The Best Pop Music CDs of 2015
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Pop music fans rejoice! Here is a list of the best pop music CDs of 2015. From Taylor Swift to Justin Bieber, these are the albums you need to have in your collection.
Best Pop CDs of 2015
It’s been a great year for pop music, with a wide variety of excellent CDs to choose from. In this article, we’ll count down the best pop CDs of 2015, from Justin Bieber’s “Purpose” to Selena Gomez’s “Revival.”
Taylor Swift – 1989
Taylor Swift’s “1989” is one of the best pop albums of 2015. The album features a variety of catchy pop songs that are sure to get stuck in your head. Swift’s vocals are flawless on tracks like “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space”, and the production is top-notch throughout the album. If you’re a fan of pop music, then “1989” is a must-listen.
Adele – 25
Adele’s long-awaited third album is finally here, and it was worth the wait. ‘25’ is a return to form for the English singer, who rose to fame with her debut album ‘19’ in 2007. Adele took a five year break after the release of her last album, ‘21’, during which time she married and had a son. The time off has clearly done her good, as she sounds more relaxed and confident than ever on ‘25’.
The majority of the tracks on the album are mid-tempo ballads, with Adele’s trademark soulful voice front and center. There are a few up-tempo tracks mixed in, including the lead single ‘Hello’, which is an ode to an ex-lover. The stand-out track on the album is ‘When We Were Young’, a moving ballad about looking back on youth with nostalgia.
If you’re a fan of Adele’s previous work, you will love ‘25’. It is a worthy addition to her already stellar discography.
Justin Bieber – Purpose
The first half of Purpose is strong enough that, had Bieber released it as an album on its own, it would have been one of his best. “I’ll Show You” and “Sorry” are gorgeously written and produced pop songs, each with a different flavor. The former is an anthemic number with a stadium-sized chorus, while the latter is a sleek, trap-inflected slow jam. They’re both impeccably executed and Bieber sounds great on both.
One Direction – Made in the A.M.
One Direction’s fifth studio album and first since the departure of Zayn Malik, “Made in the A.M.” is a solid collection of radio-friendly anthems that showcases the group’s maturing sound. There are plenty of soaring ballads (” history,” “Perfect”), as well as fun, up-tempo tracks like “Drag Me Down” ( which became the group’s first number-one single in the U.S.) and “End of the Day.” The album also features production from mega-producer Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia) and songwriting contributions from John Ryan (who also worked on One Direction’s previous album, “Four”), among others.
Selena Gomez – Revival
The young singer’s latest album is a strong collection of radio-friendly pop tunes, with a few edgier moments that showcase her range. Gomez’s voice is always the star of the show, and she sounds particularly good on the uptempo tracks like “Kill Em With Kindness” and “Hands To Myself.” The ballads are equally strong, especially the heart-wrenching “Good For You.” Revival is one of the best pop albums of the year.
Best Pop Songs of 2015
There were a lot of great pop songs that came out in 2015. It was hard to narrow it down, but here are our picks for the best pop songs of the year.
“Hello” – Adele
“Hello” is a song by English singer-songwriter Adele, released on 23 October 2015 by XL Recordings as the lead single from her third studio album, 25. “Hello” is a piano ballad with soul influences, and lyrics that discuss themes of nostalgia and regret. Upon release, the track received acclaim from music critics, who compared it favorably to Adele’s previous work and praised the song’s lyrics and Adele’s vocal performance. It became Adele’s second number-one single in both the UK and US, and broke several records, including becoming the first song to sell over one million digital copies in a week.
The accompanying music video was directed by Xavier Dolan and co-stars Tristan Wilds. Set in France, it features cameo appearances from Grégory Gadebois and François Civil. The video won the Brit Award for British Video at the 2016 ceremony. In February 2016, “Hello” was nominated for three Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance.
“Sorry” – Justin Bieber
“Sorry” is a song recorded by Canadian singer Justin Bieber for his fourth studio album, Purpose (2015). The song was released on October 23, 2015 as the second single from the album. “Sorry” was written by Justin Bieber, Julia Michaels, Sonny Moore, Michael Tucker and produced by Skrillex & Blood. It is an electronic dance music song which features synthesizer chords and a minimal sound. Lyrically, “Sorry” is a plea for forgiveness.
“Hotline Bling” – Drake
“Hotline Bling” is a song recorded by Canadian rapper Drake, which serves as the lead single from his fourth studio album Views (2016). The song was released on October 19, 2015, through Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records. Musically, “Hotline Bling” is a synth-driven R&B song. The song’s accompanying music video was directed by Director X and released on October 19, 2015. Upon its release, the music video garnered mixed reviews from critics.
“What Do You Mean?” – Justin Bieber
“What Do You Mean?” is a song recorded by Canadian singer Justin Bieber for his fourth studio album Purpose (2015). The song was released on August 28, 2015 as the lead single from the album. It was co-written by Bieber, Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter and produced by Skrillex and Blanco. “What Do You Mean?” went to number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Bieber his first number-one single on that chart and his sixth overall.
The track samples reggae artist Pliers’ 1992 song “Bam Bam”. Commercially, the song peaked at number one in several countries including Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand and Sweden. In Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, “What Do You Mean?” debuted within the top ten of their respective charts and went on to peak at number three. An accompanying music video for the song was shot in Tulum, Mexico and directed by Brad Furman. It premiered on Vevo on October 22 following a daily countdown that began on October 19.
“What Do You Mean?” was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
“Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd
The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” was one of the best pop songs of 2015. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was nominated for two Grammy Awards, winning for Best R&B Performance.
