What's the Best Song of 2018 (So Far)?

It's been one hell of a (half) year in music.

2018 began, err, worryingly, with the release of Justin Timberlake's worst ever album and Fergie's butchering of the American National Anthem.

Things, theoretically, should only have gotten better from there, but instead, Fifth Harmony decided to finally call it quits while ex-bandmate Camila Cabello learnt about dehydration the hard way. Elsewhere, Rita Ora and pals found themselves at the center of a bisexual storm, while unexpected musical duo Ben Lee and Josh Radnor embarked on an Australian tour. Troubling times indeed.

But then, Cardi B discovered Childish Gambino and Donald Glover were the same person and the Carters (Bey and Jay) dropped a surprise collaborative record. All was well again.

So, what better time than now to take stock of the half-year that was and pick our favourite songs of 2018 (so far)?

Sure, we know what Meryl Streep's voting for. But what about you? 

Have you been obsessively listening to the Black Panther soundtrack by Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar? The queer anthems by Janelle Monáe and Hayley Kiyoko? The under-the-radar Soundcloud singles of Clairo? Something by the 'only occasionally nice' Drake? The underloved new album from Arctic Monkeys? Anything with Zoë Kravitz? Only songs that reference Call Me by Your Name (there are more than you realise)? Or one of Kanye West's new, complicated, controversial and mercifully short new projects? Anything Aussie?

The options are endless, so we've tried to narrow them down for you.

Revisit some of our favourites and then pick one from the Poll below. (You'll need to log in to participate.) If your favourite isn't featured, let us know in the comments!

(Coarse language and violence warning.)

 

Photo: YouTube (Calvin Harris, Donald Glover, Camila Cabello)