Songs that have been the soundtrack of my 2015!
#1
Fresh off winning the sixth Grammy Awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance on February 2015, Aguilera should’ve capitalized on this powerful country ballad with Rascal Flatts. Unfortunately, there was never a studio recording released for the duet after their stunning performance on ACM Awards 2015. A wasted opportunity to earn another Grammy, I’d say!
RIOT (Rascal Flatts feat. Christina Aguilera)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkqhJxfnOKk
2 Stitches (Sam Mendes)
This super catchy hit was actually released on early May. It was not until Fall, though, it finally gained momentum to smash into US Billboard Top 10 –and it’s been staying there since then. Definitely the Song of Summer for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbfpW0pbvaU
3 Photograph (Ed Sheeran)
I think this is the very first Sheeran’s song that I really love. His biggest hit this year, Thinking Out Loud, was somehow unable to really hook me as this ballad completely does.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSDgHBxUbVQ
4 Hello (Adele)
A haunting, soaring, and mightily triumphant comeback offering from Adele after missing from the pop scene for years. When she sings “they say that time’s supposed to heal ya, but I ain’t done much healing…”, it always leaves me with nothing but chill. Always.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A
#5 Fight Song (Rachel Platten)
It had really been such a grower for me!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc
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6 Clock Don’t Stop (Carrie Underwood)
My favorite track from her latest album, Storyteller.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKJLNrQHKew
7 California Dreamin’ (Sia)
Sia covers a song from the 60’s and she recreates a totally dramatic rendition of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kH68rD9bbU
8 Ghosttown (Madonna)
Madonna’s best ballad since she released Take A Bow in 1994. Unlike the latter that topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for no less than 7 weeks, however, Ghosttown failed to crack the chart at all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgDxv0Qg_Rg
9 Shotgun (Christina Aguilera)
Accompanying her appearance on TV series Nashville, Aguilera released the country track for just a week on iTunes. It charted as high as #7 on Digital Country Songs, based on a week’s sales. Does she intend to include the song in her upcoming album?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wM_GYcdb9c
#10 FourFiveSeconds (Rihanna, Kanye West, Paul McCartney)
When the single was released on January, it seemed that Rihanna’s album was already on the horizon. As 2015 is approaching the end, though, Rihanna’s ANTI still has no release date, yet mired in various messy rumors: repeatedly scrapped album, Azealia Banks’ claim for collaborating with Rihanna in ANTI, songwriter Glass John’s rants on Twitter, etc. And, let’s not forget those scary cryptic AntiDiary rooms…
The single peaked at #4 on US Billboard Hot 100, yet some dismiss it as a hit since it failed to matched her previous lead singles that topped the chart: Only Girl (2010), We Found Love (2011), Diamonds (2012).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wM_GYcdb9c
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#11 Ex’s and Oh’s (Elle King)
The song is very catchy! She’s Rob Scheider’s daughter, btw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uLI6BnVh6w
12 Heartbeat (Carrie Underwood)
A ballad single taken from her latest album, Storyteller. She made a beautiful performance of this song on AMA’s 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg50JGPEoo8
13 Writing’s On The Wall (Sam Smith)
“How do I live? How do I breathe? When you’re not here I’m suffocating…”
This became the first Bond theme to top UK chart ever. (Yes, Adele’s Skyfall peaked at #2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jzDnsjYv9A
14 Like I’m Gonna Lose You (Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend)
Both earned their first #1 US Billboard Hot 100 on 2014, Trainor and Legend teamed up for a ballad that somehow lacks a bit of magic that Legend’s “All of Me” had.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-MBfn8XjIU
#15 The Nights (Avicii)
This may not be a massive as his 2013 hit Wake Me Up, yet it is equally catchy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtF6Jej8yb4
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16 Conqueror (Estelle)
“Life is like a big merry-go-round…” sings the Grammy Award winner, Estelle. While it failed to impact the chart, it became the soundtrack for TV series Empire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvvimH5_Ap4
17 This Is How We Roll (Fifth Harmony)
Every year needs a fun, carefree, simple pop tune. From their latest album Reflection, this track is it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EENG48m_Ssg
18 La China (Porter)
Every year needs a dark, mysterious, yet captivating pop tune. Dive into its sing-along chorus “Mexi, Mexi, Mexi, Mexicana”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSjbCoB1rzI
19 Beautiful Day (Jon Bon Jovi)
Feel the abundant energy from this beautiful song!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJt1EUcnK8o
#20 Infinity (One Direction)
Some pleasant surprises do happen when I (reluctantly) check the latest offerings from the currently-hyped artists, such as One Direction. Not sure why they canceled this as a single from their album, while instead made it a promotional single only.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26bcRNifIOM
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