best of Nick's Best of 2010s (Finished | Singles 10-1 )

[potent]

Nick's Best of the 2010s

 

Well here I am again, lol. I have minimal energy left for presenting these lists so no fancy layout (not that my other layout was that good anyway). I have a top 100 singles list (can't imagine doing albums for an entire decade, but kudos to everyone who managed to put that together lol) - so let's get started right away with the honorable mentions. You should know that this list is one song per artist, so all the artists appearing here will not be on the main list. These are in no particular order, other than chronological:

 

 

 

Orianthi - According to You

I'm an emo kid at heart so the guitars kinda give me life.

 

Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina - Stereo Love

The accordion part is sooo addictive

 

Kylie Minogue - All the Lovers

Aphrodite era kinda slayed, I remember seeing Get Outta My Way on VH1 but I personally prefer this one.

 

Bruno Mars - Grenade

I like Bruno but idk if I've loved any of his singles that much. This was probably the most memorable one overall.

 

The Black Keys - Tighten Up

Possibly the only song on here that doesn't have a chorus but it still works so well!

 

The Script - For the First Time

A cute ballad with a relatable message, especially for the time. They started the decade out strong, but went downhill and to be honest anything they can do Kodaline could do it better.

 

Noah and the Whale - LIFEGOESON

I’ve honestly never heard another song from this band, but this one is great, it sounds so carefree and effortless, like all your troubles could just float away.

 

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Paris (Ooh La La)

I wish there were more female rock artists doing it like this!

 

Avril Lavigne - Wish You Were Here

A classic Avril ballad, but sadly it was too little too late.

 

Radiohead - Lotus Flower

An experimental bop! The video is so weird but also kind of mesmerizing.

 

Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory

I think this song tries to sound more epic than it actually is, if that makes any sense? Still one of the better hit songs of 2011.

 

James Morrison - I Won't Let You Go

A basic ballad, but something about his delivery and signature raspy voice makes it endearing.

 

Death Cab for Cutie - You Are a Tourist

A classic DCFC song with a little more indie electronic vibe.

 

Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight Tonight

Sounds like it was manufactured to be as catchy as humanly possible, but is that necessarily a bad thing??

 

Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

Yeah Kelly didn't make the list, but it's not like her material from this decade really deserved it anyway. I chose this one because despite the generic lyrics it has a fierce energy that I really like.

 

Emeli Sande - Next to Me

I was obsessed with this song back in 2012, but it eventually kinda wore off on me. She gives me Alicia vibes here actually, which brings me to...

 

Alicia Keys - Girl on Fire

Don't really get the hate for this song. Yeah her vocals are extra, but the way she strains her voice just adds to the passion of the song for me.

 

David Guetta - Titanium (feat. Sia)

Guetta's production and Sia's vocals surprisingly go so well together.

 

Fall Out Boy - My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark

To be honest I think this band spent all their creative energy on Save Rock & Roll and kinda ran out of ideas after that. At least we got one amazing era out of it.

 

Young the Giant - Crystallized

I love the mixture of electronic and alternative music that Young the Giant embraced on their second album. However they didn't make the list because I think other bands did it better.

 

5 Seconds of Summer - Amnesia

Reminds me a lot of Simple Plan.

 

Andy Grammer - Honey I'm Good

Probably a controversial choice. I don't get the big fuss over the lyrics, obviously cheating isn't good but people get tempted all the time so it's not like he's a bad person for being realistic and writing about it. Anyway it's a bop and the video is cute.

 

Natalia Lafourcade - Hasta La Raiz

The only Spanish song on this list. This song is amazing and probably the best one I've heard from her so far, I still need to explore more though.

 

Sara Bareilles - She Used to Be Mine

I'm not even a huge fan of Sara's but the way that this song slowly builds up to an emotional peak is just incredible, and the lyrics hit home for anyone who's feeling a little bit lost in their life.

 

Rudimental - Lay It All on Me (feat. Ed Sheeran)

Miles better than anything from Ed's last era.

 

Kungs & Cookin on 3 Burners - This Girl

This song is crazily infectious with a perfect energy for summer, I can't understand why the US didn't let it smash.

 

Local Natives - Villainy

Gives me strong Killers vibes.

 

Disturbed - The Sound of Silence

I like how they respected the original while still adding their own twist to it. The powerful vocals at the end give it a strong emotional energy that I really like.

 

Ella Mai - Boo'd Up

Such a carefree happy song, really simulates the feeling of being in love.

 

Sigrid - Sucker Punch

This song almost made it, to be honest it might be interchangeable with a few songs in the bottom positions but maybe it's just missing something. Like many short pop songs I feel like it could've used a bridge or another verse.

 

The Carters - Apeshit

As much as I listened to this song I never really got tired of it. I know it's just a Migos reject but Beyonce gives it the personality to make it believable. Beyonce is on the list as a solo artist though so I decided to leave this one off.

 

Kacey Musgraves - High Horse

I almost forgot this song because it was originally on my list and when I moved it off I forgot to add it to HMs lol. I really like the lyrics and the unique sound of it.

 

Illenium & Jon Bellion - Good Things Fall Apart

The new generation of emo music!

Edited January 9, 2020 by potent

[JGibson]

High Horse + Good Things Fall Apart + Sucker Punch + The Sound Of Silence + She Used To Be Mine + Honey, I'm Good. + My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up) + Girl On Fire + Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) + Tonight Tonight + You Are A Tourist + The Edge Of Glory + Wish You Were Here + According To You + Grenade + Lotus Flower +  Tighten Up + For The First Time 

[Legend E]

Quote

Yeah Kelly didn't make the list, but it's not like her material from this decade really deserved it anyway. 

 

[Green]

All the Lovers, The Edge of Glory, Grenade, Amnesia, Girl on Fire, High Horse, Hasta La Raiz, Stronger  

 

I also don't get the hate for Girl on Fire

 

Grace Potter will be in my countdown but with another song 

[Mr. Loco]

Lady Gaga already out of the list 

 

All the lovers 

[Born to Run]

17 hours ago, potent said:

Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory

I think this song tries to sound more epic than it actually is, if that makes any sense?

 

Drag it. LUV Sucker Punch, High Horse & All the Lovers.

[Brandon]

 

?????? ?????,???? ????,???????? & ????  
 

 

[TheWayWeWere]

ATL was such a great way to start entire Aphrodite era

The Edge of Glory

Stronger is such an anthem still  

[Remmy]

Apesh*t, Boo'd Up, Girl on Fire, She Used to Be Mine, According to You, Stereo Love, Honey I'm Good, Tonight Tonight are all cute/good - although I would say the last 2 don't sound as good as they once did. I would actually say the same for Grenade, it's not one of my favorite Bruno singles anymore. Stronger and High Horse For the First Time, My Songs Know, Amnesia, Good Things Fall Apart Titanium, Sucker Punch, Wish You Were Here & The Edge of Glory missing the main chart WYWH really should've been a smash, one of my overall favorites from her. I would have to say I don't understand your thoughts on TEOG because it is VERY epic & stunning Also played it for my last song of 2019.

[potent]

Singles 100-76

 

100 Avicii - Wake Me Up (feat. Aloe Blacc) [2013]

One of the most representative hits of the decade. I really like the thoughtful lyrics combined with the folk-EDM fusion that it creates.

 

99 The Naked and Famous - Hearts Like Ours [2013]

It was between this and Young Blood but I probably listen to this one more overall.

 

98 Clean Bandit - Rather Be (feat. Jess Glynne) [2014]

If I had been making this list as a 16-17 year old this definitely would've been top 20 if not top 10. It has this irresistible positive energy that draws you to it each time, and the classical strings are a great touch. However it is a little generic and I feel like it kinda could've been sung by anyone, so it fell from favor since then. Top 100 for the decade is still great though.

 

97 Calvin Harris - Pray to God (feat. HAIM) [2015]

For future reference DJ collabs only count for the lead artist, so HAIM is still eligible. This one was surprisingly enjoyable though, it sounds like an organic mixture between the two artists' sounds.

 

96 Colbie Caillat - Try [2014]

An extremely underrated song, so beautiful and pure. It might sound too preachy at times but you can tell she really believes what she's singing. I might even prefer it to P!nk's song of the same name.

 

95 Phoenix - Ti Amo [2017]

One of my favorite indie bops of the past few years. It's like a gust of warm summer air, so breezy and effortlessly catchy.

 

94 Paloma Faith - Only Love Can Hurt Like This [2014]

Has Diane Warren's fingerprints all over it, but it's Paloma's delivery that really makes it special.

 

93 Bastille - Things We Lost in the Fire [2013]

If you only know them for Pompeii and Happier you should look deeper, they have better songs!

 

92 Hatchie - Without a Blush [2019]

This song gave me so much life this year, it's so fresh and unlike anything else in my playlists.

 

91 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop [2013]

Novelty hits are usually annoying and tacky and maybe you could argue this one was, but it actually has creative lyrics and an interesting delivery that to me make it worth remembering.

 

90 Broken Bells - The High Road [2010]

This band is very underrated, they're really just a side project of James Mercer from The Shins but they have some pretty good music that stands well on its own. I wish more songs like this could've been popular in 2010 instead of all that generic nonsense from forgotten artists that we got.

 

89 Lauren Daigle - You Say [2018]

Baby Adele indeed!

 

88 George Ezra - Shotgun [2018]

The perfect song for blasting in the summer with your windows down.

 

87 Bombay Bicycle Club - Feel [2014]

This band is always trying something different and I appreciate them for that. Here they added some Indian music influences to their traditional sound and the result was surprisingly addictive, I couldn't get it off repeat.

 

86 M83 - Midnight City [2011]

I know this song should probably be higher, but according to my personal taste there were better songs of this genre that deserved the higher placement instead. Still it's impressive that despite not being a hit, this song will probably be one of the most remembered of the decade.

 

85 One Direction - Night Changes [2015]

I didn't really care for One Direction, their music was too cheesy and contrived for my taste. This song is not really an exception but there's something about the maturity of it that makes it more believable. Better than anything the solo members have released thus far sans possibly Harry (his album's still too new for me to decide).

 

84 FKA Twigs - Cellophane [2019]

Again, before I get attacked for this being "so low" this sound is not really a part of my personal taste, so the fact it made it here at all is pretty impressive. Home with You is also great and I even liked her album, so I'll be checking for more.

 

83 Lewis Capaldi - Someone You Loved [2019]

Recently I watched Todd in the Shadows where he included this song on his worst hits of the year and called Lewis Capaldi an acoustic Simple Plan at best... which may be true, but so what? Simple Plan may not have been an all time great band but there's something to be said for the fact that they basically soundtracked an entire generation. I think this song ignited that same sentiment with people especially given the emotion behind Lewis' vocals.

 

82 Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings) [2012]

In the year of alternative crossovers this song really deserved it too!

 

81 Alessia Cara - Here [2015]

Yeah I know this theme of being "too cool" for the party life is tacky and overdone, but at the time it was something new especially with such a unique sound. Sadly Alessia went down the Rachel Platten route losing the originality of her music for generic and vague sentiments, but at least we still have this great song.

 

80 Khalid - Talk [2019]

Despite not being the most creative or interesting artist out there Khalid is remarkably versatile, he can work in pop, EDM, R&B, and even country. Here his voice turned out to be a surprisingly perfect accompaniment to Disclosure's production and we ended up with the defining hit of the summer.

 

79 Tove Lo - Habits (Stay High) [2014]

In general I don't care for Tove Lo and I can't understand why people praise songs like Cool Girl to the high heavens when they're like a 5/10 at best. However on this song she kinda had something unique, I mean the message of getting high to numb emotional pain is nothing new, but the way she expressed it with such honest and revealing imagery really drew me in. Then she went down the overly sexualized route like any other popstar and I lost interest.

 

78 Shura - Religion (You Can Lay Your Hands on Me) [2019]

Iconic video and great song to match! Shura really has something interesting, I hope she sticks around at least in critics circles.

 

77 Tegan & Sara - Closer [2013]

An 80s inspired bop that manages to sound both current and throwback at the same time. The video is so cute, I remember when VH1 gave exposure to great new artists like this (well, new to the mainstream at least).

 

76 Linkin Park - Waiting for the End [2011]

This song sounds different from anything Linkin Park had done before, so I can see why it turned some fans off. However if anything it kinda reminds me of Muse's Starlight, that grand, sweeping, rock anthem that takes the band to a whole new level. They might not exactly have achieved that but if you ask me this was their best song since Leave Out All the Rest or maybe even Numb. (RIP Chester )

 

 

 

By the way, if anyone cares about this data...

 

 

Songs by year:
2010	13
2011	5
2012	9
2013	16
2014	12
2015	11
2016	9
2017	6
2018	8
2019	11

Edited January 2, 2020 by potent

[Remmy]

Wake Me Up, Things We Lost in the Fire, Someone You Loved, Here  Rather Be, Pray to God, Rather Be, Without a Blush, Talk, Habits, religion  The 2019 selections are very strong so far yup! Yeah I'd say Thrift Shop is still nice. Don't really care for Tegan & Sara but they really struck gold with Closer, just gave it a relisten earlier today as well.  Night Changes  Probably 1D's best song. I'd definitely recommend listening to FOUR & Made In the A.M. (assuming you haven't already?) because they have similarly mature/chill tracks on both.

[Green]

Night Changes is amazing   Great to see it here 

 

You Say, Only Love Can Hurt Like This, Waiting for the End, Habits (Stay High), Someone You Loved, Midnight City, Shotgun are also some of my favorites of the decade too   

[ARTPØP]

Rather Be, Pray To God, Thrift Shop, The High Road, You Say, Here, Habits, Closer 

 

Lovin your list so far ! 

[JGibson]

Waiting For The End + Closer + Habits (Stay High) + Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings) + Someone You Loved + You Say + Midnight City + Shotgun + The High Road + Thrift Shop + Try + Hearts Like Ours 

[Brandon]

 

ℝ????? ??,??? ???,???????,??????? ??? ?????,ℍ????? & ???? 

[Mr. Loco]

Thrift shop & Wake me up 

[jose168]

Ti Amo is a BANGER.

 

Cellophane, Habits and Closer

 

I think I dig the linkin park track too. (RIP)

[kelly-clarkson]

Here it's amazing

I agree about Alessia. At the start of her career she was so interesting as an artist but she became something different. I'm not sure if it's so bad. But her new album didn't catch my attention tbh.

[Legend E]

Pray To God ( ) , Only Love Can Hurt Like This, You Say, Closer, Habits  

 

[Spartak92]

Rather Be, Bloody Mary, Things We Lost In The Fire

[potent]

Singles 75-51

 

75 Aurora – The River [2019]

She’s so underrated, you really need to give her a chance if you don’t know her.

 

74 Christina Perri – A Thousand Years [2011]

I honestly don’t care much for Christina Perri, her songwriting and vocals are so basic and cliche but ATRL will praise her songs while trashing similar music by artists like John Legend and Ed Sheeran just because they’re male. Nonetheless I have to admit that this is a very beautiful song, there’s something about the simplicity of the lyrics combined with the stripped down production that actually works here.

 

73 Red Hearse – Half Love [2019]

At first I thought this would be a random Jack Antonoff side project that just came and went, and maybe it is but this song is surprisingly addictive. It just took one listen for me to get hooked.

 

72 Kings of Leon – Waste a Moment [2016]

Kings of Leon abandoned their grittier southern rock influences for a more straightforward alternative pop sound and it surprisingly worked so well. This song should’ve been a crossover hit.

 

71 Foo Fighters – Walk [2011]

One of the few 90s artists still making it to my decade end list. I’ve never been the closest fan of the Foo Fighters, but I can appreciate when they make good music. This song starts out on a slow and thoughtful note but builds to a heavy rocking climax that makes it come alive. The video is hilarious too.

 

70 Kodaline – Honest [2015]

If you like The Script I really encourage you to check these guys out, because their musical styles are very similar but in my opinion Kodaline sell the emotional delivery way better. Just listen to this song, you can feel the pain in his voice.

 

69 Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks [2012]

2012 wasn’t the best year of music this decade, but just because your favorite pop girls weren’t releasing doesn’t mean everything in mainstream music was terrible. Take this song for example, even if it’s not part of your taste you have to admit it was fresh and interesting compared to the generic dance pop of the previous years. Sadly they were destined to be a one-hit wonder but they’re still releasing and delivering quality imo.

 

68 Imagine Dragons – It’s Time [2012]

Eight years later and Imagine Dragons have yet to top the bar they set with their debut single. Well actually they have a few album tracks that might be better (Amsterdam, Polaroid, I’m So Sorry), but this is their best single. I really like the hopeful mood it creates with the uplifting lyrics and mandolin accompaniment.

 

67 Vance Joy – Riptide [2013]

Despite being a simple, almost paint by numbers indie folk song there’s something I just like so much about this. Maybe it’s the carefree feeling combined with the acoustic strumming that draws me in, I’m not sure what it’s about tbh but it sounds hopeful.

 

66 MGMT – Little Dark Age [2017]

After a decade of trying to recreate the magic they had with their debut album I think MGMT finally got it right. This was the perfect choice for a lead single, it has the catchy hooks they’re known for combined with an appropriately darker sound.

 

65 Bleachers – I Wanna Get Better [2014]

Jack’s never been the strongest vocalist but his lyrics and production are always on point. On his debut single as Bleachers he was fearless in both regards, and what we got was this crazy anthemic track that you really would want to scream on the overpass.

 

64 Mike Posner – I Took a Pill in Ibiza [2016]

It’s funny how a song about being forgotten gave Mike Posner his biggest hit, and then immediately after he went back to being forgotten all over again. Some people didn’t like the remix but apart from being insanely catchy I think it actually captures the spirit of the song better than the acoustic version, he felt empty inside so he turned to drinking and partying to cover it up.

 

63 Kygo & Whitney Houston – Higher Love [2019]

Even in 2019 Whitney’s putting your faves to shame!

 

62 LIGHTS – Up We Go [2014]

While it might be more mainstream than some of LIGHTS’ other stuff, this is possibly one of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard, I can’t get enough of it. The production glides along so effortlessly and the chorus is so bright and happy you just can’t help but feel optimistic listening to it.

 

61 Foster the People – Houdini [2012]

This is so much better than Pumped Up Kicks!!!

 

60 Eminem – Love the Way You Lie (feat. Rihanna) [2010]

I don’t really check for Eminem anymore but throughout his career he’s definitely released some great singles. This particular one was clearly intended to be a safe bet for a hit, but unlike The Monster it’s actually a great song as well. There are some really clever lyrics and rhymes (“now I have to see her leave out the window, guess that’s why they call it window pain” is my favorite), and Rihanna delivers the soft yet impassioned performance that makes the chorus come to life.

 

59 Cold War Kids – First [2015]

Even when Cold War Kids go for the more straightforward alt rock anthems they still have these strong soulful vocals that make it unique. I’m not sure if this is as good as their magnum opus Hang Me Up to Dry, but it’s definitely up there.

 

58 Rihanna – Stay (feat. Mikky Ekko) [2013]

I was going back and forth between this and Kiss It Better, but in the end I decided this one had more impact on me throughout the decade. Rihanna may not be a Beyonce or Xtina-tier vocalist but she has the emotional delivery that many more technically skilled singers lack. Mikky Ekko did a great job too, maybe I should check his solo music.

 

57 James Bay – Let It Go [2015]

Back in 2015 I preferred Hold Back the River and so naturally I was annoyed when this song took all the attention instead. However I came to realize that neither one is really better than the other, they’re just different. While HBTR is a more instant love this one is a slow burner that takes quite a while to grow on you until you can finally appreciate its magic.

 

56 Glass Animals – Agnes [2017]

I thought this song would end up a lot higher tbh, but I think it’s lacking a little bit of the catchiness factor, not every song has to be catchy upbeat hook after hook but this one just doesn’t stick in my head as well as I would like. What it does have going for it though is lyrics, production, and emotional delivery, it’s just heart wrenching to hear especially if you’ve ever witnessed the downward spiral of a loved one due to substance abuse.

 

55 Fun – Some Nights [2012]

Here’s Jack Antonoff in his third incarnation of this set lol. No but really I think Fun had the best of both worlds, Nate’s versatile vocals along with Jack’s production and lyrics. For a while I might have preferred We Are Young but this one is really their magnum opus, they threw everything at us, the introspective cryptic lyrics, the huge soaring chorus, the slow reminiscent bridge with the random autotune… not precisely everything worked, but I think they came up with a product that will last the test of time.

 

54 The 1975 – Chocolate [2013]

I don’t know what happened with me and The 1975, I used to stan them but I think they’ve just become a little too pretentious for my taste especially with that horrible Love It If We Made It song (don’t @ me). Back then they were experts at crafting perfectly catchy indie pop hooks and Matty’s unique vocals gave it a special touch without going over the top.

 

53 Marshmello & Bastille – Happier [2018]

I don’t know why Marshmello is getting so much hate lately, maybe his productions all sound the same but couldn’t you say that of basically any mainstream DJ out there? At least he tries to experiment with different genres and give deserving bands a moment in the spotlight. Well the whole Chris Brown and Tyga thing was messy but this is still a great song so don’t hold it against me. I really appreciate the lyrical perspective because it’s not many songs you hear about loving someone enough to let them go.

 

52 Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake – Love Never Felt So Good [2014]

Another posthumous release makes it to this countdown. I can see why people have mixed feelings about posthumous projects, but this song was just too good to go unreleased. It’s so effortlessly happy and upbeat and JT was actually the perfect addition.

 

51 Beck – Heart is a Drum [2014]

This song was originally higher but I made some last minute edits. Don’t get me wrong it’s a great song, but it just got overshadowed by some of the other picks. Anyway this song is honestly unlike anything else on my countdown, the delicate folk sound conjures this imagery of an isolated forest on a bright fall day, laying in a pile of leaves and reminiscing on life.

Edited January 3, 2020 by potent

[potent]

On 1/1/2020 at 5:36 PM, Remmy said:

I'd definitely recommend listening to FOUR & Made In the A.M. (assuming you haven't already?) because they have similarly mature/chill tracks on both.

 

I haven't listened to them, but I didn't really like the other singles apart from a little bit of Perfect. Maybe I'll give them a chance though.

 

11 hours ago, jose168 said:

Ti Amo is a BANGER.

 

Cellophane, Habits and Closer

 

I think I dig the linkin park track too. (RIP)

 

Ti Amo getting some love

 

4 hours ago, kelly-clarkson said:

Here it's amazing

I agree about Alessia. At the start of her career she was so interesting as an artist but she became something different. I'm not sure if it's so bad. But her new album didn't catch my attention tbh.

 

I always end up hearing new singles of hers because pop radio still plays her a fair amount, but the last one I really liked was Wild Things tbh. Rooting for You was okay though.

[Kiss It Better]

stay was from 2012 not 2016 

Habits, Talk, Rather Be, Edge of Glory, WYWH 

[potent]

14 minutes ago, Kiss It Better said:

stay was from 2012 not 2016 

Habits, Talk, Rather Be, Edge of Glory, WYWH 

that’s because I originally had Kiss It Better and I forgot to edit the year  

[JGibson]

Happier + Some Nights + Chocolate + Let It Go + First + Stay + Love The Way You Lie + Houdini + Up We Go + I Wanna Get Better + It's Time + Riptide + Walk + A Thousand Years + Waste A Moment + Little Talks