The greatest pop songs of the 2010s (2024)

The greatest pop songs of the 2010s

Gotye

Number one has to be "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye and Kimbra. The song won two Grammys, was covered countless times, and has been played endlessly on the radio. That said, I can't help but sing along whenever I hear it.

Hozier

The song that started it all, "Take Me to Church," was just the tip of the iceberg for Hozier. It was the most-streamed song of the year in 2014 and has had a huge influence on today's music. Hozier forever!

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Miley Cyrus stopped the world with "Wrecking Ball" in 2013. Evidently, the song was originally written for Beyoncé?! Can you even imagine? This song was always meant for Miley!

DNCE

DNCE was having a moment in the 2010s. Their music is so fun, and "Cake By the Ocean" was "Song of the Summer" material if you ask me. I seriously hope they come out with another album!

Tove Lo

Tove Lo is in a league all her own. I was obsessed with "Habits (Stay High)" and just about every other song she's put out since. When you think of the soundtrack of the 2010s, Tove Lo definitely made her mark on the decade.

Taylor Swift

This song had the whole world asking, "Who hurt you, Taylor?" Paired with a bađass Grammy Award-winning music video with Taylor's "squad" and a Kendrick Lamar feature, this track goes so hard.

Billie Eilish

Bringing in the tail end of the 2010s with Billie Eilish and "when the party's over!" The song is truly a beautiful work of art and incredibly raw, given the lack of instruments involved. This standout track made us all know the name Billie Eilish.

OneRepublic

You couldn't get this song out of your head, could you? Neither could I! At this point, I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not. "Counting Stars" was one of OneRepublic's most successful songs next to "Apologize" (which honestly should've been on my "best pop songs of the 2000s" list).

Sia

How I had no idea that this song was written for The Hunger Games:Catching Fire soundtrack, I'll never know. I will list "Chandelier" as an honorable mention based solely on how overplayed it was, but "Elastic Heart" is just better, in my opinion. To clarify, the song, not the music video, is better. I have no idea what was going on there.

Carly Rae Jepsen

"Call Me Maybe" was the song of the year in 2012, for sure. That song was like an infectious disease, but, you know, in a fun bubblegum-poppy kind of way. While Carly's had some bops since then, I don't think anything will top this song's level of popularity.

Adele

You just had to have been there when "Rolling in the Deep" was ruling the charts. It was so good that people bought her debut album, 19, from 2008 and 21, which featured the song as its lead single. There was some kind of magic in the air when Adele became an international success in 2010.

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While she had some bangers with her Femme Fatale album in 2011, "Work B**ch," released in 2013, was the best Britney song of the 2010s for obvious reasons. Though technically of the EDM genre, I'll make an exception for the "Princess of Pop."

Ariana Grande

Closing out the decade with one of Ariana's best songs and most memorable music videos, "Thank U, Next," was a revelation. With such an iconic song, along with an even more iconic music video featuring some of our favorite rom-coms, it should come as no surprise that the song ranked on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

Katy Perry

"California Gurls" and the album Teenage Dream were absolutely irresistible. I was so excited to own this album. This song had everything: catchy lyrics, a sick beat, and, most importantly, Snoop Dogg. At the height of her power, let's just say I was a full-on fan.

Rihanna

Rihanna started the 2010s off right with her fifth album, Loud, and the lead single, "Only Girl (In the World)." Who could possibly forget her red-hair era? With so many great songs on the album, choosing just one is difficult, so I went with the one that earned Rihanna another Grammy.

Kesha

Before TikTok, there was "TiK ToK." Did that make any sense? Kesha set the tone for pop music in the 2010s. Sure, the single was released toward the end of 2009, but its impact on the decade still stands!

LMFAO

Do we rememberLMFAO? Is it still too soon? I don't know what we were all on in 2011, but these guys were insanely popular at the time, and we couldn't get enough. At least for a few years until they stopped making music. Blast "Party Rock Anthem" for old times' sake!

The Black Eyed Peas

"Imma Be" by The Black Eyed Peas is still that jam, and you can bet that I remember all of the words. This song belongs on any 2010s party playlist or, you know, a party playlist of any kind.

Fun

The lead single "We Are Young" from Fun's second album, Some Nights, essentially put the band on the map. They had a few really great songs, and then they kind of fell off and started pursuing other projects, but this song helped define pop music of the decade.

Lady Gaga

Though "Born This Way" was compared to the likes of Madonna's "Express Yourself," let's be real: Lady Gaga is an original. Not only is it one of the most successful singles of all time, but it's empowering as hell — 10/10 for this 2011 pop anthem.

Lorde

I'm going to be honest. I wasn't really on board with "Royals" at first, but I've come to respect Lorde's artistry and this song's impact on music. Her debut single was an international hit, winning two Grammys, and is considered one of her best songs ever.

Charli XCX

Originally recorded for The Fault in Our Stars' soundtrack, "Boom Clap" was everywhere in 2014. It made Charli XCX a household name and made me a fan for life. Also, her 2018 song "1999" deserves an honorable mention, along with the music video for basically being a love song to the nineties.

Robyn

Robyn's "Dancing On My Own" has to be one of the only songs you can cry and dance to at the same time, and I love it. It's been ranked as one of the greatest songs of the decade by numerous critics and publications, and for good reason.

Disclosure, Sam Smith

I wish I could go back in time and hear "Latch" again for the first time. The track made me a fan of both Disclosure and Sam Smith. I hope they decide to record again together, because twice (after "Omen") is not enough!

Beyonce

This was one of the toughest decisions because, as we all know, Beyoncé has been dominating the game forever. Between 4 in 2011, Beyoncéin 2013, and Lemonadein 2016, how is a person supposed to choose? Having won two Grammys, "Drunk in Love" is a top contender, especially with that Dubai riff.

Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding brought something a little different to pop music with her delicate tone and folky sound, which I don't think anyone quite expected. "Lights" is one of Ellie's most popular songs and actually had a bit of a revival on TikTok in 2022 because good music never really goes away.

Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars

I still don't know if I've recovered from its radio overplay, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars. The Grammy-winning single is both Mark Ronson's and Bruno Mars' most popular song to date — and a Guinness World Records inductee.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis really shined in 2012 with "Thrift Shop." I have only the best memories of listening to this song with my friends. It might have actually made thrift shopping cool again.

Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa's reign in pop music began in 2017 with this hit, at least to me. "New Rules" and her self-titled debut album still rule, and she keeps getting better and better.

Psy

You know I had to include it. One of the biggest K-pop songs to go viral and become a cultural phenomenon, Psy's "Gangnam Style" was like nothing we had seen before. But like all hot dance crazes, it ran its course, and we all forgot about it... until now! Oppa Gangnam Style!