In a year that was bombarded by much political commotion and disturbing violence, it can be difficult to remember the blessings that 2018 granted us in the form of breathtaking music. Ranked below are 10 songs by 10 different artists that stood out amidst competitors in 2018 for their overall beauty and ability to resonate with countless people.
- “The Return” by Logic
“The Return” comes not only from Logic’s fourth studio album but his second release of 2018. Following his mixtape Bobby Tarantino II that debuted at number one on the Billboard charts after its release in March, Logic dropped YSIV, the fourth and final work of his Young Sinatra series. Released as the second single for the album, “The Return” discusses overcoming adversity and remaining positive and peaceful through all of life’s challenges. The chorus, which is interpolated from “Dear God,” Logic’s song from the third installment of the Young Sinatra series, Young Sinatra: Undeniable, is Logic’s assertion that he’ll always continue to prosper: “I get up when I’m down / Had enough, almost drowned / When s— rough I get tough / And when I’m beaten to the ground I get up.” Known for his life motto of “Peace, Love and Positivity,” Logic doesn’t lighten up in this optimistic jam.
- “get well soon” by Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande has endured one heck of a year. She lost her ex-boyfriend, rapper Mac Miller, to an overdose; she got engaged to comedian Pete Davidson and within a few months ended their relationship; she continues to recover from the bombing of her concert in Manchester in May 2017, which she held a benefit concert, “One Love Manchester” for just two weeks after the incident; she keeps churning out new music despite the frequent hardships she encounters. Although her hit single “thank u, next” gained more attention in the year for being an ode to self-love, “get well soon” solidifies just how strong of a person Grande truly is. Concluding her fourth album Sweetener, “get well soon” pays tribute to the Manchester bombing. Grande expresses the anxiety she has inevitably felt throughout the year and gives a promise to those affected by the bombing: “You can work your way to the top / Just know that there’s up and downs and there’s drops / Unfollow fear and just say ‘you are blocked’ / Just know there is so much room at the top.” The track closes with 40 seconds of silence to honor the lives of the victims. Although instrumentally simplistic, Grande shows her positive outlook on life despite having to overcome a vast number of obstacles.
- “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK” by Joji
Released as the second single on songwriter Joji’s debut album Ballads 1, “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK” depicts a broken relationship. Guided by irresistible synths, Joji pleads in the chorus: “Give me reasons we should be complete / You should be with him / I can’t compete / You looked at me like I was someone else.” Joji’s blatantly emotion-ridden vocals exhibit how it feels to let go of someone because you feel like you can’t fulfill the needs of the person you immensely love. Being part of only his first studio album, “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK” shows tremendous potential for Joji and his upcoming work.
- “This Is America” by Childish Gambino
Social media helped this track containing controversial subjects skyrocket to success, debuting at number one on the Billboard charts. Rapper Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” tackles the ongoing issues of gun violence and oppression of African-Americans in the U.S, which is seen even more prominently in the song’s music video. All five features on the song are people of African-American descent. Gambino imitates those who are diverted by social networks from the treacherous, continuous societal issues, saying: “Look how I’m geekin’ out / I’m so fitted / I’m on Gucci / I’m so pretty / I’m gon’ get it / Watch me move.” The music video enhances the song’s meaning – one that needed to be released to a turmoil-ridden society.
- “Need to Know” by The Story So Far
The Story So Far’s fourth studio album, Proper Dose, came after a three-year hiatus that included frontman Parker Cannon battling drug addiction and the band almost calling it quits entirely. The album is jam-packed with innuendos about Cannon’s struggles with overcoming his severe addiction – though it never becomes too immoderate – and the powerful track “Need to Know” is no different. Led by roaring guitars and aggressive drumming, “Need to Know” delineates Cannon’s feelings of wanting to heal physically and mentally from his addiction. Cannon gives a reassuring message to the people he loves: “All you need to know is that while I’m away / I’ve got time to think about it / I know I’m better off without it.” The track fades out with infectious instrumentation overlapping Cannon’s repeated pleas for someone to “Save my soul.” The track beautifully examines what it’s like to grapple with addiction, and the lyrics intermix wonderfully with the heavier instrumentation.
- “Dying in LA” by Panic! At the Disco
The one-man band of Brendon Urie shows the splendor of his riveting vocals in “Dying in LA.” Closing the band’s sixth album Pray for the Wicked, this piano ballad portrays the story of a hopeful person who goes to Los Angeles to live out his or her dreams but ultimately fails in doing so. Urie apprises the story using second-person point-of-view: “Every face along the boulevard is a dreamer just like you / You looked at death in a tarot card and you saw what you had to do.” The chorus commences with Urie’s emotion laden vocals and ends with soothing strings that never fail to send chills through your spine. Panic! At the Disco’s hit single “High Hopes” may have obtained more praise due to its heavy radio play throughout the year, but “Dying in LA” showcases just how incredible this one-man show in Urie is.
- “Graffiti” by CHVRCHES
This is how you start an album. Set as the opening track on CHVRCHES’ third album Love Is Dead, “Graffiti” implements galvanizing synths and smooth drumming alongside intriguing lyrics to tell the story of a love that has dwindled over time. Frontwoman Lauren Mayberry’s vocal performance is exceptional, as she reveals in the chorus: “I’ve been waiting for my whole life to grow old / And now we never will, never will” – insinuating the couple’s previous notion of “growing old” together will never come into fruition. If CHVRCHES keeps releasing tremendous tracks just like “Graffiti,” there’s no doubt it should begin receiving the love and attention it wholeheartedly deserves.
- “I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)” by The 1975
English pop band The 1975 released some of its best work to date in 2018 on its third LP, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships – the greatest among that being the album’s concluding track, “I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes).” Showcasing frontman Matty Healy’s possibly best vocals thus far and finishing with an eerie violin instrumental, the track is from a suicidal viewpoint; the ultimate message Healy wants listeners to get from it, though, is in the overtly simplistic lyric: “If you can’t survive, just try.” The contradictory song title gives off the notion that suicidal individuals continually feel deeply depressed, but Healy says, for him, he only feels that way occasionally – “sometimes.” The mystifying instrumental that closes the track manifests the uneasy mindset of these individuals. The track is – put simply – a beautiful way to end the album and holds as one of the best of the entire year.
- “Mah’s Joint (feat. Quincy Jones)” by Jon Bellion
Tracks that conclude albums continue to shine as the most profound in 2018. With the release of his second LP, Glory Sound Prep, New Yorker Jon Bellion gives us groovy tunes, heartfelt lyrics and most importantly, an album concluder that intermixes methodical lyricism and beautiful instrumentation that’ll be sure to leave you stunned in “Mah’s Joint.” Surpassing eight minutes in length, “Mah’s Joint” tells of the degeneration of Bellion’s grandmother and how it has affected him and his mother. This track gives us some of Bellion’s most thought-provoking lyrics to date: “Conversations with the Devil and he’s telling me / ‘What’s the point in making memories when you can’t even find them when you’re 70?’” The bridge commences with an instrumental that’s almost jazzy, which transitions into an uplifting, soothing string accompaniment that may depict what it feels like to enter heaven through Bellion’s perspective, as Bellion is a devout Christian and expresses that heavily throughout a plethora of his songs. The song ends with Jones saying “For the mothers who are with us spiritually,” implying the song is to celebrate all mothers — those alive and those who have passed. “Mah’s Joint” is an electrifying end to the album and flawlessly conveys reasons to always commemorate the people who gave you life. 1. “Neon Gravestones” by Twenty One Pilots A song that should have everyone talking yet failed in doing just that takes the cream for being the best of the year. Sitting at number seven on Trench, Twenty One Pilots’ fifth album, “Neon Gravestones” addresses the sensitive subject – one that does need discussion, though – of our contemporary society romanticizing the idea of suicide. To frontman Tyler Joseph, excessive media exposure to suicide has etched the notion into our heads that taking your life is the best solution to life’s inevitable problems. Intermixed beautifully with dreary piano chords, intricate lyrics make this song incredible: “My opinion, our culture can treat a loss like it’s a win / And right before we turn on them / We give ’em the highest of praise and hang their banner from the ceiling / Communicating, further engraving, an earlier grave is an optional way, no.” The track ends with a bit of spoken word from Joseph, who says we should honor life rather than death. The blatant emotion implemented in this much-needed track is practically inexplicable, and it deserves so much more attention than it has obtained thus far.
Bre Callahan 