Last but not least, these are the 40 best pop singles of 2019! Scroll all the way down to find a Spotify playlist with all the songs in the right order!
40. Sigrid – Sucker Punch
Never has there been a more fitting title for a pop song. The chorus does exactly what the lyrics predict and Sigrid sounds as fabulous as ever!
39. Tove Lo – Glad He’s Gone
As if Tove Lo hasn’t already done enough for us in her lifetime, she made an insanely catchy tune on which she advises us to leave the toxic boys behind. We start to believe we are glad that he is gone too!
38. Davina Michelle – Skyward
Dutch artist and YouTube star Davina Michelle finally graced us with her first original English languaged material and ‘Skyward’ was a very good start! A powerful and emotive belter is exactly the type of tune that showcases her as an artist!
37. Duncan Laurence – Love Don’t Hate It
It is never easy to follow up a big hit, let alone a Eurovision winning one, but Duncan Laurence did so with another excellent tune with a totally different vibe. He is here to stay!
36. Melanie Martinez – Strawberry Shortcake
Melanie Martinez single-handedly takes on the patriarchy on ‘Strawberry Shortcake’ with cynical lyrics about how boys are not taught not to grab, while girls are told to wear less revealing clothing. And she does so over a gorgeous melody as well. Go get them Melanie!
35. Miley Cyrus – Slide Away
Miley Cyrus went through a tough breakup and decided to put it in a gorgeous song with some 90s vibes and a big swaying chorus. This sounds like a total classic if you ask me.
34. Jonas Brothers – Sucker
The Jonas Brothers did everything right with their comeback. This insanely catchy tune deserved to be everywhere on the radio and to be honest I am still not sick of it!
33. Mark Ronson & Lykke Li – Late Night Feelings
There was no doubt in my mind that a collaboration by Mark Ronson and Lykke Li would be nothing short of heavenly and they absolutely delivered. ‘Late Night Feelings’ is a mood perfectly translated into a bop.
32. FKA twigs – Sad Day
You can always count on FKA twigs to deliver a song that is a whirlwind of emotions and soundscapes from start to finish. ‘Sad Day’ is twigs at her finest!
Review of her live show in Amsterdam here!
31. HAIM – Now I’m In It
HAIM came back swinging with groovy guitar riffs, a stunning climax in the production and empowering lyrics about dealing with depression. Oh, and the hook is one of their best yet!
30. Normani – Motivation
With an Ariana Grande co-written tune and an absolute pop star worthy video, Normani showed off her full potential. This is the ultimate soundtrack to strutting through a city, you should try it!
See where the video ended up in your best of 2019 list!
29. Katy Perry – Never Really Over
Katy Perry’s tunes have been quite hit and miss in the past few years, but ‘Never Really Over’ was a big hit in my book. Basic pop at its best!
28. AURORA – The Seed
AURORA created an anthem for the earth, urging people to stop and think about the way they treat our planet. She uses the words “When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money” over a pulsing production. Powerful stuff!
27. BANKS – Contaminated
BANKS never fails to make you feel her heartbreak in her slow songs with intense vocal work and lyrics that convey the emotion convincingly. That is exactly what she does on the breathtaking ‘Contaminated’.
26. Billie Eilish – Bury A Friend
With ‘Bury A Friend’ things started moving quickly for Billie Eilish. This unusual, creepy, but oh so addictive bop put all eyes on her and it was not long after that she conquered the whole world.
25. Miley Cyrus – Mother’s Daughter
Nobody fucks with Miley’s freedom to express herself and that is exactly what she does on the confident banger ‘Mother’s Daughter’. This in your face kind of bop suits her so, so well.
24. Agnes – Nothing Can Compare
The comeback of Swedish pop star Agnes flew under the radar slightly, while this bop should have been embraced by the masses.
23. Rosalía – Aute Cuture
Rosalía conquered the world this year after being Spain’s biggest pop star for a while. She delivers tune after tune, but ‘Aute Cuture’ was her strongest this year.
22. Billie Eilish – Bad Guy
Billie Eilish proved with this track that she is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet right now, with a completely singular sound and an impeccable ear for good melodies.
See where her album ended up in our best of 2019 list!
21. Ariana Grande – Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored
Most brilliant song title goes to Ariana Grande and the tune itself thoroughly deserves a spot in this list too. Her laidback and carefree delivery makes the lyrics even better.
See where the Thank U, Next album landed in our Best of 2019 list!
20. Charli XCX & Christine & The Queens – Gone
When Charli XCX and Christine & The Queens decided to team up, there was literally zero chance their tune would not be a bop. ‘Gone’ is an icy electro banger that shows off the best of both artists. That chorus is A+ and then some.
19. Mark Ronson & Yebba – Don’t Leave Me Lonely
I was ready to declare this the best disco infused pop tune of the year, but then Dua Lipa asked us all to hold her beer. Mark Ronson and Yebba are still a golden combination with a stunner of a tune though.
18. Ariana Grande – 7 Rings
Tons of attitude, the most brilliant use of a sample in a long time and the most quotable tumblr lyrics one has ever seen. Ariana Grande did that.
17. Taylor Swift – Lover
If this song does not make you want to fall in love, there is probably no hope for you. This is such a warm and playful love song! The lyrics in the middle-eight might just be the best pop lyrics of the year. I said what I said.
See where ‘Lover’ placed in my top 30 of Taylor’s best songs!
16. Kim Petras – Icy
Kim Petras has been a reliable source for absolute bops for two good years now and ‘Icy’ sure is one of her best. It is an ice cold banger about not being able to open up to anyone after your heart is broken. Relatable content with an insane hook.
See where Kim’s Clarity placed in our list of best albums of the year!
15. Melanie Martinez – High School Sweethearts
Melanie Martinez is totally captivating on this cute, yet aggressive and slightly creepy tune on which she tells a potential lover that she will ‘rip his fucking face apart’ if he fucks her over. She could not be more clear.
See where her album K-12 plays in our best of 2019 list!
14. Lana Del Rey – The Greatest
To be fair, most of Lana Del Rey’s outstanding Norman Fucking Rockwell album could have made this list, but I decided to go with one of the actual singles that was released in 2019 as well. ‘The Greatest’ is a big, vivacious ballad playing to all of Lana’s strengths and there are many of those!
13. Mabel – Don’t Call Me Up
Mabel finally had the massive top 3 hit she had been deserving for years now. This sassy bop is her best single so far. The chorus, the production, the vocals… This came out in January and not many have been able to top it this year!
12. Camila Cabello – Shameless
Who would have thought Camila Cabello could pull off such a moody and intense love song in such a way? Her vocals breathe the desperation in the lyrics and the production is adventurous and elevating.
11. Anna Bergendahl – Ashes To Ashes
Swedish pop- and Eurovision star Anna Bergendahl described her track ‘Ashes To Ashes’ as an ‘unstoppable song’ and we could not agree more. There is something special about the way you can just feel the rising new sun of the lyrics in the powerful melody of the chorus.
10. Mahmood – Soldi
Mahmood only just missed out on winning Eurovision for Italy this year, but his second place still got him places. ‘Soldi’ turned out to be the biggest streaming hit of the contest and he deserves every inch of success with this incredibly personal yet catchy hiphop infused bop.
09. Agnes – I Trance
Agnes took her pop sound into a more experimental direction with an entrancing vocal performance, soaring melody lines and a banging production with deep beats. There is so much to explore in this song, I can never really listen to it only once.
08. Halsey – Nightmare
Halsey is a confusing pop star. She recorded one of her absolute best singles and then decided to not put it on her album!? I suppose we can forgive her as she still blessed us with this riot of a song.
07. Billie Eilish – Everything I Wanted
Billie Eilish became one of the biggest stars on the planet this year thanks to the single ‘Bad Guy’, but it was her latest release ‘Everything I Wanted’ that left the deepest impression on me. More of this ethereal, soaring material please, Billie!
06. Ellie Goulding – Flux
If this was a list with the biggest pop injustices, this would have taken the number 1 spot. This is Ellie Goulding’s best song in years and it did not smash. How on earth did this heartbreak anthem not become an instant classic!?
05. FKA twigs – Cellophane
FKA twigs fucks with all of our emotions on this completely stripped back, breathtaking and heart-wrenching song. Her vocal delivery of this is out of this world and she also casually recorded the best music video of the year to go with it.
04. BANKS – Gimme
BANKS earned the title ‘Queen of Sexy Bangers’ long ago and with ‘Gimme’ she may have launched her strongest one yet. The power that has, the confidence that has… A massive tune!
03. Naaz – Taped
Naaz majorly stepped up her already pretty strong game this year with her the beautiful struggle EP and the track ‘Taped’ in particular. This absolute pop banger has a killer chorus many pop stars dream of writing and the production is completely on point. I had this on repeat all through the year and won’t stop anytime soon.
02. Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now
Dua Lipa waited until the end of the year to return, but she did with a bang. ‘Don’t Start Now’ is all I ever wanted from her. This sassy, insanely catchy disco banger needs to stay with us in 2020 too because I am not nearly sick of it yet. A career defining moment!
01. Duncan Laurence – Arcade
I have to admit I am Dutch and a big Eurovision fan and I am still super excited that my country won after 44 years, but I also believe ‘Arcade’ is a stunning song regardless of those facts. The song perfectly conveys the emotions felt when heartbroken and missing someone. There is something special about it which I heard the first time and never faded. Duncan’s vocals are out of this world and the song still gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.