Looking to relive the golden years of music, also known as the 2010s? In this article, we’ll be providing you with our top 10 for the 2010s, the perfect additions to any summer playlist.
1. “Never Be Like You” by Flume feat. Kai (2016)
Whether you discovered this song through the Jacob Elordi edit or not, this song is a timeless hit that is perfect to experience the freeing feeling that summer brings. Within this song, Flume explores ideas of self-reflection and feelings of remorse through an upbeat and coming-of-age vibe.
2. “Jealous” by Nick Jonas (2014)
The second this song turns on, the beat takes control and throws you back into 2015 listening to it over the radio. This album by Nick Jonas has multiple hits that make you want to scream along and dance with your friends. From “Jealous” to “Chains,” his songs are feel-good and make for great sing-alongs.
3. “Take Me to Church” by Hozier (2014)
While not as upbeat as many of the other songs in this list, Hozier’s strong vocals make for an incredibly emotional and moving song that transcends time. From his debut album Hozier, the immediate stardom of “Take Me to Church” has led to his continued popularity and speaks as a strong contender for one of the best songs of the 2010s.
4. “Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake (2013)
While Timberlake’s third album, The 20/20 Experience, may feature many good songs, our personal favorite is “Mirrors.” Timberlake writes, “I’m lookin’ right at the other half of me” and remarks, “I don’t wanna lose you now.” From the outside looking in, “Mirrors” can seem like a very surface-level song, but in reality, it is a new-age love song about the realization that this woman is his “other half,” and makes a great electronic-esque addition to your playlist.
5. “Lean On” by Major Lazer and DJ Snake feat. MØ (2015)
“Lean On” is about reminiscing the past and how things went along. The artist talks about how everyone needs someone to lean on as time goes on and hopes that everyone she’s going through life with now will stay in the future. She talks about how life is hard and at some point, you’ll need someone there to lean on. From the second the song starts, everyone knows the words and sings along — this song will be listened to for years and years to come.
6. “Latch” by Disclosure feat. Sam Smith (2012)
Disclosure’s “Latch” is another love song masked by an electronic beat. It is symbolic in the way that a latch is never meant to fully lock something but instead keep it closed or held together for a certain amount of time. This struggle is expressed through the song: Disclosure writes, “Could I lock in your love?” The protagonist of the song struggles to “lock in” with their love interest, hence “latching on” instead. The melody of “Latch” along with the feature from Sam Smith make it one of the best summer hits of all time. (In our opinion, of course!)
7. “Alive” by Empire of the Sun (2013)
Empire of the Sun is known for their summer hits, but as of recent, “Alive” has grown tremendously in popularity. While there could be many interpretations, we view the song “Alive” as being about enjoying life in the company of another. Empire of the Sun writes, “Loving every minute ‘cause you make me feel so alive.” That specific line is the embodiment of what summer should be: enjoying life to the fullest surrounded by those you love. Overall, “Alive” is just an iconic theme song for life.
8. “The Love Club” by Lorde (2013)
From Lorde’s debut album that dons the same name as the track, Lorde sings over the incessantly catchy beat about the dark side of cliques, a topic that is relatable to a lot of teenagers in today’s world and speaks on the choices we often make when befriending the wrong group of people. In this electropop song, Lorde shows listeners why she is so popular; the beat is fun, but the lyrics are hard hitting.
9. “Young Dumb & Broke” by Khalid (2017)
“Young Dumb & Broke” is featured on Khalid’s debut album. The song’s name is quite reminiscent of the song’s meaning. This song is very fitting for high school students as we are all in the same boat experiencing our “young,” “dumb,” and “broke” teenage years, especially for our seniors who are off to complete new things in the coming year. While the song is straightforward lyrically, it is a feel-good anthem that helps to navigate being a teenager and going off on your own.
10. “Love Me Harder” by Ariana Grande and The Weeknd (2014)
“Love Me Harder” is about unspoken words between two people and Ariana not feeling loved enough by someone she loves. Ariana sings about her love not being reciprocated. She is giving him the ultimatum that if does not love her harder, she’s going to leave him and not look back. This type of situation is relatable to the masses, which is likely why this song receives so much love and attention. The collaboration with The Weeknd adds a whole other element to the song and makes it a great summer anthem.
