Best and Worst Songs of the Year

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Inspired by this thread:
https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=220582.0

2015 is over three quarters over.  A lot of songs were released this year, some of them good, some of them bad.  Which songs have been your favorites and/or least favorites?

Some songs that I've liked are Shut Up and Dance and Bad Blood.  Some that I've hated are Marvin Gaye and Fight Song.

Every year Spectrum Pulse, Todd in the Shadows, and others release lists of the 10 best and 10 worst songs of the year.  A Dose of Buckley releases a worst list but not a best list.

What do y'all think?

[they don't love you like i love you]

I know little about top 40 music because I listen to almost nothing but "indie post-punk emotional melodic scenecore" (normal)

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I usually don't release until year-end, but I guess I could give a sneak peak. Note this does not include Lindi Ortega's release or Kasey Chambers' full album (just the single) or George Strait's release this week. I still have a lot of work to do.

1. "Sedona" by Houndmouth
2. "Somebody to Love" by Kacey Musgraves
3. "Speed Trap Town" by Jason Isbell
4. "Say It" by Houndmouth"
5. "Flagship" by Jason Isbell
6. "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town*
7. "Dress Blues" by Zac Brown Band (cover)
8. "Thanksgiving 1985" by Darrell Scott
9. "Is God Real?" by Kasey Chambers
10. "Me Oh My" by The Honeycutters

*technically on a 2014 album, but it was a 2015 single.

I suspect those last two will drop off giving an incredibly strong top 10 after last year being pretty terrible.

Weird not to have any Sufjan Stevens in the top 10 considering the greatness of the album, but he has several songs in the top 25. Gretchen Peters was the only other highly ranked album without a representative on that list. But Sufjan is really odd because he is neck-and-neck with Houndmouth for #1 album for me. Both albums are pretty complete projects though Sufjan's arguably more consistent.

And if you don't want to count the single, then #11 is yet another Isbell song in "24 Frames". Truly a fantastic writer. Absolutely enchanting.

These are not the next songs on the list, but they have been rising for me lately and deserve recognition as they are very catchy by artists I wasn't overly familiar with before: "Home With You" by The Delta Routine, "Ghost Town" by Sam Outlaw, "Stay A Little Longer" by Brothers Osborne.. Not lyrical masterpieces (maybe GT is) but really fun.

[exopolitician]

Best:

1. Clearest Blue - CHVRCHES
2. Lights - Hurts
3. Criminals - MS MR
4. The Handler - Muse
5. No Maker Made Me - IAMX
6. Monument - MuteMath
7. Turn To Dust - Wolf Alice
8. Sea Castle - Purity Ring
9. Yes I'm Changing - Tame Impala
10. Buzzkill(er) - The Dead Weather

I don't really pay attention to songs that I think are awful, but I think some of the worst music released in 2015 include Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Drake, Twenty One Pilots, Mumford & Sons, New Order had a really underwhelming album,  and Metric had an underwhelming album too.

I was surprised that I actually enjoyed Janet Jackson's new album. No Sleeep is a great track, really fun and groovy.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

I won't make an official list until the year is over, but here is my unofficial list from last year:

(Basically this is just songs that I hear on the radio)

Best Songs:

10) Turn Down For What by DJ Snake and Lil Jon
9) Love Runs Out by One Republic
Blank Space by Taylor Swift
7) Latch by Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
6) Happy by Pharrell Williams
5) Ain't It Fun by Paramore
4) Don't by Ed Sheeran
3) Pompeii by Bastille
2) I by Kendrick Lamar
1) Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Worst Songs:

10) Bang Bang by Jessie J. ft. Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande
9) Wiggle by Jason Derulo
Black Widow by Iggy Azealia ft. Rita Ora
7) All About That Base by Meghan Trainor
6) Burnin' It Down by Jason Aldean
5) No Type by Rae Sremmurd
4) Hello Kitty by Avril Lavigne
3) Hangover by Psy ft. Snoop Dogg
2) Anaconda by Nicki Minaj
1) Loyal by Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Tyga

[angus]

Blank Space by Taylor Swift

Really?  My son and I always laugh when that one comes on.  It sounds like his teachers (and mine).  "I got a blank space, baby.  Just let me catch you doing that again.  I will write your name."

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Blank Space by Taylor Swift

Really?  My son and I always laugh when that one comes on.  It sounds like his teachers (and mine).  "I got a blank space, baby.  Just let me catch you doing that again.  I will write your name."

I just think that the writing (with the exception of one line) was really good and that Taylor Swift is a very talented singer and songwriter.

[DavidB.]

Blank Space by Taylor Swift

Really?  My son and I always laugh when that one comes on.  It sounds like his teachers (and mine).  "I got a blank space, baby.  Just let me catch you doing that again.  I will write your name."

I just think that the writing (with the exception of one line) was really good and that Taylor Swift is a very talented singer and songwriter.

The lonely Starbucks lovers? No, that was perfect.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Blank Space by Taylor Swift

Really?  My son and I always laugh when that one comes on.  It sounds like his teachers (and mine).  "I got a blank space, baby.  Just let me catch you doing that again.  I will write your name."

I just think that the writing (with the exception of one line) was really good and that Taylor Swift is a very talented singer and songwriter.

The lonely Starbucks lovers? No, that was perfect.

Lol.  Actually it was "Boys only want love if it's torture"

[angus]

"Boys only want love if it's torture"

I do remember that line.  Probably the only good line in the song.  Well, okay, I can't say I've paid attention to the lyrics all the way through, but since it plays frequently on WARM 103.3FM, which is what my son insists on listening to when the car radio is on, I hear it frequently.  Probably the only reason I have heard the song at all is because I have a ten-year-old child.  The line you mention is memorable.  That and the angry teacher bit are the only two parts I can actually remember.  The latter is just silly mush, but it gives me and my son a joke to laugh at together so I like it.  The former is actually a good line for a song, and in fact the only memorable line not in the hook.

[VPH]

SOME OF THE BEST
"Magic Mountain"-Firekid
"Conmigo"-Kendji Girac
"El Mismo Sol"-Alvaro Soler
"20/20"-The Vaccines
"Breakaway"-George Ezra
"I Wear Glasses"-Mating Ritual
"Johnny Delusional"-FFS
"Shots and Squats"-Vigiland
"Golden Child"-Dave202

Worst
"Blank Space"-Taylor Swift
"Cheerleader"-Omi
"Trap Queen"-Fetty Wap

[DavidB.]

"Trap Queen"-Fetty Wap

I must confess I really like that one.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

What do y'all think about The Weeknd?  I personally think he's overrated, but a lot of people like him.

"Boys only want love if it's torture"

I do remember that line.  Probably the only good line in the song.  Well, okay, I can't say I've paid attention to the lyrics all the way through, but since it plays frequently on WARM 103.3FM, which is what my son insists on listening to when the car radio is on, I hear it frequently.  Probably the only reason I have heard the song at all is because I have a ten-year-old child.  The line you mention is memorable.  That and the angry teacher bit are the only two parts I can actually remember.  The latter is just silly mush, but it gives me and my son a joke to laugh at together so I like it.  The former is actually a good line for a song, and in fact the only memorable line not in the hook.

I'm definitely in the minority among music fans on the internet when it comes to Taylor Swift.  Most people making best/worst lists do not like her at all.

[Alcon]

I actually liked "Blank Space" lyrically although the synth backing wore a bit thin.  I haven't really outright hated anything from 22 besides the lyrical conceit behind "Shake it Off" (and that bridge. that bridgeeee.)

"Uptown Funk" and "Shut Up and Dance" are probably my favorite so far.

I can't stand "Watch Me" or "Hit the Quan."  Vine is a scourge on rap music, although I actually kinda like Fetty Wap ok.  I have a secret hate-on for "Fight Song" just because oh god it's so generic.

[publicunofficial]

Just in my opinion

Best:
Alabama Shakes - Don't Wanna Fight
Drake - Energy
Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear
Jeff Rosenstock - Get Old Forever
Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta
The Mountain Goats - Heel Turn 2
Young Fathers - Rain or Shine

Worst:
Maroon 5 - Sugar

[DemPGH]

I'm a fan of "Style" by Taylor Swift

Yeah, me too. Very catchy - had that in my head yesterday, in fact. That and "Shut Up and Dance" are hugely popular around here right now. I don't follow the ultra contemporary scene too much, but I do like both of those.