The turbulent start of a new decade helped these 1970 songs stand the test of time. Your email address will not be published. The 30 Best R&B Songs. “Juice” sounds like it was perfected in a test kitchen, equal parts joy, cheeky lyricism and timeless appeal. If your genre of choice is reggae—or if you're open to a new sound with a spicy flair—then it's worth giving this Spanish song a listen. Yet again, Grande is saying what the rest of us are too scared to admit. Sometimes the most unlikely partnerships create the most beautiful, compelling music. To say that 17-year-old wunderkind Billie Eilish’s rise has been meteoric is something of an understatement. / Gee, thanks, just bought it," set to the tune of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things.". Legacy! "Sometimes women are put in this box where we're only supposed to talk about certain things," she told Complex. 2019 has, however, been one of the best years for quality pop hits in recent history, so before we all succumb to the festivities, we’re revisiting the dancefloor-fillers, the sumptuous ballads and the year’s most daring comebacks with a look at the ten best songs of 2019. It was also a Billboard 200 smash, debuting at No.1 and spawning a half dozen hits, including August’s ‘Circles’, which went on to become Posty’s first US solo chart-topper. Despite the title of her latest release, Dua Lipa has no plans of slowing her climb to the top of the pop charts. The best of the bunch is “So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings,” a cheekily named song propelled by handclaps and strutting muted guitars. The uncoolest cool guys are back. (Chow), Caroline Polachek has long worked on the fringes of the mainstream pop world: she fronted the indie pop band Chairlift for a decade and racked up songwriting credits for Beyoncé, Solange, Charli XCX and Travis Scott. Arguably 2019’s most memorable collaboration, Sam Smith and Normani’s cool, classy ‘Dancing With A Stranger’ cracked the US and UK Top 10s, and Forbes have since crowned it 2019’s most-played radio track of the year. Lil Durk) Drake, Lil Durk • Laugh Now Cry Later (feat. It's just too sweet. In the song, Berninger recalls the moments leading up to a tough breakup—before he knew of all that was to come. TOP 100 Songs of 2019 (Best Hit Music Playlist) By Pop Hits! Ms Banks, QUIZ: Can you guess how old all 10 of these singers are? There's no hint of the bubblegum "Call Me Maybe" antics in "Julien," a quirky track from Jepsen's latest album, Dedicated. After parting ways with Rilo Kiley, singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis found her own success as a solo artist in the indie folk genre. With this ballad about love gone wrong, R&B singer Kehlani (with the help of Ty Dolla $ign) solidified her status as one of the best artists of the summer. (Chow), Carly Rae Jepsen has built a cult following on the power of her brand of pure, heart-on-your-sleeve pop. 50 songs. And, though the full-length album has yet to be released, fans at least have a taste of what's to come with "Hurry on Home," a love song packed with some serious grit. (Bruner), While mainstream rap is still dominated by trap—the crawling subgenre from Atlanta—artists have also been looking north and taking elements from drill, Chicago’s much faster and frenetic style. And, with impeccable grace, country singer Maren Morris underscores this struggle in her latest song, "Common," featuring the musical talents of Brandi Carlile. The tunes might not be "good," per se, but they sure are unforgettable. This time, with "Hello Sunshine," Springsteen beautifully sings of the compelling, but empty feeling of being on the road—revealing why he has chosen instead to take another step in the direction of home. And with that, beer drinkers everywhere have their new anthem. On “Don’t Start Now,” the debut single off her sophomore project, she proves she has something to add to the conversation. Made with juicy synths, bubbly percussion and bouncy vocal twists, it’s a tune that celebrates independence and promises joy in the process. It contains a number of catchy tunes, including the indie pop hit "Harmony Hall. Their first new music after a decade-long hiatus, this impossibly catchy pop track shot straight to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the New Jersey trio have gone from strength to strength ever since. Does your 9-to-5 job have you feeling down? Over the past few years alone, we've seen young stars like Khalid and SZA take over the world, we've seen Cardi B transform from a reality TV legend into one of the biggest names in rap and we've seen country queen Kacey Musgraves woo a whole new legion of fans with her Grammy Award winning LP Golden Hour. Their recent album, Happiness Begins, rocketed to the top of the Billboard 200. Taking all of this into consideration, we've scoured the charts and beyond to create an exclusive Apple Music playlist containing all of the standout songs of 2019 so far. GIRLI. In early 2019, the music world was rocked by the announcement that feminist rock institution Sleater-Kinney would be releasing an album under the direction of fellow indie music darling St. Vincent. This defiant anthem was made for the 2019 film Alita: Battle Angel, an American cyberpunk science fiction action film. I think people want to hear that kind of honesty and frankness." Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group, "Con Altura" — Rosalía featuring J Balvin and El Guincho, "Nights Like This" — Kehlani featuring Ty Dolla $ign, "I Don't Care" — Ed Sheeran featuring Justin Bieber, "I Think" — Tyler, the Creator featuring Solange, "Dylan Thomas" — Better Oblivion Community Center, "Simon Says" — Megan Thee Stallion featuring Juicy J, "Old Town Road (Remix)" — Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, "Common" — Maren Morris featuring Brandi Carlile, "Late Night Feelings" — Mark Ronson featuring Lykke Li, "I'm So Tired" — Lauv featuring Troye Sivan, "R.I.P." In "King James," a song from his latest studio album, Ventura, Paak delivers a subdued protest song that's making audiences stop and listen to what he has to say. We're feeling very emotional too. — Sofía Reyes featuring Rita Ora and Anitta, "Please Me" — Cardi B featuring Bruno Mars, "Dancing With a Stranger" — Sam Smith featuring Normani, "Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored" — Ariana Grande, "Hope Is a Dangerous Thing for Women Like Me to Have—But I Have It" — Lana Del Rey. You'll want to hit "repeat" on this playlist. Despite the fact that this pair obviously misses their previous significant others, they won't be pining after them with the help of a love song. Unlike other coed collaborations, it's the woman who's in charge of this tune, making her male counterpart beg for just a look in his direction. with powerful lyrics delivered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The song’s striking promo video also won two awards – including Video Of The Year – at the 2019 MTV Music Video Awards. Tinashe - 'Die A Little Bit' feat. Jackson." “Old Town Road” contains many opposing truths. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. His latest release, "Gretel," a celebration of Americana and rural culture, has scored big with the cool crowd. It’s got relatable, on-the-nose lyrics; a commitment to catchy, sweet melodies; all sung with Jepsen’s intimately breathy vocals. One of 2019’s most poignant hits, Maroon 5’s ‘Memories’ was ostensibly a tribute to the LA band’s late manager, Jordan Feldstein, but its universal message can’t fail to touch anyone who’s experienced the loss of a loved one. Throughout the course of the empowering song—and no matter what language you speak—it's clear that these ladies are done with the drama and only want to focus on the positive. For the first time since 2014, The Black Keys released a new album in 2019, fittingly titled Let's Rock. Singer Sam Smith approaches his usual theme of loneliness in "Dancing With a Stranger" in a more powerful, commanding way than ever before. Eventually becoming the third single from his posthumous album, TIM, in June 2019, the touching ‘Heaven’ was promoted with a poignant video filmed in Madagascar shortly after Avicii’s final live show. She kicks things off by turning a fairy tale trope into an affirmation: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, don’t say it, ’cause I know I’m cute,” and ends the song with a bold giggle. 2019 was a year of upheaval in the pop music world, with new voices rising to the fore through unexpected pathways. The combination is potent and haunting, hinting at the diversity of Latin music and the creative future it is inevitably heading toward. Just one year after her surgery, however, the famed performance artist is back at it, offering stripped-down electronic music that artfully showcases her singing chops, as "Cellophane" clearly does. Stars emerged out of Brooklyn (Pop Smoke), Spain (Rosalía) and Nigeria (Burna Boy), expertly wielding social media and huge streaming numbers to captivate audiences across the world. Irish musician Hozier's soulful baritone voice is gracing the top 40 charts yet again. "This Time Around," from her third studio album, Quiet Signs, transports listeners to another time and place altogether—one that looks something like a gloomy, but alluring '60s-style diner in a quiet beach town. Rewarding Adam Levine’s team with their tenth US Top 5 hit, ‘Memories’ has raised anticipation for the group’s follow-up to their 2017 album, Red Pill Blues. Laugh Now Cry Later (feat. This playlist of happy songs, including Pharell Williams, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars, are guaranteed to make you smile. A sultry and irrepressible appearance from the Nigerian singer Burna Boy, one of the year’s breakout stars, turns the song from a B-side into a global summer anthem. Despite attempts to remain relevant on the top 40 charts, pop icon Katy Perry seemed to fade from the limelight these past few years. 2. Poet Jamila Woods has set her famed lyrical prowess to music with her 2019 album, Legacy! Little Mix - 'One I've Been Missing' Selena Gomez - 'Lose You To Love Me' Kesha - 'My Own Dance' Khalid - 'Up All Night' Bad Bunny - 'Vete' FKA twigs - 'sad day' Save on the cover price & free e-Gift card for Giftees! If that weren't enough, a trap country banger is the biggest song of the year so far and it's all thanks to Lil Nas X, TikTok and Billy Ray Cyrus. Likely to become Lewis Capaldi’s signature hit, ‘Someone You Loved’ reputedly took the UK’s fastest-rising singer-songwriter six months to craft. In the next year, you will be able to find this playlist with the next title: TOP 100 Songs of 2021 (Best Hit Music Playlist) 101 songs… Let us know in the comments section, below. In just a few short weeks, we’ll be entering a new decade in which a fresh generation of artists will surely emerge and rip up music’s rule book all over again. That’s no fluke; her long-gestating career as a singer, songwriter and flutist has taken off this year thanks to her commitment to the goal of making listeners find assurance in her feel-good, fun-loving lyrics and danceable beats. Released in January of 2019, "Hope Is a Dangerous Thing for Women Like Me to Have—But I Have It" is an incredibly intricate track from Lana Del Rey. 2:56 0:30. Enter your email address to get the best tips and advice. “Crime Pays,” in particular, perfectly toes the line between their aesthetic sensibilities: Madlib unearths a pristine sample from jazz fusion artist Walt Barr that conjures both nostalgia and unlimited possibility, while Gibbs confronts the darker realities of chasing the American dream: “Diamonds in my chain, yeah, I slang but I’m still a slave / Twisted in the system, just a number listed on the page.” (Chow), On her 2017 debut album, Britain’s Dua Lipa established herself as a honey-voiced rising star of mainstream pop. One of the year’s biggest releases, Taylor Swift’s seventh album, Lover, went platinum in the US in September – barely a month after it was first released. If you're only just giving this album a listen now, we suggest starting with "Red Bull & Hennessy," a catchy song about being in the mood for some good lovin'. This one is dedicated to those who claimed that pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen was doomed to be a one-hit wonder. Given this initial disconnect between the pair, it’s astonishing how perfectly Gibbs’ gravelly rhymes coalesce with Madlib’s sun-bleached soul production. Lizzo’s career was jolted forward by a Netflix trailer; Lil Nas X rode TikTok and Twitter to the top of the charts. she told Variance Magazine. Biden Takes Lead in Pennsylvania and Georgia, Just Cancel the Fantastic Beasts Franchise, You can unsubscribe at any time. And that their music—as exemplified by the beautiful ballad “Crowded Table”—weaves in political statements only adds a layer of richness. Eilish sees herself as the monster under her own bed with her 2019 track "Bury a Friend." Hip-hop icon Drake has been on a roll since 2018’s Scorpion debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, breaking one-day global records on Spotify and Apple Music in the process. Chris Martin recorded the vocals for Avicii’s ‘Heaven’ when the duo collaborated on Coldplay’s ‘A Sky Full Of Stars’ song in 2014. It's bound to get your head bobbing and your body rolling. However, the track wasn’t finished until after the much-missed Swedish DJ, producer and songwriter retired from touring in 2016. Her fourth studio album, On the Line, is a further testament to that, seeing as it showed up on Billboard's Top Rock Albums, Billboard 200, and Top Alternative Albums charts. Maggie Rogers first made waves in the music industry in 2016 when, as a student at New York University, she presented a demo of her song "Alaska" to a visibly moved Pharrell Williams and a video of the moment instantly went viral. This is your official soundtrack for falling in love. From poignant ballads to kooky pop hits, the best songs of 2019 bring the decade to a close with one of the best years in pop music history. https://www.billboard.com/.../news/list/8545893/best-songs-of-2019-top-100 First appearing as a bonus track on the soundtrack for Beyoncé's concert film Homecoming, "Before I Let Go" is a triumphant cover of a song first created by American R&B band Maze. ‘Stones’: Neil Diamond Sings Joni, Cohen, Brel…And Himself, Justin Bieber Strips Down ‘Holy’ With Chance The Rapper In Acoustic Recording, Slash, Kirk Hammett To Celebrate Eddie Van Halen During Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame TV Special, Hear One Of Elton John’s Earliest Songs With Bernie Taupin, Hear Neil Diamond’s Lush Recording Of ‘Sweet Caroline’ With The London Symphony Orchestra, Watch The Avett Brothers’ Timely ‘This Land Is Your Land’ Video. The new supergroup brings together four of country music’s most prolific women: Maren Morris, a country-pop star with powerful vocals and mainstream hits like “The Middle”; Brandi Carlile, the Grammy-recognized folk artist whose work is marked by wry brilliance; Amanda Shires, a notable fiddler and country mainstay; and Natalie Hemby, the heavy-hitting songwriter who’s been the secret weapon for artists like Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert and Lady Gaga on A Star Is Born. It's okay. (Bruner), Bandana, the widely acclaimed album from rapper Freddie Gibbs and producer Madlib, was forged in trying circumstances: Gibbs says he wrote most of the record in an Austrian jail while awaiting his eventual acquittal from sexual assault charges. Either way, true to Swift's form, she once again caused a commotion in 2019. Write to Raisa Bruner at raisa.bruner@time.com. Your email address will not be published. There isn't a person out there who listens to Shawn Mendes' "If I Can't Have You" and doesn't wish the song was about them. Ms Banks. From Ariana Grande's quickly-iconic breakup track to Bruce Springsteen's big return, these are the best songs of 2019—so far. With a retro-sounding melody that resonates across generational tastes, the song has already become a dancefloor mainstay. You'll never believe what tune Shel Silverstein wrote. But while the song sounds readymade for a night out, it drips with lovesick anxiety: “I cry on the dancefloor, it’s so embarrassing,” Polachek confesses. From one grungy rock anthem, like "Lo/Hi," to the next, The Black Keys have proven why they deserve a spot among rock n' roll royalty. Those still doubting the young Scot’s talent were quickly silenced when they heard the mass singalong this devastating break-up song provoked at 2019’s Glastonbury Festival. This summer, it was both a distraction and the thing you couldn’t escape. Ashley hails from Dayton, Ohio, and has more than six years of experience in print and digital media. With "Tempo," she captures a bit of early 2000s nostalgia by collaborating with the queen of the early aughts herself, Missy Elliott. If so, rapper Lil Uzi Vert's anthem about making money, "Sanguine Paradise," can perhaps put just a little bit of pep in your step on your morning commute. Just in time for summer, Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran released "I Don't Care," an anthem for all of those who don't fit in at the pool party (and quite frankly, don't want to). ‘Goin’ Out Of My Head’: Little Anthony and the Imperials’ Stirring Soul Staple, ‘Undercover’: The Rolling Stones’ Dark, Exhilarating Entry Of 1983, ‘I Know There’s Something Going On’: Phil Collins Helps Frida Into Hot 100. The track spent seven consecutive weeks at the top of the UK charts and later hit No.1 on the Billboard 100. If you haven't heard of Mark Ronson, it's likely that you've heard at least some of his musical stylings on tracks written for other artists like Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse. In her lyrics, the rapper instructs listeners to do as she says—and if you listen up, you're bound to have a great time. Red Foley’s ‘Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy’: Country’s First Million-Seller? All Rights Reserved. Finally, country singer Luke Combs has uttered the words that we've been thinking all along: "Beer Never Broke My Heart." Flash forward to today, and Rogers's latest album, Heard It in a Past Life, is causing just as much commotion—especially thanks to "Burning," a ballad about finding yourself again. Fatimah Nyeema Warner, better known by her stage name Noname, makes music and poetry that soulfully pays homage to her hometown of Chicago. And as Lil Nas X added to the fire by releasing a stream of remixes, the song became less a single record and more a fluid canvas for transgression. By signing up you are agreeing to our, On Positions, Ariana Grande Is Fully in Her Feelings. Taking all of this into consideration, we've scoured the charts and beyond to create an exclusive Apple Music playlist containing all of the standout songs of 2019 so far. Lipa made her name on the cheeky breakup empowerment hit “New Rules”; “Don’t Start Now” follows in that breezy, forward-thinking tradition. Featuring fellow rap star Rick Ross, the latter track provided Drake with his 26th No.1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Songs Chart. From rapping to singing to playing the electric guitar and drums with ease, the artist knows how to deliver a memorable performance. First released independently by rapper Lil Nas X in 2018, "Old Town Road" eventually gained enough popularity on the TikTok app to transform into a chart-topping success. And from that long-awaited release came the summer anthem "Sucker," a love song that reignited the group's popularity. Whether people went online to criticize it, dance to it or remix it, everyone interacted with it some way, continuously pouring fuel as it set record after record. Here are TIME’s best songs of 2019. This song by DJ Khaled and SZA feels like the perfect summer anthem, detailing the love story between a pair conquering the world—with the help of a sampling of Outkast's "Ms. Just hit the 'add' button on Apple Music and you will be able to listen to it all year long. Even if you've never heard of (Sandy) Alex G, you may have heard some of his musical stylings on Frank Ocean's sophomore album, Blonde. Slated to appear on Clairo's debut album Immunity, "Bags" artfully displays the 20-year-old's pop appeal through a series of '80s-inspired synthesized beats and stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Tinx - 'Wait & See' feat. (Bruner), Ever since going viral for a Colors Studios performance in 2017, the British singer Mahalia has enjoyed a steady rise, scoring hits including “I Wish I Missed My Ex” and the Ella Mai-assisted “What You Did.” On “Simmer,” she repurposes the burbling bassline of the 1997 dancehall classic “Who Am I” by Beenie Man, using it to anchor a love story in which a relationship verges on boiling over. Her Social House collaboration, ‘boyfriend’, chalked up yet another US Top 10 success and it also scooped the Song Of The Summer prize at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. In the ballad, Mendes sings about wanting to reunite with a former flame—and he doesn't just want half of her, he wants "all the strings attached." After a nine-year hiatus, the Jonas Brothers finally returned to the music scene with their new album, Happiness Begins. Now, from her fifth studio album, When I Get Home, we have "Binz," a playful summer song that dreams up a world filled with Saint Laurent and a "hundred thousand dollars on the fronts.". Along with Normani, a former member of the girl group Fifth Harmony, Smith takes listeners on a journey of acceptance and heartbreak—one that inevitably earned the song a top spot on Billboard charts around the world. After a nearly six-year hiatus, Vampire Weekend released their fourth studio album, Father of the Bride, in 2019. Pop Smoke growls both his threats and boasts in unruly, unpredictable clusters—but even more jarring is producer 808Melo’s bassline, which seems to bubble out of the deepest recesses of the American psyche. With "Almost (Sweet Music)," the singer-songwriter has penned an intriguing ode to the jazz era. Can the Mayor of Budapest Save It? From anthems about bad guys to late night summer jams, the best songs of 2019 have one thing in common—they've made us tune out the world and take a listen.From Ariana Grande's quickly-iconic breakup track to Bruce Springsteen's big return, these are the best songs of 2019—so far. After all, even villains need a theme song! "I want to be braver and riskier. All Rights Reserved. When he's not in the studio with Ocean, though, the indie musician is crafting his own music that sounds like a cross between folk and lo-fi bedroom pop. A new study says it can show up before anything else. It was, however, worth the effort. Each new version ruptured a new boundary or norm—whether it was Billy Ray Cyrus singing about his Maserati or BTS member RM delivering bilingual wordplay. Lil Durk) 4:21 0:30. Despite its quiet sound, the song has proven to have some boisterous appeal. Once scorned as outsider—both to Nashville and the music industry at large—Lil Nas himself became the gatekeeper, and then opened the door as wide as possible for everyone else. Decidedly far removed from her folksier image, the new material released by singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten on her sixth studio album, Remind Me Tomorrow, makes you want to dance your way through life, particularly "Seventeen.". Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. It’s both underdog and behemoth; eye-rollingly trivial and slyly progressive; radio-ready hit and oddball meme. Country music isn't always kind to female artists. They make that statement over an unabashedly pretty melody, going in and out of duets and harmonies with seamless, generous sweetness. Woods' hit song "Zora" pays tribute to acclaimed novelist Zora Neale Hurston, who explored the vast complexities of black culture in her work. However, in 2019, Perry finally staked her claim in the industry once again with her sing-a-long summer anthem "Never Really Over," a love song that's put the songstress back in business. Listen to the best songs of 2019 on Apple Music, and scroll down for our ten best songs of the year. We'll be updating it throughout the year with new releases. Megan Thee Stallion's "Simon Says"—fresh from her first full-length project, Fever—is a fun, club-worthy take on the old children's game of the title. Fast forward a year later, and the rapper is still profiting off the popularity of his hit single, recruiting retired country star Billy Ray Cyrus to join him for an equally-successful remix. In early 2019, they released a number of carefully crafted acoustic hits, including the favorite "Dylan Thomas.". The fact that The Highwomen even exists is impressive. The album spawned several high-profile singles, of which the bravest was ‘You Need To Calm Down’: a slice of sleek electro-pop with a heartfelt, pro-LGBTQ+ message. Though many critics don't consider "You Need to Calm Down" to be one of Taylor Swift's best songs, others feel like the manufactured LGBTQIA+ anthem is a nod to the importance of queer culture in mainstream media. Case in point: Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst, a fledgling singer-songwriter and veteran composer, who, together, created the Better Oblivion Community Center.