I listened to over 10,000 songs this year and it is was much easier to nail down the top 12 than with the albums. There are lots of years where there are so many good albums that it is hard to pick just 12. Not this year. Honestly, this year I was much more impressed by individual tracks than albums. I used to listened to albums over and over, but this year I was just tacking on new tracks to playlists. I know that lots of you have been doing this forever. Not me. This was also the first year that I really was really digging more than just a few country artists.
So, I tossed around songs from Jelly Roll and Kacey Musgraves. I also really considered some songs from The Smile and Vampire Weekend on the alternative side. Beyonce and Charlie XcX also almost popped in here over and over again. Yet, I ultimately picked the songs that I truly thought were the best of the year! I hope you enjoy these tracks and throw a few on your own playlist.
12. Just Another Fine Day, Lenny Kravitz
It has been quite a while since I jammed Lenny Kravitz, but this one I just couldn’t stop. Just Another Fine Day captures the joy of embracing life’s simple pleasures. The upbeat melody and lively rhythm instantly draw listeners in, creating an uplifting atmosphere. Kravitz’s energetic vocals complement the song’s complicated message, which emphasizes living after loss. Additionally, the lyrics offer a refreshing perspective on overcoming challenges. Consequently, the track encourages a carefree mindset, despite life’s ups and downs. With its infectious groove, Just Another Fine Day reminds us to appreciate everyday moments. In the end, Kravitz skillfully blends optimism and authenticity, making the song a timeless anthem for joy.
11. Save it for Later, Eddie Vedder
10. Beautiful Things, Benson Boone
This song is a heartfelt ballad about love and appreciating life’s special moments. The song starts with a soft, melodic guitar, drawing listeners into an emotional journey. Boone’s vocal range adds depth to the lyrics, expressing vulnerability and longing. As the song progresses, the music builds, creating a sense of hope. Moreover, the lyrics reflect on finding beauty in the simplest of things, even amidst struggle. Despite the challenges, Boone encourages listeners to focus on love and gratitude. Ultimately, Beautiful Things reminds us to the beautiful things that we have got.
9. Fortnight, Taylor Swift (featuring Post Malone)
Fortnight by Taylor Swift and Post Malone blends two distinct styles into a captivating collaboration. The song begins with a simple sythesized melody, drawing listeners into a reflective mood. Swift’s soft vocals smoothly transition into Post Malone’s unique, raspy voice, creating a compelling contrast. Together, they sing about love, distance, and longing, adding emotional depth. As the track progresses, the tempo picks up slightly, intensifying the feeling of yearning. Additionally, the lyrics explore the passage of time, using the term “fortnight” to symbolize moments of separation. Altogether, Fortnight is both introspective and relatable, resonating with anyone experiencing distance in a relationship.
8. Houdini, Dua Lipa
Houdini is a catchy, upbeat song about love and independence. From the start, the lyrics express a sense of mystery and fleeting connection. Dua Lipa sings, “I come and I go,” emphasizing her unpredictable nature in relationships. She challenges her partner, asking them to prove their commitment or risk losing her, like a vanishing act. Moreover, the chorus “Catch me or I go Houdini” suggests that she is hard to pin down, highlighting her desire for both attention and freedom. As the song progresses, the lyrics also explore the balance between attraction and self-sufficiency. Houdini mixes playful energy with deeper reflections on love and personal power. Which is why it stays with you long after it is done.
7. Top 10 staTues tHat CriEd bloOd, Bring Me the Horizon
This is truly an intense song about internal struggle, but with an upbeat pop metal melody that perfectly exemplify this band. The lyrics explore feelings of drowning in pain and facing overwhelming emotional scars. The line “No one’s gonna come and rescue me” highlights the sense of isolation and helplessness. Furthermore, the song delves into the concept of fighting inner battles, with references to taking oneself to “hell and back.” Additionally, the mention of “paint the walls with our love” conveys a raw, chaotic expression of emotion. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the battle is personal and ongoing. Despite the darkness, the lyrics suggest that, after hitting rock bottom, there is only one way to go—up. Oddly enough, despite some rough lyrics, this song portrays a powerful message about self-reliance and the painful journey of healing.
6. I Had Some Help, Post Malone (featuring Morgan Wallen)
It is kind of odd that this song ended up being so high on my list because I am not a huge fan of Morgan Wallen’s voice, but it just works so well with this catchy tune about shared responsibility in a failing relationship. The lyrics express frustration with a partner who denies their role in the mess they’ve created. Both singers acknowledge their faults, yet the chorus emphasizes that neither person is fully to blame. Furthermore, the line “Teamwork makes the dream work” highlights the notion that both contributed to the downfall. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that both individuals are equally responsible for their actions. Despite the tension, the song explores how shared mistakes can lead to inevitable consequences. When it’s all said and done, I Had Some Help reflects on the complexity of relationships and the importance of owning up to one’s part.
5. Too Sweet, Hozier
This song truly has one of the catchiest guitar riffs of the year and blends that with a memorable tale of juxtaposition. Hozier captures the tension between two people with contrasting lifestyles. The song describes a person who prefers a late-night routine, while their partner embraces early mornings and structure. Despite the differences, the lyrics convey a sense of admiration for the partner’s sweetness, yet the he feels it’s too much. Moreover, the repeated line “You’re too sweet for me” expresses a desire for something less conventional. While the partner is portrayed as “bright as the morning” and “pretty as a vine,” the singer chooses to embrace a more laid-back, solitary lifestyle. Ultimately, the song explores how opposites can attract, but also how their differences may lead to frustration.
4. Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma, Luke Combs
Twisters was one of the best movies of the summer and Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma was the hit track that kept it going long after it was over. With a catchy guitar riff and a chorus that you don’t want to escape, this song stayed on my Apple Music rotation for more than half of 2024! In it’s own right, Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma is a raw, gritty song about struggling with life’s cycles. The singer repeatedly chases the same destructive patterns, symbolized by “that same old devil” down a “dead end highway.” Despite the chaos, he keeps running, yet he feels stuck in place. Moreover, the song highlights the harsh reality of Oklahoma, where “there ain’t no love,” just the ominous sound of a “long black train.” The narrator wrestles with conflicting emotions, desiring both peace and the thrill of danger. The song reflects a battle between self-doubt and a yearning for something more, despite the inevitable consequences. And it will have you wanting to go back and watch Twisters every time you hear it.
3. Espresso, Sabrina Carpenter
This is by far the catchiest song I heard in all of 2024! The chorus is just one of those that latches on and never let’s go. I heard this for the first time more than 7 months ago and it is just as entertaining today as it was the first 50 times I listened to it. Espresso is a playful and confident song about being irresistible and captivating. The lyrics highlight how one person is constantly on the mind of another, comparing their effect to an addictive “espresso.” I am not a fan of coffee, so I would totally be immune. Additionally, Carpenter embraces her perceived power, showing no signs of desperation and keeping her focus on herself. While the boy struggles with his feelings, Carpenter confidently asserts that she knows she’s got him. Moreover, the references to playful imagery, like “Mountain Dew it for ya” and “dream-came-trued it for ya,” add a whimsical touch to the song. The song is a fun, flirtatious anthem that emphasizes confidence and charm. It’s also a bit conceded, but sometimes you can get away with that when you are cranking out tracks this catchy.
2. Birds of a Feather, Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish is easily one of the most talented individuals working in music today and this song really shows her range. The lyrics expresses deep love and emotional dependency. She reflects a desire to stay with her love, even through life’s most challenging moments. Eilish sings about being inseparable, saying, “If you go, I’m going too.” She compares their bond to “birds of a feather,” highlighting how they should stick together. Despite this, there’s an underlying tension, with the singer acknowledging she might not always be better off with someone. Despite that, she expresses a deep, unconditional love, even if it isn’t forever. The song captures both vulnerability and strength, with Eilish exploring the complexities of love and attachment in a way that is wise beyond her years. Add one of the most catchy 80’s riffs that graced our ears this year and you get the best pop song of 2024!
1. The Emptiness Machine, Linkin Park
The most exciting thing that happened in music all year was the moment that Emily Armstrong walked out on to a stage and sang The Emptiness Machine. Many like myself thought the day that Linkin Park would walk back into our lives might never happen. The moment that she stepped on to the stage and sang this song it was clear that Linkin Park was back. Then, just a month later, I got to watch them play live for the first time and it was an experience of a lifetime. Yet, after all that, I am still listening to this song more than any other song this year.
The Emptiness Machine explores the destructive cycle of self-sacrifice and disillusionment in relationships. The lyrics depict someone willingly losing themselves, saying, “I gave up who I am for who you wanted me to be.” Despite recognizing the toxic pattern, Mike Shinoda raps that he keeps hoping for change, falling for the “promise of the emptiness machine.” The line “already pulling me in” reflects how the cycle continuously draws them back. Furthermore, the song’s powerful imagery of a “revolver” and “fire under the altar” conveys a sense of inevitability and internal conflict. Ultimately, the song highlights the painful realization of being trapped in a cycle of emptiness and emotional sacrifice.
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