Goose's Top 10 Pop Songs of 201710. Hey Violet - Break My HeartTeenage girl pop, the most puerile and infectious of all genres. This song makes great use of what would become the modern trend in 2017, of not having a chorus, rather a "breakdown;" even in pop. Rena sings of her desire to have a guy "break her heart" as it's one thing she's never experienced yet in her teenage days, showing that girls truly are just out there to feel, and experience. Huge thanks to Qweczol for introducing me to Hey Violet as they do not get radio play here.
9. Taylor Swift & ZAYN - I Don't Wanna Live ForeverI had to include Taylor in this somehow. Written and recorded in 2016 for the 2017 cinematic presentation
Fifty Shades Darker, Taylor was in between album cycles when this came out. Interestingly, it was the third hit song she had written in three different genres, all through 2016. Better Man performed by Little Big Town, and This is What You Came for performed by Calvin Harris & Rihanna both had chart topping success in their genres, and so did I Don't Wanna Live Forever. Looking back now, you can see this may have been Taylor's first dabble into the degenerate world of drugs & sex that caused Reputation to feel lower tier than Red or 1989; but her delivery and feel in this song is truly outstanding.
8. Charli XCX - Boys (Acoustic)"I need that bad boy to do me right on a Friday // and I need that good one to wake me up on a Sunday // that one from work can come over Monday night // I want them all." Charli XCX's unabashed desires are too Sirenlike to not become completely enchanted. The original version has a crazy music video featuring tons of famous "boys", but it is the acoustic version which grabs me more. "Ooh baby boys" at the end of the song just drives me nuts. It's uncontrollable.
7. The Chainsmokers ft. Coldplay - Something Just Like ThisIt seemed like they were going to take over the world with songs like these... they'd only made 5 in a row, all of which were bangers... but somehow abandoned the style for pure crap on the rest of the album. A fantastic dream about a normal relationship sung by Chris Martin to the Chainsmokers signature synths. This was supposed to be the song I would use in my hoarded Silo Secret Agent 1:07, but it never came to be. The build and release is just too epic, the final 60 seconds just immerse you in the dream world they so eloquently paint throughout the song.
6. Carly Rae Jepsen - Cut to the FeelingThe story behind this song is really insane. It was partly recorded off someone's phone, at the end of the European release of the film
Ballerina so pop fans went nuts searching, questing the Earth for the full version. It was never found. So the song took on this sort of mythology to it. The soundtrack wasn't released with the European film, and wouldn't be released until the U.S. film's release; which kept getting delayed. Randomly in June, on the same day I was actually attending her live symphony show in Toronto, she dropped the track, which just further shows her pop mastery. Unfortunately the radio & co didn't pick this up which prevented it from going both #1 worldwide and #1 on this list.
5. Charlie Puth - AttentionThe most red pilled hit song of the year, Charlie sings about a dumb Stacy who "just wants attention // you don't want my heart." It's amazing to be able to relate to even mega attractive super stars on the topic of women, proving it's not just me, it's them. The song is allegedly about Bella Thorne, though Charlie would say in an interview that "it's not who you'd think it's about" just proving the point that this isn't a problem isolated to one woman. I'm actually surprised this became a hit in 2017, but it did, and its bassline slaps hard.
4. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee - DespacitoThe song that perhaps most perfectly embodies "summer" ever recorded. I prefer the original, although you can't deny Bieber's presence turned this into arguably the biggest banger in history... Sixteen weeks at #1 USA (tying Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men from 1996), 4.6 billion views & counting. We finally got to live through a song bigger than The Macarena, and I enjoyed every moment of it. Whenever I went to the surf shack at my cottage, I'd put $1 in the jukebox machine and play both versions of Despacito. No regrets.
3. Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso, ft. Florida Georgia Line, watt - Let Me GoA sleeper banger of the year. I never heard this song on the radio (though then again, I didn't listen to the radio after Reputation was released) and luckily clicked on it one night on YouTube. An unbeat, tropic influenced song about the failings of a relationship. Hailee's acting in the video reminds us why she's an Oscar nominee. Watt's guitar is just cool, FGL deliver their verse incredibly, and Hailee's plea that "I been hoping somebody loves in the ways I couldn't // somebody's taking care of all the mess I made // someone you don't have to change" wants to be a comforting thought after hot girl dumps you, but in reality we know we'd still be bitter. Yeah she can wish these things, but it doesn't matter in the end. But somehow you can still take solace in it.
2. Cashmere Cat ft. Ariana Grande - QuitI really, really wanted to make this #1. Opposing the other songs in my top 3, Ariana shares how she just can't quit the guy she's with, despite their disagreements. This song came on a Spotify playlist while driving to the cottage, and like the lyric video, it's just a perfect song for highway cruising. The way it feels like Ariana's vocals are suspended in animation by Cashmere Cat's underlying synth, frames them just a little longer to drive them home that much more. The breakdown is like nothing I've ever heard before. This song just stays with you.
1. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me"I had a dream // we were back to seventeen // summer nights and the liberties // never growing up."
As much as I grow older and try to find my place in this world as a man, taking responsibility, facing challenges head on, and weathering the storms life gives you; it's impossible to hear a line like that and not think back on childish ambition, carefree days of young love, summertime and freedom. Is Selena singing about Justin Bieber in this song? Would he try to walk with her "through the dark side of the morning?" Would he need her to rock him "when the sun won't let you sleep?" As someone who stays up until the break of dawn regularly, again I find myself relating to the reasons why Selena is leaving. Can a man like myself ever be loved in my current state? These are the questions pop music can make you reflect upon when it is truly good. Kygo's classic chopping of Selena's vocals is just unbelievable, true talent. The bounce of a bright piano mashed in with the synth... "sipping whiskey neat // highest floor of the Bowery // and that was high enough..." There is just too much in this song to get to in a simple forum post. It is an absolute masterpiece.
