Lykke Li, “better alone”
The standout of so sad, so sexy beyond the singles – and the newly released haunting live rendition only further seals the deal.
Robyn, “Honey”
Robyn dances her way through depression: this is “Dancing On My Own,” all grown up, somber and wiser.
BLACKPINK, “DDU-DU DDU-DU”
What’s there to say? BLACKPINK are the Ones To Watch to actually crossover in the West. They already snagged an excellent Dua Lipa collaboration (“Kiss & Make-Up”), after all. The disco tank. The breakdown. All of it. All of it! This is a prime example of a music video I’d show to someone who doesn’t ‘get’ the whole K-Pop thing, and how they’re running circles around Western pop stars. I feel bad for anyone who can’t get over the language barrier. Quite simply, the girls ddi-did what they had to ddu-du.
Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris, “One Kiss”
Speaking of Dua: “One Kiss” is as undeniable as it was inescapable in 2018. The official Song of Summer ’18? Perhaps, yes.
Azealia Banks, “Anna Wintour”
That said, “Anna Wintour” was surely a Song of Summer ’18 as well – and the simple, yet effective video is one of the year’s best visuals. (Judging from all the rave reviews, the butthole soap is good, too.)
Janelle Monae, “Make Me Feel”
Actually, there were plenty of Summer ’18 contenders! Janelle Monae‘s “Make Me Feel” is pure funk-tastic pleasure – and the Kaskade Sunsoaked Remix especially had me hair-flipping in the shower.
Janelle Monae & Zoe Kravitz, “Screwed”
Post-election depression, Gloria Steinem, Zoe Kravitz, “Sex Is Power,” Prince – Janelle really stuffed this one to the brim with references, and it all works so well in this fuck-it-all sunny pop anthem: “You fucked the world up now, we’ll fuck it all back down.” Perfect.
Clean Bandit & Demi Lovato, “Solo”
Dear God, how many “Solo” releases were there in 2018? Regardless, this one’s my favorite. Originally a Song of Summer ’18 contender, this sad, sexually frustrated self-stimulation dance floor anthem went the distance as an overall Song of 2018. “I wanna fu -woop, woop woop! – but I’m broken hearted” is one of the best lines of the year. Much, much love to Demi.
Marlene and Ji Nilsson, “Ear Candy”
Okay, actually, this was definitively my Song of Summer ’18 – and absolutely one of my favorite songs of the year. (Naturally, it’s not available on YouTube.) Marlene only comes ’round about once a year or so, but every time she does, it’s pure Swede-pop magic. A team-up with Ji Nilsson once again (they previously collaborated on “There”), the two supplied the year’s most romantic dance floor escape. Marqueen forever.
