Definitely one of my favorite samples of the year (Aaliyah's One In a Million). Tink proved her potential to me this year with her multi-faceted rapping and singing talents, proving she could become a true force in the industry in coming years. Additionally, it seems like she has the drive & determination to do whatever it takes to succeed. Timbaland jumped the shark a number of years ago, but he still has his excellent moments, such as here & his work with Tink in general. Tink seems to bring the creative energy within him alive again. Although this is my personal favorite of hers, listen to Ratchet Commandments as well!
34 Marina & the Diamonds - Immortal
FROOT is by far my favorite Marina record to date, as the songs all flow seamlessly together & her melodies/songwriting are stronger than ever. Electra Heart definitely had some filler. I have to say, though, that my absolute favorite track on FROOT has always been Immortal. Her voice is simply haunting here, & I relate to these lyrics quite a lot. It's simply a beautiful song that deserves more recognition.
33 Melanie Martinez - Soap
I'm not a huge fan of Melanie's general sound and aesthetic themes for her Dollhouse era, but Soap has always been the anomaly and exception for her with me. The (original) video is rather simple, but it fits the sound of the song perfectly. It makes a clever metaphor of the common cliche "wash your mouth with soap!" and compares it to the feeling of saying things to a crush you later regret. Everyone can relate to this in some way, & the sadness of the beat/her vocals gives it that much more weight to me.
32 Janelle Monáe & Jidenna - Yoga
This song is so stupid (and shockingly stupid for Janelle). But... that's why I absolutely love it. The lyrics are absurb, the beat isn't too far from last year's Dark Horse, & the song is honestly rather trend-hopping. Does that mean Janelle didn't slay it? ABSOLUTELY NOT! She totally rides this beat with confidence & smoothness only a talent like her could. She pokes fun at the trivialness of the song throughout with her witty lyrics & carefree tone. Jidenna also contributes a nice guest verse as well.
31 Calvin Harris & Disciples - How Deep Is Your Love (feat. Ina Wroldsen)
Calvin has become pretty generic, but this doesn't mean he's bad by any means. In fact, I like this song quite a lot. It has a lot of house vibes & Ina's voice sounds excellent. It's not his best, but it definitely tides me over until his next album & is an excellent workout anthem. I'm awaiting his next album in 2016!
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50 Armin van Buuren - Another You (feat. Mr. Probz)
This is a song I literally only know about because of browsing ATRL. I saw a member post their frustrations about how this wasn't taking off in the US, so I decided to listen. The track was very immediately satisfying & I played it out to death. However, my main complaint about it is that it got old very quickly & it doesn't really stand out in the long run against other EDM-pop hits of the 2010s. It's a bit dated, I guess. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable listen & worth a mention here.
49 BØRNS - Electric Love
So I was feeling rather basic and decided to listen to this after Taylor posted about it on social media. Immediately, what I heard was a nice, light alternative pop tune by a singer I didn't know much about. I was kind of surprised this didn't become a hit at some point in 2015, to be quite honest. I don't really play this much anymore, but I played through it frequently for the first half of the year. I guess my one complaint is that the singer comes off as pretentious and taking themselves way too seriously, which I'm not here for. But it's a well-crafted pop song for an artist who's new to the game.
48 Hailee Steinfeld - Love Myself
The most important thing to mention with this one is that this song is a total cheesefest... well, at least on the surface. The well-hidden double entendre made me like the song a lot more and I actually prefer it when it means the other thing. I was surprised how good this was after seeing Hailee in Pitch Perfect 2 and kind of writing her off. While she didn't have a hand in writing this song, the people behind it did a good job and taking the trends of pop in 2015 and making it Hailee's own. She has potential in the future.
47 R. City - Locked Away (feat. Adam Levine)
I'm rolling my eyes a little bit at including this because I AM SO SICK OF IT right now. It's one of those kind of disposable pop tunes that's fun when you're out with friends, but gets old when you're by yourself and just chilling out to music. Anyway, I HATED this song for a good 4-5 listens before it clicked one day and I found myself singing along. It's very inoffensive and has a nice message behind it. R. City's verses are kinda cool and interesting, but honestly, Adam's chorus is the only part I care about. I'll always be biased about loving his voice.
46 twentyonepilots - Stressed Out
I'm really iffy on 21P in general, but this song is a quirky, easily accessible, and relatable poppy tune about being stressed out while growing up. So I definitely relate! I imagine my college peers will be obsessed with this song come next semester and I'll be hearing it quite a lot around town. I usually don't like songs that sound like this, but I think the lyrics are what really won me over here. Something about the song is nostalgic and reminds me of the early 2000s too... does anyone else hear a little bit of Eminem's "My Name Is"?
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45 Runnin' (Lose It All) [feat. Beyoncé & Arrow Benjamin]
I'm a huge Bey fan in general, and I absolutely love Naughty Boy's La La La with Sam Smith, so I was excited to see what these two brought together. This collaboration was actually pretty unexpected but in the best way possible. The result it is a nice, mellow pop song with strong verses and a memorable chorus. It's not the most noteworthy pop song of the year for sure, and it does feel slightly safe despite being unexpected, but it's still a nice addition to both of their discographies. Not much to say on Arrow Benjamin - he's just there.
44 The Chainsmokers - Roses (feat. ROZES)
I actually saw The Chainsmokers live last year and they put on a great EDM show. I certainly have gained respect for them despite absolutely loathing their breakthrough viral hit, #SELFIE. Rightfully so, Roses is becoming their new signature hit and it actually shows what they're really capable of. The girl's voice sounds nice with the chill bit, and overall this is a perfect, progressive electronic pop song for a college student like myself. I mostly chill out to this song. Also sounds great on the radio.
43 CAZZETTE - Genius (feat. Buster Moe)
This song is kind of stupid lyrically - but it's ridiculously catchy. CAZZETTE's song Sleepless was one of my absolute favorite songs of 2014, so I was looking out for their new material this year. They ended up releasing a Desserts EP, with this song being included. It's kind of odd, but at the same time it's easy to digest & flows well. It also doesn't sound dated. which is a nice bonus. I'm hoping this becomes a hit on the off chance, so I think it's quite fun.
42 Janet Jackson - No Sleeep (feat. J. Cole)
Janet is such a unique force in the music industry, and this song reminded everyone this year why is she simply irreplaceable. Even years after her peak, she pulls off seductive & subdued R&B better than her peers could ever dream of. This song is just effortlessly sexy. J. Cole's verse also fits this beat amazingly and showcases his talents. Overall, I was very impressed with this and consider it a hundred times better than anything on Discipline. NO ONE does it like Ms. Jackson.
41 Miguel - Coffee (feat. Wale)
This song sort of reminds me of Adorn, but Adorn is more electronic. Coffee is something I would describe as more organic R&B. Even though I prefer Adorn (which is a classic to me), Coffee is a nice addition to the sonic area where Miguel really shines. Wale remains underrated as ever and adds a nice verse. This type of song is also where Wale ALWAYS sounds best (see: Bad, Lotus Flower Bomb, more sexy/emotionally complex songs lyrically). I didn't like the rest of Miguel's new album, but Coffee was pretty instant!
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40 Rae Srummerd - Come Get Her
This song is a hot mess, but emphasis on the HOT. It's crazy fun to hear this when you're out with friends & it's catchy as hell. Rae Srummerd stands out well from the other hip-hop/r&b acts of 2015 for their good ear for melodies & their fun wordplay & energy. They are kind of like Fetty Wap, but even more adventurous with their sound. This song is undeniably unique & an immediate standout on the radio. In a year where many rap hits started to sound the same, Srummerd proved they can make a name for themselves with hit after hit... Come Get Her being my absolute favorite. Oh, and the video is amazing.
39 Years & Years - King
Incredibly disappointed this never took off in the US since it's so amazing, but Years & Years were definitely one of the best new acts to come during 2015. I cannot wait for their follow-up to Communion! King is a perfect introduction to their sound with an uplifting beat & soaring chorus that gets stuck in your head all day. I listened to this all Summer 2015, so I associate it with warm weather & basically all things bright & happy. No other band is making music like theirs, & this will give them lasting power in the end!
38 Rudimental - Lay It All On Me (feat. Ed Sheeran)
I'm a big fan of Ed Sheeran & think he's incredible versatile & adaptive to whatever he seems bent on creating. Lay It All On Me isn't a particularly experimental or risky track, but it's a nice little mellow tune that flows seamlessly on your playlists or on the radio. His voice is very soothing and the beat is incredibly accessible. Overall, this isn't a instant attention grabber, but it's one that lasts with you longer as time goes on.
37 Lana Del Rey - High By the Beach
Lana serving lite-trap! Honestly, certain parts of the production remind me of Lil Wayne's Lollipop, which is kinda weird but oh well. Anyway, my favorite Lana songs in general are the ones in which she has more production behind her, so I found High By the Beach refreshing after Ultraviolence was a little too slow for my liking. Like Lay It All On Me, this is more of a mellow tune that what I would call a "bop", but that just makes it all the more worthwhile in the end. This is the only song from Honeymoon that I honestly thoroughly enjoyed, so I hope she continues having more production a la Born to Die in the future.
Missy is such a queen. She's on absolute fire on this track & it's beautiful to see her comeback in such strong form again when people were doubting her abilities. The beat is very... typical of Pharrell, but thankfully his predictability doesn't overshadow Missy's greatness. In fact, this is probably his best production in a good couple of years. The final verse from Missy is especially a highlight of this tune. And the video is one of the best of the year easily! I will always root for Missy no matter what!
Immortal is good
How Deep Is Your Love was a disappointment at first but wow, the song really grew on me! The production is amazing and is now one of my favorite collaborations from Calvin! I still think the songs where he sings are his best songs tho
Tink is amazing, can't wait for her red album.
All the others are amazing picks too! Soap is Melanie's best and Yoga SLAYS even if it's not her usual sound.
I'll always have a soft spot in my musical heart for Gwen because she was so prominent during my hugely impressionable child years. The songs she released post-TSE were all kinda meh & seemed uninspired, but Used to Love You has finally changed things. You can tell she really means what she's singing & that the LAMB creative-lite spark has been re-ignited. So, um, an indirect thanks to Gavin for exposing his true lame colors & letting Gwen be free of his mess!
29 Drake & Future - Big Rings
Essentially, WATTBA is the 2015 knock-off attempt at Watch the Throne. While I didn't really enjoy the album as a whole, 2 songs stuck out to me & are a lot of fun: Jumpman, & especially Big Rings. This one is essentially the NIP of WATTBA: it's a huge turn-up anthem that never gets old & is simply godly on the treadmill. The chorus is LIT. Anyways, I really want this to blow up in 2016.
28 The Weeknd - Prisoner (feat. Lana Del Rey)
This song is very, very depressing. But ironically it's my absolute favorite from The Weeknd's popular new album. I was stoked to hear he collaborated with Lana, because they are literally a dream collaboration. Their tendency towards melancholy comes together into a beautiful, over-the-top languish session about how life is, like, pointless and stuff and we're all self-destructive. I mean damn.
27 Trey Songz - Slow Motion
SEX. This song is sexy as hell. Not much more to say. Trey's best song by FAR.
26 DJ Snake - Middle (feat. Bipolar Sunshine)
DJ Snake has been on absolute roll for the past 2 years, being involved in basically some of the best moments in pop music since then. I hear his sound's influence all over now! This continues his hot streak & contains easily one of the most euphoric breakdowns of the year. I cannot WAIT to hear this at parties.
25 Elle King - Ex's & Oh's
Sassy? Check. Feminist anthem? Check. Has a bit of edgy bite to it? Check. Soulful? SLAY. Sounds like a formula I like. Elle delivered a surprising tongue-in-cheek alt-pop anthem right here & I've enjoyed every minute of it being a top 10 hit. The video is just the icing on the cake.
24 Zara Larsson - Lush Life
YAS. This song is so gay. Catchy. Makes me want around NYC serving Sarah Jessica Parker GBF. If you all don't make this smash the US, you don't love yourselves!
23 Tinashe - Player (feat. Chris Brown)
I had an epiphany with Tinashe this year & have really started to love her voice. Player is easily one of her best songs to date. It's pop perfection. Her vocals during the opening verses are fantastic, & the chorus is an absolute explosion of euphoria. Production is also magnificent... and gotta admit, Chris sounds great here & compliments her well. I love the power Tinashe emotes with the lyrics.
22 Drake - 10 Bands
Halloween twerk song? IDK, but it's awesome.
MY EX ASK ME WHERE I'M MOVING
I SAY "ONTO BETTER THINGS"
_____ (*flatlines*)
In typical Drake fashion, the chorus is life & the punchlines are glorious.
21 Wiz Khalifa - See You Again (feat. Charlie Puth)
Overplayed, but deservedly a modern classic. Charlie sounds amazing here, & this is the one time Wiz's rapping hasn't irked me. It's just a very tastefully well done hip-pop collaboration in honor of someone who died tragically. The lyrics are universal, easily relate-able, & powerful. I'll like still hearing this for years to come. If I hear this at my college graduation, I might cry a bit.
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50 Armin van Buuren - Another You (feat. Mr. Probz)
This is a song I literally only know about because of browsing ATRL. I saw a member post their frustrations about how this wasn't taking off in the US, so I decided to listen. The track was very immediately satisfying & I played it out to death. However, my main complaint about it is that it got old very quickly & it doesn't really stand out in the long run against other EDM-pop hits of the 2010s. It's a bit dated, I guess. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable listen & worth a mention here.
49 BØRNS - Electric Love
So I was feeling rather basic and decided to listen to this after Taylor posted about it on social media. Immediately, what I heard was a nice, light alternative pop tune by a singer I didn't know much about. I was kind of surprised this didn't become a hit at some point in 2015, to be quite honest. I don't really play this much anymore, but I played through it frequently for the first half of the year. I guess my one complaint is that the singer comes off as pretentious and taking themselves way too seriously, which I'm not here for. But it's a well-crafted pop song for an artist who's new to the game.
48 Hailee Steinfeld - Love Myself
The most important thing to mention with this one is that this song is a total cheesefest... well, at least on the surface. The well-hidden double entendre made me like the song a lot more and I actually prefer it when it means the other thing. I was surprised how good this was after seeing Hailee in Pitch Perfect 2 and kind of writing her off. While she didn't have a hand in writing this song, the people behind it did a good job and taking the trends of pop in 2015 and making it Hailee's own. She has potential in the future.
47 R. City - Locked Away (feat. Adam Levine)
I'm rolling my eyes a little bit at including this because I AM SO SICK OF IT right now. It's one of those kind of disposable pop tunes that's fun when you're out with friends, but gets old when you're by yourself and just chilling out to music. Anyway, I HATED this song for a good 4-5 listens before it clicked one day and I found myself singing along. It's very inoffensive and has a nice message behind it. R. City's verses are kinda cool and interesting, but honestly, Adam's chorus is the only part I care about. I'll always be biased about loving his voice.
46 twentyonepilots - Stressed Out
I'm really iffy on 21P in general, but this song is a quirky, easily accessible, and relatable poppy tune about being stressed out while growing up. So I definitely relate! I imagine my college peers will be obsessed with this song come next semester and I'll be hearing it quite a lot around town. I usually don't like songs that sound like this, but I think the lyrics are what really won me over here. Something about the song is nostalgic and reminds me of the early 2000s too... does anyone else hear a little bit of Eminem's "My Name Is"?
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45 Runnin' (Lose It All) [feat. Beyoncé & Arrow Benjamin]
I'm a huge Bey fan in general, and I absolutely love Naughty Boy's La La La with Sam Smith, so I was excited to see what these two brought together. This collaboration was actually pretty unexpected but in the best way possible. The result it is a nice, mellow pop song with strong verses and a memorable chorus. It's not the most noteworthy pop song of the year for sure, and it does feel slightly safe despite being unexpected, but it's still a nice addition to both of their discographies. Not much to say on Arrow Benjamin - he's just there.
44 The Chainsmokers - Roses (feat. ROZES)
I actually saw The Chainsmokers live last year and they put on a great EDM show. I certainly have gained respect for them despite absolutely loathing their breakthrough viral hit, #SELFIE. Rightfully so, Roses is becoming their new signature hit and it actually shows what they're really capable of. The girl's voice sounds nice with the chill bit, and overall this is a perfect, progressive electronic pop song for a college student like myself. I mostly chill out to this song. Also sounds great on the radio.
43 CAZZETTE - Genius (feat. Buster Moe)
This song is kind of stupid lyrically - but it's ridiculously catchy. CAZZETTE's song Sleepless was one of my absolute favorite songs of 2014, so I was looking out for their new material this year. They ended up releasing a Desserts EP, with this song being included. It's kind of odd, but at the same time it's easy to digest & flows well. It also doesn't sound dated. which is a nice bonus. I'm hoping this becomes a hit on the off chance, so I think it's quite fun.
42 Janet Jackson - No Sleeep (feat. J. Cole)
Janet is such a unique force in the music industry, and this song reminded everyone this year why is she simply irreplaceable. Even years after her peak, she pulls off seductive & subdued R&B better than her peers could ever dream of. This song is just effortlessly sexy. J. Cole's verse also fits this beat amazingly and showcases his talents. Overall, I was very impressed with this and consider it a hundred times better than anything on Discipline. NO ONE does it like Ms. Jackson.
41 Miguel - Coffee (feat. Wale)
This song sort of reminds me of Adorn, but Adorn is more electronic. Coffee is something I would describe as more organic R&B. Even though I prefer Adorn (which is a classic to me), Coffee is a nice addition to the sonic area where Miguel really shines. Wale remains underrated as ever and adds a nice verse. This type of song is also where Wale ALWAYS sounds best (see: Bad, Lotus Flower Bomb, more sexy/emotionally complex songs lyrically). I didn't like the rest of Miguel's new album, but Coffee was pretty instant!
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40 Rae Srummerd - Come Get Her
This song is a hot mess, but emphasis on the HOT. It's crazy fun to hear this when you're out with friends & it's catchy as hell. Rae Srummerd stands out well from the other hip-hop/r&b acts of 2015 for their good ear for melodies & their fun wordplay & energy. They are kind of like Fetty Wap, but even more adventurous with their sound. This song is undeniably unique & an immediate standout on the radio. In a year where many rap hits started to sound the same, Srummerd proved they can make a name for themselves with hit after hit... Come Get Her being my absolute favorite. Oh, and the video is amazing.
39 Years & Years - King
Incredibly disappointed this never took off in the US since it's so amazing, but Years & Years were definitely one of the best new acts to come during 2015. I cannot wait for their follow-up to Communion! King is a perfect introduction to their sound with an uplifting beat & soaring chorus that gets stuck in your head all day. I listened to this all Summer 2015, so I associate it with warm weather & basically all things bright & happy. No other band is making music like theirs, & this will give them lasting power in the end!
38 Rudimental - Lay It All On Me (feat. Ed Sheeran)
I'm a big fan of Ed Sheeran & think he's incredible versatile & adaptive to whatever he seems bent on creating. Lay It All On Me isn't a particularly experimental or risky track, but it's a nice little mellow tune that flows seamlessly on your playlists or on the radio. His voice is very soothing and the beat is incredibly accessible. Overall, this isn't a instant attention grabber, but it's one that lasts with you longer as time goes on.
37 Lana Del Rey - High By the Beach
Lana serving lite-trap! Honestly, certain parts of the production remind me of Lil Wayne's Lollipop, which is kinda weird but oh well. Anyway, my favorite Lana songs in general are the ones in which she has more production behind her, so I found High By the Beach refreshing after Ultraviolence was a little too slow for my liking. Like Lay It All On Me, this is more of a mellow tune that what I would call a "bop", but that just makes it all the more worthwhile in the end. This is the only song from Honeymoon that I honestly thoroughly enjoyed, so I hope she continues having more production a la Born to Die in the future.
Missy is such a queen. She's on absolute fire on this track & it's beautiful to see her comeback in such strong form again when people were doubting her abilities. The beat is very... typical of Pharrell, but thankfully his predictability doesn't overshadow Missy's greatness. In fact, this is probably his best production in a good couple of years. The final verse from Missy is especially a highlight of this tune. And the video is one of the best of the year easily! I will always root for Missy no matter what!
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35 Tink - Million
Definitely one of my favorite samples of the year (Aaliyah's One In a Million). Tink proved her potential to me this year with her multi-faceted rapping and singing talents, proving she could become a true force in the industry in coming years. Additionally, it seems like she has the drive & determination to do whatever it takes to succeed. Timbaland jumped the shark a number of years ago, but he still has his excellent moments, such as here & his work with Tink in general. Tink seems to bring the creative energy within him alive again. Although this is my personal favorite of hers, listen to Ratchet Commandments as well!
34 Marina & the Diamonds - Immortal
FROOT is by far my favorite Marina record to date, as the songs all flow seamlessly together & her melodies/songwriting are stronger than ever. Electra Heart definitely had some filler. I have to say, though, that my absolute favorite track on FROOT has always been Immortal. Her voice is simply haunting here, & I relate to these lyrics quite a lot. It's simply a beautiful song that deserves more recognition.
33 Melanie Martinez - Soap
I'm not a huge fan of Melanie's general sound and aesthetic themes for her Dollhouse era, but Soap has always been the anomaly and exception for her with me. The (original) video is rather simple, but it fits the sound of the song perfectly. It makes a clever metaphor of the common cliche "wash your mouth with soap!" and compares it to the feeling of saying things to a crush you later regret. Everyone can relate to this in some way, & the sadness of the beat/her vocals gives it that much more weight to me.
32 Janelle Monáe & Jidenna - Yoga
This song is so stupid (and shockingly stupid for Janelle). But... that's why I absolutely love it. The lyrics are absurb, the beat isn't too far from last year's Dark Horse, & the song is honestly rather trend-hopping. Does that mean Janelle didn't slay it? ABSOLUTELY NOT! She totally rides this beat with confidence & smoothness only a talent like her could. She pokes fun at the trivialness of the song throughout with her witty lyrics & carefree tone. Jidenna also contributes a nice guest verse as well.
31 Calvin Harris & Disciples - How Deep Is Your Love (feat. Ina Wroldsen)
Calvin has become pretty generic, but this doesn't mean he's bad by any means. In fact, I like this song quite a lot. It has a lot of house vibes & Ina's voice sounds excellent. It's not his best, but it definitely tides me over until his next album & is an excellent workout anthem. I'm awaiting his next album in 2016!
and it's always nice to have Missy around. 
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Soap deserved to be a smash hit for Mel.
Soap and Immortal 
I need to stop not listening to Tink 
