The Best Pop Music on YouTube in 2016
A list of the best pop music on YouTube in 2016.
Best Pop Songs of 2016
YouTube became a sensation in the early 2000s with the likes of Justin Bieber, Rebecca Black, and Psy becoming viral sensations overnight. In the years since, YouTube has only become more popular, with a wider range of content and creators. In 2016, there was a little bit of everything on YouTube, and the pop music scene was no different. Here are some of the best pop songs of 2016, according to YouTube.
“Work” by Rihanna
“Work” is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her eighth studio album, Anti (2016). The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna’s fourteenth and Drake’s second number-one single on the chart. It also reached number one in Canada and number two in the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. The music video for the song was directed by Tim Erem. “Work” is a dancehall-influenced R&B song with a moderate groove and undertones. Lyrically, it features explicit references to sexual intercourse and hedonism.
The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its dancehall style and overall production. With “Work”, Rihanna became the artist with the highest number of cumulative weeks at number one on the Hot 100 chart. It has also been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and double platinum by Music Canada. Commercially, “Work” topped multiple Spotify streaming charts around the world upon its release and peaked atop US Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart five weeks after its release date, making it her 25th radio hit single in America. The song has also attained top ten positions on various other Billboard charts including Adult Contemporary, Rhythmic Songs, Dance Club Songs as well as peaking at number two on Digital Songs saleschart dated February 27, 2016 making it her 31st digital hit in United States; while peaking atop both US pop radio airplay charts dated February 9–16 becoming her fourth Pop airplay hit in America after 2009’s “Run This Town”.
“Formation” by Beyoncé
“Formation” is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). The song was written by Beyoncé, Khalif Brown, Mike Will Made It, and Pluss. It was produced by Mike Will Made It, Pluss, and Beyoncé. A trap song with elements of southern hip hop and crunk music, “Formation” features a sample of the horn section from the song “Mystery of Iniquity” by New Orleans-based hip hop group Outkast. Lyrically, it touches on African-American pride.
The single debuted at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart before ultimately peaking at number 10; it also became Beyoncé’s first UK top 40 hit as a lead artist in eight years. “Formation” won two Grammy Awards for Best Music Video and Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 59th ceremony. The song’s music video was directed by Melina Matsoukas and shot in New Orleans in February 2016 after the city’s annual Mardi Gras celebration. Released shortly after Beyoncé’s Super Bowl 50 halftime show performance, the video caused controversy due to its use of imagery referencing the 2015 mass shooting of African Americans in Charleston, South Carolina; a police officer’s killing of an unarmed black man in Frankfurt, Kentucky; and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
“No” by Meghan Trainor
“No” is a catchy, fun, upbeat pop song by new artist Meghan Trainor. The song’s simple message of self-confidence and empowerment is delivered in a way that is both relatable and catchy, making it an instant favorite among pop fans. The music video for “No” features Trainor and her friends dancing and enjoying themselves, sending a strong message that women can have fun and be themselves without worry about what others think.
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake for the soundtrack to the film Trolls (2016), released as the lead single from the soundtrack on May 6, 2016. The song was written and produced by Timberlake, Max Martin, and Shellback. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is an uptempo disco-pop[4][5] and R&B song with elements of funk.[6][7] It won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
The music video for “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” premiered on YouTube on May 24, 2016, and features Timberlake dancing in various settings including a parking lot and walking down city streets with passersby joining in. The video has been viewed over 1.3 billion times on YouTube as of April 2020.
“Adventure of a Lifetime” by Coldplay
Coldplay released “Adventure of a Lifetime” on November 6, 2015, as the lead single from their seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams (2015). The song was written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin, and produced by Rik Simpson and Stargate. Coldplay received nominations for Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
“Adventure of a Lifetime” is a psychedelic pop song with elements of dance-rock. The song is built aroundChampman’s reverberating electric guitar riff which carries throughout the entire track heralding a return to the band’s more anthemic sound following their experimentation on Mylo Xyloto (2011). Lyrically, it features Martin singing about how life is an adventure. He compared it to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) and mused that everyone has dreams which they want to achieve in their lifetimes.
Best Pop Music Videos of 2016
There’s no doubt that 2016 was a huge year for pop music. We saw the return of some of our favorite artists, as well as the emergence of some new stars. Youtube was flooded with amazing pop music videos this year, and it was tough to narrow it down to just a few. But we did it! Here are our picks for the best pop music videos of 2016.
“Work” by Rihanna
This video has everything you could want in a pop music video. There’s Rihanna looking gorgeous, dancing her heart out, and surrounded by a bevy of shirtless hunks. The video is sexy, funny, and empowering all at the same time. It’s no wonder that it was one of the most viewed videos on YouTube in 2016.
“Formation” by Beyoncé
Beyoncé’s “Formation” is one of the best pop music videos of 2016. The video was released on February 6, 2016, and has since amassed over 73 million views on YouTube. “Formation” is a politically charged song that speaks to the Black Lives Matter movement, and the video features Beyoncé paying tribute to the city of New Orleans. The visuals are stunning, andBeyoncé’s performance is flawless.
“No” by Meghan Trainor
The song starts with a close up on Trainor’s face as she starts singing the first verse. The video then cuts to a scene of her walking down a hallway in a high school, interspersed with shots of her and her friends dancing in a gymnasium. The second verse sees Trainor sitting on bleachers in the gymnasium, surrounded by her friends. As the chorus comes in, the video features footage of Trainor and her friends dancing in slow motion, as well as shots of them driving in a convertible. The video ends with Trainor and her friends spraying each other with water from fire hoses.
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
The video for “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” was directed by Mark Romanek and features Timberlake dancing through various settings, including a grocery store, a barber shop, and a construction site. The video has amassed over 375 million views on YouTube since its release in May 2016.
“Adventure of a Lifetime” by Coldplay
“Adventure of a Lifetime” is a song by British rock band Coldplay. It was released on 6 November 2015 as the lead single from their seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams (2015). The song was written by all four members of the band for the album. “Adventure of a Lifetime” is an electronic dance track that contains influences of 1980s music. The song’s music video was directed by Matt Whitecross and premiered on YouTube on 29 November 2015. It won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
