2024 has been a blast in terms of the chart and pop music as a whole. We have so many events that impacted the chart in a significant matter. Album bombs after album bombs, Kendrick Lamar & Drake beef where Kendrick came out on top as usual, the rise of queer pop from Chappell Roan and even the TikTok hits, Sabrina Carpenter in general having a breakout year, and overall great music just keep flowing in. As a pop music watcher seeing that not only these events are happening outside of my sphere, but also that it drove the pop culture as a whole making 2024 probably one of the best years for pop music this century.
As time went on though, all things must come to an end and with the leaves turning the color that symbolized decompose, we are now looking at what's replacing these hits. I mean I'm hopeful that it won't be that bonkers because this is the season that you should be for relaxing and- wait Linkin Park just recruited a new lead vocal that might have connection to Scientology making an uproar in the fandom? Megan Thee Stallion collaborating with RM over phonk style melody? And Lady Gaga with Bruno Mars made a comeback with 70s rock throwback?...Welp I guess we just jump straight to it (why this year doesn't want to stop?). Oh and also I am skipping songs that I have talked twice or more than 25 weeks on the chart and also no old songs unless they didn't become a hit in at least 5 countries. I really cannot wait to talk about this week's chart because I do believe that it has gotten better and better. So much so that the lowest rated song here is just mid aka 5/10...and sadly two songs that are on this category are all have BTS members on it.
20. Who by Jimin
Don't get me wrong, this song is only on here due to sheer disappointment. I like Jimin's solo songs quite fondly over the past year or so, especially with Crazy. But Jimin didn't really stand out in terms of the vocal and also the performance. So maybe work with Jon Bellion, the artist that I could say is the Ryan Tedder of the 2010s (he's actually a good producer okay!) maybe that could bring something out of the limited performer Jimin. And...well it's half working. I love the 2000s throwback feels with the guitar and the percussion and I also like the lyrics of the longing for someone but doesn't know her name it's cute. But why does Jon Bellion thought it would be a good idea to mixed the song like ass? Like the vocal is processed to shit and I wouldn't mind that per say. but the production of the song is very teeny and the drum clipped in the mix that the melody got suffocated by the song. It's very unfortunate because there's a seed of a great song in this especially in the 2000s nostalgia circuit. As it is, it's just something that I will forget soon after this song is out of the chart.
19. NEVA PLAY by Megan Thee Stallion ft. RM
I don't know who should I blame for this song being not as good as Mamushi (which yes it is kinda novel but I just love how Megan spoke Japanese (I'm a weeb oh my god)). Is it the production that are half baked with Megan's usual production hang up mixed with that phonk style synth melody that just doesn't go anywhere. Is it RM's vocal production that's very compressed to hell I'm surprised how sloppy it was. Or is it RM's delivery resembling Rich Brian's voice and you just remembered that his last album was released in 2018. Or maybe counting in a rap song will never worked or sounding more like you just ran out of idea for lyrics and went for the lazy route. Whatever it is, it makes this song ranked lower to me than Post Malone and Morgan Wallen's whining session.
18. I Had Some Help by Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen
Even though the placement here, this song has grown on me a little bit. Part of the reasons why this song just kinda clicked with me is that the melody here has to be one of the best from this year. One thing I would give credit to Louis Bell is always finding great melodies in any genres and this is one of them. Another reason why this kinda works is because of the nature of the song as a duet, this gave me headcanon that they're both are singing to each other not with each other. And seems like a lot of people are taking that headcanon and run with it so I'm just following. It's kinda impressive that this song stayed this long due to sheer power of Post Malone.
17. UWAIE by Kapo
Most genres will probably have their own evolution of sounds to either a very abrasive or a very chill sounding one. The bops vs the vibes as one hooded piano player have said. And I believe in reggaeton this year, we are seeing the genre becoming more spacious and reverb heavy. It really started with Dakiti and then when both Bad Bunny and Karol G are making any other songs beside reggaeton this year, artists like Cris MJ, Feid, and Kapo capitalized on that by making their songs very airy and perfect to relax to. I definitely prefer the more bombastic reggaeton but these new crop of reggaeton song (apart from the ones from Cris MJ) are cool if you are in the mood for it.
16. A lot of these songs are still good and all but my god I'm sick of this now.
16. Stargazing by Myles Smith
I really thought that this sound was novel enough for me to love it. But no, this song has definitely shrunk on me. After listening to a lot of old folktronica hits, I have come to the conclusion that this song while it's breezy and very easy to listen to, just felt unfinished. I mean yeah sure it has complete structure...somewhat. But what I love about the folktronica at that time is the incorporation of the folk instruments with the drop. Here, the EDM flourishes are just that. I think what might sealed this song as just decent is the fact that this song charted not on the EDM chart, but the rock and alternative chart. Now maybe that sounds a bit innocuous because it's just a chart placement and that's usually being done by the label themselves and genre itself are obsolete nowadays in a democratize streaming era. And in this case that might be true, but I just missed that sound and yeah some of which are nostalgia and I really have to come to terms with that at some point. Anyways this is very half assed and the millennial woop saved this song.
15. Unforeseen circumstances are always occurring especially in life in general. One of which is a death of someone. Someone you know just passed away without you even noticed till it was too late. Speaking from personal experience, it can be very harsh and very bitter pill to swallow for someone you know passed away and you can't really do anything about it. You just there helping the funeral and wondering what's your purpose in life. Now imagine that but with your band mate and not just any band mate, the one that have such distinct voices with lyrics that can cut through your bone and where everyone can relate to. And then after that you replaced your band mate and you know it's gonna be controversial and for that your comeback singles is basically a deflection of a lot of things that the fans might have gripe on...including Chester Bennington estate.
15. The Emptiness Machine by Linkin Park
Yeah not gonna escaping this one especially after it came out that the replacement for Chester have supported a serial assaulter Matty Matherson (that one have been addressed) and might still have ties with Scientology. And if there's one thing that Linkin Park fans don't like it's probably Scientology especially if they're on the internet during that time. Even Chester Bennington estate have condemned and felt betrayed with the move by Mike Shinoda to hire Emily Armstrong. Even removing all of that, I know that replacing Chester with anyone will be very tough. Especially when Mike Shinoda have been really shitty to the legacy of the band itself (we still not forgetting you using AI on Lost music video). So did Emily Armstrong at least came close to recapturing Chester here?
Honestly while I do still believe she has a lot to improve especially with the vocal tamber, she performed really well. Granted all I can think of when listening to this song is not Linkin Park, but early Paramore. That really doesn't distract me from liking the song fully. My biggest drawback is the production and instrumentation. I have a best friend who's tapped in to the modern rock scenes and he's always playing songs from Bring Me To Horizon and the resemblance here is kinda uncanny. The structure of lowkey instrumentals then rise to full band without filters is what BMTH are doing. Even though I do love the second chorus with Emily and the rock instrument and some nice melody. It left me kinda empty and maybe that's the intention. But I'm still skeptical about this endeavor. Well let's see the album then.
14. One thing that I haven't mentioned yet about me is my deep obsession with Just Dance the game. Ever since I was like 13 I'm very much hooked with Just Dance games after PewDiePie played it. I have been following the game after that and it's very cool to see some artists that appeared on Just Dance went on to have very successful career. Lizzo made her debut a year after she got featured in Just Dance 2019. There's another artist that I will be talking about that I knew of because Just Dance, but let's talk about the girl that had her song in the game and went on to be one of the biggest artists of our time...
14. Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter
Till this day it's very crazy that the girl who did Thumbs will be the new pop girlie six years later. But hey that's pop music for you. Anyways she notched four songs on this ranking and I have talked about this song in depth. It's low on here not because of overplay and it shrunk on me, but the newcomers here even the Sabrina Carpenter songs (we'll get to it soon), all of them have been fantastic. For now all I can say is that you know that Nintendo Switch is really popular that it got referenced in one of the biggest pop songs of this year. Though knowing Sabrina she will probably referenced Virtual Boy and make it about I don't know how superficial this guy is. I mean her friend literally pulled out Nintendo DS during like a photoshoot or something (I'm kinda bumped that I can't talk about Band4Band again).
13. You know, even though the summer chart was great and all, I am kinda disappointed that the chart looked like Hot 100 chart. Like this is Global 200 that excluded US all together and most of the songs are also on Hot 100 as well. I'm glad to inform you reader that finally we have a lot of global hits that are actually great and very varied country wise. This is still the lowest ranking one but it's still good nonetheless.
13. Big Dawgs by Hanumankind ft. Kalmi
It's rare to get any rap songs that came out of Asia that aren't K-pop or some J-rap stuff that can cross over (see Mamushi and Bling-Bang-Bang-Born from this year) to broke through. But because the chart is bonkers right now, we have an Indian rapper who grew up in Texas scored a rap hit in a great rap year. Heck after Not Like Us (which sadly missed this ranking again), this is probably one of the most popular rap song this year. At one point it is the most listened to rap song in the world. Yes the popularity of the song came from Tiktok, but like it's still cool to see a South Asian rapper broke through. The song itself is good with that buzzy synth and the outro that's basically a chopped n screwed mix (chopped n screwed and Memphis rap are having a great year btw). Yeah his flow is your basic southern rap, but the fact that this is here is just amazing to me. Who knows maybe Rich Brian could get a solo hit of his own again (he just needs to release new music man cmon it's been like five years now).
12. Kpop has been very weird this year for good and bad reason. Good in a way that there's more experimentation with the sound like hyperpop with aespa, house and drum n bass with NewJeans, and using other dance subgenre like Jersey Club, pluggnb, and even delved into anime music. But the bad cannot be ignored as well like NewJeans basically want to quit because of Heejin getting the boot while South Korea in general are having crisis in gender war. It's very much a futile year for Kpop and you can see on the chart as well. BTS hiatus because of the military conscription really has done damage now than it was last year. Anyways that really left a lot of vacuum that only being filled by some of the most inane and pure slop I think I've ever heard. Anyways here's LE SSERAFIM
12. Crazy by LE SSERAFIM
Okay low blow aside, I do think that some of the people are being too hard of LE SSERAFIM. Yes they're being built under the rubble of GFriend's disbandment. But, to their credit they have done some good song here and there. This is one of them but it could be better. I do think that we are having the Y2K revival that people are talking about especially on TikTok. I haven't really seen the Y2K aesthetic a lot in pop music in the west at least in USA. The fact that people still milking the 80s or disco it's kinda tiring let's be honest here. I think my main hangup from the song is that it's very sporadic and weird for the sake of being weird. NewJeans is still my go to when it comes to Kpop band doing Y2K aesthetic well. What they have done is taking dance subgenres like Jersey Club or Drum n Bass and really put their sheen into it without losing what makes those subgenres special to begin with. With Crazy on the other hand, it's not as tight and also just don't really trying to fit the house sound well with the ethos of LE SSERAFIM whatever that is. I still like the song but yeah the fact that this song is the highest ranking Kpop song this week is telling how weird this year is for the genre.
11. Another genre that were awfully quiet this year is afrobeats. Their South African cousin amapiano were having a better time than afrobeats this year. I really thought that afrobeats might have the same longevity as dancehall was back in the 2000s and even then it wasn't as barren as this year. There's one exception to that rule and even then it's kinda all over the place.
11. Move by Adam Port, Stryv & Malachii
If there's one thing I love about Global Excl US chart is the dynamic of the chart being replaced from US to European, Asia, and Canada. What this mean is that oddities that charted on Europe and Asia will somehow charted and charted big. Like this song for example which is a mix between afrobeats from Malachii and melodic house from Adam Port and Stryv. I do love the sound that these two make with the chill vibe that's definitely a perfect for summer to fall transitional period. It's only here because it kinda end abruptly, the percussion can be louder than the melody, and that hook is kinda annoying. Still this song is something I would love to listen to while on the beach drinking wine to.
10. It's still kinda wild that it has been three years since Bruno Mars released a new album (with Silk Sonic) and even wild that Chromatica was four years ago. I know they both have either tour or film to content to, but it's kinda weird how their absence are not talked enough. Even when they collaborated and making 70s rock it didn't leave much impact
10. Die With A Smile by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
This was so close to be great that it's frustrating. Lady Gaga loves the theatrical and the old glamour of 70s while Bruno is the pastiche merchant. So this should work like ease, but it really didn't panned out that way. I think my real issue with this song is how basic it is? Yeah it sounded great with the lush instrument and very much dignified productions. That guitar solo before the last chorus was perfect. And the lyrics is cool essentially If The World Was Ending but less juvenile. But I don't know because most of the 70s rock I love have more complexity and details that you won't hear it the first time you listen to it but it added to the replayability of songs that you wanna keep coming back to. With this song it didn't happened for me at least. After I listened to it a couple of times, I already got what I want and was satisfied with it...and that's it. Sure I would love to listen to this on the radio, but I probably won't seek it out that much. But when it hit, oh yeah it really hitting.
9. Last year, one of the worst hit songs that came out of the uneventful 2023 is Thinkin' Bout Me by Morgan Wallen. What made that song very revolting is how Morgan Wallen seems to don't get over the relationship while she did. And because Drake was big last year and also he had that co-sign, he stalked the girl and even if he didn't stalked her, he concern trolled her that you swear that you were listening to that one manosphere podcast ranting about how women are the problem. However if you are like those guys you have one question "would you think that it's better when the POV is switched?" And my answer is a resounding maybe...
9. Taste by Sabrina Carpenter
Look it might be hypocritical of me that I prefer this type of shitty behavior versus others if the gender was flipped. But I do think the reason why I don't mind Taste and still angry at Thinkin Bout Me is probably because of the artist themselves. This is what I do like about music as a medium because the way you sing it or the way you wrote the song can be tied to your personality and how you live. Thinkin' Bout Me didn't worked because of how Morgan Wallen acted like a jackass and you believe him because of what he had done on the record and off the record. Meanwhile Sabrina Carpenter whole personality is being goofy girl that could be your friends. Because of that, her talking about how her ex will taste her when he kissed another girl you would think it's jokey. The bridge also really solidified the point that yes she didn't really meant it as serious but she still might have some feelings towards the ex. Also the fact that the production here isn't desaturated trap country. In the end though I still think that it can be very icky when you believe this whether you are a guy or a girl. And I do think this can shrink on me. But for now, I do like this song...but it isn't my favorite from that album.
8. Si Antes te Hubiera Conocido by Karol G
Karol G is just a great artist isn't she? Like sure you have ROSALIA and maybe Bad Bunny that might have better albums, but Karol G is I think the most consistent out of all of them. Even with her recent experiment with other genres like cumbia or this one with merengue, She really has her way to be fitted in the song effortlessly. This song is a ton of fun especially with the party vibe in the last chorus. Even if the lyrics is kinda pathetic and basically Jealous by Nick Jonas, the light-hearted nature of the song really just make this song a ton of fun. Another banger from Karol G and as always screw Anual AA...Did you know he's a Trump supporter now? Yeah figured.
7. Please Please Please by Sabrina Carpenter
So this song didn't grew on me nor does it shrink on me. I think the fact that it's a very steady and moving song that I don't really have any new observation of the song that will increase or decrease the enjoyment of the song. I guess one observation that I could get about the song that's new is how very paranoid Sabrina is on the song. Like the fact that she begged her partner to tell everyone that whenever he acted out in a different way that he should tell her friends that it's just her culture. It's that kind of self awareness that can be annoying from her but eh still not gonna make me hate this one immediately so yeah.
6. 2014-15 was like the middle of the end of the blog era for pop music and during those times, there were some people that making music that based on the internet culture as a whole. One of which was Vaporware which is a genre of music with a certain kinds of aesthetic that heavily inspired by city pop and just late 80s neon lights settings. People were very confused about the concept with the aesthetic or how the songs sounded like a mix between indie, 80s synthwave, and post irony of Gen Z at the time. People really thought that it was a joke and yet that kind of aesthetic is still there but more widespread till the point that it's just an 80s nostalgia. Maybe that's why what A.G. Cook and SOPHIE (rest in love) were doing was kinda out of the blue and again making people at the time confused. Like pop music that was pushed to the absolute limit of artificiality and bubblegum was such an alien concept even during the beginning of poptimism era. People back then called these type of music as PC Music (also the name of A.G. Cook label) because it's something that could only be created with the help of the internet. Now imagine telling those guys that the girl that made a soundtrack hit for a John Green film adaptation would teamed up with A.G. Cook and his protege to make these type of song and make it popular enough that it was referenced by Democrats as part of the campaign? Oh also don't forget to tell them that the Apprentice guy also gonna be the President as well.
6. Guess (Remix) by Charli XCX ft. Billie Eilish
It's still surreal to me as someone who have listened to hyperpop since Charli worked with SOPHIE seeing Brat, an album that was a culmination of Charli's journey into pop as a whole, became one of the most popular albums of the year. I knew that hyperpop might be the sound of the future but the fact that not only this one debuted at the top 10 of the chart, but now there are a lot of acts that wanna try out these type of sounds (I can think of some kpop acts that trying to emulate the sound). Now this isn't really fully hyperpop, as a matter of fact it's straight forward French House song with some hyperpop elements to it. And bringing in Billie Eilish after her own successful album was the correct move especially with her own house experiment on La A'mour De La Vie which is probably my favorite of the album. Billie brings some swagger on the song which is about well underwear. Love the banter with this two especially when Billie said "Charli likes boys but she knows I can hit it". God what a great year for queer pop and all we need is Kanye West sacrifical #1 to just woke people up to actual good music.
5. BIRDS OF A FEATHER - Billie Eilish
Oh speaking of Billie. It's another baffling thing that this lowkey of an album will probably have more hits than her two previous albums. I thought that it would do like Happier Than Ever number based on early numbers but nope. I'm glad though because Hit Me Hard and Soft is probably my favorite Billie album. It has everything that I love about her two previous albums but with more personal and sometimes intimate storytelling that sometimes I could relate hard. Chihiro is actually gotten better for me as the theme of mystery and how someone's changed does resonate with me. This song also has gotten better especially with how I can feel Billie's frustration with her love ones but trying to feel optimistic about it. Even at rock bottom you have to be optimistic.
4. A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey
Yup the best song on last ranking is now at #4. If it's not a sign that this season is awesome, I don't know what is. Just like Birds of a Feather, this song didn't grew on me or shrunk on me. But like the last entry, I feel like I have made one more observation from the song. Seems like the recession pop that we got in 2008-2012 is back but in the country form. There are some country songs from that era that touched on the topic of the hardship in a "mature way". Songs like Need You Now is a prime example of that tackling the topic of alcoholism. But with this song, the front and center topic of the song is that this working class guy going to a bar to have a good time while he has no way of getting himself up from the 9 to 5 jobs. This is definitely a new territory for recession pop to tackle and I can't wait to hear more of this.
3. Short n' Sweet was a good pop album but I'm glad that they made the one about calling sex a "bed chem" a hit from that album.
3. Bed Chem by Sabrina Carpenter
You guys remember Versace on the Floor by Bruno Mars? Yeah this is like the cheeky more unserious sister of that song and it's still awesome. This song just oozed with glamous while also being ridiculous as fuck. Which is perfect because she's doing 90s RnB with a sheen of TRL teen pop with that twinkling keys, the liquid guitar, and again how goofy this song is. And yet, this song is kinda hot as hell especially because of Sabrina's performance here. It's just a perfect combo of tounge and cheek with a hint of sensuality. I don't really have much to say really this song is great y'all should listen to it.
2. As a music enjoyer, you will always have a hipster moment where you listen to a musical act and a few years later, that artist will reached their popularity in like a few years later. It happened to me with Twenty One Pilots, it happened to me with Lizzo, and in our big 2024, it happened to Sevdaliza.
2. Alibi by Sevdaliza, Pabllo Vittar, & Yseult
I have to come clean with myself, I really love Just Dance game series. I just love how this game just bringing people together and also to me at awe on how these dancers are dancing with heels. Now in Just Dance 2022, there are two artists that were prominent on the game. Both are Pabllo Vittar (Flash Pose and Sua Cara) and Sevdaliza (Human). Three of these songs are a hit especially Human being a contemporary experiment. Now flash forward to now and they're both collaborating with a French singer Yseult to create a song based on a Colombian song called Toto la Momposina. The fact that this song charted for a month on Hot 100 is still baffling because it was sung in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. The song is a mixed between reggaeton and Brazilian funk with the emphasis of how dangerous it is to hook up or having a great time in this club or place. But with the power of TikTok, this song became a worldwide smash and that fact is also amazing. Because this song is queer as fuck and not to mentioned Pabllo Vittar being here. I heard that Pabllo has been a punching back in Brazil so I'm glad he can broke through with this song even if Sua Cara was a bit of a massive hit.
1. Well I did highlight this song last time out but the fact that Chappell Roan is like the biggest artist right now is insane.
1. Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan
I only knew Chappell Roan because Mark from Spectrum Pulse put two songs on his best list (those two songs became a minor hit in their own right) and I was thinking "she's definitely has a potential but she might have the same success as MUNA". Now skip to the time of writing this election day 2024 and not only has Chappell Roan became a phenomenon of the year, she also brings some baggage that I do wanna touch upon, how fame is handled by celebrities. For decades now, when you become like a pop divas you have to expect a lot of scrutiny by people who trying to control you. What would you do in this situation? Well you might wanna do media training and god forbid if you wanna try to have emotional response towards critics you'd be branded as "not ready" for fame. I always called that bullshit and I'm so glad that Chappell Roan agreed with me on this. I hate it when people said that she isn't ready for fame because of what she has done to protect herself from parasocialism and paparazzi. When you consider that yeah her songs really are prime for pop fame and this is one of them.
I still can't believe that lesbianism in pop was relegated to either flirtation or just fetishization. With the new crop of songs from sapphics women they felt more real and also really well put together. You got Lunch by Billie Eilish where it's explicitly about she wanna eat her out and not in a cannibalistic way. Boyfriend by Dove Cameron about this girl having the chance of living out her wlw dreams after her crush was alone without her boyfriend. And now this a song about comphet and it's as tragic as you like it to be. This is definitely one of the most important songs to came out this decade and I hope that her impact will inspired more people to make art that felt like themselves.
That was our fall ranking and I have to say that 2024 has been a wonderful year for pop music and definitely needed especially what happened at the time I'm writing this. List season is definitely coming up soon and yes I will make a proper worst list this time out. In the meantime see you all on the worst list.
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