The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 30-21

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

30. Boom Clap - Charli XCX

Peak: 8 (October 4); Weeks on chart: 25; December 27 position: NR

The voice behind the chorus of "Fancy" brought forth another annoyingly catchy tune in the second half of 2014. "Boom Clap" was the featured track from the teen lovey-dovey book-turned-movie The Fault In Our Stars. Naturally, with the tumblr and fangirl communities behind it, "Boom Clap" soared into the top 10 in late August. The beat went on (na na na na na) for 11 top-15 weeks.

Don't Tell 'Em - Jeremih feat. YG

Peak: 6 (October 25-November 1); Weeks on chart: 25; December 27 position: 29

"Don't tell 'em, don't tell 'em, you ain't e'en, don't tell 'em, you ain't e'en, you ain't e'en gotta tell 'em, don't tell 'em, don't tell 'em." "On my late night thirsty, 'cause it was late night and I was thirsty." Enough said, Jeremih and YG. Enough said.

28. Break Free - Ariana Grande feat. Zedd

Peak: 4 (August 30); Weeks on chart: 22; December 27 position: NR

Ariana broke free from her TV past and into pop stardom into 2014. "Break Free" perfectly encapsulates this ride, complete with a nasty dance breakdown courtesy of DJ Zedd. The song debuted at No. 15, spending all but two of its first 17 weeks in the Hot 100 as a Top 20 song. "Break Free" also notched eight weeks in the top 10.

27. Summer - Calvin Harris

Peak: 7 (July 19); Weeks on chart: 26; December 27 position: NR

Calvin Harris's 2014 hit makes the most obvious case for "Song of the Summer," after all "Summer" is its title and a predominant lyric throughout the song. What makes "Summer" such a good record, however, is the excellence of the EDM elements in the instrumental track. The song spent nine weeks in the top 10, you guessed it, from June 14 to August 9.

26. Story Of My Life - One Direction



Peak: 6 (one week in 2013); Weeks on chart: 32; December 27 position: NR

Abandoning their original poppy sound for a more acoustic-type feel was a superb choice for One Direction last year. "Story Of My Life" shows the band's vocal skills and directs focus to the lyrics. The song was part of the top 10 to begin the year and remained a top 20 entry through mid-April.

25. Let Her Go - Passenger

Peak: 5 (February 22); Weeks on chart: 43; December 27 position: NR

"Let Her Go" was one of the bigger hits of the winter. After its first top 10 appearance last December, the Passenger song spent the first nine weeks of the year in the Top 10. It registered such massive success that it was featured in a Budweiser Super Bowl ad in February. "Let Her Go" remained in the top 20 through June 21 and in the top 30 through July 19. Jasmine Thompson's cover of the track remains one of Pandora Radio's favorite songs.

24. Drunk In Love - Beyonce feat. Jay-Z

Peak: 2 (February 15); Weeks on chart: 20: December 27 position: NR

The debut single from Beyonce's surprise eponymous album skyrocketed all the way to No. 2 in February before spending seven more weeks in the top 10. Three weeks after falling from the top 30, "Drunk In Love" left the Hot 100 altogether. Now excuse me as I go listen to "Crazy In Love" to remind myself of what Beyonce once was.

23. Maps - Maroon 5



Peak: 6 (August 9); Weeks on chart: 22; December 27 position: NR

"I was there for you in your darkest times; I was there for you in your darkest nights. But I wonder where were you when I was at my worst down on my knees" This lyric spoke strongly to me this year. I appreciate Maroon 5 for voicing one of my own thoughts at a time when I needed my thoughts to be vocalized.

22. Say Something - A Great big World feat. Christina Aguilera



Peak: 4 (December 28, 2013-January 4, February 1-8, February 22-March 1); Weeks on chart: 26; December 27 position: NR

I heard an interview with Christina Aguilera in which she said upon hearing the original "Say Something", there was an obvious harmony; this was the harmony she added in the version that sailed into the top five at the start of the year. Similarly, there is a third part harmony that is screaming to be sung in the popular version of the song. That is the primary reason I enjoy the track so much.

21. Habits (Stay High) - Tove Lo


My cousin and I were listening to this song long before it was one of the five biggest songs in America. Even now "Habits" is an entrancingly captivating track. The musical tone perfectly portrays the deep desolation and lack of emotional attachment described in the song's lyrics. The video, in which Tove Lo mindlessly makes out with anything with a tongue, is further illustration of the furthest depths of despair.

The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 40-31

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

40. Hot Boy - Bobby Shmurda

Peak: 6 (November 22); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: 24

Of the rap songs on the 2014 Top 100 list, "Hot Boy" is one of the more tolerable, despite "Boy" not being the word originally in the title. Although Shmurda is likely a one-hit wonder, his debut single is already certified platinum by the RIAA.

39. Anaconda - Nicki Minaj

Peak: 2 (September 6); Weeks on chart: 19; December 27 position: 55

Sampling one of the greatest songs in music history, "Anaconda" is surely one of the worst songs ever created. Nicki Minaj shows off her entirely not-natural silicone rear end in the expletive-filled ode to the derriere of which Sir Mix-A-Lot is undoubtedly ashamed. Thankfully, "Anaconda's" reign of terror in the top 10 was relatively short-lived, and its decline has been steady since it jumped to No. 2 in September.

38. Royals - Lorde



Peak: 1 (9 weeks in 2013); Weeks on chart: 44; December 27 position: NR

Hitting its peak in 2013, the smash hit that launched the career of New Zealander Lorde sustained op 10 success into this year. "Royals" started 2014 at No. 5 and stayed in the top 10 for the first seven weeks of the year. The song finally fell out of the top 30 in mid-April.

37. Wiggle - Jason Derulo feat. Snoop Dogg



Peak: 5 (June 21-28); Weeks on chart: 21; December 27 position: NR

This summer we were all wiggling along to one of the more subtle tributes to the big butt released in 2014. Teaming up with a rap legend in his second single of the year, Derulo created an infectious hit that spent nine weeks in the top 10. The song also inspired one of the greatest TV-based memes of 2014.

36. Latch - Disclosure feat. Sam Smith



Peak: 7 (August 9); Weeks on chart: 33; December 27 position: NR

One of the most OK artists in 2014 teamed up with English electro band Disclosure to create one of the top dance tracks of the year. The song spent 10 weeks in the top 15 and seven more weeks inside the top 30, good enough for a significant spot in the 2014 Top 100.

35. The Man - Aloe Blacc

Peak: 8 (April 12); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

An empowering song that launched the advertising career of Football Gonzo, "The Man" reached its zenith early in the year. Aloe Blacc's solo hit rose into the top 30 in the December 11 Hot 100, eventually spending the entire month of April in the top 10.

34. Not A Bad Thing - Justin Timberlake

Peak: 8 (May 3, May 17-31); Weeks on chart: 22; December 27 position: NR

The final single- thus far - released from Timberlake's 20/20 Experience, "Bad Thing" was the third-most successful track of the acclaimed album and J.T.'s only solo performance in this year's Top 100. The song had a six-week run in the top 10. If you're listening to the album version of the song, be sure to stay tuned for the hidden track "Wings".

33. Animals - Maroon 5

Peak: 3 (November 22); Weeks on chart: 17; December 27 position: 8

The most recent of two Maroon 5 songs in this list, "Animals" is basically a giant innuendo. The sexual overtones are quite obvious in some places, and subtle elsewhere, but present everywhere throughout the song. "Animals" jumped from No. 33 on October 11 into the top 10 on October 18, and spent the rest of the year within the top 10.

32. The Monster - Eminem feat. Rihanna

Peak: 1 (December 21, 2013-January 11); Weeks on chart: 29; December 27 position: NR

The first number one song of 2014 had a fair amount of holdover success from last year. "The Monster" spent the first two weeks of the year atop the Hot 100 and did not fall from the Top 30 until April 26. Rihanna's voice complements Eminem's possessed frantic rapping style to make this song tolerable, even nearly a year since its peak.

31. Rather Be - Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne



Peak: 10 (October 11), Weeks on chart: 27; December 27 position: 36

"Rather Be" spent an impressive 19 weeks in the Top 30 this fall, including a 13-week run in the Top 15. Although only peaking at 10, the Clean Bandit hit remained relevant through the end of the year.

The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 50-41

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

50. Take Me To Church - Hozier


Peak: 2 (December 20-27); Weeks on chart: 18; December 27 position: 2

Ireland's Andrew Hozier-Byrne burst onto the scene late this year with his hit "Take Me To Church". At year's end, the song interrupted a three-month run of Taylor Swift and Meghan Trainor owning the top two songs on the Hot 100. The song about institutional oppression of the global LGBT community hits home because, as Hozier told New York Magazine in March, "it's not even a gay issue or a civil rights issue, it's a human rights issue, and it should offend us all."

49. Show Me - Kid Ink feat. Chris Brown


Peak: 13 (February 15); Weeks on chart: 31; December 27 position: NR

Another DJ Mustard-produced hit, "Show Me" spent the last three months of 2013 climbing the charts, breaking into the top 30 last December. The Kid Ink track with guest vocals from Chris Brown spent the first 10 weeks of this year in the top 20. Despite spending the entire second half of 2014 off the Hot 100, "Show Me" ended up as one of the year's biggest hip-hop hits.

48. Bailando - Enrique Iglesias feat. Sean Paul, Descember Bueno and Gente de Zona



Peak: 12 (August 9); Weeks on chart: 30; December 27 position: NR

One of my favorite songs this year was "Bailando", a catchy Latin dance track by an artist of whom I'm not particularly fond. Although I actually prefer the Spanish version popular on Spotify to the English that played on most U.S. radios this year, both versions of the song are easy to dance to. We danced to Enrique, Sean Paul et al. in the latter half of the summer and into the fall; "Bailando's" 11-week top-20 run stretched from July to October. If you have a small knowledge of the Spanish language as I do, the following line from the "Spanglish" version of the song should amuse you: "[I've] gotta have contigo."

47. Demons - Imagine Dragons

Peak: 6 (December 28, 2013-January 11, one other 2013 week); Weeks on chart: 61; December 27 position: NR

One of the greatest modern rock albums, Imagine Dragons' Night Visions just completed its second full year listed in the Billboard 200, with two singles spending over a year each on the Hot 100. "Demons" had the most 2014 success of the two, remaining one of the top 30 songs in America through the first four months of the year. Dragons' most recent single, "I Bet My Life", sat at 63 in the last Hot 100 of 2014 and is a song to watch as the band's success continues.

46. Wake Me Up! - Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc

Peak: 4 (six weeks in 2013); Weeks on chart: 53; December 27 position: NR

"Wake Me Up!" enjoyed a yearlong stay on the Hot 100, but was on the decline during its 28 weeks on the chart in 2014. Still, Avicii's breakout hit spent the month of January in the top 10, February and the first two weeks of March in the top 20 and was a top 30 song through the first week of May. The song was also the frontrunner for Aloe Blacc's solo success with "The Man" in the first half of 2014.

45. Ain't It Fun - Paramore



Peak: 10 (May 24); Weeks on chart: 24; December 27 position: NR

When Paramore charted with "Still Into You" last year, they created the ultimate disconnect between lyric and music: a hardcore grunge song about being head-over-heels in love. This year's Paramore hit took the same hit, but flipped the script. With a happy backing track, First Lady of Rock Hayley Williams sarcastically sings about how life in the real world in fact sucks. The catchy tune and snarky lyrics earned "Ain't It Fun" one week in the top 10 and a year-end finish in the top half of the Top 100.

44. Don't - Ed Sheeran

Peak: 9 (November 15); Weeks on chart: 27; December 27 position: 17

Ed Sheeran's most successful single of the year ended 2014 with 12 straight weeks in the top 20. The song, presumably about Sheeran's relationship with the incredibly underrated Ellie Goulding, was one of the biggest songs this fall. My favorite moments of the song are when Sheeran replaces the f-bomb with a sharp intake of breath - subtle, but effective.

43. Loyal - Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne, French Montana Or and Too $hort

Peak: 9 (May 3); Weeks on chart: 36; December 27 position: NR

Chris Brown's signature 2014 hit spent the first two weeks of May in the top 10; "Show Me" had five additional top 15 weeks. This R&B track, just like many 2014 contemporaries, is a not-so-wholesome examination of the false loyalty of certain promiscuous women. The track proved to be a smash for Brown.

42. Burn - Ellie Goulding



Peak: 13 (December 28, 2013, January 11-18); Weeks on chart: 36; December 27 position: NR

My favorite song on this entire list, "Burn" began an obsession with Ellie Goulding that lasted all spring and into the summer. I now own three Ellie Goulding CDs thanks to this song; Spotify listed Halcyon Days as my most-listened to album as 2014, which I feel is incredibly accurate. Nationally, "Burn" spent the first 11 weeks of the year bouncing around between No. 13 and No. 16, staying in the Top 30 through May 3.

41. Best Day Of My Life - American Authors



Peak: 11 (April 19, May 10); Weeks on chart: 36; December 27 position: NR

This unique crossbreed of Imagine Dragons and One Direction had the right formula with their Hot 100 debut, "Best Day Of My Life". The song broke into the top 30 in the last chart of February and remained there nearly four months. "Best Day" peaked in April and May, when it spent nine weeks in the top 15.

The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 60-51

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

60. Trumpets - Jason Derulo



Peak: 14 (November 8-22); Weeks on chart: 29; December 27 position: 31

"Trumpets" became the third song by Jason Derulo to crack the Top 15 this year in November. The light and carefree nature of the hit complements Derulo's oft-annoying falsetto singing to make for a generally enjoyable song, certainly the tamest of the three Jason Derulo tracks in the year-end Top 100.

59. Play It Again - Luke Bryan



Peak: 14 (April 26); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

Country star Luke Bryan had quite a successful 2014; in addition to being the featured artist in Florida Georgia Line's "How We Roll", his own song "Play It Again" was the second-highest finishing country song in this year's Top 100. "Play It Again" spent 12 weeks in the Top 30, including a nine-week run in which it was in the Top 20 eight times.

58. Classic - MKTO



Peak: 14 (July 12); Weeks on chart: 27; December 27 position: NR

Everything was so throwbackish for MKTO this summer, whose song that sounds vaguely Jackson 5-like spent 15 weeks in the Top 30. It invokes the name of some of pop culture's biggest icons (Michael Jackson and Marilyn Monroe, among others). As for the rap? Let's just say "I've never heard a rap like it ever 'til I heard it."

57. Love Me Harder - Ariana Grande feat. The Weekend

Peak: 7 (November 22); Weeks on chart: 10; December 27 position: 9

Few pop stars had a bigger 2014 than Ariana Grande, who is the primary singer in three Top 100 tracks and a collaborator in one more. The former Nickelodeon starlet spent five of the last six charts this year in the Top 10 with her current hit, "Love Me Harder". As big as 2014 was for Ariana, we can only hope next year will be even greater for her.

56. Burnin' It Down - Jason Aldean

Peak: 12 (August 9); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

The top country song of 2014 was in the Hot 100 through December 20, with its first 14 weeks on the chart in the Top 30. Jason Aldean sipped his cold Jack Daniels whiskey to an impressive year-end finish. For me, "Burnin' It Down" was one of the more enjoyable country songs of 2014, so I approve of this placement in the Top 100 chart.

55. Cool Kids - Echosmith


Peak: 13 (November 1); Weeks on chart: 23; December 27 position: 46

"Cool Kids" was one of the top indie hits of the year, preaching a message of inclusion despite stereotypes. Echosmith became the cool kids of pop when their debut single spent seven weeks in the Top 20. In addition to the brilliance of the original track, "Cool Kids" provided one of the best covers of 2014.

54. Sing - Ed Sheeran

Peak: 13 (June 7, July 5); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

Ed Sheeran's first successful single from his album X spent its first 12 weeks in the Hot 100 tottering anywhere between No. 13 and No. 16. The infectious "Sing" first burst onto the charts in April and fell off them in September, while Ed's next single "Don't" was slowly climbing into the Top 30.

53. Roar - Katy Perry



Peak: 1 (two weeks in 2013); Weeks on chart: 35; December 27 position: NR

When 2014 rolled around, "Roar" was still the No. 11 song in America. The Katy Perry megahit spent the first quarter of the year in the top 30. By the time "Roar" was a Hot 100 has-been, Perry's next single had also reached its number one summit.

52. Blank Space - Taylor Swift

Peak: 1 (November 29-December 27); Weeks on chart: 7; December 27 position: 1

Currently the hottest song in the United States, "Blank Space" only misses the year-end top 50 by virtue of its late-year debut and that fact that it only reached its peak in its third week on the Hot 100. "Blank Space" caps Swift's triumphant fall launch into the world of pop.

51. I'm Not The Only One - Sam Smith

Peak: 5 (December 27); Weeks on chart: 15; December 27 position: 5

In full disclosure, I don't find the appeal of Sam Smith. Teenage girls must latch onto the sappy nature of his lyrics and his castrato high notes. His second solo hit of 2014, "I'm Not The Only One", takes the same chords and structure from "Stay With Me" and changes the lyrics and melody only. Recycled hits aren't fun, Sam Smith, even less so when your voice is more suited for Glee than for actual music.

The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 70-61

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

70. Tuesday - I LOVE MAKONNEN feat. Drake



Peak: 12 (November 29); Weeks on chart: 12; December 27 position: 16

This is surprisingly one of my jams right now, partially so I can mock the way the chorus is sung and partially because it has an enjoyable beat. "Tuesday" wrapped up 2014 with seven straight weeks in the Top 30 and held steady at No. 16 for the final three weeks of the year.

69. Shower - Becky G

Peak: 16 (August 9); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

"Shower" was the ultimate guilty pleasure song of 2014, which makes sense because guilty pleasure songs are typically the ones we sing in the shower. Becky G appears to be just another dime-a-dozen, cookie-cutter pop star whose 15 minutes came and went with this summer jam. "Shower" spent nine weeks in the Top 30.

68. Me And My Broken Heart - Rixton



Peak: 14 (May 17); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

"Me And My Broken Heart" earned my first ever "Best Song That Sounds Like A Maroon 5 Song But It Isn't" Award when it took me approximately a month to realize that this was not, in fact, a Maroon 5 track. This song also provided one of the best covers of 2014. The Rixton version of the song had a 10-week run in the Top 30 during the first half of the summer. The band's second single "Wait On Me" - which also could have been a Maroon 5 song - failed to live up to its predecessor's success, not reaching the Top 30 at all this year.

67. Love Runs Out - OneRepublic


Peak: 15 (July 12); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

OneRepublic's follow-up hit to the massively successful "Counting Stars" fell short of the former's lofty No. 2 peak, but was a mildly popular song during the summer months. With a music video that looks about 15 years old in quality, "Love Runs Out" spent 10 weeks in the Top 30, remaining in the Top 20 for a month and a half. "I Lived" is the next single to have been released from the band's album Native; expect it to be one of the better hits to begin 2015.

66. I Don't F**k With You - Big Sean feat. E-40

Peak: 11 (December 6); Weeks on chart: 12; December 27 position: 14

Perhaps the hottest hip-hop song at year's end, this Big Sean hit spent the last six weeks of 2014 as one of the 15 biggest songs in America. The whiny, expletive-ridden lyric stays true to form for most current rap hits.

65. Uptown Funk! - Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars



Peak: 3 (December 27); Weeks on chart: 5; December 27 position: 3

Ronson and Mars burst onto the scene late in 2014 with this hot track. "Funk" has a vintage Michael Jackson sound with the closest modern voice to that of Pop's King. This could easily become Bruno Mars's next No. 1 hit. It closed out the year with five straight weeks of chart ascension; after debuting in November at No. 65, "Funk" jumped to No. 18 in December's first chart followed by appearances at 8, 5 and its No. 3 peak to close out the year.

64. Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus

Peak: 1 (3 weeks in 2013); Weeks on chart: 32; December 27 position: NR

Miley's emotional follow-up to "We Can't Stop" was one of the biggest hits at the end of 2013 and had respectable holdover success into the start of 2014. "Wrecking Ball" started this year at No. 9 and remained in the Top 30 until March. The song is undoubtedly Cyrus' most successful to date and will likely remain so for a long time.

63. Hey Brother - Avicii

Peak: 16 (April 12-19, May 3); Weeks on chart: 23; December 27 position: NR

Avicii's folksy EDM mix "Hey Brother" is truly a class of its own. The song never cracked the Top 15 in any weekly Hot 100 but had seven Top 20 weeks and 12 straight Top 30 positions. This song was a favorite of mine this year, mostly because of the potential for a third harmony that was not included in the track.

62. Jealous - Nick Jonas

Peak: 8 (December 6); Weeks on chart: 14; December 27 position: 11

Disney's boy band heart throb is all grown up, with the signature single from his eponymous second album spending the last five weeks of 2014 jumping in and out of the Top 10. If you think the song sounds too pop-y, just listen to his acoustic performance for What's Trending and become Nick's newest fan.

61. This Is How We Roll - Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan

Peak: 15 (June 21); Weeks on chart: 28; December 27 position: NR

Florida Georgia Line's follow-up to their breakout hit "Cruise" entered the Hot 100 in December 2013. The song cracked the Top 30 on the January 18 list and remained there through the end of June, making "This Is How We Roll" the top country hit of the first half of 2014. A hip-hop remix with Jason Derulo did not gain the traction that the "Cruise" remix with Nelly gained last year.

The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 80-71

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

80. Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood

Peak: 14 (December 28, 2013); Weeks on chart: 37; December 27 position: NR

The Neighbourhood's breakout single had holdover success from last year, earning Top 30 positioning for the first six weeks of 2014. The song's chill vibe and winter-themed lyrics made it a perfect fit for the early-winter timeframe in which it peaked. We haven't heard anything from The Neighbourhood since "Sweater Weather" left the Hot 100; as of now they are a one-hit wonder.

79. No Type - Rae Sremmurd

Peak: 16 (December 6); Weeks on chart: 12; December 27 position: 22

Rap music is currently in a horrific state. In most modern rap, one-hit acts whose names sound like a person mumbling moan incoherently about drugs, violence and (quite possibly non-consensual) sex. A prime example is the Rae Sremmurd hit "No Type", which is currently in its seventh consecutive week in the Top 30. The group moans about liking their women "bad," with no other concern for how they look or act. The sad part is that this isn't the only such song on this list.

78. My Hitta - YG feat. Jeezy and Rich Homie Quan

Peak: 19 (March 15); Weeks on chart: 28; December 27 position: NR

Somehow I avoided having to hear this song while researching the Top 100 songs of 2014, but suffice it to say that "Hitta" was not the word used in the album version of this single. "Hitta" entered the chart in 2013, but remained in the Top 30 through April 5. By the beginning of May "My Hitta" dropped out of the Hot 100 entirely.

77. The Heart Wants What It Wants - Selena Gomez

Peak: 6 (December 13); Weeks on chart: 6; December 27 position: 13

I personally love this new song from the former "Wizards of Waverly Place" star. Gomez has the voice for electro-pop music, which is a genre I got into quite a bit this year. "Heart" debuted on the November 22 chart as the No. 25 song in America; less then a month later the song was on the cusp of breaking the Top Five. Since peaking, Selena has fallen back out of the Top 10. 

76. Blame - Calvin Harris feat. John Newman



Peak: 19 (November 15); Weeks on chart: 14; December 27 position: 21

"Blame" spent the last nine weeks of 2014 in the Top 30 and will likely spend some more time there as 2015 rolls around. The EDM hit is slowly trending back up the Hot 100 after dropping a short way to 23 from its mid-November peak. The song is a collaboration between one of the world's hottest DJs and a powerful new voice in John Newman, whose song "Love Me Again" gained massive success overseas and a modest reception in the United States.

75. Dirt - Florida Georgia Line



Peak: 11 (July 26); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

After reaching major crossover success with "Cruise" and "This Is How We Roll", Florida Georgia Line returned to a more country-heavy sound with their second charting single of 2014. "Dirt" debuted in July at No. 11; its first 14 Hot 100 weeks existed within the Top 30. The song remained in the Hot 100 through the first week of December; it was still the No. 21 single on the Hot Country chart on December 27, where it peaked as the No. 1 song.

74. Birthday - Katy Perry

Peak: 17 (June 7-14); Weeks on chart: 18; December 27 position: NR

Super Bowl XLIX halftime performer Katy Perry had quite the 2014; five Perry songs spent at least one week on the Hot 100 this year and three of her singles made the year-end Top 100 list. One of the hits of the summer, "Birthday" was the lowest-performing of Perry's three Top 100 singles. Perhaps it only peaked at 17 because the entire song was a not-so-well-disguised euphemism ("It's time to bring out the big balloons?" I wonder what she could possibly be talking about). Regardless, "Birthday" continued the success of KP's multi-platinum album PRISM through a sizable chunk of 2014.

73. Lifestyle - Rich Gang feat. Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan

Peak: 16 (November 15); Weeks on chart: 22; December 27 position: 33

Rich Gang is a supergroup of today's biggest names in rap (i.e. Lil Wayne, Tyga and Ace Hood, among many others) and still "Lifestyle" is difficult to understand even with a lyric sheet in front of you. The chorus is whined rather than sung, similar to that of "No Type". Before falling to No. 33 in the December 20 chart, the track spent nearly three months in the Top 30.

72. Hold On, We're Going Home - Drake feat. Majid Jordan



Peak: 4 (October 12, 2013); Weeks on chart: 33; December 27 position: NR

One of the few bright stars in modern rap/R&B is Drake, whose rapping and singing are both understandable and easy on the ears. "Hold On," the biggest hit off of Drake's 2013 album Nothing Was The Same, shows off the former "Degrassi" star's singing chops. Although it found its biggest success last fall, "Hold On" had 14 Hot 100 weeks in 2014, including eight weeks in the Top 30. The song began this year at No. 13 after falling out of the Top 10 for good the previous week.

71. Waves (Robin Schulz Remix) - Mr. Probz




Peak: 14 (December 6); Weeks on chart: 17; December 27 position: 18

"Waves" spent the last nine weeks of 2014 in the Top 30. The laid-back EDM track broke onto the Hot 100 in September and rolled through the charts through the last four months of the year. The song reached its crest in December, when water in some parts of the United States typically is freezing over. I think I've exhausted all my ocean- and water-based puns for this song.

The Top 100 Songs of 2014: 90-81

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2014 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

90. Stay The Night - Zedd feat. Hayley Williams



Peak: 18 (January 25); Weeks on chart: 22; December 27 position: NR

Although Zedd's follow-up to the hugely successful "Clarity" spent more time on the Hot 100 in 2013, it peaked in 2014, where it enjoyed seven of its 12 Top-30 weeks. Featuring Paramore leading lady Hayley Williams singing the vocal, the catchy track was one of the hottest songs of the winter. One of the leading names in EDM paired up with perhaps the most recognized alternative singer; what followed was a hit with respectable pop success.

89. #SELFIE - The Chainsmokers

Peak: 16 (April 5); Weeks on chart: 11; December 27 position: NR

"#SELFIE" was arguably the most viral hit of the year. The ode to one of the newest official words in the English language had five Top 30 weeks and was off the chart completely by June. The only musical quality to the song - term loosely applied - was in the electronic beat and synths supporting the dialogue common between twenty-something girls on a night out. "#SELFIE" proved that teenage/young adult slang mixed into an infectious dance beat had a market, a concept that launched "Turn Down For What" into massive success later in the year.

88. Bottoms Up - Brantley Gilbert

Peak: 20 (April 26); Weeks on chart: 25; December 27 position: NR

Brantley Gilbert's biggest hit of 2014 spent the first half of the year on the Hot 100, including 11 weeks just inside the Top 30 ("Bottoms Up" was the No. 30 song in America three different weeks during that stretch). This is my least favorite of the six country songs to make the year-end Top 100; I am somewhat hopeful that "Bottoms Up" will make Gilbert a one-hit wonder in the world of pop music.

87. Na Na - Trey Songz

Peak: 21 (July 19); Weeks on chart: 28; December 27 position: NR

"Na Na" spent an exceptional amount of time riding the Top 30 border in 2014; in a 19-week stretch, the Trey Songz hit was in the Top 30 11 times and in the No. 31-35 section of the Hot 100 eight times. It peaked on the July 19 chart; the previous week "Na Na" was ranked No. 31. Therefore this is perhaps one of the more underrated hip-hop tracks in the 2014 Top 100.

86. White Walls - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Schoolboy Q and Hollis

Peak: 15 (December 28, 2013); Weeks on chart: 22; December 27 position: NR

Despite peaking at the end of 2013, "White Walls" had enough early-2014 success to snag a spot in the Top 100 songs of this year. The independent duo's ode to the Cadillac spent seven weeks of 2014 in the Top 30. "White Walls" had neither the unique subject material of "Thrift Shop", the epic anthem of "Can't Hold Us" nor the sociopolitical message of "Same Love", so is one of the more forgettable singles of the group's breakout album The Heist.

85. Animals - Martin Garrix



Peak: 21 (April 26); Weeks on chart: 34; December 27 position: NR

I had forgotten this techno hit existed in the six months between its disappearance from the Hot 100 and the time I began working on this list. Of its 34 weeks in the chart, "Animals" only spent eight weeks in the Top 30; four weeks after it peaked, the song was off the chart completely. Garrix, a Dutch DJ, enjoyed his most success with this song overseas; "Animals" was one of the top 100 songs in both France and Germany for over a year and was the top song in Belgium for nine weeks in 2013. Compared to its European success, "Animals" was a flop in the United States.

84. Lips Are Movin - Meghan Trainor



Peak: 4 (December 27); Weeks on chart: 8; December 27 position: 4

As I recently purchased a Hewlett-Packard computer - which I am currently using to type this post - I feel obligated to mention that HP sponsored the video for this song, which is cool so go support HP (read: "please pay me corporate sponsor"). "Lips Are Movin" is the hottest trending song as of the last chart of 2014, so Meghan Trainor's sophomore hit should reach the top spot in at least one of January's Hot 100 weeks. I have a hard time believing it will live up to the long-running success of Trainor's breakout "All About That Bass", although "Lips" is arguably the more catchy of the two songs.

83. Love Never Felt So Good - Michael Jackson feat. Justin Timberlake

Peak: 9 (May 31); Weeks on chart: 20; December 27 position: NR

Five after the death of Michael Jackson rocked the music world, The King of Pop was back with a posthumous album. Among these "lost tracks" was a tune which was remastered and reinforced with MJ's heir apparent adding guest vocals. "Love Never Felt So Good" was then released; with the smash success of Timberlake's 20/20 Experience still fresh in our memories and Jackson as missed as ever, the song made a top-20 debut on the May 17 Hot 100. After the novelty wore off, "Love's" success quickly diminished; the hit only spent six weeks in the Top 30. The new track did invoke enough MJ nostalgia that his classic hit "Beat It" re-entered the Hot 100 at No. 14 for one week.

82. Do What U Want - Lady Gaga feat. R. Kelly

Peak: 13 (November 9, 2013); Weeks on chart: 19; December 27 position: NR

The ever-eccentric Lady Gaga is now singing jazz duets with Tony Bennett, but it was a pop duet with R. Kelly that gave Gaga her biggest 2014 hit. Debuting and peaking in 2013, "Do What U Want" spent six weeks in the top 30 to begin this year. After "Do What U Want" faded and the pop icon double-dipped as host and musical guest for Saturday Night Live, Gaga stayed out of the public eye for most of 2014 before returning from obscurity to drop her aforementioned jazz CD. You keep doing you, Lady G. You're certainly one of a kind.

81. A Sky Full Of Stars - Coldplay



Peak: 10 (May 17); Weeks on chart: 26; December 27 position: NR

After its Hot 100 debut and peak in May, Coldplay's biggest hit of the year dropped from the top 30 for three solid months before returning to No. 28 on August 30. "Sky Full" spent the subsequent seven weeks in the top 30. Its late-summer success salvaged a year-end Top 100 spot for one of our generation's premiere rock bands this year.