My Top 20 Songs of 2020
C: Part two of my end-of-year lists is here! Today, I am going to rank my 20 favorite songs of 2020.
20. The Difference by Flume ft. Toro y Moi
My friend recommended this song to me, and while I didn’t know much about Flume beforehand, I am a huge fan of this track. With boundless energy and an almost kazoo-like chorus, this must be one of the most infectious tunes of the year.
19. JU$T by Run the Jewels ft. Pharrell Williams and Zack de la Rocha
For a song about people being finished with a corrupt government, it’s surprisingly fun. The transition from Pharrell’s delivery of a chorus on white privilege to the duo’s ferocious rhymes is impeccable. Once you hear each line, you can’t help but go back and look at the lyrics. To top it off, it’s all on top of an awesome beat that just screams replay value.
18. Gaslighter by The Chicks
This angry tell-off of an idiot lover is something everyone can sing along with, and not only because it’s in three-part harmony. It tells the story of a gaslighting user whose actions have finally caught up to them (much like to a certain president). It’s classic Chicks with a nice 2020 upgrade, not to mention it ties in with the storyline of their fantastic album.
17. 911 by Lady Gaga
I remember the night Chromatica came out, and for fans, this song was one of those you either loved or hated. I, of course, was option number one. The way that she uses a dry, robotic voice to sing about something tragic is so poignant. It tells about Gaga’s struggles with antipsychotic medication, an incredibly personal subject in the form of such a danceable song. Both the transition from Chromatica II and the "ooOOH”s before the chorus make this a seamless track.
16. The Bigger Picture by Lil Baby
Personally, before this song, I didn’t think much of Lil Baby because I just thought he seemed generic. The Bigger Picture changed my mind immediately. Every word in the song is a clear and precise blow coming one after the other. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests, this song is deeply introspective yet ready to be chanted.
15. Edge of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix) by Miley Cyrus ft. Stevie Nicks
A pop star collaborating with a rock goddess? Well, duh. This was a match made in heaven, especially given Cyrus has cited Nicks as one of her biggest influences. Having a credit as big as hers is a testament to Miley’s authenticity in her rock phase. Their vocals blend nicely together (Stevie sounds as great as ever) and the addition of Edge of Seventeen is exactly what the original song needed.
14. For Her by Fiona Apple
This song is intense. It combines an a capella beginning with a Singing in the Rain inspired end, and somehow it works. Yet again it’s a furious track against a horrible partner, but even wackier. It’s cutting, with lines like “Maybe she spent her formative years dealing with his contentious fears, and endless jeers at her endless tears.” It’s a song so layered only someone like Fiona could pull it off.
13. Wish You Were Sober by Conan Gray
In the bedroom-pop realm, few do it better than Conan Gray. Wish You Were Sober is a whirlwind, catchy track about an off-and-on relationship that’s only made more confusing when the other person has been drinking. It’s this sincerity that led people to his music in the first place, and will continue to do so in the future.
12. Good News by Mac Miller
When Good News was released back in January, it felt like Mac was singing from a better place. The plucky strings in the instrumental are gorgeous and peaceful, yet misleading, as the lyrics reflect conflicting and complicated emotions. It’s an extremely sad track, but it’s nice hearing bits of his reality at the time, especially because he seems strangely content.
11. Cut Me by Moses Sumney
From the moment that bassline comes in, Cut Me is one of the most soulful gems of the year. The falsetto, the horns, the bassline, the humming, the harmonies, everything about this track is outright stunning. It’s about letting yourself experience pain. “Might not be healthy for me but seemingly I need what cuts me.”. It’s profound, ethereal, and represents exactly what græ was about.
10. enemy by Charli XCX
If you can take an Italian war saying and make it into a song, you can do anything. enemy is about what it feels like to get close to someone during quarantine. The vocals are rough yet robotic, and the instrumental is fun and futuristic. It’s a prime example of how raw electro-pop can be.
9. Ego Death by Ty Dolla $ign ft. Kanye West, FKA twigs and Skrillex
This is an amazing concept with a flawless execution, and it shows off each artist’s talents over a dark house beat. Ego Death explores themes of ego, social media, greed, and racial justice. The lyrics are profound and thoughtful, from the bouncy chorus to FKA’s mysterious ending. (Check out our full review!)
8. Kyoto by Phoebe Bridgers
Despite the desperate lyrics of the song, Kyoto feels free and joyous. From the gorgeous horns in the chorus to the emotional vocals throughout, it’s about as endearing as a track can be. According to Bridgers, it’s about “being on tour and hating tour, and then being home and hating home.” The intricate, specific details make the track even more personal. Not many artists can put a fragment of their soul into a song as I think Phoebe did here.
7. Levitating by Dua Lipa
It was quite difficult to pick a favorite song from Future Nostalgia, but it had to be this track simply because of how effortless it feels. It’s breezy and funky, with a bouncy instrumental. It’s not about much: just dancing together. However, it’s certainly no throwaway track. You can tell exactly how much effort was put into making a song this immaculate.
6. Tipsy by Chloe x Halle
When making a song about being a “dangerous lover” you must bring something new to the table. Murder! In this sassy and classy track, Chloe x Halle talk about having a long history of relationships gone wrong, but that simply means they “might be a little tipsy on your love” (or kill you, but that’s for later). With gorgeous harmonies and trademark energy as always, Tipsy is the perfect blend of fun and ferocity.
5. XS by Rina Sawayama
I wouldn’t think that a statement on excessive commercialism would end up as one of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard, but this proves me wrong. With rock guitars dappled throughout and the snappy 2000s beat, I would describe XS as controlled chaos. It’s so perfect. The vocals are crystal-clear, and the lyrics match, with genius quipps on our materialistic society. It is absolute “luxury and opulence.”
4. Savage (Remix) by Megan thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé
Classy, bougie and ratchet. What more could you want? This track has all the flair and ferocity you’d expect when two superstars join forces, not to mention it’s a true remix of the original song. From Megan’s charisma and flow to Beyoncé’s vocals (and bars), Savage was meant to be a hit right down to the “okay.”
3. Save Your Tears by The Weeknd
Yes, I liked this better than Blinding Lights. The starry, dreamy synths in this track are full of hope and warmth, and the vocals perfectly convey a sense of deep regret that’s present throughout After Hours. It’s an 80s tribute done flawlessly in every facet (I can’t help but picture E.T. when i listen to it), and the end result is pure perfection.
2. A Beast by MAITA
I mentioned in my albums list how warm and familiar Best Wishes feels, and this cut epitomizes that feeling. It’s rough around the edges and the chorus is especially cutting. When the song opens up with “I cannot speak of the ache in my shoulders” over those peaceful guitars, it’s absolutely captivating.
1. august by Taylor Swift
As with lots of my favorite music in 2020, I love august because it provides escapism. This is a perfect song and no one can tell me otherwise. It’s summery, light and lyrically stunning. Swift’s ability to craft a story as well as the teenage love triangle from folklore is incredible, and it truly transports you to the moment she’s describing. The vocals are dreamy and hopeful, yet somehow articulate the exact desperation and sadness woven throughout the track. Although I do have significant emotional attachment to it (I still can’t believe how accurate that Spotify Wrapped video was for me), this will forever be the song I’ll think of when I think about 2020.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! Cheers to 2021!
C (With a little help from L)