The most popular genre of music out there - pop. Nowadays, I feel like because of repetitve tracks radio plays 24/7 we forgot how amazing this genre truly is. Today, I'll rank 15 tracks that are, in my opinion, the best out of the best from pop (one entry per artist!!) . Hope you guys enjoy, and remember, music is subjective!
#15“Cherry-coloured Funk” by Cocteau Twins (shoegaze, art pop)
It sounds just like the name of it reads out. Dreamy vocals, guitar riff that sounds like its melting and hypnotizing drums are the core of this track, and what a core they are.
Entire songs progresses seemesly, making you feel like you are a kid at the beach, eating ice cream and without a worry in the world.
#14“Get Gone” by Fiona Apple (art pop, soft rock, accaustic pop)
I was, and still am, not crazy over Fiona. I know I know... Hot take.
However, this track is that good that you don't have to a fanatic of her in order to enjoy it. Her voice is unmatched and works perfectly with mysthical music that's behind her. So powerfull, so angry, yet so soft and beautiful.
#13“All Too Well (10 minute version)” by Taylor Swift (progressive pop, pop rock)
You can dislike her, but you can't say this song isn't a masterpiece. I remember how sceptical I was when one of my friends played it for me, yet I was close to tears when it finished. Me, a guy, almost crying because of a Taylor Swift track... Her storytelling is amazing here, really painting a wonderful picture.
#12“Tell me I never knew that” by caroline and Caroline Polachek (progressive pop)
It's not a mistake, the band caroline made a song with Caroline Polachek, and it's amazing. This track is currently in my top 5 songs of 2025, I really can't remember the last time I loved the song this much from a first listen. This track is really simple on its surface, which is what makes it otherworldly. The band caroline and Caroline combined their skills amazingly here, resulting in one of the best pop songs of all time, 12th to be exact.
#11“Andromeda” by Weyes Blood (synth pop, art pop)
Weyes Blood is one of, if not the best, "new" pop artists. If the rules were different, there would have been more tracks from her on this list, for sure. I picked "Andromeda" because it showcases her abillity the best. She has such a unique way of singing, what I mean by that is that she can change the way she sings in an instant. For a moment she sings in a folk-ish type of way, then almost opera like... It's unreal.
#10“ Pyramids” by Frank Ocean (progressive pop, art pop, rap pop)
He is kinda forgiven for being a douchebag and not dropping anything for a century, because wow, this man made a lot of incredible songs. This one right here is a 9 minute monster of a track, that has incredible production, as well as Franks voice, which sounds perfect on here. Both the intro and the ending of this song bang, and because they are so much different, listening to this song is super easy, as you don't get bored of it, ever.
#9“SUTRA” by Nipplepeople (synth pop, dance pop)
If a name Nipplepeople doesn't ring a bell, don't worry, they are a Croatian duo that is fairly popular in Balkans. They've made countless hits over the years, but this song is the best thing they have ever done. Super cathy, romantic, pretty and it's also a great party banger. I know most of you reading have never heard of it, so do yourself a favor and listen to it when you are done reading this list.
#9“Ribs” by Lorde (synth pop)
Lorde has put out a lot of amazing pop music over the years, however, "Ribs" simply does it the most to me. Super catchy, great lyrics, amazing production and her voice is unmatched. The chorus of this track is so easy to get into your head, it's almost annyoing because of how hard it is to get it out.
#8“Happier Than Ever” by Billie Eilish (progressive pop, alt. pop, pop rock)
I wish we get a full album from her in the future that sounds like the second part of this song. This track progresses perfectly, literally perfectly. It builds the tension up and when it finally explodes, it destroys everything around it. Lyrics as well as her voice are also, of course, incredible.
#7“I Know The End” by Pheobe Bridgers (rock pop, alt. pop)
Everything I said about "Happier Than Ever" I mean for this song here, but twice as strongly. Pheobe made one of the best pop songs of all time by combining her fairy like voice with amazing production and instruments. Her lyrics, on this entire album ("Punisher) but especially here punch you straight into the stomach. When I first heard this song, I was left speechless, and every time i come back to it (like gravity, haha) I get even more impressed by it.
#6“ Come Undone” by Duran Duran (alt. pop, pop rock)
One of the most overlooked pop outlets, ever. Duran Duran are one of my parents favourite bands, thanks to them, I discovered this masterpiece. "Come Undone" is a pure banger, a track made for late night drives. So much energy is stored in this song, yet it actually sound more laid back then brutal. A very, very impressive track, once you hear it, you will never forget it.
#5“Glory Box” by Portishead (ream pop)
To start the top 5, we have this horny, horny, horny song by Portishead. My God this song is so seductive, so lustful, so hypnotizing. Incredible. Production is perfect, lowkey instrumental, that picks the tempo up at certain times really only adds to the whole horny vibe. Apart from that, this song also has amazing singing, and great lyrics that explore the themes of women-hood and being forced to act differently in certain situations with your lover, which makes the singer feel frustrated.
#4“ Happines Is a Butterfly” by Lana Del Rey (ream pop)
This song is simply unreal. So dreamy, sad, over the top, emotional... Lana's voice is so pretty on here, minimalistic instrumentation only makes her singing stand out even more. Whoever was playing that piano really gave it his all, during the chorus of this track it sounded like it was on a verge of breaking apart. But yeah, everytime I listen to this song I get emotional, without any reason, it simply has that much emotion that you simply can't avoid it.
#3“Track 10” by Charli Xcx (glitch pop, hyperpop)
The most unique pop song ever, it's not surprising though, since Charli, the most inovative pop artist of this century made it. Charli has one of the richest discography in all of pop, ever, and "Track 10" stands at the top of it. There was never, and there will never be, another "Track 10". It stands out like a sore thumb in this list, since its the only electronic song on here, but my God... the production of this track is so good, I really can not begin to unpack it. The fact that it's completely electronic is what makes it be this good. It sounds like she is breaking down, like someone is unplugging her from electricity, which is similar to a feeling you feel when you can't see your lover. Or, in terms of this song, when you simply can not understand why someone loves you so much, when someone ignores your imperfections. Bravo to Charli.
#2“Baby Birch” by Joanna Newsom (alt. pop, progressive pop, folk pop)
Joanna is one of the few artists that have never made a projects that isn't amazing. Her incredible voice, and I mean truly incredible is what makes her stand out. She literally sounds like an angel, her range is also absurd, and her production choices are one of a kind. "Baby Birch" is a 9 and a half minute long powerhouse of a track, that has the prettiest instrumental, possibly of all time. Joanna also sings her soul out, it almost feels wrong to listen to something that is as pure as this song. Storytelling is also amazing, it teleports you to the world, or should I say the story Joanna is talking about. This entire project, as well as her stellar "YS" is filled with songs that are a tad bit worse than this one, which ultimately means all of them are absolutely amazing and really close to being perfect. "Baby Birch" may not be a song you can listen to multiple times a day, but I thinks it's better like that, because if you listened to it that much, you will never understand the beauty of it.
#1“Pagan Poetry” by Bjork (art pop, dream pop, glitch pop)
If you heard this song, then you probably expected to see it right here, at the number one spot. Is there anything left to say about Bjork? She is by far the best pop artist of all time, we will never see another artist as talented and innovative as her. Trust me, chosing which Bjork song to put at this place was the hardest part of making this list. There were so many great contenders, but "Pegan Poetry" is simply better. Its incredible instrumental is the first thing that you notice about it, it sounds too good to be true. Her voice is like no others, you can never mix Bjork with another artist. And here on this track, her singing is even better than ever. You can't teach anyone what she's doing on this song. It's pure talent mixed with emotion. The haunting ending of this track only makes the experience of listening to this song be even more unforgetable. A truly well deserved number one spot, for one of the greates artists of all time.