The 26 Best Songs of 2018
The best pop, rap, R&B, and country tunes to put in your ears.
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Ariana's love anthems. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper making surprisingly sweet music together. Cardi B dominating the charts. A surprise album drop from Beyoncé and Jay-Z. If you can say one good thing about 2018, it's that the songs were fire. Here are the 26 best of the year so far.
"Girls Like You," Maroon 5
On the surface, Maroon 5's "Girls Like You" is a simple, cute bop you can sway to and sing in the mirror. Then, Cardi B's blistering verse happens and suddenly you're crouched down rapping, "You don't want a girl like me, I'm too crazy/But every other girl you meet is fugazi," "okurrrt's" and all.
Maroon 5, Red Pill Blues; Amazon
"Boo'd Up," Ella Mai
Have you ever had one of those pinch-me-I'm-dreaming love moments? Yeah, me neither. But Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up," the song you couldn't escape this summer, perfectly captures what happens when you meet a guy who you fall head over heels for. "Feeling, like I'm touching the ceiling/ When I'm with you I can't breathe/Boy you do something to me," Ella sings. Makes you wanna get boo'd up, right?
Ella Mai, "Boo'd Up"; Amazon
"This Is America," Childish Gambino
This year has been a never-ending emotional rollercoaster, to say the least, and Childish Gambino's "This Is America" couldn't have arrived at a better time. "This Is America" is Gambino's four-minute reminder of what it means to be black in America. At one point in the accompanying visual, an unknown figure is killed, but that moment is quickly forgotten when a bunch of kids steal the spotlight by dancing. This specific moment represents how easy it is for the public to forget about the deaths of black people because something else always takes precedence.
Childish Gambino, "This Is America"; Amazon
"Chun-Li," Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj returned to hip-hop this summer on a mission to reclaim her throne and her catchy single "Chun-Li" was just the ammo she needed. Featuring a flurry of slick bars and her animated flow, "Chun-Li" silenced the naysayers by sending out a few warnings. "They painted me out to be the bad guy/ When's the last time you gonna see a bad guy do the rap game like me?"
Nicki Minaj, Queen; Amazon
"Never Be The Same," Camila Cabello
If you're a sucker for a good love song, Camila Cabello's "Never Be The Same" should be added to your music library, stat! The song finds Camila reminiscing about a lover, as she describes what falling so deeply in love with someone feels like--and how she hasn't been the same since.
Camila Cabello, Camila; Amazon
"Nice," The Carters
It's The Carters' world, and we're just living in it. Over Pharrell's bubbly, off-kilter beat, Jay-Z and Beyoncé take aim at their critics: "Patiently waiting for my demise / 'Cause my success can't be quantified / If I gave two fucks, two fucks about streaming numbers / Would have put Lemonade up on Spotify." Boom.
The Carters, Everything Is Love; Amazon
"Lost In Japan," Shawn Mendes
At first listen, Mendes' "Lost In Japan" sounds like a sweet serenade for a special someone, with lyrics like, "I was hoping I could get lost in your paradise / The only thing I'm thinking 'bout is you and I / And I can't get you off my mind." But the song was actually inspired by Justin Timberlake and a weird dream about getting lost.
Shawn Mendes, Shawn Mendes; Amazon
"Call Out My Name," The Weeknd
The Weeknd's surprise album My Dear Melancholy found the singer in a dark and emotional state. "Call Out My Name" seemed to point to his former relationship with Selena Gomez and sparked conversations about whether he almost donated one of his kidneys to save the singer. Whether that's true or not, the moody track captured what it's like to be totally lovelorn.
The Weeknd, My Dear Melancholy; Amazon
"No Tears Left To Cry," Ariana Grande
Following the tragedy that struck her Manchester concert last year, Grande returned in April with comeback single "No Tears Left to Cry"—a shimmering, upbeat triumph that proves the singer is ready for a new stage in her life.
Ariana Grande, Sweetener; Amazon
"What I Need," Hayley Kiyoko
The video for "What I Need" begins with Kehlani arguing with a woman who doesn't approve of Kehlani's relationship with Hayley Kiyoko—"Lesbian Jesus" to her beloved fans. The duo escape on a road trip that's as free as they want to feel. Kiyoko's lyrics also speak of liberation and not wanting to hide her sexuality: "I only want a girl who ain't afraid to love me / Not a metaphor of what we really could be / Oh, I ain't putting on a show," she sings.
Hayley Kiyoko, Expectations; Amazon
"Love Lies," Khalid & Normani
Shedding the skin of her former girl-group Fifth Harmony—though perhaps only indefinitely, given their announcement of a “hiatus”—Normani Kordei has seized her time to shine. For her solo introduction, Normani united with friend and R&B sensation Khalid for the steamy slow-burner “Love Lies,” from the Love, Simon soundtrack.
Khalid & Normani, Love, Simon Soundtrack; Amazon
"'Til It's Over," Anderson .Paak
It’s been a little while since Anderson .Paak last gifted us music but in March, he returned with his newest single “'Til It’s Over” and a dizzying visual accompaniment, which also doubled as the commercial for Apple’s new Home Pod. .Paak's husky, soulful voice spills over shimmering keys and a funk-driven beat so smoothly, you’re basically forced to dance around your apartment à la FKA Twigs.
Anderson .Paak, "'Til It's Over"; Amazon
“Slow Burn,” Kacey Musgraves
Musgraves' "Slow Burn" is a warm, ethereal ballad that floats atop mellow, folk-rock guitar and the singer's coo. The song, from her hit album Golden Hour, pays tribute to taking life at her own pace, no matter how fast everyone else is moving: "'Cause I'm alright with a slow burn / Taking my time, let the world turn / I'm gonna do it my way, it'll be alright."
Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour; Amazon
"Best Life," Cardi B ft. Chance the Rapper
In April, Cardi B finally unleashed her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, which was ripe with cuts about everything from heartbreak to (huge, huge) success. On “Best Life,” Cardi basks in her triumph, boldly declaring she’s a hybrid of The Notorious B.I.G and Tupac, and enlists Chance the Rapper to drizzle the breezy, sun-kissed tune with his melodic flow.
Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy; Amazon
“Make Me Feel,” Janelle Monáe
You can't help but think of Prince when listening to Janelle Monáe's "Make Me Feel." The pop-leaning, groovy track off Monae's upcoming album Dirty Computer (April 27), feels like a modern-day salute to "Kiss"; it features spacey '80s synths and a funky bassline that can make you feel summer-ready even when if it's 39 degrees outside.
Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer; Amazon
“Karma,” BELLSAINT
BELLSAINT created "Karma" after dealing with a bully in the industry. "Reputation is / Not an easy fix / You won’t make it out alive / Seems like we’re heading for a showdown / There’s no room for both of us in this town," she warns in her soft warble. It's a low-key anthem that dovetails with the #MeToo movement.
BELLSAINT, BELLSAINT; Amazon
"Nice For What," Drake
After remaining relatively quiet in 2017, music-wise, Drake kicked off 2018 with his Scary Hours EP—but had a lot more in store for fans. "Nice For What" parachuted into April with an accompanying visual celebrating women; Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross, Olivia Wilde, and Tiffany Haddish were just a few of the powerhouses featured. The New Orleans bounce–influenced track starts off with a message from Big Freedia: "I wanna know who motherf**kin' representin' in here tonight." Just you try to stop dancing.
Drake, "Nice For What"; Amazon
“Not Discuss It,” St. Beauty
If glitter had a sound, it might be something like the lush, glistening voices of St. Beauty's Alexe Belle and Isis Valentino. The Atlanta-bred duo's single "Not Discuss It" injects the infectious trap aesthetic of Atlanta into a laid-back tune about making love instead of war.
St. Beauty, Running to the Sun; Amazon
“Figures (Reprise),” Jessie Reyez ft. Daniel Caesar
Jessie Reyez struck a winner by recruiting fellow Canadian Daniel Caesar for a soulful remix of her breakout hit "Figures." Caesar's rich, honeyed sound is the perfect companion for Reyez's powerful rasp. Could a bigger collaborative project be on the horizon? Fingers crossed.
Jessie Reyez, Kiddo; Amazon
“If You Leave Me Now,” Charlie Puth ft. Boyz II Men
Charlie Puth's new album VoiceNotes featured a star-studded bill but the stand-out track was the shiver-inducing ballad "If You Leave Me Now," featuring legendary soul group Boyz II Men. The acapella arrangement gives ample room to Puth's falsetto, Wanya Morris' rich vocals runs, and sweet harmonizing from Shawn Stockman and Nathan Morris.
Charlie Puth, VoiceNotes; Amazon
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