20 of the best pop songs to listen to if you hate pop
We get it — pop music isn't for everyone, but if you give these 20 tracks a spin, you may find a few new favorites. From rising artists like Alec Benjamin and Tate McRae to legends including Britney Spears and, of course, Beyoncé, this list is full of bangers. Check them out.
"Treasure," Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars is known for creating some catchy love songs, and "Treasure" is no exception. You can sing this one to yourself, a friend, or a romantic partner. No matter who, we're confident you'll enjoy this one.
"Moves Like Jagger," Maroon 5
Whether you have moves like Jagger or not, this Maroon 5 song is always fun to throw on whenever you want to get lost in the music and bust out a dance or two.
"Roar," Katy Perry
The beat, the lyrics, the harmonies — everything about this track is perfect. Plus, it's quite the confidence booster, too!
"Shut Up and Dance," WALK THE MOON
Maybe the title has something to do with it, but Walk The Moon's "Shut Up and Dance" makes us want to forget all our worries and let loose. How could you not enjoy a song about living in the moment and showing your impressive dance skills?
"Greedy," Tate McRae
Just under three minutes, this Tate McRae song has become a staple in our pop playlist. The beat, melody, and lyrics are so catchy they run through our heads nonstop, causing us to snap our fingers and tap our feet.
"Toxic," Britney Spears
This Britney classic needs no explanation. It's the ultimate pop jam and the perfect party playlist anthem.
"Rolling In The Deep," Adele
Arguably one of her best pieces of work, Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" is everyone's favorite pop revenge song. It's so loved it won the Grammy for Song of the Year in 2012.
"Dance The Night Away," Dua Lipa
"Dance The Night Away" is another of Dua Lipa's many hits. Part of the Barbie soundtrack, the single reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received two Grammy nods in 2024.
"Uptown Funk," Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
Everybody loves Bruno and his 2014 hit, "Uptown Funk." And that's not an opinion — it's a fact. The single spent 14 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and won two Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2016.
"Crazy In Love," Beyoncé
Name a better pop song than Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love." We'll wait...
"Let Me Down Slowly," Alec Benjamin
Trust us, after listening to Alec Benjamin's "Let Me Down Slowly," you'll have it on repeat for a week. The harmonies, lyrics, and vocals create a seamless experience you won't be able to get over. If you want an even more powerful version of this gem, stream the remix with Alessia Cara.
"Sorry," Justin Bieber
Is it too late now for us to say sorry (not sorry) for throwing Justin Bieber on this list? His 2015 single, part of his album Purpose, topped the charts in several countries, including the United States, for three weeks.
"Blinding Lights," The Weeknd
The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" was everybody's favorite song in 2020, earning 2.72 billion streams — so you know it's one of ours, too!
"Lose My Breath," Destiny's Child
This Destiny's Child single comes out the gate swinging with soaring vocals and dynamic percussions, which may cause you to channel your inner Sasha Fierce. In 2018, the group reunited for a special performance of the song during Beyoncé's Coachella set.
"Unstoppable," Sia
Sometimes, you need that inspirational song to pull you out of a funk or get you through a tough day, and Sia's "Unstoppable" does that for us. "I'm so powerful ... I'm so confident, I'm unstoppable today," she sings proudly.
"Positions," Ariana Grande
From her sixth studio album, Positions, Ariana Grande's lead single of the same name features a lovely melody mixed with beautiful harmonies the singer is known for. She even throws in some of those impressive whistle notes at the end, but listen closely, or you might miss them!
"It's Gonna Be Me," NSYNC
There's a reason NSYNC's 2000s single "It's Gonna Be Me" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's a classic that's become a popular internet meme today, garnering President Barack Obama's and Jennifer Hudson's attention.
"River," Miley Cyrus
Miley's latest project, Endless Summer Vacation, was a massive hit, producing popular tracks like "Flowers" and "River." The latter is one of the album's uptempo singles, which Miley described as a "dance floor banger" really about sexual intimacy between partners.
"Boss B-tch," Doja Cat
One thing about Doja Cat is that she's going to create a bop, whether you like her or not — just listen to "Boss B-tch" for proof. It was a not-so-subtle clap back at her biggest haters with bold lyrics, including, "I'm a b-tch, I'm a boss, I'ma shine like gloss."
"Hollaback Girl," Gwen Stefani
Nothing else feels more like Y2K pop than Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl." Even if you can't relate, it's a universally loved song that spent four weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100.
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