The Top Pop Songs of 2014
Contents
A look at the top pop songs of 2014, including hits from artists like Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and John Legend.
Introduction
The Top Pop Songs of 2014 was a year of big comebacks and exciting new beginnings. We saw the return of Eminem, Beyoncé, and Foo Fighters after long hiatuses, and the rise of new superstars like Sam Smith and Iggy Azalea.
These are the 100 most popular songs of 2014, as ranked by Billboard magazine.
The Top Pop Songs of 2014
It’s been an amazing year for pop music, with so many great artists releasing catchy and moving songs. From Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” to Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me,” there were plenty of hits to choose from. Here are our picks for the top pop songs of 2014.
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
“Happy” is a song recorded by American singer Pharrell Williams as the lead single from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack album. It was first released on November 21, 2013, alongside a long-awaited announcement that Williams had signed to Columbia Records. The song was re-released worldwide on January 27, 2014. “Happy” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Williams’ fourth and Columbia’s second number-one single in the United States after Britney Spears’ “Womanizer”. In April 2014, it was announced that “Happy” would be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
“Happy” has achieved commercial success worldwide, reaching number one in more than 20 countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom. The song has also been covered by many artists including Annie Lennox, Celine Dion and Kylie Minogue.
“All of Me” – John Legend
“All of Me” is a song by American recording artist John Legend from his fourth studio album Love in the Future (2013). It is dedicated to Legend’s wife Chrissy Teigen. “All of Me” first hit the airwaves on August 12, 2013, on the urban adult contemporary radio station WQHT in New York City. The song has since peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Legend’s first number-one single in the United States. As of 2014, “All of Me” has sold approximately three million copies in the United States.
“Let It Go” – Idina Menzel
“Let It Go” is a song from Disney’s 2013 animated film Frozen, with music and lyrics composed by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The song was performed in its original show-tune version in the film by American actress and singer Idina Menzel in her vocal role as Queen Elsa. Menzel’s version was released as a single to radio on January 26, 2014, which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it the film’s highest-charting single. An accompanying music video was directed by Dave Meyers. The song gained international recognition, becoming one of the most globally recorded Disney songs, with versions sung in 25 different languages.
“Stay with Me” – Sam Smith
With its gospel-influenced chorus and admissions of doubt and fear, “Stay With Me” struck a chord with many listeners this year. The song has a classic sound that belies its young authors – in addition to Smith, it was co-written by country star Justin Parker and Swedish pop producer clams casino. The result is a soulful pop ballad that recalls artists like Otis Redding and Ben E. King.
“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). Premiere on August 18, 2014, the song is the album’s lead single. Written by Swift, Max Martin and Shellback, “Shake It Off” is an uptempo dance-pop track considered to be a departure from Swift’s earlier country pop music style. Its lyrics describe Swift’s success despite facing haters throughout her career.
Commercially, “Shake It Off” became Swift’s sixth single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, while also becoming her 18th single to enter within the top ten. The single also topped charts in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. A music video directed by Mark Romanek was released on August 18, 2014. The video featured cameos from numerous celebrities and notable figures, including Jessie J, Sean O’Pry, Cara Delevingne and Karlie Kloss as well as animals commonly associated with negative stereotypes of each zodiac sign. The video received mixed reviews from critics who criticized its superfluous nature but praised its overall production and humorous elements.
Conclusion
As the year comes to a close, we take a look back at the top pop songs of 2014. These are the songs that dominated the charts, our playlists, and our lives.
From Pharrell’s “Happy” to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off,” these are the songs that defined 2014. So crank up the volume, and enjoy a trip down memory lane with the top pop songs of the year.
