Top 10 Best Songs of 2016

The Top Ten
1 Starboy - The Weeknd

I love how Abel returned to his original style after dominating pop music with his previous record. I don't mean musically - switching from grunge R&B to pop to electronic is a huge transition - I mean in terms of his lyricism. Beauty Behind the Madness had good lyrics, but they didn't offer nearly as much as this track does. The rhymes, flow, and cleverness are all on point, and the cocaine metaphor in the pre-chorus is more effective than Can't Feel My Face ever was. Props to Daft Punk for the awesome production. In general, Starboy serves as a big laugh in the face of anyone who tries to undermine him. Whether you're a hater or an adorer, you only make him more famous. Look what you've done! It's a 10/10, amazing song. It may not be as beautiful as his trilogy mixtapes, but it's still worth listening to, especially if you're a Weeknd fan like me.

To knock the easy stuff out of the way, the production is awesome and the Weeknd is the most charismatic I've ever heard him on this track. The more challenging aspect lies in the lyrical department, but he actually has a significant point here. Yes, this is a huge bragging track, but the key point is in the chorus. He is bragging at the expense of the listener, saying that they enabled him to brag like this, regardless of whether or not you like the Weeknd. Best song of the year by far, although False Alarm is a very close second.

2 Blackstar - David Bowie

Bowie was always creating masterpieces, and even in the face of death, he could move you to tears with his music.

David was an inspiration to so many people out there, including me. He was a masterpiece himself. He could create this music even when he knew he could be gone at any time, and he kept going for his fans, superfans, and even people who didn't know him at all.

He was truly blessed to have such talent. In this song, he could pull off the high notes of his early '70s Ziggy era and the low notes of his '80s self. He could work with multiple genres at once to make beautiful music, but his singing sealed the deal. All of his music was beautiful, but this truly deserves the number two spot.

Probably the best of the year. The distinct production that mixes electronica, jazz, rock, and orchestral elements is one-of-a-kind and sounds extremely unique. However, it's Bowie who truly sells it. The lyrics about death and fame are well-written and become even more poignant after his unfortunate passing. He gives one of his best and most emotive vocal performances in his history, creating something that is both very somber and very haunting. One of the best and most unique tracks in some time, this is arguably one of Bowie's finest and definitely one of 2016's best. RIP Bowie.

3 Heathens - Twenty One Pilots

Good song. Twenty One Pilots were one of the few mainstream pop bands I could stomach this year, and this song is a good reason as to why. The mostly minimalist and slightly subtle approach of the verses definitely create a strong atmosphere and provide a good build-up to an entertaining chorus. On the whole, it's very memorable.

For me, this song is worth much more than first place because it is inspiring, energizing, positive, and all the good a person can remember! So thank Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun for a song that was chosen for the trailer, which is a reimagined song for "Suicide Squad." Twenty One Pilots - "Heathens," remember this song!

I don't know. At first, I didn't really like it, but then I couldn't stop singing it in my head. I think it's really catchy and a great song. I love it so much. It's the best of Twenty One Pilots. I don't know why I enjoy it so much. It's just so good. Yes, it might be overrated, but it's overrated for a good reason. This song gives you the feels. For my personal opinion, 10/10.

4 24k Magic - Bruno Mars

I love this song! It's the best song of 2016. We needed more music like this. I especially love the '80s vibe. In fact, his whole album has that '80s feel. It's much better than the disgrace that was Uptown Funk, which was an assault on my ears! This song proves that you don't need a crappy modern beat to produce a hit.

Ooh, this song is one of my favorite songs. I also like Just Like Fire, Heathens, and Can't Stop the Feeling, but this song is AMAZING! Bruno has some other good songs too, but this is my favorite. It makes me feel good.

This is definitely an improvement over Uptown Funk. The beat of 24K Magic is cooler than Uptown Funk, even though it's kind of old-fashioned. But I guess Bruno has his unique ways, which actually make most of his songs better.

5 Don't Let Me Down - The Chainsmokers

I love this song. I'm a huge fan of dubstep, and the instrumental part after the buildup chorus had a dubstep-like vibe to it. It brings me back to memories where a good dubstep song comes up in my recommended page, I click on it, and dance like nobody's watching. Another reason why this song is so great is Daya's vocals. She did a great job with this song. I'm kind of glad it was overplayed on the radio.

Huge step up over the awful mess that was 'Roses', and is honestly one of the best songs on pop radio right now. It's upbeat, not whiny, and catchy. The lyrics aren't anything special, as most pop music generally is, but it's not bad either! It beats the atrocious '7 Years.'

I did not care for it when I first heard it on the radio. The second, third, and fourth time I heard it, I still did not care for it. But the fifth time, I was impressed. Don't Let Me Down is amazing. This song has a beautiful ending.

6 Cheap Thrills - Sia

Sia writing this song surprised me because I thought other writers were going to do it instead of her, but I stand corrected. 5/5 - everything is perfect. The beat and the tempo fit the song well, and Sia's vocals are good enough to make a better pop song than Katy Perry.

This is probably the best dance-pop song of this decade so far. This song started the trend of reggae-influenced tropical pop dance hits (mind you, Rockabye, Shape of You, Chained to the Rhythm, etc.). Sia is a pop genius and a horribly underrated artist, no matter how much success her songs have, because her albums are somewhat undervalued.

This song is amazing. It should be ranked higher.

7 Daydreaming - Radiohead

Very depressing song. From beginning to end, it's just straight-up sadness.

This song - imagine Jesus on a boat snorting coke with hookers - is incredible. When I listened to Radiohead's new album, I wasn't expecting much. But when Daydreaming came on, it took me to another place, and it was very weird. I fell in love with it and it transported me to a bizarre, star-laced dream world, and I didn't even have to take drugs.

A million times better than Lukas Graham.

8 Sucker for Pain - Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons

The Suicide Squad album was amazing. As a matter of fact, some may say the soundtrack was the best part about the whole movie, and in my opinion, it was. However, this song is one of my favorites from the album (besides Eminem). All their parts were well done, but in my opinion, I could do without Lil Wayne's part. But it is indeed some of his better work. All in all, I'd say this is the best song of whatever genre it is (because I have no idea what to group it in), and in my review, I'd give it 4.5 out of 5.

Lil Wayne kills it in this song. His verse is not profane for a soundtrack song and doesn't distance himself from his roots by staying with that hip-hop style. Wayne absolutely delivered an astonishing performance in this song. Nobody can doubt that. Dan Reynolds' vocal performance was great, alongside acts like TY$ and Logic, who both also had great verses. The only exception I take with this song is how garbage Wiz Khalifa's verse was.

9 Can't Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake

It's catchy and fun to dance to, but it doesn't bring anything new. Then again, who ever wanted something new in a catchy summer jam?

This song got stuck in my head. I believe that this is going to be the song of the summer.

I also really love this song! It's catchy and makes you dance and feel happy. It should be higher, along with Just Like Fire.

10 Ride - Twenty One Pilots

So many songs that are popular right now sound very similar to one another. I think people need to branch out and improve lyrics, as well as change musical and melodic trends. This song isn't one I love, but I think Twenty One Pilots doesn't confine themselves to the box this current time in music forces artists into. This song sounds different while still maintaining popularity, whether it be sung by ten-year-olds or teenagers.

Good song, though it's not from 2016. I don't think people realize how many songs that are currently popular took quite a while to do so and were actually released last year. I mean, this song is only just getting popular, and it was released in May of 2015, well over a year ago.

I listen to a lot of music, but I had no idea who made this song. I thought it was one of those one-time bands. Turns out, it's Twenty One Pilots. Anyways, I LOVE this song!

The Contenders
11 Distant Sky - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
12 7 Years - Lukas Graham

You don't get it. Yes, everyone has been through tough times, but not everyone has experienced them growing up in Freetown Christiania. That's what makes it special. He started drinking and smoking when he was 12, and it all has something to do with Christiania. Can't you see? That's what he's trying to show everyone - where he grew up. To understand it fully, you need to dig deeper. He has an amazing story.

People only hate this song because they're incapable of comprehending and understanding the lyrics. They judge songs solely by their beat. Alternatively, they might be jealous because a non-famous singer has a song that's doing better than most famous people's songs. Get over it, you butthurt idiots! Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift get enough attention already.

I'm not sure why so many of the comments are hateful. Mostly, I listen to rock, but I really like this song. It tells a story, which is an important aspect that songs can have.

13 Ain't It Funny - Danny Brown
14 Just Like Fire - Pink

What a perfect song for a good movie. Hopefully, Alice Through the Looking Glass becomes a cult classic, but this song was a hit from the beginning. I wish they would release White Rabbit from Pink, but damn, this was such a fun song.

This song will be stuck in my head for the rest of my life, in the best way possible. It needs to be in the top ten. Whenever I try to sing it, I end up sounding like an idiot. Only P!nk can sing this song correctly, and that's okay.

One of my favorites. All in all, an awesome song! Pink's voice is so powerful, and everything is absolutely perfect. Although I'm not too keen on the Alice franchise, I'm in love with this song.

15 Perfect Illusion - Lady Gaga

This song isn't a perfect illusion. It's a perfect comeback (if you don't count Mike Posner's I Took A Pill In Ibiza).

The guitar riff at the start tells you right away that this song is going to be amazing. Add that to the disco feel of this song, and we get a sound that is unique to 2016, which is full of sad ballads that usually don't work.

And then there's Lady Gaga's voice. I'll tell you now that this is possibly her second-best vocal performance, only being beaten by Til It Happens To You. The power in her voice, along with the emotion and raw energy Gaga brings, is just pure and, thankfully, devoid of autotune.

10/10

All the hype around Lady Gaga's newest song got me excited, and it was worth it. All the so-called Little Monsters who were bashing the new songs must not have heard You and I. Lady Gaga is transitioning to a cleaner side, similar to singers such as Kesha, Katy Perry, and Beyoncé - in a way, during her Sasha Fierce era. The guitar riff is modestly acclaimed, earning a 3/5 in my opinion. Gaga's vocals are supposed to be that great. Let's now support her for Joanne.

16 Pillowtalk - Zayn

Zayn Malik made a good choice when he left One Direction to create this sexy song that's not afraid to cross boundaries. The lyrics resonate on a spiritual level as he describes "the pain and the pleasure" of his sex life. However, one thing ties this song together: the beat. Pillowtalk could not function without that amazing beat. Vocal ability? Check. Lovely lyrics? Check. Awesome instrumental? Check. Take one listen, and you will understand the "dirty and raw" truth about Zayn Malik.

I don't like 1D at all, but Zayn has pretty much improved from his old self.

In 1D, he had a weak voice with no power or energy. But in this song, especially the chorus, his voice booms with a tremendous amount of power and energy, which gives the song a nice texture. The beat is also really excellent and calming. That doesn't excuse it from the crappy lyrics, though. Good job, Zayn. 4.5/5.

17 Bang Bang - Green Day

I got addicted to this song. It is so good. Green Day came back with a very awesome song. This song is about the Orlando shooting.

Energetic, meaningful, catchy, and FUN! And this won't even make my list of Top Ten Green Day songs. 8/5, I'm so glad this band cashed back in!

Green Day is awesome. I regained faith in humanity when my 11-year-old friend told me she liked this album.

18 Rise - Katy Perry

I will always be a Little Monster, but this song is so powerful! I sang it for my school's talent show!

What the hell? This song should be in the top 10. The lyrics are so beautiful and meaningful - don't doubt it, don't doubt it. Victory is in your veins.

RISE is one of the most empowering songs ever created! It takes a few listens to really get the song, but once you do, it's pure KP gold!

19 Spit Out the Bone - Metallica

How Just Like Fire and many other schmucks are above this modern masterpiece is beyond me. This song is awesome, and Metallica's newest album is just terrific. This is the best song of 2016 and one of my favorites of the decade.

"Come unto me, and you will feel perfection" - this song's lyric sums up the awesomeness of this song! Listen to this one, and you will hear just how good it is. Anyway, this should be back in the top 10, at either number 6 or 5.

It's a good song. It just doesn't get as much recognition because it's not "mainstream-friendly."

20 Roses - The Chainsmokers

It's undeniable. This song is played on almost every radio station I know, and it's one of the songs that put the Chainsmokers on the map. That's my opinion.

Take it slow, but this song is not typical. It's way better than other songs.

This one is the Chainsmokers' best song ever.

21 Panda - Desiigner

This song has a nice, catchy beat. The lyrics are not that good, but the rhymes are pretty decent. 4/5 (it would be 5/5 if I could understand him better).

Believe it or not, I actually like this song. It's super catchy and has an awesome beat.

This song is weird. It's great, but it fluctuates - getting better sometimes and worse at other times.

22 Hardwired - Metallica

Fantastic. Admittedly, it does come up very short in comparison to their earlier stuff, but on its own, this is a brilliant metal song. The intense production helps to create some of the best thrash metal the music scene has seen in years, and the vocals are very good. Despite some of the cringey lyrics, this is a great tune and one of the best of the year. It's also nice to know Metallica was one of the few established bands not to suck this year.

After 8 years (or two-and-a-half decades for a total thrasher), Metallica is finally going to salvage this disastrous year. The year has been dismal in terms of politics and entertainment. You'd better not let us down this time.

This song, though it's not some of their best music, contains more creativity than any other pop song above it. Every single pop and rap song on this list is boring.

23 The Sound - The 1975

Only at 100? This is the best song I've heard all year! Really catchy chorus, energetic vocals, punchy beat, and an all-around happy and joyful vibe! Why Work and One Dance are above this, I don't know.

This is a good song. 9/10? That seems about right.

24 The Ballad of the Costa Concordia - Car Seat Headrest

Seeing this in the top 30 makes me happy.

25 Girl in Amber - Nick Cave
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