Another year is coming to an end but, thankfully, we have the memories of music to transport us back in time.
It’s been a year of highs and lows across the pop world, Ariana Grande is now the worlds most streamed artist, Cardi B and Nicki Minaj’s feud began, Beyoncé’s performance at Coachella was critically acclaimed, Kanye embraced Trump, the Spice Girls announced their first tour in ten years, Ed Sheeran earned more money on tour than any other artist in 30 years and the world lost the legendary Aretha Franklin.
We’re days away from the end of 2018 but let’s take a minute to remember the best and worst songs of 2018:
The Best:
10. George Ezra – ‘Shotgun’
The feel-good song of the summer, ‘Shotgun’ was George Ezra’s first number one in Ireland.
9. Calvin Harris & Sam Smith – ‘Promises’
The first of two Calvin Harris collabs on the list, Smith’s falsetto magically blends with dance records and we haven’t seen this side to him since working his Disclosure days at the start of his career.
8. Cardi B – ‘I Like It’
The viral star of 2018, Cardi B proved she’s no one trick pony with the release of her debut album Invasion of Privacy.
7. Childish Gambino – ‘This is America’
The most talked about song of 2018, ‘This is America’ introduces us to Glover’s new politically charged sound.
6. Dua Lipa – ‘One Kiss’
Fast becoming the world’s most popular female artist, Dua Lipa’s ‘One Kiss’ continued the glorious sound of her debut album.
5. Drake – ‘God’s Plan’
The artist with the longest stint of number ones in 2018, any of Drake’s songs from Scorpion could have featured on our top ten list of songs.
4. Robyn – ‘Missing U’
Eight years since her last album, Robyn went viral when she released ‘Missing U’, an ode to lost love and her electropop sound.
3. Lizzo – ‘Boys’
An unknown to many, the Minnesota singers ‘Boys’ comes off the back of her infectious 2016 single ‘Good as Hell’. The singer will appear at a number of European festivals in 2019 so keep your ears peeled.
2. Ariana Grande – ‘thank u, next’
After releasing Sweetener in 2018, her fourth album, Grande revealed 2018 was the most successful year of her life and, privately, the hardest. After the death of Mac Miller and public breakup from Pete Davidson, Grande’s ‘thank u, next’ became her last dance with 2018 and broke the record for being the most streamed music video in 24 hours.
1. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – ‘Shallow’
While Grande nearly tipped the post, Gaga and Cooper’s duet stole the hearts of viewers across the world and made the A Star Is Born soundtrack shoot to number one in over 15 countries.
The Worst:
5. Justin Timberlake – ‘Supplies’
Timberlake’s latest album Man of the Woods, failed to set the world on fire.
4. Cheryl Cole – ‘Love Made Me Do It’
After a five year hiatus, Cheryl’s comeback single failed to reach the top ten and her performance on The X Factor was panned by viewers.
3. Charli XCX – ‘1999’
Not even Troye Sivan and that music video could save the earworm that was ‘1999’.
2. Maroon 5 – ‘Three Little Birds’
Not only did listeners hate Maroon 5’s version of this Bob Marley classic, but it was also played during every World Cup ad.
1. Baby Shark
No song in 2018 managed to be as irritatingly infectious as ‘Baby Shark’.
