The year 2016 delivered us some of the most memorable and impacting songs in recent memory – Top 100 songs of 2016. From pop to hip-hop, rock to electronic, the year saw a wide range of artists and genres produce top-tier successes that resonated with music fans all over the world. The 100 Greatest Songs of 2016 captures the essence of this musical era by highlighting the best examples of the year’s most popular and important songs.
Among the notable singles on this list are chart-topping hits like Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” Beyoncé’s “Formation,” and Rihanna’s “Work,” which dominated radio airwaves and smashed streaming records. However, the list also includes lesser-known masterpieces like Mitski’s “Your Best American Girl” and Anderson.Paak’s “Come Down,” which received critical acclaim and established these musicians as ones to watch.
Many of the songs on this list addressed key social and political problems, like Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright,” which became an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement, and Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” which conveyed a powerful message of empowerment to black women.
Overall, the 100 Greatest Songs of 2016 provide a snapshot of a year defined by its musical output, highlighting the inventive, thought-provoking, and emotionally powerful songs that captivated audiences all around the world.
1. LOVE YOURSELF by Justin Bieber
2. ONE DANCE by Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla
3. DON’T LET ME DOWN by The Chainsmokers featuring Daya
4. STRESSED OUT by Twenty One Pilots
5. WORK by Rihanna featuring Drake
6. THIS IS WHAT YOU CAME FOR by Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna
7. SORRY by Justin Bieber
8. CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! by Justin Timberlake
9. PANDA by Desiigner
10. WORK FROM HOME by Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla Sign
11. CHEAP THRILLS by Sia featuring Sean Paul
12. NEEDED ME by Rihanna
13. I TOOK A PILL IN IBIZA by Mike Posner
14. 7 YEARS by Lukas Graham
15. MY HOUSE by Flo Rida
16. HELLO by Adele
17. HEATHENS by Twenty One Pilots
18. PILLOWTALK by Zayn
19. RIDE by Twenty One Pilots
20. ME, MYSELF & I by G-Eazy and Bebe Rexha
21. CAKE BY THE OCEAN by DNCE
22. STITCHES by Shawn Mendes
23. CLOSER by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey
24. COLD WATER by Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ
25. SEND MY LOVE (TO YOUR NEW LOVER) by Adele
26. TREAT YOU BETTER by Shawn Mendes
27. HOTLINE BLING by Drake
28. DANGEROUS WOMAN by Ariana Grande
29. LET ME LOVE YOU by DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber
30. ROSES by The Chainsmokers featuring Rozes
31. JUMPMAN by Drake and Future
32. THE HILLS by The Weeknd
33. SAME OLD LOVE by Selena Gomez
34. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? by Justin Bieber
35. HERE by Alessia Cara
36. BROCCOLI by D.R.A.M. featuring Lil Yachty
37. TOO GOOD by Drake featuring Rihanna
38. DON’T by Bryson Tiller
39. JUST LIKE FIRE by Pink
40. LIKE I’M GONNA LOSE YOU by Meghan Trainor featuring John Legend
41. H.O.L.Y. by Florida Georgia Line
42. CONTROLLA by Drake
43. NO by Meghan Trainor
44. NEVER FORGET YOU by Zara Larsson and MNEK
45. DON’T MIND by Kent Jones
46. I HATE U, I LOVE U by Gnash featuring Olivia O’Brien
47. FOR FREE by DJ Khaled featuring Drake
48. HANDS TO MYSELF by Selena Gomez
49. ONE CALL AWAY by Charlie Puth
50. 679.00 by Fetty Wap featuring Remy Boyz
51. WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE by Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez
52. GOLD by Kiiara
53. IN THE NIGHT by The Weeknd
54. SIDE TO SIDE by Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj
55. STARBOY by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
56. LOW LIFE by Future featuring The Weeknd
57. ME TOO by Meghan Trainor
58. SUCKER FOR PAIN by Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and Imagine Dragons with Logic and Ty Dolla Sign featuring
X Ambassadors
59. INTO YOU by Ariana Grande
60. EX’S & OH’S by Elle King
61. ANTIDOTE by Travis Scott
62. CLOSE by Nick Jonas featuring Tove Lo
63. ON MY MIND by Ellie Goulding
64. 2 PHONES by Kevin Gates
65. WHITE IVERSON by Post Malone
66. OUI by Jeremih
67. 24K MAGIC by Bruno Mars
68. LET IT GO by James Bay
69. WILDEST DREAMS by Taylor Swift
70. CAN’T FEEL MY FACE by The Weeknd
71. DIE A HAPPY MAN by Thomas Rhett
72. DOWN IN THE DM by Yo Gotti featuring Nicki Minaj
73. LUV by Tory Lanez
74. SAY IT by Tory Lanez
75. NEVER BE LIKE YOU by Flume featuring Kai
76. WATCH ME by Silentó
77. WHEN WE WERE YOUNG by Adele
78. SORRY by Beyoncé
79. STARVING by Hailee Steinfeld and Grey featuring Zedd
80. POP STYLE by Drake featuring The Throne
81. SUMMER SIXTEEN by Drake
82. JUJU ON DAT BEAT (TZ ANTHEM) by Zayion McCall featuring Zay Hilfigerrr
83. LEAN ON by Major Lazer and DJ Snake featuring MØ
84. MIDDLE by DJ Snake featuring Bipolar Sunshine
85. THE GREATEST by Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar
86. LOST BOY by Ruth B
87. HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND by Coldplay
88. HIDE AWAY by Daya
89. UNSTEADY by X Ambassadors
90. BLACK BEATLES by Rae Sremmurd featuring Gucci Mane
91. I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello
92. DON’T WANNA KNOW by Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar
93. EXCHANGE by Bryson Tiller
94. CONFIDENT by Demi Lovato
95. SIT STILL, LOOK PRETTY by Daya
96. OOOUUU by Young M.A
97. FOCUS by Ariana Grande
98. PIECE BY PIECE by Kelly Clarkson
99. FORMATION by Beyoncé
100. ALL IN MY HEAD (FLEX) by Fifth Harmony featuring Fetty Wap