MusicNews

50. 21 Savage, "Bank Account"
49. Haim, "I Want You Back"
48. YFN Lucci feat. PnB Rock, "Everyday We Lit"
47. Willie Nelson, "Delete and Fast Forward"
46. Laura Marling, "Wild Fire"
45. Miley Cyrus, "Malibu"
44. Carly Rae Jepsen, "Cut to the Feeling"
43. Big Thief, "Shark Smile"
42. Kodak Black, "Tunnel Vision"
41. Kamasi Washington, "Truth"
40. Fergie feat. Nicki Minaj, "You Already Know"
39. Dan Auerbach, "Waiting on a Song"
38. Gorillaz feat. Popcaan, "Saturnz Barz"
37. Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie, "In My World"
36. Dvsn, "Mood"
35. Dirty Projectors, "Up in Hudson"
34. Dua Lipa feat. Miguel, "Lost in Your Light"
33. Lil Yachty feat. Diplo, "Forever Young"
32. Margo Price, "Pay Gap"
31. Craig Finn, "God in Chicago"
30. Jidenna, "Bambi"
29. J Balvin and Willy William, "Mi Gente"
28. Charly Bliss, "Glitter"
27. Calvin Harris feat. Frank Ocean, Migos, "Slide"
26. Tee Grizzley, "First Day Out"
25. Superorganism, "Something For Your M.I.N.D."
24. DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna, Bryson Tiller, "Wild Thoughts"
23. Charli XCX, "Boys"
22. Spoon, "Hot Thoughts"
21. Arcade Fire, "Everything Now"
20. Taylor Swift, "Call It What You Want"
19. Diet Cig, "Sixteen"
18. Beck, "Dear Life"
17. Lil Uzi Vert, "XO Tour Llif3"
16. Julia Michaels, "Uh Huh"
15. Drake, "Passionfruit"
14. LCD Soundsystem, "Call the Police"
13. Ed Sheeran, "Shape of You"
12. Selena Gomez, "Bad Liar"
11. Tove Styrke, "Say My Name"
10. Future, "Mask Off"
9. Lana Del Rey feat. the Weeknd, "Lust for Life"
8. Portugal. The Man, "Feel It Still"
7. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, "Despacito"
6. Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert, "Bad and Boujee"
5. U2, "Lights of Home"
4. Cardi B, "Bodak Yellow"
3. Kendrick Lamar, "Humble."
2. Lorde, "Homemade Dynamite"

Awesome, right? Lorde had an astounding breakthrough with Melodrama, but "Homemade Dynamite" is her heart-breaking peak, a nervously sexy synth-pop thriller about meeting a kindred spirit at a party. They share a moment of dancing with their shoes off and telling each other their best lies, while that Swedish electro beat sparkles like broken glass. "Homemade Dynamite" got a killer remix featuring Khalid, SZA and Post Malone, but it's Lorde's eccentric whisper that holds the track together, right down to the moment where she simulates the sound of all that dynamite in her heart going off: "Poooof!" She celebrates a moment of dance-floor eye contact as a thrill worth savoring in itself.

1. Harry Styles, "Sign of the Times"

In case anyone out there thought the One Direction star was going to play it safe in his solo move, Harry Styles shut up any doubters with his first solo single. "Sign of the Times" made an instant splash – an eccentric piano ballad stretching to nearly six minutes, aiming for Bowie/Queen levels of glam grandeur, with Styles hitting heavenly high notes as he broods on death and rebirth. "Sign of the Times" just grew in resonance as the year went on. The reckless ambition of the song is only part of what's brilliant about it – the confidence and empathy in his voice just keep surging as the music builds. Styles was the only rock star all year to aim for such a giant sound, with a giant-hearted song to match. A high-risk move for sure – but only this guy could have imagined "Sign of the Times" and then made it real.

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