#10 Fetty Wap, "Trap Queen"
Upon first listen, I was prepared to hate "Trap Queen," since at first glance, Fetty Wap appears to have little to distinguish himself from the glut of new rappers to arise in the past few years, apart from the fact that he only has one eye. Yet somehow, against all appearances, it manages to be a fantastic slice of pop-rap. Fetty Wap's distinctive voice and sing-rap style enable him to give the chorus actual melody, which puts him miles ahead of contemporaries like Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan. It's both singable and danceable, cementing its pop appeal. The only downside is that its inherent weirdness feels so very much like a one-hit wonder, despite the fact that Fetty Wap had two more hits before the end of the year.
#9 Selena Gomez feat. A$AP Rocky, "Good For You"
I've always been a closet fan of Selena Gomez's early single "Naturally," a fantastically propulsive teen-pop gem, but she's never really been able to impress me since then, with her singles being either unmemorable or sloppily produced. And then came "Good For You," the moment where Selena redefined herself as an adult pop artist. The lush production creates an icy, sexy atmosphere, while Selena, rather than overexerting her voice, keeps herself restrained to an Ariana Grande-esque purr. Even A$AP Rocky keeps things (relatively) classy, being just as in adoration of her as she is of him.
#8 Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, "Time of Our Lives"
The rent is due tomorrow, and there's no way you'll be able to make it. You're facing eviction, you've got no way out... so you say fuck it, take all your money to the club, and enjoy it while you can. At last that's what you do if you're Pitbull and Ne-Yo in "Time of Our Lives." Dispensing with his usual brand of bragging glam-rap, Pitbull plays the role of the common man clubbing to forget his troubles. It's by thinking small-scale that Mr. Worldwide scores his most universal song.
#7. Jason Derulo, "Want to Want Me"
It's quite frankly astounding that Jason Derulo made a single this good. The production is propelled by a bouncing bassline, accented by stings of pop guitar on the chorus. Lyrically, Derulo sticks to what he knows - sex - but in a way that actually doesn't make him look like an ass (for once). Will he ever have another single this good? Probably not, but such is life.
#6. Major Lazer feat. DJ Snake & MØ, "Lean On"
In which the British trio behind the overly sexed "Bubble Butt" and the French DJ behind the EDM party explosion "Turn Down For What" release the tightest, slinkiest club jam of the year. With Swedish pop singer MØ on vocals, "Lean On" rides its tense, undulating bass and synth lines with an unusual sense of restraint, building to DJ Snake's slick, warbling solo.
#5. The Weeknd, "Can't Feel My Face"
After years in the underground building his reputation with dark, sexual R&B, The Weeknd cemented his rise to stardom with an unabashedly pop instant classic. Invoking Michael Jackson more than a bit, the slow-burn first verse builds to a chorus of thudding beats and funk bass, never letting up. Is it about a woman? Is it about cocaine? Whatever it's about, it's a piece of dance-floor nirvana.
#4 Hailee Steinfeld, "Love Myself"
Actors attempting to start music careers should always be treated with a certain level of suspicion, but Hailee Steinfeld acquits herself fantastically in this pop gem. There's a certain level of cheek necessary in a song about masturbation, and "Love Myself" is both lyrically clever and propulsive enough to make self-love seem like a statement of self-empowerment. And really, who can resist the shouts of "I LOVE ME" on the chorus?
#3 Pitbull feat. Chris Brown, "Fun"
The world can be full of surprises, as evidenced by this collaboration with generally reprehensible human being Chris Brown that winds up being the best song of Pitbull's career. Brown skates across Pitbull's hottest, funkiest latin-flavored dance-floor beat, exhorting the audience to "loosen up your body till you come undone," building to an infectious flute-sample. Is it enough to forgive Chris Brown? Of course not, but it's enough to make one forget his failings for three glorious minutes.
#2 Demi Lovato, "Cool for the Summer"
Demi Lovato has always seemed to lack a real defining persona or identity, and I've never found any of her singles particularly memorable as a result. That might be the reason why "Cool for the Summer" hits the audience like a tidal wave, as Demi reveals her true talent: raw, massive vocal power. Building from a chilled piano hook to a roaring wash of fuzz-guitar, Demi proclaims her summer love for another woman like it's the only thing on Earth that matters. This is what pop can be at its finest: emotionally grand-scale, with a genuine sense that it matters.
1. Walk the Moon, "Shut Up and Dance"
If Walk the Moon never have another hit, it won't even matter; "Shut Up and Dance" is the kind of flawless pop single a band can build its entire legacy on. Propulsive dance beats, washes of guitar and synth, and Nicholas Petricca's soaring, emotive vocals meld into a careening, breakneck drive of a song, packed with more energy than some bands can muster in their entire careers. Its a compulsively danceable, singable piece of dance-rock perfection, and it's the best hit single of 2015.
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