The Best Singles of 2015: Now that a full month has passed to let the music of the past year marinate, we asked some 8th-grader guest-writers to break down their favorite songs of 2015. Check them out:
February 10, 2016
For each review below, click on the title of the song to go to its youtube video.
“The Beach” by The Neighbourhood
by Iandivi Peralta
When I first heard this song, I instantly fell in love with it; the movement and tone of the song makes it feel like you are standing in a beach, staring at the ocean. The lyrics convey a deep meaning about relationships and the hardships that follow; the lyrics “I hope I don’t burden you” stood out the most, especially since it can be applied to any given situation. This song is meant to be heard at night, or by the beach, where you can reflect peacefully and let yourself be washed over with a feeling of nostalgia.
“Right Hand Man” by Lin-Manuel Miranda
by Emily Prillaman
Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the Tony winning musical In the Heights, has written a new hit musical: Hamilton. The hip-hop soundtrack is full of memorable songs like “My Shot”, “Wait for It”, and “Guns and Ships” that follow the life of the founding father, Alexander Hamilton. One of the reasons the musical is popular, especially from people who aren’t Broadway fans, is the catchy music. My personal favorite song, “Right Hand Man”, is an intense song about George Washington asking Alexander Hamilton to be his right hand man when they’re fighting the British in the Revolutionary War. The strong beats and rapping are the perfect background music for a workout, motivation, or fighting a war. People are turned-off from a soundtrack about a boring founding father, but the music Lin-Manuel Miranda is modern and relatable. In the song, Washington schools Hamilton with lyrics such as “Dying is easy young man / Living is harder.” Lyrics like these make the listener believe the old men from history could be alive in this generation. Hamilton is a musical that every American should listen to.
by Clare Dunne Murphy
Bye banjos, hello electric guitar! This song off of Mumford’s new album, Wilder Mind, is filled with electric instruments and rock influences. This is a new sound for them, proven by their previous albums “Sigh no More” and “Babel”. This song is good from start to end, opening with electric guitar and drums by Chris Maas. The chorus is unbelievably catchy with Marcus Mumford’s vocals and Winston Marshall’s guitar. After seeing this song live, I can prove that it is song is one of their best.
by Ryan Mulroy
With its quick beat and repetitive sounds, “Gold” is a song that should have made it to the top 40 charts. While the lyrics don’t make much sense, the song is new and fresh. Yes, it is a pop song. However, “Gold” and it’s unique sound will trick you into thinking that it’s an upbeat alternative song. When the lyrics are broken down, you learn that Kiiara is talking about how her boyfriend was never there for her. She states that she is an independent woman who doesn’t need him—whomever “him” may be. She sings, “Don’t care what you say, I’ma bite your feelings out (Gold up in my teeth).” You just have to listen between the lines. I recommend listening to this song because it’s sound speaks for our generation of music and unique musicians like Kiiara.
by Aly Khoja
Fight Night is a song about someone thinking they are the boss. They just sing whatever in the song about how much of a boss they are. He goes around in the song saying that he can get into whatever college he wants, that he can do anything, and that he can beat up anyone he wants to. He also talks about how he had to take someone out to get a girl. I use this song to pump me for my basketball games because I think of it as how I have to do whatever I can to beat the other team. My whole team listens to it because we think of ourselves as the best team and we control if we want to win or not.
by Mark Ronson
If you got a D on a test, if you stubbed your toe, if you broke a plate, if you have the fever, this song is the best medicine for satisfaction. This song just forces you to break out of that fever, it forces you to kick the wall back that stubbed your toe. This song shows you, and motivates you to study hard, and listen attentively. This song is a trick, this song lures what is inside of you, and sets it free. This song takes the control from the mind and gives it all to your body. This song is just so tempting to dance to, you can’t sit yourself still. That sickness is trying to fight the song, but the song, is control of you, and kicks out all the bad germs. This song makes you feel invincible, that the entire world circling around you, is like a football field, and that you explored the entire universe. Things that you would never think you would do, turned out to be your daily routine. “Too hot. Wanna make a dragon retire man.” That is brilliant, this song is not only a song that makes you jump around but this song has something brilliant, and meanings that show the true meaning of life, happiness.
“We are Giants” by Lindsey Stirling featuring Dia Frampton
by Alissa Donatello
If you combined upbeat, semi-dubstep music with a violin, you’ve basically summed up the work of Lindsey Stirling. She appeared on America’s got Talent a few years back, and now she’s famous, on and off the internet. One example of her awesome work is “We Are Giants,” which features the voice of Dia Frampton. This song is upbeat and energetic, and the violin part is no exception to the music. If you’re bored one day or need to focus on homework, listen to this music. It will pump you up and get you ready for anything.
“Stressed Out” by twenty one pilots
by Grace Marshall
I first heard this song when I was in my room doing homework and this beat was very calming and then the lyrics started. Some lyrics that spoke to me were “Used to dream of outer space but now they’re laughing at are face, saying, ‘Wake up you need to make money.’” Their type of music is very different than what I normally listen to, but the lyrics spoke really had an effect on me. Ironically the name of the song had the opposite effect on me. This song can relate to any age, because I know it relates to me with by having my parents telling me to “wake up you need to make money!”
“I See Fire” (Kygo Remix) by Ed Sheeran
by Kate Jortberg
There are two types of EDM: energetic EDM, and calm EDM. “I See Fire” is a song that I can listen to while focusing on something else. It is relaxing yet uplifting. Ed Sheeran is one of my favorite non-EDM artists, and when I heard his voice mixed with the serene beat Kygo provided, I fell in love. I can listen to this five-minute song over and over again, yet never get bored with it. The first minute of the song is the beat that becomes the background later when Ed Sheeran starts singing. It sets the mood for the whole song.
by Nick Drimalla
My house by Flo Rida has had scorching hot reviews and is currently number five on the Top 100 Billboard. In the album there is only the one song, but the song deserves the spot as number five. I really like the song as it also has a catchy chorus: “Welcome to my house.” This song, as its one of the most enjoyed right now, is on the radio a lot. I really like how it’s both a pop song but also kind of a rap song. It is a very upbeat song and is played even on TV quite a bit.
by Danny Pauletto
Kendrick Lamar came out with a new 2015 album to add to his extensive collection of great tracks. I knew I had to pick at least one song from this album (To Pimp a Butterfly) and I’ve decided that this is very best track. The catchy lyrics and melody of the song create a happy, upbeat mood, the repeated phrase, “I love myself” add to this mood. Kendrick Lamar made his mark as one of the top rap artists, and this song shows why.
“Not Today” by Twenty One Pilots
by Lauren Lashley
Where do I begin? The hook itself expresses the thoughts of depression, “I look outside, and see a whole world better off/ without me in it trying to transform it.” Tyler Joseph, the singer/songwriter of this band writes lyrics directly from his heart and what he feels. He feels that he’s nothing, that he is better off dead. Tyler has given a face to his dark, depressed thoughts, calling them “Blurryface”, also the name of their most recent album. This song is directed at this “Blurryface” character, telling them that he’s “out of my mind, you aren’t seeing my side / You waste all this time trying to get to me / But you are out of my mind.” He won’t let Blurryface affect him anymore; he won’t let him ruin his life anymore, or hold him back. But, later on in the song he writes, “I’m out of my mind, I’m not seeing things right / I waster all this time trying to run from you / But I’m out of my mind.” Is he letting Blurryface take control again? Is he succumbing to the temptation of the darkness? Has he stopped running, letting his depression take over again? He’s back where he started again- trying to find common ground between him and his darkness, trying to negotiate a peace treaty, you could say. But he can’t fight anymore; he’s tired, he wants Blurryface to go, but he won’t- it’s never that easy to get rid of our own personal Blurryfaces, is it? He can’t just wave goodbye and continue on his life, he has to keep running, keep trying to break free of Blurryface’s ice-cold hold.
by Erin Akgun
The first time I heard any of Kygo’s music edits I was taken back by the way his music made me feel. Kygo’s music has a very specific beat that I have found in every song he has ever edited. Kygo is an upcoming DJ who specializes in editing already popular songs. Kygo adds a very distinct sound to all his music. “Here For You’ has always been a favorite of mine because of it’s ability to speak to the listener without possessing any lyrics. This is a trait I haven’t found in many other artists. I have always loved the way Kygo is able to add so much fullness to a song I already thought was complete.
“Say My Name” by Odesza feat. Zyra
by Madaket Chiarieri
Up-and-coming artist Odesza really blew me away with this song. When I first heard it, I was unsure if I really liked it, but now, it’s on repeat on my phone. I love how the drumbeat in the background makes it feel tribal, but the vocals make the song modern. “’Cause you got my hands tied/in my defense/ I always fall for confidence/your compliments look good on me.” The overlaying of the lyrics brings up the interest in the sound of the song, and overall this song was a hit for me.
by Brendan Wolf
The first time I heard this song was when I was watching a basketball mixtape. After listening to the song closer, I realized that not only was the beat to it really good, but the lyrics also had meaning to them. This is important to me because a lot of songs today are all about the music in the background, so It’s nice to have a song sung from the heart, highlighting one’s past life that you can connect to. It’s not the most appropriate song in the world, but if you give it a chance, I think you will end up liking it, even if you aren’t a big rap fan.
“FourFiveSeconds” by Rihanna/Kanye West/Paul McCartney
by unknown 8th grader
A Barbadian soloist, an American rapper, and an English composer met up to produce an extraordinary song with soothing vocals and a steady beat. Not surprisingly, these talented artists managed to get their musical piece big around the globe, landing a spot on the Billboard Hot 100. After I heard this folk pop song for the first time, I was drawn into not only the elements of the piece, but also the fact that three of the world’s most talented artists collaborated and combined their distinct genres into one track. The lyrics from “FourFiveSeconds” are both unique and introspective: “I say what’s on my mind/ I might do a little time/ Cause all of my kindness/ is taken for weakness.”
“Lean On” by Major Lazer, DJ Snake
by unknown 8th grader
The first time I heard this smash hit single I was amazed at the great beat and catchy chorus. “Lean On” was released on the third studio album of the band Major Lazer and produced by DJ Snake. The upbeat song reached high ranks on Billboard charts and is known as one of the best dance/electric songs of 2015. The lyrics represent a sense of needing friends and family by your side in a rhythmic way: “Blow a kiss/ Fire a gun/ We need someone to lean on”. It is definitely a must-listen-to song and one of my 2015 favorites.
