Top 10 Pop Songs of the 2010s

#10: “Just the Way You Are” (2010)
Bruno Mars

Released during the summer of 2010, this up-tempo love song immediately solidified its singer as the next big thing in R&B. With its tight lyrical focus and sprawling chorus, “Just the Way You Are” offers an uplifting message, and at the time of release, the voice of Bruno Mars was entirely fresh and new. The track ultimately led to a Grammy Award for the crooner, which further expanded his commercial appeal, but it’s the brevity that makes this a timeless track. Incidentally, Mars took a metaphorical approach with his follow-up single entitled “Grenade”, yet another #1 hit.

#9: “Forget You” (2010)
CeeLo Green

With a new decade came a more liberal approach to songwriting. And for this funky number, CeeLo got straight to the point. Written by Green and Bruno Mars’ production group, The Smeezingtons, the playful wordplay of “Forget You” sets itself apart from more traditional releases. Citing both Ferraris and Ataris, CeeLo goes a bit retro while still delivering some timely jabs at the subject who denied him. And when taken literally, “Forget You” seems like a breakup song, but it can be applied to any situation in which one is rebuked for not living as luxuriously as others.

#8: “Chandelier” (2014)
Sia

Brilliantly written by the singer herself, this electropop sensation was initially designed for the likes of Rihanna or Beyoncé. But as fate would have it, Sia kept “Chandelier” for her sixth album, and a forceful vocal delivery quickly led to an upward trajectory for her performance career. Detailing a woman’s struggle with alcohol and a willingness to live in the moment, this song succeeds on various levels for people dealing with the same type of issues. It feels somewhat like a musical anthem of self-confidence, yet the subtext actually presents a much darker narrative. But regardless of one’s connection, it’s Sia’s impassioned voice that stand out the most.

#7: “What Do You Mean?” (2015)
Justin Bieber

By the late summer of 2015, an essential component of true pop stardom evaded Canada’s most famous YouTube star: a #1 hit. Yet with the release of “What Do You Mean?”, Justin Bieber finally topped the Billboard Hot 100. Lyrically, he tackles a familiar subject by addressing the confusion that can often emerge from cryptic nonverbal messages, and he found success through a smooth vocal delivery and catchy production. In essence, it’s the summer jam that Bieber needed to re-ignite his career after a string of bad press. And, well, he delivered.

#6: “Drag Me Down” (2015)
One Direction

Released just a few weeks before our previous entry, this pop song also gave new life to the artist in question. Or in this case, the revised lineup of One Direction. While “Drag Me Down” may not necessarily stand the test of time as one of the more artistic pop songs, it was instrumental in keeping the group together after the departure of Zayn Malik. And through the vocal performance of the collective unit, along with the prototypical boy band sound, the song became an international success and a #1 hit in numerous countries. And so, rather than falling victim to change, One Direction stepped it up and didn’t let anybody or anything drag them down.

#5: “Rolling in the Deep” (2010)
Adele

Inarguably one of the most influential pop songs of the decade, this track contains an irresistible energy complemented by the powerhouse pipes of Adele. And with the evocative opening lyrics, “Rolling in the Deep” instantly sets a pronounced tone from the start. Slowly building to the “fever pitch” referenced early on, the song progresses via Adele’s efficiency in exploring her vocal register, which only fuels the story of a love gone wrong. And while this song dominated the charts and radio airplay, it ultimately transcended the career of its singer, making Adele a world-renowned artist.

#4: “Shake It Off” (2014)
Taylor Swift

After the release of four hugely successful albums in the country pop genre, Taylor Swift had become one of the preeminent names in daily pop culture discussions. And though fans and critics anticipated even more success with the 1989 album, nobody expected Taylor to come out swinging like she did with the lead single. But she did, and in the most endearing way. With “Shake It Off”, the megastar embraced her fame and refused to become another walking cliché. And by succeeding in producing a timely message on the topic of bullying, Swift also established herself as musician in touch with the media, her fans and the overall landscape of the industry. Of course, “Blank Space” reinforced the message even more.

#3: “Call Me Maybe” (2011)
Carly Rae Jepsen

Love it or hate it, but this track dominated the summer of 2012. Originally designed as a folk song and initially released in September of 2011, “Call Me Maybe” benefited from social media support by then couple Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber to became the top selling-single in all of 2012. Bubble-gum pop of the purest kind, “Call Me Maybe” is a pretty well straight forward story of love at first sight. Littered with the finest of pop-trimmings the song is so simple it's catchy and so catchy it's impossible to shake, a sound that Carly Rae would continue to pursue on her criminally underrated 2015 album Emotion.

#2: “Gangnam Style” (2012)
Psy

Before the emergence of YouTube, pop songs first became commercially successful through radio airplay and secondly through a music video. But for the Korean K-pop song “Gangnam Style”, the exposure can be directly tied to the massive YouTube success of the music video. With a title referring to a specific neighbourhood in Seoul, “Gangnam Style” would likely never have become a North American sensation through just the music alone, yet the video unveiled a new dance that took over the world. This song isn’t for everybody, yet those somewhat familiar with pop culture trends can probably identify the track and even the dance as well.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Moves Like Jagger” (2011)
Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera

“Only Girl (In the World)” (2010)
Rihanna

“We Are Young” (2011)
Fun feat. Janelle Monáe

“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” (2012)
Kelly Clarkson

“Love Me like You Do” (2015)
Ellie Goulding

“Wrecking Ball” (2013)
Miley Cyrus

#1: “California Gurls” (2010)
Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg

By the dawn of the decade, Katy Perry wasn’t the most famous pop star in the world, but she was well on her way. Once “California Gurls” dropped in May of 2010, the lead single effectively demonstrated that a new star had emerged. Of course, the vibrant music video bolstered Perry’s image, but for the music itself, “California Girls” functions as the quintessential summer hit featuring one of the most commercially viable hip-hop artists in Snoop Dogg. While “Firework” offered a message of inspiration and “Teenage Dream” catered to a younger demographic, Katy’s ode to California invited viewers in for a collective party and reminded that classic pop songs are all about having fun.

So, do you agree with our selections? What is your favorite pop song of the 2010s? For more musical Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.