5 Contemporary Pop Songs You Must Hear
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Here are 5 contemporary pop songs you must hear this summer! These songs will get you moving and grooving, and they’re perfect for any party or barbecue.
“The Middle” by Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey
If you’re looking for a feel-good, dance-inducing pop song, look no further than “The Middle.” Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey’s collaboration is an instant classic, with a thumping beat and an addicting melody. The song has been stuck in my head for weeks, and I have no complaints.
“Havana” by Camila Cabello, Young Thug, and Pharrell
“Havana” is a song by Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello, featuring vocals from American rapper Young Thug. It was released on August 3, 2017, as the lead single from her debut studio album, The Hurting. The Healing. The Loving.
The song was written by Cabello, Starrah, Brian Lee, Johnny McDaid, Pharrell Williams, and Ashley Arrison, with production handled by Williams and Lee under their production alias The Neptunes. A Latin pop and R&B track, its instrumentation consists of horns, percussion and a synth line. Lyrically, it chronicles a young Cabello’s forbidden love affair with a much older man.
Upon its release, “Havana” received generally positive reviews from music critics; many praised its production while others called it a summer anthem. Commercially, the song topped the charts in various countries including Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia and the United Kingdom; it also peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 – becoming her highest-charting single in the country as a solo artist – and at number one on both the US Mainstream Top 40 and US Latin Airplay airplay charts. It also topped the US Latin songs chart for fifteen consecutive weeks.
An accompanying music video was released on October 24, 2017. Directed by Alan Ferguson, it features Cabello wandering around Old Havana while interacting with locals.
“All the Stars” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA
“All the Stars” is a song by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, released on January 4, 2018, as the lead single from the soundtrack album for the film Black Panther. Written by Lamar, SZA, Mark Spears, Anthony Tiffith and Al Shuckburgh, and produced by Lamar and SZA with additional production by Spears, “All the Stars” is a trap and R&B song that features elements of Afrobeats. The song peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100.
“Pray for Me” by The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar
“Pray for Me” is a haunting bop about the struggles of fame and societal pressure, with an edge of hope and optimism. It’s a perfect example of the unique sound that The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar have been able to create together.
“God’s Plan” by Drake
“God’s Plan” is a song by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on January 19, 2018, as the lead single from his upcoming fifth studio album. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Drake’s sixth Billboard Hot 100 number-one single. It also debuted at number one in Canada and reached the top ten in many other countries. The song received positive reviews from music critics and won two Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.
