second consecutive number two hit single after “Bitch Better Have My Money”. In Canada, “Work” topped the charts giving Rihanna her ninth Canadian number-one single. In Australia it peaked at number three giving Rihanna her seventeenth top five hit in that country. The accompanying music video was directed by Tim Erem and features cameos from Drake and other OVO artists.
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake for the soundtrack to the 2016 film Trolls. The song was written and produced by Timberlake, Max Martin and Shellback. It is an uptempo disco-pop track that contains influences of R&B and funk. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its sonic atmosphere and Timberlake’s vocal performance. In the United States, it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Timberlake’s fifth number-one single on that chart and his first since “Suit & Tie” in 2013. Internationally, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” topped the charts in fourteen countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, among others.
“One Dance” by Drake
Drake’s “One Dance” was the most streamed song of 2016. The Canadian rapper’s collaboration with Wizkid and Kyla spent more time at number one than any other song since Billboard started tracking streaming data in 2012. “One Dance” was also the first song to ever achieve one billion streams on Spotify.
“Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” by Adele
“Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Adele. It was written by Adele and Max Martin, produced by the latter along with Shellback, and released on May 16, 2016, as the lead single from her third studio album, 25. “Send My Love” is a pop and R&B song with influences of reggae. Lyrically, the song is about moving on from a past relationship.
The song received positive reviews from critics, who praised its production and lyrics. It became Adele’s seventh number-one single in the United Kingdom and her tenth overall on the UK Singles Chart, while also reaching the top ten in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Ireland and New Zealand.
In the United States, “Send My Love” debuted at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Adele’s tenth top-ten single on the chart and her first since “Set Fire to the Rain” (2011). The song also became Adele’s ninth number-one single on the Adult Contemporary chart.
The Best Pop Albums of 2016
2016 was a great year for pop music. We saw a lot of new artists and bands emerge and we also saw some of our favorite artists release new albums. Here are some of the best pop albums of 2016.
“Lemonade” by Beyoncé
Released in April 2016, “Lemonade” is the sixth studio album by American singer Beyoncé. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 485,000 copies in its first week. It was her second consecutive number-one album on the chart and produced her first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Formation”. “Lemonade” received widespread critical acclaim, with many critics calling it Beyoncé’s best album to date.
“Anti” by Rihanna
Rihanna’s eighth studio album Anti was released in late January 2016, and it quickly became one of the most acclaimed pop albums of the year. Critics praised Rihanna’s return to her R&B roots, and the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Anti features the hits “Work” and “Needed Me,” and it earned Rihanna a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
“Justified” by Justin Timberlake
Released in November of 2002, “Justified” is the debut solo album by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. The album was a commercial success, selling over four million copies in the United States and eight million copies worldwide. “Justified” peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and received positive reviews from critics. The album won Timberlake the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
“Views” by Drake
Drake’s “Views” spent 13 nonconsecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200, and became both the first album to reach one billion streams in a week and the first album to reach 4 million in sales/equivalent units in 2016. The former approach was propelled by Drake’s massive online fan base; the latter by old-fashioned word of mouth (and a little help from Rihanna, who guested on the lead single, “Work”).
“25” by Adele
“25” by Adele is one of the best pop albums of 2016. Adele has been praised for her powerful voice and this album is no exception. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and has sold over 3 million copies in the United States. “25” was also nominated for Album of the Year at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
Conclusion
The top pop songs of 2016 may not have the staying power of classics like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” or “I Will Always Love You,” but they’re sure to get your adrenaline pumping and get stuck in your head for days on end. Time will tell if any of these tunes will be remembered fondly in years to come, but for now, enjoy the best pop music of the year.
-“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
-“Cheap Thrills” by Sia ft. Sean Paul
-“Work from Home” by Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign
-“One Dance” by Drake ft. Wizkid & Kyla
-“Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” by Adele
-“This Is What You Came For” by Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna
-“Into You” by Ariana Grande
-“Pillowtalk” by Zayn Malik
-“Don’t Let Me Down” by The Chainsmokers ft. Daya
