Top Billboard hits of 2019
The old saying "music soothes the savage beast" isn't too far from the truth. Music comforts us and brings people from all walks of life together, floods our brains with the neurotransmitter dopamine to influence feelings of pleasure, brings back memories, and inspires creativity. In short, music gives meaning to our lives on many levels.
Traditionally, the trajectory of a musical artist started by forming a band and moved on to live performances, cutting an album, and hoping for a hit by getting singles played on the radio. Today's music goes beyond conventional modes of success. Many of the songs that make their way to the charts start on streaming services like SoundCloud or sharing apps like TikTok. Modern artists don't limit themselves in the ways they get their music out there, and as a result, we have a wider assortment of musical choices than ever before. And no matter how they choose to put their music out to the general public, few milestones are as significant as a track making it onto Billboard Charts, one of music's most iconic and well-known rating systems.
Billboard magazine, which , published its first song sales chart in 1940. Since then, the charts have grown to include the Billboard Hot 100 for singles, Billboard 200 for albums, various charts for specific musical genres, the Artist 100 for individual artists, and charts that track songs on streaming services, radio, and digital.
Billboard uses a made up of Nielsen Music sales data, radio data, and streaming data to rank the tracks. Using that data, 麻豆原创 has compiled a comprehensive list of Billboard's (data released Dec. 5, 2019). To be considered, tracks had to make it to the charts between Nov. 24, 2018, and Nov. 16, 2019. Any data from before or after this time frame was not included in the forthcoming standings, demonstrating a discrepancy between these rankings and other compilations from Nielsen Music.
From country to pop to rap, these artists have made and continue to make their mark on the charts, which remains one of the most prestigious musical ranking systems in the country. Keep reading to see if any of your favorite songs made it to the top 50 Billboard hits of 2019.
#50. 'Beautiful People' by Ed Sheeran featuring Khalid
The third single released from Ed Sheeran鈥檚 2019 album 鈥淣o. 6 Collaborations Project,鈥 鈥淏eautiful People鈥 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sheeran teamed up with Khalid for the song, and the album also featured artists such as Justin Bieber, Cardi B, and Chance the Rapper.
#49. 'Mo Bamba' by Sheck Wes
Sheck Wes is said to have recorded his hit single 鈥淢o Bamba鈥 in just , uploading it to the streaming service SoundCloud, where it gained a huge fan base and eventually made its way to Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100. Just 16 years old when he made the track, Wes named the song after NBA star Mohammed Bamba, who grew up with him. The song鈥檚 popularity netted Wes a deal with Interscope Records, and it appeared on the soundtrack of the movie 鈥淭he First Purge.鈥
#48. 'Lucid Dreams' by Juice WRLD
Another SoundCloud release, 鈥淟ucid Dreams鈥 debuted at #74 on Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100 and eventually made its way into the top 10. Singer Juice WRLD, otherwise known as Jarad Higgins, said he wrote the song as a way to deal with he was having at the time. The singer and rapper went on to release the album 鈥淒eath Race for Love鈥 in 2019.
Dec. 8, 2019, following convulsions at a private hangar at Chicago's Midway Airport. His death occurred while federal agents and police officers searched luggage belonging to the artist and his entourage for drugs and guns. Authorities found three guns and 70 pounds of marijuana in their search. Juice WRLD's girlfriend told authorities that he abused drugs, according to a report from the .
#47. 'Thotiana' by Blueface
Debuting on Billboard鈥檚 at #75 and peaking at #8, rapper Johnathan Porter, who goes by the name Blueface, quickly rose to fame after releasing his song 鈥淭hotiana鈥 on SoundCloud. Blueface has also recorded songs with artists such as Drake, The Game, and French Montana.
#46. 'Beautiful Crazy' by Luke Combs
Country singer Luke Combs had a breakout hit with "Beautiful Crazy," which debuted at #6 on the Hot 100 and quickly hit #1 on all five of Billboard's country charts. Combs was also the first country artist to have all hit #1 on Billboard's Country Airplay Chart. He won at the 2018 Country Music Association Awards and was nominated for the Academy of Country Music's Male Artist of the Year in 2019.
#45. 'Pop Out' by Polo G featuring Lil Tjay
A collaboration between rappers Polo G and Lil Tjay, 鈥淧op Out鈥 debuted at #95 on Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100 and . The single achieved platinum status in 2019, with more than 1 million units sold.
#44. 'Mia' by Bad Bunny featuring Drake
Sung entirely in Spanish, 鈥淢ia,鈥 which means 鈥渕ine,鈥 might sound like a dance groove, but it鈥檚 a about a guy and his girl. Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaet贸n singer Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez, collaborated with hip-hop heavy-hitter Drake for this single, which debuted on the Hot 100 at #5.
#43. 'ME!' by Taylor Swift featuring Brendon Urie
Taylor Swift can鈥檛 seem to lose, and her single 鈥淢E!鈥 featuring Brendon Urie, lead singer of Panic! at the Disco, slid into the Hot 100 within three days of its release, then jumped to #2 during its second week. The song also with YouTube, Vevo, and Amazon Music as the most-viewed and most-requested song in a single day.
#42. 'A Lot' by 21 Savage
Born Sh茅yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, rapper 21 Savage鈥檚 hit single, 鈥淎 Lot,鈥 which features artist J. Cole, peaked at #12 on Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100. The album on which the song premieres, 鈥淚 Am > I Was,鈥 on the Billboard 200 album charts, while his first album, 鈥淚ssa Album,鈥 debuted at #2.
#41. 'Look Back At It' by A Boogie Wit da Hoodie
Peaking at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and enjoying on the charts, the song "Look Back At It" was written and performed by American artist Da Boogie Wit da Hoodie otherwise known as Julius Dubose. Dubose's single "Drowning," which featured artist Kodak Black, was also a hit on the charts, and his album "Hoodie SZN" was his first number one album on the Billboard 200.
#40. 'Panini' by Lil Nas X
Artist Lil Nas X, legally known as Montero Lamar Hill, got his start with the song 鈥淥ld Town Road,鈥 which he released via the video-sharing app TikTok and quickly went viral. 鈥淧anini鈥 is Hill鈥檚 second single, released from his debut EP, 鈥7.鈥 It peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Rolling Stone Top 100.
#39. 'You Need To Calm Down' by Taylor Swift
Swift鈥檚 second release from her 2019 album, 鈥淟over,鈥 鈥淵ou Need to Calm Down鈥 on the Hot 100 at #2. This marked her 79th appearance on the charts and put her in the top 10 for solo artists with the most Billboard placements. It also pushed her up to second place for female artists with the most Hot 100 hits.
#38. 'Money' by Cardi B
In her first solo release since April 2018, Cardi B released 鈥淢oney鈥 last October, which peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. The New York rapper performed the hit at the Grammy Awards in February, and the song鈥攊n which she talks about her wealth and motherhood鈥攂irthed a wildly popular music video.
#37. 'Please Me' by Cardi B & Bruno Mars
Released in February 2019, 鈥淧lease Me鈥 is Cardi B and Bruno Mars鈥 second collaboration. The R&B song peaked at #3 (#1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) and is an overt reference to sex on the heels of Valentine鈥檚 Day.
#36. 'Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored' by Ariana Grande
Produced in part by hitmaker Max Martin, "Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored" is off Ariana Grande's fifth studio album, "thank u, next," and reached #2 on Billboard's Hot 100. The message is simple; Grande meets someone at a party and wants him as her own.
#35. 'Speechless' by Dan + Shay
Country duo Dan + Shay鈥檚 鈥淪peechless鈥 tells of a groom鈥檚 nonverbal reaction to his bride at their wedding (鈥溾楥ause watching you is all that I can do鈥). Their first song to reach #1 on the Billboard Country charts, it resonated enough on the airwaves to be performed live at the CMA Awards.
#34. 'Money In The Grave' by Drake featuring Rick Ross
Toronto superfan Drake had one thing left to do following the Raptors鈥 first NBA title in 2019: release new music. Assisted by Rick Ross, the Canadian rapper contemplates selfishly being buried with his earnings so others can鈥檛 capitalize on his success. The message was clear, and the song reached #1 on the Rhythmic charts.
#33. 'Youngblood' by 5 Seconds Of Summer
On the title track of 5 Seconds of Summer鈥檚 third album, the Australian pop band sings about the pros and cons of relationships鈥攐r, literally, about the 鈥済ive and take鈥 and 鈥減ush and pull.鈥 The rockers from Down Under reached #1 on Adult Top 40 in America, and their hit was certified 10 times Platinum in their home country.
#32. 'Better Now' by Post Malone
鈥淏etter Now鈥 is Post Malone鈥檚 final single from his sophomore studio album, Beerbongs & Bentleys. The trap song, which reached the 78th spot on Rolling Stone鈥檚 US 100 list, first on the US Mainstream Top 40, and third on the US Billboard Hot 100, is about a conversation with a former lover at the end of a relationship.
#31. 'ZEZE' by Kodak Black featuring Travis Scott & Offset
"Zeze" is a single from Kodiak Black, produced just three weeks after being . The single is a collaboration between Black and fellow rappers Offset and Travis Scott. The song topped Billboard's US Rhythmic and US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.
#30. 'Goodbyes' by Post Malone featuring Young Thug
It is common for Syracuse, New York-born signer Post Malone to sing about relationships and break-ups. 鈥淕oodbyes鈥 is no different. A song about moving on after a breakup, 鈥淕oodbyes鈥 hit number one on Billboard鈥檚 US Rhythmic list and Rolling Stone 100 list.
#29. 'If I Can't Have You' by Shawn Mendes
A song about an obsession with an ex, that the song 鈥淚f I Can鈥檛 Have You鈥 is about Shawn Mendes鈥 relationship with Camila Cabello, although it can also be about the now-married Hailey Baldwin. The song hit the top spot on Billboard鈥檚 US Adult Top 40 list.
#28. 'Ran$om' by Lil Tecca
鈥淩an$om鈥 is on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Topping off at #4 on the list, the teenager鈥檚 sophomore single effort also hit number one on the Billboard US Rhythmic list.
#27. 'Someone You Loved' by Lewis Capaldi
A nominee for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, 鈥淪omeone You Loved鈥 is Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi鈥檚 third single. Written about his ex, the song took ten months to complete the melodies, in part due to the emotional weight of the material. that the song took on a greater embrace of the sense of loss than just heartbreak.
#26. 'Drip Too Hard' by Lil Baby & Gunna
"" is off Lil Baby and Gunna's collaborative 13-track album, "Drip Harder." The track peaked at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Various artists have offered varying explanations of ; Gunna explained that "drip" refers to fashion, specifically the clothes you wear. The term was used more than 2,000 times in hip-hop dropped in 2018鈥攁 195% climb from 2017, thanks in part to "Drip too Hard" and Cardi B's "Drip."
#25. 'Middle Child' by J. Cole
A snapback against those he felt was disrespecting him鈥攆ans and friends alike鈥擩. Cole鈥檚 鈥溾 is a highly personal single. The song鈥檚 name came from J. Cole鈥檚 belief that he is located somewhere between the old and new generations of hip hop. The single topped Billboard鈥檚 US Rhythmic list and took second place on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
#24. 'Suge' by DaBaby
A nod to Death Row Record founder Suge Knight, Charlotte rapper DaBaby鈥檚 鈥淪uge鈥 surged to #7 on the Hot 100. Eventually nominated for two rap Grammys, the song is an undeniable hit, and its accompanying video has nearly 190 million views.
#23. 'Sweet But Psycho' by Ava Max
American singer Ava Max鈥檚 鈥淪weet but Psycho鈥 is autobiographically both about self-perception and accepted qualities in a relationship. The hit reached #1 in 22 countries and peaked at #10 on Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100.
#22. 'Girls Like You' by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
The popular Maroon 5 love song, 鈥淕irls Like You,鈥 was remixed with a verse from rapper Cardi B, giving it a second life. The pop smash reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by September 2018 and won Top Hot 100 Song at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
#21. 'No Guidance' by Chris Brown featuring Drake
Drake and Chris Brown reconciled their bottle-throwing tension with the release of 鈥淣o Guidance鈥 in June 2019. The melodic rap/sung hit finds the two discussing a girl who needs no guidance since she鈥檚 鈥済ot it.鈥 It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
#20. 'Better' by Khalid
鈥淏etter鈥 reached the in January 2019 following 10 weeks as #2. The track was released on the 鈥淪uncity鈥 EP in 2018 and the 2019 LP 鈥淔ree Spirit,鈥 which stood for 12 weeks at #1 on Billboard鈥檚 weekly chart.
#19. 'Shallow' by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
on March 4, 2019. The milestone represented Bradley Cooper鈥檚 first #1鈥攁nd Lady Gaga鈥檚 first #1 in eight years (since 鈥淏orn This Way鈥 in 2011). The song鈥檚 meteoric rise was directly linked to the 91st Academy Awards ceremony Feb. 24, when Gaga and Cooper performed the song live and the track took home an .
#18. 'Going Bad' by Meek Mill featuring Drake
chart at #6 on December 15, 2018, and spent 37 weeks on the chart. The track鈥檚 significance stems from an ongoing feud between the artists stretching back to July 2015 when Meek threw barbs at Drake via Twitter for, among other things, allegedly not writing his own raps. Much back and forth and several years later, Drake brought Meek onstage in September 2018. 鈥淕oing Bad鈥 was soon to follow.
#17. 'Eastside' by Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid
鈥淓astside,鈥 a song about falling in love, is a combined effort from Benny Blanco, an award-winning record producer, songwriter, and musician, and singers Halsey and Khalid. The song, which peaked on at #9 in January 2019, spent 52 weeks on the charts.
#16. 'I Don't Care' by Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber
The track is about someone feeling anxious at a party and wanting to leave before their significant other makes the event more tolerable. The Ed Sheeran-Justin Bieber song reached #1 on the in July 2019. It was Sheeran鈥檚 fourth Pop Songs #1.
#15. 'Senorita' by Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
鈥淪enorita鈥 represents Shawn Mendes鈥 first #1 track and his second effort with Camila Cabello. The suggestive song chronicles an undefined, confusing relationship in which one partner wishes to be less attached. of a romance between them as far back as 2016 before finally coming clean about their coupledom in the summer of 2019.
#14. 'Dancing With A Stranger' by Sam Smith & Normani
鈥淒ancing With a Stranger鈥 hit #1 on airplay chart. Sam Smith and Normani performed the song together live for the first time at 93.3 on Dec. 1.
#13. 'Truth Hurts' by Lizzo
Lizzo鈥檚 2017 鈥溾 broke a new glass ceiling in music history in 2019 when it became the longest-running Billboard Hot 100 #1 by a solo woman rapper. The song鈥攁bout moving on from an unfulfilling relationship鈥攚as re-released in 2019 as a radio single and as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Lizzo鈥檚 鈥淐uz I Love You鈥 album.
#12. 'thank u, next' by Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande鈥檚 name-dropping track 鈥渢hank u, next鈥 about finding fulfillment in herself dropped 30 minutes before an airing of 鈥溾 in which her ex-fiance, Pete Davidson (who is mentioned by name in the song), referenced his relationship with Grande. Grande took to Twitter with a since-deleted . 鈥渢hank u, next鈥 was Grande鈥檚 fourth .
#11. 'High Hopes' by Panic! At The Disco
鈥淗igh Hopes鈥 is Panic! At the Disco鈥檚 second track to break into Billboard鈥檚 top 10 (the first was 鈥淚 Write Sins Not Tragedies鈥, which peaked at #7 in 2006). The tune is the band鈥檚 first to appear on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. , only to be unseated by another Panic song called鈥攁ppropriately enough鈥斺滺ey Look Ma, I Made It.鈥
#10. 'Sucker' by Jonas Brothers
鈥淪ucker鈥 is the Jonas Brothers鈥 first single to drop in almost six years. The band hadn鈥檛 reached Billboard鈥檚 Pop Songs radio airplay chart since 2007 and returned with a vengeance: 鈥淪ucker鈥 is the first on that chart.
#9. 'Sicko Mode' by Travis Scott
鈥淪icko Mode鈥 marks Travis Scott鈥檚 first hit, a feat achieved in the track鈥檚 17th week on Billboard鈥檚 charts. The song is as unconventional as it is catchy, lasting five full minutes with three distinct, largely disjointed movements within it that make it an unlikely radio hit, let alone #1. Billboard draws comparisons between Scott鈥檚 epic tune and that of Paul McCartney and Wings鈥 1974 song 鈥淏and on the Run,鈥 which came similarly packaged in three parts and five minutes.
#8. 'Talk' by Khalid
碍丑补濒颈诲鈥檚 in June 2019 and climbed to #1 on Billboard鈥檚 in July. The track is off 碍丑补濒颈诲鈥檚 sophomore album 鈥淔ree Spirit,鈥 which was ranked by the Associated Press as one of the .
#7. '7 Rings' by Ariana Grande
鈥7 Rings鈥 is another Ariana Grande track off 鈥渢hank u, next,鈥 only this time around she鈥檚 foregone breakups and is instead singing about being happily single with a life of luxury and excess鈥攆rom bottles of bubbly to diamonds. In her verses, Grande gives a nod to Julie Andrews鈥 鈥淢y Favorite Things鈥 from 鈥淭he Sound of Music,鈥 borrowing the medley but replacing the lyrics with lines like 鈥淟ashes and diamonds, ATM machines / Buy myself all of my favorite things.鈥
#6. 'Happier' by Marshmello & Bastille
The 鈥淗appier鈥 collaboration, produced by Marshmello and written by Bastille, was released in August 2019 following a teaser put out on social media to generate buzz. That business model clearly worked: The track set a new record for time spent at #1 on when it crossed the 34-week threshold.
#5. 'Wow.' by Post Malone
Post Malone repeated his 2018 year-end performance by once again scoring for 2019. He鈥檚 the first solo artist and second act to have back-to-back years of top 10 showings since 1958 when Billboard commenced the Hot 100. The first? The Chainsmokers, in 2016 and 2017. 鈥淲ow.鈥 makes it to the #5 spot for 2019, and holds the distinction of being the sixth in 2019. The track made it to #2 on Billboard charts twice in 2019, held off from the top slot by Ariana Grande鈥檚 鈥7 Rings鈥 on April 6, 2019, and later by Lil Nas X鈥檚 鈥淥ld Town Road鈥 featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.
#4. 'Bad Guy' by Billie Eilish
Seventeen-year-old Billie Eilish will go down in history for her track at the top of the charts with 鈥淥ld Town Road.鈥 Eilish wrote the tune with her brother, Finneas O鈥機onnell. 2019 has undoubtedly been her year: Besides taking down the record-smashing 鈥淥ld Town Road,鈥 Eilish has been nominated for six Grammys (including Album of the Year) and collected a reported to make a documentary about her life.
#3. 'Without Me' by Halsey
Halsey took home her first in the Favorite Pop/Rock Song category. She took her time at the podium to dedicate the award to her fans. The tune is single on Billboard鈥檚 charts.
#2. 'Sunflower' by Post Malone & Swae Lee
Post Malone made it to first place on , with 6.5 billion streams. 鈥淪unflower鈥 is the rapper鈥檚 second collaboration with Swae Lee and is the second single off 鈥淗ollywood鈥檚 Bleeding,鈥 Malone鈥檚 third studio album.
鈥淪unflower鈥 marks the second collaboration by and . It serves as the second single for Post Malone鈥檚 2019 album, Hollywood鈥檚 Bleeding, and is part of the for the 2018 animated film . The track would end up breaking the record for spent in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart after notching its 45th week.
#1. 'Old Town Road' by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
in one year went from a college dropout sleeping on his sister鈥檚 couch in October 2018 to a record-breaking chart topper. 鈥淥ld Town Road,鈥 a genre-transcending track featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, outshone singles from household names like Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, and Justin Bieber and spent 19 weeks at #1. The 20-year-old is officially the at year鈥檚 end.