The Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2017 (Pt. 2)

The Best & Worst lists are always a highlight of my year. Please keep doing what you're doing for a long time; listening to pop with the Enhanced Todd Experience (TM) makes the good stuff more enjoyable for knowing some background on the artist & production, and the bad stuff is also better because at least I can laugh at it remembering your punchlines.

Hey Todd, did any of Kendrick's "hits" this year register for you?

Jackson Sinnenberg

Carly Rae Jepsen is the best pop artist live rn. She just isn't "top 40" flavored

Jackson Sinnenberg

That bass line in the Charlie Puth song rules my soul

Deanna Banana

It's always so heartwarming to hear you talk about songs you love. They're more enjoyable than your Worst of lists imo.

Ridd

"I'm enjoying myself; fuck you!" is the best thing that can be said about 2017. Thank you Todd, even our tastes weren't perfectly in synch, this list was a welcome respite from the awfulness of the year. <3

Rhiannon M

As he's used for a few other recent years, DJ Drybones' mashup: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_nbg04D77g" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_nbg04D77g</a>

Jonathan P

My reaction throughout the video about number 1 "Okay, it's not here, but it's probably a honorable mention since I have no idea what Todd will pick....okay, it's not a honorable mention, but that's fine. He has said that he is hot and cold on this particular artist....wait, it's actually number 1. Yes!"

Barbara Anderson

Hard Times was easily my favorite song this year, glad to see it mentioned at the very least.

Aisha

A great top ten list this year Todd, most of the songs on your list would also be on my list of best song. Lets hope for even better songs this year.

Best birthday present ever! I'm left curious about your opinions on Sign of the Times and New Rules though, since they didn't make honorable mention on either list.

Meg Galuardi

What's the mashup you use for the in between?

Jackson Sinnenberg

Glorious wasn't a hit last year but it's currently working it's way up the charts so maybe it could be on this year's list.

I started crying at "or a cat". Then again at "sounding like the Glee version of yourself". God I needed that laugh today. Awesome list as always!

Erin Powers-Kim

Sad Macklemore didn't even make the honorable mentions. Glorious and his duo with Kesha were amazing.

Big, big hell yeah to the #1 here. Melodrama was my favorite album of the year, and Green Light's a hell of a single. Also everyone needs to buy Carly Rae Jepsen's albums, holy shit, get her on the charts and on the radio again.

Garrison Gondek

I'm so happy that I saw so many songs that I loved on the list, but the #1 made me specially happy since it was probably my favorite pop song of the year, but I thought not many critics liked it lol Aaah, bless you Todd.

"Nickelback's is... constipated" My sides.

Those Michael McDonald words be fighting ones Todd be carefull

Would love to hear the opinion from Todd on "No Roots" from Alice Merton. Love the bass, the build up on the song and it's the favorite song of my girlfriend (who was a music critic herself). But on the other hand the lyrics are just very bland and repetitive, so i could see the song being lackluster in this regard.

Björn Apel

I spent most of this list saying "YES" as you validated my opinions more and more. I'm happily surprised you liked XO Tour Llif3, though, I was expecting you to hate it.

I love these lists every year, and this year is no different. Thanks.

JojoScotia

Wasn't feeling most of these top ten songs, but man, the top two were probably mine as well

I can't believe I Feel It Coming wasn't even an honorable mention. I was positive you would love it!

One little nitpick: the Chainsmokers singer is Andrew Taggart, not Alex. The other dude's named Alex.

Grace

I have never been more baffled and bewildered by a Todd Top Ten. I was literally saying "No... don't... no no no NO" as the intro to #3 played. And the bridge to "Castle" just reminds me of your bit on "Fifteen" so long ago: I'm not gonna be sad that Ed's friend's brother overdosed, that doesn't mean anything to me. BUT you had two of my top three songs on your list ("Water" and "Praying"), so I'll overlook my disagreements.

Jonathan P

Oh my god thank you, that bass line in Attention captured my heart the first time I heard it. I was ashamed

I've been seeing the artist you picked for #1 make it to plenty of #1 choices for other reviewers for their Albums of the Year for 2017. I was kind of sad she didn't get a little more airtime on the radio.

"Castle on the Hill" is everything "7 Years" wanted to be.

Elisira

Wow, Green Light wasn't a big hit in the US? It was huge here in Australia (Though any hits from Aus or NZ tend to do better down here),and as someone who works in retail I heard it most dayson the radio. But very glad to see it get some recognition :D Also, yes, why is Carly Rae not the biggest pop star in the world right now?

Maeghan

I am shocked "Feel it Coming" didn't make it even as an honorable mention.

EmperorTigerstar

Seriously that song makes me so damn happy

That number one was like a fucking pipe dream, I have never been so happy to see a #1 in my life

I think the one song I'd add to this list if I could change it is Demi Lovato's "Sorry Not Sorry", just because it's empowering as hell, and does "the best revenge is a life well-lived" or "I'm having fun, fuck you" brilliantly, just as well as "Green Light" IMO.

So much agreement on these choices, all the top 5 were all serious stand-out tracks for me that I really loved the first time I heard them! I think you also really capture why. (Except for "Slide" which nobody knows what it's about or what makes it good, but it absolutely is.) So happy to see these highlighted!

I think i've agreed with this list more than any previous year. 8/10 were in my spotify most played list for the year. I'd have picked Stay over Paris personally, but hey to each their own.

Colby Kline

WOOOOOOOO!!! I can't believe it made #1 :) I was just expecting maybe an honorable mention

Devin Brewer

Todd's been pretty vocal on his apathy towards DAMN.

RHAP/TITS fans unite!

Personally I would've cut Paris for Selena Gomez-It Ain't Me, that Post Malone dreck for Demi Lovato-Sorry not Sorry and Drake's eh song for Miley Cyrus-Malibu

LifeIsStrange

your commentary on #3 is absolutely spot on, it had me dying. when i heard that song for the first time i had to check wikipedia to make sure the artist in question had written/produced it (which they have! unbelievable!)

surasshu

Surprised at no Kung Fu Kenny mention but then you made up for it with the CRJ honorable mention and surprise #1

Andrew Lenahan

I honestly expected DNA to make the list cause I think Todd said he didn't really feel Humble

Andrew Lenahan

Really shocked Humble, Redbone, and I Feel It Coming all got missed, but one of the biggest curveballs as far as what i expected and what was on the list. Good stuff as always!

Adam Nelson

Good list, and surprising number one (though worthy). However, I am bothering to comment/shitpost because...there are two artists that I was extraordinarily certain would at least be honorable mentions. Two artists everyone else's lists seemed to have. Yet we only heard a snippet of one song. The other "clearly doesn't want to be there" on pop songs but doesn't even get honorable mentions. Don't got loyalty inside your...okay, it's your list, but I'm a curious jackass.

As a middle to lower middle class nearly twenty one year old living in Oklahoma, I like to imagine "Paris" being about Paris Texas. It's a lot more relatable that way... also kinda funny. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Adams has plenty of good songs. Also Photograph is a great song.

LifeIsStrange

she cancelled the show due to protests over Israel's shall we say less then stellar treatment towards Palestinians.

LifeIsStrange

I never got what the big deal about Lorde was, always found her immensely overrated(Royals is one of my most hated songs ever, it's pretentious and boring nonsense).

LifeIsStrange

Alas, it didn’t qualify. Stupid Billboard Hot 100 and music buying public :/

Elizabeth M Hyde

I got so disappointed when Cut to the Feeling was only honorable mention. I was really hoping it would be your number 1.

Lauren Mulligan

"I hate all of you" =(

Adequately Sized Dog

Still a giant nope to The Chainsmokers, but in my local area Green Light was on heavy play on our 2 alternative stations. Brilliant song that gives me chills with it's great contrast between the prechorus and chorus.

Good picks all around, this was a great year for bad acts to redeem themselves

Jacob Dickens

#1 YESSSS. I liked Lorde's first album, but it really did feel very teenager-in-the-gifted-class (for good reason), it kinda gave you the sense that she'd look back on it in a few years and cringe. Whereas Melodrama, aka. Lorde: The College Years, had juuust enough perspective for that "life is messy and I'm young and I really don't have my shit together" angle to feel so, so real. She knows she doesn't know everything, ya know?

A. M.

oh god I had the same problem with Feels I'm a sucker for a good groove though so I just had to suffer

sweesbees

Hey, we have the same Best Song of the Year. Melodrama is the most unfairly ignored pop album since Love You To Death. Okay, Love You To Death is only like a year old, but seriously, why didn't everyone listen to it?

Ellie

Love your videos. Tbh, my Top 10 List was 100% Different from Your's. As in, every pick was different.

Ultranatic Productions

Oh, and good list, I migiht've re-ordered a few of the songs but you definitely picked out what worked from this year's music.

Martha Boatright

I heard that song *once* on Sirius XM Hits One last year. Criminally underappreciated!

I think I enjoy the best list more than the worst, especially the "not a hit but should have been" shout outs. I wouldn't mind whole videos of just those. "Hard Times" freaking kills. That whole album does. Surprising omissions - "Redbone", "Million Reasons", and "I Feel It Coming," though probably just because they were some of my favorites. :)

Meowlissa

Todd, Ed Sheeran grew up in Farlingham, which literally has a GIANT CASTLE ON A HILL outside the town. It's not figurative at all, it's a reference to his hometown's famous landmark: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framlingham_Castle" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framlingham_Castle</a>

Martha Boatright

Gah how could you not go with Something Just Like This for your Chainsmokers curveball. I don't care if the rest of the song is mediocre that guitar and synth solo deserves an honorable mention at least.

Andrew Conrad

Huh, no mention of Kendrick Lamar anywhere,

Nic Pruitt

Lorde at #1 and an honorable mention for Haim?? YES.

Your number one? HELL YES.

Elizabeth M Hyde

the difference between putting closer on your list and paris on your list is that paris actually is pretty dang good

Crow

Love the list! definitely gonna check out some of the things I didn't know. Keep it up!

Omri Singer

This is a fantastic list, Todd, but I'm a little sad there was no mention of "Sign of the Times." That song was a religious experience for me.

Fantastic number one. Although she did break my heart by cancelling the Israeli show, which I was going to see, and so were many of my friends. I haven't replayed the album since then, and I think it's going to be a while until I do.

WOW. I was FULLY expecting That's What I Like at #1, but you surprised me in a great way.

Will Seamon

Yeah Hard Times absolutely should have been a hit and it's a crime that it wasn't

Will Seamon

That album has been on HEAVY rotation for me this year, and I did not like her first album that much

THANK YOU FOR CONTIUING TO RECOGNIZE CARLY RAE JEPSEN'S GREATNESS

Yessssss, number one

No static after the Portugal. The Man honorable mention.

Michael Russell

When I heard the start of Paris I fucking laughed for 30 seconds straight

Will Seamon

I fucking knew you'd love Attention and I knew you'd be ashamed as hell &lt;3 Attention is amazing, it's okay

Will Seamon

Castle on the Hill is like if Seven Years by Lukas Graham was good

Will Seamon