best of MusicTalker Takes Out the Trash

[Mark Rih]

I don't use 40-39, but I literally stan everything from 38 to 31

[Blue Rose]

Nice For What and Stay are amazing. 

Imagine by Ariana charting after only a week  

[Just a Gay on ATRL]

@Chemical X. @The Lion King @Brandon @Remmy @Mark Rih @Jet @JGibson @rvx @Navyofbadgals @Lazuli @potent @Superpower

 

30 Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - Always Remember Us This Way

 

 

The highest ASIB soundtrack song on my countdown! Gaga sounds really incredible on this song and it reminds me of some of her most underrated ballad gems like Brown Eyes from The Fame. It has a very classic rock vibe and I think it completes the trinity of the soundtrack very well (Shallow, this, and I'll Never Love Again). Those belts! I also think this is a song that won't get old to me. Gaga really did that this year and I'm very happy for her.

 

29 Kacey Musgraves - Slow Burn

 

 

 

What an intro to an album! This is such a perfect mood-setter for Golden Hour & has that light/airy quality I always love about Kacey. The chorus is extremely memorable and literally sounds like a breeze. I think this is the song she should perform at the 2019 Grammys. It's a show stopper.

 

28 Julia Michaels - Heaven

 

 

 

Julia knows how to write a damn good pop song with the most simplistic instrumentals and she did it here in this underrated 50 Shades track. The 3rd soundtrack overall was a low-budget mess, but Julia definitely stood out with her moody, clever ballad. One of my favorite lyrics of the year: "They say all good boys go to heaven, but bad boys bring heaven to you".  The best way to describe the imagery i get in my head while listening to this is Julia in a dark room filled with slow dripping water with tears streaming down her face as she emotionally sings - very specific, which makes it stand out to me. Not everyone can do that.

 

27 Normani & 6LACK - Waves

 

 

All 3 of Ms. Normanti's lead songs made it onto my countdown this year! I'm about ready to stan if she drops a good album. Waves is that perfect mix of pop & R&B that is always my sweet spot and she absolutely delivered. 6LACK was a perfect feature choice too. I am pressed this doesn't appear to be charting at all? Where is the TASTE? To me, she's always been my favorite Fifth Harmony girl and this proves why. 

 

26 SG Lewis - Hurting (feat. AlunaGeorge)

 

 

AlunaGeorge is consistent with the bops all the way since the early 10s and they continued their streak in 2018. They collaborated with SG, who tends to have songs with this type of electronic space vibe. The beat breakdown when she starts singing "hurting for your body..." is one of the best of the year.  I found myself being captivated by this a lot when it would come on shuffle. A lot of my recommended songs on streaming apps were quick lil enjoyable songs at best, but this one was one of the few that actually stuck with me.

 

25 Drake - In My Feelings

 

 

 

The highest Drake-led song on my countdown this year. I debated whether NFW or this deserved to be higher, but I was honest with myself that I bopped to this one harder and for a longer period of time. I will remember Summer 2018 through this song + one other that's coming later (guess which!). This has a classic Drake bop vibe without feeling reductive like A LOT of Scorpion. He shines best when he sings and I will forever stick with that - one of the worst things about Scorpion is that he's still keeping up this tough gangsta facade that feels SO inauthentic and he did not use to do it so much on the early albums. When he lets himself be the pop/R&B bop prince, that's when he really delivers the most.  

 

24 Sean Paul - Jet Plane Trip (feat. Stefflon Don)

 

 

 

So... I don't think anyone listened to this EP much, but Sean Paul actually delivered an EP full of solid, carefree, modern bops. I was pleasantly surprised. The best song on the EP is definitely this one, though, and I just had to include it. The beat is crazy good and hypnotic and him & Stefflon really rode it the **** out. Easily one of my top workout songs and I listened to this a lot walking to and from work too. While many songs were moody and lacked energy this year, this did not and I appreciated that. 

 

23 Kacey Musgraves - High Horse

 

 

 

Kacey's standout pop/country disco queen throwback delivered and should've been a major crossover hit this year. The public couldn't handle it I guess. This song is fitting for all moods: happy, sad, bored, meh. It also does not get old and I feel it will stay on my phone for years to come. The verses, chorus, bridge, everything are so well structured and thought out, so it's not one of those songs I only skip to one part repeatedly. I think in years to come, this song will be more well known and well respected by the GP. Especially if she gets Grammy love. This deserves to be a defining hit for Kacey. Was this not even a country hit? Blasphemous.

 

22 Years & Years - Karma

 

 

 

THE CHORUS. This is personally my favorite song on their 2nd album and was the instant standout when I listened back in... whenever it came out (June?). I don't think it's been a single yet but it really should be. This sounds so fresh and lively. It's also a biittt dramatic which I love lol. The violins are a nice touch to the production.

 

21 Normani & Calvin Harris - Checklist (feat. Wizkid)

 

 

 

I need a gif for this one:

 

 

Calvin is my favorite producer and him & Normani together? Pop QUALITY. Normani gives her own spin on the dancehall trend and does it like a seasoned pro! This girl is a PROFESSIONAL. God help me if this ever comes on while I'm drunk. Calvin is also consistently delivering from year to year and has excellent taste in collaborations, as usual. The gif explains it all. 

Edited December 24, 2018 by MusicTalker

[Just a Gay on ATRL]

Another fact: Post Malone's new song Wow. probably could've made my Top 50 this year if he'd released it sooner, but it's a bit too late to include it now. But I'm giving a shoutout!

[Chemical X.]

Waves and Checklist  the TASTE  

 

Waves is coming in 2019 I speak that into existence  

 

[potent]

Slow Burn, High Horse, In My Feelings all great songs! Idk about ARUTW being higher than Shallow and IMF higher than NFW though

[TRF.]

LOVE seeing Kacey here!

 

[JGibson]

High Horse + Heaven 

[Remmy]

Waves First song I've cared for from Normani (as a lead artist)!
High Horse + Slow Burn  Always Remember Us This Way

[Brandon]

 

Heaven  ?

[Bubble Tea]

"Always Remember Us This Way" is soooooo exquisite!!  

[-mUsIcLoVeR-]

High Horse and In My Feelings  

[Lazuli]

Slow Burn, High Horse, Checklist, ARUTW  

[Blue Rose]

The Kacey songs are 2 of my faves.

Waves is also great.

[Kevin2803]

Checklist & Waves  Normani's singles really slayed this year.

 

"Heaven" is literally pop heaven. And the lyric you mentioned is also one of my favorite lyrics this year. 

 

Uhm, the best song on Palo Santo is clearly "Up in Flames". But "Karma" is cute  

[Just a Gay on ATRL]

@Chemical X. @The Lion King @Brandon @Remmy @Mark Rih @Jet @JGibson @rvx @Navyofbadgals @Lazuli @potent @Superpower

@TRF. @Reinvention @-mUsIcLoVeR- @Kevin2803

 

20 The Chainsmokers - Hope (feat. Winona Oak)

 

 

 

In general, The Chainsmokers output this year was terrible and a perfect justification of their reputation for mediocrity, HOWEVER I came across this discography gem when I happened to give their album a quick glance. This is the best song they've done since Closer and it actually has a cool, repeatable, and forward-thinking sound. The girl sounds SO good and the chorus has that typical of 2018 vocoder effect which I must admit I almost love (FOR NOW, it's quickly approaching its expiration date). If this was their "comeback" hit, it would be deserved imo. My general complaint for them, however, still stands with the 2nd verse: ANDREW STOP SINGING!

 

19 David Guetta, Bebe Rexha & J Balvin - Say My Name

 

 

David is another producer I'd consider "mediocre" in general for the past couple of years, but every now and then, he gets it right and SMN is one of those moments. He recruits current hot acts Bebe & J Balvin fora spanglish lover expose pop anthem with a really awesome beat. Bebe is the real star her and she sounds like brought 110% to this track, so I give her props. She also stole the entire music video. J Balvin is a great supporting act for the "bridge" or "3rd verse", I guess more accurately. David songs are so much better when they avoid the generic breakdowns we're so used to him doing. This is Hey Mama but better (although there is a Jess Glynne song on Listen that is like offensively similar to Hey Mama but I digress).

 

18 Kim Petras - Heart to Break

 

 

The STRONG Teenage Dream nostalgia teas on this one! This song takes me to a pop dreamscape I am no longer used to going to in 2018. It reminds me of childhood crush bliss. Such a happy moodlifter. This got me through some of my rougher moments this year when I was feeling down. That massive chorus is everything. One of the most gargantuan pop choruses I can remember since at least Into You. I'm excited for Kim's future.

 

17 The Weeknd - Try Me

 

 

 

The male answer to Needed Me I didn't know I needed. I was completely obsessed with this back in the Spring and still kinda am. It perfectly encapsulates the bitterness of a breakup and the anger I'm sure he felt with a certain someone.  This is the track I use when I am angry and need to bask in my anger with some type of outlet for 2018. The Weeknd really did some amazing stuff on this EP that was not recognized. Was this EP mentioned on any YE lists? Publications? Literally WTF.

 

16 DJ Snake - Taki Taki (feat. Ozuna, Cardi B & Selena Gomez)

 

 

 

This song got so much **** when it came out and I don't understand why. It is everything I wanted when I first heard about the track's existence. Ozuna's parts are catchy too, since I guess people thought I was included too much? Cardi totally bodied her verse & Selena's part is very sexy. That beat is also absolutely killer. DJ Snake is someone I know I can depend on for quality beats and for the past couple of years, he's released some of my favorite songs. TT continues his good streak with me.

 

15 Rita Ora - Let You Love Me

 

 

 

Okay FIRO! Phoenix is the first Rita era I've decided to stan. This type of sound is really where she needs to continue expanding herself. I am really digging it. LYLM is futuristic, emotional, and ultimately a lot of fun as well. Like Bebe in SMN, I can tell she really put 110% into her entire new record to be taken more seriously. This girl has been through a lot in the industry, so she deserves a shoutout on YE lists. Yet again, the US ignored, but have you noticed the US ignored many of the songs in this section of the countdown that should've been massive (SMN, TT, Baby coming up)? A MESS. Lowkey MIA too, it should be Top 3 rn.

 

14 Bad Bunny - MIA (feat. Drake)

 

 

 

As I mentioned above, this is charting in the lower 20s in the US rn and I'm a little baffled. It was on the right track when it debuted and it fell off and never recovered. WHY? This song has huge repeat value and Bad Bunny has been one my favorite breakout artists of 2018. He's just so original and has his own recognizable identity. I am excited to see how he owns his niche in the next couple of years and whether he can sustain the artistic value he's created so far. His new album is very good btw. Drake was a perfect addition and his spanish is on point. TBH this deserved to be a massive #1.

 

13 Halsey - Without Me

 

 

 

I am hoping WM goes #1 in January because TUN has more than had its turn and WM is a much better pop song. This is easily my favorite thing Halsey has done as a lead artist so far. The song's beat is great and full, since my main criticisms of her hits Now or Never and Bad at Love last year were that the production was boring and the songs too slow/don't go anywhere. It feels like the song where she really comes into her own and releases an instantaneous, unclockable smash with GREAT lyrics.  This song is great representation of the state of pop and the heights it can reach in 2018. A good mesh of R&B & pop.

 

12 Clean Bandit - Baby (feat. Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonsi)

 

 

I think this is being considered a flop at this point and this makes me really sad because this might be the best song on the whole CB sophomore album. Marina sounds like a literal angel, as usual, and the chorus makes me think I can hear god singing to the heavens. Her voice is quite honestly ethereal. Luis and the mix of spanish is also a really interesting artistic decision on this particular track that I appreciate. He manages to stick with Marina without feeling unnecessary.  The chorus is close to perfection. I also absolutely love the quickly-sung verses when that stellar beat goes ham.  I like showing this song to my friends since no one seems to know it, and I think that's absolutely terrible.

 

11 Rita Ora - Only Want You

 

 

 

My favorite song on her new album - probably yet another Rita song the public will be sleep on, smh. I feel a lot of emotions when I listen to this and the production is so dreamy and full of interesting little details. The breakdown after the 2nd chorus is my particular favorite part. If you listen to her vocalizations at that particular part, they're absolutely beautiful. She really shows off her vocal range on this too, even though she understates herself here, you can here how much control she has and how seamlessly she goes from deeper in the verses to falsetto in the chorus.  This might be the best song she's ever done honestly.

[Kevin2803]

Hope is a bop  

 

Say My Name, Let Me Love You, Only Want You & Taki Taki 

 

Without Me is also great 

 

Baby & Heart to Break are cute 

[Ivan_brit]

Gaga, Drake, The Weeknd & Rita  

[Blue Rose]

Without Me is a bop  

[JGibson]

Without Me 

[potent]

Some of these are choices, but LYLM is a great pop song, I’m truly shocked that Rita delivered this time.

[Just a Gay on ATRL]

I think I'm going to do 1 post at a time for each song in the Top 10 to add a bit of drama/prolong it and make them a bit more emphasized.

 

Also, Bad Bunny's album came out a little too late for more songs than MIA to be included, but I think it came out just in time to be included in my Top 5 albums of 2018!

[Just a Gay on ATRL]

@Chemical X. @The Lion King @Brandon @Remmy @Mark Rih @Jet @JGibson @rvx @Navyofbadgals @Lazuli @potent @Superpower

@TRF. @Reinvention @-mUsIcLoVeR- @Kevin2803@Ivan_brit

 

 

THE TOP 10 BEGINS!

 

10 Normani & Calvin Harris - Slow Down

 

 

My Top Normani entry of 2018 and the sibling song to Calvin's own One Kiss. This song is such a mood and a massive, sultry house jam. Calvin doing this sound is one of the best things to happen to 2018. Normani is also perfect for this type of sound and I hope she continues doing more of it in the midst of her inevitable R&B debut. I just checked today and this only has 3.8M streams globally to date... which is insane to me. Both this Checklist slay, but I definitely think Slow Down is the one that deserves the Top 10 on my countdown. Cheers to a wonderful 2019 to Normani!

[Mark Rih]

Ok I stan

 

I'm not the biggest Baby fun, but everything else

 

Guetta became TRASH, but Say My Name is that bop

 

Bad Bunny album is amazing btw, listen to it if you haven't already.

I mean:

 

 

 

 

[Just a Gay on ATRL]

Please let me know if you want to be taken off of the notification list, I won't be offended lol