There were so many hit songs in 2015 that it might be hard to know which tracks should make your playlist. We’re going to countdown the 41 best songs from 2015, so keep reading to find out what made our list!
1. Blank Space – Taylor Swift
First on the list is Taylor Swift with Blank Space, which comes from her album 1989. The song is a satire about her reputation for being flirty and having a lot of boyfriends. This track went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for seven weeks. It also went to number one on the Adult Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts.
2. See You Again – Wiz Khalifa Feat. Charlie Puth
Calling all fans of Furious 7, you may remember See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth. This song was for the soundtrack to the movie and was a tribute to Paul Walker who died in a car wreck in 2013. This track went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for over 12 weeks non-consecutively. This song is often played as a tribute track to friends and family members who have died, and it’s the most successful song for both Puth and Khalifa.
3. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson Feat. Bruno Mars
Up next is Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars. The track is all about loving yourself, fashion, and bravado. It went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Dance Club Songs chart, and Adult Top 40 chart. It is one of Ronson’s most well-known and successful tracks, and it’s a catchy song that you’ll be singing all day once you’ve heard it.
4. Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd
The Weeknd makes our list next with Can’t Feel My Face, which comes from Beauty Behind The Madness. This song mixes elements of The Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson, and it hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and in countries outside America, such as Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, and Canada. If you enjoy his music, then this track from 2015 is surely one you should check out.
5. Bad Blood – Taylor Swift Feat. Kendrick Lamar
Taylor Swift makes our list again with Bad Blood featuring Kendrick Lamar. This song is all about how a close friend betrayed her, and in the music video, a lot of other artists are seen throughout; most people believe the track is about Katy Perry. This song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 list and Adult Top 40. Since this track features rapper Kendrick Lamar, there is a lot of bass in the song with drums that’ll shake your whole house!
6. Hotline Bling – Drake
Drake is on the list next with Hotline Bling, which comes from his album Views. The track made it to eight on the Bubblings Under Hot 100 Singles chart and 35 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The track was praised for its production and emotional element, and it helped him win two Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song.
7. Trap Queen – Fetty Wap
Rapper Fetty Wap is on the list with Trap Queen, which comes from his debut self-titled album. This song is very infectious and upbeat and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first time a track of his went onto that chart. In total, the song spent 25 weeks on the chart consecutively in the Top 10 and also landed in the top 10 in the UK and Denmark.
8. What Went Down – Foals
Foals are up next with What Went Down, which was released as the lead single from their album of the same name. The song hit number one on the Modern Rock chart in the Czech Republic while hitting 24 on the American Alternative Airplay chart and 35 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
9. Hello – Adele
Hello by Adele was a hit in 2015, and this song was from the album 25, and it’s one of her most famous tracks and is considered a piano ballad. This song is all about nostalgia and regret, and it was successful worldwide. It hit number one in 36 countries including America and the UK. It peaked at one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for 10 weeks and sold over 12.3 million units just in 2015 alone.
10. March Madness – Future
Rapper Future makes the list with his hit track March Madness, which was rated as one of the best songs of the decade by Billboard. The track comes from the album 56 Night, and it made it to eight on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and 35 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. He even performed this track on an episode of Saturday Night Live.
11. Sorry – Justin Bieber
On our list next is Justin Bieber with Sorry, which comes from his album Purpose. It’s a song about trying to win back a former lover or girlfriend and apologizing for how things were. He said the track was about Selena Gomez, his previous girlfriend. It made it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for three weeks.
12. Biscuits – Kasey Musgraves
Country star Kasey Musgraves is next with Biscuits, which comes from her album Pageant Material. The track went to 28 on the Hot Country Songs chart and 41 on the Country Airplay chart. Billboard would go on to rank the track as the number-one country song for 2015.
13. Sugar – Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is on the list with their song Sugar from the album V. This track landed at number one on the Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 charts and peaked at two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. You may have heard this song on television shows such as Bull, Stalker, and American Housewife. It also was featured in the video game Just Dance and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
14. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
Next up is Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, which comes from the album 1989. There are a lot of keyboards, guitars, and percussions in the song, and it made it to number one on the Mainstream Top 40 and Adult Top 40 while peaking at two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
15. Shut Up and Dance – WALK THE MOON
WALK THE MOON had a hit with Shut Up And Dance from their album Talking Is Hard. This song was inspired by the fact the lead singer’s girlfriend wanted him to dance with her while at a club. Reaching number one on the Adult Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts, it was a massive success for the band and peaked at four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
16. Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
Calling all fans of the movie The Midnight Sky, country music star Chris Stapleton had a smash hit with his cover of Tennessee Whiskey. You might not know this track was originally performed by David Allan Coe. It was on his debut album Traveller. It went to number one on the Hot Country Songs chart and 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
17. Centuries – Fall Out Boy
Up next is Fall Out Boy with Centuries, which comes from their album American Beauty/American Psycho. ESPN used this song for their sports coverage, and it went to two on the Hot Rock and Alternative chart and 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
18. Flesh Without Blood – Grimes
Next is the Canadian singer Grimes with her song Flesh Without Blood from her album Art Angel. This track landed at number 23 on the Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart and was used in an episode of Mr. Robot. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, you should because this was one of her most successful and popular tracks.
19. Jealous – Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas is on our list with Jealous, which comes from his self-titled album. This track went to number one on the Dance Club Songs chart and hit two on the Mainstream Top 40 chart while peaking at seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He was praised for the lyrics and content as this was far different from the work he did with the boy band Jonas Brothers.
20. Stay With Me – Sam Smith
Coming from his debut album In The Lonely Hour is Sam Smith’s hit song Stay With Me. This is a ballad where the guy is hoping his one-night stand won’t leave him. The track became his most successful single and made it to two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was also within the Top 10 in over 12 countries.
21. Take Me To Church – Hozier
Hozier is on our list with Take Me To Church, which is actually an anti-church and anti-religious song. It uses the church and themes from the church to talk about romantic relationships that are discriminated against. Hitting one on the Adult Top 40 chart and peaking at two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it quickly became his most well-known track.
22. Want To Want Me – Jason Derulo
Jason Derulo had a hit in 2015 with Want To Want Me from his album Everything Is 4. This song went to number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Time listed this track as the third greatest song of the year.
23. Cool For The Summer – Demi Lovato
Next on our list is Demi Lovato with Cool For The Summer from her album Confident. This track hit one on the Dance Club Songs chart and 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and this track became the theme song for SummerSlam 2015 for the WWE.
24. Don’t Wanna Fight – Alabama Shakes
Coming from the album Sound & Color is the track Don’t Wanna Fight by Alabama Shakes. It was a massive hit and scored the band two Grammy Awards while also peaking at 13 on the Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart. It is one of their most successful tracks and is thought of as one of their signature songs.
25. House Party – Sam Hunt
Country singer Sam Hunt had a hit with House Party from his album Montevallo. The track went to number one on the Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts and peaked at 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Over 1.1 million copies of this track have been sold in America.
26. Back to Back – Drake
Drake released a diss track aimed at Meek Mill called Back To Back, and this was one of his biggest songs of 2015. It made it to six on the Hot Rap Songs chart and 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. If you’re into rap music and you enjoy diss tracks then you need to check out this song as it’s everything you’d expect and enjoy from a diss track.
27. Ghosttown – Madonna
Pop icon Madonna makes our list with Ghosttown, which is from her album Rebel Heart. This song is about how people might move forward after an Armageddon situation, although it’s actually upbeat. This track made it to number one on the Dance Club Songs chart. While this might not be her most well-known track, it still managed to bring her back into the spotlight decades after her initial success.
28. Dreams – Beck
Beck released Dreams from his album Colors, and it was a funkier and more upbeat track than a lot of his previous singles. It reached number one on the Adult Alternative Songs chart and two on the Alternative Airplay chart. If you like the track Loser, then this is a song you need to listen to because it’s different but also similar in style and a great track to jam to.
29. Bitch Better Have My Money – Rihanna
Next is Rihanna with Bitch Better Have My Money, which is a trap song released as a single, and it was notably featured in a skit on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The track also goes by the clean version labeled Better Have My Money. It went to number one on the Dance Club Songs chart and peaked at 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
30. What Kind Of Man – Florence + The Machine
Florence + The Machine is next with What Kind Of Man from their album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. This song reached seven on the Hot Rock and Alternative chart and Rock Airplay chart while hitting 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was a fairly popular track for them, and they received two Grammy nominations for it.
31. I Don’t Mind – Usher Feat. Juicy J
Next is R&B star Usher with his track I Don’t Mind featuring Juicy J from his album Hard II Love. The song is all about not caring that the girl he’s with is a stripper. This track landed at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. This is a traditional Usher track with the styling of Juicy J to add a little flavor.
32. Burning House – Cam
Country singer Cam makes our list with Burning House from her album Untamed. She was inspired to write this song after a dream she had where she tried to save her boyfriend from a house fire. The track peaked at two on both the Hot Country Songs chart and the Country Airplay chart.
33. Riptide – Vance Joy
Up next is Australian artist Vance Joy with Riptide from his debut album Dream Your Life Away. There are a lot of pop references in the song, and it’s a coming-of-age love track. It went to number one on the Rock Airplay chart and peaked at two on the Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart.
34. High By The Beach – Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey makes our list with High By The Beach from her album Honeymoon. This song features a trap beat and went to 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. If you’re a fan of her upbeat music and catchy choruses, then you’d love this track as it’s very much her style.
35. Chains – Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas had a hit with Chains, which is an R&B song that talks about feeling hopeless and trapped in a love situation. He was praised for his adult lyrics and songwriting abilities and that helped propel this track to number one on the Dance Club Songs chart and 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
36. Animals – Maroon 5
The pop group Maroon 5 had a massive hit in 2015 with Animals, which comes from their album V. Hitting number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and Adult Top 40 chart, it only managed to make it to three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
37. Fight Song – Rachel Platten
Rachel Platten is on the list with her hit Fight Song from her album Wildfire. The track went to number one on the Adult Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts while making it to six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song is featured in movies such as Peter Rabbit and Miracles From Heaven.
38. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Up next is Ed Sheeran with Thinking Out Loud from his album X. This track hit two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and it spent a year in the UK Top 40 where it peaked at number one for a short time. It won two Grammy Awards including Song of the Year. You can find this track in the movie Bridget Jones’s Baby and television shows such as Love Island and The Good Doctor.
39. Stay In My Corner – The Arcs
The Arcs are next with Stay In My Corner from their debut album Yours Dreamily. This song was inspired by the boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, and it was a major hit for the alternative band. While you may not have heard this track before, it was easily one of the best songs of the year and helped make them a household name.
40. Uma Thurman – Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy makes our list again with Una Thurman from their album American Beauty/American Psycho. The track is celebrating the actress Uma Thurman and landed at number two on the Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart. There are references to movies she was in throughout the track, including Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction.
41. Here – Alessia Cara
Lastly, we wanted to mention Here by Alessia Cara, which comes from her album Know It All. It’s all about those people who don’t like parties but keep it a secret. The song made it to number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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From the time she was little, Florence loved listening to music and quickly learned how music can make you happy and feel fulfilled. One of her favorite memories is being in the garage with her dad working on classic cars with the local rock station blaring in the background. Ever since Florence was 3, she loved grunge music and spent hours listening to bands such as Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Soul Asylum, and Soundgarden.
She also enjoys classic rock, modern rock, nu metal, alternative rock, and old 90’s R&B. Her love of music grew as she got older, and used music to help her get through tough times in her life. More often than not, you’ll see Florence with earbuds in while she’s writing, cooking, cleaning, and doing other tasks. She also loves to debate music with her friends such as which lead singer is the best vocalist, the most iconic guitar solos in music, and what songs are really the best of the decade.