Pop Music Playlist: The Best Songs of the Year
Keep up with the latest and greatest pop hits of the year with our ultimate playlist. From chart-toppers to underground anthems, we’ve got all the bases covered.
Introduction
We’ve collected the best songs of the year so far, including hits from Kacey Musgraves, Janelle Monáe, Ariana Grande, and more. Whether you’re looking for a new favorite or just want to be up on the latest trends, this is the playlist for you.
Best Pop Songs of the Year
It’s been a great year for pop music! We’ve seen a lot of new artists breakout and some old favorites return with new music. Here’s a list of our favorite pop songs of the year.
“Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande
“Thank U, Next” is a song recorded by American singer Ariana Grande. The song was released on November 3, 2018, as the lead single from Grande’s fifth studio album of the same name (2019). The song debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Grande’s first number-one single in the United States. Internationally, “Thank U, Next” peaked atop the charts in Australia and New Zealand, and reached the top five in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Malaysia, Portugal, Scotland and United Kingdom.
Grande has cited several influences for “Thank U, Next”, including her ex-boyfriends Big Sean and Ricky Alvarez. The song is an empowerment anthem about Grande moving on from her past relationships. music critics praised “Thank U, Next” for its maturity and positive message. Time magazine named it one of the best songs of 2018 and Grande received several awards for it; she became the first artist in history to receive three nominations in one night at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
At five minutes and eight seconds long,”Thank U, Next” is one of Ariana Grande’s longest songs to date. The song samples “My Favorite Things” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1959 musical The Sound of Music; this was done without permission or license from the composers’ estates or publisher. In 2019, a federal judge ruled that this use was unauthorized but determined that it constituted fair use under copyright law; both parties appealed this ruling.
“No Tears Left to Cry” by Ariana Grande
“No Tears Left to Cry” is a song by American singer Ariana Grande. It was released on April 20, 2018, as the lead single from her upcoming fourth studio album, Sweetener. Grande co-wrote the song with Savan Kotecha, Peter Svensson and its producers Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh. “No Tears Left to Cry” is a trap-influenced pop and R&B song that features a synth bassline, house-inspired percussion and celestial pads. The lyrics are about overcoming difficult times and finding happiness.
Critics praised the song’s production and Grande’s vocal performance. It debuted at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Grande’s eleventh top ten single in the country. In doing so, she tied Mariah Carey for the most top ten entries among women of all time; both artists have achieved eleven top ten songs each. “No Tears Left to Cry” also peaked atop the charts in seven other countries: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal and Scotland. The song’s music video was directed by Dave Meyers and premiered on YouTube on April 27, 2018. It features Grande dancing in various locations in New York City including inside a subway car.
“Havana” by Camila Cabello
“Havana” is a song recorded by Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello, featuring vocals from American rapper Young Thug. It was released on August 3, 2017, as the lead single from her eponymous debut studio album. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also reached the top 10 in nearly 20 countries including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Cabello’s native country of Cuba.
“One Kiss” by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa
“One Kiss” is a song by Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris, featuring vocals from English singer Dua Lipa. It was released on 6 April 2018 as the second single from Harris’ sixth studio album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 (2017). The song topped the UK Singles Chart and became Harris’ and Lipa’s first number-one single in the UK as solo artists. Worldwide, it peaked within the top ten of several national record charts, including Australia, Canada, France and the United States.
“No Tears Left to Cry” by Ariana Grande
“No Tears Left to Cry” is a song by American singer Ariana Grande. The song was released on April 20, 2018, as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Sweetener (2018). It was written by Grande, Savan Kotecha, Peter Svensson and its producers Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh. “No Tears Left to Cry” is a dance-pop and disco song with house and R&B influences. Grande described the song as representing “sunny vibes”.
The song received positive reviews from music critics, with many complimenting its catchiness and production. Grande has performed the song on several occasions, most notably at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Commercially, the single debuted at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving Grande her tenth top-ten entry in the country. Internationally, it topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand and Scotland, while reaching number two in Canada and number three in the United Kingdom.
“All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow
“All I Wanna Do” is a song co-written and performed by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. It was released in September 1994 as the lead single from her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club. The song is Crow’s most successful single to date, having reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one in Australia and Canada. The lyrics of the song are based on a series of ads for Virgin Atlantic Airways, which featured actress Lynda Carter.
The song was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 37th Grammy Awards. It won Best Rock Song and was also nominated for Song of the Year. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 80 on its list “150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years”. In October 2013, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 34 on its list of “The 100 Greatest Hooks of All Time”.
Best Pop Albums of the Year
There were a lot of great pop albums released this year. Here are some of the best ones.
“Sweetener” by Ariana Grande
Grande’s fourth studio album and first since the death of her former boyfriend, “Sweetener” is a return to form for the singer. The album is a mix of pop, R&B, and trap, with production from Hit-Boy, Pharrell Williams, Max Martin, and others. The result is a collection of songs that are both catchy and emotional, with Grande’s vocal performance at the forefront. “Sweetener” is one of the best pop albums of the year.
“Camila” by Camila Cabello
Camila Cabello’s self-titled debut album is one of the best pop albums of 2018. The album features the hit singles “Havana” and “Never Be the Same”, both of which topped the charts in multiple countries. “Havana” was also nominated for two Grammy Awards.
“Beach House 3” by Ty Dolla $ign
Ty Dolla $ign’s “Beach House 3” is one of the best pop albums of the year. Featuring guest appearances from Motown legends like Stevie Wonder, America’s current reigning pop queen Lana Del Rey, and Ty himself, the album is a summertime soundtrack that’s fun, frothy, and just a little bit naughty.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed our playlist of the best pop songs of the year! We’ll be back next year with another great selection of tunes to keep you dancing all night long. Thanks for listening!
