50. Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea, “Pretty Girls”
I mean. Look: B9 is going to be amazing. I just know it.
49. Phoebe Ryan, “Dead”
A dreamy ode to that feeling when things seem way too good to be true by an artist about to make some big noise in 2016. Believe it.
48. Paris Hilton, “High Off My Love”
The Entrepreneurial Empress of Perfume, Purses and Luxury Beach Clubs in the Philippines takes a break from headlining in Ibiza to drop a space-age club stormer. Still #KillingIt, even after all these years.
47. Pia Mia, “Do It Again”
Princess Pia realizes that one night stand might be worth a few more rides and requests a repeat session across an irresistible interpolation of J Boog‘s “Let’s Do It Again.”
46. Tove Styrke, “Ego”
The other Tove supplies further proof that Sweden will forever be three hundred steps ahead when it comes to good pop.
44. Tinashe, “Player”
Tinashe revs the engine before taking us out on her Joyride next year.
43. Kelly Clarkson, “Piece By Piece”
Kelly closes the chapter she began writing all the way back with “Because Of You.” Catharsis.
42. Carly Rae Jepsen, “I Really Like You”
Carly Rae is really (X6) happy to see you in the first, super-saccharine E•MO•TION serving. Tom Hanks approves, too.
41. Fifth Harmony, “Worth It”
The fivesome drop the Michelle Obama shout-outs and gimmicky selfie-speak to serve horn-heavy self-empowerment in their first real, long overdue hit.
40. Jasmine Thompson, “Adore”
Lovely, lightly pulsating bliss from a YouTuber on the brink of breaking big. Vive l’amour.
39. Ciara, “Dance Like We’re Making Love”
Not “Overdose,” but still very good. And that video? Forever giving us the most underrated of goodies.
38. Hilary Duff, “Sparks”
Hilary returns to electro-pop form with a whistle — and FAN DEMANDED arm swings.
37. XYconstant, “Do It Well (feat. Tom Aspaul)”
Not a Jennifer Lopez cover, yet somehow just as good.
36. Erik Hassle, “No Words”
“No Words” is actually Swedish for “disco YOLO moment.”
35. Zara Larsson and MNEK, “Never Forget You”
Two entirely deserving rising superstars join forces for an unexpectedly brilliant meeting of the musical minds.
34. Giorgio Moroder, “Tom’s Diner (feat. Britney Spears)”
Britney dreams of walking into a diner and getting a coffee unnoticed in a robotic take on the Suzanne Vega classic, turning simple diner observations into a melancholy daydream by a superstar longing for normalcy.
33. Ellie Goulding, “On My Mind”
Ellie bites the bullet and dives face-first into big pop production with Max Martin — and it works.
32. Major Lazer and DJ Snake, “Lean On (feat. MØ)”
Diplo and company blend together world sounds to create a groove that feels universally, undeniably cool.
31. Daya, “Hide Away”
One of the Ones To Watch in 2016 kicks off her pop career in pursuit of a good boy. Good luck with that one, girl.
30. Brandon Flowers, “Can’t Deny My Love”
Brandon’s thirst turns aggressive — and it’s pretty sexy.
29. Lana Del Rey, “High By The Beach”
Lizzy kicks back for a little puff puff in solace down by the seaside. No photographs, please — trust me.
28. Janelle Monae, “Yoga”
Janelle breaks out of Android World to become a yoga instructor with a few fierce poses to teach us. Don’t like her newest sound? Get off her areola.
27. Little Mix, “Black Magic”
The ladies of Little Mix prove that when it comes to girl group magic, the UK always does it better.
26. Justin Bieber, “I’ll Show You”
Justin finally shows us his…softer side.
25. Selena Gomez, “Good For You”
Selena embraces those “lower register vocals” to leave her dress a mess on the floor and still look ‘guhiyud‘ for you.
24. Ellie Goulding, “Love Me Like You Do”
Ellie provides a sentimental touch to the soundtrack of a terrible movie based on the book about bondage your mom read with her book club two summers ago.
23. Röyksopp, “I Had This Thing”
Fun fact: I cried to this song more than any other this year. Holy existential crisis, Batman!
22. Hailee Steinfeld, “Love Myself”
Self-empowerment anthem on the outside. Subtle ode to masturbation underneath the covers.
21. Selena Gomez, “Hands To Myself”
Selenita serves breathy staccato seduction above a Prince-lite beat — and blesses us with the best lyrical nonsense line of 2015: “Your metaphorical gin and juice.” Put it on my tombstone.
20. Madonna, “Living For Love”
Madge is gonna carry on…and no amount of stairs or Armani capes will stop her.
19. Loreen, “Paper Light”
The Swedish Queen provides even more powerhouse euphoria by going up, up, up and setting the sky ablaze in a sea of lights.
18. Foxes, “Body Talk”
Foxes crafts a tune that could have been a smash hit in 1985, but still feels just as fresh today.
17. Marina And The Diamonds, “Blue”
Marina makes post-break up regrets and reunions sound misleadingly fun in Froot‘s biggest, boldest happy-sad pop moment.
16. Tinashe, “All Hands On Deck”
Tinashe dances circles ’round her contemporaries from the front to the back…just like that.
15. Adele, “Hello”
A singer effectively swallows the entire world with one simple salutation.
14. Grimes, “Flesh Without Blood”
Grimes lets the critics, haters and fair-weather friends go.
13. Rihanna, “Bitch Better Have My Money”
Professional sock designer embarks on a promising career in music-making. Bitch better have my ANTI in 2016.
12. Justin Bieber, “What Do You Mean?”
Bieber keeps the questions coming in a moody, tick-tocking tropical return to form.
11. Pia Mia, “Touch”
The Princess of Guam pushes all the right buttons, like a perfect companion to Bieber’s newfound lust for all things exotic.
10. Madonna, “Ghost Town”
Madge survives the apocalypse (no surprise there), and leads us all toward the light.
9. Demi Lovato, “Cool For The Summer”
Demi thirsts for cherry-coated summertime sexual experimentation — and somehow also sounds like Heidi Montag while doing so.
8. Taylor Swift, “Style”
]NOTICE: Unauthorized usage of the terms “Taylor Swift” and “Style.” Description removed by TAS Rights Management. See you in court.]
7. Marina + The Diamonds, “I’m A Ruin”
How to lose a guy in three words.
6. Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
Justin’s year-long apology tour culminates with one massive tropical House-pop apology. We forgive you, Biebs.
5. Tove Lo, “Talking Body”
Tove moans and thrusts her way through the year’s finest, most unsubtle ode to ****ing.
4. Carly Rae Jepsen, “Your Type”
Carly’s unrequited love for a gay boy results in pristine agony-pop. (Also, LGBTQ warrior.)
3. Years & Years, “King”
Olly and company snatch the crown with one brilliant, Pet Shop Boys-esque blast of synthesizers.
2. Jack Ü, “Where Are Ü Now (feat. Justin Bieber)”
Justin’s experimental, lonesome transmission from a distant planet, helmed by Diplo and Skrillex, provides the blueprint for his pop comeback, effectively changing the entire course of his career. “I need you the most…“
1. Carly Rae Jepsen, “Run Away With Me”
(Original Review)
This should come as no surprise. I’ve said all these things before and I’ll say it again: In a better world, “Run Away With Me” would have been the official Song of Summer 2015. It’s the greatest, most pulse quickening, most nostalgia inducing us-against-the-world pop anthem since Katy Perry‘s “Teenage Dream.”
Falling in love feels exactly like this song sounds. Thank you for capturing that magic for us, Carly.
8. Taylor Swift, “Style”
[NOTICE: Unauthorized usage of the terms “Taylor Swift” and “Style.” Description removed by TAS Rights Management. See you in court.]
29. Lana Del Rey, “High By The Beach”
20. Madonna, “Living For Love”
17. Marina And The Diamonds, “Blue”
10. Madonna, “Ghost Town”
7. Marina + The Diamonds, “I’m A Ruin”
This is so true! I've always wanted to say this I don't know what put it in words.
Quote:
This should come as no surprise. I’ve said all these things before and I’ll say it again: In a better world, “Run Away With Me” would have been the official Song of Summer 2015. It’s the greatest, most pulse quickening, most nostalgia inducing us-against-the-world pop anthem since Katy Perry‘s “Teenage Dream.”
Falling in love feels exactly like this song sounds. Thank you for capturing that magic for us, Carly.
