The Ultimate List of 2017 Pop Music Songs
Find out which songs are topping the charts this year with our ultimate list of the best pop music of 2017 so far.
Introduction
The year 2017 was one for the history books when it came to pop music. We said goodbye to some of our favorite artists, like Chester Bennington and Tom Petty, but we also welcomed a new crop of incredible talent. From Kendrick Lamar to Harry Styles, these are the artists that dominated the charts and our hearts in 2017.
Best Pop Songs of 2017
2017 was a great year for pop music. With so many new artists and great songs, it was hard to keep up. Here is a list of the best pop songs of the year, in no particular order.
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber
It would be hard to overstate the significance of Justin Bieber’s involvement in the success of Despacito. The Canadian singer, who was already hugely popular around the world, lent his vocals to a remix of the song that was released in April 2017. The remix helped propel the track to become one of the biggest hits of the year, and it remains one of the most streamed songs ever.
“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
“Shape of You” is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released as a digital download on 6 January 2017 as one of the double lead singles from his third studio album ÷ (2017), along with “Castle on the Hill”. The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number one in its first week of release. In the United States, “Shape of You” debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Sheeran his second consecutive top 10 single from ÷ and his fourth overall.
The song’s lyrics are written in conditional clauses about spending time with a significant other, with each verse describing different hypothetical scenarios that would make the narrator happy. The title and chorus refer to the physical shape of a person, mostly referring to a woman’s body.Critics lauded “Shape of You” for its subtlety compared to Sheeran’s previous single “Castle on the Hill”, while others praised its danceability and production. Several commentators made comparisons between “Shape of You” and Rodrigo Amarante’s 2016 single “Tuyo”.
“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
The Chainsmokers are an American electronic DJ and production duo consisting of Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart. They started out by making remixes of popular songs before releasing their own songs. Their debut song, “#Selfie”, went viral on social media before reaching number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. The duo’s second single, “Roses”, peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2016, they released their third single, “Don’t Let Me Down”, which featured vocals from Daya and won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. In April 2017, they released their fourth single, “Something Just Like This”. The song is a collaboration with British rock band Coldplay. It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became their first top 5 hit in the United States.
“I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” by Zayn and Taylor Swift
“I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” is a song recorded by English singer Zayn and American singer Taylor Swift for the upcoming film Fifty Shades Darker. It was released on December 9, 2016, through RCA Records and Republic Records, as the lead single from the soundtrack album to the film. The song peaked at number one in Denmark and Sweden, number two in Australia and New Zealand, number three in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and number six on the US Billboard Hot 100.
“That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars
“That’s What I Like” is a song by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars from his third studio album, 24K Magic (2016). The song was written by Mars, Philip Lawrence and Christopher Brody Brown, and produced by Mars, Lawrence and The Stereotypes. It was released to radio on February 7, 2017, as the album’s second single.
The track is an ode to the simple things in life that make Mars happy: nice clothes, good food, fine wine, fast cars and beautiful women. The verses find Mars detailing all of the above while the chorus has him celebrating how happy he is with his current situation.
With its retro sound and influences from soul music and R&B, “That’s What I Like” was praised by music critics upon its release. Commercially, the song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 – becoming Mars’ seventh overall US number-one single – as well as topping charts in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The accompanying music video was directed by Bruno Mars and Jonathan Lia, inspired by vinyl record artwork and old school videos. In it, Mars plays several characters in vignettes that take place in different time periods.
worst Pop Songs of 2017
We’ve all had those songs that get stuck in our head, and we can’t help but sing along even though we know all the words. And then there are those songs that are so catchy, we can’t help but dance along to them. But what about the songs that are neither catchy nor have good lyrics? The songs that make you cringe every time you hear them? We’re counting down the worst pop songs of 2017.
“Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift
This massively popular single from Taylor Swift’s Reputation album was the first look at the new, more politicized version of the singer. The result was a media circus and a whole lot of backlash for Swift. “Look What You Made Me Do” was panned by critics and listeners alike for its obnoxious chorus, self-righteous lyrics, and over-the-top production. It’s hard to forget just how terrible this song is, making it one of the worst pop songs of 2017.
“Swish Swish” by Katy Perry
“Swish Swish” is a song recorded by American singer Katy Perry for her fifth studio album, Witness (2017). The track was written by Perry, Duke Dumont, Sarah Hudson, PJ Wolf and Caroline Polachek, while production was handled by Dumont and Emile Haynie. It is a dance-pop and disco song with elements of Hip hop. Lyrically, “Swish Swish” serves as a diss track aimed at Perry’s longtime rival Taylor Swift.
The song received largely negative reviews from music critics. Most deemed it as unoriginal and simply a rehash of Perry’s previous material, while others called it one of the worst songs of 2017. “Swish Swish” also faced criticism for its similarities to Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do”. Commercially, the song underperformed in most regions. In the United States, it debuted at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 but eventually peaked at number 44. The track also became Perry’s 19th entry on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, reaching number 33. Internationally, “Swish Swish” reached the top 40 in Australia and New Zealand while peaking within the top 10 in Hungary and Poland.
“Moves” by Big Sean
“Moves” is a song recorded by American rapper Big Sean. It was released on April 3, 2017, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings as the third single from his fourth studio album, I Decided (2017). The song peaked at number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
“No Frauds” by Nicki Minaj
“No Frauds” is a song recorded by Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj, American rapper Lil Wayne and Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on March 10, 2017, by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records as the lead single from Minaj’s fourth studio album Queen (2018). The track was produced by Cashmere Cat, Cubeatz, Boi-1da and Allen Ritter.
“Hey Ma” by Pitbull and J Balvin
“Hey Ma” by Pitbull and J Balvin is one of the worst pop songs of 2017. The lyrics are crude and misogynistic, and the song is just generally unpleasant to listen to. It’s a shame that such a talented artist like Pitbull would stoop to such lows.
Conclusion
As we come to the end of 2017, it’s time to look back at the year in pop music. There have been some great songs released this year, from catchy earworms to heart-wrenching ballads. It’s been a great year for pop music, and these are our favorite songs of the year.
Thank you for reading! We hope you enjoyed our list of the best pop songs of 2017. What are your favorite pop songs of the year? Let us know in the comments below!
