The Best Pop Music of 2019

A look at the best pop music of 2019. These are the songs that dominated the charts, had everyone dancing, and are sure to be remembered for years to come.

Billie Eilish- “bad guy”

“Bad guy” is a song by American singer Billie Eilish. It was released as the lead single from her debut studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). The song was written by Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, with the latter producing it. “Bad guy” is an electronica and synth-pop song with elements of trap; its lyrics discuss being a “bad guy” in a relationship.

Commercially, the song peaked atop the charts of 16 countries, including the US Billboard Hot 100, where it became Eilish’s first number-one single. In the US, it also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Dance Club Songs charts and became the first song to concurrently hold all three positions since Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” (2016). “Bad guy” received generally favorable reviews from critics who praised its production and catchiness.

At the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, “Bad guy” won four awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year (becoming Eilish’s first), Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (for When We All Fall Asleep). The song also won three American Music Awards for Favorite Song – Pop/Rock, Favorite Artist – Pop/Rock in both 2019 and 2020; as well as a 2020 MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing. Globally, it was ranked as one of the best-performing songs of 2019 and has since been certified multi-platinum in 14 countries. The song’s music video was directed by Dave Meyers and premiered on YouTube in March 2019; it features Eilish playing various characters in surreal settings. To promote “bad guy”, she performed it on several talk shows and award ceremonies including Saturday Night Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and at Lollapalooza Festival in Brazil; among others.

Lil Nas X- “Old Town Road”

“Old Town Road” by American rapper Lil Nas X was the longest-running hip hop single ever. The song, which was originally released independently in December 2018, became a sleeper hit and went viral on social media in March 2019. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 2019, and remained there for nineteen weeks, breaking the record for the most weeks at number one for a hip hop song.

Ariana Grande- “7 rings”

“7 rings” is a song by American singer Ariana Grande. It was released on January 18, 2019, through Republic Records as the lead single from her fifth studio album, Thank U, Next (2019). The song was written by Grande, Kaydence, Charles Anderson, Michael Foster and Nija Charles, with production handled by the latter two. “7 rings” is a trap-pop and R&B song with alength of two minutes and fifty-five seconds. The lyrics center around Grande’s newfound wealth following her breakup with her former fiancé, comedian Pete Davidson.

The single debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving Grande her second chart-topping song in less than six months. “7 rings” also became Grande’s first number-one song on the Rhythmic Songs airplay chart. Internationally, the track reached number one in thirteen countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. “7 rings” has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and three times platinum by Music Canada.

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper- “Shallow”

“Shallow” is a song performed by American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga and American actor and filmmaker Bradley Cooper. It was released as a single from the soundtrack album of the 2018 film A Star Is Born. The song was written by Gaga, Cooper, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando, and Mark Ronson, and produced by Gaga with Benjamin Rice. “Shallow” is a power ballad that talks about the mutually beneficial romance between a man and a woman.

The song received critical acclaim, with many critics calling it one of the best songs on the soundtrack album. It received several awards and nominations, including an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Halsey- “Without Me”

Halsey’s “Without Me” was one of the best pop songs of 2019. The song is about a toxic relationship and it resonated with many listeners. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and it was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Khalid- “Talk”

Khalid’s career has been on an upward trajectory ever since the release of his debut album “American Teen” in 2017. The lead single “Talk” is a perfect example of Khalid’s genre-bending sound, with its hypnotic production and airy vocals. The song quickly rose to the top of the charts, cementing Khalid as one of the most promising new artists in pop music.

Post Malone and Swae Lee- “Sunflower”

Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” is a track from the soundtrack of the film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 61st Grammy Awards.

Lizzo- “Truth Hurts”

“Truth Hurts” is a song recorded by American singer Lizzo. It was released on September 19, 2017, as the lead single from her third studio album, Cuz I Love You (2019). The song was written by Lizzo, Ricky Reed, and Telemitry, with Reed producing the track. Musically, “Truth Hurts” is a R&B song with elements of pop and hip hop. In the lyrics, Lizzo sings about how she finally found success after years of toil and hardship.

The song was a commercial success, reaching number one in Australia, Canada and the United States. In the US, it became Lizzo’s first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was also nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of the Year at the 62nd Grammy Awards. The accompanying music video for “Truth Hurts” was directed by Jesse Hill and features Lizzo looking fabulous in a number of different outfits while lip syncing to the song’s empowering lyrics.

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello- “Señorita”

“Señorita” is a song by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello. It was released on June 21, 2019, as the lead single from Mendes’ self-titled fourth studio album. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became both Mendes and Cabello’s second number-one single as solo artists.

Lil Tecca- “Ransom”

Lil Tecca’s “Ransom” was one of the breakout hits of 2019. The track, which was produced by Nick Mira, Dee Nasty, and Taz Taylor, found major success on streaming platforms and quickly went viral. The song’s success can be attributed to its catchy hook and easy-to-sing lyrics.