2010s- the decade many of us at SCAD Radio entered our emo phases, became music fanatics, and decided to forego our families’ wishes of us becoming lawyers or doctors. But most importantly, it was the decade made stomachable by these 10 songs, voted on by our entire staff and volunteers. Go visit our other ultimate list- the best albums of the decade, and pay attention to our 2019 best song and album lists.
#10 “Take Me to Church”- Hozier
“Separation of Church and state.” A phrase that’s been under fire since Thomas Jefferson, up until the fight for marriage equality has engulfed the world. Hozier’s political ballad isn’t just a battle for gay rights, but a battle against government’s praise for the crucifix long before the American Constitution was even penned. His vocals roar like he’s singing in a massive cathedral, but only one in a world of equality- not religious restraints.
#9 “Video Games”- Lana Del Rey
The alt-pop movement of this decade to the likes of Billie Eilish and Lorde can be traced back to a single launching point. The nostalgic backdrop, grainy video, and willowy textures of Lizzy Grant’s alter ego exploded with this monumental single, one of the decade’s first viral music videos. Say what you want about her love-it-or-hate-it Born to Die, but “Video Games” complimented every trademark of the gangster Nancy Sinatra.
#8 “Still Into You”- Paramore
Enter Hayley Williams, an auteur of the alternative pop star brigade. Her band is one of the earliest invaders of an iPod shuffle for hits like “Misery Business,” and their pop punk persona continued well into the 2010’s with this fruity track about as colorful as Williams’ hair.
#7 “Formation”- Beyoncé
Despite being the only Lemonade cut off the beaten path from its dramatic narrative, the final track from the 2016 masterpiece is the dessert you’ll want to eat after taking your man to Red Lobster. Those instantly recognizable beginning zigzag chords flaunt Bey’s black pride anthem, oozing with lyrics ripe for an elaborate music video, a symbolic symphony of her heritage, and arguably music’s finest visual component to date.
#6 “High Horse”- Kacey Musgraves
If John Wayne and KC & the Sunshine Band had a child, it would be Kacey Musgraves’ disco-country banger. A sneer at pretentious people that’s also a midwestern roadhouse’s dance night necessity, “High Horse” saddles up everything that’s made the Texas native’s take on country a thrill, even to those with more Rihanna than Reba in their blood.
#5 “Somebody That I Used to Know”- Gotye feat. Kimbra
Aside from the knee-slapper jab “Now Gotye is just somebody that we used to know” currently flooding the comment section of its radiant music video, the pair’s breakup classic still holds a seismic impact, chugging well past a billion views. It’s not hard to see why, from the Australian singer’s subtle buildup leading into the iconic chorus. Then Kimbra emerges with an equally enticing backstory, securing the pair a deserved Record of the Year Grammy.
#4 “Pompeii”- Bastille
In an age of Katy Perry and Robin Thicke dominating radio, it was unusual to hear a Gregorian chant that started Bastille’s swing for the charts. Yet another track immediately recalled from its opening, the world through Bastille’s eyes was crashing down like the historical city of its namesake. The single erupted the charts, despite not being your typical Top 40 radio choice.
#3 “Alright”- Kendrick Lamar
It may be #3 on our list, but “Alright” is the most 2010s track of the decade. What our elders would say about the work of the Simon and Garfunkels of their day- “it’s more than a song.” That’s what this era will say for Kendrick Lamar’s fight song that became a Black Lives Matter anthem. Within the context of its album, 2015 landmark To Pimp a Butterfly, “Alright” is set the morning after a drunken night in a hotel room contemplating suicide. But the simple yet powerful message was a rallying cry for social justice that dominated the latter half of the 2010s.
#2 “Pumped Up Kicks”- Foster the People
A clear option for all of those “jumpy songs with dark lyrics” lists for the Buzzfeeds of the internet, Foster the People’s breakthrough is another track written by the headlines. This list has made it obvious we hold a liking for songs that tell of our age, and this epic that’s aged too well is an easy pick for the present’s musical time capsule.
#1 “Do I Wanna Know?”- Arctic Monkeys
Whether you first heard it from a Bacardi commercial or that hipster girl at school who showed you all the bands that’d eventually cram your playlist, “Do I Wanna Know?” brought Alex Turner’s crew higher than anyone labeled as “indie” could dream of. Unlike the ‘Creep by Radioheads’ of the world, it catered to the band’s core fans as well as that group of listeners who aren’t as cultured as you are.
