Top 10 Catchiest Viral Songs of 2024

Kendrick Lamar
Sorry, Drake, we think it pretty much goes without saying. By popular consensus, L.A. native Kendrick Lamar was crowned the winner of the two rap superstars’ 2024 feud. After a series of escalating, heated, and increasingly personal diss tracks, Lamar dropped this no-holds-barred Drake deconstruction. In “Not Like Us,” Lamar roasts Drake’s entire life, from his social circle, allegations of misconduct, and his music. While “Not Like Us” could’ve just gone the way of “Ether” and been appreciated by longtime hip hop heads, it unexpectedly blew up, acclaimed by music critics and fans alike, and gave Kendrick his fourth #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Tinashe
Music industry mainstay Tinashe has been around for a long time. In fact, “Quantum Baby,” the album that “Nasty” appears on, is actually her seventh studio album. Despite the fact that Tinashe was clearly putting in the work and the time, mainstream success would prove elusive after she dropped her 2014 debut album “Aquarius.” Thankfully for Tinashe (and for listeners), a viral TikTok by user “Nate Di Winer,” which featured “Nasty” dubbed over its original audio, went massively viral. The viral dance trend that emerged gained further traction once Tinashe herself responded to it, sending “Nasty” to the Billboard Hot 100 — the singer’s first appearance on the chart since a decade earlier.

Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
At this point, it seems fair to say that Post Malone can simply do it all. Case in point: his smash hit album “F-1 Trillion,” which saw the prolific rapper try his hand at country music. The album features countless cameos from legends of the genres. The standout, however? That would have to be “F-1 Trillion’s” first single, “I Had Some Help.” Just take a look at the stats: “I Had Some Help” is Malone’s sixth #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for six nonconsecutive weeks to become the second-longest running Hot 100 #1 of 2024. Sometimes, all you need is some help from your friends.

Charli XCX
Be honest: did you have a Brat Summer? After years of cult fandom and critical acclaim, British hyperpop mainstay Charli XCX finally smashed through to the next level of fame in 2024. Released as a single at the peak heat of Brat Summer, “Apple,” the “Brat” album’s final single, bloomed in a spectacular way. The heartfelt song, which details Charli’s fraught relationship with her parents, proved to be a sleeper hit, yielding a viral dance craze on TikTok, and across social media as a whole. The “Apple” dance bubbled up for some weeks after the album’s release before Charli herself — alongside Troye Sivan — indulged. The rest is, of course, history.

Billie Eilish
Longtime Eilish fans may have initially reacted with surprise upon hearing the seemingly sweet and gentle “Birds of a Feather.” However, if you take a closer look at the song’s lyrics, you’ll see Eilish’s trademark darkness buried just beneath the surface. Described by critics as borrowing from ‘80s new wave music, “Birds of a Feather” describes Billie’s commitment to a relationship with a partner that doesn’t seem to share her feelings. Featuring some of the singer’s most impressive vocals to date, “Birds of a Feather” peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, delivering Eilish yet another smash hit earworm.

Tommy Richman
If this song made your head spin, considering how quickly it blew up to become the song of the summer, then you wouldn’t be alone. Prior to “Million Dollar Baby’s” initial release, the then-little known Richman was best known for collaborating with R&B singer Brent Faiyaz, as well as having toured with him. After dropping previews of the song on his TikTok account, curiosity skyrocketed, and “Million Dollar Baby” went viral pretty much right away at the time of its release. Richman was propelled to instant fame, and the song was acclaimed by critics, who praised the song’s smooth, funky vibes. As if that wasn’t enough, “Million Dollar Baby” ended up soundtracking a number of viral TikTok trends.

Chappell Roan
Going into 2024, you could understandably be forgiven for not knowing who Chappell Roan was. Exiting the year, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t. Not unlike fellow pop songstresses Tinashe and Charli XCX, Roan spent years working toward her dream of success in the music industry with little success. The outspoken singer finally hit it out of the park with “Good Luck, Babe!,” released in April 2024; the song almost immediately catapulted Roan to A-list levels of fame. Peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Good Luck, Babe!” was acclaimed across the board for its groundbreaking take on LGBTQ+ themes. And with a chorus that instantly iconic, we totally see why Roan earned the title of “Midwest Princess.”

Sabrina Carpenter
Did anyone, save for Chappell Roan, have as good of a year as Sabrina Carpenter? As you’ve seen before on this list, hard work pays off, and that was no less true for cheeky pop princess Carpenter. The first single from Carpenter’s sixth album “Short n’ Sweet,” “Espresso” became nearly inescapable from the time of its April 2024 release, its infectious grooves dominating the airwaves. The song could even be described as Carpenter’s signature song, showcasing her uniquely irreverent writing style. In fact, it’s even been argued that “Espresso’s” occasionally inscrutable lyrics have been the source of its staying power!

Rosé & Bruno Mars
You can always count on prolific, modern-day master of pop Bruno Mars to effortlessly instantly memorable pop anthems. Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez, stayed true to this reputation in 2024, dropping this almost painfully catchy, Korean drinking game-inspired jam, alongside the epic Lady Gaga collab “Die With a Smile.” The two songs couldn’t be more different: the Gaga-featuring ballad is a sweeping, emotional ballad, but “Apt.,” a collaboration with Blackpink member Rosé, in unmistakable bubblegum pop with a little bit of ‘60s, a taste of the ‘80s, and a healthy helping of the Mars’ timeless songwriting sensibilities.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Addison Rae

Benson Boone

Hozier

Tate McRae

Teddy Swims

Shaboozey
For the most part, 2024 was the year of the newcomer. There were, of course, significant releases from established major artists — Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, and Post Malone, just to name a few. Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song” is a testament to this. Remember earlier, when we said that Malone’s “I Had Some Help” was the second-biggest Billboard Hot 100 song of the year? “Tipsy” isn’t just the biggest of 2024 — it’s the biggest ever! That’s right: this stirring, irresistible singalong, spending nineteen nonconsecutive weeks at the top. And once you’ve heard it, good luck getting its chorus, which interpolates J-Kwon’s 2004 smash hit “Tipsy,” to stop playing on loop in your head.


What was your favorite song of 2024? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!