By Vanessa Rupertus
Elm Staff Writer
With only one month left to go now, it’s the perfect time to look back on the year and acknowledge the songs that helped define 2018.
Here’s a list of the top 10 most popular and influential songs of the year:
10. “Happier,” Marshmello (feat. Bastille). A song created by the team up of Marshmello and Bastille is bound to get a lot of attention. The bittersweet lyrics of the song are set to an oddly energetic and catchy tune. Though the song has some pretty sober lyrical content, centering on a complicated breakup, it’s anything but a sober experience for the listener.
9. “Natural,” Imagine Dragons. This roaring alternative sound brings a persistent beat and an admirable message: Stand up to adversity and be true to yourself. It’s full of buzzing energy and stubborn spirit, a trait that ESPN noted when choosing it as the anthem of the College Football season this year.
8. “High Hopes,” Panic! At The Disco. A part of the album “Pray for the Wicked” and nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Rock Song, this explosive song crashes into the listener’s eardrums without holding anything back. The crisp vocals and intense brass section leave a lasting impression, but when it comes to frontman Brendon Urie, is it really a surprise?
7. “Bloom,” Troye Sivan. Dubbed by Sivan himself as “the most subversively queer song on the album,” this pop song is full of cheeky double-entendre’s overtop an infectious melody. Sivan admitted that he had a lot of laughs in creating this masterpiece and wrote it as a kind of inside joke, which only adds to the sincerity of this song.
6. “Back To You,” Selena Gomez. Selena Gomez’s recent release of “Back to You” gained some traction after it’s release through it’s inclusion in the soundtrack for the show “13 Reasons Why.” The song earned the award of Choice Summer Song at the Teen Choice Awards thanks to Gomez’s heartfelt vocals.
5. “FRIENDS,” Anne-Marie & Marshmello. This upbeat pop song, told from the perspective of a guy pining for a girl who sees him as a friend, sports a memorable tune and easy-to-learn lyrics. There aren’t many “friend-zone anthems,” as Anne-Marie called it, out there, which makes this song all the more unique.
4. “In My Blood,” Shawn Mendes. “In My Blood” revolves around Mendes’ struggle with anxiety, and is the first time that the Canadian singer has discussed his personal experiences publicly. Not only is it a beautifully written song, but the honesty within the lyrics cements its popularity.
3. “IDGAF,” Dua Lipa. While “IDGAF” was released in 2017, it’s popularity lasted into the next year thanks to Dua Lipa’s powerful vocals. The music video for the song, released Jan. 12, added to the intensity with the hard stares of Dua Lipa and the performers, and the aggressive dance choreography.
2. “God’s Plan,” Drake. “God’s Plan” undoubtedly has a place in plenty of other soundtracks and lists this year. This combination of pop, rap, and trap revolves around fame, fear, and luxury, giving listeners insight into how Drake thinks about his lifestyle today.
1. “no tears left to cry,” Ariana Grande. Grande tops this list with a powerful statement on overcoming tragedy. Grande wrote “no tears left to cry” after the bombing at her Manchester Arena concert in 2017, hoping to bring comfort as well as revitalize her determination to “live [her] best life,” and this dance-pop tune doesn’t disappoint.