I copied this photo from Digster and then cropped out their logo. Power moves only.
2018 was a wild and crazy year. The headlines never seemed to stop coming, but at the end of the year, here we are, still alive and well, in some cases never better. For those of us in our late 20s, 2018 was likely a year of immense personal growth, but with probably a fair bit of frustration and stagnation thrown in as well, since, you know, that’s life. But this is not a personal-reflection blog, it’s a pop music blog, so let’s talk about 2018 in music for a second.
This felt like the year that Spotify completed its takeover of the music industry. What started as an exciting alternative to the decades-long reliance on personal music collections and radio airplay has now revolutionized the way music is consumed. But I would say there are significant negative side effects to Spotify’s takeover, which I only truly realized as I stared at Billboard’s 2018 year-end Hot 100 (released a record-early December 5 this year). Thanks to my ability to consume music almost exclusively on Spotify (and the fact that I don’t go to clubs and bars as often now), I have no reason to ever listen to songs that I don’t personally choose to hear. This means I dive further and further into the niche corners of music that I like the most, and I just completely ignore the rest of the pop-music landscape. As a result, when I stared at that list, I didn’t even KNOW about half of the year’s biggest hits. Like, I’d never even heard of them, let alone recognize them as they played.
But nevertheless, I insisted on making this list again this year, because I still think I know what sounds good and what doesn’t in pop music. But I realize now that thanks to Spotify, I have become, in one sweeping year, the person I always dreaded becoming- the out-of-touch old person who thinks “today’s music” doesn’t compare to the stuff from back in my day. Soundcloud rappers? Cardi B? The New Drake? Meh. I’ll stick to deep house and “oldies” from 2000-2017 going forward, thanks! This may be the last list I can even semi-credibly do, but let’s dive in nonetheless:
*As a reminder, only songs that appeared on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 for 2018 are eligible for this list, and no songs that appeared on last year’s list of mine could appear again this year. Also, a Spotify playlist is attached at the bottom if you don’t want to read 2,000 words.
20. Post Malone- "Better Now":
Kicking off our 2018 list is the dude who probably personified 2018 in music more than any other, Post Malone. He’s had some serious words written about him this year, and he’s had some serious viral moments, but ultimately his music just...kinda exists. I think we’ll look back on Post Malone and wonder what we saw in him. If there’s ever been a situation where style won out more convincingly over substance, I’m not sure I’ve seen it. This one’s OK though.
19. Lil Dicky featuring Chris Brown- "Freaky Friday":
There’s nothing like a good novelty rap song to guarantee a spot on this list. Does it stand up to repeated listening? No, I imagine it gets tiring pretty quickly. But the first few listens are delightful, and the video helps clarify the end of the story a bit- the lyrics moved too fast for me to understand exactly how they switch back to their normal selves. But, it’s “Freaky Friday,” a little willing suspension of disbelief is needed in the first place.
18. Bazzi- "Mine":
Feels like it’s been awhile since we’ve had a good slow R&B jam on this list, and “Mine,” the debut single from Bazzi, certainly qualifies. In fact, my only complaint is that the song runs a little short. Barely enough time to get into the vibe. We don’t really get to know the characters, their motivations, their backstories- just kidding, it’s an R&B love song, what more do you need other than “Miiiine”?
17. G-Eazy and Halsey- "Him & I":
Halsey is, like, every “troubled” hipster millennial/Gen Z girl’s avatar in Hollywood. I don’t know much about G-Eazy but he seems like the male version of Halsey- the party boy with a “dark soul” and an “artistic spirit” that guys across suburbia can aspire to be as they smoke pot and struggle to maintain their 2.0 GPA. So, yes, it’s perfect that they found each other and even gave us a fake homemade music video (shot in Brooklyn, of course) for their duet together. If that all sounds overly harsh, well, the song is actually still pretty good, and it’s the first of 3 appearances for Halsey on this list so it’s not like I dislike her or anything. I just couldn’t help but smirk as I watched the video. As if I could do better...
16. Halsey- "Bad at Love":
Like I said above, Halsey knows who her music is for, and she really doubles and triples down on the themes she knows will play to her audience. If you can’t get out of your own way, keep falling for the Bad Boy (preferably a white guy in a leather jacket with slicked-back hair, aka the most stereotypical Bad Boy out there), and yet you own your faults and love yourself for them, then yeah, you’re gonna love this song and all her others. Am I any of those things? Absolutely not. But I like it too. (And the remix is better).
15. Camila Cabello- "Never Be the Same":
Ah yes, nothing better for our nation’s crippling opioid epidemic than a hit pop song referring to her lover as heroin and morphine. Hey, I like love, maybe I want to try hard drugs now to see if that feels just as good! I would be more upset if Camila Cabello weren’t so darn likable, and if the song weren’t so damn catchy. Keep doing you, Camila, but maybe let’s stick to less-addictive drugs in the future.
14. Logic featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid- "1-800-273-8255":
It’s really, really hard to say anything negative about this song, because it’s so beautiful and has such a powerful message (and a music video that you should absolutely watch if you haven’t already). I guess my only complaint, and what seemed to be South Park’s complaint as well, is the absurdity of “1-800” being a pop/radio single. It’s just so damn heavy. But you know what, much like Macklemore’s "Same Love," if it brings awareness to an issue so many of us gloss over, then it’s worth hearing, even if it’s a total party buzzkill.
13. Benny Blanco, Halsey, and Khalid- "Eastside":
This is a pleasant song that I never minded hearing this year. When I saw the video I appreciated that it told a story, and indeed a couple of quite personal stories about the artists who made the songs. I’m always a sucker for high-school and childhood memories, so it was awesome to see them track down the old locations where Benny Blanco and Halsey actually made their own memories. But, like the song, the whole thing stopped a bit short. I want more! Is that so wrong?
12. Maroon 5- "Girls Like You":
Here’s Maroon 5’s first appearance this year. Can we just talk for a second about how incredible it is that Maroon 5 continues to make popular and relevant music 16 years after their breakout single “Harder to Breathe?” That is really hard to do for a band that started out as a middle-of-the-road pop/rock quintet. They have only succeeded because a) Adam Levine has turned himself into a bona fide A-list celebrity, and because they have been unafraid to re-invent their sound with nearly every album and even almost every song at this point. They also have no fear or shame about inviting guest artists on to help boost the name brand of a song, like Cardi B in this one for instance. Sonically, Maroon 5 is a chameleon, but they still manage to get it right almost every time out, which makes me think they deserve a lot more praise than they get. This video made me dizzy, though.
11. NF- "Let You Down":
Boy, the first half of this list was a real downer, huh? I don’t know if that’s an accurate reflection of my mood this year, but it’s definitely worth noting. I think it just comes down to the fact that sad songs sounded better than happy songs this year, at least for numbers 20 through 11. Maybe the top 10 will be a little brighter. As for this one, I thought it was about a relationship gone wrong until I saw the video, which made it unmistakably clear that it was about a father-son relationship. Hope you like death and sadness if you watch this one.
10. DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, and Quavo- "No Brainer":
Ah, here we go. From the muted grays and blues of the “Let You Down” video representing the darkest of 2018, to the candy pinks and oranges of “No Brainer, signaling that we are back to party music here to kick off the top 10. Does DJ Khaled do it any other way? Also, I have to say, Justin Bieber is looking more and more like Agent Murphy from Narcos these days. Has anyone else made that comparison? Maybe I can be the first. Anyway, this is maybe the purest party jam on this list, so enjoy!
9. Marshmello and Anne-Marie- "Friends":
First of 2 appearances by Marshmello on this list (never thought I’d say those words). Let me just say that 12-year-old me (and 22-year-old me, to be honest) would have hated this song, and really most songs by Anne-Marie. Girl, just go out with him already! (Then again, if he keeps turning up at your door in a marshmallow head, maybe it’s best to stay away.) But, as I get older, my passions are dying down and I can’t really hate on it like I used to. Either way, though, the song is fun and easy to sing along to, so it gets a spot in the top 10.
8. Taylor Swift- "Delicate":
Astute readers will note that the number 8 spot on this list has often wound up being reserved for the best bubblegum pop song of the year. This year, Taylor Swift falls perfectly into that role with “Delicate.” This one grew on me a bit- I thought it was a bit boring at first but over time I appreciated it more, and so it finds itself all the way up at number 8. It’s helped by a delightful what-if-you-were-invisible video, as well.
7. Maroon 5- "Wait":
Everything I said about Maroon 5 above still applies here. This one is a little more conventional, without a guest feature, which is probably why I have it ranked higher up on the list. I think we’ve all felt like Adam Levine in this video, too, so it scores points for stylish expression of a common situation as well. Here’s hoping Maroon 5 keeps on trucking into 2019 (starting with the Super Bowl halftime show of course).
6. Dua Lipa- "New Rules":
I distinctly remember saying last year that I hoped to hear more from Dua Lipa in 2018. Boy, did that ever happen and then some. She was everywhere, or at least her voice was. This was her big featured single, though, and it’s the one that made her (sort of) a household name here in the States. I’m glad I got what I wished for, and I hope music like this isn’t just a flash in the pan. Dua Lipa was one of 2018’s few bright spots. Even if I can’t relate to the message in the lyrics whatsoever...
5. Lil Pump- "Gucci Gang":
So, I said at the top of the blog that I hated Soundcloud rappers and the general direction that they’ve taken the Billboard chart this year. Well, I kinda lied, because “Gucci Gang” is so preposterously bad that it actually comes out the other side and becomes fun, following in the long tradition of similar rap songs over the last couple decades (“Versace,” “Laffy Taffy,” “Crank That,” etc.) I said “Gucci Gang” almost as much as that weird Youtube kid this year, so how could I not put this in the top 5?
4. Marshmello and Bastille- "Happier":
Now we’re getting towards the real winners of this year’s countdown. To be honest, this song pales in comparison to many of the top-5 tracks from years past, but given this year’s competition, it sails in pretty easily. Mostly, though, it’s helped by its tearjerker of a music video which helped it stand out. Not really fair, though- the subject material is just too touching! It should be banned from music videos if you ask me. But no, I’m not crying, you’re crying.
3. Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa- "One Kiss":
Ah, Calvin Harris. The old reliable in the top 5, every year. This is far from his best work, but it’s just so eminently listenable that it did wind up standing out. Besides, his decision to feature Dua Lipa on vocals also made it a virtual guarantee for such a high spot before I even heard it. God, I hope Calvin stays around in 2019 and beyond, because without him, the music industry would lose one of its most consistent sources of Jams.
2. Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey- "The Middle":
Zedd is an interesting case. He’s never made a track that I really loved, but most his songs that have hit the Top 40 have been among the best in their year. He’s a consistent B+ student, I guess you could say. Well, this year, B+ is good enough for the number 2 song. Maren Morris turned out to be the perfect choice for the vocals here (and she was chosen over many competitors). I guess everyone knew this was a jam before it ever even got released. But, it comes up just short for number 1...
1. Kendrick Lamar and SZA- "All the Stars":
Yes, you’re correct. I NEVER thought Kendrick Lamar would have number one song on any list of mine. I felt his lyrical skills were overrated, his beats underwhelmed, and his voice was annoying to listen to. But that was before “All The Stars” came out. To be fair, SZA carries the song. And the beat is totally different from a typical Kendrick style. And it benefitted from being the soundtrack to the closing credits of the terrific “Black Panther” movie. But nonetheless, it gets number 1 by a fairly wide margin this year, if I’m being honest. It’s simply a beautiful song that stood up to repeated listening far better than any other this year. And for that, it joins the ranks of the all-time greats to be crowned the Best Pop Song of the Year. Congrats, Kendrick (and SZA. And Wallace). Let’s see what 2019 brings!
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