The Worst and Best list were both challenging this year because I did not have a strong opinion on most of the songs I heard. However, I was surprised to find that I had to make some tough choices on this list because there were actually quite a few songs that I strongly liked and I didn’t have room for all of them. I decided that because of this, I will not put a limit on the number of honorable mentions I include. In such a negative year, I want to remember all of the good things that I can.

10. Free – Broods/Kiss This – The Struts

That’s right, this list starts with a tie because even picking the song at the bottom of the list was difficult. When I have ties on my list, it’s usually because the songs not only are equally good or bad in my eyes, but they are also performed by the same artist or share a similar theme. In this case, I’m kicking off the list with my favorite kind of breakup song: “We’re done. You suck. I’m awesome. Good riddance.” I’d heard a few tracks by Broods before this year, so I was excited for “Free.” It does not necessarily have to be a breakup song. It’s a song about freedom, obviously, but this could be freedom from parents, a record label, a bad relationship, or just about anything else. The chorus ends with her saying, “I’m desperate to run. I’m desperate to leave. If I lose it all, at least I’ll be free.” I love how realistic this song is. It is hard to leave what you know, even if it isn’t good for you, but one has to decide whether or not the risk is worth it. I love her full acceptance of the fact that her entire life could go down in flames if she leaves. But she doesn’t care because she knows that any change is better than the current situation, no matter what that situation is. I like that this song’s meaning can be applied to so many different contexts because that makes it more universal. However, the song it has tied with is very clearly about a breakup. And it wasn’t pretty considering the fact that the chorus screams, “kiss this one last time ’cause I’m gone for good.” And he has a right to be angry since it sounds like his ex cheated on him with some guy named Thomas. But the lyrics aren’t the main point of this song. The general angry intent is important, though, because it makes the song sound amazing. This song was released in 2014, but it didn’t start getting radio play or any general recognition until 2015 and 2016. I didn’t hear it until 2016 so I’m calling it a 2016 track. The only Struts song I’d heard before this was “Could Have Been Me,” which was almost an honorable mention on last year’s best list, but I can conclude from these songs alone that this singer is basically always yelling. However, it works here. He’s not just yelling, he’s yelling at a cheating ex. And this isn’t just a rock song, it’s an angry rock song. The Struts are very clearly inspired by glam and classic rock, not the work of their contemporaries. They kind of look like a hair metal band. More than anything they remind me of a serious version of The Darkness because of their aesthetic and sound. And they sound amazing. It’s nice to hear real instruments on the radio, even alternative radio, but that doesn’t guarantee a good song. Luckily, this one delivers and I know I will happily listen to it and “Free” for years to come.

9. Blood in the Cut – K. Flay

This song is so cool. The first second alone is cool. That bass line is unexpectedly perfect. Then the vocals come in and this girl is pissed. Then low bass drums and light clap percussion prove that opposites work well together. And can we talk about the chorus? Her voice echoes. The drums build to a guitar’s rendition of the bass line. The best part might just be before and after the “na na na na” interlude because the drums roll and it perfectly matches the tension and anger expressed earlier by the lyrics. Then the chorus comes in again but she’s screaming this time. Not only does the singer show more strain because she’s upset that “the boy I love’s got another girl,” but it lets the song end in the explosion it deserves. This song is spectacular and I’m honestly upset that I haven’t heard anyone talking about it this year. Every element of this track deserves proper recognition.

8. Into You – Ariana Grande

I’ve heard many different opinions on Ariana Grande, but I honestly have to say that I love her. I haven’t been able to accept it for the past few years, but it’s time to out myself. I love her voice, her producers, her songwriters, everything. And all of her good qualities are at their absolute best in this song. She sounds so happy to be singing and like she truly feels what she’s singing. I can’t even begin to describe the sound of this song. It seems like it doesn’t belong in this decade. It’s just so monstrously huge once it hits the chorus. It’s far too good for the 2010’s and fits better among 1980’s smashes. “Dangerous Woman” was good enough, but this should have been the biggest single from her 2016 album. This is also a good time to mention that “Be Alright” is extremely underrated, but I believe that “Into You” is her greatest single to date.

7. You Don’t Get Me High Anymore – Phantogram

I struggled to decide whether this song should be here or in sixth place and whether or not the sixth song should be there or in this spot. That is because this is a spectacular track. The production is flawless. It’s aggressive yet sweet, using sounds that I can’t even name. The drums crash and something I can only call a pseudo-horn (because I have no idea what it is but it sounds like the computer-made version of a horn) compliments the vocal melody without sounding very similar to it. Speaking of the melody, it’s beautiful. The singer displays a versatile voice that is perfect for the lyrics. It’s a song about a relationship that has lost its luster. She laments, “Nothing is fun, not like before. You don’t get me high anymore.” It feels like a response to older songs that compare love to a drug because it shows what it feels like to come down from the high. For a song about being bored in a relationship, this is an extremely exciting track.

6. 2AM – Bear Hands

I’m not sure what made this song just barely beat out the last, but we can say they tied for sixth if you want. I discovered this band in 2014 at a summer music festival. I fell in love with songs like “Giants” and “Agora.” I loved their lyrics and the singer’s stramge enunciation. I wouldn’t say he’s objectively a “good singer,” but there’s something I like about the weirdness of his voice. This is also found in “2AM.” This was the first song of theirs I’d heard on the radio (alternative radio, mind you, but radio nonetheless) and I was glad to see no change in quality or style. Although the songs I mentioned earlier will likely always be my favorites by this band, this one is right behind them.

5. Gold – Kiiara

Since my list is being published in late January, just about every critic posted their lists before mine. I like to take in other opinions not just because they’re entertaining but also because I can make sure I didn’t miss anything and even learn about music criticism in general. Sadly, doing this can also alter my opinions or at least how I talk about a song. This track appeared on several “Worst of 2016” lists I found. I was surprised because I never heard anyone say much of anything about this song, positive or negative, all year. I just knew that I liked it. But the people who disliked it seemed to have a problem with its production. They don’t like the chorus because it just takes different parts of the song and cuts and pastes them in new places. The production has been called lazy. I understand that opinion, but I feel the opposite way. This song is weird. And I like it. I haven’t heard another song that sounds like this. I can’t keep myself still whenever I hear it. And, for once, I don’t really care about the lyrics. This is apparently supposed to be an angry song about Kiiara’s ex, but she could be singing just about anything and I would like it just as much. I’m not really sure how to justify how much I love this song, but I do.

4. American Money – BORNS

I didn’t listen to very many albums this year, but I made sure to get a physical copy of Dopamine. Every song was lovestruck and spellbinding. The album came out in 2015, but this single was luckily released the next year. It is not only my favorite track from the album but also one of my favorite songs of the year. I love the atmospheric sound and BORNS’ admittedly feminine voice (I thought the singer was female the first several times I heard the song). I love the lyrics that depict his lover as some poetically gorgeous being. I can’t figure out why but the lyric “take me to that paradise in your eyes, green like American money” really hits me with its beauty every time I hear it. There are actually a lot of stand out lyrics: “you taste just right, sweet like Tennessee honey,” “I was there when you fell from the clouds and landed in the desert,” “swimming in the sunlight everyday,” and “I knew from the song that you sang that you were my lover for life.” I should probably just copy all of the lyrics from Genius and paste them here so you don’t have to deal with me rambling about how great they are.

3. Roses – The Chainsmokers feat. ROZES

Perfection is impossible. Everyone has a different opinion and most people feel things very strongly so there is nothing that could be unanimously agreed upon as perfection. However, there are a few pop songs that I can only describe as being perfect. Calling a song perfect, for me, is all about how it sounds and how it makes the listener feel. It’s not about the lyrics or message or musical mechanics or the people that made it. For the past couple of years, my example of this was “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne. That song was audio bliss and it was so perfect that it couldn’t have been made by human hands. There is now another song that I’d describe this way. “Roses” is perfect. ROZES has a beautifully soft voice that is perfectly complimented by outstanding production from The Chainsmokers. I can’t describe the beat drop myself so I’ll steal a YouTube comment from the official audio upload: “Beat dropped harder than my grades and my will to live.”

2. One Dance – Drake feat. Wizkid and Kyla/Too Good – Drake feat. Rihanna

I technically broke my one song per artist rule last year when I placed two Ellie Goulding songs in one spot as a tie. And as I hear those songs in 2016, I realized that “On My Mind” didn’t hold up quite as well as “Love Me Like You Do.” This might happen again with one of the Drake songs I’ve chosen, but I listened to both of these songs countless times throughout the year and believe that they are each worth several more listens. After the underwater-elevator-music fiasco that was “Hotline Bling,” I was surprised to find myself praising “One Dance” for its production. I’m usually a more lyric-focused critic, but the reason this song is so high on the list is simply because of the way it sounds. Yes, there are lyrics, but there’s a reason the word “dance” is in the title. Don’t worry about the words, just feel the music. As for “Too Good,” although I like the way it sounds, I like it more for the lyrics. It’s about miscommunication, emotional and physical distance, and learning to let go. It’s simple, but I feel this impact when the first line of the song is: “I don’t know how to talk to you.” It’s not complex or beautifully written, but it’s something we’ve all felt. I don’t like the Drake/Rihanna collaborations for her albums (“What’s My Name” and “Work,” the second of which barely qualifies as a song), but I’ll put up with dozens of them if we keep getting songs like “Too Good” and “Take Care.” The only bad thing about these songs is that there aren’t any official versions published on YouTube.

Honorable Mentions:

Wow – Beck

Or, as I like to call it, “Loser Pt. 2.” This is the only song in Beck’s catalog to remind me of his breakout hit. The lyrics are quite literally about nothing but he’s so cool and he pulls it off so well that I don’t question lines like “we’re pissing in the wind ’cause it’s so pine fresh.”

Good Grief – Bastille

This band is far too good for us and deserve to be much more famous than they are. Most people likely consider them a one hit wonder because of “Pompeii,” which I still sort of like, but most of their following singles, especially “Flaws,” are even better. And “Good Grief” quickly became one of my favorite Bastille songs and one of my favorite songs of the year.

This Girl – Kungs vs Cookin’ on 3 Burners

This was made to be the biggest hit of the year, but for some reason it peaked at 26 on the Hot 100. It’s a remix of a song from 2009, proving that 2016 was so awful that we had to steal some of our songs from years past. The original is also wonderful, but this version packs an extra punch.

Starboy – Daft Punk

I know that The Weeknd is the main artist on this track and Daft Punk is just featured but they’re the reason this song is on the list so I’m giving them full credit. The only credit I can give to The Weeknd is that I didn’t find his voice even slightly annoying. That’s a first for him.

Daddy Issues – The Neighbourhood

This was definitely my favorite song from Wiped Out!, with 2015’s “R.I.P. to My Youth” being a close second. It’s extremely chill and creates its own atmosphere. Anyone who liked “Sweater Weather” but didn’t listen to any of this band’s other work should check out … basically everything else they’ve done, really.

My Name is Human – Highly Suspect

They won me over with “Lydia” and continued to impress me with every other one of their tracks. This one is no exception. I have to applaud any rock song that contains hip hop lyrics like “I’m feeling myself” and makes both genres look good without the band embarrassing themselves. This song is slick, from the vocals to the instrumental.

24k Magic – Bruno Mars

It’s “Uptown Funk” again. It wore out on me more quickly than that song, in fact I currently don’t like it, but I want Bruno Mars to continue pretending to be other people for the rest of his career so I’m going to reward him for making a great throwback track even though most of us got sick of it pretty quickly.

How Far I’ll Go – Disney’s Moana

Can I include songs from children’s movies credited to fictional characters instead of actual artists? Oh wait, this is my list. I can do whatever I want. This song is performed several times in the movie and it gave me chills every single time. Anyone who knows me can tell you how much I love Disney and their music, but this is one of those songs that really hit me when I heard it. Lin-Manuel Miranda did a fantastic job with all of the songs from this film, but this is definitely the crowning achievement.

1. Somebody Else – The 1975

I’ve known for months that this would be my number one song of the year. I realized it when I heard it one morning on the way to school while staring at a pink and purple sky that seemed too beautiful and perfect to be real. In that moment I knew that this was the best song of the year. The sorrowful lyrics, Matt Healey’s purposefully weak voice, and the dramatic instrumentation work together to create a song that strangles my heart every time I hear it. Even though I haven’t been in the situation described in the song, I feel all of the emotions the narrator is going through as though they were my own. While making this list, my real challenge was figuring out the order of the other nine songs because this one rose so far above everything else I’ve heard this year.