By Disha Angadi, First Year, Law
Picture this, it's the summer of 2016 and you are walking down the street with your Sony headphones blasting ‘Don’t Let Me Down’. You look for a spot to film a musical.ly video in your new DIY tie-dye t-shirt, as the catchy chorus pulls you in right before the colourful instrumentals make you feel like you’re flying.
The music released in 2016 can only be described as this vivacious symphony which effectively fused tropical house, dance-pop, and urban influences resulting in a sound which broke the mold of traditional guitar-led production. Unlike today’s music which seems to be either driven by algorithms or by shock value (a perfect example of this is ‘Gnarly’), music back then felt fresh and timeless. It is this timelessness which has made it relevant in pop music nearly a decade later.
Nostalgia and the feeling of wanting creativity in music is stronger than ever, especially now as feeds feel more engineered and the internet no longer feels exciting nor does it feel like a space run by people but one run by machines. Therefore, the movement ‘2026 is the new 2016’ comes as no surprise.
10 | Justin Timberlake - ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling!’
Released as a single, this iconic song took over as the ultimate feel-good song. Its snappy instrumentals make for an instant mood shift, and before you know it, you’ll be bopping your head and breaking out in dance moves. The carefree lyrics coupled with the chorus make for the perfect mood to make every worry feel trivial after all life’s not so bad as long as you ‘just dance, dance, dance’, right?
9 | Rihanna - ‘Work (ft. Drake)’
This was the lead single in Rihanna’s eighth studio album ANTI, this unforgettable Drizzy-RiRi collaboration features crisp R&B with Rihanna’s proud portrayal of her Barbadian heritage adding a personal touch to this club banger. Even without a clear pre-chorus, this song seems to be building itself up throughout its run time. Drake’s verse adds a different flavour to the song as he dips more towards free-verse than ever before. This makes way for the best part that is when their voices merge to create a smooth butter-like rhythm. This makes for a satisfying end to the song which completely soaked the listeners in its unmatched vibe.
8 | Justin Bieber - ‘Love Yourself’
This song with its sombre lyrics coupled with the gentle instrumentals driven by striking chords on the guitar quickly rose to fame. It soon became the official break-up song, cementing Bieber’s spot on music charts worldwide. The low-key production made the song feel more raw and vulnerable, quite unlike his other releases. In this introspective ballad, Bieber recognises the toxicity of his past relationship and the fact that moving on is the best way forward. This made the song feel like a warm hug and a reassuring push to recover from a terrible breakup.
7 | The Chainsmokers - ‘Closer (ft. Halsey)’
This cultural mammoth of a song is known for its snappy production which seamlessly contrasts with Halsey’s smooth vocals and the tones of Drew’s slick voice. This EDM song with the legendary pop-crossover was an instant hit, a major reason for its virality was the song’s build-up from slow-paced to a lively party hit. The focus throughout the song is on the vocals, the synth chord with the kick and bass take up minimal space setting the stage for the vocals to truly shine.
6 | Zara Larsson - ‘Lush Life’
This lead single from Zara’s second studio album So Good is the embodiment of the YOLO mindset. It invites listeners to have a devil-may-care attitude and cruise through life on their own terms. This powerful messaging is further amplified by the electro-pop production.The bass and scrambled-tambourine sounds also create a catchy melody which perfectly compliments Zara’s strong nasal voice. This timeless song dominated the charts as the summer jam of the year.
5 | Calvin Harris - ‘This Is What You Came For (ft. Rihanna)’
This marked the third collaboration of Harris and Rihanna. Following the success of ‘We Found Love’, this song invites the listeners for a different experience all together. The production which is dance-pop driven in addition to the captivating chorus led by Rihanna’s vocals make for a delightful auditory feast. The manipulation of Rihanna’s voice adds an almost ethereal air to the song which is sharply contrasted with the fast-paced instrumentals.
4 | Mike Posner - ‘I Took A Pill In Ibiza (Seeb Remix)’
Released by Posner at a time in his career where he was often labelled as a ‘one-hit wonder’, this mellow song explores the very real cost of fame. How the all-consuming pill of fame distorts reality and drives behaviour which comes from the pressures of being a celebrity. It explored Posner’s struggle with addiction shedding light to the person behind the image. It is considered as the starting point for him to embrace vulnerability through the acceptance of his mistakes driven by a wish to move forward.
3 | Sia - ‘Cheap Thrills (ft. Sean Paul)’
The very definition of ‘camp’- from the music video to the lyrics, this song presents a carefree attitude rightfully earning it the title of the ‘song of the summer.’ Although it was originally intended for Rihanna, Sia with her versatility and unforgettable vocals claims it as her own. The song presents a combination of colourful synths and drums which serve not to overwhelm but make space for the artists to excel. The almost conversational style of the lyrics makes it feel like a dialogue between a girl who just wants to dance and a guy who is head over heels in love with her.
2 | Lukas Graham - ‘7 Years’
This song is a poignant autobiographical account of the artists’ life as children all through to adulthood reaching all the way to a contemplation of the future. The production feels very low-key highlighting the emotion and yearning in the voice of Lukas. This creates an atmosphere driven by nostalgia and the fear of getting older which is coupled with the idea of losing loved ones. The song ends with a message that regardless of how fleeting life may seem, every moment is worth remembering and cherishing.
1 | Drake - ‘One Dance (ft. WizKid and Kyla)’
The song which ruled 2016 was One Dance with its powerful kick drum and Afrobeat rhythms making for the perfect club song. The tropical and hip sound is further amplified by the vocal samples of British singer Kyla from her funky 2008 track, ‘Do You Mind’. The flirty beginning with ‘Baby, I like your style’ coupled with the minimalist vibe of a song creates the perfect atmosphere for a party. The bass heavy track keeps the listener immersed from the beginning till the very end.
Featured image: Epic RecordsWhat is your favourite song from 2016?
