I only listened to H.O.L.Y. once and wasn't into it so I approve of ha appearance
Me Too is alright but messy + my least fave from Thank You. Hymn for the Weekend is nice
I still think Me Too isn't meant to be taken at face value. It's corny and goofy and people give it so much hate because it's cool to hate Meghan I guess.
Gold is as atypical as mainstream hits come. You've got the EDM-style repeated verse, the spacey alt-trap production (which features a fuller version of a synth prominent in Lorde's Tennis Court), and the "what did I just hear?" blended-up hook. It all works, though, because everything seems to possess a level of mystique. Kiiara emotes subtly well, her composed defiance on display during stark lines like "don't care what you say to me, I'mma bite your feelings out." Although the track never gains any momentum–which can make it tempting to stop listening to before it ends–its crispness and freshness are undeniable.
This position in 2015: Ellie Goulding - On My Mind This position in 2014: Calvin Harris f/John Newman - Blame
Note: After I finalized this list, I grew to like a song I previously hadn't included. As such, I am awarding it the position I feel is appropriate, but I don't want to punish other songs for this, so I'm having a tie for #20 on the rhythmic/urban list this year.
This gritty street tale features some unique rhyme schemes during the verses as well as a catchy pop hook. While the lyrical theme of the song is quite standard for his genre, Gates's performance brings the content to life, his rough, matter-of-fact tone matching the harsh production. He seamlessly alternates between rapping, exclaiming, and singing, removing any monotony that could have otherwise been present in the track. Three verses is often one too many for rap songs, but he's on such a roll by the time the third one comes along that cutting it out would weaken the song. The chorus feels a little bit stale by the end of each listen, though, despite the fact that its catchphrases are pretty harmless.
This position in 2015: Jidenna f/Roman GianArthur - Classic Man This position in 2014: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/ScHoolboy Q & Hollis - White Walls
Tove Lo's airy voice is a perfect fit for Flume's grand production. Surprisingly, the latter is the one that takes charge for the chorus; he provides Tove with a bright synth and a smooth yet heavy drum beat for her to work with. The hook is brilliant, sounding like a blooming flower, with the emotions built up during the previous verse released suddenly and satisfyingly. Actually, though, the real highlights here are the verses. I absolutely love how each line in the verses has a mini-crescendo of its own, Tove reaching into her higher register to give the song a dramatic flair. In fact, I find the pre-chorus much less inspired than any other aspect of the track. It all comes to a head in the bridge, with a surprisingly bearable whiny synth followed by a beautiful buildup to the final hook. Say It is probably a little bit noisier than it needs to be, but it is nevertheless an EDM song that is both pretty and exciting.
This position in 2015: Disclosure f/Lorde - Magnets This position in 2014: Foster The People - Coming Of Age
Calvin Harris f/Rihanna - This Is What You Came For
7.1/10
While this song doesn't aspire to be much more than playlist filler, the execution is nearly flawless from both artists involved. This was a side project for Rihanna–albeit one that cracked the year-end top 15–and it shows. She doesn't sound nearly as invested in the music as she did on the four (five?) singles from Anti, but her commanding vocals are still strong enough to carry the track. Harris turns in a nice half-house drop that doesn't overwhelm her presence, her "ooh-ooh-ooh"s flying high over his mellow accompaniment. It's a formulaic effort from the pair, but it's still better than a lot of this year's mainstream pop songs.
This position in 2015: Calvin Harris f/Ellie Goulding - Outside This position in 2014: Ariana Grande f/The Weeknd - Love Me Harder