The Best Pop Music of 2014
Here are my thoughts on the best pop music of 2014. What were your favorite songs and albums of the year?
Introduction
The top pop songs of 2014 are fun, upbeat, and have great music videos. These singles are popular worldwide and have infectious beats that will get stuck in your head. Some of these tunes are so catchy, you’ll be singing them long after they’ve left the radio waves.
The Best Pop Songs of 2014
It’s been an amazing year for pop music. We’ve seen the return of some veteran artists and the rise of some new stars. There have been catchy songs, emotional ballads, and everything in between. It’s been hard to keep up with all the great music that’s been released, but we’ve managed to compile a list of the best pop songs of 2014.
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
“Happy” is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer Pharrell Williams, from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack album. It also served as the lead single from Williams’ second studio album, Girl (2014). It was released on November 21, 2013, accompanied by a long-form music video. The song was nominated for Tonigh Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 86th Academy Awards.
The single entered the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 88 during the week of December 14, 2013, and eventually peaked at number one on March 8, 2014, making it Williams’ first chart-topping single in the United States since his featured role on Snoop Dogg’s 2004 hit “Drop It Like It’s Hot”. After “Happy” reached number one on the Hot 100, it also topped Billboard magazine’s Dance Club Songs and Rhythmic songs charts as well as spending ten non-consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100 Airplay chart. Williams became only the 24th artist to achieve this feat.
“All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
“All About That Bass” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor for her debut EP and first studio album, Title (2015). The song was written by Trainor and Kevin Kadish, and it was produced by Kadish. “All About That Bass” was released on June 30, 2014, as the lead single from Title. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks and topped the charts in 58 other countries, becoming the longest-running number-one song of 2014 in the US. It is Trainor’s biggest hit single to date.
“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
“Shake It Off” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). Written by Swift, Max Martin and Shellback, the track serves as the lead single from the album. The song’s conception was inspired by Swift dealing with press that focused on her personal liferather than her music. “Shake It Off” is an uptempo dance-pop track considered to be a departure from Swift’s earlier country pop music style. It has received universal acclaim from music critics.
Commercially, “Shake It Off” debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, giving Swift her second consecutive chart topper in the US and sixth overall. The single also became Swift’s eighteenth top ten hit on the Hot 100, thus extending her record for most top ten hits to date. “Shake It Off” eventually reached number one in over fifty countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video was directed by Mark Romanek and features footage of various professional ballet dancers dancing aimlessly while lip syncing to the song’s lyrics.
“Bang Bang” – Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj
“Bang Bang” is a song recorded by English singer Jessie J, American singer Ariana Grande, and Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released on 29 July 2014 as the lead single from Jessie J’s third studio album Sweet Talker (2014). The song was written by Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Rickard Göransson and Minaj, and produced by Martin. It is an uptempo dance-pop track incorporating elements of hip hop and EDM. Upon its release, “Bang Bang” debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It also peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland and New Zealand. A music video for “Bang Bang”, directed by Hannah Lux Davis and shot in Los Angeles, was released on 25 August 2014. Grande has performed the song live several times with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj including at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards where they were joined by rapper Tom Petty during his performance of “I Won’t Back Down”.
“Dark Horse” – Katy Perry
“Dark Horse” is a song recorded by American singer Katy Perry for her fourth studio album, Prism (2013). It was released on September 17, 2013, by Capitol Records as the lead single from the record. The song was written by Perry, Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Cirkut, and produced by the three. It is a trap-oriented song with components of new wave and funk pop. TheVector described it as containing “a roiling bassline”, while Los Angeles Times said that it features “a thudding Euro club beat”.
The track features verses from rapper Juicy J, who co-wrote it with Perry and Max Martin. It was conceived by Perry and Martin during a writing session in Maratone Studios in Stockholm; after hearing Juicy J’s verses online, they felt he would be a perfect fit for the song. Upon its release, “Dark Horse” was met with mixed reviews from critics; some deemed it as an improvement over its parent album’s singles “‘Roar” and “Unconditionally”, while others criticized its production and composition. Nevertheless, the song became Prism’s third overall single after “Roar” and “Unconditionally”. It topped charts in multiple countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom; while reaching the top 10 in Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, Poland and Slovakia. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it became Katy Perry’s tenth consecutive top 40 hit; peaking at number 17 overall.
The Best Pop Albums of 2014
There were a ton of great pop albums this year, but these are the 10 best. From Paramore’s self-titled album to Lana Del Rey’s “Ultraviolence,” there was no shortage of amazing pop music in 2014. Let’s take a look at the best of the best.
“In the Lonely Hour” – Sam Smith
Release date: May 26, 2014
Record label: Capitol Records
Duration: 46:38
“In the Lonely Hour” is the debut studio album by English singer Sam Smith. It was released in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2014 via Capitol Records and in the United States on 17 June 2014 through Capitol and Harvest Records. The album’s release was preceded by the release of its lead single, “Lay Me Down”, on 16 February 2013. It peaked at number one on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200. When “In the Lonely Hour” was released, it received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its vocal melodies and introspective themes. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, it received an average score of 66 based on 27 reviews, which indicates “generally favorable reviews”.
“1989” – Taylor Swift
“1989” is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on October 27, 2014, through Big Machine Records. Swift began planning the album during the same year which Red was released, and during a significant amount of media scrutiny. While Red tackled a mix of country and pop genres, 1989 marked a departure from Swift’s previous country efforts, representing “a real explosion of creativity” and featuring songs which she described as her “very first pop album”. The album’s title was inspired by Swift’s birth year, and the cover artwork features a close up of Swift’s face.
Leading up to its release, “1989” spawned three singles: “Shake It Off”, “Blank Space”, and “Style”, all of which entered the top 10 in both Canada and the United States while also becoming global chart-toppers. The album has sold over six million copies in the US alone, and has been awarded platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Additionally, 1989 peaked within the top-five in over ten countries including Australia and Greece.
“X” – Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran’s second album, “X,” was released in June of 2014 and immediately shot to the top of the charts. The album is a mix of pop, R&B, and hip-hop, and features the singles “Sing,” “Don’t,” and “Thinking Out Loud.” “X” is one of the best-selling albums of the year, and has been praised by critics for itsdepth and Sheeran’s skillful songwriting.
“In the Mood for Love” – Paloma Faith
“In the Mood for Love” is the second studio album by English recording artist Paloma Faith. It was released on 16 September 2014 in the United Kingdom and on 17 February 2015 in the United States. The album peaked at number two on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, and has been certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The album’s first three singles, “Can’t Rely on You”, “Only Love Can Hurt Like This” and “Trouble with My Baby”, all peaked within the top ten of the UK Singles Chart. Upon its release, “In the Mood for Love” received generally positive reviews from music critics.
“Ghost Stories” – Coldplay
In 2014, Coldplay returned with their sixth studio album, Ghost Stories. The album was a departure from the band’s previous work, with a more stripped-down and introspective sound. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the album was a commercial success, debuting at #1 on the UK Albums Chart and #2 on the US Billboard 200. It went on to be certified double platinum in the UK and platinum in the US.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best pop music of 2014 was a mix of new and old sounds, with some artists experimenting with different genres and styles. There were also a number of breakout hits from relatively unknown artists, which is always exciting to see. Overall, it was a great year for pop music and we can’t wait to see what 2015 has in store.
