Songs of 2017: Biggest Earworms

This one is dedicated to all those songs that ruled the airwaves and playlists in 2017. Earworms can be hits, cloying creations, musical waste that you just can’t get out of your head, or in some cases, masterpieces. Whether they are good or not, I’ll let you be the judge.

In no particular order, check out the 17 biggest earworms of 2017, and while you are at it, find my contribution to the Top Albums of 2017 here.

Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – Havana

This song, with its seductive rhythm, carefully placed “ay’s” and “ayay’s,” and trumpet tootin’ is like a summer hit in winter.

Maroon 5 ft. SZA – What Lovers Do

What can I say? Freed from substance, this song “ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, oohs” itself into your brain like a bad headache.

Portugal. The Man – Feel It Still

Portugal. The Man was already one of my favorite bands since their previous album “Evil Friends,” but it looks like they have hit the big time with “Feel It Still.” This undeniably catchy song has been featured in several commercials, which added to its earworm status.

Imagine Dragons – Thunder

As I know at least one person who absolutely despises this song, this only proves it belongs in the category of “stuck song syndrome song.” When the chorus starts, all hell breaks loose. There is an annoyingly repetitive mix of chipmunks high on helium chanting “thunder,” before singer Dan Reynolds adds a few more of those thunders and lightnings. This is all drizzled with some cleverly placed tribal drums. It seems as if the studio mixer also suffered from lightning when this song was recorded. Wicked.

Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee – Despacito

Surprise! I bet you didn’t see this stealthy hit coming, did you? Summer started in January for Luis Fonsi, and by now 4.5 billion people watched this video on YouTube. They must like it a pocito at least. Even Justin Bieber was called upon to give this song an even wider appeal. Whether “Despacito” needed that push, I beg to differ.

Clean Bandit ft Zara Larsson – Symphony

Another earworm characteristic is that it will go straight for your whistling chords. That this happens with a song from Clean Bandit does not surprise me, because this British outfit are a clever bunch. They combine elements of electronic and classical music with a highly melodic outcome.

The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – I Feel It Coming

When Disco meets Soul, the party is on. The Weeknd and Daft Punk invite you for a slow dance, and meanwhile the song is on repeat. I do still wonder who is featuring whom on this record. With this match made in heaven it could go either way.

Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.

Kendrick Lamar’s album DAMN. made it to many best-of lists this year, such as this one. Coming from that album, HUMBLE. is an earworm with a message. The best kind if you ask me.

Rita Ora – Your Song

Ed Sheeran wrote this song, and Rita Ora ran with it.

Liam Payne ft. Quavo – Strip That Down

Since One Direction has been dissolved, it seems that every former member has found his genre. Liam Payne might not be aiming as high as his ex-colleague Harry Styles, but Payne’s debut single scores many points on the earworm scale. Quavo, one of the members of the Migos family, chips in as well with some rhymes.

The Chainsmokers and Coldplay – Something Just Like This

The Chainsmokers have come a long way since their breakthrough “#Selfie.” Whether you like their music or not, if Coldplay want to release a song with you, that is not too shabby. Notice that nobody is featuring no one on this track. They are in it all together. As an end result, we have a song that could have been done by the “new” Coldplay themselves. For example, “Adventure of a Lifetime” or “A Sky Full of Stars.” No one with ears would have known the difference.

Drake – Passionfruit

Understated, yet powerful, Drake’s song has you trying to pick (out) that passion fruit. This track is all about flow, not about ups and downs, crazy beats or vocal gymnastics. Even without any gimmicks, it stays with you, long after the music has stopped.

Ed Sheeran – Shape of You

In the case of Ed Sheeran, many a song can be picked for the earworm category. “Shape of You” with its hooks, twists and turns doesn’t easily let go of your short-term memory.

Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – Bad and Boujee

For “Bad and Boujee” I chose the version Migos did with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots on the Tonight Show. Drop top, cookie, crockpot, blaow, grrah, skrt, and pew-pew-pew should quite clearly explain why this song is such an earworm. With or without office supplies.

Arcade Fire – Everything Now

Arcade Fire’s biggest hit to date dances around a sample from “The Coffee Cola Song.” It captures the sentiment of the original song, while bringing it to the 21st century.

AJR – Weak

A song about temptation that is hard to resist. And really, what is wrong with that?

Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water

Admittedly, this song didn’t catch my attention right away. It wasn’t until after seeing the video, that the mantra “Do you believe that you can walk on water? Do you believe that you can win this fight tonight?” earwormed its way into my life. And when the “Joker” tells you, you’d better believe it.

Which songs could you not get out of your head this year? Let me know if I forgot any!

Top Photo Credit: Britt Reints