Hello fam! For this post, I will be counting down my Top 50 songs of 2017! Now a few posts ago, I reviewed my Bottom 10 songs of 2017. You can check it out here if you haven’t already. But what about the songs the were actually good? There’s plenty of songs that I liked this year. Some I have come around to; others I loved from the start. With that in mind, let’s get on with it!
Normally, most of the blogging community would count down the songs that made it to the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown. However, for my blog, I’m going to bend the rules a little bit. Instead of just counting down the songs that were on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown, I will also include those that charted on the American Top 40. The reason being is because I recently started reviewing the American Top 40, and I wanted to try something different. For a song to make My Top 45, there are certain requirements that have to be met. Let’s go over some of the rules.
1) A song must spend at least one week in either countdown (Hits 1 Weekend Countdown, American Top 40, or both).
2) Any song from Hits 1 that was on Hit-Bound or YouTube 15, but never made it to the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown is not eligible to be on the list. The only exception to the rule is if it spent at least one week on the American Top 40, as I mentioned above.
3) Songs that debuted in late November or December on either countdown are not eligible to be on this list UNLESS it spent only one week on either countdown (meaning they debuted one week and exited the next week). Otherwise, they will be saved for my 2018 rankings.
And here you go. Those are the eligibility requirements for the songs. Now let’s dive right in and talk about my favorite songs of 2017! But first, I will mention several songs that debuted a little late to be eligible for this list and they’ll be in consideration for next year’s rankings, whether it be my Top 45 songs, or my Bottom 10. Here they are:
- Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran – River
- Harry Styles – Kiwi
- Liam Payne – Bedroom Floor
- Louis Tomlinson – Miss You
- Macklemore featuring Kesha – Good Old Days
- Marshmello featuring Khalid – Silence
- Selena Gomez featuring Marshmello – Wolves
- Sofi Tukker – Best Friend
- Symon – Lonely Girl
- Taylor Swift featuring Ed Sheeran and Future – End Game
- Walk The Moon – One Foot
- X Ambassadors – Ahead Of Myself
Okay. So with that out of the way, I am ready to begin reviewing my Top 50 Songs of 2017. But before we get to that, there are several songs that were good, but they just miss the final cut. They were so close to making the list, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Let’s go through my honorable mentions. Here they are:
- Aaron Carter – Sooner Or Later
- Calvin Harris featuring Kehlani and Lil’ Yatchy – Faking It
- The Chainsmokers – Honest
- Charlie Puth – Attention
- Cheat Codes featuring Demi Lovato – No Promises
- Demi Lovato – Sorry Not Sorry
- Drake – Passionfruit
- Erin Bowman – Good Time Good Life
- Evaride – Heartless
- Hey Violet – Break My Heart
- Hey Violet – Hoodie
- Imagine Dragons – Believer
- Jon Bellion – Overwhelming
- Jonas Blue featuring William Singe – Hey Mama
- Kaleo – Way Down We Go
- Kehlani featuring G-Eazy – Good Life
- Kelly Clarkson – Love So Soft
- Lady Gaga – Million Reasons
- Lukas Graham – You’re Not There
- Martin Garrix featuring Dua Lipa – Scared To Be Lonely
- Niall Horan – Slow Hands
- Nick Jonas – Find You
- Ocean Park Standoff – Good News
- Rag’n’Bone Man – Human
- Sam Smith – Too Good At Goodbyes
- TWENTY ØNE PILØTS – Heavydirtysoul
- ZAYN featuring Taylor Swift – I Don’t Wanna Live Forever
- Zedd featuring Alessia Cara – Stay
With all that in mind I will now finally present to you my Top 50 songs of 2017! These were the songs that all stood out to me all year long. There were a majority of the songs I liked from the start, while there were some that took a while for me to grow into. But overall, all of the songs I’m about to review were all good, they had to make the list. Let’s get right into it!
50. Linkin Park – One More LightThis was a tribute single to
Chester Bennington, who passed away unexpectedly this year from suicide. It definitely fits the somber mood. I do love the vocals for the most part. It’s a sad, but sweet song at the same time.
49. Linkin Park featuring Kiiara – HeavyThis song came rather unexpectedly for a
Linkin Park comeback single. Even more unexpected was the fact that they decided to collaborate with
Kiiara. She previously made her presence back in 2016 with her debut single
Gold, which was widely panned by bloggers and YouTube critics alike. In this song, it was a different story.
Kiiara actually improved on her vocals. I do like the lyrical content all throughout the song. While this wasn’t
Linkin Park’s best work thus far, I still loved it, mainly for what this song had to offer. It was good to hear from
Chester Bennington before he passed away unexpectedly. He will be missed.
48. Portugal. The Man – Feel It Still
I love when indie artists like these guys can get an unexpected hit in the US. I thought this song was okay at first, but it eventually grew on me. Even though I’m not necessarily big on the vocals, everything else about this song is pretty good for the most part. In a way, I do think it’s catchy. I’m glad this was successful.
47. Louis Tomlinson featuring Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals – Back To You
Louis Tomlinson impressed me in 2017 when he released his collaboration with Bebe Rexha in this single. I do think it’s one of the best songs Louis has released so far in his solo career. The best thing I love about this song is Bebe Rexha. I love how she basically takes over the entire song. The way she hits those high notes is amazing. I also like how their vocals blend together, especially in the second chorus, plus the final one near the end. It was never a big hit like I wanted to me, but Louis managed to win me over with this song.
46. Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso featuring Florida Georgia Line and Watt – Let Me Go
After Starving became a success, it was a no-brainer that Hailee Steinfeld would continue to make her presence known in the world of music. Back in the spring, she released a follow-up with Most Girls, which I did enjoy for a while, but didn’t quite stick with me in the long run. When Let Me Go came around, I was impressed. This is basically a better version of Starving, except it has better lyrical content and Hailee Steinfeld shines more in this song. I love the verses from Florida Georgia Line as well. Not only that, but Alesso did a nice job as a DJ throughout the song. He able to showcase what he can really do. It’s definitely a sweet song, but upbeat at the same time. It’s doing quite well as of right now elsewhere and I’m glad because it’s Hailee Steinfeld’s best single thus far.
45. Mono Mind – Save Me A Place
You know, I love it when Hits 1 picks up songs you probably won’t hear anywhere else. This song is special in every sense of the word. It was unlike anything I’ve heard before on the radio. Simply put, it’s an electronic dance song that you don’t hear often. One of the things I love about this song is the electronic vocals all throughout. Plus, the female vocalist who sings in the chorus sounds amazing. It reminds me of Ellie Goulding, an artist who I absolutely love. The verses aren’t really much, but everything else about this song is great. It did end up being mildly successful on Hits 1, barely missing out on the Top 5 with a peak at #6. I’m glad Mono Mind was able to make a great first impression with this single. I’m looking forward to hearing more from them soon.
44. Imagine Dragons – Thunder
Coming off their success of Believer, Imagine Dragons continue to take advantage of it and decided to release this song as the next single off of Evolve. While I do still like Believer, I may like this even more. There’s just something about this song that pulls me in. I think it has to do with the line, “Lightning, then the thunder”, which in a way grabs my attention. I do like the chorus for the most part. Overall, they won me over with this song and I still enjoy it. It may be a long time until I get sick of it.
43. Logic featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid – 1-800-273-8255
Most songs talk about love, relationships, and some other stuff people can relate to. However, this song talks about one topic that we never hear in music: suicide. It’s sad that people take their own lives due to a variety of reasons, such as bullying, depression, etc. I’m glad Logic was able to create this song that talks about suicide, and he was able to execute it perfectly. I do love the verses and the chorus is mesmerizing. This did well on Billboard after they performed it at the MTV Video Music Awards. I am happy that it was successful because frankly, it’s a good song that deserves recognition about a topic that no one talks about in music.
42. Fall Out Boy – Champion
Fall Out Boy disappointed me with the disastrous comeback single, Young And Menace. However, they improved BIG TIME with this song. It reminded me of their classic music. The intro where they play the electric guitar was really nice and it made me think that they improved and sure enough, I was right. The chorus, the production, and the vocals are really good. That’s all I’ve got to say for this song. Too bad this failed to take off elsewhere.
41. Steve Aoki featuring Louis Tomlinson – Just Hold On
This song was made basically as a tribute to Louis Tomlinson’s mother, who passed away after an illness. It was nice to hear from Steve Aoki again. He did previously had Back 2 U on Hit-Bound, but it failed to graduate. Now, here he is with my #41 song of the year. Steve Aoki did a solid job as a DJ all throughout the song. I love the production. Louis’s vocals are pretty good for the most part. I’m glad Hits 1 treated it better, because Louis is from One Direction and they love anything by the band in general. And that’s perfectly fine by me because it’s a good song overall.
40. Bebe Rexha – I Got You
One of Bebe Rexha’s best songs as a solo artist. I love the production on this one. She definitely showcases her vocal talent all throughout the song. It shows what she’s really capable of as an artist. As soon as we get to the chorus, we hear the “oh-na-na-na-na”. That’s one of the best things I like about this song. It’s too bad that this one failed to take off elsewhere, but I still love it no matter what and I’m hoping we get more songs like this.
39. Maroon 5 featuring SZA – What Lovers Do
Maroon 5 disappointed me with their two recent singles (Don’t Wanna Know and Cold). To say the least, I had low expectations coming in to their next single. As it turned out, I was quite impressed for the most part. While it may be a little repetitive (especially in the chorus), the rest of the song is pretty divine. SZA herself made a nice contribution to the song. To me, her contribution is much better than both Kendrick Lamar and Future. Both Adam’s and SZA’s verses flow very nicely throughout the song. It’s good to see the better song from Maroon 5 become a hit late in the year.
38. Macklemore featuring Skylar Grey – Glorious
This was Macklemore’s first single without Ryan Lewis, when the duo decided to break up. He decided to collaborate with an artist not very well-known to the public, by the name of Skylar Grey. After listening to the song in full, I was happy with how the collaboration turned out. Macklemore showcases his rapping skills all throughout the song. Even though he’s not as good as Eminem, at least he shows me what he is capable of. Skylar’s vocals are pretty divine as well, especially in the chorus. I’m happy that Macklemore made a comeback single and I’m hoping for more.
37. French Montana featuring Swae Lee – Unforgettable
I never talked about this song too much during the time I was reviewing the American Top 40. You’ve probably seen me put this in green throughout its entire tenure, which basically tells you my thoughts on the song. But allow me to explain. There’s plenty of things I like about the song. One of the best things about it is the verses. The production is pretty good as well. Those who like it can explain this one better than I can. But simply put, I’m in love with this one.
36. Jason Derulo featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Nicki Minaj – Swalla
On paper, when I saw the title of the song alone, I was scared. But somehow, it actually turned out really well. This song is pretty weird (but the good kind of weird), but there’s something to like about it. This is basically a guilty pleasure of mine. It’s definitely different than what we hear from Jason Derulo. Some of the verses are pretty cool. Overall, it’s a weird, but good song.
35. Martin Garrix featuring Bebe Rexha – In The Name Of Love
The year was 2016, and this song was trending on the YouTube 15. When I first heard it, I was pretty darn impressed. I was happy that it made it to the countdown in late 2016 because it’s a really good song. The production is amazing. I absolutely LOVE the way Bebe Rexha can hit those high notes. Her vocal performance is easily the best thing about this song. Martin Garrix has proven to be a really good DJ. It’s too bad that this, along with its successor, failed to become a big hit elsewhere. I do wish that Martin Garrix deserved better.
34. ZAYN featuring Sia – Dusk Till Dawn
Before this song came around, ZAYN’s music had been quite a mixed bag for many. I did enjoy Pillowtalk and I Don’t Wanna Live Forever for a while, but Still Got Time was a snooze fest and just wasn’t good. He decides to redeem himself a bit by collaborating with Sia with the song, Dusk Till Dawn. My initial reaction to this song was not all that great from the first listen. I thought it was too underwhelming for my tastes, mainly because of the vocals alone. I could tell when I first heard it that these two were either half-asleep when they recorded the song. As it would eventually turn out,they were building it up leading the chorus, which is the best thing about the songs. Their vocals shine and blend together all throughout the song. Even though it’s not a big hit elsewhere, both artists have managed to win me over with this song.
33. John Legend – Love Me Now
It had been a while since we heard from John Legend in terms of his solo music. Other than his collaboration with Meghan Trainor in Like I’m Gonna Lose You (which I was in love with and I still do enjoy it), he’s been pretty quiet. But then this song came around in late 2016, and it was nice to hear from him again. I didn’t fully loved it right away, though. I thought it was just pretty good, but I warmed up to it in record time. It’s basically a love song that talks about wanting to love someone now while he/she still can. While it’s not quite his best work thus far, it’s certainly an upbeat track that has good lyrical content that we all can relate. It’s too bad this didn’t do so well on the charts. I was hoping the public would catch on to this song, but it just wasn’t meant to be unfortunately. No matter what, I still love this song and I’m hoping for more from him.
32. Panic! At The Disco – L.A. Devotee
In 2016, Hits 1 shared their newfound love for Panic! At The Disco when Victorious became a huge hit on their station, hitting #1 during its second tenure on the countdown. Then, they brought us Death Of A Bachelor, which while not quite having the same success as its predecessor still peaked in the Top 10 at #7. When Death Of A Bachelor started to decline, Hits 1 decided to pick up one more single from them. And that song was L.A. Devotee, a much more fast-paced song with some rock elements to it. Brendon Urie shines a lot more here, especially in the chorus. It sounds like he’s having a lot of fun when he recorded this single. I love upbeat songs with rock vibes to it. I’m glad this became another moderate success on Hits 1, even though their music isn’t as big elsewhere. This song was their last stand and since Hits 1 isn’t picking up anymore singles from them, I’ll be waiting a while for something new to come along.
31. Jon Bellion – All Time Low
Adrian’s #10 pick of 2016. He can explain this one better. I do like what this song has to offer. Jon Bellion sounds pretty good all throughout the song, and I like the production. Looking at the lyrical content, it talks about a relationship being so bad that it’s reached an all time low, hence the title. I’m glad this somewhat became a minor hit, and I’m sure Adrian is too.
30. P!NK – What About Us
Adrian can explain this one in detail better than I can. But simply put, P!NK is one of those rare, one-of-a-kind artists that almost never disappoints me with her music. This song is no exception. Even though it doesn’t quite live up to her best work thus far, I can’t deny that this song is still great by any means. She showcases her vocal talent all throughout the song and I like the production. That’s probably all I can say about this song. It’s very pleasing to see this hit #1 on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown. I’m glad it was successful and again, it was another win for P!NK.
29. Adele – Water Under The Bridge
Many fans of Adele wanted this song to be the next single off of the masterpiece of an album that is 25 and sure enough, they got their wish. Water Under The Bridge has more going on in terms of the production than its predecessor. The chorus is amazing all throughout. I love her voice and I like the build-up leading to the chorus. The lyrical content is also well written. While this didn’t do quite as well as her predecessor, at least it was a respectable hit and managed to make the Billboard and Hits 1 Year-End lists. Thanks Adele, for pleasing my ears again with this song.
28. Shawn Mendes – Mercy
Most music critics loathed Treat You Better, mainly because Shawn Mendes comes off as a whiny guy who tries to win a girl’s heart. I may have enjoyed it at first, but it didn’t take me long to realize what the critics were talking about. And soon enough, I got sick of it. Now his successor, Mercy, was a different story. It’s better written than Treat You Better, and Shawn Mendes makes better use of his instruments. I also love the chorus all throughout, especially the final chorus, which pulls me in. This song did very well on Hits 1 and could’ve been #1 had Ed Sheeran didn’t make a comeback. Anyway, I do still enjoy this song and is one of Shawn’s best thus far.
27. Bruno Mars – Versace On The Floor
Oh, Bruno Mars. Do you not disappoint. When compared to some of the other singles off of 24K Magic, Versace On The Floor is not one of those party songs that make you want to have fun and go wild. It’s more of a calm song designed for people who want to slow dance instead. Bruno Mars is definitely a talented singer, and he showcases his raw vocals all throughout the song. I recently watched his special on TV and he has proven that he can sing live. It’s too bad that it didn’t live up to its predecessors in terms of success. Still, that doesn’t stop me from supporting this song.
26. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber – Despacito
Like I said before, I am not making friends with many people right now because I’m still not sick of this song. Most consider this to be the most overrated song of 2017, but I beg to differ. Despacito is one of the biggest Latin crossover hits that we’ve had in a long time. Of course, you can thank the remix with Justin Bieber for allowing that to happen. But even without the remix, I was fond of this song to begin with. I love the verses from both Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. Making things better is the fact that Justin Bieber knows how to sing in Spanish, too. Because of Justin Bieber, Luis Fonsi managed to get himself a huge hit in the United States and worldwide, spending 16 weeks at #1 on Billboard which ties the record with the amazing One Sweet Day. I’m sure most people will call this the most overrated song of 2017, but honestly I can’t help but enjoy this song. I’m glad Luis Fonsi managed to win me over with this single.
25. The Chainsmokers – Paris
This is the first song by The Chainsmokers in which there was no artist to collaborate with. It’s just Andrew Taggart singing the whole thing. That’s good, because he has shown that he is proven to be a great vocalist. We do, however, get un-credited vocals from Emily Warren in some parts of the song. The production throughout the song is pretty divine from start to finish. This song was another success worldwide for The Chainsmokers and once again, they continue to impress with this song.
24. Lady Gaga – The Cure
This song kinda came out of nowhere during the beginning of spring of 2017. Around the time Million Reasons started to die down, Lady Gaga decided to release this a follow-up single. To put it short, I love everything about the song. The chorus, the build-up, the production, and her vocals are all amazing. That’s all I’ve really got for this song right now. Even though it wasn’t a big hit elsewhere, it did manage to do well on Hits 1 spending a lot of time in the Top 10. Thank you, Lady Gaga for providing us this well-produced track.
23. Calvin Harris featuring Frank Ocean and Migos – Slide
Calvin Harris did have a good year in 2016 chart-wise when This Is What You Came For became a huge hit. Unfortunately, this song was not to anyone’s liking from a critical standpoint, in large part because of the mediocre drop and the repetition of the word “you” from Rihanna. Many were not expecting anymore releases from him. When it was announced that he would collaborate with Migos and Frank Ocean, many had low expectations coming into the single. After listening to the song in fall, I was actually wowed by Calvin Harris’s new sound. He went for a more groovy sound. And the vocals are actually pretty good for the most part. This song was much more likable among the blogging community and YouTube critics alike. Despite not having a good countdown run on Hits 1, it did pretty well elsewhere and thus, it managed to make the Year-End list on Billboard, which I’m pleased about. Calvin Harris managed to wow me with his new sound and I’m hoping for more of the same.
22. Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj – Side To Side
I love when Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj collaborate. They can make great music together. Bang Bang was a huge favorite of mine back in 2014 and I still do love this song. Side To Side is no different. I love the reggae production all throughout the song. The verses are amazing, especially from Nicki Minaj. As always, Ariana shines bright like a diamond (not a Rihanna reference). Overall, this is my second favorite single off of Dangerous Woman and I’m happy that it got plenty of recognition, spending 3 weeks at #1 on the American Top 40. I hope they keep making music together because they make a great collaboration.
21. Alessia Cara – Scars To Your Beautiful
This song is easily my second favorite single from Alessia Cara thus far. After Wild Things unfortunately flopped, many fans and I were wondering what else did she had in store. She decided to release Scars To Your Beautiful as a follow-up…and simply put, she did not disappoint. I do love the meaning it has behind to it. Basically, she’s telling us that no matter how you look, people are still beautiful just the way they are. Basically, this is definitely a self-empowerment song that people can relate to and I’m hoping she makes more singles like this.
20. Ed Sheeran – Shape Of You
Ah yes, the big return of Ed Sheeran after about three years. This was the song that basically started his domination in the music industry throughout 2017. I like the simplicity of the song. While it may not be an out-of-this-world banger, it’s still a fantastic song by any means. I like the chorus for the most part. His vocals may not seem like much, but he did a pretty good job for the most part. I was happy to see Ed Sheeran make a comeback with this single, and it did very well considering it was #1 everywhere. It’s good to have him back and he’s better than ever.
19. Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do
You know, it’s one thing to expect a bright and bubbly pop song much like in her last album, 1989. But once people listened to this song in full, we actually got something different (not a Why Don’t We reference). This was hated by many YouTube critics, who didn’t like the darker direction that she was going and would rather listen to her older music. Honestly, I feel very alone when it comes to my opinion, but I don’t care. This song bangs. I actually love the darker and edgier direction that Taylor went for. While there’s virtually no actual singing, I do love her verses for the most part. And let’s not forget the music video, plus the cool line “I’m sorry. The old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, ’cause she’s dead.”. While most loathe her new style of work, I’m not really one of them. Sorry to those that don’t like it, but that’s just how I feel. My picks, not yours.
18. Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill
The second of three Ed Sheeran songs on my list. This song has a lot more going on in terms of the production. The lyrical content is well written and how he delivers it made this song better. Basically, it’s like Stressed Out in a way because it talks about what going on in people’s lives. The chorus all throughout the song is amazing. While this didn’t get as big as its predecessor, it still managed to be a respectable hit worldwide. I still love this song and Ed Sheeran has proven to be one of the best songwriters around. I’m hoping we get more songs like this.
17. Taylor Swift – …Ready For It?
This song was released a week after Look What You Made Me Do. It originally served as the promo single for her album, but it was eventually made the official second single off of reputation. To put it easy, this song bangs. I find this to be even better than Look What You Made Me Do for several reasons I’m about to mention. There’s more singing going on and the production is better. Once again, Taylor Swift almost never disappoints with her vocals. The music video is pretty divine as well, but I won’t talk about that right now. What matters is that Taylor Swift manages to impress me yet again with this song, even though it still doesn’t quite live up to her previous work.
16. DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts
While many of the rappers this year have music that is absolutely abysmal, at least DJ Khaled himself was able to come up with something different that is listenable. Wild Thoughts is definitely more superior single than its predecessor. I fell in love with this song from the start. Rihanna’s vocals are excellent in this song; she doesn’t repeat the words more than 50 times like she did with Work, or have that kinda scratchy voice like she did with Love On The Brain. Bryson Tiller contributed to this song very well. Their verses flow very nicely. But the best part about it is the electric guitar that comes after Rihanna finishes singing. This could’ve been a potential #1 had Despacito not come along and took over the top spot all summer long. Still, I’m glad this one managed to get some huge success because it’s one of the best things DJ Khaled has done.
15. Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell, Katy Perry, and Big Sean – Feels
Following the minor success of Slide, Calvin Harris continued to impress me with his new sound. For this one, he decided to bring along Katy Perry, and the collaboration turned out very well. It was also nice hear from Pharrell again, which we haven’t heard new music from since 2014 when Happy was one of, if not his biggest hit up-to-date. Katy Perry sounds amazing as always. The verses from Pharrell and Big Sean were pretty good too. Calvin Harris did a nice job once again by providing us his groovy new sound. It may not have been a bigger hit like I wanted to be, but it’s still a great song regardless.
14. Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie – Rockabye
This one I’m sure all mothers can relate to. Clean Bandit did previously had Rather Be, which was a big favorite of mine back in 2014. Here they are again with my #14 song of the year, titled Rockabye. Simply put, this song is fantastic from start to end. I love the production, especially with the strings being put to great use. The verses from both Sean Paul and Anne-Marie are amazing. I also love the way Anne-Marie can hit those high notes. This was another solid hit for Clean Bandit, despite not being as big as Rather Be. I’m so happy that they managed to impress me once again.
13. Ed Sheeran – Galway Girl
Easily Ed Sheeran’s best single off of his album, Divide. Galway Girl has that folk vibe that I couldn’t resist, and the line, “She played that fiddle in an Irish band.” pulls me in. Even though the song is only less than three minutes, I still enjoyed it from start to finish. Although this song wasn’t successful elsewhere, Hits 1 did treat it better and allowed it to hit #1, because hey, it’s Ed Sheeran and they love him.
12. Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
Ah yes, Bruno Mars’s comeback single. You know, I wish people weren’t too jaded by Uptown Funk being massively overplayed. They much prefer his older singles, such as Just The Way You Are, Grenade, etc. But me, Scott, and Miles beg to differ. I call this Uptown Funk 2.0. This is one of many examples of just how to make a comeback in the music industry. Sure, the lyrics may be nonsense, but Bruno Mars definitely showcases his raw vocal talent and his rapping skills are basically top-notch. If only the mainstream rappers would at least take a page from his book. So yeah, I definitely fell in love with the comeback single from Bruno Mars. Too bad many here don’t really feel the same way.
11. Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson – Symphony
Around the time Rockabye became a huge hit and was still gaining popularity, Clean Bandit released this amazing song a follow-up single. Last year, Zara Larsson gave us the incredible Never Forget You, which was among my favorite songs of 2016. I’m going to be straight up right now: this is a HUGE step up from its predecessor. While Rockabye remains a favorite of mine from this year, this song manages to impress me even more. From the very first listen, I instantly fell in love with Zara’s vocals, the production, and the lyrical content. Pretty much everything about this song is divine from start to finish. Clean Bandit did an excellent job with the production in general. It definitely has that 90’s throwback vibe to it. It’s too bad that this song failed to take off, but what matters is that I’m just happy with the way it turned out. And thank you, Zara Larsson, for impressing me!
Now, we’ve come to our Top 10. These are the songs that I’ve been enjoying pretty much all year. It’s was tough deciding to pick which ones. But eventually after careful consideration, I’ve finally made my decision. Here are the 10 songs that stood out to me in the best way possible:
10. The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk – I Feel It Coming
The Weeknd is one of those artists that hasn’t disappointed me with his music so far (with a few exceptions). I loved most of his singles, such as The Hills and Starboy. This one I’m talking about is no exception. I Feel It Coming is a big step up from its predecessor in terms of the production. I do love how he sounds like Michael Jackson, especially when I hear him all throughout the song. The coolest part, however, is the fact that we get to hear vocals from Daft Punk for the first time since Get Lucky, after we hear the second chorus. I’m glad this song took off even though it didn’t quite live up to the title track off of Starboy in terms of success. I’m hoping we can hear more from The Weeknd soon.
9. Bruno Mars – That’s What I Like
It’s too bad people were still too jaded by Uptown Funk being overplayed, hence why they didn’t like this song or its predecessor off of 24K Magic. That’s What I Like wasn’t necessarily my first choice to be his next single at the time the title track was starting to die down, but I can’t deny the fact that this is still enjoyable by any means. Once again, Bruno definitely showcases his raw vocals skills. Like most of his songs off the album, it has the throwback vibe that many music critics have come to embrace. This song managed to do well everywhere, hitting #1 on Hits 1, American Top 40, and Billboard.
8. Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.
This is no doubt the best lead single from his album DAMN. in my opinion. It is near-flawless. Kendrick Lamar is definitely one of the most talented hip-hop singers out there, unlike some of the other mainstream artists in that genre. If only these guys would at least take a page from his book. Anyway, those who like this one can explain it better than I can. I do think Kendrick shows personality and charisma all throughout the song, and I like his verses. He managed to win me over with this single.
7. Harry Styles – Sign Of The Times
Of all the One Direction members going solo, I think Harry Styles made easily the best first impression with his debut single. He decided to go for a more rock-type sound with 70’s-80’s throwback vibe to it. If you listened to his latest album, there’s proof that it sounds more like some of the classic rock music that critics have come to embrace. The production is solid all across the board. Harry showcases his vocal talent all throughout the song. He really shows what he’s capable of as an solo artist. His entire debut album proves it, in which he shines in some of the songs I won’t mention right now. Harry managed to impress me with his 70’s-80’s rock sound and I’m glad it received critical acclaim from many critics and bloggers alike.
6. The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay – Something Just Like This
When Paris lost its steam elsewhere, The Chainsmokers tried to keep chugging it along with another follow-up. However, by that point, most people were sick of The Chainsmokers. But I beg to differ. Ever since they made a breakthrough with Roses, every single they released was a big hit, and I enjoyed every one of those songs. This year, they had Paris, which was pretty divine as well. However, this song wowed me the most this year. It’s basically Roses 2.0, except this time you have Chris Martin’s vocals. I like how he makes references to super-heroes, such as Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man. Back in the day, I watch superhero cartoons all the time where they fight bad guys and save the world. Every day, I would imagine wanting to be a superhero and facing danger. That was cool. It’s too bad Andrew Taggart doesn’t show up with his vocals; he instead works on the production. Despite this, the song still manages to impress me from start to finish. Words cannot describe how amazing this song is. I’m so glad that this was #1 for three weeks on Hits 1, and became Coldplay’s biggest hit thus far, even though they only needed to thank The Chainsmokers for their rising popularity.
And now I will present to you my Top 5 songs of the year. Once again, these were the songs I loved from the start and I still love them to this day. These songs wowed me from start to finish. I think these were some of the major stand-outs I made my decision. Here are my top 5 favorite songs of the year:
5. Shawn Mendes – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back
I love when artists step up their game after they made singles which were not to many critics’ liking. That’s pretty much what happened with Shawn Mendes in 2017. Treat You Better I did like for a while, but once I paid attention to the critics’ takes on it, I realized how mediocre the song truly was. Then came Mercy, which was better written and had better production. When that song started to die down elsewhere, many were asking this question: what more did Shawn Mendes had to offer? One may answer, “not much”, because there weren’t many good single choices left off of Illuminate. However, just when virtually this song kinda came out of nowhere. At first listen, I thought it was just a pretty good song. But it grew on me more with every listen. The thing I like about this song is the fact that Shawn decided to go Latin. I’ll bet Gloria Estefan would be pleased to see him continue that path, because he definitely managed to win me over with this song. This was much more likable among YouTube critics because Shawn doesn’t come off as a whiny guy this time around and it has better lyrical content. The only other thing that made this my #5 song is the production. It drastically improved in comparison to his two predecessors I’ve already mentioned. Personally, I think this is the best single off of Illuminate. I’m glad that it was very successful worldwide and is one of Shawn’s biggest hits up-to-date.
4. Kygo featuring Selena Gomez – It Ain’t Me
Prior to this song being released, not very many people knew Kygo. He did release a few singles since entering the music business, with songs such as Carry Me and Here For You. In 2017, Kygo finally made his presence known to the music industry with It Ain’t Me. However, I think bringing in Selena Gomez was what made this song become a hit. To put it short, this song is divine! Basically, what this song talks about her relationship with a guy and that it wasn’t her. The guitars throughout the song are awesome, and Selena’s voice shines throughout. I also enjoy the build-up leading to the amazing beat drop. Kygo did a very nice job with the song overall. I highly recommend listening to his latest album, Kids In Love, if you haven’t already. These two artists definitely won me over with this single.
It all comes down to this, guys. What I am about to present to you is my Top 3 favorite songs of the year. These songs were so good that they were chosen by me to be in that region. It was a serious competition between these three songs in terms of who would be my #1 pick. After thinking for a long time, I’ve finally put together my Top 3. Here we go.
3. Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley – Chained To The Rhythm
Katy Perry has always been one of those artists that almost never disappoints me with her music. Earlier this year she released this as her comeback single, and she brought along newcomer Skip Marley. My expectations were pretty high coming into the song. And when all was said and done, I was happy with how the collaboration turned out. Simply put, this song is AMAZING! I absolutely love the production here; it’s very top-notch. And as always, Katy Perry delivers with her awesome vocals. And it’s nice that we get a contribution from Skip Marley. His verses flow pretty well, too. This is definitely one of the best comeback singles we’ve had all year and I enjoyed it from start to finish. Despite Witness not being a great album overall, this was easily the best lead single for that era. While this wasn’t the #1 song I had hoped to be, at least it managed to get a spot in the Year-End list and I’m very pleased about that.
2. Lorde – Green Light
It was four years ago that Lorde came onto the spotlight with her debut single, Royals, which was a favorite among YouTube critics, and mine as well. Since Pure Heroine, many were looking forward to hearing more of Lorde again. She did have some other singles, one of which is Yellow Flicker Beat, which was taken from The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack. The other was her collaboration with Disclosure in their single, Magnets. I loved both of these songs (and I still do). Coming into Green Light, I had high hopes that Lorde would offer something at least good to some degree. After the first listen, I’ll say that she did not disappoint. Although her vocals may not sound like much, everything else about this song is absolutely amazing from the top down bottom up. I love the lyrical content to this song. It basically talks about a heartbreak and what she has been through for the past few years. Then, we get to the production, which to me is easily the best part about this song. The piano work all throughout the song, as well as the beat and the chorus, is awesome. As soon as I finished listening to this song in full, I instantly fell in love with it. However, not many people felt the same way, hence why this song, along with the rest of her sophomore album Melodrama, didn’t really take off elsewhere, chart-wise. Still, I can’t deny the fact that Lorde crafted this masterpiece of a song, and I definitely wished it deserved better.
1. Kesha – Praying
Kesha has made easily the best comeback single we’ve heard all year. Ever since she made a breakthrough with Tik Tok back in 2009, she has continued to impress me with each release. Praying is no exception. While it may be a huge departure from her previous singles, Kesha can finally be able to show off what her voice can do. But then we get to the chorus, which is easily one of the two best things about it, along with lyrical content, which is very well written. It’s a song about Dr. Luke, whose relationship with her soured after he abused her. Almost every music critic as praised this song, and for a very good reason. This is easily the best thing she has done in her career. If you haven’t already, I highly, HIGHLY recommend checking out her latest album Rainbow because it is AMAZING!!! Simply put, the entire album is basically EVERYTHING I LOVE about Kesha. There’s plenty of good songs that are worth listening to and they have plenty of replay value. I’ll say this: Welcome back, Kesha!
And I’ve finally done it! These were my Top 50 songs of 2017, decided by me! I would like to say thank you for taking the time to read this list. You can leave a comment below about what you think of my list. It’s been an honor to share my blog with you guys in my first year and I’m hoping my journey continues! Have a good day!
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