Лучшие песни 2020 года

This year in tune might maybe well presumably additionally honest well hump down because the year of the isolation tune: confined beneath preserve-at-dwelling orders, artists around the arena maintain shared their cooped-up feelings because the seasons march on. Nevertheless even the songs launched earlier than the pandemic changed the on every day basis rush hit in a undeniable skill as they echo around the confines of our extra socially a ways-off context. In a single other summer, Corrupt Bunny’s “Yo Perreo Sola” might maybe well presumably be a event hit; now, it’s a bittersweet anthem for yet one more universe. Christine and the Queens’ “Folks, I’ve been unhappy” might maybe well presumably need floated beneath the radar; now, its title by myself is a refrain for our time. Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé’s “Savage Remix” might maybe well presumably need ushered in a sweaty, fun-loving summer; now, it’s a recollection of past joys. Both skill, these songs are a reminder that art—and severely tune—might maybe well presumably additionally additionally be both a deem and an flee, searching on how we take to account for it.

Corrupt Bunny, “Yo Perreo Sola”

It wasn’t all that suggests support that pop stars were speculated to make a selection away from politics or other controversial causes for distress that they might well additionally honest alienate certain fanbases. Corrupt Bunny is practically the poster little one for a unique period of stars rewriting those rules. Because the Puerto Rican singer and rapper’s significant particular person has risen, he’s simplest become extra subversive and outspoken, railing towards the Puerto Rico governor and questioning norms surrounding gender and sexuality.

In his single “Yo Perreo Sola,” Corrupt Bunny writes from the attitude of a girl who desires to head to the membership and dance by myself, unbothered by males. In the tune’s tune video, he defective-apparel in a variety of stare-popping outfits—crimson apparel, thigh-high boots, manicured fingernails—as he twerks on a masculine model of himself to the tune’s vicious tumble. It’s one among essentially the most joyous—and simply transgressive—cultural artifacts of 2020.—Andrew R. Chow

Christine and the Queens, “Folks, I’ve been unhappy”

A truly easy refrain—”Folks, I’ve been unhappy”—takes on unique phases of meaning within the capable hands of France’s Heloise Letissier, stage name Christine and the Queens. Her synth-pop skill on this final age-of-isolation track is heavy with sadness, nonetheless additionally intense with yearning. “It’s gleaming that folks, I’ve been long gone,” she states baldly: “It’s gleaming that, folks, I’ve been missing out.” In her past work, in conjunction with on 2018’sChris,she explored the dissolving edges of her identification over muscular pop. Right here, the excavation is inside, as she switches between English and French. It feels take care of she’s trying to claw her skill up and out of the loneliness, nonetheless it certainly’s a direction of.—Raisa Bruner

Dixie Chicks, “Julianna Composed Down”

The 2d single off the Dixie Chicks’ unprecedented-anticipated delayed comeback albumGaslighter,“Julianna Composed Down” is seemingly to be called a younger dirge, with its dense, unhurried organ, chiming beneath lyrics calling out the names of female family and pals. Nevertheless it’s additionally a chin-up anthem: “Ideal placed to your handiest footwear, and strut the f-ck around similar to you’ve got nothing to lose!” the country trio sings once the tune loosens up and provides in a bluegrass twang. The phrase “frigid down” is recurrently perceived as belittling, severely when spoken to a girl. Nevertheless the Dixie Chicks maintain turned that negativity on its head, constructing a moment of sisterly triumph and freedom as a change. As every instrument comes in, the tune grows in strength and class, cresting with celebratory guitar plucks that might maybe well presumably additionally honest apt be gleaming notes of independence.—Raisa Bruner

Gorillaz & Slowthai, “Immediate-term Bliss”

Gorillaz is seemingly to be 15 years past its industrial top:“In actuality feel Ideal Inc.”used to be a worldwide phenomenon in 2005. Nevertheless nonetheless, the digital band used to be skill earlier than its time in its style fluidity, self-mythology, digital center of attention and internalization of hip-hop cadences and tradition. So it’s presumably unsurprising that Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s brainchild has converted so seamlessly to the current worldwide on-line period. All four of their songs this year, launched as half of their rolling audiovisual mission Tune Machine, maintain been amazing, and spotlighted varying artists and musicians’ cultures from around the arena.

The most handy of the lot is “Immediate-term Bliss,” a collaboration with the trendsetting British rapper Slowthai. Whereas the Gorillaz’ signature guitar fuzz stays current, the neighborhood additionally shrewdly finds the connective tissue between an earlier period of British punk and the present rap scene dominating that country. Over a beat that might maybe well presumably additionally honest be moshed to by skinheads and grime fans alike, Slowthai and Albarn bark an earnest and unforgettable mantra: “It makes me sick to mediate you ain’t gay in your skin.” A trippy animation-are living action hybrid tune video simplest reinforces the tune’s strengths.—Andrew R. Chow

Guapdad, Denzel Curry, Wiz Khalifa, Rona Raps #3

The lockdown period has viewed a variety of rap artists by surprise rise in stature to become cultural nerve amenities, in conjunction with D-Good (spinning to first ladies for the length of Club Quarantine) and Torey Lanez (gleefully howling over his raunchy Quarantine Radio). Guapdad 4000, an Oakland rapper, has likewise become an ascendant rap hub for his sequence Rona Raps. The sequence doesn’t maintain any gimmicks or particular outcomes: it simply recreates the avenue nook or lunch desk cypher for social distancing, allowing rappers take care of Joey Badass, Lil Yachty and Buddy to collaborate and reveal their lyrical mettle from the safety of their properties.

On the third installment, Guapdad, Wiz Khalifa, and Denzel Curry take dangle of turns flowing over Luniz’s “I Bought 5 on It,” a 1995 rap traditional that has taken on ominous undertones after being remixed within theUstrailer. Whereas all three provoke, Curry emerges because the certain winner by drolly narrating his quarantine routine, which contains ski masks (both the garment and the rapper), drinking takeout, staring atDonnie Brascoon Netflix, and most severely, heading off his pals: “I snarl them there’s no love/ I don’t desire to dap, clap you up/ And there’s no hug.”—Andrew R. Chow

Girl Gaga and Ariana Grande, “Rain on Me”

Two pop stars at the tip of their powers. An emotional dance-floor anthem. Heaps of strains with double meanings that reveal both their non-public struggles and a few of the favored danger precipitated by the pandemic. The 2d single off of Girl Gaga’sChromaticahits the total apt notes as both a dance-pop break and a rallying yowl for fans in need. “I’d reasonably be dry, nonetheless a minimal of I’m alive” might maybe well presumably additionally honest maintain sounded hyperbolic if it had come out in a undeniable context. Nevertheless right here we are, and right here are Gaga and Ariana sharing their abilities, with the dilapidated very with out problems inhabiting her extra theatricalChromaticapersona, whereas the latter takes a detour from her current trap-pop lane to shine as a vocalist. Add within the delightfully extinct-college tune video—hordes of dancers, glitter make-up, fun outfits—and it essentially feels as although they’re offering a pop-tradition service.—Raisa Bruner

Mac Miller, “Ideal News”

The principle single launched after rapper Mac Miller’s loss of life in 2018, “Ideal News” is meditative at its core, a bittersweet reflection simplest made extra poignant by context. Posthumous releases are difficult to assess, nonetheless “Ideal News” certainly feels gleaming to his spirit: an emotional open book packaged in deceptively gleaming manufacturing. “There’s rather a lot of extra for me waitin’ on the opposite facet,” he sings, his light converse floating from singing to rapping. “So bored to loss of life in being so tired/ Why I gotta design one thing gleaming apt to head space it on hearth?” Miller used to be an artist identified for struggling along with his demons through his tune. With its uncomplicated melody and lyrics that hint at sadness, “Ideal News” feels take care of both an omen and a balm. It’s our apt fortune that Miller left within the support of songs take care of this one—a light-weight benediction.—Raisa Bruner

Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyonce, “Savage Remix”

Sooner than Beyoncé turned it into “Savage Remix,” Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” used to be a steamy jam off her most traditional albumSuga. It had even kicked off a regular dance arena. Nevertheless in conjunction with fellow Houston artist Beyoncé used to be a critical energy stream, no longer simplest this skill that of her significant particular person station, nonetheless additionally this skill that of the witty, confident vitality that Beyoncé brings to the track. Beyoncé’s nimble rapping, corpulent of pattern-environment lyrics, is counterbalanced by melodic vocals. The conventional “Savage” had all of Megan Thee Stallion’s signature intensity going for it; the Beyoncé-boosted remix gave it phases.—Raisa Bruner

Phoebe Bridgers, “Backyard Tune”

Regarded as one of California singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers’s critical abilities is her world-building: she can originate startlingly radiant scenes with apt a pair of turns of poetic phrase. Such is the case with “Backyard Tune,” the debut single off her 2d album,Punisher. On it, Bridgers sings of a dwelling burned down other than for “the notches within the door frame; a dreamscape that choices a “dorm room take care of a hedge maze”; a magical backyard that will or might maybe well presumably additionally honest no longer be anxious. She saves her most affecting lyric for the conclude of the tune, singing, “I essentially maintain all the pieces I ever mandatory”—which, in Bridgers’ throat, sounds no longer take care of a declaration of achievement, nonetheless a harrowing existential disaster.—Andrew R. Chow

Sarah Jarosz, “Johnny”

Over the last decade, the Americana singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz has constructed up a consistently mesmerizing body of work, both through her solo cloth as well as with the innovative folks supergroup I’m With Her. “Johnny,” one among her strongest songs so a ways, tells the tale of an unlucky traveller returning dwelling. Nevertheless whereas the verses are corpulent of apprehension, the refrain explodes with gripping harmonies and thematic catharsis, for the length of which Jarosz cries: “an open coronary heart appears take care of lots take care of the desolate tract.”—Andrew R. Chow

Write toRaisa Bruner atraisa.bruner@time.com.