Years after popular songs fall off of the charts, it is interesting to go back and see what tracks have outlasted the hands of time. For some artists, their hits are still thoroughly enjoyed to this day, while others were perceived as good during the time of their release.
As we are in 2024, we’re looking back at pop songs that debuted a decade ago. And, well, not all of them hold up. From the musicality to the lyrics, many songs from 2014 had a similar sound. Horns and EDM influence were a commonality in pop music at this time, with songs like Ariana Grande, Jessie J, and Nicki Minaj’s “Bang Bang.” The “earworm” factor may be prevalent, but it’s for all the wrong reasons with a lot of the pop songs that were released in 2014.
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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of 2014
Popular artists in 2014 that took over the sound space include Taylor Swift, Iggy Azalea, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Meghan Trainor, Jessie J, Charlie XCX, Pharell Williams, Kesha, Sia, Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, and Katy Perry. There were a few songs that we thoroughly still enjoy from the era, so we are not saying that it was all complete garbage.
For example, John Legend’s “All of Me” and Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” are really moving songs that hold up ten years later. Sam Smith won the Grammy for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album for his debut studio album In the Lonely Hour. A remix of the English singer-songwriter’s hit won Song of the Year and Record of the Year as well. Meanwhile, Legend’s “All of Me” was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance, but it was Pharell’s “Happy” that took the win.
Take a look below at seven pop songs that turn 10 in 2024 that have not aged well:
