My recap of 2024 in pop culture marches on with the best songs. This year, I made the shift I started last year complete. Thus, all these singles do not appear on any of my selections for Best Albums (which will go up later this month). Why? Because it allows me to showcase more music!

That said, some artists appear on both lists. That’s because they had a great single that didn’t appear on their incredible album. Is that a technicality? Maybe. But I make the rules here. I control the treble and the bass. This is my world.

Anyway, let’s get into it!

Music

20. Tiny Moves by Bleachers- I liked but didn’t love Bleachers’ self-titled album from this year. It did, however, have two excellent singles. One of them, “Modern Girl,” was released in 2023 before the album’s debut. Thus, this one released post-debut gets in.

19. Starburster by Fontaines DC

18. People Watching by Sam Fender- Speaking of Bleachers, Fender did Bleachers better than the band did in 2024 and did so from across the pond.

17. Stay Golden by Saint Motel

16. Secret by Peach PRC- One of my “can do no wrong” singers that I still somehow don’t own any albums from.

15. APT by Rose and Bruno Mars- An earworm in the best sense of the word.

14. Feeling Alright by the Kaiser Chiefs- Critics HATED this album. I thought it was fine, but this song was a delight!

13. Power To Undo by Brittany Howard- If you miss Prince but want something more than just a thoughtless copycat, Brittany Howard has this gift for you.

12. it boy by bbno$- Dumb arrogant rap with a sly hook. bbno$ consistently delights me.

11. Burning Down the House by Paramore/Hard Times by David Byrne- A cheat perhaps, but whatever. Love this homage/tradeoff pairing.

10. Lithonia by Childish Gambino

9. Run It by clipping- The best rap group you don’t pay enough attention to kills it yet again.

8. Rylee & I by Mk.gee

7. Guy I Used to Be by Lawrence- I know TikTok decided, en masse, to hate Lawrence in, like, October. The album is so-so, but this is a blast of Huey Lewis and the News-style horns that blow the clouds away.

6. Broken Man by St. Vincent- Great track off a disappointing album.

5. Please Please Please by Sabrina Carpenter- I decided to only feature one song per artist on this list. If not, you probably would’ve seen more Carpenter here. Sadly, the album doesn’t live up to the best tracks or her previous effort, but seeing so many finally catch on to how great she is has been a kick.

4. Gift Horse by Idles- Punk ain’t dead.

3. Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar

2. Good Luck, Babe by Chappelle Roan- Her album is actually a 2023 release (and made my Best of last year as I am a tastemaker) but this is a new single for 2024 so I was still able to honor one of the year’s best, most exciting artists.

1. The girl, so confusing by Charlie XCX and Lorde- The conceit is so clever. The execution is even better.

Worst

My real worst song comes from what is essentially a diss album aimed at one of my employers, so I’m not going to jump into that fray. IYKYK These are the runner-up worst. They’re still terrible though, don’t worry.

Woman’s World by Katy Perry- I’d never argue for Perry being an incredible songstress, but she can absolutely do so much better than this.

I Don’t Wanna Wait by David Guetta and OneRepublic

Die with a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars- I know many people are big fans of this one. I liked it less and less every time I heard until, by year’s end, it made me actively mad.