
MY PREROGATIVE
BOBBY BROWN
1988
Not only is this a landmark achievement in new jack swinging, but we love a “no f*cks given” anthem. Maybe Bobby was speaking for himself, but this perfectly translates for rebellious youth…or anyone who wants to dance.

ISLANDS IN THE STREAM
KENNY ROGERS & DOLLY PARTON
1983
Another Gibb-penned hit for not-the-Bee-Gees. But no one could have done “Islands in the Stream” better than these absolute titans of country music. This breezy duet is pop perfection on every level, and remains a timeless highlight for performing artists and songwriters alike.

POISON
BELL BIV DEVOE
1990
Of all the successful New Edition solo careers, it was the offshoot Bell Biv DeVoe that dropped the true bomb. “Poison” is a moment in time, but the reality is that it’s still bumpin today, and everyone loves it just the same.

WALKING ON SUNSHINE
KATRINA & THE WAVES
1985
This is the happiest song ever made, period. It’s the golden retriever of pop music.

BORN THIS WAY
LADY GAGA
2011
The importance of the biggest pop star in the world saying the words “gay…bi, lesbian, transgender” in a pop song cannot be overstated. And not just a pop song, one that radio’s hands were tied in having to play. There were maybe some other questionable adjective choices, but another convo. This is easily in the top 2-3 pride anthems of all time.

WHERE ARE Ü NOW
JACK Ü FT. JUSTIN BIEBER
2015
Everything comes together so flawlessly. Skrillex and Diplo’s superduo Jack Ü was an electro-revelation that didn’t overstay it’s welcome. This collab with Justin Bieber is truly magnificent – the beat is of course astounding, but this is the best melody Justin ever sang.

I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW
TIFFANY
1987
This is the epitome of the teenage pop culture that once was. Tiffany’s career didn’t have the staying power of her successors, but in so many ways she was the blueprint. Her glossy Tommy James & The Shondells cover is just perfection.

MR. BRIGHTSIDE
THE KILLERS
2003
Every millennial straight man’s favorite sing-a-long, we’ve all seen it with our own eyes. But there’s something magical about this song in the way it just unapologetically explodes into melody after melody… the verses are iconic, the bridge is iconic, the chorus is iconic. And that is really hard to pull off.

BLINDING LIGHTS
THE WEEKND
2020
The Weeknd’s whole career felt as though it was building up to this song. There’s an authenticity in the instrumentation and arrangement, but it never feels like a cheap regurgitation. Because it’s like the biggest hit ever, it’s easy to take for granted that when this dropped it sounded like him first and foremost.

WONDERWALL
OASIS
1995
Sorry Noel, you wrote a pop song. “Wonderwall” is so renowned because it’s the melody every songwriter wishes they wrote, and they went ahead of produced it in a way to drive that point home. I wouldn’t say this even makes the list of Oasis’ musical achievements, but it’s no fluke that this is the song everyone knows.











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