Top 5 Singles of 2015

I can usually look back on a year and see if it was good for music by the amount of radio singles I enjoyed. I see radio singles as the overflow of the full albums that were released that year, and if their quality is up to snuff, that usually means that the core music was even better. Unlike last year, which had pretty much no notable singles, this year has been full of them; from up and comers, to old vets, 2015 was a great year for the charts, and here are my top 5!


Quick note: this list is comprised of tracks that I feel work as stand alone products and don't require any further exploration of the artist to enjoy. So, while I loved singles of Kendrick and Travi$ Scott, they won't be featured here.


#5. Justin Bieber: "What Do U Mean?"

Yeah, you read that correctly; Biebs is on a top 5 BEST list. The biggest compliment I can give this song is that it sounds nothing like a Justin Bieber song, or at least the kinds of songs we're used to hearing from him. Instead of the unbearably awful screech of his voice over a dime a dozen beat, we instead get a sort of tropical neon song with singing that, while not super distinct, does fit the mood of the song. And the lyrics aren't terrible either, it's a nice little song about confused motivations in a relationship. I like a Justin Bieber song, and there's nothing wrong with that.


#4. Selena Gomez: "Same Old Love"

This was another surprise for me, because a couple of years ago, Selena Gomez was putting out music that I considered to be incredibly dull and pointless... a bit harsh, I know. And  while I'm not in love with everything I've heard from her new album, I can honestly say I've fallen in love with this track. Which is sort of funny, considering that the song's subject matter is about how even love can become dull and pointless! Again, as with Biebs above, I'm glad I'm able to enjoy a track form someone who I previously had nothing but ill feelings towards; musically that is.

#3. The Weeknd: "The Hills"

It's no stretch to say that The Weeknd pretty much had 2015 on lock. Not only did he have multiple singles break the top 10, at the same time, but he also had a number 1 album. So, it's only natural that one of the singles would end up on this list, and I picked "The Hills" because I think it stays true to The Weeknd's old sound more so than "Tell Your Friends" or "Can't Feel My Face". Also, the video is simply fantastic, conveying all of the song's imagery perfectly.

#2. Disclosure: "Omen"

I feel like I'm one of the very few people who loved the new Disclosure album. I guess once you stop making every one of your songs sound like a 90's house throwback, you lose some respect. All jokes aside, I really loved the new album, and "Omen" is easily one of the album's highlights. Sam Smith sounds fantastic on this track, and the brothers come together with a sleek and seductive track that just makes Sam's voice ring so much brighter than their last collaboration "Latch".

#1. Drake: "Hotline Bling" 

I couldn't find a direct link to the video... but that's okay because you've probably heard this song a million times and have at least seen memes concerning its music video. In fact, this is one of the year's biggest songs and very few people would call this pick "daring", but I can't deny the fact that I loved this track from the moment it dropped sporting this rather simplistic cover art. The track is just so tight and well made and Drake's singing is perfectly fitted to the song itself. In short, the track sounds effortless, but not half-hearted and it is easily this year's best single.