The Top Pop Music of 2014
A countdown of the top pop music hits of 2014, including artists like Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, and John Legend.
Introduction
The year 2014 was an excellent one for pop music, with many different artists and styles represented in the top hits of the year. From club bangers to heart-wrenching ballads, there was a little something for everyone on the radio this year. Here are some of the top pop songs of 2014, as well as a few honorable mentions.
“All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
This catchy tune was inescapable on radio and television throughout most of 2014. With its retro doo-wop sound and body-positive message, “All About That Bass” quickly became a anthem for women everywhere.
“Fancy” by Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
Iggy Azalea’s ode to materialism and high fashion was one of the biggest hits of the year, thanks in part to its insanely catchy chorus sung by British singer Charli XCX. “Fancy” spent seven weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it one of the longest-running number one hits in recent memory.
“Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift
The lead single from Taylor Swift’s fifth studio album, “Shake It Off” is a fun and upbeat track about shaking off haters and living your life regardless of what others think of you. The song was an instant hit with fans and critics alike, and spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Honorable Mentions:
“Stay With Me” by Sam Smith: A beautiful ballad about longing for companionship, “Stay With Me” spent two weeks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart before finally being knocked out of the top spot by “Shake It Off.”
“Problem” by Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea: This club-ready collaboration between Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea was another huge hit this year, spending three weeks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The Best Pop Songs of 2014
It’s hard to deny that 2014 was a great year for pop music. From Iggy Azalea to Taylor Swift, there was no shortage of catchy tunes to keep us dancing all year long. In this article, we’ll countdown the top 10 pop songs of 2014.
“All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
“All About That Bass” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor for her debut studio album, Title (2015). Written by Trainor and Kevin Kadish, the song was released on June 30, 2014, as the lead single from the album. It sold 118,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 1, becoming Trainor’s first UK number 1 single. In the US, it spent eight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Mainstream Top 40 for 14 weeks, becoming Trainor’s longest-running US airplay radio single. worldwide, “All About That Bass” was a top ten hit in 24 countries including Australia, Canada, Germany and New Zealand.
The song’s accompanying music video was directed by Fatima Robinson and was released on August 19, 2014. The video featuresTrainor singing and dancing around Los Angeles with backup dancers wearing retro-style clothing. The video received positive reviews from critics who praised its nostalgia and creative direction. In 2014, “All About That Bass” received three nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards including Best Female Video and Best Collaboration. At the 57th Grammy Awards, “All About That Bass” won Best Musical Theater Album.
“Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift
“Shake It Off” is a song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fifth album, 1989 (2014). The song was released as the album’s lead single on August 18, 2014. “Shake It Off” is a pop track and its lyrics describe Swift’s frustrations with haters and doubters.
The song received mixed reviews from music critics, who praised its lyrical content but criticized its production. “Shake It Off” debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Swift’s second number-one single in the United States and the 22nd song to debut at number one in the history of the chart. It spent three weeks atop the Hot 100 and was Swift’s seventh and final single to peak at number one in 2014. The single also topped charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Scotland.
In the United Kingdom, “Shake It Off” entered at number three on the UK Singles Chart, marking Swift’s 20th top 10 single in the country; this made her tied with Elvis Presley for having achieved more top 10 singles than any other artist in UK chart history. The song also became Swift’s biggest success in Ireland, where it peaked at number two on both the Irish Singles Chart and Irish Radio airplay chart.
“Bang Bang” by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj
“Bang Bang” by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj was one of the biggest pop songs of 2014. The song debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and ultimately peaked at number three. The song spent seven weeks in the top ten and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
“Dark Horse” by 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 album. The song was written by Perry, Max Martin, and Ali Payami, and produced by Martin and Payami. “Dark Horse” is a song with elements of trap music and features verses from rapper Juicy J.
The track caused controversy amongst religious groups due to its use of the word “Allah” in the chorus. It peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Perry’s ninth number-one single there and Juicy J’s second. It also became the first song to spend more than four weeks at number one in 2014. The song received generally mixed reviews from music critics upon release; some without rap criticized its production while others praised it for being different along with Juicy J’s guest appearance. An accompanying musical video was directed by Matthew Cullen and released on February 20, 2014; it depicts Perry as an Egyptian queen who transforms a unlucky man into a cat after he bets with and loses to her in a game of cards, which culminates in numerous dance scenes with backup dancers in linen clothing similar to ancient Egyptian clothing. To further promote “Dark Horse”, Perry performed the song live during several televised performances and award ceremonies including at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2014 where she debuted her new hair color platinum blonde short bob; she also included the track during her setlist for The Prismatic World Tour (2015).
“Problem” by Ariana Grande
“Problem” is a song recorded by American singer Ariana Grande for her second studio album, My Everything (2014). It was written by Grande, Savan Kotecha, Ilya Salmanzadeh, and Max Martin, and produced by the latter two with Shellback. The song was released by Republic Records on April 28, 2014 as the lead single from the album. “Problem” is an uptempo dance-pop song with influences of R&B music, which| generally received positive reviews from music critics who praised its composition. Grande has stated that the song is about “trouble in paradise”.
The song debuted at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 selling 438,000 digital copies in its first week of release, marking Grande’s biggest sales week and her second US top 10 hit. In Canada the song debuted atop of Digital Songs Chart and peaked at number two on the Canadian Hot 100; it became both Grande’s first number one single on a Billboard airplay chart and first top 10 hit in Canada. Internationally it also peaked inside top ten in several countries including Australia, Netherlands, United Kingdom and New Zealand.
The Best Pop Albums of 2014
With so much great pop music being released in 2014, it’s hard to determine what the best pop albums of the year are. However, after much deliberation, we have come up with a list of the best pop albums of 2014. From dance-floor fillers to heart-wrenching ballads, these are the albums that defined pop music this year.
“In the Lonely Hour” by Sam Smith
If you’re a pop music fan, 2014 has been a great year. We’ve seen the return of some veteran artists, as well as the ascension of some new stars. But what were the very best pop albums of the year?
There were many contenders for the title, but our pick for the best pop album of 2014 is “In the Lonely Hour” by Sam Smith.
On his debut album, Smith graceful navigates the treacherous waters of love and heartache with aplomb. The result is an emotionally resonant and stunningly beautiful record that is sure to stand the test of time.
If you’re looking for something to listen to on a long winter’s night, or any night for that matter, “In the Lonely Hour” is the perfect album.
“X” by Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran’s “X” was released in 2014 and immediately shot to the top of the pop music charts. This album is a must-have for any fan of pop music. It features some of Sheeran’s biggest hits, including “Sing,” “Don’t,” and “Thinking Out Loud.” If you’re looking for a feel-good pop album to add to your collection, “X” by Ed Sheeran is a great choice.
“1989” by Taylor Swift
1. “1989” by Taylor Swift – This album marked a major change in musical direction for the young artist, and it paid off. “1989” is a sleek, synth-based pop record that is full of catchy hooks and radio-friendly tracks. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and has since been certified 4x platinum by the RIAA.
2. “In the Lonely Hour” by Sam Smith – One of the breakout stars of 2014, British singer Sam Smith debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 with his debut album, “In the Lonely Hour.” The album is a heartbreak record that is full of soulful ballads and powerful vocal performances. It has been certified 2x platinum in the US and has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
3. “Xscape” by Michael Jackson – This posthumous release from the King of Pop debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it one of 2014’s highest-charting albums. “Xscape” features eight previously unreleased tracks that have been reworked by some of today’s top producers, including Timbaland, Stargate, and Rodney Jerkins. The album has been certified platinum in the US and has sold over 1 million copies worldwide.
4. “1000 Forms of Fear” by Sia – Australian singer Sia released her sixth studio album in 2014 to critical acclaim. “1000 Forms of Fear” debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it her first #1 album in the US. The album features Sia’s signature brand of ethereal pop music, with soaring vocal performances and catchy melodies. It has been certified 2x platinum in the US and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide.
5. “My Everything” by Ariana Grande – Pop sensation Ariana Grande released her sophomore album in 2014 to much fanfare. “My Everything” features a mix of uptempo pop tracks and slower ballads, all with Ariana’s powerful vocal performance front-and-center. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and has since been certified 2x platinum in the US. It has also sold over 2 million copies worldwide
Conclusion
What a great year for pop music it’s been! We’ve seen the return of some iconic artists, the rise of some new talents, and the continued domination of others.
Here are our picks for the top pop songs of 2014:
1. “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
2. “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift
3. “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith
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