Clean Pop Music: The Best of 2016
A look at the best clean pop music of 2016. These are the songs you can listen to without worrying about explicit lyrics.
Introduction
It’s no secret that the music industry has been changing rapidly in recent years. With the advent of streaming services and the ever-growing popularity of social media, the way we consume music has changed dramatically.
One of the most significant changes has been the increase in the amount of “clean” pop music being released. While there have always been a few artists who have eschewed profanity and sexual content in their music, it seems like 2016 was a breakout year for clean pop.
There are a number of reasons for this shift. First, streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music have made it easier than ever for listeners to find music that fits their personal preferences. Second, social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram have given artists a wider audience to reach with their music. And finally, there is an increasing demand from fans for clean pop music.
Whatever the reasons, there’s no denying that clean pop music is having a moment right now. If you’re looking for some great examples of clean pop from 2016, look no further! Here are 10 of the best:
Best Pop Songs of 2016
2016 was a great year for pop music, with a number of catchy and well-produced songs topping the charts. In this article, we’ll count down the top ten best pop songs of the year. From up-and-coming artists to experienced chart-toppers, there was something for everyone in 2016.
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
This song was released as the lead single from the soundtrack to the 2016 film Trolls. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Timberlake’s fifth solo single to top the chart. The song also reached number one in fifteen other countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
“One Dance” by Drake
“One Dance” by Drake was one of the biggest hits of 2016. The song spent 10 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it the longest-running number one single of the year. The song features a sample of Wizkid’s “Manya”, and was produced by Nineteen85 and Noah “40” Shebib.
“Work from Home” by Fifth Harmony
“Work from Home” is a song recorded by American girl group Fifth Harmony featuring American rapper Ty Dolla Sign. It was released on February 26, 2016, as the lead single from the group’s second studio album, 7/27 (2016). “Work from Home” peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Fifth Harmony’s first top 10 entry in this chart. It sold 139,000 digital copies in its first week and topped the Dance Club Songs chart on March 5, 2016; its official remixes became available that same day. A French version of the song entered the charts in Belgium and France in February 2017.
Commercially, “Work from Home” debuted at number 82 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the issue dated February 27, 2016, and rose to number 12 in the next week’s edition. In its third week, it vaulted to number five becoming both Fifth Harmony and Ty Dolla Sign’s highest-charting single in the country as well as giving Cabello her first top five single outside her former bandmate Camila Cabello as a featured artist. It ultimately peaked at number four on the chart. The song also peaked within the top 10 in nineteen other countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden.
“Cheap Thrills” by Sia
“Cheap Thrills” is a song by Australian singer Sia from her seventh studio album, This Is Acting (2016). Written by Sia Furler and Greg Kurstin and produced by Kurstin, the song was released on 11 February 2016 as the lead single from the album. It peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in a number of other countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland and New Zealand.
A dance-pop and synth-pop track, “Cheap Thrills” is heavily influenced by music from the 1980s. The song contains elements of acid house and new wave music. Lyrically, it follows suit with many of Sia’s previous releases in that it is about sexual liberation and joy. Music critics were largely positive in their reviews of “Cheap Thrills”, with many complimenting its catchiness and production.
“No” by Meghan Trainor
“No” is a song recorded by American singer Meghan Trainor for her third major label studio album, Thank You (2016). Co-written by Trainor and Jacob Kasher Hindlin alongside its producer Ricky Reed, it heavily samples the horn arrangement from “Working Day and Night” by Michael Jackson. Musically, “No” is an uptempo doo-wop and R&B song. Lyrically, it is a self-empowerment anthem where Trainor tells her lover that she knows what she wants and she will not put up with his games.
Best Pop Albums of 2016
It’s been a great year for pop music, with many artists releasing catchy and innovative albums. In this list, we’ll take a look at some of the best pop albums of 2016. From Adele’s long-awaited return to Justin Bieber’s redemption story, these albums have something for everyone.
“25” by Adele
25 is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Adele. It was released on 20 November 2015, through XL Recordings. Following international success of her second studio album 21 (2011), Adele considered quitting the music industry and going out on a positive note. However, she decided to take a hiatus instead and raise her son. During her sabbatical, she suffered writer’s block and rescheduled several recording sessions with various producers, eventually making progress with producer Greg Kurstin. Recording sessions for 25 took place between 2013 and 2015 and lasted over two years; they were marked by personal strugglesAdele underwent during pregnancy and after the birth of her son which disrupted the production schedule.
The album’s lyrical content is based on Adele’s personal life and addresses themes such as the end of a relationship, motherhood, and self-reflection. Upon release, 25 was widely acclaimed by music critics, who commended Adele’s vocal performance as well as its production. Music critics noted that it carefully explored different musical styles including soul, pop, rock and gospel while maintaining cohesiveness throughout its diverse musical landscape; many critics dubbed 25 as musically diverse as 21 but with more maturity. The album debuted at number one in several countries including the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada; it sold 800,000 copies in its first week in the United Kingdom alone–the highest first week sales by a female artist in UK chart history–and becoming Adele’s second consecutive number-one album there. In the United States, 25 sold 3.38 million copies in its first week–the largest single-week sales for an album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991–and became Adele’s fourth consecutive number-one album there. It also set various streaming records; 25 was streamed over 78 million times on Spotify in its first week world-wide–the highest one-week streaming total for an album ever–and was streamed 91 million times on Vevo during its first week of release–the most ever for an album in one week on the service
“Lemonade” by Beyonce
Witch house music has been on the rise the past few years, and Beyonce’s “Lemonade” offers a beautifully clean pop album that stands out in 2016. Blending themes of love and loss with an up-tempo R&B sound, “Lemonade” is an excellent choice for pop music lovers who are looking for something a little different.
“A Head Full of Dreams” by Coldplay
A Head Full of Dreams is the seventh studio album by British rock band Coldplay. It was released on 4 December 2015, by Parlophone in the United Kingdom, and by Atlantic Records in the United States. The album was produced by Rik Simpson and Stargate. It is notable for its extensive use of guest artists, including Beyoncé, Noel Gallagher, Tove Lo, and Danger Mouse. It was acclaimed by music critics upon release.
Commercially, A Head Full of Dreams debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 402,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. It became the fifth best-selling album worldwide of 2015 with over 8 million copies sold. “Adventure of a Lifetime” and “Hymn for the Weekend” reached top 10 of the UK Singles Chart; “Up&Up” peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2016. At the 2016 Brit Awards, Coldplay received three nominations: British Group, British Album of the Year for A Head Full of Dreams andBritish Artist Video of the Year for “Adventure of a Lifetime”.
“Purpose” by Justin Bieber
This album was Purpose by Justin Bieber. It was released in 2015 and it is a pop album. The album was very successful and it won many awards. It is one of the best pop albums of 2016.
“Views” by Drake
Drake’s “Views” was one of the most popular albums of 2016. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA. The album features the hit singles “Hotline Bling” and “One Dance”, which both topped the Billboard Hot 100.
Conclusion
After listening to and analyzing an overwhelming amount of pop music this year, we’ve compiled a list of what we believe to be the best of 2016. This music is fun, catchy, and most importantly, clean. You can feel good about listening to any of these songs without worrying about explicit lyrics or offensive content. We hope you enjoy our picks for the best clean pop music of 2016!
