In 2014, I discovered online music critics Todd in the Shadows and Spectrum Pulse. Yes, it took me that long to find the former. So I kinda decided to let myself become fascinated by pop music and do my own music critiques and lists. Overall I'm not proud of those lists, though. Guess I just wasn't used to it yet. Writing-wise, at least. So, before we talk about the best songs, let's just briefly list off what I think were the worst songs of 2014:
10. Na Na by Trey Songz
9. Amnesia by 5 Seconds of Summer
8. Show Me by Kid Ink ft. Chris Brown
7. Fancy by Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX
6. Latch by Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
5. Loyal by Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Tyga
4. Wiggle by Jason Derulo ft. Snoop Dogg
3. Lifestyle by Rich Gang ft. Young Thug & Rich Homie Quan
2. 23 by Mike WiLL Made-It ft. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J
1. Anaconda by Nicki Minaj
DHM:
Adore You by Miley Cyrus
No Mediocre by T.I. ft. Iggy Azalea
Dark Horse by Katy Perry ft. Juicy J
Drunk In Love and Partition by Beyoncé
This Is How We Roll by Florida Georgia Line ft. Luke Bryan
Don't Tell 'Em by Jeremih ft. YG
Okay, got those out of the way. Now for the positivity. Since I wasn't even following the charts for more than half of 2014, the songs I put on the best list were kinda rushed. I didn't have much time to let the songs of 2014 sink in and truly digest what I thought were the best. Most of my favorite songs from the year weren't even mainstream hits. Also I included Counting Stars and Radioactive. While I stand by loving those songs, they were also on the 2013 list and I should've only really touched songs that debuted on the 2014 list. Some of the picks I had for the list before still stand, but overall, my picks need an overhaul. Heh. Rhymes. (My picks for the worst list still stand because holy crap they're bad.) Okay, song is only eligible if it hit the year end 100 in 2014, let's go!
Number 10
When I was in High School Spanish, I remember my teacher trying to get us into Shakira. We listened to the song Inevitable several times trying to identify as many Spanish lyrics as we could. And it was hard, she sang fast in that song. Our teacher also referenced the song Hips Don't Lie a lot in class for some reason. And I guess Shakira was okay. Even my classes didn't really interest me enough to seek out more of her music. Then again, maybe I should have.
Can't Remember to Forget You
Shakira ft. Rihanna
Shakira
#85 on Year End 100
Can't Remember to Forget You is an explosion of good times. From the heavily Latin-inspired verses to the heavy electric guitars of the chorus, this song pleases me on a music level alone. Then we have Shakira and Rihanna tearing up the mic, both showing themselves and forces of personality. They sound great on this track, and they play off each other incredibly well. It's raw and mesmerizing. I just wish Rihanna did this more often. Lyrically, the song is about the two women ranting about a past relationship, but they really sell it. It's almost in the same vein as Miranda Lambert's Mama's Broken Heart, though this does even more for me. From what I understand, though, this song and music video were somewhat controversial for being trashy. Personally, I'm not sure what that does to hurt the song, because it's kind of the point. There's still a lot to like about this song, and I'm always happy to hear more electric guitar in pop music.
Number 9
There's only so much you can do playing just acoustic guitar. Play a few chords slowly and whisper sweet nothings into your lover's ear, stuff like that. But I think that's an opinion most of us have developed since the rise of John Mayer and Jason Mraz. I'll throw Passenger in there too but that's a more recent development. But there's so much more that can be done with an acoustic guitar. And also probably a mixing board. And Pharrell Williams. Like...
Sing
Ed Sheeran
x
#56 on Year End 100
This song's been compared favorably to Justin Timberlake, and I guess I can kinda see why? It's more definitively Ed than anything, at least to me. Which is a good thing because I've actually grown to like Ed Sheeran recently. Even slower stuff like Thinking Out Loud and Photograph. However, I appreciate it much more when he kicks up the tempo and goes for more than just a romantic or sentimental mood. Sing is a track full of fire, grit, and bad decisions. Well, in the lyrics that is. There aren't many wrong decisions in this song, aside from maybe Ed could've used a few more chords? I looked up the tab for this online and there's only like two chords in the entire thing. Ah well. Still, this song is an energetic and interesting look into a night of debauchery. And puppetry. Speaking of which, between the music videos for this song and Missey Elliott's Where They From, do you think maybe Pharrell wants to turn himself into a puppet? Still, this is one of the best tracks Ed Sheeran has ever made. I wish he did more stuff like this. Then I might like him more than I do, because I desperately want to like him more.
Number 8
You could probably call me a sucker for gospel sound in popular music. Something about adding a choir or organ to a song and doing it well makes that song feel a lot more complex and meaningful. It's this sort of anthemic quality that makes songs like The Rolling Stones' You Can't Always Get What You Want and Weezer's The Greatest Man That Ever Lived a delight to me each and every time. And this next song on the list might not even count as having gospel influences, but it sure as hell sounds that way to me.
Love Runs Out
OneRepublic
Native
#67 on Year End 100
In 2013 and 2014, Counting Stars was one of the biggest songs ever. And while this song wasn't nearly as big, or quite as good in my opinion, it does a lot right to give OneRepublic a one-two punch of awesome music. I love the way this sounds all around. It swells naturally, it's powerful, it demands that you listen to it. The piano is dark and menacing, with Ryan Tedder using his vocals in all the right ways. Lyrically, though, this song had me questioning just what mood Tedder was going for. It may seem pissy by the way he says he'll leave when the love runs out. After a few listens, though, it sounds more like he's being persistent in love, ready to do what it takes to make it work until he realizes there's nothing else he can do to keep it together. And it's oddly fitting of this production and imagery. Overall, this is a song that gets stuck in your head for all the right reasons. It's catchy, dark, and epic. And I'm glad OneRepublic is going in this direction. Just call them One Direction. Ha. Ha ha. It's funny because it's a reference.
Number 7
So this is the first point in the list so far where we finally talk about songs that were also on my original Best of 2014 list. Yeah, the first three songs weren't originally there, that's how much my opinions have changed in the past year. But hey, I never made it a rule that songs that were on the first list couldn't be on this one. And good thing, too, because this one still deserves it. Mostly in part because it's the song that actually made me like Ed Sheeran.
Don't
Ed Sheeran
x
#52 on Year End 100
Now THIS is the best Ed Sheeran song I've ever heard. This one isn't as filled with energy as Sing, but it makes up for it in its lyricism and themes. But I'll get to that later. The song goes for a stripped down acoustic guitar line throughout the verses, keeping a cool vibe rather than a slow dance vibe. Then it builds with some bass and percussion in the chorus that brings it all home. Lyrically, the song's essentially a real-life narrative of Sheeran's relationship with Ellie Goulding. So yeah, break-up song. But this keeps it interesting with its lyricism, never going too far or getting pissy. And I can definitely admire that about this song. This is an example of using a stripped down melody to full effect, giving equal focus to the groove of the song and the story being told. And yes, it blows Ellie Goulding's response song On My Mind out of the water (even if I do like that song too). And of course, I wish Ed would make more songs in this vein instead of several tracks like Lego House. (Nothing against it.)
Number 6
So, we got another song I did have on the list before. Still an excellent track, but I don't feel like I gave the best review I could have. It's also from an artist I coincidentally just talked about on my Best of 2015 list, so chances are I'm gonna be repeating myself a lot here. Still, it bares repeating that we need more pop music like this.
Habits (Stay High)
Tove Lo
Queen of the Clouds
#32 on Year End 100
Though I previously admitted that I think Talking Body is the better Tove Lo song, Habits still stands out as one of the most interesting and enjoyable songs of 2014. And yeah, they're in similar places, that's not a contradiction. That's more of a testament to how much of an improvement 2015 was in music overall. This song explores the mindset of a woman who leads an empty lifestyle full of frequent strip club visits, mindless snacking (totally not guilty of that myself just sayin'), and spending all her money on alcohol. But she accepts it to deal with the pain of a breakup. And you know me. Ordinarily I'm not a fan of glorifying bad decisions in music, but this isn't glorifying. Instead, Tove Lo's somewhat droning tone adds even more clarity to her detailed story, making it clear she isn't proud of where she is. Like Talking Body, it's stunningly smart pop music, and I'm glad we have it to make things a lot more interesting. The production and instrumentation's also moody and somewhat downtempo, but definitely well mixed and pleasant to listen to. It takes a rightful place as background noise in the verses, then becomes more prominent in the choruses to match the angsty tone of Tove Lo's singing. So yeah, I love this. Admittedly, this song is very similar to Sia's Chandelier. While that song's also great and one of the heaviest things to come out of 2014, I give the edge to Tove Lo for having a tighter, more focused concept and narrative overall. So yeah, Chandelier will not be on this list. Consider it an honorable mention.
Number 5
Sometimes, it's okay for music to focus more on the feeling it invokes through its sound rather than its lyrics. EDM, of course, fits into this vein because it presents its sound as the main focus even if there's a singer on the track. Of course, the lyrics can be used to reinforce the song's mood, or they could just be gibberish. Though the former is clearly preferable. Turns out, though, that sometimes, you only need a few words to reinforce a song's mood.
Turn Down For What
DJ Snake ft. Lil Jon
Single
#15 on Year End 100
You could consider it a waste of time to put this song on this list. There's not much you can say about it, especially not lyrically. "Fire up your loud, another round of shots/Turn down for what" is all you need to know about this song, what can you say about that? Well, I can say that though Lil Jon doesn't do a lot lyrically, his performance made this song a phenomenon. This is not a smart song by any means, but it's not supposed to be. It's supposed to be a club banger, and it's among the best of its kind. DJ Snake got in my good graces just by being an interesting producer who uses sound effectively. Each of the three drops offers something a little different, but all of them are loose and fun. It almost feels like a novelty at this point for a club song to be for a niche demographic but at the same time be good enough to be enjoyed on its own merits. And I have a feeling that's due in part to the video, which has become iconic in its own right along with Lil Jon's party-ready bars. Okay, they don't really count as bars, I don't care. This is the kind of EDM that gets me hyped. YEA-UH!
Number 4
I have no idea why I didn't put this on my list before, in all honesty. I guess it was because I felt there were better songs from this act that I felt should've gained swell over the one we got. Still, in retrospect, it might've been foolish to do this, since this really did deserve to be on my list. Like Love Runs Out, it's got this larger-than-life feel that demands that you listen to it, and I really should've listened the first time around.
Pompeii
Bastille
Bad Blood
#12 on Year End 100
This song was everywhere last year. Almost like it was 2014's Shut Up And Dance now that I think about it. And yeah, I think it deserved to be as big as it got. Pompeii is such an anthemic piece about coping with disaster. Namely, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that wiped out the titular Pompeii. Can you believe they taught us this in school? Admittedly the song doesn't make a whole lot of sense without proper context. Yeah, it's easy to assume it's literally about Pompeii, because it is, but the singer contradicting himself in the chorus can be a bit confusing. Yeah, he's imitating two skeletons talking to each other. Which...whatever, I'll take it. The rest of the song rocks after all. It's got a natural pace and progression, an awesome drum beat, and almost hypnotic backing vocals during the chorus. Everything about this song screams power, in a lighthearted and somewhat goofy sort of way, but it works. Lead singer Daniel Smith brings a lot of life to this song too, making it the perfect combination for an inescapable rock song. Oddly enough, though, this song actually isn't reflective of the other songs I've heard from Bastille. Bad Blood and Flaws are also really good and you should check them out go do that now. I'll be waiting.
Number 3
I've heard a saying before that British pop is a lot worse and more strange than in America. After hearing stuff like Cher Lloyd, yeah, I can hear where they're coming from. You'd think that people who have accents that awesome would have more to like in the pop scene. But that's neither here nor there. This song's from an artist that I feel defies those expectations of low quality, even if I wish they were more consistent with their good stuff. Of course, since this is the best song they've made up to this point, I guess I can forgive them.
Burn
Ellie Goulding
Halcyon Days
#39 on Year End 100
This song has energy, and I really should have put this here the first time around. Though I'm not really sure the lyrics are supposed to be about anything, they're not exactly bad. Besides, this song excels in its production. With tight synths with a great sense of build to the chorus, listening to this song feels like an event. Ellie Goulding herself gives a great performance as well, even though I can tell a lot of her voice is processed. Personally I don't mind, I think it helps her match the instrumentation. Plus it matches the imagery of letting something burn, whether it be a match or a field. Personally, I consider this Goulding's best song, with 2012's Lights as a close second. Lately, though, I think she's been struggling to capture the intensity of those two songs. In 2015 she had Love Me Like You Do and On My Mind, which I think are good, but nothing spectacular. Still, if this is the best thing she ever records, I think I'd be okay with that.
Number 2
So I put a couple piano ballads in my honorable mentions for my Best of 2013 list. That fact surprised me, because it's easy for a piano ballad to just get boring or pretentious. It takes a lot to earn the emotion any ballad goes for because of this fact. That's why When I Was Your Man and Stay worked for me so well, because the performers sold their emotion and had a ton of charisma. But as much as I like those aforementioned songs, I don't think they could hold a candle to A Great Big World.
Say Something
A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
Is There Anybody Out There?
#17 on Year End 100
I'm kicking myself right now for ignoring this song before. I guess a part of me didn't want to like this song because at first glance, it seems like a sappy, minimalist ballad. And Christina Aguilera was on it. Then I listened to it, and it hit me. Say Something is a rush of sweeping emotion, with simple piano chords and violins to set a somber atmosphere. Ian Axel's delivery and lyrics wrench at my heartstrings from the word "say" and don't let go any time soon. Though the lyrics are admittedly not very detailed, I don't see that as a problem, because it's still presented as something genuine. It's a break-up song, clearly, but the emotion and desperation feel real and potent. You can feel the regret Axel has that things didn't work out due to a lack of communication on both their parts. Basically, it's the opposite of Thomas Rhett's Crash and Burn, where you could tell Rhett never even cared and still doesn't. This is also the best Christina Aguilera has sounded in a long time, though admittedly I don't think much would have been lost without her. Still, in my opinion she does nothing to hurt this song, In fact it kinda plays to her strengths. In 2015, A Great Big World followed this up with Hold Each Other, which I'm sad didn't take off. This is a band I think we need more of, because they know how to do ballads better than nearly anyone else in the music business today.
Alrighty, here's a few Honorable Mentions.
White Walls
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. ScHoolboy Q & Hollis
The Heist
#92 on Year End 100
This song had to grow on me, because it initially felt like a weaker follow-up to Thrift Shop. After repeated listens, though, the talents of everyone involved shine bright here. Brilliant lyricism and creative production make this song definitively Macklemore. The weakest link, however, is ScHoolboy Q's verse. It's not terrible, but his bars don't always seem to connect. Still, if Macklemore wants to rap alongside him, let him do whatever he wants. Doesn't hurt me.
Sweater Weather
The Neighbourhood
I Love You.
#75 on Year End 100
Fast-paced and energetic for the most part, this song is the definitive winter wasteland song. Considering its only competition was Baby It's Cold Outside, though, I think that was clear enough. Plus I love me some indie rock. This song doesn't invest me from beginning to end, but it still sounds creative and full of substance. Personally I prefer Afraid, but what are you gonna do?
Ain't It Fun
Paramore
Paramore
#47 on Year End 100
I wasn't initially impressed with this song, but the more I thought about it, the more it stuck with me. That xylophone melody combined with Hayley's lyrics about being a new girl in a big city really strike me with genuine emotion. One of the best Paramore songs in years.
Best Day of My Life
American Authors
Oh, What a Life
#31 on Year End 100
This song screams positive energy, and it's hard not to get swept up in how enthusiastic and somewhat cheesy this is. It may not be high art, and American Authors may not stick around the mainstream, but I do know that I still like this a lot.
Classic
MKTO
MKTO
#50 on Year End 100
MKTO are more charming than they have any right to be. From comparisons to Prince and Michael Jackson, this song is corny in all the right ways. And really, what girl wouldn't want to be compared to the 80's? This song could've been a lot worse, but instead it's really fun.
The Man
Aloe Blacc
Lift Your Spirit
#48 on Year End 100
Aloe Blacc shows a lot of charisma on this track, and shows that he can be more than the singer on Wake Me Up! I hear this song at work pretty frequently, and I haven't gotten sick of it yet. Not a lot to say, pretty freakin' good.
Team
Lorde
Pure Heroine
#18 on Year End 100
Off the tail-end of the success of Royals, Lorde outdid herself with Team, which had more at stake in both the lyrics and production. This song is well-produced to hell and back, with Lorde painting an ugly picture of the "cities you'll never see on the screen." Well, unless you've seen the Hunger Games films. Huh. It's all coming full circle now.
And now, the big one.
Number 1
If you ask me, the best song of any given year is one that I actively want to become a trendsetter. The one that has the most interesting approach to making a song. Something that I wanna hear more of on the charts. Where it comes from doesn't matter. What does matter is the effort taken to craft a truly special experience, and one that will stick with you for years to come. And of course, they get extra credit if the song's mainstream success makes absolutely no sense. And to be honest, this wasn't the biggest of songs in 2014, but someone somewhere was listening, and this song found a wider audience than expected. Ladies and gentlemen, my number one favorite song of 2014 is...
Come with Me Now
KONGOS
Lunatic
#88 on Year End 100
In hindsight, I'm surprised that this charted at all. It fits into the category of "too awesome for the pop charts," and yet it found a way. And two year after its release, even. But I'm glad it did chart, because this hits all the right notes for me. KONGOS fill a niche in music I didn't even know I wanted filled. These guys hail from South Africa, and it definitely shows in their sound. And I'm not even talking about their use of the accordion, I'm talking about the entire sound. It's hard to describe, but it's there, and it is awesome. It's one of the few songs in 2014 that had a guitar solo, and then they even follow that up with an accordion solo, and man is it sweet. Lyrically, the song is about the necessity to fight for yourself. Or at least that's how I hear it. It definitely feels like a fight song, thankfully without Rachel Platten. My favorite part of the entire song is the third verse, which takes the first few lines of the first verse but builds upon it, turning it into a fantastic crescendo that feels awesome to hear and sing along with. Even though this song didn't even make it into the Top 20, someone was listening, and for that, I can't completely hate 2014. Props to you, KONGOS. You made my favorite hit song of 2014. In 2012, but still.
Speaking of 2012, one of these days I wanna make lists for 2012. Maybe in the next few months? There's a lot of 2012 songs that I don't really know at all so this should be interesting...
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