Pop Music of 2014

A look at the top pop songs of 2014 and their place in popular culture.

Introduction

The year 2014 in music involved some significant events.

The Year in Review

The year 2014 was an eventful one for pop music. We saw the rise of new artists like Iggy Azalea and Sam Smith, the return of established superstars like Beyonce and Justin Timberlake, and the continued domination of acts like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. It was a year of surprise collaborations, unexpected comebacks, and refreshing new sounds.

Here’s a look back at some of the biggest pop music stories of 2014:

-Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, making her the first female rapper to achieve that feat in almost 20 years.
-Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” was the breakthrough hit of the year, propelling him to Grammy glory in 2015.
-Beyonce shocked the world with the release of her self-titled “visual album” in December 2013, but its impact was felt throughout 2014 as well. The album’s lead single, “Drunk in Love,” was a smash hit, while Beyonce’s performances at the Grammy Awards and MTV Video Music Awards were among the year’s most talked-about moments.
-After a four-year break, Justin Timberlake made his highly anticipated return to music in 2013 with The 20/20 Experience. The second half of that album was released in 2014, along with its lead single, “Not a Bad Thing.” Timberlake also starred in two successful movies this year, Inside Llewyn Davis and Trouble with the Curve.
-Taylor Swift continued her domination of the pop landscape with her fifth studio album, 1989. The record spawned several hit singles, including “Shake It Off,” which spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Swift also made headlines this year with her high-profile relationships (and breakups) with Harry Styles and Calvin Harris.
-Katy Perry had another massive year in 2014 thanks to her Prismatic World Tour and hits like “Dark Horse” (featuring Juicy J) and “Birthday.” She also found time to make appearances on Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live, cementing her status as one of today’s most popular entertainers.

The Best of 2014

As we say goodbye to 2014, we take a look back at the year in pop music. It was a big year for comebacks, with artists like Beyonce, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga all releasing new albums. We also saw some fresh faces on the charts, like Iggy Azalea and Sam Smith. And, of course, there were plenty of great songs to dance to all year long.

Here are our picks for the best pop songs of 2014:

“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
“All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
“Fancy” – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
“All of Me” – John Legend

The Worst of 2014

This was a banner year for great pop music, but it was also a banner year for terrible, soul-crushingly bad pop music. For every Pharrell or Beyonce there was a Nickelback or Florida Georgia Line (or, god forbid, both). Here are the 10 worst offenders.

1. Nickelback – “Edge of a Revolution”
2. Florida Georgia Line – “Anything Goes”
3. Imagine Dragons – “I Bet My Life”
4. Coldplay – “A Sky Full of Stars”
5. One Direction – “Night Changes”
6. Katy Perry – “Dark Horse”
7. Ariana Grande – “Problem”
8. Maroon 5 – “Animals”
9. The chainsmokers – “#SELFIE”
10. Iggy Azalea – “Fancy”

Conclusion

Looking back on 2014, the music industry continued to be in a state of flux. Artists and bands struggled to find new ways to reach fans, and digital sales continued to decline as streaming services became more popular. Despite all of this, there were still some great pop songs released this year. Here are our picks for the best pop songs of 2014.

“All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
“Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift
“Problem” by Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea
“Happy” by Pharrell Williams