The Best Pop Music of 2016
Contents
A look at the best pop music of 2016.
Introduction
The best pop music of 2016 was a varied and robust genre that included chart-toppers, boundary breakers, and comeback queens. It was a year when artists took risks and paid off, whether it was by experimenting with new sounds or by embracing their old ones.
From Beyonce to Bieber, these are the 10 best pop songs of 2016.
Best Pop Songs of 2016
It’s been a great year for pop music, with a wide variety of catchy, innovative songs topping the charts. In this article, we’ll count down the best pop songs of 2016, including hits from Justin Bieber, Adele, and Sia.
“Formation” by Beyoncé
“Formation” is a song by American singer Beyoncé, released as the lead single from her sixth studio album Lemonade (2016). The song was written by Beyoncé, Mike Will Made It, and Asheton Hogan, and produced by Beyoncé and Mike Will Made It. A southern rap-gospel trap track, “Formation” features a heavy bass line and synth horns. The song’s music video was released on the same day as the single and was directed by Melina Matsoukas. “Formation” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Beyoncé’s tenth solo number-one single on the chart. Globally, it became her sixth number-one single as a lead artist.
“Work” by Rihanna
“Work” is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her eighth studio album, Anti (2016). The song was released as the lead single from the album on January 27, 2016. “Work” is a dancehall and minimalist R&B song with an interpolation of the Montell Jordan song “This Is How We Do It”. Lyrically, the song finds Rihanna talking about having a good time with her friends over a bouncy reggae beat.
Critics praised “Work” for its catchy music and club-ready sound. The song became Rihanna’s 14th number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving her the record for most number-one singles by a female artist. “Work” topped the charts in several other countries including Canada, France and Spain. The song has been certified multi-platinum in several countries, including the US, Australia and Canada.
An accompanying music video for the song was shot in Toronto by Director X and released on February 22, 2016. The video features Rihanna and her friends dancing in various colorful costumes at different locations around the city.
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
Timberlake’s comeback single “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” was released in May 2016, and debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Timberlake’s fifth number-one single on the chart. The lead single from the DreamWorks Animation film Trolls, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” was sent to radio on February 12, 2016. The song was written and produced by Timberlake, Max Martin and Shellback, with additional writing from Ali Payami. A departure from Timberlake’s R&B-oriented albums FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006) and The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 (2013), “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is a disco and funk-influenced track that speaks of self-empowerment. Upon release, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” received mixed reviews from music critics; some complimented its infectiously positive sound while others dismissed it as generic.
Best Pop Albums of 2016
This was a great year for pop music with a lot of amazing albums being released. Here is a list of the best pop albums of 2016.
“Lemonade” by Beyoncé
Released in 2016, “Lemonade” is the sixth studio album by American singer Beyoncé. The album was nominated for nine Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and won Best Urban Contemporary Album. “Lemonade” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 653,000 copies in its first week.
“ANTI” by Rihanna
“ANTI” is the eighth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on January 28, 2016, through Westbury Road and Roc Nation. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2014 to 2015 and it was mostly produced by Boi-1da, Frank Dukes, Timbaland, No I.D. and Deputy. This is Rihanna’s first album to feature production from her frequent collaborators Jeff Bhasker andglass John. “Work”, featuring Canadian rapper Drake, was released as the lead single from “ANTI” on January 27, 2016, along with its promotional single, “Consideration”, featuring SZA. The second US single is “Needed Me”.
“Purpose” by Justin Bieber
“Purpose” is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released on November 13, 2015, by Def Jam Recordings and School Boy Records. The album features guest appearances from Big Sean, Travis Scott, Nas, Skrillex and Halsey. “Purpose” was supported by five singles: “What Do You Mean?”, “Sorry”, “Love Yourself”, “Company” and “No Pressure”.
Conclusion
After much discussion and debate, we have come to our conclusion regarding the best pop music of 2016. It was a tough year, with a lot of great music being released, but there can only be one winner. And the winner is…
*drumroll please*
Adele with her album “25”!
There you have it, the best pop music of 2016 according to us. Do you agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below!
