From Lizzo to Lil Nas X, a goth-pop princess to the Queen of Pop, here are the 10 songs from 2019 that ended the decade on the best notes.
1. Billie Eilish, “Bad Guy”
It all starts with the best, baddest bass line of 2019. But the gothic spell — at once haunting and hypnotic — that Eilish spins from there is something out of this world, drawing you into the mysterious atmosphere that she and her producer-brother Finneas created on her debut album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” Not bad for someone who just turned 18.
2. Lizzo, “Truth Hurts”
When you boast that you’re “100 percent that bitch,” you sho nuff better be able to back that up. And while her hit song is actually 2 years old, taking its time to gain public recognition, no DNA test is necessary to prove that Lizzo is the truth on this killer kiss-off.
3. Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road (Remix)”
Sometimes a song becomes bigger than the song. Such was the case with this unlikely collaboration, which became a movement uniting the country and hip-hop worlds. And when Lil Nas X came out in June, the 20-year-old rapper also made a powerful statement about riding down your own road.
4. Lizzo, “Juice”
Dropping way back in January, this single came before Lizzo had all the juice that she has now. Still, this empowering dance anthem got everybody within earshot loose in 2019.
5. Solange, “Almeda”
Beyoncé’s little sister reps hard for the Almeda area of their Houston hometown on this standout from her “When I Get Home” LP. It’s not only a mesmerizing mood, but a cultural celebration of “black-owned things” that is as woke as it gets.
6. Gary Clark Jr., “This Land”
Riffing on the Woody Guthrie folk classic “This Land Is Your Land,” the searing title tune of Clark’s latest LP stakes guitar-crunching claim to his place as “America’s son” against racists who would dare deny him.
7. Harry Styles, “Watermelon Sugar”
There’s plenty to swoon over about “Fine Line,” the second solo album from the One Direction heartthrob. But with a groove and melody that are sweet AF, this single is soul-pop perfection.
8. Madonna, “I Don’t Search I Find”
Although the adventurous “Madame X” won’t go down as the favorite Madonna album of any Madge fan, this club jam mixes the EDM of “Confessions on a Dance Floor” and the deep-house pose of “Vogue” to disco-ball-dizzying effect.
9. Brittany Howard, “Stay High”
A romantic flight with echoes of classic Motown, this soulful single is a blissed-out highlight from “Jaime,” the debut solo album by Alabama Shakes’ fierce frontwoman.
10. Taylor Swift, “Lover”
The best thing about Swift’s seventh studio album, “Lover,” is its title tune, a dreamy, country-dusted declaration on which she slow-dances back to her Nashville roots.
Biggest disappointment of 2019
Cardi B, “Press”
The Bronx rap diva had come into the year on such a roll from 2018 that she seemed virtually unstoppable. And she continued to make boss-lady moves early in 2019 with “Please Me,” her collaboration with Bruno Mars. But later in the spring, she dropped “Press,” a flimsy, 2 ½-minute song bemoaning the media attention that has made her the star that she is. It was the kind of self-indulgent dud that made you think girlfriend needed to take a break.
Artist of the decade
Beyoncé
When you release two of the very best albums of the ’10s (2013’s “Beyoncé” and 2016’s “Lemonade”), own the biggest stage in the game — the Super Bowl halftime show — not once but twice (2013 and 2016), get Coachella to be re-dubbed “Beychella” after your 2018 headlining performance, and pretty much invent the surprise-album drop, there is no doubt that you have ruled the decade in music. Everyone else bowed down to Queen B.
Worst of the decade
The decline of Kanye
Kanye West started the decade with the masterpiece that was “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” in 2010. It was hard to imagine him or anyone else making anything better than that, and the LP indeed reigned as the best album of the decade. But what happened to Yeezy after that — becoming a MAGA-hat-wearing joke better known for his bizarre behavior than his brilliant beats — was truly twisted.