The Best Songs of 2018

There’s too much music.

How can we possibly whittle down all the songs released in 2018 to a Top 25?

Well, we found a way. 1) Only consider songs we took the time to write about on Student Edge, and 2) only let an artist feature in our Top 25 once (not including guest appearances). Suddenly, the task became a lot less intimidating, because here, we only write about bops.

However, that means some great tunes were left on the sidelines, simply because we never got around to reviewing them, highlighting their videos or giving them a shout-out anywhere, really. That’s why you won’t see Aly & AJ’s "Good Love", Robyn’s "Honey" or The 1975’s "Love It If We Made It". Look, we’re as mad about it as you are, but the rules are the rules. Enjoy our picks below.

Let’s count down the top 10.

10. "All the Stars" by Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA

It’s only fitting that the biggest film of the year had a huge soundtrack orchestrated by none other than Kendrick Lamar. Phew. Sitting atop the Black Panther soundtrack was Kendrick and SZA’s anthemic "All the Stars", giving them a both top ten hit in Australia. Bring on a joint album ASAP. – SB

9. "The Opener" by Camp Cope

"Yeah, just get a female opener, that'll fill the quota," Camp Cope’s lead singer and guitarist, Georgia Maq, yells during the closing of "The Opener". In fact, behind every headline about Australian festivals getting called out for sexism was Camp Cope. The Melbourne trio had a big year, releasing their second album and jumping on huge tours around the country and the world, but still, they were relegated to small festival stages or as opening acts. "The Opener" challenges some of these gatekeepers, calling them out on their hypocrisy and faux-progressivism. This will be the rally cry of female and non-binary artists in the music industry for some time to come. - SB

8. "In My Feelings" by Drake

Never have so many simultaneously wondered who KiKi was at the one time, and your favourite Torontonian Drake’s "In My Feelings" can be thanked for that. The accidental single (owing a lot of its success to a viral video challenge) reveals Drake’s more desperate side as he croons, wondering whether KiKi, KB, J.T. and Resha love him. Okay, Drake, maybe just dedicate one song to one person rather than chucking all your side thangs in the same chorus. Regardless, it’s probably his catchiest song in some time and we’re sure 2019 has a few more in store for us. - SB

7. "when the party’s over" by Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish is 16 and her music has been streamed more than a billion times. Clearly, she belongs to the teens, with most parents left blinking, dumbfounded, at her name. (Knowing what a Billie Eilish was became the year’s best test of checking to see if you were still with 'it', or if you thought 'it' was now weird and scary.) "when the party’s over" was her unexpected hit, and though it’s not quite as sonically gargantuan as "you should see me in a crown" or her 2017 cuts "burn" and "bellyache", its music video was definingly creepy. - SM

6. "SICKO MODE" by Travis Scott feat. Drake

Inspiring one of this year’s most visually-alluring music videos, "SICKO MODE" was the monster collab with Drake that would rightfully bring Travis Scott his first number one. Establishing himself a master collaborator, like his bro-in-law Kanye West, "SICKO MODE" sees Drake and Travis trading verses and flows like no tomorrow. It tops off a huge year for Travis after the birth of his child, Stormi, with Kylie Jenner, and winning a feud with Nicki Minaj (and sorta Kanye West too). Young LaFlame really is in sicko mode. - SB

5. "1950" by King Princess

King Princess forged her own brand of pop this year, breaking out with "1950", which seemed to repurpose the flashing backbeat to Beyoncé's "All Night" for a tale of unrequited love. The title—a year unfriendly to same-sex relationships—is a statement. She sings about "play[ing] 1950", turning it subversive, because pop plays by her rules now. - SM

4. "I Like It" by Cardi B feat. Bad Bunny & J. Balvin

Before Cardi B’s personal life took over our socials, it was her infectious Latin trap hit "I Like It" that invaded our lives. Proving to the world that the reggaeton megahit "Despacito" wouldn’t be the only Spanish-language track to dominate the English-speaking world’s charts, "I Like It" showed Cardi could nod to her Latin heritage while infusing her Bronx-heavy trap bangers. We more than "like it". We are enamoured with it. – SB

3. "My My My!" by Troye Sivan

Perth’s own Troye boy established himself as the best male pop star in the world with "My My My", a shimmering, strobing sauce-fest that Justin Bieber couldn’t convincingly sell if he went back to school and got his MBA first. Let’s also not ignore the fact Sivan’s one of the few dudes making mainstream queer pop today. In 2018, there were no walls Troye couldn’t successfully climb. - SM

2. "thank u, next" by Ariana Grande

No one’s eyeing off New Year's Eve like Ariana Grande, who probably had the most eventful 12 months of (*reviews list of all living humans*) yes, anyone alive. And yet, after all that, she wrapped up the year with "thank u, next" a self-empowerment anthem that slaps, and on which she calls her shot, predicting (extremely accurately!) it will become a "smash". Still, in it she concedes you gotta deal with a lot of crap to become the person you are. With that in mind, thanks 2018. But, seriously, next. - SM

1. "This Is America" by Childish Gambino

"America, I just checked my following list and you mothaf***as owe me." A sinister, nightmarish collage of hip-hop adlibs that still makes a pointed political statement (with an assist from the brilliant and extremely violent music video). Donald, we forgive you for cancelling the tour. - SM

Share your faves below!

Header Image: YouTube (Travis Scott, Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Troye Sivan, Billie Eilish)