The 45 Best Pop Songs of the 21st Century (Timeout)

"Time was, 'pop' meant manufactured acts whose music erred towards the disposable. There were a few certified geniuses like Michael Jackson or Madonna. But for all the units shifted, in the twentieth-century pop never seemed to be the zeitgeist artform of the day. At the dawn of the new millennium, all the rules for pop went out the window. A complicated series of cultural shifts that can largely be attributed to the internet kicked in: suddenly it was sophisticated pop production that was getting the audiophiles drooling. It's an age we're absolutely still living through, with little sign of letting up. And so, for this list, we've taken a long listen to some of the biggest bangers of the last 20-plus years and did what feels nearly impossible: we've ranked them. While we've broadly speaking excluded rock, country and hip-hop, you'll find R&B jams, dance-floor fillers and insanely catchy earworms. These are the best pop songs of the twenty-first century." - timeout.com

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from timeout.com · made by SteveAzo

avg. score: 29 of 45 (64%)

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1

'Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)' by Beyoncé

'Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)' by Beyoncé

2

'Umbrella' by Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z

'Umbrella' by Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z

3

'Shake It Off' by Taylor Swift

'Shake It Off' by Taylor Swift

4

'Toxic' by Britney Spears

'Toxic' by Britney Spears

5

'Rolling in the Deep' by Adele

'Rolling in the Deep' by Adele

6

'Firework' by Katy Perry

'Firework' by Katy Perry

7

'Rehab' by Amy Winehouse

'Rehab' by Amy Winehouse

8

'Blinding Lights' by the Weeknd

'Blinding Lights' by the Weeknd

9

'Dancing on My Own' by Robyn

'Dancing on My Own' by Robyn

10

'Hey Ya!' by Outkast

'Hey Ya!' by Outkast

11

"Old Town Road" – Lil Nas X

"Old Town Road" – Lil Nas X

12

'Hips Don't Lie' by Shakira Featuring Wyclef Jean

'Hips Don't Lie' by Shakira Featuring Wyclef Jean

13

'Sexyback' by Justin Timberlake

'Sexyback' by Justin Timberlake

14

'Call Me Maybe' by Carly Rae Jepsen

'Call Me Maybe' by Carly Rae Jepsen

15

'Uptown Funk' by Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars

'Uptown Funk' by Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars

16

'Poker Face' by Lady Gaga

'Poker Face' by Lady Gaga

17

'Hollaback Girl' by Gwen Stefani

'Hollaback Girl' by Gwen Stefani

18

'Starships' by Nicki Minaj

'Starships' by Nicki Minaj

19

'Royals' by Lorde

'Royals' by Lorde

20

'Party in the U.S.A.' by Miley Cyrus

'Party in the U.S.A.' by Miley Cyrus

21

'Bad Guy' by Billie Eilish

'Bad Guy' by Billie Eilish

22

'Good as Hell' by Lizzo

'Good as Hell' by Lizzo

23

'Get Lucky' by Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell

'Get Lucky' by Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell

24

'Dynamite' by BTS

'Dynamite' by BTS

25

'Adore You' by Harry Styles

'Adore You' by Harry Styles

26

'No Tears Left to Cry' by Ariana Grande

'No Tears Left to Cry' by Ariana Grande

27

'Drivers License' by Olivia Rodrigo

'Drivers License' by Olivia Rodrigo

28

'Sorry' by Justin Bieber

'Sorry' by Justin Bieber

29

'Titanium' by David Guetta Featuring Sia

'Titanium' by David Guetta Featuring Sia

30

'Happy' by Pharrell Williams

'Happy' by Pharrell Williams

31

'Hotline Bling' by Drake

'Hotline Bling' by Drake

32

'Levitating' by Dua Lipa

'Levitating' by Dua Lipa

33

'Milkshake' by Kelis

'Milkshake' by Kelis

34

'Hung Up' by Madonna

'Hung Up' by Madonna

35

'Despacito' by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee

'Despacito' by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee

36

'Bootylicious' by Destiny's Child

'Bootylicious' by Destiny's Child

37

'Work It' by Missy Elliott

'Work It' by Missy Elliott

38

'Can't Get You Out of My Head' by Kylie Minogue

'Can't Get You Out of My Head' by Kylie Minogue

39

'American Boy' by Estelle Featuring Kanye West

'American Boy' by Estelle Featuring Kanye West

40

'Since U Been Gone' by Kelly Clarkson

'Since U Been Gone' by Kelly Clarkson

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