#Top100of2015: 20-11

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2015 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

20. Bad Blood - Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar



Peak: 1 (June 6); Weeks on chart: 25; December 26 position: NR

Allegedly a giant diss on Katy Perry, "Bad Blood" debuted at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. The hit immediately shot to the top of the next Hot 100 chart, interrupting what would eventually be a 12-week run for "See You Again." The music video basically proves that Taylor Swift is the most powerful human being in the world, with a squad that runs deeper than the Pacific Ocean. The single version of "Bad Blood" is different from the album version; I'm still not sure which version I prefer.

19. Take Me To Church - Hozier

Peak: 2 (two weeks in 2014, January 3); Weeks on chart: 41; December 26 position: NR

"Take Me To Church" was one of the top two songs in America at the start of 2015. The alternative hit with an anti-discriminatory message continued its Hot 100 run through May, spending more weeks on the chart this year than it did last year. Hozier's most recent single, "Someone New," earned some playtime on adult contemporary stations but reached nowhere near the success of "Take Me To Church."

18. Good For You - Selena Gomez feat. A$AP Rocky

Peak: 5 (October 3); Weeks on chart: 25; December 26 position: 40

The sexy lead single from Selena's Revival album is one of my favorite songs of the year. The former Disney star went from "guilty pleasure" to just "pleasure" as this song blazed up the charts. In spite of many trials that would make a lesser artist give up on multiple occasions, Selena burst back into the public spotlight with poise, sass and charm. She is poised for many more years of musical success, and that sounds good to me.

17. Where Are U Now - Skrillex & Diplo feat. Justin Bieber

 

Peak: 8 (July 18); Weeks on chart: 41; December 26 position: 38

One of the longest-charting songs in 2015, "Where Are U Now" is the highest-ranking song on this list never to make the top five on the Hot 100. The song is a double-collaboration between EDM duo Jack U - a project of highly successful DJ's Skrillex and Diplo - and America's favorite bad boy. This is also the lowest-peaking 2015 hit attached to Prince Bieber's name, yet due to its longevity the highest-ranking Bieber track on this list. "Where Are U Now" previewed the Biebs' massive fall success.

16. Blank Space - Taylor Swift



Peak: 1 (five weeks in 2014, January 3-10); Weeks on chart: 36; December 26 position: NR

Queen Taylor's most successful 2015 single rang in the year as the number one song in the U.S.A. "Blank Space" is currently the second-most-viewed video in YouTube history; Swift's satirical look at her reputation as a serial dater resonated as perhaps her best single ever. With her long list of Starbucks lovers, Taylor endeared herself to millions this year. She had plenty of blank spaces on her list of fans, in which many undoubtedly wrote their names.

15. Want To Want Me - Jason Derulo

Peak: 5 (June 20-27); Weeks on chart: 35; December 26 position: NR

Derulo, after smash hits "Wiggle" and "Talk Dirty" dominated 2014, seemed comparatively quiet this year. Sneaking under the radar, "Want To Want Me" had a surprisingly long run in the top 10 and wound up one of the 15 biggest songs of 2015. This song took quite a long time to grow on me; I actually think it was nearing its Hot 100 stay before I actually enjoyed listening to it. Congratulations, Jason Derulo, on another year of success.

14. 679- Fetty Wap feat. Remy Boyz

Peak: 4 (October 31); Weeks on chart: 24; December 26 position: 11

"679" has my favorite chorus of any of Fetty Wap's hits from this year. This song was a top 10 mainstay most of the year's second half, finishing the year just outside the top 10. It will continue to gradually fall on the chart over the next few months, but the success of "679" caps an incredible year for Wap and his Remy Boyz. Fetty has positioned himself to be one of the most successful rappers in the latter half of this decade.

13. Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding



Peak: 3 (March 7, April 18); Weeks on chart: 34; December 26 position: NR

I avoided liking this song for as long as possible because of the 50 Shades of Grey tie-in, but I couldn't resist forever. LMLYD is now one of my favorite songs from 2015; Ellie's voice is almost ethereal and entirely irresistible. This song proved to me that I can't not love Ellie Goulding, no matter what movies her music may be in.

12. Lean On - Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MO



Peak: 4 (August 29-September 5); Weeks on chart: 36; December 26 position: 17

"Lean On" was the hottest EDM track of the year; with a contagious beat and strong female lead vocal the song spent the entire latter half of the year in heavy rotation on radio stations. The song was featured prominently in the 2015 YouTube rewind, and also was part of one of the best mashup covers of the year. It was a successful follow-up for featured artist DJ Snake, whose "Turn Down For What" was one of the top 15 songs of 2014.

11. Cheerleader - OMI

Peak: 1 (July 25-August 15; August 29-September 5); Weeks on chart: 34; December 26 position: 43

Omi's infectious hit earns the 2015 CU:BS award for "Song of the Summer." The song's six weeks at number one were tied for fourth-best of any 2015 song. The song also just has the ultimate summer feel with its reggae beat and trumpet solo. No other song this year is so reminiscent of sandy beaches, shaved ice and the blazing hot sun. As an aside, for the longest time I heard the lyric in the pre-chorus as "Do I make you feel like Jeter?"

Tomorrow, the conclusion of this very time-consuming list! I will crown 2015's Artist, New Artist, and Song of the Year!

#Top100of2015: 30-21

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2015 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. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift



Peak: 1 (four weeks in 2014); Weeks on chart: 50; December 26 position: NR

Taylor Swift's triumphant entry into the pop world is now one of only 15 videos to have over one billion YouTube views. Probably one of the most gimmicky songs on 1989, "Shake It Off" nonetheless preaches a valuable lesson in having fun no matter how many haters may hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. The song peaked at its debut last fall but spent almost a half-year in the Hot 100 in 2015.

29. Locked Away - R. City feat. Adam Levine

Peak: 6 (October 10, October 24); Weeks on chart: 21; December 26 position: 33

This isn't the first time the musical tour-de-force that is Adam Levine has brought mass attention to a previously-unknown group. After guesting on the Gym Class Heroes song "Stereo Hearts" in 2011, that song rose all the way to number four on the Hot 100. The 2015 version of Levine-finds-talent did not quite reach the Heroes' chart number. It was, however, still one of the hottest songs in October.

28. Hey Mama - David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha and Afrojack

Peak: 8 (June 6-20, July 4); Weeks on chart: 24; December 26 position: NR

Basically the only Nicki Minaj music I like are her collaborations with David Guetta, specifically the songs that have a distinct "summer hit" vibe to them. "Hey Mama" is one such song and, true to form, spent most of the summer in the top 10. Several summer afternoons this year involved driving with the windows down and this track blaring. I hope Minaj continues to put out such tracks.

27. Style - Taylor Swift



Peak: 6 (March 21); Weeks on chart: 32; December 26 position: NR

The third non-promotional single released from 1989 is also the only one to date not to taste the Hot 100 top five. The song did spend almost two months longer on the chart than the third 1989 chart-topper; 31 weeks is also good for the most Hot 100 weeks by any Taylor Swift song exclusively in the year 2015. "Style" - not-so-subtly an ode to former Swift beau Harry Styles - might be one of the top three tracks, lyrically, on the entire 1989 album.

26. Post To Be - Omarion feat. Chris Brown and Jhene Aiko

Peak: 13 (May 9-16); Weeks on chart: 37; December 26 position: NR

"Post To Be" is the highest-ranking song on this list to not have spent anytime in Billboard's top ten. In fact, it is the second-lowest-peaking song in the top 50 of the #Top100of2015. However, it had the tenth-longest Hot 100 tenure of any song in 2015. I enjoyed this song for a week or two, but I certainly would not categorize it among my favorite tunes from this year.

25. Honey, I'm Good. - Andy Grammer



Peak: 9 (June 20, July 4); Weeks on chart: 31; December 26 position: NR

I won't deny this song is catchy, but I've always struggled with the contents of the lyrics. The general idea I have taken from the lyrics are that this married guy is having a few drinks at the bar by himself. A lady comes up that he finds mildly attractive, and he basically spends the song anti-flirting with her. In other words, he is initiating contact, whether she is interested in him or not, just to brag about the fact that he's actually a good guy. To me, it reeks mildly of both misogyny and narcissism. Of course, maybe I'm just reading too much into it.

24. Stitches - Shawn Mendes

Peak: 4 (November 7); Weeks on chart: 29; December 26 position: 7

I absolutely cannot stand this song. Every time it comes on the radio, I am listening to a different station within five seconds. Mendes's voice is not at all appealing or even musically sound. He is not giving Vine stars a great reputation in the world of music yet. My ears bleed so much whenever I hear a snippet of the song, I think I'm the one who needs stitches.

23. Hotline Bling - Drake



Peak: 2 (October 24-November 7, November 21-28); Weeks on chart: 19; December 26 position: 3

Undoubtedly the hottest hip-hop track of the fall, "Hotline Bling" has inspired hundreds of memes and lyric spoofs. A few of my favorite lyrical modifications: "You used to call me on my shell phone," "You used to call me on my snail phone," and "I know when that hot sign bling, it's time for some Krispy Kremes." Of course, that was Drake's purpose all along when he released this song. It certainly reached his desired effect; Drake's ability to make fun of himself makes "Hotline" one of the best tracks of the year.

22. What Do You Mean? - Justin Bieber

Peak: 1 (September 19); Weeks on chart: 15; December 26 position: 4

Justin Bieber's massive 2015 PR campaign began with "a bunch of has-beens calling [him] a lesbian for two hours" during his highly-entertaining Comedy Central roast. It later continued with everybody who's everybody promoting the first single from his comeback album during a month-long series of Instagram posts. The latter campaign was ultimately successful; "What Do You Mean?" debuting atop the Hot 100 and spending the majority of the rest of the year in the top five. Bieber's new sound is infectious and hard not to enjoy, and his fandom is stronger than ever.

21. Fight Song - Rachel Platten



Peak: 6 (August 29); Weeks on chart: 31; December 26 position: NR

This is perhaps the most empowering songs of the year, coming from one of its most intriguing new artists. I think, as many do, that Rachel Platten will be a force to be reckoned with in the music world for years to come. I also think, as many do, that "Fight Song" did not quite get as much as recognition as it should have. Looking ahead at the rest of the songs on this list, I do think 21 is not a bad spot at all for this wonderful song.

I'll be back on schedule in ten hours, when I'll reveal the two biggest Taylor Swift songs of the year and my pick for "Song of the Summer."

#Top100of2015: 40-31

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2015 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. Fourfiveseconds - Rihanna feat. Kanye West and Paul McCartney



Peak: 4 (February 28); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

"Fourfiveseconds" was arguably the best awards show moment of 2015, subsequently becoming one of the hottest songs of February. Rihanna's vocals were heading in the direction that resulted in BBHMM, but her singing was still infinitely better than that of Kanye. It took me longer than I care to admit before I realized that McCartney was featured on the track; perhaps had he sung in addition to playing the guitar the song would have been even better.

39. My Way - Fetty Wap feat. Monty

 Peak: 7 (August 8); Weeks on chart: 22; December 26 position: NR

Fetty Wap (the last name rhymes with "pop," not "rap") seemingly came out of nowhere in 2015. Three of his four singles made this list; "My Way" ranks lowest of the three. His unique voice and missing eye are undoubtedly part of Fetty's appeal. I don't necessarily like his music, but "My Way" was certainly not the worst hip-hop track this year.

38. Somebody - Natalie La Rose feat. Jeremih



Peak: 10 (April 11, May 2); Weeks on chart: 26; December 26 position: NR

I really like this song. It probably helps that I find Natalie La Rose attractive. The beat of "Somebody" is contagious, and Jeremih's embellishments are more fitting than overbearing. My favorite part is probably the breakdown in the bridge. I'm looking forward to Natalie putting out new music, hopefully soon.

37. Time Of Our Lives - Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo

Peak: 9 (March 21-April 4); Weeks on chart: 27; December 26 position: NR

Ne-Yo had quite the resurgence in 2015, being the lead artist in "She Knows" and the featured artist on this track. Pitbull has the cookie-cutter formula for success; his songs may not be the best ever, but they are almost always solid. "Time Of Our Lives" is a perfect example. The song peaked just inside the top 10 but never felt overplayed; it dropped from the chart after the perfect length of time for listeners to find it neither annoying nor not played enough.

36. G.D.F.R. - Flo Rida feat. Sage The Gemini And Lookas

Peak: 8 (April 18-25); Weeks on chart: 35; December 26 position: NR

Another song from another hip-pop mainstay, G.D.F.R. ran a course parallel to that of "Time of Our Lives." It was Goin' Down For Real for Flo Rida throughout the winter and early spring while this song was at its peak. I think I like the previous song on this chart better, but G.D.F.R. is so similar it is not far behind. Fun fact: The saxophone riff in this song is a sample from the 1975 War classic "Low Rider."

35. Photograph - Ed Sheeran



Peak: 10 (October 3); Weeks on chart: 30; December 26 position: NR

How adorable is Ed Sheeran? The awkward, lovable 24-year-old takes us through a personal scrapbook in the music video for Photograph. This song is part of Ed's laid-back, ballad-y follow-up to the heavily hip-hop influenced "Sing" and "Don't." Sheeran performs both styles masterfully, and both of his full-length albums thus far have been totally pleasing.

34. Wildest Dreams - Taylor Swift



Peak: 5 (November 7); Weeks on chart: 16; December 26 position: 18

Now we move from Ed Sheeran, to one of his best friends (Seriously, Edlor are serious friendship goals). "Wildest Dreams" is currently my favorite non-voice-memo track on Taylor's 1989 album. The instrumentation and Swift's singing style in this song are both mesmerizing. She sounds so much like a certain indie-pop superstar in "Wildest Dreams" I have given the song the alternate title of "Lana Del Tay."

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

Peak: 5 (one week in 2014, January 24); Weeks on chart: 37; December 26 position: NR

Have I mentioned yet in this countdown how vastly overrated Sam Smith is? If I haven't, let me say it one more time: Sam Smith is vastly overrated.

32. Lips Are Movin - Meghan Trainor



Peak: 4 (one week in 2014, January 10); Weeks on chart: 29; December 26 position: NR

I mentioned it when this song was featured in last year's Top 100, and I'll mention it again this year. The "Lips Are Movin" video was sponsored by HP, I am typing this post on an HP laptop, and I could always use some extra money (in other words, #PayMeHP). All fun aside, this song is a guilty pleasure of mine; I may or may not have come up with hand motions for every word in the chorus.

31. Worth It - Fifth Harmony feat. Kid Ink

Peak: 12 (August 8); Weeks on chart: 36; December 26 position: NR

"Fifth Harmony" is a misnomer; I think the group throws out a two-, maybe three-part harmony in one line of this song. Their songwriting is cheap as well. In addition to a three-note chorus featuring the words "I'm Worth It" at the end of every line, the verses are absolute trash. My favorite example: "I like it a little rough; not too much, but maybe just enough." Sorry, One Harmony Every Once In A While, this song is not worth much to me.

In a couple of hours: More Taylor Swift, the current hit that is guaranteed to make me change the radio station, and some song you've probably never seen a single meme about.

#Top100of2015: 50-41

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2015 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. I Don't F**k with You - Big Sean feat. E-40

Peak: 11 (one week in 2014); Weeks on chart: 29; December 26 position: NR

You may be surprised I don't think highly of this song, considering the fact I have not had much good to say about Big Sean in any post over the last two countdowns. But I have a feeling Ariana Grande caught herself singing "IDFWU" more than she'll care to admit after the two ended things in April.

49. Cool For The Summer - Demi Lovato



Peak: 11 (September 19-26); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

If your only qualification for "songs of the summer" is that the song title should include the word "summer", this would be the highest-ranking summer song of 2015. I have long been a critic of Demi Lovato's voice and physical attractiveness, having never found either particularly attractive. This song didn't change my opinion about her voice, but I have had a complete reversal of opinion about her physical attractiveness (not that that's entirely important; her advocacy work is far more important and has always impressed me).

48. Ex's & Oh's - Elle King



Peak: 10 (November 28); Weeks on chart: 23; December 26 position: 12

Fun fact from when I was researching "How did Elle King get famous": Her father is actor Rob Schneider. King herself (born Tanner Elle Schneider) burst into the public eye with her Billboard debut "Ex's & Oh's," which peaked at 10 around Thanksgiving. This was one of those #hipsterstatus songs that I was listening to well before it hit the pop charts, but as soon as it became hugely successful I didn't like it as much. Of course, that had less to do with its mainstream status and more with the fact that it entered the top 40 in the same week as "On My Mind" and as a Gould-digger I saw the two songs as direct competitors in the chart.

47. Only - Nicki Minaj feat. Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown

Peak: 12 (one week in 2014); Weeks on chart: 25; December 26 position: NR

There it is, the unholy quartet of pop R&B. The mega-collaboration between a drug addict, a domestic abuser, the world's worst dancer, and a woman who takes advantage of the feminist movement as an excuse to show off her obviously-surgically-enhanced rear end. Keep your fingers crossed that next year they add the personification of ego, future presidential candidate Kanye West, in an even more ridiculous five-way collab.

46. I Don't Mind - Usher feat. Juicy J

Peak: 11 (March 21); Weeks on chart: 23; December 26 position: NR

This is an under-the-radar candidate for the best R&B song of 2015. One should expect nothing less from the man who has basically ruled the genre for the last 18 years. The third single from an album that's been almost three years in the making, "I Don't Mind" is my favorite song Usher has released as a primary artist since 2010. Juicy J is also an under-the-radar candidate as my favorite current rapper.

45. B*tch Better Have My Money - Rihanna 



Peak: 15 (July 18); Weeks on chart: 25; December 26 position: NR

I like to call it the Beyonce Effect: artists who are actually talented musicians are now creating hits by talk-singing. BBHMM is a textbook example. Rihanna, who has been at times one of my favorite females in pop, doesn't necessarily demonstrate her prowess as a vocalist in this song. Had another, less successful, artist recorded this song it would have never gotten airplay. Regardless, I still secretly enjoy this song, although it pales in comparison to just about any song from Good Girl Gone Bad.

44. Jealous - Nick Jonas

Peak: 7 (January 24); Weeks on chart: 32; December 26 position: NR

The debut single from Jonas' first solo album since the JoBros was equally successful in 2015 as it was in 2014. One of the hottest songs in January, "Jealous" sparked an incredibly busy year for the former boyband star, whose second single "Chains" made the No. 58 spot in this list. Nick's third, and probably my favorite, single "Levels" peaked on the Hot 100 at 44 and didn't even make my 78-song "honorable mention" section of the #Top100of2015.

43. Centuries - Fall Out Boy

Peak: 10 (February 7-14); Weeks on chart: 34; December 26 position: NR

A member of last year's Top 100 "First Two Out," "Centuries" paved the way for a year of relevance for Fall Out Boy. My lasting memory of this song was my Twitter timeline rejoicing when the college football season ended in January so they would never have to hear "that awful Fall Out Boy song" again. The song then spent the next month rising on the Hot 100 until its two-week stay in the top 10. I remember I laughed. Quite a lot. #LongLiveFOB

42. All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor

Peak: 1 (8 weeks in 2014); Weeks on chart: 36; December 26 position: NR

The number 7 song of my 2014 list finally fell off of the Hot 100 after the end of March. "Bass" was nominated for two 2015 Grammys; Trainor's continued success earned her a 2016 nomination for Best New Artist. It may just be me, but it looks like Meghan has lost a little weight - not a lot,but enough to be noticed - since her song about having a positive body image regardless of its shape rocked the world.

41. Talking Body - Tove Lo



Peak: 12 (June 13-20); Weeks on chart: 30; December 26 position: NR

I am a major fan of Tove Lo. Her voice, style, and carefree message are unique and I very much respect that. Also from the two minutes I got to talk to her at a radio meet-and-greet this year, she seems like an exceptionally nice person. I asked her if she had met Taylor Swift, and she said yes; four months later, Tove was Taylor's surprise guest on a 1989 World Tour stop. They performed Talking Body together in Atlanta; of course, it was phenomenal.

Later today (whoops!), Taylor and another artist with at least three songs on the list make their first appearances on #Top100of2015.

#Top100of2015: 60-51

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2015 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. Sorry - Justin Bieber



Peak: 2 (November 14, December 5-26); Weeks on chart: 7; December 26 position: 2

Only one song has been hotter than "Sorry" over the past two months; for more on that, scroll down. Justin Bieber's second single from his new album Purpose debuted at number two. The song dropped to the number three position for two weeks before riding out the entire month of December back at two. "Sorry" is holding steady at the second spot as of the first 2016 chart. Let me emphasize, just because his music has become much better does not automatically make Justin Bieber a decent human being.

59. Like I'm Gonna Lose You - Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend

Peak: 8 (December 12); Weeks on chart: 23; December 26 position: 10

With Trainor's first handful of singles we got used to a bubblegum pop style with a mild throwback feel. Enter "Lose You," a ballad featuring one of the best ballad singers of this decade. The song is a refreshing change from the type of music Trainor with which broke into the music scene. Meghan's only song to spend time in the Top 10 this year was a winner for me.

58. Chains - Nick Jonas

Peak: 13 (April 18); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

Nick's second solo single didn't chart as high as his first, but is arguably just as good. The former boy band heartthrob is now a certifiable pop stud. "Chains" is a powerfully anxious song about a man whose relationship is doing him more harm than good. The beat drives the song in exactly the direction I think Jonas intended it to go. An honorable mention goes to Nick's brother Joe, whose band DNCE has one of the underrated songs on the radio right now in "Cake By The Ocean."

57. One Last Time - Ariana Grande



Peak: 13 (May 2); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

If Ariana understood how to enunciate when singing, this song would tell the story of an impending heartbreak, put off for one final night. When I finally understood the lyrics, the song became a bit of a turnoff because, quite frankly, I don't like sad songs. My two favorite lines, for different reasons: "Feel like a failure, 'cause I know that I failed ya," and "I don't really care if you got her in your heart; all I really care is you wake up in my arms." Two pieces of advice, Ari: learn to enunciate, then just dump the dude before the "last time."

56. Hello - Adele

Peak: 1 (November 14-December 26); Weeks on chart: 7; December 26 position: 1

This song has been literally everywhere since its premiere at the end of October. It has been featured in a Saturday Night Live skit as well as countless memes (here are a couple of my favorites). On Youtube, the music video for "Hello" has already racked up over 800 million views in a little more than two months. In comparison, Psy's "Gangnam Style" - the first ever to hit a billion - took five months to reach the billion views plateau (at current rate, "Hello" should be well over one billion views by this time next month). Lastly, I may or may not have sent multiple black-and-white snapchats of me lip-syncing to the song. Maybe as many as one series of snaps per week.

55. Jumpman - Drake feat. Future

Peak: 12 (November 7); Weeks on chart: 12; December 26 position: 14

At one point in my 2014 countdown I mentioned that Drake was one of the few bright spots in modern rap. If it's not too late, I wish to rescind those remarks presently. I find 2015 Drake quite unappealing, even if he is currently one of the most recognized male artists in the world.. I haven't heard "Jumpman" many times, but I think the track is pretty solid, even if the rapping style is grating.

54. Hit The Quan - iheartmemphis

Peak: 15 (October 24-31); Weeks on chart: 17; December 26 position: 45

This song lacks much lyrical content, complexity, originality, or basically anything that would set it apart from the much more successful "Watch Me Whip/Nae Nae." "Hit The Quan" is basically a cheap knockoff of a cheap knockoff of a cheap knockoff of a cheap knockoff of a cheap knockoff....(continue about 20 times) of a cheap knockoff of Chubby Checker's "Twist." And I'm pretty sure Chubby ripped that concept off of an even earlier song. The knockoffs have gotten progressively lazier through the years.

53. Drag Me Down - One Direction



Peak: 3 (August 22); Weeks on chart: 19; December 26 position: 46

Liam, Niall, Louis and Harry announced their hiatus this year, which is a shame because the members of One Direction were finally beginning to find their vocal niches within the group. "Drag Me Down" was the group's first single since Zayn Malik left, and maybe became somewhat of a battlecry for Directioners. Honestly I have no idea if that previous statement was actually true; I'm not in the minds of a bunch of screaming 13-year-old girls.

52. Nasty Freestyle - T-Wayne

Peak: 9 (May 16, May 30); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

"First let me step out the m----f-----n' Porsche" was a popular line in my place of work throughout the spring and summer of this year, but it took me two or three months to figure out that line came from this song. The rap community loved it enough to push "Nasty" into the Top 10 in the month of May, but I personally didn't care much for the song.

51. Truffle Butter - Nicki Minaj feat. Drake and Lil Wayne

Peak: 14 (March 14-April 4); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

Surprisingly, I did not much care for this collaboration by three of my least favorite singers and two of my least favorite personalities in music. I will say that Nicki Minaj's 2015 (trying to start drama that had no need to exist with two high-profile singers, for instance) is setting her up perfectly for a new reality TV series in 2016. She'd probably be a better Kardashian than she is a musician.

Come back tomorrow for the start of the countdown's second half...and for goodness' sake, someone bring Rihanna her money.

#Top100of2015: 70-61

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2015. 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. Girl Crush - Little Big Town

Peak: 18 (May 9); Weeks on chart: 24; December 26 position: NR

We'll start with the controversy that could only happen in the oh-so-unintelligent South. Allegedly, some country radio stations decided not to play the song because it pushed the "homosexual agenda." Two major issues: This is clearly a song about a woman who wants to be the girl her man is cheating on her with; and IT IS 2015. EQUALITY IS A THING. GET OVER IT. For what it's worth, I don't particularly like this song, but just because it's another whiny heartbreak-y country song.

69. Animals - Maroon 5

Peak: 3 (one week in 2014); Weeks on chart: 33; December 26 position: NR

To this point, "Animals" is M5's most recent Top Five song. Released as a single from the band's album V, it saw its strongest success at the end of 2014. "Animals" started this year in the Top 10 but gradually dropped out of the chart over the next few months. Probably not Maroon 5's best, "Animals" is still a solid track.

68. Stay With Me - Sam Smith

Peak: 2 (two weeks in 2014); Weeks on chart: 54; December 26 position: NR

"Stay With Me" was one of the top five songs of 2014, finally falling off the Hot 100 at the end of April of this year after over a year on the chart. As I previously mentioned, I am not a Sam Smith fan. His voice is only enjoyable in upbeat dance tracks like his earlier works with Disclosure and Naughty Boy. In his solo work thus far he sounds nothing less than a whiny little five-letter-word-I-won't-say-because-my-parents-may-read-this.

67. Take Your Time - Sam Hunt

Peak: 20 (April 11); Weeks on chart: 32; December 26 position: NR

Sam Hunt is one of the rising stars in country music, and "Take Your Time" is the highest-ranking song on this year's Top 100. I personally don't like the way Sam talks the verses instead of singing them. Hunt is better than many country artists, however; his song "House Party" is my favorite single he has released so far. The future for this crooner is bright.

66. Same Old Love - Selena Gomez

Peak: 9 (December 26); Weeks on chart: 13; December 26 position: 9

This is one of the hottest tracks of the new year, having jumped up to the No. 6 position in the January 2 Hot 100. Selena Gomez has put forth a very solid new sound; "Same Old Love" is her second single from Revival. Without question, this song will rank even higher when #Top100of2016 comes around this time next year.

65. Love Me Harder - Ariana Grande feat. The Weeknd

Peak: 7 (one week in 2014, January 3); Weeks on chart: 22; December 26 position: NR

"Love Me Harder" reached its zenith as 2014 came to a close and 2015 began. Perhaps there was no bigger female pop star during that time not named Taylor Swift. It was around the time this song was popular that my friends and I decided that Ariana and I would make cute babies together. I've since decided against my friends' dreams for #Clariana but hey, there are plenty of fish in the sea, right?

64. Downtown - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz

Peak: 12 (October 31); Weeks on chart: 15; December 26 position: 76

A year and a half separate Macklemore's two most recent Hot 100 hits. I would have hoped for much better from the makers of "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us" but "Downtown" just is not that great a song. It is wildly inconsistent in form and whichever of the four featured artists "sings" the chorus has a terribly irritating voice. As Macklemore and Ryan Lewis burst onto the music scene so well in 2013, I truly hope 2016 proves the duo's debut set of singles was not a fluke.

63. Here - Alessia Cara

Peak: 8 (December 19-26); Weeks on chart: 19; December 26 position: 8

This is my favorite track currently in the Top 10. It took quite some time to start gaining airplay; I distinctly remember hearing a DJ announce "Here" as a "new song" when I had known about it for about two months. Once it did catch on, listeners couldn't get enough of the song's sassy lyrics and Cara's sexy singing style. I haven't yet tired of "Here" and at this point it's doubtful if I ever will.

62. You Know You Like It - DJ Snake feat. AlunaGeorge

Peak: 13 (June 27); Weeks on chart: 21; December 26 position: NR

This song was vastly underplayed for how good it really was; perhaps that Major Lazer's "Lean On" is so similar but more popular took attention away from DJ Snake's follow up to "Turn Down For What." This song has a completely different feel from "Turn Down" but still features several familiar DJ Snake beats. What sets this song apart from other EDM tracks from the past two years is the singing voice of AlunaGeorge. She provides an exceptional vocalization to complete one of my favorite tracks of the year.

61. On My Mind - Ellie Goulding

Peak: 13 (December 19-26); Weeks on chart: 12; December 26 position: 13

Ellie Goulding's Halcyon Days album got me through a really difficult point in my life, so I was very anxious for new music from the British superstar. "On My Mind" and Goulding's 2015 album Delirium absolutely did not disappoint. After a year and a half of the introspection - and in times feelings of depression - that went along with listening to the masterpiece that is Halcyon Days I was ready for some Ellie Goulding songs that I could just happily jam out with. Ellie's new music is exactly that. Keep doing you, Ellie. I am exceptionally thankful for your music.

Tomorrow, the worldwide phenomenon that is Adele.

#Top100of2015: 80-71

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2015 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. Uma Thurman - Fall Out Boy



Peak: 22 (September 12); Weeks on chart: 27; December 26 position: NR

The second single from the band's American Beauty/American Psycho album, "Uma Thurman" is another solid Fall Out Boy tune. The song samples the theme from "The Munsters" and alludes to Uma Thurman's character dancing in the film Pulp Fiction. With this hit, Fall Out Boy continue to prove that they are perhaps the definition of the pop-punk genre of music.

79. Ayo - Chris Brown feat. Tyga

Peak: 21 (April 11); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

As I mentioned in the last post, I have no appreciation for Chris Brown as a human being. Naturally, I find it very difficult to like any song he is involved in. The chorus of "Ayo" is mildly catchy if not lyrically explicit; other than that there's not much to note about this song.

78. No Type - Rae Sremmurd

Peak: 16 (one week in 2014); Weeks on chart: 26; December 26 position: NR

This is one of a score of whiny rap songs that were popular at the end of 2014. Of the 26 weeks "No Type" spent on the Hot 100, 14 were in 2014. The duo's follow-up single, "Throw Sum Mo" (featuring Nicki Minaj and Young Thug), never had as much success as "No Type."

77. Classic Man - Jidenna feat. Roman GianArthur



Peak: 29 (September 5); Weeks on chart: 21; December 26 position: NR

This was probably one of the better hip-hop songs to come out of 2015. The lyrics are rather mild and the vocalization is really not that bad compared to others (Read: "No Type"). In addition, everything about Jidenna is pretty appealing. That fashion sense? Those dance moves? That beard? I want to be this guy when I grow up.

76. Lay Me Down - Sam Smith

Peak: 8 (March 28); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

If Jidenna is everything I want to be when I grow up, Sam Smith is everything I don't want to be. His voice and lyrics are both entirely too whiny. I got five minutes into the new James Bond film and then I realized he sang the theme; if it weren't for the fact I paid good money for those movie tickets, I would've walked out of the theater right then and there. I'll continue ranting about him tomorrow.

75. Dear Future Husband - Meghan Trainor



Peak: 14 (June 6); Weeks on chart: 24: December 26 position: NR

People had a difficult time deciding whether this song was empowering for women or enforcing archaic expectations for marital relationship dynamics. The truth is that neither is true; Trainor's 2015 follow-up to "All About That Bass" and "Lips are Movin" is merely about her own self-obsession - in many ways the same message she is conveying in her first two singles. Just make sure to open doors for her if you want some, uh, kisses.

74. The Heart Wants What It Wants - Selena Gomez

 

Peak: 6 (one week in 2014); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

Selena Gomez was quietly one of the most successful pop stars of 2015. Her year started with this entrancing track, which was actually released last November as her final single as a primary artist before her Revival later this year. I have become quite the fan of Selena over the past year; I'm looking forward to more great music from her new album on the radio in 2016.

73. 7/11 - Beyonce

Peak: 13 (one week in 2014); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

Let's just say Beck deserved to win the Best Album Grammy this year, Kanye. There was really nothing appealing about Beyonce's album, except for the fact that it was Beyonce. This song might have been the worst track on the entire thing. It's not 2003 anymore, world. George W. Bush is (thankfully) not the President of the United States, and - shocker of all shockers - BEYONCE IS VASTLY OVERRATED.

72. Renegades - X Ambassadors

Peak: 17 (November 7); Weeks on chart: 35; December 26 position: 50


"Renegades" - surprisingly enough used in advertisements for the Jeep Renegade - was one of the better alternative songs of the year. I enjoy it so much it is in the Spotify playlist I listen to while driving (I drive a Nissan, though, not a Jeep). Although the song spent more than half of the year in the Hot 100, its time of prominence in the chart was short-lived; perhaps explaining why it is only No. 72 at the year's end.

71. Flex (Ooh Ooh Ooh) - Rich Homie Quan

Peak: 26 (July 4); Weeks on chart: 27; December 26 position: NR

Just curious, can anyone actually understand what Rich Homie Quan is saying, er, mumbling in this song? Whatever it is, I'm sure I'm better off not knowing. This track just missed the Top 25 when it was in its Hot 100 peak this summer. Somehow I mostly avoided hearing it on the radio, which I think is probably a good thing.

Tomorrow (or later today if you're on the East Coast): More from four artists we've already seen on the list, plus my favorite song currently in the Top 10 and the year's most needlessly controversial song in country music.

#Top100of2015: 90-81

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2015 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. Ghost - Ella Henderson

Peak: 21 (March 7); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

"Ghost" was one of my favorite songs at the start of the year, even though the song did not peak until March. Henderson's voice in "Ghost" is superb, and the beat is driving without being overbearing. On my list of favorite 2015 songs, this would easily rank in the top 20.

89. She Knows - Ne-Yo feat. Juicy J

Peak: 19 (March 14); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

Perhaps because it was reminiscent of Ne-Yo's prime in the mid-2000's, perhaps also because of Juicy J's old-school style of rapping, "She Knows" was quite possibly my favorite hip-hop track to come out of 2015. The song debuted in November 2014, but was not a chart success until early in 2015. For Juicy J, "She Knows" built to the success of 2014's number one, "Dark Horse," on which the rapper was also featured.

88. Slow Motion - Trey Songz 

Peak: 26 (May 30); Weeks on chart: 26; December 26 position: NR

R&B crooner Trey Songz provided this 2015 hit that just missed out on the top 25 in the Hot 100. "Slow Motion" is a sexy slow jam befitting Songz's voice. If you don't really remember the song, it probably is because it got most of its play on non-hip hop, light R&B stations.

87. Love Yourself - Justin Bieber



Peak: 4 (December 5); Weeks on chart: 4; December 26 position: 5

The latest-debuting song on this list, the third single from Bieber's wildly successful album Purpose peaked at its debut. "Love Yourself" has moved back up to the fourth spot on the Hot 100 for the January 2 chart, which means it is quite possible the song has not yet reached its ultimate peak.

86. Tuesday - I LOVE MAKONNEN feat. Drake

Peak: 12 (one week in 2014); Weeks on chart: 22; December 26 position: NR

One of the hottest hip-hop tracks at the start of the year - and a 2014 Top 100 song - "Tuesday" stuck around long enough in 2015 to earn the 86th position in this list. I liked this song more than many rap tracks at the end of last year; still, I never had a burning desire to hear "Tuesday" after it dropped from the Hot 100.

85. Marvin Gaye - Charlie Puth feat. Meghan Trainor

Peak: 21 (October 10); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

I actually really like this song from one of this year's breakout stars and one of last year's top new artists. The melody is highly catching and begs for a three-part harmony in parts, Charlie and Meghan's voices are highly compatible, and it of course alludes to one of the great soul artists of all time. "Marvin Gaye" could've done away with the modernized 808 machine during the second verse in favor of a throwback beat created perhaps with an actual drum set. But let's not get too picky - this was still one of the underrated pop tracks of the year.

84. All Eyes On You - Meek Mill feat. Chris Brown & Nicki Minaj

Peak: 21 (August 15); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR

Meek Mill will be best remembered by getting absolutely owned by Drake this summer. His lasting Hot 100 legacy will likely be this song, featuring two other not-so-favorable personalities in Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj. Sorry, Meek and Nicki, but when you try to create controversy for the sake of creating controversy, you get a #Top100of2015 review focused more on your actions than your music.

83. CoCo - O.T. Genasis

 

Peak: 16 (February 14); Weeks on chart: 14; December 26 position: NR

This not-so-subtle ode to cocaine dealers was actually one of my favorite hip-hop songs on this list. Much like "Tuesday" last year, it's not necessarily the quality of the track that I enjoy; the song just makes me laugh. My favorite line is absolutely "Bakin' soda, I got bakin' soda." (PSA: Don't sell cocaine. It's dangerous and absolutely illegal.)

82. Focus - Ariana Grande 

 

Peak: 7 (November 7); Weeks on chart: 6; December 26 position: 24

Stylistically, "Focus" is not much different from Ariana's 2014 megahit "Problem". The pop starlet's 2015 is much better known by the donut-licking incident; perhaps that is a contributing factor to this song's relatively poor performance compared to two or three other songs that debuted around the same time. In case you were wondering and didn't know, Jamie Foxx provides the voice for the chorus in this song.

81. The Hanging Tree - James Newton Howard feat. Jennifer Lawrence

Peak: 12 (one week in 2014); Weeks on chart: 17; December 26 position: NR

By far not the best-performing soundtrack song in 2015, "The Hanging Tree" lost its appeal when the remix version came out. Now that the last movie in the Hunger Games franchise is finally out, I may actually read the books. If there is a single released from the current film's soundtrack, expect to spend the next month or two in the Hot 100 as well.

Sam Smith, Selena Gomez, and more highlight the next segment of the list. Check back tomorrow for 80-71!

#Top100of2015: 100-91

This is a part of my Top 100 Songs of 2015 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

100. Riptide - Vance Joy



Peak: 30 (January 31); Weeks on chart: 44; December 26 position: NR

It is interesting that this list begins with a song that references Michelle Pfeiffer in its lyrics; she'll come back up in about nine days. "Riptide" is a pleasant song that only managed to crack the top 30 at the start of the year. I imagine Vance Joy would have been good to see live when he opened for several of Taylor Swift's tour dates; unfortunately I was not able to see him at the show I attended.

99. This Summer's Gonna Hurt... - Maroon 5

Peak: 23 (June 20); Weeks on chart: 13; December 26 position: NR

Perhaps not quite the summer hit Maroon 5 had hoped it would be, perhaps because the ellipsis in the title are replaceable with the words "Like A M----f-----." This is certainly not M5's greatest song, but it is an earworm nonetheless.

98. Waves - Mr. Probz 

Peak: 14 (one week in 2014); Weeks on chart: 25; December 26 position: NR

One of the hottest house tracks of the winter, the Robin Schulz radio edit of "Waves" reached the top spot of nine different European charts but could not crack the top 10 in the United States. The majority of the song's American success occurred last year, but it charted just long enough in 2015 to reach the year-end 100.

97. Habits (Stay High) - Tove Lo



Peak: 3 (two weeks in 2014); Weeks on chart: 39; December 26 position: NR

Tove Lo's debut single, like Waves, was much more prominent in 2014. I had the opportunity to hear it live this year; Tove does a fantastic job performing the song. You'll be seeing more from Tove Lo in this countdown, be sure to check back each day to see where her second single landed.

96. Where Ya At - Future feat. Drake

Peak: 28 (October 30, November 7); Weeks on chart: 21; December 26 position: 35

Drake had another successful year in 2015; "Where Ya At" is one of five songs on this list that the Canadian rapper appears on as either a primary or featured artist. This is the most recent of his collaborations with Atlanta-based Future, whose biggest hit before this year was 2012's "Turn On The Lights." While the state of rap music in 2015 is slightly improved from that in 2014, the year's two Future/Drake collaborations are not enjoyable songs to me.

95. Blessings - Big Sean feat. Drake

Peak: 28 (April 25, May 2, May 16); Weeks on chart: 20; December 26 position: NR


Speaking of hits featuring Drake, this song had mild success in 2015. Shortly after its peak on the Billboard chart, "Blessings" was the soundtrack to this adorable press conference featuring NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry and his daughter, Riley.

94. I Want You To Know - Zedd feat. Selena Gomez



Peak: 17 (March 14); Weeks on chart: 16; December 26 position: NR

The next step in Selena Gomez's music career began last fall with her single "The Heart Wants What It Wants". The next track Gomez released was a collaboration with her then-sorta-boyfriend Zedd that peaked when it debuted in March but spent the next four months on the Hot 100. This was perhaps my favorite Gomez track of the year; her voice suits this style of music.

93. Bang Bang - Jessie J feat. Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj

Peak: 3 (two weeks in 2014); Weeks on chart: 31; December 26 position: NR

One of the hottest songs of 2014's latter half (it was the No. 14 song in my Top 100 of last year); "Bang Bang" stuck around the charts long enough to land a spot in the bottom 10 of the 2015 year-end list. Teens reacted to the lyrics of this song so I don't have to.

92. Elastic Heart - Sia

Peak: 17 (January 24); Weeks on chart: 30; December 26 position: NR

Another song that peaked when it debuted, "Elastic Heart" never gained the traction Sia's previous hit "Chandelier" did. This may have been the best music video of 2015's top 100 songs; Starring Shia LeBeouf (who had quite the unique year himself) and Maddie Ziegler, the caged dance from the video was alluded to in this year's YouTube Rewind.

91. Antidote - Travi$ Scott

Peak: 16 (December 26); Weeks on chart: 14; December 26 position: 16

Perhaps the hottest hip-hop song on the Hot 100 at the end of the year, "Antidote" has slowly been climbing the chart since its debut three months ago. This is another classic example of the decline of rap music; however, from a chart standpoint, rap is more popular now than it has been in two decades. Tomorrow, find out what one of my favorite hip-hop tracks of the year was.