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10. Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey) - The Weeknd
Abel Tesfaye actually began his historic 2015 when he featured on Ariana Grande's "Love Me Harder" last year. From there the artist known as The Weeknd had his first solo smash hit, the Fifty Shades soundtrack song "Earned It." Unlike Ellie's LMLYD, I could never get into "Earned It"; in fact, I mostly avoided listening to the song all year long.
9. Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd
The Weeknd's next single became his first U.S. number one hit, and the first and only Weeknd song I actually like. "Can't Feel My Face" was one of the hottest songs of the summer with its Michael Jackson/Maroon 5/Justin Timberlake feel. It became obvious after Abel's next single that the "she" referenced in "Can't Feel My Face" isn't actually a human, but this is still a fun song.
8. The Hills - The Weeknd
The Weeknd capped his incredible 2015 with this single, which basically confirms that he found his success singing about being a cocaine addict. With "The Hills" The Weeknd replaced himself at number one (he was the first to accomplish such a feat since Taylor Swift last year), and became only the second artist with multiple number-one hits in 2015 (the only artist besides - you guessed it - Taylor Swift). After his most successful song to date spent over a month as the top song in America, it is only fitting to give the CU:BS 2015 Artist of the Year Award to The Weeknd.
7. Shut Up + Dance - WALK THE MOON
Peak: 4 (May 30-June 27); Weeks on chart: 53; December 26 position: NR
One of my absolute favorite songs of 2015 was also one of only a few songs to spend at least 11 months in the Hot 100 this year. I remember distinctly the first time I heard "Shut Up + Dance" on pop radio after months of hearing it only as an alternative jam. That moment made me feel the most hipster I have ever felt in my life. "Shut Up + Dance" is a feel-good, upbeat tune, and I am immensely glad this was one of the biggest songs of the year.
6. Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) - Silento
The Whip/Nae Nae was the dance craze that swept the nation in 2015. However, it was no Macarena or Cupid Shuffle. In no part of either of those were the words "bop" or "duff" repeated incessantly over 16 measures each. "Watch Me" encapsulates the state of hip-hop in 2015: unoriginal and repetitive. But millions of people will still enjoy listening to this song whilst cracking whips to make their horses say "Nae! Nae!"
5. Sugar - Maroon 5
Peak: 2 (March 28-April 18); Weeks on chart: 42; December 26 position: NR
Maroon 5 crashed some weddings for this music video, then crashed back into the Hot 100 in 2015 with their sixth top-five song. One of the most prominent bands of the decade shows no signs of slowing down. "Sugar" is the third, and best-performing, single so far from the band's album V, which is arguably one of the best albums of the year. Not just one of the highest charting songs, "Sugar" is also among the most enjoyable songs of 2015.
4. See You Again - Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
Peak: 1 (April 25-May 30, June 13-July 18); Weeks on chart: 40; December 26 position: 41
The second-longest-running number one song of the year was a touching tribute to Paul Walker from the Furious 7 soundtrack. While the movie itself I don't find entertaining at all, this song slowly grew on me over the year. By the time its peak was over, "See You Again" was among my favorite 2015 tracks. In addition to proven rapper Wiz Khalifa, this song introduced to crooner Charlie Puth. Puth may very well be a significant player in the pop music world over the second half of the 2010's. I would not be surprised if we see Charlie at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 again.
3. Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
Peak: 2 (January 31-March 21); Weeks on chart: 58; December 26 position: NR
Featured in last year's "First Two Out," "Thinking Out Loud" spent the majority of 2015 in the Hot 100. In fact, while it was at its peak, the Ed Sheeran ballad was part of a one-two combination atop the chart that stayed the same for eight whole weeks. As I mentioned before, this was part of a year that showed off the "softer" side of Ed Sheeran. For Sheeran, who hasn't scored a U.S. number one yet, "Thinking" is the best-charting song of his career. The future is bright for the ginger whiz kid.
2. Trap Queen - Fetty Wap
The song that launched Fetty Wap into stardom is the second-ranked song of the entire year. Since "Trap Queen" Fetty has scored two other top-10 hits and is currently one of the most-recognized voices in hip-hop. Although I don't always enjoy his songs, I can't argue with his massive success. Therefore, with great pleasure, I present the 2015 CU:BS New Artist of the Year designation to Fetty Wap.
1. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
Peak: 1 (January 17-April 18); Weeks on chart: 55; December 26 position: NR
Anyone who even passively watches the pop charts would know this song is an easy pick for the number one song of the year. "Uptown Funk" spent three whole months as the top song in the country, and it still was enjoyable when it finally dropped from the Hot 100 in the next-to-last chart of the year. The song has a unique cross-generational feel; it has enough of a throwback sound for older audiences to groove to, and Bruno Mars provides a hip presence that younger people can relate to. Without a doubt, "Uptown Funk" is among the greatest songs of not only the year, but also of the decade to this point.
The #Top100of2015 playlist, just in time for your New Year's parties:
