Last decade hosted many very popular bands, new and old, that made very well done, popular music. There were songss for any genre, and for any occaision. One thing that I have noticed through the years is many popular song I associate with a memory, whether its a date, a late night drive, a night out with family and friends, or maybe a roadtrip or some other totally different reason. Songs, especialy songs from our youth will always hold a place in our hearts. Here are my top 10 songs from last decade.

10- Royals, Lorde

Lorde made a song in 2014 that was so unique, they made a new genre to complement it. Now known as “Dream Pop” Lorde’s hit Royals was a hit as soon as it hit the charts, with a catchy hook, catchy chorus and pre-chorus, and fantasstic layering of her own voice to make a chior made on her voice, this song defines my first semester in high school.

9-Pumped Up Kicks, Foster the People

I don’t know what it was about Pumped Up Kicks that made me want to listen to it on repeat for a month straight when I was a kid, but now looking back, listening to the clever guitar riff in the background as well as the catchy chorus that you cant help but song along to, I also have so many memories of listening to this when hanging out with my first ever girlfriend that I would secretly hang out with without telling my parents… good times.

8- Ho Hey, The Lumineers

This song was my 15 year old anthem, the crowd yelling “HO” or “HEY” on the first beat gives it such a light hearted feeling. Don’t even get me started on the chorus, I might just have to type it out it’s so catchy. Nonetheless, the folk feel to this song, ass well as most of the music being release at this time (ed sheerans’s first album, Mumford & Sons) was a folk revival, and probably my favorite time in music I have experienced so far.

7- Riptide, Vance Joy

out of every song on this list, I think “Riptide” has got to be the song that it seems like everyone will sing when it comes on. It makes a lot of scenes too, with such a light happy feeling to it, especially when adding a ukulele to the mix, this song is a double whammy of happy feelings, and one that is hard not to dance and sing to when you hear it.

6-Habits (Hippie Sabotage remix) , Tove Lo

This song is pure nostalgia for me, it came out the summer of my sophomore year and any night I would hangout with my friends, no matter what we were doing. this song was part of the night drive. with the ear-grabing effects used on her voice to give it a very ethereal feel, as well as the catchy hook with a catchy 808 added onto the chourus, this song is super well made and will probably always be a favorite whenever it comes on.

5- Do I Wanna Know?, Arctic Monkeys

This song is a little different than the other songs so far on this list, it offers a darker tone using dark bass lines and 808’s along with a bluesy sounding guitar complemented with a dark sounding tenor voice accompanied by a small choir responding to the main vocals, this song is a “going to battle” feel to it, which was really good when I was driving over to my football game.

4- Take Me to Church, Hozier

Hoziers “Take Me to Church” for me, is a pure masterpeice, the lyrics of this song have me still captivated, this song has such a catchy chourus and has a bridge to back it up, alkong with the minimal guitar and piano added in the song, but his voice makes sure to make this song feel very full. Hoziers voice in this song I think is one of the best voices from the 2010’s. but that with a well written song with catchy hooks, gives you a classic for years to come.

3- Ultralight Beam, Kanye West,

This was one of the first christian- based songs that I have ever seen on the charts, with good reason too. This song is the frist song of Kanye’s that features Sunday Service choir, (if you listen to Kanye, you probably know who that is.) along with the soulfull chior, this song also features a rap from Kanye and Chance the Rapper who do phenominal jobs at bringing the pure emotion and soul from a gospel song so a rap beat. This song will forever been one of my favorites. It should also be a crime that “Hotline Bling” (although a good song) won a Grammy over this masterpiece.

2- I Spoke To The Devil in Miami and he said Everything Would Be Fine, XXXtentacion

This song is probably the least well known song on this list, but that does not mean it is any less significant. This song is very unique, it offers a soft piano that plays about four chords on repeat, with everyone in a while there is a flute- like sound playing five notes on repeat, While X sings almost like spoken word. The lyrics and tone go together so well with the beat, creating a very unique feel any time I listen to this song. not to mention that this song has such a deep meaning, along with some of the most creative writing I have heard in a song. if you haven’t already, This song is worth the listen.

1- Burning Man, Dierks Bentley

The most important thing in a song that makes you like it is emotion. Thats why Burning man is my top song of the decade. It has a great message and not to mention two of the greatest voices in country music. But the real reason this is my favorite is back when this song released, it was my best friends favorite song, about two months later, he passed away in a motorcycle accident. Now every time I hear this song, it reminds me of all the fun memories I had. In the end, music can be so many things, fuel for a party, a way to get anger out, or provoke any emotion, that is what makes music so great. and that’s why this was my song of the decade.