Follow Billboard. All rights reserved. Despite everything, this one was a banner year for pop music. Established genre queens like Ari, Gaga and Miley returned with new albums, artists who have teetered on the verge for years now finally broke out Rina Sawayama; Doja Cat , and newcomers like caught our ears from the get-go. We gobbled up all of these offerings like our lives depended on it While putting on the latest Harry Styles, of course. First, however, we need to highlight the pop art that was born out of such a difficult period, and to appreciate the music that helped us get through times of stress, anxiety, and depression. In less than a decade, Ariana Grande has gone from hopeful hitmaker to unassailable purveyor of pop prowess, nailing the sound of the moment while pointing to the industry's next step. There is nothing subtle about this over-the-top power-pop dynamo, from chess metaphors to pounding electric guitars, and that's just how Ava Max likes it. Yes, Virginia, there is a formula for a flawless bop: one part Bebe Rexha vocals, one part Doja Cat sassiness, and a dash of Justin Tranter's powerful pen.


49. ‘One’ — U2
50. ‘Gimme Shelter’ — The Rolling Stones
Follow Billboard. All rights reserved. Here, we revisit the ranking's biggest hits of all-time. On Aug. Sixty years later, the chart remains the gold-standard ranking of America's top songs each week. And while what goes into a hit has changed bye, bye jukebox play; hello, streaming! The Twist - Chubby Checker The only song to rule the Billboard Hot in separate release cycles one week in , two in , thanks to adults catching on to the song and its namesake dance after younger audiences popularized them. Smooth - Santana Feat.
Best pop songs of all time
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What makes a pop song a classic? A catchy melody, for sure. A beat that makes you want to move. Lyrics that speak to your heart and head. And a voice that catches your ear and holds your attention. The best pop songs contain all of these elements and more. Scientists at the University of London who have studied the psychology of pop music have identified three elements that make a song grab your attention:. Ask a group of songwriters what makes a pop song great and you're likely to get a number of different answers.