32 Best Songs From 2014

There are several great tracks that were released during 2014 you may not remember or have heard about. If you’re building a playlist, keep reading to find out which tunes make our list of the 32 best songs from 2014. 

1. Happy – Pharrell Williams 

Pharrell Williams - Happy (Video)

Calling all fans of Despicable Me 2, the first song on this list is Happy by Pharrell Williams, which was famously featured in that movie. This track comes from the album Girl, and it was a huge hit that landed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Top 40 charts, to name a few. 

2. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift - Shake It Off

Pop star Taylor Swift is next with Shake It Off, a dance-pop song that came from her album 1989. This track is all about shaking off the negativity and the negative press that she receives. This was her first real pop album, and Shake It Off was the first single from it, with most critics agreeing that it was catchy. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts.

Recommended: Top Taylor Swift songs

3. Timber – Pitbull Feat. Ke$ha 

Pitbull, Ke$ha - Timber (featuring Ke$ha - Official Video)

Notable rapper Pitbull had a catchy dance song called Timber in 2014, which featured Ke$ha, and it was off his EP Meltdown. Everyone enjoyed this track, and it charted in 16 countries including the US where it topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Dance Club Songs chart. 

4. The Monster – Eminem Feat. Rihanna 

Eminem ft. Rihanna - The Monster (Explicit) [Official Video]

Eminem had a huge hit when he collaborated with Rihanna for another song, this time it was The Monster, which comes from his album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. This was the fourth time the two did a collaboration, and it’s a mix of pop and hip hop. It has two parts, which are Rihanna finally acknowledging her demons and then Eminem thinking about how fame has negatively impacted him. This track was number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. 

5. All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor 

Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass (Official Video)

You may not know Meghan Trainor, but we know you’ve heard the song All About That Bass because this song quickly became an international success. This is her first single from her debut album, and it’s all about accepting yourself and your body for who and what you look like. The positive message included in it is one reason why it landed on the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Top 40 in the number one position. 

6. All Of Me – John Legend 

John Legend - All of Me (Official Video)

Next on our list is All Of Me by John Legend, which comes from his album Love In The Future, and it was the third single released from this album. In 2014, this song was third among best-selling songs of the year. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and this was the first time he had a track hit number one on that chart. He dedicated this to his wife, Chrissy Teigen.

7. 18 – One Direction 

One Direction - 18 (Audio)

One Direction makes the list with 18, which comes from the album Four, and was written in part by Ed Sheeran. This song and the album were both an international success and, funny enough, landed number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.

8. Photograph – Ed Sheeran 

Ed Sheeran - Photograph (Official Music Video)

Up next is Photograph by Ed Sheeran, and this song is about his personal experience with a long-term relationship and how being on tour impacted it. This ballad was a hit and landed at number one on the Adult Top 40 while hitting 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It can be found in movies such as Mother’s Day and Me Before You

9. Chandelier – Sia

Sia - Chandelier (Official Video)

Sia had a hit with Chandelier in 2014, which came from her album 1000 Forms Of Fear, and this song is about alcoholism and the rationalizing someone that’s an alcoholic does during their partying. There are themes of alcoholism, intoxication, addiction, shame, guilt, and remorse in the track. It was Sia’s first song to hit the Billboard Hot 100, and it landed at eighth place on the chart, while also charting in more than 20 countries.

10. Stay With Me – Sam Smith

Sam Smith - Stay With Me (Official Music Video)

Next is Sam Smith who released Stay With Me on his album In The Lonely Hour. This song is about a guy who had a one-night stand and is now trying to get the person not to leave him, and it was inspired by gospel music. It landed at number one on the Adult Alternative and Contemporary charts and two on the Billboard Hot 100. 

11. 23 – Shakira 

Shakira is on the list with 23, which comes from her self-titled album, and this song is about her relationship with football star Gerald Pique. She was 33 when she met him and he was 23, but even though there was an age gap, she felt he was the missing link in her life. They had a son, Milan, and he can be heard in the background laughing at the end of the recording. 

12. Always In My Head – Coldplay 

Up next is Coldplay with the song Always In My Head, which is a track that features Apple, Chris Martin’s daughter. This is one of those tracks that you’ll hear once and want to hear repeatedly because it’s so smooth and catchy with so much emotion. 

13. Let It Go – Idina Menzel 

Disney's Frozen "Let It Go" Sequence Performed by Idina Menzel

You’ve probably heard the song Let It Go, which is from the Disney movie Frozen, and that makes the list. This track was recorded by Idina Menzel, and it’s the most notable song from the film, which earned a ton of awards. It reached number one on the Dance Club Songs chart and five on the Billboard Hot 100. 

14. Summer – Calvin Harris 

Calvin Harris - Summer (Official Video)

Calvin Harris is on the list with Summer, which is from his album Motion, and it hit the UK Singles Chart at the number one position. In America, it reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, and this was his second solo song to reach the top 10. 

15. Dark Horse – Katy Perry Feat. Juicy J 

Katy Perry - Dark Horse ft. Juicy J

Katy Perry is on the list with Dark Horse, which is a song featuring Juicy J, and this track was from her album Prism. This song was a huge success and ended up hitting number one on the charts in countries including the US, Canada, and Poland. It also was a hit in other countries and landed within the Top 10 in 20 different countries.

16. Maps – Maroon 5

Maroon 5 - Maps (Lyric Video)

Maroon 5 is on the list with Maps, which comes from their album V, and this song was recorded after the movie Irreversible came out, which served as inspiration for the tune. It was mostly received positively by the critics and landed at number one on the Adult Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts. This track is like many other Maroon 5 songs, so it’s going to have a catchy beat with smooth vocals from Adam Levine. 

17. American Kids – Kenny Chesney 

Kenny Chesney - American Kids (Official Video)

Country superstar Kenny Chesney makes the list with American Kids, which is from The Big Revival. This song is all about real American kids and how there are way more kids can look forward to besides parties. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart. 

18. Team – Lorde 

Lorde had a hit with Team, and this song was from her debut album called Pure Heroine, and it was the second track from this album released in America. This is a tribute song to her family, friends, and home country of New Zealand. It hit number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and it was also internationally successful. 

19. Am I Wrong – Nico & Vinz

Nico & Vinz - Am I Wrong [Official Music Video]

Next up on the list is Am I Wrong by Nico & Vinz, and this song was commercially successful since it reached number one in countries including New Zealand and Canada. In America, the track reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and one on the Adult Top 40 chart. This was one of their most successful songs to date and is thought to be one of their best. 

20. Fancy – Iggy Azalea Feat. Charli XCX

Iggy Azalea - Fancy ft. Charli XCX

Izzy Azalea is on the list next with Fancy, and this song features Charli XCX, and it comes from her debut album The New Classic. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for more than 7 weeks. It was also an international success and charted in multiple countries. It might not be her most well-known track, but it’s one of her best, and critics also enjoyed this song from her first album. 

21. Turn Down For What – DJ Snake And Lil Jon

DJ Snake, Lil Jon - Turn Down for What

Next is Turn Down For What, which is by DJ Snake and Lil Jon, and the music video for this track helped the phrase become popular. It landed at number one on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and four on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2020, this track reached 1 billion views on YouTube, which is a fairly significant feat. 

22. Pompeii – Bastille 

Bastille - Pompeii (Official Music Video)

Bastille is on the list with the song Pompeii from the album Bad Blood, and it is all about Pompeii, which was a town in Rome that had been destroyed by a volcanic eruption in AD 79. This was their breakthrough track, and it hit two on the UK Singles Chart and five on the Billboard Hot 100. 

23. A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young – Eric Church 

Eric Church - A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young (Official Music Video)

In 2014, Eric Church released A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young from The Outsiders album, and this song is a ballad that’s done in acoustic. It’s all about him thinking he has lived longer than Hank Williams and Jesus and reflecting on his life. According to him, this is one of his most honest tracks to ever be put onto an album. If you’re someone who likes songs that reflect on life and how circumstances lead us down a certain path, then this track is one to check out. 

24. Only Love Can Hurt Like This – Paloma Faith 

Paloma Faith - Only Love Can Hurt Like This (Official Video)

Next is Paloma Faith with Only Love Can Hurt Like This, which comes from their album A Perfect Contradiction, This song was put into the television show Winners & Losers in Australia and then topped the charts there. It also landed at three on the New Zealand Singles Chart and six on the UK Singles Chart

25. All For Nothing – Linkin Park Feat. Page Hamilton

All For Nothing (ft. Page Hamilton) - Linkin Park (The Hunting Party)

Rock band Linkin Park had a hit song in 2014 when they released All For Nothing, which comes from the album The Hunting Party. This track features Page Hamilton, who plays guitar and is a singer for the band Helmet. If you’ve played Pro Evolution Soccer 2015, then you’ve probably heard this song since it’s in the video game. Anyone who is a fan of Linkin Park would enjoy this track; unfortunately, lead singer Chester Bennington is no longer alive. 

26. 7/11 – Beyoncé 

Beyoncé makes the list with 7/11, which is a song released on her self-titled album, and it features rap and hip hop elements, with a very upbeat tempo. While some critics didn’t like this track, it still managed to hit number one on the Dance Club Songs, R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. This track does sound very similar to her other songs, so if you’re not a fan of her music, then you should pass on listening to it. 

27. Me and My Broken Heart – Rixton 

Rixton - Me and My Broken Heart (Official Video)

Rixton is on our list with Me And My Broken Heart, which comes from the album Let The Road. This was one of the songs featured in Just Dance 2015, which is an incredibly popular video game, and was also featured on an episode of The Haunted Hathaways. It reached four on the Adult Contemporary chart, five on the Adult Top 40, and 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

28. Bang Bang – Jessie J Feat. Ariana Grande And Nicki Minaj 

Jessie J - Bang Bang ft. Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj

Jessie J, Nicki Minaj, and Ariana Grande teamed up for the song Bang Bang, which comes from Jessie J’s album Sweet Talker and was featured on Grande’s album My Everything. This track hit three on the Billboard Hot 100, and it reached the Top 10 in several countries including South Korea, Canada, and Ireland. This song also ended up number one in the UK, which was a first for Minaj, second for Grande, and third time for Jessie J. 

29. Adore You – Miley Cyrus 

Miley Cyrus - Adore You (Official Video)

Next up is pop star Miley Cyrus with Adore You, and this song is all about what she thinks and feels about her boyfriend. It’s a ballad of both R&B and pop sounds, and it was well-received by the music critics. The critics believed this was one of the more beautiful tracks on the album and really showed off her versatile voice that’s powerful yet can be smooth and seductive too. It hit 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 33 on the Adult Top 40. 

30. Drunk In Love – Beyoncé Feat. Jay Z

Beyoncé - Drunk in Love (Explicit) ft. JAY Z

Drunk In Love makes our list, which was a song by Beyoncé that featured Jay-Z, her husband. This track is all about female sexuality and empowerment and having confidence. It was a hit in America, landing at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying within the Top 10 for more than eight weeks! This is often thought to be the follow-up song to their other collaboration, Crazy In Love. It even won two Grammy Awards including for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance. 

31. Believe Me – Lil Wayne Feat. Drake 

Lil Wayne had a hit in 2014 with Believe Me, which features Drake, and it was from Tha Carter V, which was the 12th album he released. The track landed on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 26 and hit seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. If you haven’t checked out this track yet, it’s one you can vibe to and relive the hot songs of the year. 

32. Rude! – MAGIC! 

MAGIC! - Rude (Official Video)

We’re ending the list with Rude, which is by MAGIC!, and this song features Blink-182 member Travis Barker on drums. The track was a huge success all over the world with it hitting number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the Top 10 in multiple countries including Sweden and Denmark.

Recommended Next:

Top songs from 2013

Top songs from 2011

Top songs from 2010

Top songs from 2012

Top songs from 2015

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