Top 10 Songs That Went Viral for All the Right Reasons
#10: "Brave" (2013)
Sara Bareilles What’s better than a super catchy pop song? A super catchy pop song with a beautiful message behind it! The inspiration for this song comes from a friend of Bareilles, who was struggling to come out and be their true self to the world. It’s wonderful to see such positive messaging in popular music, and have it be so well-received by listeners all over the world. Indeed, the song blew up, peaking at 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. According to the singer, the empowering lyrics have the power to be far-reaching and encompass a broad range of experiences. We’d bet plenty of folks have applied it to their lives in a myriad of ways.
#9: "Happy" (2013)
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Pharrell Williams Hitmaker Pharrell Williams strikes gold again with this single. The bouncy hit from the “Despicable Me 2” soundtrack, seeks to promote happiness in all of its forms. Williams’ writing and the driving beat keep things moving, and the energy is overwhelmingly positive. So it’s perhaps no surprise that the song connected with people enough to inspire them to create videos of their own. There was also the original music video that celebrates the concept of embracing fun, and has cameos from celebrities like Steve Carell and Magic Johnson. By encouraging people around the world to dance and feel better, “Happy” became much more than the usual pop tune.
#8: “Call Me Maybe” (2011)
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Carly Rae Jepsen With a hook that can’t be ignored, “Call Me Maybe” pushed Carly Rae Jepsen into another league. Indeed, it gave her career a huge boost outside of her home country of Canada. As the single became even more successful in 2012, it inspired people to sing along with its delightful, bubblegum feel. Award nominations and positions on music charts worldwide were the order of the day, too. The song itself is relentlessly upbeat in a way that captures the spark of a potential relationship. All these years later, the lyrics and production values have enabled it to become a cultural reference that stands the test of time.
#7: "Bad Guy" (2019)
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Billie Eilish Pushing pop boundaries, Billie Eilish helped create a sea change of new music in the late 2010s. Her track “Bad Guy” is a one-of-a-kind experience that doesn’t have any direct comparisons in the industry. Through this release, Eilish and her brother Finneas proved you could expand on musical genres in fresh and unexpected ways. Naturally, people flocked to the exciting tune in incredibly large numbers, and it was something of a phenomenon. “Bad Guy” climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and cemented itself as a certifiable Grammy-winning smash hit. Now, Eilish is a household name.
#6: "Can't Stop the Feeling!" (2016)
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Justin Timberlake Justin Timberlake turns out pop hits like few others of his generation. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is him in peak form. While some people might have written it off due to its being part of the “Trolls” soundtrack, the single wound up making a big mark. After all, it’s a high-level, well-executed production, and listeners soon started to realize that. And the lyrics, which inspire people to get up and dance, have a feel-good effect that’s difficult to deny, which explains its monumental popularity. Indeed, the song, with its catchy, funky beat, did wonders on the charts and even received an Oscar nomination. Pure fun like this could never fly under the radar!
#5: "Thinking Out Loud" (2014)
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Ed Sheeran In the track that arguably made his career, Ed Sheeran shows off his writing and performance skills. Though far from being his first release, “Thinking Out Loud” quickly established Sheeran as one of the most popular singer/songwriters of the 2010s. Indeed, the ballad mixes rock and soul sounds that enthrall audiences of all ages. It’s also different from the typical pop productions of the day, allowing for Sheeran’s voice and the other instrumentation to shine. His reputation for high-quality writing kept getting stronger afterwards, but this one showed a large audience that he had potential to conquer the world.
#4: "Old Town Road" (2019)
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Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus From independent rapper to worldwide sensation, Lil Nas X went to the next level with “Old Town Road.” It samples Nine Inch Nails, and blends that with a fantastic mix of rap and country. The result garnered plenty of attention, and it wasn’t long before the track was everywhere. Once the version featuring Billy Ray Cyrus came out? Well, then it somehow became even more popular. “Old Town Road” was quick to conquer social media apps like TikTok as a result, and fans of all generations and genres could be found enjoying it. Catchy and effective, this hit went far beyond potential novelty song status to become something much more memorable.
#3: “This Is America” (2018)
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Childish Gambino On the pulse of current events, “This Is America” is much more than just a hit. It’s also an important look into the darker aspects of US culture. Childish Gambino earned commercial, critical, and viral success with the track. It, along with the accompanying video, captivated listeners with lyrics that allude to the systemic racism and violence in America. It’s also taken on another life as a guiding document for uncertain times. Both topical and timeless, Donald Glover’s work on this engaging production will stand as an important creation for years to come.
#2: "Dynamite" (2020)
BTS As the world entered the COVID-19 pandemic, BTS was already making a splash in the music scene. “Dynamite” came out in 2020 and reminded everyone of their powers. Sending love to the globe, the song came at just the right time to entertain audiences, and millions connected with it. It also showed everyone that BTS was going to be a commercial force for years to come. As if that wasn't enough, the upbeat number showcases each member’s expertise. So perhaps it’s not all that surprising that the tune hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and killed it with regards to sales and streams. But it sure is impressive. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
"Africa" (1982), Toto
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A Perennial Favorite That Continues to Appear in Memes & Other Media
"Wavin' Flag" (2009), K'naan
An International Hit That Promoted Global Unity for the 2010 World Cup
"Despacito" (2017), Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee
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The Reggaeton Hit Captivated Listeners Everywhere
"This Is Me" (2017), Keala Settle & “The Greatest Showman” Ensemble
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A Moving Song About Loving Yourself & Being Proud of Your Differences
#1: "Blinding Lights" (2019)
The Weeknd Sometimes all you need is a super catchy song to conquer the charts. This number-one became the Weeknd’s most successful track, proving to be an enduring hit on the Billboard chart and on streaming platforms. The mix of 1980s synths and modern production values clearly struck a chord with millions of people. On top of that, the Super Bowl halftime show ensured anyone who wasn’t already blasting the tune would start. The proof is in the fact that the song still has legs years after its 2019 release, cementing itself as one of the most popular pieces of modern music. “Blinding Lights” soared to magnificent heights, the likes of which are rarely seen.
