60. fun. - We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae) [2012]
6 weeks at #1
Blocked: Justin Bieber - Boyfriend (thank god)
this is the most forced attempt i've heard to create an anthemic-sounding song but i'm not mad at it?? the verses are kinda weird and clunky (especially the first one) but the chorus is UNDENIABLE. i still have no idea where janelle monae is on this song but the fact that she has a #1 is queen shit
59. Lady Gaga - Rain on Me (feat. Ariana Grande) [2020]
1 week at #1
the way this came and WENT lmfao... its good but unremarkable as indicated by its chart run. i am a sucker for anything 90s house so i'm happy this saw success but it's the most basic beat ever. it's ripped from maya jane coles 'what they say' which was also sampled in like 8 other 'hits' (using that term loosely here) including truffle butter by nicki and girls like by tinie tempah/zara larsson. like come up with SOMETHING ELSE gaga. i still think this bops but i feel like there was so much potential here and it only partially lived up to the hype
58. Baauer - Harlem Shake [2013]
5 weeks at #1
This benefited from billboard's fucked up chart rules at the time which made it so that all the 15 second harlem shake videos counted as a stream LMFAO. i think it has the lowest spotify streams out of all the songs on this list which makes sense since who the fuck is listening to harlem shake on its own?? besides me of course. i really respect this song more on principle than anything just cause it was the first trap song to get huge like go off baauer. also the azealia banks remix of this is really good i highly recommend that as well ^_^ i wrote all this shit and nothing about the actual song so... its fun to listen to for nostalgia!
57. Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean? [2015]
1 week at #1
This was good nobody can tell me otherwise. I love to hate on jb as much as the next person but this was *saweetie voice* something fun something for the summertime something for the girls to get ready and party to!! its not musically impressive in any way but its a light summer bop and i respect that it's not trying to be something it's not. the lyrics are pretty cringy though that's what drags it down in the ranking
56. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together [2012]
3 weeks at #1
The first of miss swift's CONTROVERSIAL singles. this was the first 'pop' song that taylor released that people actually cared about (poor the story of us) so of course it got the hick swifties up in arms. i mean objectively this song is a hot mess but it's fun to sing along to and it's just a feel good song which is all i ask for sometimes
55. Ariana Grande - 7 Rings (2019)
8 weeks at #1
Blocked: Marshmello & Bastille - Happier, Post Malone - Wow.
i really did not care for this at ALL when it came out. i thought it was really inauthentic to release a song bragging about her wealth when she was trying to frame this era as personal and vulnerable and then she releases the least relatable song ever. also she ripped out soulja boy's pretty boy swag big time and i will NOT stand for that. the live performances (especially at the sweetener tour that i won tickets to) very much saved this song for me because i could really feel her energy. anyway i finally got over my weird mental block that ariana cant make mindless songs. i don't really have an urge to listen to this over her other songs but if it comes on i enjoy listening to it!
54. Taylor Swift - Bad Blood (feat. Kendrick Lamar) [2015]
1 week at #1
The way that NOBODY asked for a remix of this with kendrick lamar of all people?? he did kinda kill it though i can't lie. anyway this is really overproduced but the 2nd half of the chorus where the bass kicks in... yes yes yes. this was a very good segue into the reputation era so i definitely understand the purpose it has in the scope of her career. i just wish new romantics got the success this did!! the video was definitely a moment as well but i feel like nobody remembers it
53. Lil Nas X - Old Town Road (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) [2019]
19 weeks at #1
Blocked: Taylor Swift - Me! (feat. Brendon Urie), Shawn Mendes - If I Can't Have You, Ed Sheeran - I Don't Care (feat. Justin Timberlake), Taylor Swift - You Need to Calm Down
a BARB getting a #1 before nicki is still so fucking funny to me like okay nasmaraj. i think the mashup of country and rap was really genius and i'm not shocked it became such a viral hit. it also holds the accolade of blocking some of the worst songs ever to grace my ears from #1 (see: me! and i don't care) so yay. resurrecting billy ray cyrus out of his musical grave was also pretty iconic even if i don't think his verse was anything special. this song was never meant to be serious so i can't really evaluate it from a critical standpoint but it's fun and definitely one of the most impactful songs of the decade. lil nas x got the rednecks SO mad that they made random industry plants do country-rap hybrids in an attempt to score a hit but thankfully they all flopped.
52. Adele - Someone Like You [2011]
5 weeks at #1
i mean... its a piano ballad. i generally don't care for ballads like this but i feel like adele really sold it with the emotion in her voice. the way she sings NEVERMIND ILL FIND SOMEBODY LIKE YOUUUUU makes me believe her like you go girl. it definitely drags on a bit but i'm not mad at this song like i am with most ballads that become hits. i do want fat adele back though i can't LIE cause i'm scared for her new album at this rate since 25 was a mess aside from the singles
51. Katy Perry - Part of Me [2012]
1 week at #1
we've had a lot of #1 singles recently that weren't impactful but this was definitely one of the most irrelevant #1's in the first half of the decade. this shit came and WENT and i legitimately dont think anybody has thought about it in the last 5 years except for me. wide awake had way more impact and yet it didn't even hit #1... sad. anyway as a young homo i ate up anything she released so this holds a special place in my heart even though it's nothing groundbreaking. also i can't lie the music video was cute as fuck despite the military propanganda!!
