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Post by Jason on Jan 12, 2020 15:30:51 GMT -5
Some might disagree, but I think the 2010s, as a decade, were full of great music. There. I said it! I've decided to post the 100 songs that I liked the best. Notice I'm not calling this my Top 100 songs. After my most unfortunate computer crash in 2014, I lost all of my compiled year end chart spreadsheets with point values from the early part of the decade. While, thanks to help from Bryan about five and a half years ago, I was able to recover a majority of my old chart records, I decided to forgo the tedium of adding up week by week point totals from my past charts in order to create an official Top Songs of the 2010s list. Instead, based on personal opinion only - no concrete chart data used - I put together a list of my favorite songs from the decade. And, because I'm too lazy to come up with an original concept to reveal these songs, I'm going to use the same format Vic is using to reveal his favorite songs of the decade. Yes. I'm a copycat.
Without further delay, let's get to it!
100. Mariah Carey featuring Wale YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO (2014)
Mariah Carey's only entry on the list is pure Disco-Funk perfection and was easily the most engaging, if not the best, song she'd released since 2008.
99. Gin Wigmore MAN LIKE THAT (2013)
Admittedly, I discovered this song after it was used as music in the background on a now-canceled Reality TV show that I watched at the time. But, I really liked this sassy entry from gravel-voiced New Zealand singer/songwriter, Gin Wigmore.
98. David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj TURN ME ON (2012)
This catchy entry from David Guetta's landmark EDM/Pop album, Nothing But The Beat, really stuck with me through the years. Plus, the inclusion of rapper, Nicki Minaj, on vocals was inspired. Yes, her voice was probably heavily autotuned. But, that didn't matter to me.
97. Adele SOMEONE LIKE YOU (2011)
No one was more adept in the 2010s at turning their personal pain into platinum album and singles sales than Adele. This heartbreaking song - one of many of the same album inspired by the same breakup - perfectly exemplifies that.
96. Post Malone I FALL APART (2017)
Talk about personal pain translating into platinum sales. This was one of the many singles released from Post Malone's debut album, Stoney. Such a raw and emotional song!
95. Pitbull featuring Kesha TIMBER (2014)
Pitbull's attempt at Folktronica was a delight for me when it was released as a single.
94. Nicki Minaj featuring Drake MOMENT 4 LIFE (2011)
This inspirational collaboration between Nicki Minaj and Drake, about overcoming tough circumstances and drowning out all of the haters in order to achieve success and reach your full potential was a huge anthem for me at the beginning of the decade.
93. The Script featuring Will.I.Am HALL OF FAME (2012)
Here's another inspirational song. What a cool idea to have Will.I.Am guest on the song and add a really cool vibe to an already-cool song.
92. Usher HEY DADDY (DADDY'S HOME) (2010)
A sexy and sophisticated R&B jam from Usher that had me hooked.
91. Ariana Grande NO TEARS LEFT TO CRY (2018)
This was the first release from Ariana Grande since the tragic terrorist attack outside her concert in Manchester, England and it was a signal that she was ready to get back to life and making music. A great uplifting and peppy song to remind us all that there's life after heartbreak...whatever type of heartbreak it might be.
More to come later tonight...
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Post by Jason on Jan 12, 2020 18:54:40 GMT -5
90. Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull I LIKE IT (2010)
I love a good party song. This was one of my favorites from the early part of the decade. Plus, it was nice for Enrique Iglesias to have a little comeback after a few years without a huge hit song.
89. Adele TURNING TABLES (2012)
The final single in the U.S. from Adele's huge album, 21. It wasn't the industry chart success that her previous singles were, but if forced to pick one, I'd probably say it's my favorite single from the album.
88. Kygo featuring Miguel REMIND ME TO FORGET (2018)
"I love an R&B and Dance combo" isn't a phrase that I use very often. But, this gem from Norwegian DJ, Kygo, and Soul singer/songwriter, Miguel, is one of the exceptions, for me.
87. Childish Gambino REDBONE (2017)
Performed entirely in falsetto, singer/rapper/writer/actor, Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino, has said he made "Redbone" as a tribute to Prince.
86. Beyoncé & The Dixie Chicks DADDY LESSONS (2016)
The original version of "Daddy Lessons" was on Beyoncé's Lemonade album. A well-received collaborative performance of the song with The Dixie Chicks on the CMAs in November 2016 - including a bridge that mixed in a few lines of the Chicks' 2002 hit, "Long Time Gone" - was a revelation for me.
85. Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj SIDE TO SIDE (2016)
Included on the same album as the song, "Dangerous Woman," I wouldn't call "Side To Side" our first look at Ariana Grande's sexy new image. But, it was certainly our first time hearing a song by her that was so overtly sexual. Two of my favorite female artists from the decade on this song? How could it not make the list?
84. Aloe Blacc THE MAN (2014)
Soul and Folk singer/songwriter, Aloe Blacc, had been on my radar since 2012. "The Man" got a boost shortly before its release as a single when it was used as the theme song in a popular Beats By Dre TV commercial. What a great voice!
83. Hozier TAKE ME TO CHURCH (2014)
This haunting Blue-Eyed Soul song captured my attention right away when it was released. Hozier has said he wrote "Take Me To Church" as a way to express his disappointment with the Catholic church's position on homosexuality.
82. Elle King EX'S & OH'S (2015)
How could I not like a song this sassy?
81. Chromeo JEALOUS (I AIN'T WITH IT) (2014)
I don't even remember how I first stumbled across (or was made aware of) this Disco-Funk earworm by Canadian EDM duo, Chromeo. But, what a fun song!
More to come tomorrow...
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Sam I Am
Bend a car? Pat Ben-a-tar!
Posts: 2,197
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Post by Sam I Am on Jan 13, 2020 6:11:08 GMT -5
I like all of these: 98. David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj TURN ME ON (2012) 97. Adele SOMEONE LIKE YOU (2011) 96. Post Malone I FALL APART (2017) 95. Pitbull featuring Kesha TIMBER (2014) 91. Ariana Grande NO TEARS LEFT TO CRY (2018) 90. Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull I LIKE IT (2010) 88. Kygo featuring Miguel REMIND ME TO FORGET (2018) 83. Hozier TAKE ME TO CHURCH (2014) 81. Chromeo JEALOUS (I AIN'T WITH IT) (2014) nice start!
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Post by Jason on Jan 13, 2020 14:35:47 GMT -5
80. Kelly Rowland featuring Lil' Wayne MOTIVATION (2011)I was definitely digging this change in musical direction for Kelly Rowland, who had mostly done Dance/Pop since Destiny's Child split for good in 2005. 79. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz THRIFT SHOP (2013)Originally released as the fourth single from The Heist, by rapper, Macklemore, and producer, Ryan Lewis, "Thrift Shop" was a surprise feel-good and humorous hit that I enjoyed very much. Is that your grandpa's coat? 78. Lady Gaga & Beyoncé TELEPHONE (2010)This was the first of two times in the early 2010s that these two powerhouse performers would collaborate on a song (the other was on a duet version of "Video Phone" from Beyoncé's I Am...Sasha Fierce album). I was definitely into it! 77. Khalid BETTER (2019)It's no secret that Khalid's been one of my favorite artists of the past three or four years. I liked that "Better" continued down the romantic and sexy vibe he'd started with "Love Lies" the previous year. 76. Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM (2017)Before debuting this song, Katy Perry chopped off her hair, went blonde, ditched what she called the sexy persona she'd adopted for the past nine years, and got hella angry. Why not? Many of the rest of us were hella angry right around the time this single was released, too. I connected with this one big time. 75. Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc WAKE ME UP (2013)Haven't we all, at one time or another, felt the way the lyrics of this song describe? Aloe Blacc's haunting and soulful vocals combined with the hypnotic beat were hard for me to resist. 74. The Bonfyre AUTOMATIC (2019)Most of you have probably never heard of this artist. (Although, if you've been paying attention to my personal chart as I would hope you have, you'd know that this was one of my favorite songs of the past year and a half or so.) I really like The Bonfyre's (real name: Chelsey LaRue) style and her vocals. 73. DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller WILD THOUGHTS (2017)This sexy release from DJ Khaled was released as a single just a month and a half after his other big hit from that year, "I'm The One." "Wild Thoughts" was definitely the sexier of the two songs. Khaled claimed at the time of its release that he'd been trying "for years" to get Rihanna on one of his songs. He finally offered-up the right kind of song to pique her interest. It piqued mine, too! 72. Major Lazer & DJ Snake featuring MØ LEAN ON (2015)There were no two bigger EDM acts in the mid 2010s than Major Lazer (a side project of record producer, Diplo) and DJ Snake. When their powers combined (Wonder Twin style), it was never a doubt that "Lean On" would be a hit. 71. Selena Gomez THE HEART WANTS WHAT IT WANTS (2015)This was perhaps the first time in her career as a singer that audiences got to hear an emotionally raw side of the usually-polished Selena Gomez. I was into it!
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Post by Jason on Jan 15, 2020 19:01:39 GMT -5
70. Jack Ü featuring Justin Bieber WHERE ARE Ü NOW? (2015)
Jack Ü was the collaboration of EDM artist and producer, Skrillex, and producer, Diplo. And, after a few years of having a rocky go of things personally and professionally, this song helped shepherd Justin Bieber back into the public's good graces and back into the upper reaches of the music charts. But, seriously. Why, once this song started getting marketed in the U.S., did the act's name change from Jack Ü to Skrillex & Diplo. So uptight...
69. Justin Bieber LOVE YOURSELF (2016)
Originally written by Ed Sheeran for his own album, he gave it to Justin Bieber when he decided that he wouldn't be using it himself. What a neat kiss-off song about a selfish and self-centered lover.
68. The Weeknd STARBOY (2016)
Futuristic-sounding, uptempo, yet still with touches of the trademark melancholia that was prevalent in his work in the early part of the decade before he became a worldwide star, "Starboy" marked a new phase not only in The Weeknd's career, but in his image, as well.
67. DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, & Lil' Wayne I'M THE ONE (2017)
Did this song signal that DJ Khaled was going Pop or was he bringing Pop audiences to him? It didn't matter to me either way. This earworm was a favorite. The fact that Justin Bieber was on the record sure didn't hurt chances of "I'm The One" being a Pop hit. Plus, it was nice to hear Lil' Wayne on a record again after a few years out of the spotlight due to legal wrangling with his record label, Cash Money, over his then as-yet-unreleased next studio album, which was eventually released in the fall of 2018.
66. John Newman LOVE ME AGAIN (2013)
This Blue-Eyed Soul gem from U.K. Soul singer, John Newman, might have heralded in a new star in the U.S..if Sam Smith hadn't burst onto the scene roughly half a year later and stolen his thunder. I like to think of "Love Me Again" as 'like a Sam Smith song with a Mark Ronson-esque twist to it.'
65. Beyoncé FORMATION (2016)
The lead single from her surprise and autobiographical (?) album, Lemonade, and its accompanying music video definitely got people talking. It also ushered in a new, non-mainstream-focused era for Beyoncé. The entire album - and this song, in particular - featured a less present Pop sensibility. While that may have turned a lot of casual or fairweather fans off, I appreciated the music.
64. Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige F FOR YOU (2014)
"F For You" was the follow-up single to the British EDM act's huge Sam Smith-voiced hit, "Latch." The original version featured only Disclosure on vocals. However, at around the time that this song was recorded, the duo crossed paths with Mary J. Blige, who was in the U.K., immersing herself in the Soul scene there while working on her new album at the time. They added her vocals to the song and voila! It became a song that I instantly gravitated to. I actually ended up liking it more than "Latch."
63. The Weeknd I FEEL IT COMING (2017)
Like its predecessor, "Starboy," "I Feel It Coming" was produced by Daft Punk. Listen to the lyrics closely and it's not....uh, hard....to tell what exactly "it" and "coming" are referring to. Despite (or maybe because of) how provocative that all was, I really enjoyed this one.
62. Miley Cyrus WE CAN'T STOP (2013)
For me, this song is the gold standard by which every other Miley Cyrus song released afterward must be compared. (Yes, I know "Wrecking Ball" was the more popular single from the album.) I know Miley Cyrus is a talented, thoughtful, and deep artist who is about more than just the party life espoused by this excellent single. But, it's still my favorite song she's ever released.
61. Betty Who SOMEBODY LOVES YOU (2014)
Although it was originally released earlier internationally, this Pop confection by Australian singer/songwriter, Betty Who, made its way to the U.S. in early 2014 after becoming a viral sensation in late 2013 when it was featured as the theme song to a cute video of a marriage proposal filmed at a Home Depot in Utah.
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Post by Jason on Jan 16, 2020 18:05:49 GMT -5
60. John Legend YOU & I (NOBODY IN THE WORLD) (2014)
Like "All Of Me," the single that was released directly before it, "You & I (Nobody In The World)" was co-written by John Legend (along with - among others - Dan Wilson, formerly of the 90s Pop/Rock band, Semisonic) about his new wife, model Chrissy Teigen. While this one didn't resonate as much with listeners as the former did, its message of love, acceptance, and we're all beautiful the way we are, regardless of what we may think, struck a chord with me.
59. Bruno Mars THE LAZY SONG (2011)
This ode to sloth (the act of laziness, not the character from The Goonies) was a favorite in the early part of the decade. Don't we all have days where we don't want to do absolutely anything?
58. Kanye West featuring Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, & Bon Iver MONSTER (2010)
Kanye West is both an inspirational and eternally frustrating figure. He fought to go from being a kid mixing songs in his bedroom to have a career in the music industry. He went from being a practically unknown producer to one of the most sought-after talents in the industry and then on to a successful career as a rapper in his own right. But, at the same time, his bouts of what we'll call "overzealous confidence in himself" was a turn off. Of late, his outbursts have only served to further overshadow his musical genius. However, this star-studded collaboration from late 2010 was a standout and, outside of his collaborative projects with Jay-Z, might be his most interesting song of the decade.
57. Ariana Grande THANK U, NEXT (2019)
Released very hot on the heels of her breakup with SNL comedian, Pete Davidson, "Thank U, Next" almost seemed like a calculated promotional opportunity. Whatever the case may be, this song about learning from past relationship failures and getting to know yourself better was a fun song. However, I don't think I'd ever want anyone to break up with me by saying "Thank you, next."
56. Kendrick Lamar HUMBLE (2017)
Being humble is something not enough people do. I appreciate the hell out of a song where someone is telling people to sit the *beep* down and shut up.
55. Morgan James CALL MY NAME (2014)
Prince typically didn't like it when other artists would cover, or even sample, his songs. However, when R&B and Jazz vocalist, Morgan James, covered his 2004 single, "Call My Name," he enjoyed her version so much that he gave her permission to put it on her album. Her voice is beautiful and it's easy to see why Prince liked her cover.
54. Diddy-Dirty Money featuring Skylar Grey COMING HOME (2011)
When one has spent the bulk of his career flaunting his wealth and success, parading around in sunglasses and shiny suits, making elaborate and expensive music videos, and bragging on his songs, the last thing you'd expect is for that person to release an emotional song that serves as both a self-indictment and self-defense of his own life. But that's exactly what Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs did in 2011. He cleverly built each verse around call outs to Smokey Robinson & The Miracles' "Tears Of A Clown," Dionne Warwick's "A House Is Not A Home" (popularized again later on by Luther Vandross), McFadden & Whitehead's "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now." And I loved it. If I listen to it when I'm in the right mood, "Coming Home" can sometimes even evoke a tear or two.
53. Bastille POMPEII (2014)
This song combines two of my great loves: yodeling and choral sing alongs! Okay, not really. lol! But, as someone who loves history, I had an appreciation of using the destruction of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii at the hands of the erupting Mt. Vesuvius as symbolism for trying to get through your own life - or relationship - feeling like it's crumbling down in front of your own eyes, or maybe already in ruin.
52. Alicia Keys HOLY WAR (2016)
Although this song wasn't officially released as a single fron Alicia Keys' late 2016 album, I was very moved by seeing her perform it live on TV in mid-November that year. It's a powerful song of reaching out with love, acceptance, understanding, and curious interest instead of judgement and hate.
51. Sade SOLDIER OF LOVE (2010)
If the British Jazz band named after its lead vocalist, Sade Adu, keeps to the album release cycle its followed for the past 30+ years, they should be releasing their next album sometime within the next couple years. This brooding and subtly fiery anthem of not giving up on love despite many failures in that arena is something so many of us could take to heart. I love Sade's music and this was one of their best.
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Post by Jason on Jan 17, 2020 21:55:06 GMT -5
It's Top 50 time!!!
50. Kendrick Lamar featuring Sza ALL THE STARS (2018)
This cool song from the Black Panther soundtrack was one that had my interest in the spring and summer of 2018.
49. Bruno Mars IT WILL RAIN (2012)
Another of several Bruno Mars songs on this list, this soulful ballad about star-crossed love, the struggles of keeping a relationship together, and loved ones who disapprove of the relationship was from the soundtrack to one of the Twilight movies.
48. Sia CHANDELIER (2014)
This thoughtful song from Australian singer/songwriter, Sia, about the life of a so-called party girl and how what people see on the outside isn't what's necessarily going on on the inside was powerful and made for great listening in the middle part of the decade.
47. The Weeknd IN THE NIGHT (2016)
An uptempo, happy-sounding song that might even sound like a love song to a casual listener doesn't always mean that the song's really happy or about love. That was the case with "In The Night" from The Weeknd's Beauty Behind The Madness album. I was intrigued by this tale of a woman struggling through abusive relationships and "bad breaks" in her life and the lengths she goes to in order to drown out the pain.
46. DJ Cassidy featuring Robin Thicke & Jessie J CALLING ALL HEARTS (2014)
Although it didn't end up being a big hit in the U.S., this Disco-Funk celebration of love song was big on my personal chart in 2014. It's a shame DJ Cassidy didn't have a run of several hits!
45. Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch SWEET NOTHING (2013)
Admittedly, I didn't like Calvin Harris' music when I was first introduced to it in the late 2000s. But, starting with "Sweet Nothing" and its predecessor "Let's Go," I began to warm up to him, particularly later in the decade. The soulful, passionate, and intense vocals of Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine really served to make this a song that, even now, I go back and listen to often.
44. Lil' Wayne HOW TO LOVE (2011)
"How To Love" was not the type of song that many were used to hearing from southern rapper, Lil' Wayne. He's said that the song is about women who don't know how to love because of deep, dark reasons. This powerful song had me hooked right away. The music video, showing two different versions of the life of a little girl born into different circumstances with different choices made by her young mother, is also very stirring.
43. Ariana Grande DANGEROUS WOMAN (2016)
This song showed a much different side to Ariana Grande. Gone was the girl next door, replaced by a...well...dangerous woman not afraid to show the world that she was in touch with her sexuality. I appreciated the growth she showed with this song. All too often, we try to keep performers in a box and want them to forever stay what they were when we first loved their music. That's just not realistic. This was a very classy musical evolution for her.
42. The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar PRAY FOR ME (2018)
The life of a warrior or even just someone who's had a rough life isn't an easy one. Thankfully, this is something I can't personally relate to. But, this entry from the Black Panther soundtrack caught my ear nonetheless.
41. Lupe Fiasco featuring Guy Sebastian BATTLE SCARS (2013)
This song wasn't a hit in the U.S., but thankfully, I was introduced to this song by Matt in late 2012. It eventually hit #1 on my personal chart early the next year. What a great song!
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Post by Jason on Jan 18, 2020 22:47:36 GMT -5
40. Daft Punk featuring Pharrell GET LUCKY (2013)
Most of us will never know what it must've been like to be inside famed and infamous New York City nightclub and 70s Disco haven, Studio 54. But this gem from French EDM duo, Daft Punk, gives us an idea of what the vibe must've been like. Plus, it was nice to hear from Pharrell, one half of another production duo, The Neptunes, again after musically falling out of favor midway through the 2000s.
39. Cee-Lo FORGET YOU/F**K YOU (2010)
A much more explicit version of this old school Doo Wop R&B throwback became a viral hit in 2010. By the time the promotional machine caught up to the song's success in 2011, I was full-on in love with this break up anthem. Although most of us now know this, back then we had no idea it was written by a then-unknown songwriter named Bruno Mars. By the time this song became popular nationwide, we all knew his name.
38. Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg CALIFORNIA GURLS (2010)
This ode to the golden and sun-kissed state of California and the people who inhabit the state was a catchy earworm that had me upgrading my opinion of Katy Perry from "Pop singer whose songs were okay" to "Wow! What a great Pop star she's going to be!" And how could a song about California feature anyone else but Snoop Dogg, who the state adopted as its own native son in the 90s and provided some of the greatest West Coast Rap anthems of that decade?
37. Lizzo GOOD AS HELL (2019)
There's a lot that happens in life that causes people to feel bad about themselves or struggle with self-esteem issues. People "settle" for things because they think they can't do any better or that they deserve something else than amazing. A song like "Good As Hell" is something that's very needed right now. As the decade came to a close, it was one of my faves.
36. Madonna LIVING FOR LOVE (2015)
I was surprised by how much I liked this EDM/Pop song by perhaps the most legendary female artist of the past nearly 40 years. The message of this song is so great.
35. Ed Sheeran SHAPE OF YOU (2017)
This song was everywhere in 2017. Despite how much exposure it got...to the point of OVERexposure, it's a great song. I would've never predicted that someone who released one of my least favorite songs of the early part of the decade would become one of my favorite artists by the end of the 2010s.
34. Ariana Grande & The Weeknd LOVE ME HARDER (2014)
This sultry duet helped signal a musical shift for both Ariana Grande and The Weeknd. Ariana from the girl next door to empowered woman and The Weeknd from fringe artist making dark and brooding music to still making dark and brooding music, but with a hooky and mainstream slant. I love a brooding love song every so often and this one fit the bill.
33. Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie FRIENDS (2018)
So, you don't want to be mean. But, you're just not that into them. And yet, they won't get the message that you've ever so subtly been dropping for a while now. Sometimes, you've just got to spell it out. Yeah, it's kind of a mean song if you listen to the lyrics. But, I really enjoyed this vaguely Reggae-leaning EDM/Pop offering.
32. Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z SUIT & TIE (2013)
With this song, and the album it came from, we all got a look at a more sophisticated Justin Timberlake. I liked what I heard in this fun and flirty love song!
31. Bruno Mars 24K MAGIC (2016)
Proving that the musical direction that he started moving in with the release of "Treasure" from Unorthodox Jukebox album wouldn't translate into a one-off situation with "Uptown Funk," the release of the 24K Magic album, and the title track, in particular, showed that Bruno Mars was going to be delving farther into a Funk and New Jack Swing inspired sound. This almost unfailingly got me dancing, or at least boogie-ing in my seat, whenever I heard it.
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Post by Jason on Jan 19, 2020 14:13:26 GMT -5
30. Emeli Sandé NEXT TO ME (2012)
I'm not sure that I agree with the assessment someone on this very message board made more than a decade ago that - I'm paraphrasing here - British singers are better at Soul than American singers are. But, along with Joss Stone, Sam Smith, Amy Winehouse, and a handful of others, Emeli Sandé certainly proves that they're damn good at Soul. I really liked this rollicking and soulful tale about a faithful lover.
29. The Weeknd EARNED IT (2015)
Some songs are just too good to deny. I think "Earned It," from the soundtrack to the first of the three Fifty Shades Of Grey movies, surprised a lot of people when it ended up being the bigger hit in the U.S. than the soundtrack's other big single (Ellie Goulding's "Love Me Like You Do"). I had absolutely no interest in the movie - any of the three of them - but this song grabbed my interest big time in the winter and spring of 2015.
28. Sam Smith PRAY (2018)
What a haunting song! It's not often that singers and/or songwriters are so honest on a song that they call themselves out for being concerned in the superficial and their own "small" problems for most of their life. But that's what Sam Smith has done on "Pray." The unabashed honesty really resonated with me. Smith has said that he wrote "Pray" after returning from a trip to Iraq for a charity that he was involved in and seeing the conditions that people there were living under. He decided it was time that he wrote a song about something deeper than love. He definitely succeeded in doing so.
27. Post Malone & Swae Lee SUNFLOWER (2019)
A lot of the songs on this list have become favorites of mine because they're deep, thoughtful, or address an important issue. I want to let it be known that I like many songs simply because of how catchy and fun they are. This cool sing-song Rap collaboration by Post Malone and Swae Lee from the animated movie, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, is just such a song.
26. Katy Perry featuring Kanye West E.T. (2011)
This futuristic collaboration was an unexpected treat. The first time I heard "E.T.," it was the original album version. I remember thinking it was a neat, if not a little bland, song. Soon after, the new version with Kanye West added into the mix, was released and it totally changed how I felt about the song. A friend of mine told me several years ago that the first time he heard this song, he was surprised at how good it was, but also that Katy Perry and Kanye West would work together. Sometimes the collaborations you think wouldn't work at all are the ones that end up being the best ones.
25. Sam Smith LIKE I CAN (2015)
Although U.S. audiences had heard him the year before as the vocalist on the EDM songs, "Na Na Na" (Naughty Boy) and "Latch" (Disclosure), "Like I Can" was the first time many were getting to hear an uptempo Sam Smith solo song, following up his previous three songs that were either straight up ballads or, at the very least, downtempo. It's too bad it wasn't much of a hit here, because I fell in love with it hard in the summer of 2015.
24. Bruno Mars TREASURE (2013)
In 2013, "Treasure" gave all of us a taste of the musical direction Bruno Mars would go in for the rest of the decade. This cool Disco-Funk dance floor anthem was a big one for me that year.
23. Katy Perry featuring Juicy J DARK HORSE (2014)
The last thing you want to do is piss off a dangerous woman. There's no telling what all of that scorn will prompt her to do. Despite how suddenly scared I was when I first heard this song, I absolutely loved it!
22. Logic featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid 1-800-273-8255 (2017)
Though it's obviously not the #1 song on the list, I don't think there's a song on this list that's more important than "1-800-273-8255," a song about hope amid depression and finding reasons to live when the reasons to end it all seem so overwhelming. Much respect to Logic for creating such a timely and powerful song about a subject that doesn't get talked about as often as it should.
21. Lizzo JUICE (2019)
Lizzo has said that, prior to the buzz that was created when "Juice" was released as a single, she was seriously considering giving up on her music career. Though it wouldn't be as big a hit as her next two single releases, "Juice" is my favorite...for being so fun, uptempo, and danceable.
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Post by Jason on Jan 20, 2020 18:08:35 GMT -5
20. Robyn DANCING ON MY OWN (2010)
Originally released on her EP, Body Talk, Pt. 1, then on the full-length album, Body Talk, this dark and brooding EDM/Pop track by Swedish singer/songwriter, Robyn, became an instant favorite of mine. Haven't we all felt these lyrics at some point in our lives? All we want is the one we're interested in to notice us. Instead, we're invisible, no matter how we try to grab their attention.
19. David Guetta featuring Jennifer Hudson NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE (2012)
This was not one of the half-dozen songs released as singles from David Guetta's Nothing But The Beat, but I sure wish it had been. Jennifer Hudson's powerful vocals about a woman demanding only the best from a potential suitor in return for the "night of your life" combined with Guetta's pulsating beats made a song that was irresistible to me.
18. Janet Jackson featuring Missy Elliott BURNITUP! (2015)
When Janet Jackson shocked me with her 2015 Unbreakable album release, the first couple songs she released were more laid back with a slow groove to them. It was strange for an artist who had made her career off of dance floor-ready jams to not release one of those. When "BURNITUP!" was released as the third single at the end of 2015, I got what I wanted. Infectiously catchy!
17. Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth SEE YOU AGAIN (2015)
It was easy - and emotional - to like this stirring tribute song to the late actor, Paul Walker. "See You Again," written by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, among others, was used at the end of Fast & The Furious 7 as Walker's character and Vin Diesel's character parted ways. Walker had tragically passed shortly before filming on the movie had ended. The story goes that Puth had written his part of the song per instructions from the movie studio, who wanted an emotional song to pay tribute to the fallen actor and his beloved character. The studio and the record label wanted a more well-known vocalist to perform the parts of the song that Puth would eventually perform. Smartly, Puth refused to turn over the song until it was agreed that he could perform on it.
16. Bruno Mars CHUNKY (2017)
For a brief moment, it looked like this catchy early 80s R&B-inspired jam was going to be released as a single from the 24K Magic album. In the end, it was passed over the massive hit that "Finesse" would end up becoming. However, the fact that "Chunky" was denied a single release didn't cause me to fall out of love with it. Maybe because of what ended up happening to it, I liked it more!
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Post by Jason on Jan 21, 2020 17:48:22 GMT -5
15. Labrinth & Emeli Sandé BENEATH YOUR BEAUTIFUL (2013)
If you've heard this beautiful duet between British singer/songwriter/producer, Labrinth, and Soul singer, Emeli Sandé and you don't like it, please let me know so that I can publicly shame you. (Just kidding. I'll only shake my head in disbelief and roll my eyes behind your back at your sheer foolishness.)
14. Justin Timberlake CAN'T STOP THE FEELING (2016)
Some songs are just unstoppably catchy. Try as you might, you can't stop yourself from dancing when it comes on. This song advertises it in its title! Justin Timberlake has recorded a lot of uptempo songs in his day, but not one like this that simply puts a smile on your face just from listening to it.
13. Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie ROCKABYE (2017)
This song about a woman struggling to provide for her child and doing whatever she needs to do to give him the life she feels he deserves really got me hooked. It's both inspirational and catchy as hell!
12. Sam Smith & Mary J. Blige STAY WITH ME (2014)
The original version of this song, which was Sam Smith's solo introduction to the U.S., is excellent enough by itself. But, when Smith re-recorded "Stay With Me" and made it into a duet with the Queen Of Hip-Hop/Soul, Mary J. Blige, it became utter perfection for me.
11. The Weeknd CAN'T FEEL MY FACE (2015)
This breakthrough solo hit by The Weeknd sounded like something that Michael Jackson would've created during his heyday in the 80s. Oh to meet someone who makes me unable to feel MY face when I'm with them. Until then, I'll have the song!
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Sam I Am
Bend a car? Pat Ben-a-tar!
Posts: 2,197
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Post by Sam I Am on Jan 22, 2020 16:10:37 GMT -5
love all of these: 78. Lady Gaga & Beyoncé TELEPHONE (2010) 75. Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc WAKE ME UP (2013) 67. DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, & Lil' Wayne I'M THE ONE (2017) 64. Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige F FOR YOU (2014) 53. Bastille POMPEII (2014) 50. Kendrick Lamar featuring Sza ALL THE STARS (2018) 49. Bruno Mars IT WILL RAIN (2012) 45. Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch SWEET NOTHING (2013) 41. Lupe Fiasco featuring Guy Sebastian BATTLE SCARS (2013) 40. Daft Punk featuring Pharrell GET LUCKY (2013) 39. Cee-Lo F**K YOU (2010) 30. Emeli Sandé NEXT TO ME (2012) 27. Post Malone & Swae Lee SUNFLOWER (2019) 25. Sam Smith LIKE I CAN (2015) 24. Bruno Mars TREASURE (2013) 22. Logic featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid 1-800-273-8255 (2017) 20. Robyn DANCING ON MY OWN (2010) 17. Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth SEE YOU AGAIN (2015) 15. Labrinth & Emeli Sandé BENEATH YOUR BEAUTIFUL (2013) 14. Justin Timberlake CAN'T STOP THE FEELING (2016)
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Post by Jason on Jan 22, 2020 21:54:54 GMT -5
10. Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell BLURRED LINES (2013)
Sampling Marvin Gaye's 1977 hit, "Got To Give It Up," (or maybe just inspired by the feel of the genre?), "Blurred Lines" was the unquestioned biggest hit of the entire year of 2013. I loved it when it was out as a single and (maybe I should be nervous about saying this) I still love it now. Legal issues, #TimesUp issues, and the fact that Pharrell disavowed the song in a 2019 magazine interview notwithstanding, it's a Disco-Funk masterpiece, in my opinion.
9. Benny Blanco featuring Khalid & Halsey EASTSIDE (2019)
Benny Blanco had produced some of the biggest Pop and R&B hits of the decade. Why shouldn't he have his own hit song? As with other songs helmed by producers, we don't actually hear his vocals on the song. But, boy what a song it is! This song of love, rebellion, and doing whatever it takes to be together is amazing to me!
8. Bruno Mars VERSACE ON THE FLOOR (2017)
Sounding like a late 80s New Jack Swing love jam worthy of Gregory Abbott or Freddie Jackson, "Versace On The Floor" was so good that I was into it months before it was declared an official single from the 24K Magic album.
7. Kygo featuring Whitney Houston HIGHER LOVE (2019)
This remix of Whitney Houston's cover of Steve Winwood's 1986 hit was a surprise in 2019. The biggest surprise was that it wasn't a huge hit. The second surprise was finding out that Whitney Houston had even covered the song in the first place. Whitney's 1990 cover version is not to be missed (I actually like it better than Winwood's original). I think, for the remix, Kygo chopped many of the great parts off and inserted a lot of unnecessary musical elements. But, regardless of that, it ended up being one of my favorites of the decade. What a great find!
6. John Legend ALL OF ME (2013)
"All Of Me" is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and recorded. And, it should be. It was written by Legend for his then-fiancée, now wife, model Chrissy Teigen. Composed of essentially just Legend playing the piano and his own voice, I was in love with the song upon just one listen. And, just to show the power of TV and media, the song had been released in early fall 2013 and was showing very little chart action. After its usage in an episode of Grey's Anatomy near the end of the the calendar year, interest in "All Of Me" exploded. By the time the calendar turned to 2014, it was a bona fide megahit.
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Post by Jason on Jan 23, 2020 18:14:53 GMT -5
5. Sia & Sean Paul CHEAP THRILLS (2016)
I love "Cheap Thrills!" And, I guess I love cheap thrills, too. The only difference between Sia and I is that I would prefer dollar bills to have fun. That, and I didn't record a song about loving cheap thrills. At any rate, this great collaboration between Sia and Sean Paul got me moving in the middle part of the decade and still makes me stop whatever I'm doing and pay attention when it's played.
4. Bruno Mars & Cardi B FINESSE (2017)
Time travel doesn't exist...at least, not that we know of. But, if one wants to be instantly transported back to the early 1990s, all one needs to do is put on this excellent collaboration between Bruno Mars & Cardi B. Fun, flirty, danceable as hell, and endlessly catchy, this was on the tip of my tongue in 2017...as in, I was always singing it. And, I still do!
3. Khalid & Normani LOVE LIES (2018)
What can I say about this sexy duet by two of the R&B genre's biggest stars? This song about romantic curiosity and desire is really bolstered by the musical content, lyrics, and vocals. To paraphrase the lyrics of "Love Lies," I was definitely catching its vibe. I was stunned to learn that it spent a mind-blowing 42 weeks on the U.S. Pop Radio Airplay chart after peaking at #1. So, yeah... It was a hit. It was my favorite song of 2018 and there are only two more songs from the entire decade that I liked more.
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Post by Jason on Jan 24, 2020 17:28:09 GMT -5
2. Beyoncé LOVE ON TOP (2011)
This song, from Beyoncé's fourth solo studio album, 4, was absolutely infectious for me. Infectious in a VERY good way. One listen to this fun and breezy song about what being in love with the right person and the two of you don't care about looking at anyone else but each other makes you feel like and I couldn't get enough. I still can't get enough, actually. I still listen to this one fairly regularly.
1. MARK RONSON featuring BRUNO MARS UPTOWN FUNK (2015)[/font]
It can't be much of a shock that this is my favorite song of the 2010s. Like several of the other songs on this list, it only took me one listen to be absolutely and utterly addicted to "Uptown Funk." If only I oozed the self-confidence and swagger that the lyrics and vocals make you feel like Bruno Mars possesses. There's nothing about this song that I don't like. For me, it emodies and symbolizes everything great about music in the 2010s. Despite how much airplay and exposure it got when it was out as a single, I never managed to get tired of it. And, I don't think I ever will!
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