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This track is the perfect execution of the way Harry Styles wished to be perceived as a solo artist. The melody floats along atop a prominent bassline, but the vigor in his voice juxtaposes perfectly.

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This is one of the most uplifting songs you’re ever going to hear, ever. And that chorus is truly one of the greats – instantly familiar.

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The Batballad! Seal’s iconic hit is one of the greatest pop arrangements of the 1990s and beyond. And while it sounds like a snapshot in time, it also sounds timeless.

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This track is a cornerstone of new wave’s pop-infiltration. Joe Jackson’s plunky, angsty anthem is melodic without losing its rebellious cool.

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Aretha is the Queen, and despite her many hits during this timespan, the title track to her seminal 80s album was the best one (sorry not sorry) Her voice is always perfect, but the vocal arrangement on this a marvel! And that bassline? Subtle, but totally underrated.

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This melody is insanely effortless – to the point this could have been a country song, an electro bop, or a stadium rock anthem if SZA wanted it to be.

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Luther…hands down one of the greatest vocals in all of R&B. Despite his many career highlights, he rarely dipped his toe into fully fleshed-out pop music. “Never Too Much” was built for the radio, the dance floor, and generations-worth of love.

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A karaoke standard. A butt of several many jokes. A hetero love song that’s a gay anthem? It’s sheer existence is pure camp, but neither Elton nor Kiki have ever made any bones about it.

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The first time Whitney showed us she could also make us dance also remains one of her vocal achievements. “How Will I Know” is not an easy song to sing, but she makes it sound so effortless that this beautiful melody and arrangement get to shine on their own.

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One of the greatest boy band hits of all time, not just the last 50 years. Take That’s sublime ballad has one of the simplest, but most effective hooks you’ll ever hear.

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