My fave music podcast Pop Pantheon had their Best Pop Songs of the 2020s round table, so I obvi felt FOMO and a strong desire to add the songs I think should have been included. They each picked 5; I picked 10 because I have an editing problem. I tried to make sure there was at least one pick from each year, and sorry there are no men! Girl power I guess?
“A&W” by Lana Del Rey (2023)
Cartwheels, Cocoa Puffs, mommy issues, Virginia Slims, strawberry lip gloss, Forensic Files, cherry pit in your throat, but I’m just a girl.
“Everything Is Romantic” by Charli xcx (2024)
Champagne on sand, Capri in the distance, late nights in black silk in East London, broken cigarettes in Balenciaga bags, Notes app marriage vows, falling in love again and again.
“New Bottega” by Azealia Banks (2023)
Maraschino cherry nails, double D-cup divas, snake print thongs under vintage Chanel, saying hello into the void, pouncing down the runway like a cheetah, plucking eyebrows with malice.
“Crush” by Ethel Cain (2021)
Blue eyeshadow, the Florida Panhandle, Harmony Korine, motel bibles, Marlboro Reds, a black eye and two kisses, saying it with your chest.
“Aquamarine” by Addison Rae (2024)
Ray of Light-era Madonna, mermaidcore, 70s Jane Birkin, dancing in the mirror, Eyes Wide Shut, ketamine, turquoise, singing underwater.
“Rain On Me” by Lady Gaga ft. Ariana Grande (2020)
Vodka-slick tiles, screaming into a fog machine, neon eyeliner smudged by the rain, lip gloss smeared on your bff’s shoulder, poppers, theater kids all grown up.
“Damages” by Tems (2020)
Tropical air, unread texts on a cracked phone screen, your man’s hoodie on the floor, slow wind through the palms, eye-rolls, blunts on the balcony, r-e-s-p-e-c-t.
“Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish (2024)
Broken heart emojis, shimmering new wave synths, adult contemporary radio, crying around someone new for the first time, blue eyes, blushing, whispering “I love you” into the mic.
“Diablo” by Rosalía (2022)
Chrome nails, holy water, tits out in the Lambo, red lipstick on the vape, James Blake on aux, your soul leaving your body.
“Emotions” by John Glacier (2025)
Glacial loops, languid rizz, Hackney fog, dry snares, staring at the wall, mumbled prayers, too high to explain, floating away.
Here is my longlist because again I have an editing problem. And some honorable mentions below because I simply cannot stop myself!!
“II HANDS II HEAVEN” by Beyoncé (2024)
“Blue Shit” by Mica Levi (2021)
“SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY Remix” by Amaarae ft. Kali Uchis and Moliy (2021)
“Scorsese Baby Daddy” by SZA (2024)
“On My Mama” by Victoria Monét (2023)
“Night” by Kelly Lee Owens (2020)
“Enough for Love” by Kelela (2023)