Nah, I'm mostly with you. Both Taylor Swift songs in particular were awful. I said it further up, but I liked Ex's and Oh's, and I kinda sorta liked Cool for the Summer, and I liked Shut Up and Dance the first few times I heard it. At least a lot of big songs this year were upbeat.

Oh, actually, I guess I should say I liked Shut Up and Dance, but only the first hundred thousand times I heard it. Then it started to wear on me. That one was tough, because I usually don't listen to music on the radio at all, and when I do, it's not pop stations, but that song was on every format so it got old fast.

Sorry, Todd, can't really get behind this list like I've been able to in other years. Mostly because I think Style is a childish, vapid song, like most of Taylor Swift's stuff. Wanting your boyfriend to be like James Dean? Yeah, you and every other 15 year old girl. I think Ex's and Oh's was the only song I actually liked. Cool for the Summer was ok, too, I suppose.

Down with Demi! Team Ariana4LIFE! ...I'm probably alone on this one, aren't I?

ice.cream.assassin

Well, it's Mø. I've listened to her other stuff, and her enunciation isn't great, but hey.

I thought 2015 was a dull year for pop, but as you've pointed out, there were quite a few gems! My only bugbear is #4, I can't stand Mø in that song, I hate that weird nasal/auto-tune thing on the "we all need someone to lean awn" lyric.

You should check out more Major Lazer. "Bubble Butt" is probably their only song that bad, but stuff like "Get Free" and "Powerful" is amazing. Oh, and they were also the producers behind "Paper Planes" and "Too Close" (though they had a different lineup back then)

I think this is the first list i wholeheartedly share positivity on. 2015 was a bangup, filler free year, and a worthwhile song wasn't far out of reach. Even several unmentioned deserve credit for being top shelf pop

Girl in the Shut Up And Dance is Lauren Taft

Leia Gelwasser

I guess I should have dreamed bigger. Great list and great job!

If you can't access the video, click on view all comments and you'll see it in there. And you should, because it's good. I was happy to see the #1 where it was, I was worried it might not even make the list.

And it should have!

Excellent work.

Adequately Sized Dog

Best top 10 you ever did. Agree with basicaly everything

I can't access this video for some reason.

Molly Rasberry

This is a good list. I don't think I have ever liked as many songs on your Top Ten as I did this year. More importantly however, is the fact that this list introduced me to Run Away With Me, which I now love. It would be great to get a best-of-the-year-esque monologue about that song, and hear what struck you personally.

Your number one, I was in love with it the very second I heard it when I put the CD in my stereo. Great list Todd, you never disappoint!

I know you weren't a massive fan, but it's a shame Allesia Cara's "Here" is absent, if only due to it being the closest a pop station will ever be to playing Portishead.

I feel like I'm on an island here. I didn't actively like any of the songs in Todd's top 9, and actively disliked about half of them. Like, I thought the 2014 songs were a LOT better. And if I had a worst list this year, both Taylor Swift songs would be on it. It's a bit surprising because I usually agree with Todd. Like, I'm not mad or anything, I'm still glad he made the list, but really, am I the only one who doesn't like these songs?

Jacob Alys Rudolph

Damn it. I put money on Bills by LunchMoney Lewis being at #1. Didn't do my research, it didn't chart too high in the states.

JojoScotia

#2 is 100% my favorite song of the year, and I only partly say that because I'm a lesbian and Demi is so fucking hot in this video (and talking about her bi-curiosity). I'm cool all the time, Demi.

It's always fun to see your "story arcs" with long lasting pop stars and since you've had complex views on this artist from 2009 it's kind of neat to see them at #1

God bless you Todd for your number one. I remember hearing that one for the first time last January and being STRUCK by it.

Madeline Fey

I can't see the video. Huh.

Leia Gelwasser

Except that Walk the Moon isn't indie rock at all. I really don't like the song either, but lumping it in with the same genre that includes Pavement and Parquet Courts isn't exactly accurate.

I'm sorry, I couldn't stand #3 from the first time I heard it. It was everything I hate about indie rock in one song

Andrew Lenahan

Where'd the link go?

Todd, you won me over with your #3, which was my favorite song of the year... and then you stabbed me right in the balls with your #2, which I couldn't stand. That song is just so polarizing, and we happened to fall in opposite directions on it. That being said, your taste gels better with my own that any other online critic's does.

Brad Riegner

I thought FourFiveSeconds would've been a bigger hit than it was. So I didn't know that the real lyric in "Lean on" was "blow a kiss" not "focus" until recently. And even now that I know, I still hear "focus." I wonder if Robin Shulz's "Sugar" would've made your list or an honourable mention if it charted high enough. It was one of my favourites of the year, I love it. I know the lists are a lot of work, but they're really enjoyable. Thanks!

Alina

That was a damn good song. Who knew Jason Derulo had that in him?

Joe G

Your #1 I never got sick of listening to. I'd actually hunt for it on the radio dial. It reminds me of some of Don Henley's 80s hits (which I always preferred to the Eagles, natch). Damn though, a lot of decent pop hits this year!

Joe G

Also, gotta love Max Martin and Shellback.

Josh Spicer

5. Oh thank god, I didn't know if people hated this, if you did, or what, but yes, thank you for including it. Also gotta agree on Rihanna. 4. Who the...? What the fuck am I watching? *spits out water I wasn't drinking* Damn man, warn a guy about that transition. Also nice to see more love to the EDM. 3. I agree on "Dance Live the Wave of the Ocean" or whatever song that's called. Good song, big fan of it. Oh. Oh okay. Meh. Think the overplay really wore it down on me, but meh, whatever bro, your list. At least you recognize the said overplay. 2. Oh hey Demi. Please include "Confident". Please. Please? THAT"LL DO! Atta bro Todd. Agree that Demi deserves more love. HM 1: Wow. I mean, I like it too, didn't think you gave a damn. HM 2: Hmmmm...the dance remix blows by the way... HM 3: Oh hey Carly. Wait, she had a Top 20 hit--oh, I gotcha. HM 4: Fuck off Drake. HM 5: YAAAAAAAAY! HM 6: I really honestly expected this to repeat the list. Disappointment. 1. YES! YES! YES! YES! YEEES! TODD YES MY GOD! I mean, I know I didn't give near enough credit to "Style" but god damn, it really does get to you, doesn't it?

Josh Spicer

I don't get how style is any different from any other tailor swift song

Wait, found it: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/4222539">https://www.patreon.com/posts/4222539</a>

Where's the link for this one?

I'm surprised you didn't include "On My Mind" from Ellie Goulding on this list. How can you not like a song that highlights beef between two rather overrated popstars?

lithium_green

Can somebody post the link to the video in the comments? The main link won't work for me.

I'm not gonna lie, when you were introducing your #1 with "...by one of the defining artists of our generation", I was guessing "Want to Want Me". Good list as a whole, I don't think I've ever had as many songs in common with you in my own top ten.

Jonathan P