Top 10 Songs for 2018

Court here! 2018 was a weird year for me with a lot of personal growth. I struggled a lot due to ending a relationship, which I’m sure I will candidly speak about in a later post, and trying to excel in my career. With that in mind, my top ten songs of 2018 will surely reflect that. That being said, this list will contain my top 10 songs of 2018, my favorite lyric from each, and a small paragraph about their significance. So, let’s dive in.

1.) uhgood by RM Favorite lyric: ‘All I need is me, I know. But why do I feel lonely? I feel so lonely when I’m with me.’

If you follow me you know that since its release in late October, uhgood has been my favorite song. I listen to it daily. If you haven’t listened to it (because you by chance live under a rock?), uhgood is a song about duality and not being able to live up to the expectations you set for yourself. The duality being the ideal version of you that you wish to show everyone and the actual person you are on the inside. Its not all melancholy though. At the end, RM says it’s okay to experience this as long as you don’t give up in the search for the real you. I read someone say Mono was free therapy. They were right. If you haven’t given it a listen, do so after this blog.

2.) Promise by Jimin Favorite Lyric: ‘Now promise me several times a day even if you feel that you’re alone you won’t throw yourself away.’

Listen: I’ve written an entire blog about this song. It came out on the last day of 2018 and made it to the second spot on my list. Everything I could ever say about my love for this song can be found here: https://adultfangirlirl.wixsite.com/speakyourself/blog/promise-by-jimin

3.) Lovely by Billie Eilish ft Khalid Favorite Lyric: ‘I know some day I'll make it out of here. Even if it takes all night or a hundred years.’

Okay, if you don’t think Khalid and Billie’s voices are the perfect combination, you need to get your ears checked. The way their voices harmonize with each other gives me chills. Billie’s voice is haunting, while Khalid’s is so smooth and soothing. The texture of their voices accompanied by the strings in the background is so stunningly beautiful. I feel the sarcastic tone behind Billie’s ‘Isn’t it lovely?’ on a spiritual level and the need to make it out of a town at all costs hits home for me. I also love the resolution of turning ‘I hope someday I make it out of here’ to ‘I know someday I’ll make it out of here.’ I feel ya, girl. I feel ya.

(Sidenote: In the future I may do a blog reacting to Billie’s discography because I would love to explore more of her music in the future.)

4.) The Truth Untold by BTS Favorite Lyrics: ‘I can’t show you a ruined part of myself. Once again I put a mask on and go to see you’

I told you all I was a sad sack in 2018, and it was at its peak when BTS released LY:Tear in May. There is nothing more perfect when you’re going through a breakup than finding a song that perfectly encompasses how you feel. In May, The Truth Untold was that song for me. I was stuck between hating that I was molding myself to be someone I wasn’t (thus causing the breakup), and still wanting to be with that person out of love. The vocal line of BTS really shone bright in this song. You can feel the sadness and sincerity in their voices.

5.) Nice for What by Drake Favorite Lyric: ‘Had a man last year, life goes on. Haven't let that thing loose, girl, in so long’

Okay, not every song on my list can be a sad breakup song, right? Nice for What is my go to hype song. Getting ready to go out with my girls? Nice for What. Need some energy on the commute work? Nice for What. Need to feel like a bad bitch? Nice for What. You get the point. I like songs with that quirk, and this song is just what the doctor ordered. If anyone saw me dancing to this in my bathroom mirror I’d be mortified.

6.) 134340 by BTS Favorite Lyric: ' I still orbit you, and nothing’s changed. If love has no name, everything has changed'

Y’all really don’t give this song the respect that she deserves. This exemplifies BTS’s creativity and originality. A break up song written from the perspective of Pluto losing its planetary status against a funky smooth jazz beat. When I read the lyrics to this song, my mind was blown. Despite being a breakup song, I can’t help dancing along to the beat every time I hear it. The urgency and pain felt from the vocal line during the chorus provide a perfect balance to the chill rap verses from RM and Suga. Everything is working here for me.

7.) As I Am by H.E.R. Favorite Lyric: ‘You know I’m the best, you’d be a fool to not take me as I am.’

A song from RM’s track recommendations on Twitter, this boy really knows music. There is a reason H.E.R. is up for a Grammy this year. Admittedly, I haven’t listened too much of her work besides this song, but if As I Am is any indication of what she’s capable of, I am excited to listen. A bad bitch anthem and love song mixed together in the form of an R&B track, As I Am can be listened to any time. This song literally made it on every one of my regular playlists from ‘Bath Time Chill’, ‘Focus’, ‘Naughty Beats’ and ‘Road Trip’. I highly recommend giving this song a listen.

8.) Lie To Me by 5 Seconds of Summer Favorite Lyric: ‘Now I wish we never met, ‘cause you’re too hard to forget’

Okay, so this song came out when I was over my sad break up phase, but when Youngblood was released, this was instantly my favorite. I guess great minds think alike, because Luke (the singer of 5SOS for those of you unfamiliar) also said this is his favorite. I’m glad 5SOS went back to their roots more, as I wasn’t a fan of their last album. I love a good story teller, and the boys did not disappoint on the Youngblood album. On top of that, Luke’s vocals are on point, especially the harmonies with Calum. (I do wish we had more Ashton vocals here, not going to lie.) Anyways, the song is sad and sweet and was on repeat for most of the year for me.

9.) Panic Vertigo by The Wrecks Favorite Lyrics: ‘But life goes on and on, yeah I got hope in my heart.’

The Wrecks are a smaller band from California that was on tour with my favorite band, The Maine, earlier in the year. I go to a LOT of concerts, but I’ve never really had an experience where a band came on stage and I was instantly hooked. If I had to pick a favorite song by them, I would chose ‘Favorite Liar’ but that song was released in 2017 and doesn’t fit the criteria of this list, sadly. Nick, the lead singer, describes Panic Vertigo as the feeling you get during a panic attack where the world is spinning and everything is disoriented. A song about panic attack to the tune of an upbeat pop rock song (less pop more rock, thankfully) is right up my ally for song preferences. There’s also a steadfast formula to hook me on a song. Step 1: cut the music mid-song. Step 2: bring in killer vocals. Step 3: swell the music again so I can dance my ass off. This song has it all.

10.) Without Me by Halsey Favorite Lyrics: ‘Does it ever get lonely, thinking you could live without me?’

My girl Halsey. I love a strong female. I did say I love storytellers right? Without Me is relatable to any girl who’s ever dealt with a dead beat and been through all the shit just for someone else to reap the benefits of the better person you created. A song about turning a boy into more of a man. I’d like to dedicate this song to all the new gfs of my exes. She’s blatantly saying she made him into what he is today only for him to fuck it all up. Halsey is coming out of this heartache with the confidence I plan on walking into 2019 with. Plus, she samples Justin Timberlake! YAS QUEEN.

Honorable mentions:

Eastside by benny blanco ft. Halsey and Khalid Piece of Your Heart by Mayday Parade Ddaeng by BTS Epiphany by BTS (Jin Solo) Piece of Peace by JHope #BTS #BillieEilish #5SOS #Drake #JIMIN #TheWrecks #Khalid #Halsey #HER #mono