10) "Shallow" Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
A Star Is Born become an American phenomenon once we realized the movie lived up to the hype. A part of the hype was the release of "Shallow" which is the odds-on favorite to win the Academy Award for Best Song. The song premieres decently early in the movie and is the first big moment where the film really sinks its claws into you and never lets you go (despite the second half of the film). There's a reason the song has gained radio play, because of how good it is.
9) "Money" Cardi B
I'm not the biggest fan of Cardi B's music (although I'm a big fan of persona) and I like "Bodak Yellow" and "I Like It" just fine, but something about this hook of I was born to flex / Diamonds on my neck / I like boarding jets / I like morning sex / But nothing in this world / that I like more than checks that really got me hooked (pun intended). Especially after her epic IRS rant.
8) "& Run" Sir Sly
Every time I hear a song I enjoy, I place it on a list in my phone. This song happened to be on my list, and I was about to delete before I began writing this blog post. Then I started playing the music video of the song on YouTube and now it's been playing on a loop while I finish this post. That driving snare beat combined with the zig zag trill after the chorus (and to start the song) gets me every time.
Taylor Swift has an an off 18-months, relatively speaking. Her 2017 album Reputation failed to hit #1 on Billboard and while the album's first single "Look What You Made Me Do" did hit #1 in the summer of 2017, it swiftly was replaced by the aforementioned Cardi B and "Bodak Yellow" and never failed to come close to challenging the instant hip hop classic. It felt like Swift sheepishly released "Delicate" early in 2018, but also seems to be song that stuck around from the album as it spent 35 weeks in the Billboard Top 100. The song still gets airplay and also still stays on my radio when I'm driving, which is actually high praise that I'm willing to listen to a pop song for about 8 months now.
6) "Say Something" Justin Timberlake f/ Chris Stapleton
Speaking of prolific and great pop artists who released bad albums, Justin Timberlake dropped "Man of the Woods" in 2018, a plodding country-style album that made for a disappointing live show. Despite all the negativity, that didn't stop me from belting this song at the top of my lungs- much to the dismay of my wife and the lovely girls seated on the other side of me. I love "Say Something" and think it's one of JT's best singles.
5) "New Rules" Dua Lipa
I always have room for the best female driven pop song of the year, like in year's past with Sia, Tove Lo, or Selena Gomez. This year's honor goes to Dua Lipa's hit song "New Rules".
4) "Africa" Weezer
Sometimes the Internet can be a great place, like when Twitter bullies Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo into remaking Toto's classic "Africa". Even though this song is basically the same as the original, by having Weezer do this version, it sounds fresh and awesome.
3) "No Roots" Alice Merton
You ever hear a song so good on the radio that you have to Shazam it while you're driving and almost get into an accident. This is what it was like when I first heard this thumping rock song Alive Merton.
2) "Body Talks" The Struts
Some songs just fucking rock. This is one of them. Enough said.
1b) "Feels Like Summer" Childish Gambino
1a) "This Is America" Childish Gambino
Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) owned 2018. The second season of his hit show Atlanta was the best show and had the best episode of the year, he had the stand out performance in Solo: A Star Wars Story, and he was nominated for a buttload of Grammy's including Record and Album of the Year. He got to host SNL as Donald Glover and perform as the musical guest as Childish Gambino. That night he released his indelible musical video for "This Is America". Rightfully so, it blew up the internet, which is why it's the #1 song of the year. That being said, my favorite single Childish Gambino released in 2018 is "Feels Like Summer". It's like a slow, chill song to drive around in when it's 90 degrees and you're crusin' with the windows rolled down. Either way, Childish Gambino had the best song of 2018.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SONG OF 2018? WHAT DID WE GET WRONG? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
