Music is one of the most vibrant and varied forms of art, culture, and communication. Music reflects the shifts, challenges, and opportunities of different times, societies, and regions. Music also influences and inspires other aspects of life, such as technology, fashion, and politics. In this article, we will explore the transformation of music, by looking at the most popular songs of each month since January 2010. We will also analyse the factors and forces that shaped the musical landscape over the past two decades.
The 2010s: The Decade of Pop, EDM, and Indie
The 2010s was a decade of musical fusion and innovation, marked by the rise of pop, EDM, and indie genres. Pop music, which dominated the 2000s, reached new levels of diversity and sophistication, thanks to artists such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, and Adele. Pop music was characterised by catchy melodies, danceable rhythms, and glamorous visuals. EDM music, which originated in the 1980s, also gained prominence and influence, with subgenres such as house, dubstep, and trap. EDM music was characterised by electronic beats, synthesizers, and drops. Indie music, which developed in the 1990s, also continued to evolve and expand, with subgenres such as indie rock, indie pop, and indie folk. Indie music was characterised by acoustic guitars, DIY aesthetics, and alternative lyrics.
Some of the most popular songs of the 2010s were:
January 2010: Kesha – Tik Tok
February 2010: Owl City – Fireflies
March 2010: Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé – Telephone
April 2010: Usher feat. will.i.am – OMG
May 2010: B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars – Nothin’ on You
June 2010: K’naan – Wavin’ Flag
July 2010: Eminem feat. Rihanna – Love the Way You Lie
August 2010: Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP – We No Speak Americano
September 2010: Katy Perry – Teenage Dream
October 2010: Bruno Mars – Just the Way You Are
November 2010: Rihanna – Only Girl (In the World)
December 2010: Black Eyed Peas – The Time (Dirty Bit)
January 2011: Bruno Mars – Grenade
February 2011: Jessie J feat. B.o.B – Price Tag
March 2011: Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull – On the Floor
April 2011: LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock – Party Rock Anthem
May 2011: Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer – Give Me Everything
June 2011: Adele – Someone Like You
July 2011: Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera – Moves Like Jagger
August 2011: David Guetta feat. Sia – Titanium
September 2011: Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera – Moves Like Jagger
October 2011: Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris – We Found Love
November 2011: LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It
December 2011: Coldplay – Paradise
January 2012: Flo Rida – Good Feeling
February 2012: Gotye feat. Kimbra – Somebody That I Used to Know
March 2012: Fun. feat. Janelle Monáe – We Are Young
April 2012: Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
May 2012: Gotye feat. Kimbra – Somebody That I Used to Know
June 2012: Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
July 2012: Maroon 5 – Payphone
August 2012: Flo Rida – Whistle
September 2012: Psy – Gangnam Style
October 2012: Rihanna – Diamonds
November 2012: Adele – Skyfall
December 2012: Bruno Mars – Locked Out of Heaven
January 2013: will.i.am feat. Britney Spears – Scream & Shout
February 2013: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz – Thrift Shop
March 2013: Baauer – Harlem Shake
April 2013: Pink feat. Nate Ruess – Just Give Me a Reason
May 2013: Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams – Get Lucky
June 2013: Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams – Blurred Lines
July 2013: Avicii – Wake Me Up
August 2013: Katy Perry – Roar
September 2013: Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
October 2013: Lorde – Royals
November 2013: Eminem feat. Rihanna – The Monster
December 2013: Pharrell Williams – Happy
January 2014: Pitbull feat. Ke$ha – Timber
February 2014: Pharrell Williams – Happy
March 2014: Pharrell Williams – Happy
April 2014: John Legend – All of Me
May 2014: Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne – Rather Be
June 2014: Ed Sheeran – Sing
July 2014: Magic! – Rude
August 2014: Nico & Vinz – Am I Wrong
September 2014: Meghan Trainor – All About That Bass
October 2014: Taylor Swift – Shake It Off
November 2014: Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
December 2014: Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
January 2015: Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
February 2015: Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do
March 2015: OMI – Cheerleader
April 2015: Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth – See You Again
May 2015: Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth – See You Again
June 2015: Jason Derulo – Want to Want Me
July 2015: The Weeknd – Can’t Feel My Face
August 2015: Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MØ – Lean On
September 2015: Justin Bieber – What Do You Mean?
October 2015: Adele – Hello
November 2015: Adele – Hello
December 2015: Justin Bieber – Love Yourself
January 2016: Justin Bieber – Love Yourself
February 2016: Zayn – Pillowtalk
March 2016: Lukas Graham – 7 Years
April 2016: Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla – One Dance
May 2016: Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla – One Dance
June 2016: Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla – One Dance
July 2016: Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna – This Is What You Came For
August 2016: Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber & MØ – Cold Water
September 2016: The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey – Closer
October 2016: The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey – Closer
November 2016: Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie – Rockabye
December 2016: Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie – Rockabye
January 2017: Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
February 2017: Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
March 2017: Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
April 2017: Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
May 2017: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber – Despacito
June 2017: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber – Despacito
July 2017: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber – Despacito
August 2017: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber – Despacito
September 2017: Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do
October 2017: Post Malone feat. 21 Savage – Rockstar
November 2017: Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug – Havana
December 2017: Ed Sheeran – Perfect
January 2018: Eminem feat. Ed Sheeran – River
February 2018: Drake – God’s Plan
March 2018: Rudimental feat. Jess Glynne, Macklemore & Dan Caplen – These Days
April 2018: Lil Dicky feat. Chris Brown – Freaky Friday
May 2018: Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – One Kiss
June 2018: Clean Bandit feat. Demi Lovato – Solo
July 2018: George Ezra – Shotgun
August 2018: Drake – In My Feelings
September 2018: Calvin Harris & Sam Smith – Promises
October 2018: Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – Shallow
November 2018: Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next
December 2018: Ava Max – Sweet but Psycho
January 2019: Ariana Grande – 7 Rings
February 2019: Ariana Grande – Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored
March 2019: Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved
April 2019: Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road
May 2019: Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – I Don’t Care
June 2019: Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Señorita
July 2019: Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People
August 2019: Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Señorita
September 2019: Tones and I – Dance Monkey
October 2019: Tones and I – Dance Monkey
November 2019: Tones and I – Dance Monkey
December 2019: Stormzy feat. Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy – Own It
