The 20 Best Pop Songs Of 2015: Idolator Editors Pick Their Favorites
5. FUTURE, “MARCH MADNESS”
The prettiest beat of 2015 paired with the darkest, most damaged rapper of 2015. Of course it would lead to a swirl of contradictions: It’s hypnotic and heavy and glimmering and grimy and exasperated and hopeful. And that’s why this is so true. — CARL WILLIOTT
4. BRANDON FLOWERS, “CAN’T DENY MY LOVE”
Killers frontman Brandon Flowers is one of those few artists who operates within a space that isn’t bothered with the pop music trends of the moment. Thank God. When it arrived in the spring on a wave of synth squelches and atmosphere, “Can’t Deny My Love” hinted that the work Flowers and producer Ariel Rechtshaid were doing on Brandon’s The Desired Effect would be pretty great — an allusion that proved to be true once the album was released. — ROBBIE DAW
3. THE WEEKND, “CAN’T FEEL MY FACE”
The Weeknd has been moaning about drugs ever since his 2011 debut mixtape House Of Balloons, but he managed to make this schtick unexpectedly mainstream for Beauty Behind The Madness single “Can’t Feel My Face.”
The song has “hit” written all over it, from Max Martin‘s co-sign to the catchy, retro vibes to the dark lyrical undertones and the Michael Jackson-inspired dance moves. For naysayers who thought The Weeknd (who was once a dark horse) couldn’t make it as one of 2015’s biggest pop stars, “Can’t Feel My Face” proved them wrong. Being numb never felt so damn good. — BIANCA GRACIE
2. FETTY WAP, “TRAP QUEEN”
Fetty Wap managed to pull off the hat trick of being one of 2015’s breakout stars, releasing the biggest rap song of the year and following it up with a string of further hits. It all started with “Trap Queen,” a cut brimming with aspiration about dealing crack with your beloved and doing it with class. On the surface, this all might seem sinister, but much like the cocaine in question, that RGF production is so very addictive. — ROBBIE DAW
1. SKRILLEX & DIPLO FEATURING JUSTIN BIEBER, “WHERE ARE Ü NOW?”
This is truly asking a lot, but if you’re willing to set the perceived douchebaggery and enfant terrible-ness of Justin Bieber aside for just four minutes and 11 seconds, and listen without prejudice to the way Skrillex and Diplo wrap the singer’s emotional plea in a blanket of not-trite EDM, “Where Are Ü Now” manages to clutch you where it counts the most: The heart. There’s a reason Bieber had such a massive comeback in 2015, and this is it. — ROBBIE DAW
What were your own favorite songs from 2015? Let us know below.
