20 Songs That Defined the 2010s

The 2010s were quite a time to be alive. Though the latter half of the decade wasn't as iconic as the first half, there were still great things about the latter half that still hold up. One of those things is the music. Each decade since 1900 has been defined by its music. Or, at the very least, music was a defining factor in that decade's history.

Note: This list starts at number 20 and will work its way to number 1. The reason it isn't numbered that way is because Ghost.org won't let me number the list 20 to 1.

Chandelier - Sia (2014)

Kicking off this list is the lead single of the Australian pop star’s 6th album 1000 Forms of Fear. This song focuses on the gloomy theme of “the glitter and fatigue of a party girl’s life.” The music video also introduced us to the 11-year-old (at the time) dancer Maddie Ziegler, who sports a Sia-like wig and a skin-tone tank top, who then dances around a dingy and seemingly abandoned apartment.

Bad Guy - Billie Eilish (2019)

This one is the most recent song on this list, having been released on March 29, 2019 (which is only 277 days before the decade ended). Despite that, it became one of the defining songs of the decade in, seemingly, no time at all. It was the best-performing single of that year, and there are reasons why that would be. One is because the overall style that Eilish presents, which is seen as capturing the ever-changing sound and mood of pop music as a whole as the 2010s came to a close. The song was also a huge step in her emergence as a pop phenomenon.

Hotline Bling - Drake (2015)

If Drake’s bent-knee shuffle and turtleneck in a neon-lit cube in this one’s music video weren’t iconic enough, (or proved that visuals could amplify a song), the nostalgic lyrics of post-breakup also helped this song gain popularity, with over 2.1 billion views on YouTube as of 2025. Just the excerpt "you used to call me on my cell phone..." would be enough to make most people recognize the vibe. Having been released in October 2015, it made it to the #2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for several weeks. It also got featured in a Super Bowl commercial and was even used in political campaigns. To phrase it differently, this song was more than just a song that defined the decade; it was a zeitgeist. It captured the emotional tone, digital culture, and sonic experimentation of the decade.

Happy - Pharrell Williams (2013)

Blending classic soul and funk elements with modern pop might seem like something difficult, but this song did just that. The song's universal appeal (yes, pun intended, given that this song was used in Universal's Despicable Me 2) along with its catchy soul-funk, and cultural ubiquity made it a defining song worthy of this list. It also became the first “24-hour music video” (this refers to 24 different music videos being released, one for every hour of the day).

Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rogers (2013)

The song's smooth blend of disco, funk, and pop, and further assisted by Nile Rodgers' guitar, brought the 1970s back into the spotlight, albeit with a modern twist. Daft Punk purposefully used analog recording techniques, owing to the trend of digitized pop and thus, giving the song a timeless and organic feeling. In other words, this song bridged the gaps between the fans of electronic music, disco, and mainstream pop. The song went on to top the charts in the UK for 4 weeks and took the number 2 spot for 5 weeks in the US. It also received Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2014 Grammys.

Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars (2014)

This one is an homage to old-school funk (hence the song's title) and disco-pop. It also gave Mark Ronson a huge hit in 2014, despite the fact that several other artists, including the Gap Band, claimed copyright infringement against Ronson. And a fun fact: This song took over 100 takes before it was perfected. Mark Ronson even passed out during one take while trying to get his guitar part right. I say it was well worth it in the end.

Watch Me - Silento (2015)

Ever since the arrest of Silento in 2021 and his subsequent sentence in 2025, this song has faded into obscurity. But for a time after its release, it was all the rage. Let’s talk about that. The song made a spot on this list mostly because of the dance craze that went viral on social media. The popularity was largely driven by the #WatchMeDanceOn campaign on websites like YouTube, which allowed fans to submit their own videos of the "whip" and "nae nae" dance, leading to more views of those videos and the song itself. The song's success highlighted the growing influence of social media on things like pop culture, and it also demonstrated the power of hashtags and online video services in creating cultural moments.

Let It Go - Idina Menzel (2013)

Whether you like to sing along to this, or if you’re like me and you wish you had earplugs whenever this song came up, there is no denying that the song is iconic. Frozen was arguably the most popular movie of 2013, and its soundtrack is one reason behind that. There was simply no escaping this song in 2013 (or in parts of 2019, after Frozen II hit theaters). One reason this song became so popular is that it’s a euphemism for anyone feeling restricted in their life, given that Elsa sings this song during her montage of embracing her powers.

What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction (2012)

Nowadays, this song couldn’t be made. The reason why is because the song says that the man needs to be the one to tell a woman that she's beautiful, and that she can't be confident on her own. We know otherwise, as did audiences in 2011, but at that time, the world was aching for boy bands and hair like the members of One Direction had. Because of this, One Direction had their prime time. And while the song was popular in its time, it made a sort-of comeback as a tribute after Liam Payne’s tragic passing on October 16, 2024.

Despacito - Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee (2017)

There’s a large Latin American population in the United States, and the music industry has known that for a while, but only with Despacito did it make waves around the internet (and the world, for that matter). In addition to being the most viewed Spanish song in the world (and one of only two non-English songs on this list), it also holds quite a few interesting records: On August 4, 2017, this song became the most popular video on YouTube, surpassing “See You Again” and becoming the first video to reach 3 billion views. In October 2017, it became the first video to reach 4 billion views. On April 4, 2018, it reached 5 billion. 6 billion views were hit on February 24, 2019. And in October 2020, it became the first video to reach 7 billion views. Even after all this, Justin Bieber made a remix of this song, making it ever-more popular among Hispanic and non-Hispanic audiences alike. Some even consider this to be the most iconic song of 2017 (Though, if you ask me, that title should go to Taylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do)

Baby - Justin Bieber (2010)

This one was one of the most-disliked videos on YouTube (a record which is now held by YouTube Rewind 2018, with 20.3 million dislikes, an 86% dislike rating. Though “Baby” holds the number 4 spot on that list.) Anyway, despite the dislikes, this song catapulted Justin Bieber's career into stardom. It also marked a significant moment in the rise of pop music during the decade. One reason this song helped shape the musical landscape of the decade is that it was one of the first pop songs of the decade, having been released on January 18, 2010 (which makes it the oldest song on this list).

Friday - Rebecca Black (2011)

This one has a spot on this list because of its rapid virality and, to a certain extent, cultural impact, even though its claim to fame comes from being the decade's most-disliked video on the site at the time. In fact, on March 29, 2011, (just 47 days after its original uploading on February 10 of that year) "Friday" surpassed the previously mentioned "Baby" as the most-disliked video on YouTube. The song's "cheesy ditty" and auto-tuned sound would become a viral sensation. As in, everyone was talking about the video within hours, kind of viral. And while not necessarily for its musical merit, the song's unique virality and the cultural conversation it generated cemented its status as a definitive song of the 2010s, and winning the number 13 spot on the list. Which is kind of a coincidence, considering Black was only 13 years old when she made the song.

Midnight City - M83 (2011)

One of the most nostalgia-inducing songs on this list, there are very few songs that can actually make you feel something. This is one of those songs. Released in 2011, it became an anthem for a generation navigating digital overload, urban isolation, and nostalgic longing. With its mix of synth-pop, dream pop, and new wave, "Midnight City" blurred genre lines, reflecting the 2010s’ embrace of eclectic, boundary-pushing music. This song also has something that very few, if any, other songs have: sequels (of sorts). The music video is the first of a trilogy that continues with the other M83 songs "Reunion" and finishes with the music video for "Wait."

Hello - Adele (2015)

One of the most commercially-successful songs on this list, it topped charts in 36 different countries, and it's easy to see why, given the powerful themes of regret and regretful nostalgia, not to mention a moving vocal performance and a compelling ballad structure that resonated with music fans the world over. While the song lyrically sees Adele try to re-connect with an ex-lover, its instrumental sees a piano with influences from soul music, not to mention some powerful drums. Much like her earlier hit, "Someone Like You," the song delves into deep emotional themes of heartbreak and longing, with "Hello" offering a more self-reflective perspective from the transgressor, rather than the wronged party.

Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People (2011)

This one was controversial for a very serious reason. For those that don’t know or were too invested in this song’s beat (like me), this song is about a school shooting. And that, in a way, almost ruins the song. At least, for me. And somehow the baseline made it to the charts. Mark Foster himself actually explained that “pumped up kicks” in this context means someone who has had enough and is going to get revenge.

Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO (2010)

On Billboard's Hot 100, this song made it to the number one spot and stayed there for six straight weeks. And unlike some other songs on this list, Party Rock Anthem has been featured in many commercials. It was also performed during Madonna's Super Bowl halftime show and made appearances in TV shows like Gossip Girl and Parks and Recreation. Not only that, but it achieved Diamond certification by the RIAA in 2018.

Turn Down for What - DJ Snake & Lil Jon (2013)

This one's embodiment of the decade's party-centric and meme-heavy internet culture is what won it a spot on the list. The track's title, which is repeated 15 times throughout the song, became a popular expression for continuing the party and keeping the energy high. The song's status is further cemented by its energetic and frankly bizarre music video.

Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen (2011)

Though released in 2011, its popularity became clear by January of the next year. "Call Me Maybe" became a ubiquitous earworm on radios and stores by February of 2012, capturing the carefree spirit of the early parts of the decade. Its lyrics and melody are also factors as to why it became the global dance-pop hit that it became. And that's not counting the particularly fun and fast-paced time frame in Jepsen's life that it was released during.

Firework - Katy Perry (2010)

The third song on this list from the first year of the decade has a spot for a few reasons. One, Perry's album Teenage Dream had just been released, and "Firework" was, arguably, the leading song from that album. Perry herself shared the meaning of the song, saying "a lot of times, it's only us that's standing in the way of reaching our goals, fulfilling our destinies, being the best version of who we possibly can be, so that's why I wrote it."

Honorable Mention: You Reposted in the Wrong Neighborhood - SHOKK (2016)

This one is considered an anthem of 2016. But, interestingly enough, it’s not a song, it’s a mashup of Shake That by Eminem and Casin by Glue70. And in my opinion, it’s nothing short of the greatest mashup ever made. The songs' beats go together seamlessly. And even though the song is explicit (given that part of it is from Eminem), you will utmost certainly find yourself jamming out to this one while reminiscing about 2016. Though it should be noted that the song was uploaded to Soundcloud on March 24, 2014.

Gangnam Style - Psy (2012)

This song’s title refers to the lifestyle in the Gangnam region of Seoul, South Korea. The term “Gangnam” itself means “South of the Han River.” It’s also home to some of the world’s most expensive real estate and is considered to be the Beverly Hills of South Korea. This song is also considered to be the most well-known K-Pop song (No surprise there). For a time in 2012, YouTube was only this song and parodies of this song. In fact, this song’s video became the first on YouTube to reach 1 billion views. And from November 24, 2012, to July 10, 2017, it was the most viewed video on the site, until it was surpassed by “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth. Some even consider it to be the closest we’ve come to achieving world peace. And I’m sure some of you could still do the dance.

And that concludes the 20 songs that defined the 2010s. Is there a song that you felt should have been on the list? Leave a comment!

Sources: Elle, Smooth Radio, Billboard, Consequence.net, Refinery 29

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