
SHE WILL BE LOVED
MAROON 5
2004
Maroon 5’s debut is admittedly a classic full of some great moments, but I’d argue with anyone to the death who thinks “She Will Be Loved” isn’t their best song.

INTO YOU
ARIANA GRANDE
2016
Charts are for farts, but a bop stays on top. “Into You” is simply perfection, no notes.

IT’S MY LIFE
TALK TALK
1989
No Doubt’s 2003 cover was also a huge hit, but hardly did anything up on the original. This is a brilliant song that’s survived generations.

MY HUMPS
THE BLACK EYED PEAS
2005
Earlier spoiler alert. This is the only B.E.P. you’re gonna see. They’ve had many hits, but very few great tracks. “My Humps,” however, is a marvel. Not a lyrical achievement (though please just read the words to “I Gotta Feeling”…), but a production one.

LET’S DANCE
DAVID BOWIE
1983
Bowie is an amorphous figure in music – a rock god, a pop star, a fashion icon, a performance artist. He invented re-invention, setting the blueprint for everyone from Madonna to Gaga. “Let’s Dance” – the crown jewel of his purest pop era – is a Nile Rodgers production and a magnificent call to arms as only David Bowie could instruct.

GOODIES
CIARA FT. PETEY PABLO
2004
Ciara queened the eff all over crunk with “Goodies.” And let’s get real, this sounds even better (gulp) twenty years later.

I WANT TO BREAK FREE
QUEEN
1984
For casting such a profound shadow over pop music, Queen honestly made very little of it. The bouncy “I Want To Break Free” fittingly feels like them just letting go and doing it.

WE DON’T HAVE TO TAKE OUR CLOTHES OFF
JERMAINE STEWART
1986
I dunno who’s drinking cherry wine and leaving their clothes on, but I like your style, Jermaine. This song is an abstinence anthem, but it is such an incredible bop that we won’t hold it against anyone.

WRECKING BALL
MILEY CYRUS
2013
This track is such a juxtaposition to the rest of Miley circa 2013, but that’s definitely part of why it resonated. It’s technically perfect, and her voice is astounding.

I DON’T WANT TO WAIT
PAULA COLE
1997
For many reasons, this song is a snapshot in time, yet it brilliantly captures a much older one (hello… “the war of ’44” …) There are so many hooks and earworms woven into this masterpiece, it doesn’t even need a chorus this big. But we get one anyway.











Leave a comment