Just through the first portion of 2020, and we took a look back at the top songs of the 2010s. This list is genre-fluid and encompasses a whole range of emotions, nostalgia, and confidence-inducing party bangers. Check out the songs below and let us know what you think!
Black Beatles (feat. Gucci Man)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Rae Sremmurd
Album:
- SremmLife 2
Description
Black Beatles is a song about making it big in the music game. The is about The Beatles, where Rae Sremmurd refers to themselves as equal counterparts.
Sicko Mode
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Travis Scott
Album:
- Astroworld
Description
Sicko Mode features a Drake verse with an abrupt transition into a new back-beat. This was due to the fact that Drake turned his verses in at 2am the day that Astroworld dropped.
God's Plan
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Drake
Album:
- Scorpion
Description
God’s Plan is a song about gratefulness and having faith in God. The music video had a budget of $996,631.90. However, Drake gave it all away to people in need.
Latch (feat. Sam Smith)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Disclosure
Album:
- Settle
Description
Sam Smith Wrote this song with the brother duo Disclosure in just one day. Sam wrote the lyrics and Disclosure composed the dance beat to a 6/8 time scale.
One Kiss
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Calvin Harris
Album:
- One Kiss (Single)
Description
One Kiss is a homemade hit single for Calvin Harris. He wrote this song from his home without engeneering
Alright
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Kendrick Lamar
Album:
- To Pimp a Butterfly
Description
Alright was written by Kendrick Lamar with inspiration of his trip to South Africa in 2014. The opening lyric is a quote from the movie The Color Purple.
1-800-273-8255 (feat. Alessia Cara & Khalid)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Logic
Album:
- Everybody
Description
Logic wrote this song to help spread awareness of suicide prevention. This song is a prime example of a great artist using their platform for a great cause.
Suit & Tie (Feat. JAY-Z)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Justin Timberlake
Album:
- The 20/20 Experience
Description
This song was written off-the-cuff by Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z. Movie director David Fincher directed the music video for this single shot in black and white.
Rap God
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Eminem
Album:
- The Marshall Mathers LP2
Description
Rap God holds the world record according to Guinness, for most words used in a hit single. Eminem raps a total of 1,560 words in the song.
What Do You Mean?
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Justin Bieber
Album:
- Purpose
Description
What Do You Mean is a song about a girl who can’t make up her mind. Justin Bieber asks the question every guy in a complicated relationship wants to ask.
Ain't It Fun
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Paramore
Album:
- Paramore
Description
Ain’t It Fun is a song written by Hayley Williams about moving to LA and being on her own for the first time. She shares her feelings in the lyrics.
Rolling in the Deep
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Adele
Album:
- 21
Description
The song Rolling in the Deep is a break-up revenge song. Adele wrote this song with the inspiration she received from her past relationship.
There Goes My Baby
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Usher
Album:
- Raymond Vs. Raymond
Description
There Goes My Baby is a song about a true love connection. This song won a Grammy for Best Male Vocal Performance in 2011.
Pumped Up Kicks
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Foster The People
Album:
- Foster The People EP
Description
The song Pumped Up Kicks was nominated for a Grammy in the year 2010. This song is about today’s youth feeling as though they have no place to run to.
24K Magic
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Bruno Mars
Album:
- 24K Magic
Description
24K Magic was written as a party song for the 24K Magic album. In the song, Bruno Mars talks about the fun he is having with all that money he has.
Starboy (feat. Daft Punk)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- The Weeknd
Album:
- Starboy
Description
The Weeknd plays homage to the great David Bowie with his song Starboy. This song is about living lavishly while in the spotlight.
No Limit (feat. A$AP Rocky & Cardi B)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- G-Eazy
Album:
- The Beautiful & Damned
Description
No Limit is a song that features three of hip-hop’s newest stars. The three artists tell stories of fame while boasting about money.
Bodak Yellow
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Cardi B
Album:
- Invasion of Privacy
Description
Bodak Yellow is a song about making it. Cardi B was previously an exotic dancer and she references how she used to make money move because of her dancing abilities.
Rake It Up (feat. Nicki Minaj)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Yo Gotti
Album:
- I Still Am
Description
Rake It Up is Yo Gottis 4th collaboration with Nicki Minaj. This song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard charts, making it Yo Gotti’s most successful song yet.
Wild Thoughts(feat. Rihanna)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- DJ Khaled
Album:
- Grateful
Description
Wild Thoughts uses the sample from the 1999 hit single Maria Maria by Santana. DJ Khaled said he worked on getting the right record ready for 8 years to collaborate with Rihanna.
Boo'd Up
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Ella Mai
Album:
- Ready-EP
Description
Joelle James originally wrote the song for herself in 2014. Mai and James described Boo’d Up as being completely consumed in a relationship and the sound of a heartbeat.
Adorn
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Miguel
Album:
- Kaleidoscope Dream
Description
Singer and songwriter Miguel wrote this song while being on a long trip away from his then-girlfriend, now wife, Nazanin Mandi.
Self Care
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Mac Miller
Album:
- Swimming
Description
Self Care was released on July 13th, 2018 but, it wasn’t until after Miller’s death on September 7th, 2018, that this single would reach #33 on Hot 100 Billboard Charts.
No Problem (feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Chance the Rapper
Album:
- Coloring Book
Description
No Problem is the second single Chance the Rappers 2016 Coloring Book album, which was first ever streaming-only album to win a Grammy.
Rule the World (feat. Ariana Grande)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- 2 Chainz
Album:
- Rap or Go to the League
Description
After squashing accusations of Grande stealings material from his Spend It track and music video. 2Chainz brought her onto this 2019 track.
Circles
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Post Malone
Album:
- Hollywood's Bleeding
Description
The song Circles is about a relationship that is going nowhere. Post Malone shows his softer side in the love ballad. It hit #1 on the Billboard chart on 11-30-19.
Middle Child
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- J. Cole
Album:
- Middle Child – Single
Description
Middle Child is about being between new rap and old school rap generations. Cole feels like a big brother and a little brother to his fellow artist but, will not be forgotten
All of Me
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- John Legend
Album:
- Love in the Future
Description
A tribute to his wife Chrissy Teigen, Legend sang this song during their nuptials in Como, Italy. This song is about balance, even when you are giving up somethings, you are gaining so much.
thank u, next
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Ariana Grande
Album:
- thank u, next
Description
Released on November 3rd, following a clip of her ex-Pete Davidson joking of their broken engagement. This song is about her gratitude in past relationships and finding herself.
Taki Taki (feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- DJ Snake
Album:
- Taki Taki
Description
An English- Spanish song about a wild night in a nightclub and seduction. Taki, Taki isn’t a word but, Ozuna says it reflects the clack-clack sound of a drum.
Bad and Boujee (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Migos
Album:
- Culture
Description
This hip hop trap song went viral in 2016 with its raindrop..drop-top hook and celebrity shout outs, like Donald Glover.
Redbone
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Childish Gambino
Album:
- "Awaken, My Love!"
Description
Featured in the opening scenes of the film Get Out directed by Jordan Peele. The term Redbone is used to describe light-skinned African Americans.
Royals
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Lorde
Album:
- Royals
Description
Inspired by Kayne West, Jay-Z, and Lana Del Rays lyrical references to a luxuriously unrelatable lifestyle. When this reached #1, Lorde became the youngest solo artist to write and perform a Hot 100 chart-topper.
Señorita
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Shawn Mendez & Camilla Cabello
Album:
- Señorita – Single
Description
When producer Andrew Watt sent this song to Shawn Mendes, he suggested it be a duet. To which Mendes agreed, and said Camilla Cabello was the only artist he could do the song with
Wake Me Up
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Avicii
Album:
- True
Description
Featuring songwriter and soul singer Aloe Blacc, Wake Me Up as the first-ever song to reach 200 million streams on Spotify.
Bad Guy
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Billie Eilish
Album:
- When We All Fall Asleeep, Where Do We Go?
Description
Eilish says this song is meant to poke fun at people who try to portray themselves as rule-breakers. Bad Guy won Best Song at the 2019 MTV European Music Awards.
Thinking Out Loud
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Ed Sheeran
Album:
- X (Wembley Edition)
Description
Written singer-songwriter Amy Wadge, during a visit she picked up a guitar gifted to Sheeran from Harry Styles and she started strumming a few chords. They sat on his couch at 2 am and wrote it in 20 minutes.
Closer (feat. Halsey)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- The Chainsmokers
Album:
- Collage – EP
Description
This song was written about a couple reigniting their relationship after a 4-year absence. After the honeymoon stage ends, they realize why they broke up in the first place.
Happy (From “Despicable Me 2”)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Pharrell Williams
Album:
- Girl
Description
Written, produced and performed by Pharrell Williams for the film Despicable Me 2. The song’s visual is the world’s first-ever 24-hour music video.
Radioactive
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Imagine Dragons
Album:
- Night Visions
Description
This Las Vegas native rock band wrote this song about embracing change. The video for Radioactive is on the top 100 most liked music videos on YouTube, with 1.1 billion views and 6.6 million likes.
Dark Horse (feat. Juicy J)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Katy Perry
Album:
- PRISM
Description
Perry revealed that this song was inspired by the movie The Craft. She said it was about warning a guy if you’re going to fall in love with me, be sure because it’s going to be your last.
Old Town Road (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) [Remix]
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Lil Nas X
Album:
- 7
Description
Lil Nas and Billy Ray Cyrus broke the record for the longest run at #1 on Billboard Hot 100 chart going for 19 weeks.
Runaway (feat. Pusha T)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Kanye West
Album:
- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Description
The song Runaway was written by Kanye West in 2010. Runaway is about Kanye and his relationship with society. Sometimes he feels overwhelmed and wishes he could run from it all.
Drunk in Love (feat. JAY Z)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Beyoncé
Album:
- Beyoncé
Description
This husband and wife duet is about female sexuality, lust, and love-making in a committed relationship. Beyonce uses several double entendres in a half-sung half-rapped style.
We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Fun.
Album:
- Some Nights
Description
We Are Young was the most listened to song on Facebook in 2012 and is a certified five-time platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Gotye
Album:
- Making Mirrors
Description
Gotye made his US television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live on February 1, 2012. This song went on to win Record of the Year at the 2013 Grammy Awards
Shallow
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Lady Gaga
Album:
- A Star is Born Soundtrack
Description
The song title was inspired by the 2018 film A Star Is Born and its initial tragic ending. Shallow went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2019.
Location
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Khalid
Album:
- American Teen
Description
This El Paso natives debut single Location was released a couple of weeks before we was crowned prom king in high school.
Look At Me Now (feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes)
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Chris Brown
Album:
- F.A.M.E.
Description
Off Brown’s 4th studio album F.A.M.E. standing for forgiving all my enemies. This track was the first new song of the 21st century’s second decade.
Jealous
Listen:
- Amazon Music •
- Spotify •
- Tidal •
- YouTube
Artist:
- Nick Jonas
Album:
- Nick Jonas X2
Description
Jonas got inspiration for this song during his training to be a fighter on the show Kingdom. It expresses his feelings when other men would stare at his then-girlfriend, Olivia Culpo.