The year of 2015 saw the revival of pop music after a seemingly quiet 2014 from the big stars.
Established artists like Justin Bieber, Drake and Adele experienced a resurgence in popularity, while upcoming names like Pia Mia, OMI and Rachel Platten burst on to the scene in style.
Music powerhouses braved 365 days of intense rounds in the press. From departed members to cancelled concerts, music fans really saw it all in the year that was. (Yes, this is about One Direction.)
Despite the constant media coverage of personal lives and the fascination with celebrity romances, 2015 was also a time for media awareness and genuine love for just the music. Beats, melodies and lyrics — it was and always will be about the music.
2015 was a year of diversity in pop, evident in the influences of R&B (Can’t Feel My Face), soul (Hello) and EDM (On My Mind). The megastars weren’t afraid to dabble in uncharted genres, setting the precedent for new artists, as well as growing the audience of mainstream pop music even further.
Adele revisited her trademark style of soulful pop.
Justin Bieber teamed up with Diplo and Skrillex for a futuristic twist on pop.
One Direction experimented with Broadway and 70’s inspirations on album, Made in the A.M. (We’re still recovering from Drag Me Down.)
Infectious tunes, like Cheerleader and SHUT UP AND DANCE, had us singing and dancing along. Parties never sounded better with thumping bass lines, plummeting bass drops and riveting synthesisers. (Sorry, neighbours.)
A surprising number of these songs can be found on the scores of several films. Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do from Fifty Shades of Grey received instant global recognition, with its swelling chorus and viral accompanying film. Wiz Khalifa’s See You Again from Fast and Furious 7 soared to the top of the US charts, with its resonant connection to late actor, Paul Walker.
Music fans from all across the globe know good pop music when they hear it — and 2015 certainly did not disappoint.
Listen to our Spotify playlist below to relive the best tracks of 2015’s pop music:
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