Top music singles of 2016
December 29, 2016
This year has offered pioneering music, and as 2016 comes to a close, it’s time to look back on some of the tunes that have sparked conversation or made listeners jump up and down in celebration.
With the Grammy awards on Feb. 12 airing on CBS, this year has provided music for everyone and below is a list of a few of those chart toppers.
4. “Hello” by Adele
Fans have long awaited the return of the ‘queen of getting over your ex’ songwriter, as Adele teaches how to turn your sorrow into treasured gold.
Adele burst onto the music scene with “Hello,” the first single off her 2016 album “25,” which followed her four year hiatus from “21,” released in 2011. The album earned her a nod of four Grammy nominations.
In “Hello,” Adele sings about a conversation with her ex-lover as she hopes to have one final chance to apologize for her end of the relationship. She is constantly calling but is never able to connect, because her lover will not pick up the phone. She showed her vocal growth with “Hello,” as she pummeled through the lyrics, note after note offering a nostalgic and unique sound.
Other tracks on “25” include “When We Were Young” and “Say Hello To Your New Lover” which both showcase Adele’s growth as a singer and songwriter.
The single has reached over 1 billion views on YouTube and “25” is a certified Diamond selling record according to billboard.com. Adele’s album is nominated for Album of the Year, and she is set to perform at the Grammy awards.
Want to listen? Check it out below.
3. “Angels” by Chance The Rapper featuring Saba
Chance The Rapper is a true artist securing his own sound which includes a Chicago flare in every track. In the song “Angels” he talks about his journey and how much he loves Chicago. He goes into detail about how he is surrounded by angels who are guiding him to his blessings of bringing love and positivity to the music industry. He also tells about how negative opinions of his music cannot effect him.
His album, “Coloring Book,” houses other talented Chicago artists such as NoName Gypsy, Jamila Woods and Saba, and offers a sound unlike anything else. Each track gives listeners more pieces of Chance the Rapper and who he is not only as an artist, but as a human and as a young black boy from the Southside of Chicago. “Angels” has reached 8 million views on YouTube and shows Chance flying around the city of Chicago giving viewers a tour of the city.
Chance The Rapper has single handedly taken the music industry by storm by being the first unsigned artist to release a free album to be nominated for seven Grammy awards. Chance, or “Chano” as most of his fans call him, is up for Best New Artist at this year’s Grammys.
Want to listen? Check it out below.
2. “Work” by Rihanna featuring Drake
Rihanna has transformed into a sensational fashion and music icon since the release of her first album, “Music Of The Sun.” Since then, Rihanna gave the summer it’s anthems “Needed Me” and “Kiss It Better” which are both nominated for Grammys.
“Work” was a hit when Rihanna released two videos for the star-studded collaboration of herself and Drake. Rihanna took viewers deep into a house party which offered Caribbean vibes and dance moves as she tapped into her island roots and showed viewers dance moves to match her matured vocal ability.
The single has reached over 800 million views on YouTube and is set to go head to head with Beyoncé for album of the year at the upcoming Grammy awards. Rihanna isn’t far behind Beyoncé, with eight Grammy nominations overall. Last year she was recognized by MTV as the 2016 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award recipient.
Want to listen? Check it out below.
1. “Formation” by Beyoncé
The ‘Queen of the Beyhive’ leads the pack with nine Grammy nominations for her most recent album “Lemonade.”
The album chronicles the ups and downs of a woman in love and in scorn due to an unhealthy relationship. Beyoncé kicked off the release with “Formation” which uses images of injustice and police brutality, as Beyoncé showcased her solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
The video quickly received backlash, as fans criticized Beyoncé for being anti-police and tempers flared even more as she stormed the Super Bowl halftime show with pro-black messages. It was a beauty to watch such a powerful woman in music use her platform for something she believed in. Since its release, “Formation” has received over 9 million views on YouTube.
She also performed “Lemonade” at the 2016 Video Music Awards. It is safe to say that Beyoncé probably had one of the best years in music.
Want to listen? Check it out below.
Darius Parker is a staff writer at the Northern Star. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @sir_harlem.
