What’s up, guys? It’s that time of year again! So as I mentioned in one of my previous posts, we did have some mediocrity when I counted down my Bottom 10 Songs of 2018. I feel like the quality of music has been degrading for some time. But that does not mean that there weren’t any good songs at all. In fact, I found plenty of good songs that I enjoyed throughout the year, some of which were huge favorites of mine. So with that, I will be counting down My Top 50 Songs Of 2018! But first, I have some rules and eligibility requirements that I’ll be covering:
1) A song must spend at least one week on either countdown (Hits 1 Weekend Countdown, American Top 40, or both). This does not include the ones that made it exclusively to the Billboard Hot 100.
2) Any song from Hits 1 that was on Hit-Bound or YouTube 15, but never graduated to the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown is not eligible to be on the list. The only exception to the rule is if it had 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. The reason being is because I wanted to avoid ranking them prematurely as they may end up getting bigger in 2019. The only exceptions to the rule are if it had spent only one week on either countdown or if it had left before December. Otherwise, they will be saved for my 2019 rankings.
Those are the rules that I just talked about. Now with that, I’d like to mention several songs that were unable to make its debut in time and will be under consideration for my 2019 rankings. Here are the list of songs below:
- Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly
- Alessia Cara – Trust My Lonely
- Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next
- Ava Max – Sweet But Psycho
- Camila Cabello – Consequences
- David Guetta featuring Anne-Marie – Don’t Leave Me Alone
- Dean Lewis – Be Alright
- DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B – Taki Taki
- Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee – Close To Me
- James Arthur – Empty Space
- Khalid – Better
- Lauren Jauregui – Expectations
- Lauv featuring Julia Michaels – There’s No Way
- Little Mix featuring Nicki Minaj – Woman Like Me
- Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
- Post Malone featuring Swae Lee – Sunflower
- Shawn Mendes – Nervous
- Steve Aoki featuring BTS – Waste It On Me
- TWENTY ØNE PILØTS – Chlorine
Looking at the list, there were several songs that stood out to me. But I will tell you that not all of these will appear in my rankings, as 2019 will obviously have more music that’s yet to come. Finally, I would like to say that there were some songs that I fell in love with, but unfortunately didn’t make the final cut. Therefore, I decided to put together my list of honorable mentions. Here they are:
- Alan Walker featuring Noah Cyrus and Digital Farm Animals – All Falls Down
- Alex Aiono – Big Mistake
- Bazzi – Mine
- Brown & Gray – Top Down
- Charlie Puth – How Long
- Charlie Puth – The Way I Am
- Clean Bandit featuring Julia Michaels – I Miss You
- George Ezra – Shotgun
- Harry Styles – Kiwi
- Kendrick Lamar featuring Zacari – LOVE.
- Khalid featuring Normani – Love Lies
- Liam Payne – Bedroom Floor
- Liam Payne featuring J. Balvin – Familiar
- Logic featuring Marshmello – Everyday
- Louis Tomlinson – Miss You
- MNEK featuring Hailee Steinfeld – Colour
- Niall Horan – On The Loose
- Niall Horan – Too Much To Ask
- Nick Jonas – Find You
- P!NK – Beautiful Trauma
- Portugal. The Man – Live In The Moment
- Sam Smith featuring Logic – Pray (Remix)
- Shawn Mendes – In My Blood
- The Shadowboxers – Hot Damn
- Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift – Babe
- TWENTY ØNE PILØTS – My Blood
- The Vamps – Just My Type
- U2 featuring Cheat Codes – Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way
- Walk The Moon – Kamikaze
- WØLVES – Animal
- X Ambassadors – Ahead Of Myself
Don’t get me wrong. I fell in love with almost half of these on my list of honorable mentions. But I simply just didn’t have any room to place them in my Top 50. Oh well, I can’t really do anything about that. Now last but not least, I would like to go back in time and review My Top 10 Songs of last year.
10. The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk – I Feel It Coming
9. Bruno Mars – That’s What I Like
8. Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.
7. Harry Styles – Sign Of The Times
6. The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay – Something Just Like This
5. Shawn Mendes – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back
4. Kygo featuring Selena Gomez – It Ain’t Me
3. Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley – Chained To The Rhythm
2. Lorde – Green Light
1. Kesha – Praying
So with that, I will now finally present to you My Top 50 Songs Of 2018! Just a fair warning before I get started: some of you may not agree with me on my picks, and that’s okay. All of us here are entitled to our own opinions. I will share many different reasons as to why those songs stood out to me the most this year. There were some that took some time to grow into, while there were others which I instantly liked from the start. And now, it’s time the moment you’ve all been waiting for: My Top 50 Of 2018! Let’s get into it!
50. Clean Bandit featuring Demi Lovato – Solo
To start this off, we get a collaboration between Clean Bandit and Demi Lovato with Solo. This song came just two months before Demi’s recent health issues. And I would like to say that I’ll be praying for Demi Lovato going forward as she continues to overcome this. Anyway, onto the song. Clean Bandit isn’t just your typical EDM group. They have a unique sound that makes their music different from all the rest. I love the idea of mixing classical elements into an EDM song. Solo is one of many examples of that. Demi’s voice is perfect for a song like this. She sounds good with the chopped-up vocals in the chorus. I love the production. Clean Bandit did well with their work on the song. While it may not be their best work, it’s still a keeper.
49. The Struts featuring Kesha – Body Talks
I don’t know much about The Struts as a band. Heck, I didn’t even envision the idea of Kesha collaborating with this band. But I’m glad it turned out well to my liking. Body Talks has the type of instrumentation that pulls me in. It just rocks. I love how their vocals blend together in the chorus. That’s the best thing I can about it. I just recently watched at the music video, and I like the props they used, such as the red banana and the gold microphone. Yeah, everything about this is just divine.
48. Kim Petras – Heart To Break
While I was surfing the web, I came across a song from Kim Petras, who is actually transgender. To say the least, I was impressed with what she had to offer. Heart To Break is a fun, upbeat song that talks about being in a relationship with someone and experiencing it. That’s something most of us can relate to. I love the energy Kim brings us in the song. She has a solid voice and I like the way she can hit those high notes in the chorus. The production is divine all around. This was a good first impression for Kim Petras.
47. Lady Gaga – I’ll Never Love Again
Here, we have the first of two songs from A Star Is Born making my list. Lady Gaga has been relatively quiet throughout most of 2018 in terms of her music. A large part of that has something to do with the fact that she starred in A Star Is Born, which came out in the fall. Not surprisingly, she released the soundtrack. Lady Gaga is well-known for her distinct style of music. Some of my favorites songs from her include Born This Way, Telephone, etc. Here, she gives us a ballad in the form of I’ll Never Love Again, which is one of the highlights off of the album. Lady Gaga’s voice is perfection. I love the piano work, and the lyrical content is just awesome. And I love the ending where we hear Lady Gaga’s voice. It’s just beautiful. Overall, it’s one of the stand-outs from the album.
46. Imagine Dragons – Natural
This song kinda came out of nowhere and thus, it would start a whole new era for Imagine Dragons. Obviously, they’ve maintained their presence throughout 2018, what with Thunder carrying on from last year and Whatever It Takes becoming a success. Then they bring us Natural. It reminds me of Believer in a way. We get some good vocals from Dan Reynolds. He’s able to show how high he can hit those notes, especially at the end of the bridge. I like when he tests how far his voice can go. Though it didn’t quite have much success as their previous singles, at least they released it as a single. This and Bad Liar are probably their best singles off of Origins, which I find to be not as good of a album. Natural was something enjoyable overall.
45. Keala Settle featuring The Greatest Showman Esemble – This Is Me
Taken from The Greatest Showman movie soundtrack, we have a self-empowerment anthem. I have a thing for these types of songs and this one is not any different from the rest. Keala Settle has a great voice and she uses it very well. In love the way she can hit those high notes. This is what I call great singing talent. It’s very rare to hear songs like this nowadays. This Is Me is certainly one of the more enjoyable singles from the soundtrack. Keala was impressive.
44. Silk City featuring Dua Lipa – Electricity
Silk City consists of two guys, Diplo and Mark Ronson, the latter who was behind easily my favorite song of the decade, Uptown Funk!. That song was when I first heard about Mark Ronson. It was a masterpiece and reminded me of the old-school 70’s-80’s funk music that I grew up with. He did went on to produce Perfect Illusion by Lady Gaga, which was a big flop. So, I heard he was doing a collaboration with Dua Lipa, who has become a presence in 2018. I came in very excited and as I expected, it turned out very well. Let me just start off by saying that the production is just divine all around. I love the piano work and the drop is solid. Dua has a unique voice and she shows it all throughout the song. She was also featured in Scared To Be Lonely, which I liked as well. If I had to choose between those two songs, I would choose Electricity because it has more going for it. I can’t wait to see what else Silk City can come up with.
43. Drake – Nice For What
There’s no question that Drake has dominated 2018. He has the #1 song of the year, God’s Plan. I wasn’t really much of a fan of that song. But Nice For What is a step up from that. Here, Drake brings energy to the song and he shows what he is truly capable of. It’s more upbeat and fast-paced than its predecessor. I do like the beat and the sample from a singer. The introduction pulls me in. It’s the best song off of Scorpion overall. Unsurprisingly, it was a #1 hit on Billboard because he’s been dominant for most of the year. I’m glad it got plenty of success.
42. Lady Gaga featuring Bradley Cooper – Shallow
Ah yes, the second of two singles from A Star Is Born. Bradley Cooper is good as a actor, but he’s also great as a singer. He has a couple of songs from the soundtrack and this just so happens to be one of them. Lady Gaga vocals are perfect for the song. In fact, both of them sound great with their vocals. The final chorus after the bridge is just phenomenal in every sense of the word. It gives me the chills every time I hear it. The lyrical content is very well written. Hearing this again, I find it to be the best song off of A Star Is Born soundtrack.
41. Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA – All The Stars
Speaking of movie soundtracks, we have the first of two songs from the Black Panther movie on my Best of 2018 list, and also the first of two appearances from Kendrick Lamar. I first heard the song while watching Black Panther thinking it’s a great song. And for me, it still holds true today. Kendrick Lamar is one of the few artists from the rap genre that releases good music most of the time. I was a big fan of his last album DAMN. and HUMBLE. was a huge favorite of mine. All The Stars is just as good. I like his verses overall. He shines throughout the song. SZA adds life to it in a good way. She has a great voice and she uses it well. Both of these artists did well with this single. I think it was a great collaboration.
40. Dan + Shay – Tequila
I’m sure you guys remember Body Like A Back Road by Sam Hunt, which was easily my least favorite country song I’ve ever heard. But let’s not get into that. How about we talk about the song that to me was a huge stand-out this year in the country genre, shall we? Here, we have Dan + Shay, who have actually been around since the early portion of the decade. Tequila is divine in pretty much every sense of the word. I like the vocals we get from these guys. But the best thing about the song has to be the lyrical content. Dan + Shay proved that they’re good songwriters, which is something I can’t really say about Sam Hunt, who tries to mix country with pop and it doesn’t work out well for me. The chorus is just amazing. Dan and Shay both have really good vocals that mesh together well. Overall, it’s one of the premier country songs I’ve heard throughout 2018.
39. Bad Wolves – Zombie
The cover version of the song from The Cranberries was one that I fell in love with. I remember the first time it came around, I started to listen to it and I was impressed. I recently found out that the new band, Bad Wolves, wanted to do the cover of the song and Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries was going to be a part of it. But she passed away earlier this year and thus, Bad Wolves did the cover as a tribute. The cover version of Zombie was a solid one. I like how they were able to take something and make it something worthwhile. When hearing the song, these guys remind me of Three Days Grace. I grew up listening to their music and they had plenty of songs I like. Bad Wolves did a nice job with the cover, though I can see why some may dislike it.
38. Panic! At The Disco – Say Amen (Saturday Night)
Hits 1 has had a thing for Panic! At The Disco since they picked up Victorious back in late 2015. But this year, they’ve really been in love with whatever Brendon Urie and his guys had to offer. And because of that, their songs have been successful on Hits 1. Say Amen (Saturday Night) was a great song they picked up. Like with all of their other songs, Brendon Urie shows just how talented he is when it comes to singing the chorus. He’s the perfect fit for the song, and the album Pray For The Wicked as a whole. While the music video was a little too gruesome for me to watch, that doesn’t make me dislike the song any less. Of course, it was very successful on Hits 1 because hello, they love Panic! At The Disco. This was easily a jam during the summer.
37. Kygo featuring Miguel – Remind Me To Forget
Kygo has landed a spot in my best list for the second consecutive year. Last year, he bought us It Ain’t Me, which was my #4 favorite song of 2017. Sitting here at #37 is another song that I like, Remind Me To Forget. It’s basically It Ain’t Me 2.0, except not quite as good. But it shows just how talented Kygo is. The song opens with Miguel’s vocals, and from there things would get better. The chopped-up chorus actually sounds good for an EDM song. Overall, Kygo has impressed me yet again with this single. I do wish it had more success, but I guess it wasn’t ultimately meant to be. Still, it’s a nice song and I’d like to hear more from Kygo.
36. Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes
Around the time Say Amen (Saturday Night) started to gain momentum on Hits 1 came this successor. His first two singles from Pray For The Wicked were a harbinger for what was to come. I had high hopes (no pun intended) that Brendon Urie would deliver when he released High Hopes and sure enough, he rose above my expectations. Brendon has an awesome voice, as evidenced in the chorus. I love the use of the horns. The song talks about not giving up on your dreams and having a vision for success. I like how Brendon can hit those high notes. He’s really good at it. Obviously, the song has been successful because of Hits 1. But now, it’s gaining momentum and it’s success will carry on into 2019. Honestly, I may never get sick of the song despite it being around for a while now.
35. Shawn Mendes – Lost In Japan
This came around the same time as In My Blood. While I can say that In My My Blood was a nice song to an extent, I found this to be even better. Shawn’s voice sounds so smooth here. It fits him well for a song like this. It has a groove to it. The music video for the song is basically a carbon copy of the movie, Lost In Translation. I thought it was a cool idea. Lost In Japan is my favorite song from Shawn since There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back, which was a huge hit and a big favorite of mine. It’s too bad Lost In Japan wasn’t as successful as I hoped it would be. But I’m glad he chose it as a single anyway, though he did have to release the remix with Zedd in order to make it happen. This, along with Youth, are my two favorite songs from his self-titled album.
34. Troye Sivan – My My My!
I first heard of Troye Sivan when he made his first appearance on Hits 1 back in 2016 with Youth. It did relatively well on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown peaking in the Top 5 at #4, I believe. I did like the song when it was new, but it was a little repetitive and didn’t quite stick with me. My My My! on the other hand, is just fantastic. The song has a little bit of groove to it. I do like his unique voice and it shows when he sings the chorus, which I find to be enjoyable and pleasant to my ears. The lyrics talk about freedom and what not. I like how Troye digs deeper into the meaning. That’s how good he is as a songwriter. I enjoyed My My My! when it was first released. Troye Sivan made a nice comeback this year.
33. 5 Seconds Of Summer – Youngblood
5 Seconds Of Summer are known for their pop-punk style of music. But they decided to go in a different direction when they made their comeback. Youngblood is a departure from their predecessor, as they went for a more pop-oriented style of music. After hearing Want You Back and the title track of the album, it was clear to me that they were going for something different. Sure enough, I ended up liking both of those songs. Early on, however, I enjoyed Want You Back and I didn’t exactly cared for Youngblood. But when Youngblood started to gain momentum later on, I started to like that one more. It’s definitely a different sound for these guys. I like the chorus, and the production is pretty neat. I actually like the line, “I’m just a dead man walking tonight”. It pulls me in. So yeah, Youngblood is a highlight off of the title album.
32. Alessia Cara – Growing Pains
Here, we have Alessia Cara making my best list again. She has a unique style of music that I like to listen to. Growing Pains comes close to living up to my expectations when it first came around. The production is good in a way, and I like Alessia’s voice in the song. I also like the melody and the build-up to the chorus. She did recently released her latest album, The Pains Of Growing. And believe it or not, it just so happens to be the best song off of her new album. Growing Pains is something enjoyable, which is what I can’t say about Trust My Lonely. The lead single deserved much better than what it ultimately had.
31. Fall Out Boy – The Last Of The Real Ones
I’ve been pretty mixed on MANIA as a whole. Their first single, Young And Menace, was just a mess. It just didn’t sound like them at all. But then they released Champion after that, which was a huge step up and it reminded me of the Fall Out Boy that I knew and love. Hold Me Tight Or Don’t was different, but cool at the same time. But the song released before that, The Last Of The Real Ones is the best song off of the album. Yeah, everything about the song is spot on. It starts with the piano, which is a great build-up to the chorus. From there, things get better. I love the rock instrumentation in the song. Patrick’s voice is good overall. I watched the music video of the song about two llamas kidnapping the guy and just attacking him. Who would’ve thought of that idea? It was picked up by Hits 1 (surprise, nobody) because they still love Fall Out Boy. It did end up hitting #1 on the Weekend Countdown, which was nice.
30. Justin Timberlake featuring Chris Stapleton – Say Something
At the beginning of the year, we saw Justin Timberlake make his comeback with his Super Bowl performance, and with the first single from Man Of The Woods, Filthy. It was a weird song overall, but ultimately I didn’t hated it in the end. Then came Say Something, which was something different for him. It just so happens to be the best song off of Man Of The Woods, which wasn’t a good album for me. I was impressed with their collaboration. Both Justin and Chris have great chemistry throughout the song. The guitars sound very nice, as well as the rest of the instruments used. I never thought of Justin making a song like this, but I’m glad it worked out well to my liking.
29. All Time Low – Last Young Renegade
Much like with AJR, Hits 1 has picked up music from All Time Low. Over the years, these guys had quite a few decent songs at their disposal. But none can really compare to Last Young Renegade. When I first listened to the song, I thought it was just decent. But after a while, I started to enjoyed it more. I like the rock vibe in this one. It reminded me of the pop-rock music I enjoyed back in the day. I love the vocals we get from these guys, and the lyrical content is well written. Of course, it was disappointing to see it only last four weeks on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown. But at the same time, it wasn’t surprising given that these guys don’t have too much success elsewhere. However, I do kinda like their music overall. I can safely say that Last Young Renegade is their best song they’ve released thus far.
28. Meghan Trainor – Let You Be Right
I know this one is going to be a very unpopular opinion among many, MANY people here (and I emphasize the word, “many”). But believe it or not, I actually like Meghan Trainor. I find songs such as All About That Bass and Lips Are Movin’ to be fun and simply enjoyable. But I wasn’t very fond of Dear Future Husband and Marvin Gaye, both of which were my least favorite songs of 2015. I was a little mixed on her comeback single, No Excuses. Two months after its release, she gave us Let You Be Right, which was a step up from its predecessor. It was a mix between the singles from Title and Thank You. I personally like her voice overall and the production is good.
27. Charlie Puth featuring Kehlani – Done For Me
Following the release of Attention and How Long, I knew Charlie Puth had improved from Nine Track Mind, which was panned by YouTube critics. Done For Me is a highlight off of Voicenotes. To me, this is his best song since his feature in See You Again. Charlie does well with the production work in the song, and that’s what he been doing when making the whole album. I love Kehlani’s verse as well. Both she and Charlie have good chemistry, and it shows when I hear the chorus. It’s unfortunate that the song didn’t have the same success as its two predecessors. But at least they chose it as a single off of Voicenotes.
26. Selena Gomez – Back To You
This song is part of a soundtrack for the 13 Reasons Why TV series. Selena Gomez is the producer of that show, which I’ve heard about but I don’t really watch the show in general. When the second season started, this song came around. As far as her solo music goes, I was pretty mixed on Revival. I thought songs like Good For You and Same Old Love were good. But then she had Hands To Myself, which was not to my liking, Kill ‘Em With Kindness was okay and Bad Liar was just awful. My expectations were pretty low coming in. After listening to the song in full, I can say that she’s gotten her groove back. First, I love the use of guitars at the beginning of the song. That’s the best thing about it. Selena does extremely well with her singing as opposed to her whispering and mumbling in songs like Bad Liar and Hands To Myself, both of which I do not like. The production is on point as well. I do like the drop after the chorus. It’s one of the best solo songs Selena has released in a while. I’m glad it was successful.
25. Demi Lovato – Tell Me You Love Me
The title track for her album, Tell Me You Love Me was released about two months after her first single, Sorry Not Sorry. I did like that song to an extent. But Tell Me You Love Me is superior in every way possible. After the first listen, I knew that the song would stick with me in the long run and sure enough, it has. Basically, what the song talks about is needing love when someone has a bad day. It’s something I’m sure people can relate to. Anyway, Demi sounds really amazing with her vocals throughout the song. I love the chorus and the bridge. Her voice fits well with the gospel-like production, which I found to be really cool. It’s easily the best single off of her album. I’ve listened to her music more often, especially after what happened during the summer. Like I just said, she has an amazing voice. I’ll still be praying for Demi and I do hope that she can recover and continue to make more new music.
24. Dua Lipa – IDGAF
We have more of Dua Lipa on my best list, and this time it’s the follow-up to its predecessor from her self-titled album. I pretty much enjoyed it from start to finish. Almost everything about the song works for me. There may not be much to the production, but there were some other things I love about it. First off, Dua Lipa has a unique voice. In IDGAF, she proves how talented she really is, even if there isn’t too much I can say about the production. Another thing I like about it is the lyrical content itself. Basically, what she is telling us is that a person tries to get back into her life, but cuts them off saying it’s too late and she doesn’t care anymore. It’s definitely something we can relate to. Vocally, this is probably one of her best songs. Although it didn’t really have much success elsewhere, it was able to do well on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown peaking inside the Top 10.
23. Alice Merton – No Roots
Nowadays, we don’t see many alternative songs blow up on Billboard. Probably the only ones that I would consider alternative are the songs from Imagine Dragons. They’ve been around and have produced a fair share of hits. Although I do enjoy their music, I’m always looking for someone different to listen to. And the artist that I’m talking about here Alice Merton. Believe it or not, this song was actually released two years ago. But it wasn’t until the early part of 2018 when the song was finally began to chart and was known by many people, though it didn’t become a big cross-over hit that I was hoping for. No Roots was definitely a unique song in pretty much every way. First of, Alice makes great use of her vocals. She has quite an interesting voice and that pulls me in. It also has the killer groove and many rock elements that are used throughout the song. Looking at the lyrics, it tells a story about how she doesn’t have any place to live and thus would have to start from scratch. This is the kind of stuff that interest me. Yeah, this was definitely something that grabbed my attention. It would’ve been nice to see it have more success.
22. Kesha featuring The Dap-Kings Horns – Woman
Since the start of this decade, Kesha has been one of my favorite artists. Time after time, she has impressed me with her music. Last year, she made her comeback single with Praying and I immediately fell in love with it. I placed it as my #1 song of 2017. Here she is again with my #22 favorite song of 2018, Woman. It’s a female-empowerment anthem, and I do love it. It’s upbeat and we get to hear what Kesha is capable of. I like the instrumentation here. It has that Western feel to it. Along with Praying, I think it’s one of the few standouts from her album Rainbow. I do hope Kesha can create more music like this.
21. Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes
The third and final single from Evolve is a nice way to go out with a bang. I did listen to most of the album and there were quite a few good songs, such as Believer and Walking The Wire, the latter being the best song off of Evolve. Thunder was catchy in a way, but it I didn’t find it special anymore. Whatever It Takes has a lot more going on. It is more fast paced than its two singles preceding it. It starts with Dan Reynolds’s super fast vocals and from there, the rest is history. I like the lyrics about doing whatever it takes (hence the title) to try and accomplish certain goals in our lives. Although the song didn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessors in terms of success, it was still a big hit nonetheless. This was probably one of the best songs I’ve heard from Imagine Dragons. I may end up doing a Top 10 series from them someday.
20. Backstreet Boys – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
Whenever I think of the Backstreet Boys, I always think about songs such as I Want It That Way, Larger Than Life, and Everybody (Backstreet’s Back). I grew up listening to those songs back in the day. So I was excited about their return when this song came around, after not hearing much from them over the past few years or so. And boy, did they impress me big time! The song reminds me of their music from the old days when I was a kid. The lyrical content is just amazing. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart shows just how good these guys are as songwriters. I love the production, especially the piano work at the beginning of the song. Every time I hear the piano, it gives me chills. Their voice is really good. Despite it not being successful elsewhere other than Hits 1, it was nice to see that these guys are still making music.
19. The Weeknd featuring Kendrick Lamar – Pray For Me
Starboy for me can be best described as simply a great album all around for The Weeknd, much like with its predecessor. But since I Feel It Coming, he didn’t give us anymore hits for the rest of the year. So, it was going to be a while before he gave us something new. And lo and behold, he deliver with this song taken from the Black Panther movie soundtrack. Black Panther is considered to be one of the best movies of 2018, and I would like to credit the late Stan Lee for making this possible. He was a legendary comic book creator who is well-known for making iconic superheroes such as Spider-Man, The Hulk, and Iron Man, among others. He will be truly missed. Anyway, how about Pray For Me that makes it #19 on my list? Well, I like Kendrick Lamar. His last album, DAMN. was just awesome on pretty much every level. So, when I heard that he was collaborating with The Weeknd, I was interested going in. And the song lived up to almost every single one of my expectations. The lyrics basically talk about being a hero and sacrificing for the world. Production-wise, It reminds me of the title track from Starboy, which to this day is still one of my favorites from The Weeknd. He has a good voice overall, and he shines in the chorus. I like the verse we get from Kendrick. He shows that he is one of the best rappers in the music industry. It was a good song overall for these guys. If they end up collaborating again in another single, I’ll be looking forward to it.
18. Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa – One Kiss
Last year, after This Is What You Came For was not to my liking, Calvin Harris stepped up big time with his new sound when he made songs like Slide and Feels. This year, he gave us One Kiss, which features one of the biggest new artists of the year Dua Lipa. I first heard it on the YouTube 15 and I was thinking it’s a solid song. As soon as it started to gain traction, I started to like it more. I can say that it doesn’t quite live up to Calvin Harris’s best work. Heck, it’s not quite as good as his previous singles, Slide or Feels. But Calvin Harris was able to put forth the effort on the production, unlike in This Is What You Came For where the drop was too generic. Dua’s vocals are good as well. It’s a fun listen and one of my favorites throughout the summer. He did bring me Promises, which I thought was pretty good. But it’s nothing compared to this.
17. TWENTY ØNE PILØTS – Jumpsuit
I was on cloud nine when I heard that the duo was making a comeback. My love for them started back in 2015 when I first heard Tear In My Heart on Hits 1. It was a great song. But then came Stressed Out and that’s when my love for them really came of age. It had a deep meaning and it capture my heart in every way possible. I can say the same for Jumpsuit as well. I fell in love with it immediately upon the first listen. The rock vibe definitely fits them well. Tyler’s voice is nice. But the way he yells in the last chorus near the end is just mesmerizing. They just recently released Trench, and I did hear some of that album. So far it’s been a mixed bag, but Jumpsuit is easily the best song from that album. I’m glad TWENTY ØNE PILØTS came back!
16. Walk The Moon – One Foot
I remember first listening to Shut Up And Dance when it was a huge hit back in 2015. That song was amazing and I still enjoy it to this day. One Foot is just as awesome as its predecessor. Although it’s a bit slower-paced than Shut Up And Dance, it upbeat and just fun. The production is just top notch across the board and I love the vocals we get from Nicholas Petricca. Hearing the chorus, it sounds like they’ve been having fun recording the song. I can say the same for Kamikaze, which was also a fun song. I enjoyed their album What If Nothing. If you haven’t already, I recommend you check it out.
15. The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren – Side Effects
The Chainsmokers have been a mixed bag for me this year in terms of their latest music. I did liked Sick Boy at first, but I realized it just wasn’t a good song. From that point, they released more songs such as Everybody Hates Me, which is the worst of the bunch, and Somebody was just not all that special. But Side Effects is a whole different story. Everything about the song works for me. These guys put forth the effort in working on the production of the song, like they did in the songs I fell in love with (such as Roses, Closer, and Something Just Like This). I love the groove to it. Also, we got to hear from Emily Warren, who’s been writing songs for these guys. I think she has a good voice and she shines in the chorus. This was a great step back in the right direction for The Chainsmokers. Hopefully, I get to hear more songs like this.
14. Zedd featuring Elley Duhé – Happy Now
Here, we have another song that I know is very unpopular among the blogging community. I have been fond of Zedd for much of the decade. Songs such as Stay The Night and Clarity are one of his best. After the release of The Middle, he gives us Happy Now. This is the first song I’ve heard from Elley Duhé, whom he is collaborating with. I came into the song with an open mind and I thought it turned out to be great. Zedd is one of those EDM artists that likes to take risks and make things work. But what I love most about Happy Now is Elley Duhé. Her voice is unique and frankly, just amazing. I do like the instrumentation after the chorus. It’s cool and different. It may not have had the same success as The Middle, but it was definitely something I fell in love with.
13. Ariana Grande – God Is A Woman
The title of the song obviously is going to spark controversy. But I don’t really care because I do like God Is A Woman. And I don’t just say it because I love Ariana Grande. Actually, yes I did. I’ll just leave it at that. But the point I’m trying to get across is that it’s one of the highlights off of Sweetener. Although the production is pretty decent, it’s really Ariana’s amazing vocals that get me there. Especially near the end, she sounds really good at hitting those high notes. I don’t really have too much else to say about other than the fact that it’s a song that I enjoyed for the most part.
12. The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini – This Feeling
Not long after the release of Side Effects, The Chainsmokers gave us something even better. And they chose Kelsea Ballerini for this single. I talked about Side Effects and how it was an improvement from the other singles in Sick Boy. But after listening to This Feeling, I found that they managed to get their groove back. This is their best single since Closer. Now, I’ll simply say that I barely listen to Kelsea Ballerini. I did hear one of her songs before and I found her to have a good voice. She adds a whole lot to This Feeling. Her voice is just magical! The drop, while a little weird, is really good. And I do love the lyrical content. It’s nice to see it have success on Hits 1 in a short period of time, reaching #1. The Chainsmokers have impressed me once more.
11. Macklemore featuring Kesha – Good Old Days
It was around this time last year that Macklemore was no longer collaborating with Ryan Lewis, as the duo decided to part ways which thus allowed Macklemore to work on his own. First, he bought us Glorious with Skylar Grey, which was one of my favorites from 2017. But the next single, Good Old Days, is one that I enjoyed the most. I’m going to make it simple: the song is just beautiful in every way. The introduction is just mesmerizing. Whenever I hear the piano, it gives me the chills. I know I’ve said it many times, but Kesha is an amazing singer. Her vocals in the song are just perfect. Looking at the lyrics, the song reminds me of the things I used to do back in the day. This is something everyone here can relate to. Good Old Days is easily the best thing Macklemore has bought us since going solo. It was mildly successful on Hits 1, and I’m pleased with that.
Get ready, everyone. We’ve have finally reached the Top 10! These songs were stand-outs to me throughout all of 2018. It took me a while, but I was able to put it together. So, enough talk. I now present to you my Top 10! Let’s do this!
10. Dua Lipa – New Rules
It was 2016, and an unknown artist at the time whose name is Dua Lipa was just starting to venture into the world of music. I remember first hearing about her when Blow Your Mind (Mwah) came around. It was a little cheesy, but I still kinda liked it. After that, she was featured in Scared To Be Lonely with Martin Garrix, which was pretty good as well. Then came New Rules, which at first was just another song to me. But repeated listens made me think otherwise. And to be honest, I never envisioned placing it in my Top 10 when I first listened to it. But here were are. From the day it started gaining momentum and eventually becoming successful, I’ve been enjoying the song. Everything about it is special in many ways than I can imagine. Dua showcases her unique voice and pretty much shines throughout the song. I like the way she counts and tells people the rules, which is what builds up the chorus. It does have a tropical feel to it. After a while, I’ve finally come to terms that this is Dua Lipa’s best song. And it deserved the success it ultimately had.
9. Taylor Swift – Delicate
This song came around early in the year and many weren’t really all that interested in what she had to offer, especially after her controversial lead single for that album, Look What You Made Me Do and her following singles prior to this ended up just simply flopping. Then, she released Delicate. And from the beginning, I wasn’t so sure about whether it would have success or not. But it eventually ended up being her successful single. Now, I would like to say that Reputation as a whole was a decent album for me. There were some good songs, and Delicate is one of them. It may not be an over-the-top banger, but it was something worthwhile. Taylor does well with her singing, and I do love the lyrics. I didn’t necessarily enjoyed the song at first, but it grew on me. I can safely say that this was one of my songs for the summer.
8. Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)
From the day he bought us 24K Magic and started a new era of bringing us more funky music, I knew he had something special in his hands. And sure enough, that’s what ended up happening. I remember first hearing Finesse and I was thinking, “Wow, this is awesome. He should release it as a single.” That’s exactly what he did to start the year. Well, he did collaborate with Cardi B for the remix. From the very first listen, I was wowed. I’m a big fan of the new jack swing, and Bruno has the type of vocal talent that’s good for a song like this. It’s a match made in heaven. The original version of the song is great on its own. But Cardi B adds a lot to the remix, and in a good way. I love the verses we get from her. Not surprisingly, this had plenty of success, which I was thrileld about. And it would’ve spent at least one week at #1 on Billboard had God’s Plan not came long. It was awesome to see the 24K Magic era go out with a bang.
7. Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé – Perfect
The title of the song does speak for itself. That’s all I can say about the song. Actually, no it’s not. Because then, I wouldn’t be giving you guys my legitimate reason as to why it is indeed perfect. It’s basically Thinking Out Loud, except better. First off, I love the lyrics. Second, Ed Sheeran’s vocals fit very well. He just sounds beautiful throughout the entire song. Some of the lines are just mesmerizing. There are a lot of different remixes to the song, such as the one from Beyoncé, which I think is the best of them all. Someday, when I get married, I want to play this song. It’s the perfect song for a wedding. It was a great ending to the Divide era, which I enjoyed overall.
6. Halsey – Bad At Love
Often times, I always associate Halsey with her feature in Closer with The Chainsmokers. It still remains as a huge favorite of mine to this day. Of course, with her huge success she would go on to release more solo music in an effort to increase her presence in music. Now Or Never was pretty mediocre, in part because Halsey didn’t shine much in the song and the production wasn’t up to par. But when she released Bad At Love, her follow-up single from Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, my reaction was positive. It’s an improvement from her predecessor in pretty much every aspect. One of the things that I like the most in the song is Halsey. She shines a little more with her vocals. When I listen to the song, I can feel her emotions in the chorus, especially after what she’s been through. The production is just catchy. The lyrics are nicely well-written, and it shows about her history with her past lovers. She recently had been in a relationship with G-Eazy until they broke-up sometime in the summer. I’m sure she’ll be able to find someone new. Who knows? Maybe it’ll end up being her dream guy or someone like that. Anyway, I don’t really see anything to hate about this song at all, and it’s one of the best Halsey has to offer in Hopeless Fountain Kingdom. I think it’s safe to say that Halsey will be here to stay and be able to make music, despite the fact that she’s been involved in her roles in movies such as A Star Is Born.
Alright, fam. It’s finally come to this. What you’re about to see are my Top 5 favorite songs of the year. These five songs were chosen by me to be placed in that region because those were the songs that stood out to me the most throughout the year. After thinking long and hard, I’ve finally made my decision. I am ready to show you all my Top 5 favorite songs of the year. Are you ready? Let’s go!
5. Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug – Havana (Ooh, Na-Na)
From the beginning, I was not fond of what Camila Cabello had to offer at that time the song came around. Part of that was because her vocals were pretty weak and sometimes annoying during her time with Fifth Harmony, especially whenever I hear songs such as Work From Home and Bad Things, the former which was on many worst lists for 2016. I had pretty much shied away from her and I simply didn’t care for the song at all, until it became a bigger hit late in the year. Thus, I started listening to the song more often and it finally dawned on me that this was Camila’s best song. Make no mistake: I’m still mixed on Camila in general, but this is a fantastic song. It tells a story about her hometown and all the things she did growing up. The Latin vibe here is just divine. I do like the verse we get from Young Thug. I’m glad to see it as Camila’s biggest hit to date. Havana is a definite stand-out from her self-titled album.
4. Ariana Grande – No Tears Left To Cry
I’ve made it no secret that I absolutely adore Ariana Grande with a fiery passion. She has been in the world of music since 2013, I think. Almost every single release has either impressed me or at the very least is just good at worst. No Tears Left To Cry is nothing different. The lead single off of Sweetener, I very much enjoyed it from start to finish. Primarily, the reason why I ranked this song very high on my list is because of Ariana Grande alone. Her voice is just incredible. I can pretty much say that for all her songs in general. My expectations were high coming into this and sure enough, she never fails to disappoint me. I get that the line “I’m lovin’, I’m livin’, I’m picking it up” may seem awkward, especially when she raps there. But for me, that doesn’t really make me dislike the song any less. I remember the music video coming out around the same time the song was released and to put it short, I fell immediately in love. It wasn’t until recently that I learned that the bee which was part of the music video is actually a tribute to the victims of the Manchester bombing. I was heartbroken by that tragedy which took place last year. I’m glad Ariana was simply able to put together this song. Much like with her previous singles, No Tears Left To Cry will be something that I’ll remember years from now.
3. Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso featuring Florida Georgia Line and Watt – Let Me Go
I may have included this in last year’s list of my favorite songs, but I’ve decided to throw it in there again. Honestly, I should’ve ranked it very high in last year’s rankings. The only reason I didn’t was because the song itself came late last year and at the time it’s popularity (on Hits 1) was starting to get off the ground. After hearing this again, it’s even better than when it first came out. I’m going to be straight up and say that this is Hailee Steinfeld’s best song. I remember first listening to her debut single Love Myself back in 2015 and though the song itself was good, I thought to myself that she had a fantastic voice. Sure enough, she proves it in this song. Although I did like Starving, the lyrical content and the scratchy guitar bothered me. Let Me Go, on the other hand, is a different story. Here, the drop sounds much better and the lyrics are as well. Hailee can really show what her voice can do, especially in the chorus where she shines the most. She does wonders for this song overall. In addition, I love the second verse we get from the country duo Florida Georgia Line. Although it wasn’t as successful as its predecessor elsewhere, it did manage to hit #1 on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown. It definitely deserved it in my book. I’m sure we’ll be getting more from her soon. Let Me Go holds a special place in my heart and I’ll always remember it as Hailee Steinfeld’s best song.
2. Selena Gomez featuring Marshmello – Wolves
For the second year in a row, Selena Gomez has landed a spot in My Top 5 songs of the year. This time, she had a little help with Marshmello, who himself has made a presence throughout all of 2018. Outside of her solo singles, Selena had already impressed me with her collaborations with EDM artists such as Kygo. As you can recall, I ranked It Ain’t Me as my #4 song of last year. Sitting at #2 this year on my best list is Wolves, which has been a huge favorite of mine in the first half of 2018. I remember first hearing the song thinking it was good after her last two solo singles were not to mine or anyone else’s liking. Selena does have a good voice. In fact, she absolutely shines all throughout the song. Her contribution is easily one of the best things I can say about the song. Actually, everything about the song is divine in every sense of the word. The lyrics are well-written and very creative. It tells a story about her journey to love and trying to get to that said person. But it’s really the production that gets me there. Marshmello himself does an excellent job with his work as a EDM artist. He put forth the effort with the production of the song. It opens up with the acoustic-like guitar that pulls me in. For me, it set a positive tone for how the rest of the song would go. The beat drop, coupled with her vocals in the background, is just mesmerizing. I simply have no other words to describe how amazing the drop is. It basically shows what Marshmello is truly capable of, as opposed to his other singles (such as Friends) which sounded too generic and in some cases underwhelming. So yeah, both Selena and Marshmello put together a near-masterpiece of a song in the EDM genre. And after much thought, I’d say this is better than her part in It Ain’t Me. I can also say that this is probably one of my favorite singles from Selena Gomez. She definitely won me over with this awesome song.
1. Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey – The Middle
My #1 of the year is one which is going to be a very unpopular opinion among many bloggers and YouTube critics alike. So last year, Zedd had probably one of his biggest hits when he collaborated with Alessia Cara in Stay. I pretty much enjoyed that one overall and I should’ve put it on my Top 50 best list for 2017. But I just didn’t think too much about it and I do have my regrets. This year, he has my #1 song of 2018. When I first heard of a possible collaboration with country singer Maren Morris, I was interested coming in. Let me just start off by saying that I absolutely love Maren Morris. When I think of Maren Morris, I always think of songs such as My Church, I Could Use A Love Song, and 80’s Mercedes, the latter which is easily her best song. I first listened to The Middle in its entirety and then I fell immediately in love it. I get that people don’t see the appeal to the song and they much prefer his older singles. But this is my opinion. I think differently. I like how Zedd and Grey were both able to take the risk of putting together the sound and it worked out to my liking. I can definitely see why people here are not very fond of it, primarily because they see this as Zedd selling out to the EDM genre by going mainstream with songs such as this and Stay. But I’m not among that crowd. It was a huge success almost everywhere, reaching #1 on both Hits 1 and the American Top 40, and even managed to make the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. I’ve enjoyed the song all year long and I’m very thankful for the success it got.
Alright! My Top 50 Songs of 2018 is finally complete! It took me a long time to work on this. I just want to say that you guys are awesome. Feel free to share your thought in the comments below. 2018 has been a roller-coaster ride! I hope you guys have a great weekend! I can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store! Thank you all for reading! Have a good day! 🙂
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