Entertainment

We're Not Done Listening to These 2014 Songs

by Nile Cappello

In terms of hit music, 2014 was on top of its game. From newcomers like Magic! and Iggy Azalea to vets like Taylor Swift and Maroon 5, there was no shortage of blockbuster successes on this year’s radio loop.

With the year winding down, we’re looking forward to what 2015 might hold for the music scene — will Lorde cover another song by the genius behind “Birthday Sex?” Will Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea have a booty rap showdown? Will Ariana Grande finally show us what she’s hiding in that hair of hers?

But before we take the plunge into a whole new year of music, it’s time to look back on some of the biggest hits of 2014 — the bass, the treble, the turned up, the turned down, the Idina Menzel and the Adele Dazeem, and everything in between.

If you've somehow managed to get the following songs out of your head, get ready to be reminded of how ridiculously catchy they all are. We dare you to not catch yourself singing along — because, be honest, you know all the words. Before 2014 comes to a close, jam out one last time to the biggest hits of the year in the Spotify playlist below.

1. "FANCY FT. CHARLIE XCX," IGGY AZALEA

Without a doubt, 2014 was Iggy Azalea's best year yet. She stormed the music scene and earned notoriety for this collaboration with Charli XCX — and for the throwback music video inspired by Clueless.

2. "RUDE," MAGIC!

The song that has inspired countless spin-offs and concern via Lena Dunham, this reggae hit will just not get our of our heads.

3. "DON'T," ED SHEERAN

The emotionally-charged single rumored to be about Ellie Goulding and Niall Horan is one of our favorites out of English Ed Sheeran. Even better? Ellie Goulding's take on the song.

4. "RATHER BE FT. JESS GLYNNE," CLEAN BANDIT

Newcomer Clean Bandit grabbed our attention with single "Rather Be" in 2014, quickly becoming one of the most stuck-in-your-head songs of the year. It was released in January, and we still find ourselves humming along to it.

5. "RIPTIDE," VANCE JOY

Australian solo artist Vance Joy's single propelled him onto the charts (and into our hearts) in 2014. Without a doubt one of the most played (read: overplayed) radio hits of the year, we have a love-hate relationship with this track.

6. "POMPEII," BASTILLE

Indie-pop band Bastille had perhaps one of the most catchy songs of the year.

7. "COUNTING STARS," ONEREPUBLIC

OneRepublic is not new to the music scene by any stretch of the imagination — anyone remember hit "Apologize" from 2007? The band's most recent album, Native, brought us a more pop-focused sound and this blockbuster hit.

8. "ROYALS," LORDE

Eighteen-year-old Lorde has quickly become a fan favorite. This single, anthem of teens everywhere, has been stuck in our heads ever since.

9. "ALL ABOUT THAT BASS," MEGHAN TRAINOR

This body-positive single has put a whole new meaning to "bass" and "treble."

10. "ANACONDA," NICKI MINAJ

If anything broke the Internet this year, it was Nicki Minaj's bootylicious "Anaconda" music video, featuring a jaw-dropped (and likely pained) Drake. Sampling Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back," Minaj gave us a modern booty-popping soundtrack.

11. "BANG BANG," JESSIE J, ARIANA GRANDE, NICKI MINAJ

Nineties sky dancer and ambiguously-aged Ariana Grande partnered up with powerhouses Jessie J and Nicki Minaj for this girl-power track.

12. "FLAWLESS (REMIX) FT. NICKI MINAJ," BEYONCÉ

Let's face it, anything Beyoncé touches quickly turns to gold (and a No. 1 track). Riding the tails of the Solange-Jay Z elevator incident, Beyoncé enlisted Nicki Minaj to remix one of her biggest hits — including a cryptic reference to the brawl.

13. "CHANDELIER," SIA

Behind-the-scenes superstar Sia took center stage this year with her newest solo album, 1000 Forms of Fear. Praised for its musicality, lyric genius, and brilliant video featuring "Dance Moms" Maddie Ziegler, this was undeniably one of the biggest hits of the year.

14. "BREAK FREE FT. ZEDD," ARIANA GRANDE

Ariana Grande was on fire in 2014 — especially when it comes to this collaboration with electronic DJ, Zedd.

15. "MAPS," MAROON 5

The lead single for Maroon 5's latest album — the August-released V — "Maps" quickly became the song we found ourselves humming at all hours of the day.

16. "HAPPY," PHARRELL WILLIAMS

Pharrell Williams' single was perhaps this year's most feel-good anthem of the year. We dare you not to clap along.

17. "PROBLEM FT. IGGY AZALEA," ARIANA GRANDE

It's no surprise that Ariana Grande graced three tracks on this list — after all, she might be the current queen (or princess?) of pop. This one, a collaboration with Iggy Azalea, is the unequivocal first-night-out-after-a-breakup song of the year.

18. "STORY OF MY LIFE," ONE DIRECTION

When talking pop hits, there's no way to avoid the radio empire that is One Direction. Its fan base grew even larger in 2014, and they caught all lovesick tweens with this romantic hit.

19. "SHOWER," BECKY G

Called 2014's "Call Me Maybe" by BuzzFeed, that pretty much says it all.

20. "BLACK WIDOW FT. RITA ORA," IGGY AZALEA

Heavy beats make this Ora-Azalea collaboration almost frustratingly catchy. Side effects include catching yourself singing "I'm a black widow, baby" under your breath at work.

21. "BOOM CLAP," CHARLI XCX

As if this song wasn't a guaranteed hit on its own, it also served as the first (and lead) single from the soundtrack to hit film The Fault in Our Stars.

22. "HABITS (STAY HIGH)," TOVE LO

The soundtrack to self-destruction, Swedish artist Tove Lo burst onto the music scene with this "hazy pop jam" in 2014.

23. "COOL KIDS," ECHOSMITH

Though it was released in 2013, Echosmith's hit didn't reach mainstream popularity until this year.

24. "SUMMER," CALVIN HARRIS

Unsurprisingly, all-too-smart Calvin Harris released this single just in time to be the most popular song of the (you guessed it) summer.

25. "WIGGLE FT. SNOOP DOGG," JASON DERULO

No, this song might not be top of the game in terms of lyric genius. But the whistle-laden track is undeniably stuck-in-your-head material.

26. "TURN DOWN FOR WHAT," DJ SNAKE, LIL JON

Released at the very end of 2013, this hard-hitting, head-banging single is the musical equivalent of #YOLO.

27. "LET IT GO," IDINA MENZEL

Between the thousands of covers and unfortunate Oscar mispronunciation, this Frozen lead track has been stuck in the heads of parents and children alike throughout 2014, and probably beyond.

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