"Humble" to "Hard Times": Here Are the 30 Best Songs of 2017 (So Far)

From Arcade Fire to Zayn Malik, here are our indisputable picks for the best songs of 2017.

(Don’t @ us. Okay, you can @ us if you’d like.)

Let’s make it clear. Only one musical event this year has mattered even a little.

And that was the dizzying rise of Backpack Kid.

Not even new albums from Kendrick Lamar and Lorde, five surprise singles featuring Frank Ocean or DJ Khaled’s Asahd-obsessed album artwork could top the heights reached by Backpack Kid during Katy Perry’s performance on Saturday Night Live back in May. The rest has all just been icing.

(We salute you, Backpack Kid, or, we would, if our arms weren’t swinging violently to the pulsating beat of “Swish Swish” as we simultaneously try to blot out the godawful lyrics.)

But, sure, other things have happened in the world of music this year too. Ed Sheeran dominated the charts and was rewarded with an incorrectly spelled tattoo. Miley Cyrus returned to her country roots, disappointing everybody. (Okay, just me.) And Justin Bieber scored another number one, which is more impressive than it sounds, because he still doesn’t know the damn lyrics. (Also: Fyre Festival.)

Let’s take stock of the year (so far) by looking back on the best songs of 2017 (so far). Yes, these are legally binding. Sorry!

Songs we loved that didn’t make the Top 15.

"I Get Overwhelmed" by Dark Rooms, “Love” by Lana Del Rey, “Shining” by DJ Khaled feat. Beyoncé and Jay Z, “Mechanical Bull” by Stella Donnelly, “Mask Off” by Future, “Bad Liar” by Selena Gomez, “We Got the Power” by Gorillaz, “Keep On” by Kehlani, “Bring It Back” by Lil Yachty, “Liability” by Lorde, “Swish Swish” by Katy Perry feat. Nicki Minaj, “Sweep Me Off My Feet” by Pond, “Now & Then” by Sjowgren, “Something for Your M.I.N.D.” by Superorganism and “Anthem” by Swet Shop Boys.

And now, the best of the best. (A blanket coarse language warning for the below tracks. There aren't any radio edits here.)

15. “Humble” by Kendrick Lamar

The biggest hit of Kendrick’s career isn’t as infectious as “King Kunta”, as irrepressible as “Backseat Freestyle” or as self-immolating as “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst”, but the mesmerising piano beat by producer Mike WiLL Made-It turned “Humble” into an honest-to-goodness earworm.

14. “My Lover Cindy” by Marika Hackman

English singer Marika Hackman describes herself as “a lousy lover”, “a greedy pig” and, eventually, “a f***ing pig,” in this twangy ode to romantic self-destruction. (It’s a better fate than what befalls the fencing ladies in the music video.)

13. “Everything Now” by Arcade Fire

Canada’s finest ensemble of would-be morticians, Arcade Fire, return from a four-year absence with an ABBA-inspired disco track, which—along with their upcoming tour, titled Infinite Content—seems to be about the pressure of keeping up with Peak TV. There is too much truth in this art.

12. “Drew Barrymore” by SZA

Until Rihanna or Kehlani release a song called “David Arquette” or “Leelee Sobieski”, SZA’s slinky slow jam will remain the best tune ever written about a Never Been Kissed cast member.

11. “Big Fish” by Vince Staples

Last year, an American mother went viral when she began crying while angrily reciting the lyrics to Staples’ “Norf Norf”. Maybe he took her reaction to heart, having released the cuss-free “Big Fish” in 2017, which bangs just as hypnotically as “Norf Norf”. To quote Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Everyone can enjoy that.”

10. “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” by Zayn Malik and Taylor Swift

Not everyone agreed with my assessment that, this year, Zayn decisively won the 1D solo wars. But tell us this: Which One Directioner sultrily dueted with Taylor Swift in the hotel from Eyes Wide Shut? Exactly.

9. “No Known Drink or Drug” by Japandroids

Vancouver duo Japandroids spend nearly two minutes building up their four-chord barroom brawl before bursting to life with the chorus. A minute later, it’s over. For a band with such a groanworthy portmanteau of a name, their songs couldn’t be simpler, or more effective.

8. “Homemade Dynamite” by Lorde

Lorde’s Melodrama has higher emotional peaks, yet it’s never more fun than when the Kiwi substitutes an EDM drop with her own fake explosion noise—“ ppwwww!”­—on this stuttering house-party banger.

7. “Passionfruit” by Drake

Drake’s been a bit too indulgent with his output these past three years. However, his tropical dancefloor cocktail “Passionfruit” (like the comedown version of “Hotline Bling”) made wading through hours of his music totally worthwhile.

6. “Chanel” by Frank Ocean

“My guy’s pretty like a girl.” Ocean came out five years ago, but he’s never been as open and explicit about his sexuality as he is here. Coming mere months after his double-album drop of 2016 (following a lengthy period in the wilderness), the airy, unguarded “Chanel” proves Frank still has plenty to say.

5. “Strangers” by Halsey feat. Lauren Jauregui

Halsey (almost) makes up for her participation in The Chainsmokers’ “Closer” with this crisp, disaffected duet featuring Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui. All her neon-tinged singles sound like they’d be at home in one of those future nightclubs from Blade Runner, though this one remembers to retain some soul too.

4. “Slide”, “Heatstroke” and “Rollin'” by Calvin Harris

Yes, we’re cheating, but Calvin Harris’ three-headed summer hydra has been working hard to hold back the Aussie winter. I couldn’t separate them. If I had to pick a fave, it’d be “Slide”, because it has Offset from Migos exclaiming, “Good gracious!”

3. “Pure Comedy” by Father John Misty

A bombastic, melodic, six-and-a-half-minute explanation for how America came to elect Donald Trump as its President, beginning with… the earliest days of mankind. It's a bit much (like Father John Misty in general), and that's why we love it.

2. “Up in Hudson” by Dirty Projectors

A moving romantic drama that follows the early, goosebumps-inducing days of a relationship, leading to its ugly breakdown and, finally, the feeling of resolution. All over a Brazilian percussion breakdown.

1. “Hard Times” by Paramore

Here’s a song about personality disorders that pops with personality. Hayley Williams proves music about anxiety and depression can still be a good time. Do not try to resist this tune’s refrain. You will not succeed.

Share your best songs of 2017 (so far) below.

Photo: Student Edge Illustration / YouTube (FueledbyRamen/KendrickLamarVEVO/LordeVEVO) / Apple / Republic