24 Songs of 2024

As I mentioned in my list of 20 Albums from the same year, there will be overlap. I tried really hard to not overthink these lists this time, so here are my favourite tracks from the year without qualifications, justifications or any other cations. Oh yes, and all the images on the right include YouTube links for the song - either a music video, visualizer, or performance - to check it out. I’ll also include a playlist at the bottom with all 24 tracks available via Tidal and Spotify.

24. Porcelain - Jojo

Had to shed a couple layers just to feel my skin / Porcelain / I let it happen cuz I’m tired of forcing it / Porcelain / And now I’m stronger than I ever been

Yes, that Jojo! She came back this year with a memoir and some new music, and the memoir is fine, but the music is chef’s kiss. It’s a comeback, and it’s a glorious one.

23. Dancing On This - Sans Soucis

Told you that I only work for you to turn the beat up / And next time I see you we’ll be dancing on this

Appropriately carefree song from an artist whose name means “without worry;” I very nearly included the whole album Circumnavigating Georgia on my albums list as well. Which means that if you like this one, there’s more where it came from!

22. Yes, And - Ariana Grande

Boy come on put your lipstick on / Come on and walk this way through the fire / And if you find yourself in a dark situation / Just turn on your light and be like / Yes, And

Before we collectively became completely obsessed with Wicked and the palpable chemistry between Ariana and Cynthia Erivo, the pop star dropped a whole album of contender pop hits. For me, the improv inspired “Yes, And” was the perfect bop from an artist that can truly flex her comedic muscles (as proven in both Wicked and her SNL appearances.

21. Thinking Less - Sinead Harnett

It’s crazy how you think I got all this time / Sitting ‘round wondering reasons why / but I’m thinkin’, thinkin’ less of you

Although I first started listening to Sinead Harnett for her smooth, soulful vocals, this song is all about the groove built on a guitar line that feels like it’s counting in a whole different time signature than the melody.

20. Holy Spirit - KAMAUU

All through my body / All in my shoulders / In between my toes / Your love, it moves me like the Holy Ghost

I dare you to not start clapping and stomping along to this absolute bop from KAMAAU, who likens his love to a deep spiritual experience.

19. Watchu Kno About Me - GloRilla & Sexyy Red

I’m wearing booty shorts (baow) / ‘Cause my paper long (on God) / It’s a Friday night (What’s up?) / My 🥷 ain’t at home (let’s go!)

These two rappers took the hip-hop world by storm, and it was the collaboration that I had no idea I was waiting for. More than any other song this year, this makes me wish I had enough hair to flip during the chorus.

18. Make Money - RIMON feat. Mareba

Make money and I go spend it / Fuck it, I’m reckless / Got a gold crown on top of my head but / Shit is too heavy, I’ma sell it

I’m a major sucker for Mareba, so I wasn’t surprised when this song stood out most from producer RIMON’S 2024 album Children of the Night. This is what I listen to when I feel like a boss, even though when I make money, I rarely “go spend it” on anything other than rent and groceries.

17. Favourite Girl - Darkoo feat. Dess Dior

Pressure’s burning on me / Would you come do it slowly / Girl, dutty wine / Would you bend it for me

A dancehall anthem for and by the gay babes, set over the already classic diwali riddim (you’ll likely recognize this beat from Sean Paul’s “Get Busy”, or Lumidee’s “Never Leave You”). Yes please.

16. Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter

Now he’s thinking ‘bout me every night oh / Is it that sweet, I guess so / Say you can’t sleep, baby I know / That’s that me - espresso

Even if I didn’t include this song on the list, I’d be tempted to include the SNL sketch “Domingo” based on the Sabrina Carpenter track. This was the year that a whole lot of folks woke up to just how clever, funny and catchy Sabrina Carpenter’s songwriting can be. I get why “Taste” is a popular favourite - maybe I’m biased as a coffee drinker - but “Espresso” is my jam.

15. S P E Y S I D E - Bon Iver

I know now that I can’t make good / How I wish I could / Go back and put / Me where you stood / Nothing’s really something, now the whole thing’s soot

I can’t fully explain what I love so deeply about this track and I’m not going to try. I just know that when I first played it the Friday morning when the EP Sable was released, I cried as I put the track on repeat.

14. Give Up the Fear - Nia Smith

Reframe your mind, reclaim your time / Give up the ghost, don’t need to feed it / ‘Cause I don’t wanna live like that / No I don’t wanna live like that

I have such a soft spot for these British R&B singers, and the mesmerizing, mostly-one-shot, black-and-white music video that accompanies this song didn’t hurt either.

13. Commas - Ayra Starr

Things happen inside life / Draw tattoo make I live my life / Dreams come true, if na fight / Fight the fight, make you no go tire

Here’s my first repeated artist from my 20 Albums of 2024 blog. Not only was her album always on in my house, but “Commas” was on every playlist I had - especially in the summer months. If you haven’t heard Ayra perform this song live, I highly recommend checking out the living room concert I linked from the photo.

12. Awaken - Halima

Awaken on my own into moonlight / Don’t you wait for it / What you take me for?

”Awaken” was a really early favourite in 2024, and lasted all year. I was excited for Halima’s EP to drop in May, but nothing else caught and held my interest like this chill vibe. Also full disclosure: I can’t find lyrics anywhere, so the lyrics above are really just my best guess. If this track was in a whole other language, it would still make this list.

11. Saturn - SZA

Sick of this head of mine / Intrusive thoughts, they paralyze / Nirvana's not as advertised / There's got to be more, been here before

I had already made these lists when SZA released a deluxe edition of SOS that actually includes an entire extra album worth of songs on it. I don’t know if I’ll include it as a separate album next year, but “Saturn” was a single that was constant comfort in 2024.

10. After Hours - Kehlani

We ain't gotta check the time / Even when it ends, it's still you, and I/ We ain't even know they turned on the lights / We missed the last call ridin' on a high

I was so excited to have a song from Kehlani that I can bump at almost any party. From the moment the Nina Sky sample dropped for the first time, I knew I was hooked on this one.

9. Coming Around Again - Amber Mark

Boy, I ain't got high hopes / But, damn, you're kinda fine though / So let's see where the night goes / Maybe love's comin' around again

I’ll admit that I’m pretty excited for more upbeat Amber Mark music this year, but this slower R&B track won me over easily.

8. Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar

Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minorrrrrrrr

I don’t think I need to say a lot. If you know this track, you’re probably already obsessed, and if you don’t, you likely aren’t going to be. For context, this is the game winning dunk on Drake (when there was already no doubt who was beef champion).

7. Hind's Hall - Macklemore

You can ban TikTok, take us out the algorithm / But it’s too late, we’ve seen the truth, we bear witness / Seen the rubble, the buildings, the mothers and the children

I don’t think any of us expected Macklemore to be the first to drop a rap verse calling out Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, and I’m the first to admit that even if you told me that, I wouldn’t expect it to be as good as it is. Still, I lament that it’s still a pretty lonely example of a mainstream artist speaking up during 15 months of a live streamed genocide.

6. People - Libianca

I’ve been drinking more alcohol in the past five days / Did you check on me? / Did you look for me?

Technically this song was released in December of 2023, but I had already built my lists for the year, and I had no idea how this song would end up on nearly every playlist I made in 2024. It’s also a great reminder to check in on your people, because these are hard times, folks.

5. Cinderella - Remi Wolf

Like Cinderella making babies on the company’s dime / We’re making pennies out of paper, better find a new slime / Me and the boys in the hotel lobby

Look, the album is great, but I couldn’t leave this song over there to not get specific attention. I am genuinely confused why this song didn’t find massive mainstream success, because everything from the funky baseline to the poppy lyrics were made for radio.

4. Nissan Altima - Doechii

I’m the new hip hop Madonna / I’m the trap Grace Jones / I don’t know what type of mutherfuckin’ crack they on / I’m like Carrie Bradshaw with a back brace on / I’ve been carrying you bitches now for way too long.

The hypest of all the hype tracks this year, nothing gets me ready to go slay than “Nissan Altima”.

3. Water - Tyla

Make me sweat / make me hotter / make me lose my breath / make me water

This sexy, certified bop was one of the most remixed and remixable songs of the year, and regardless of which version I chose to play on any given night, people reacted accordingly.

2. Good Luck, Babe - Chappell Roan

Think I’m gonna call it off / even if you call it love / I just wanna love someone that calls me ‘baby

We all arrived late to the Chappell Roan club, and she is likely going to be one of a very few artists that make my album of the decade list without being featured on my album of the year list, simply because I wasn’t listening to The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess the year of its release. That’s okay, because this single might be even better than the perfect collection of songs on that record. Never before has someone so clearly articulated compulsory heterosexuality in a song before. Not to mention the joy and satisfaction I feel when watching the (possibly temporary) straights sing along to this one.

1. Love Me, Jeje - Tems

I’m on your wave right now / I’m on your vibe now / You got me on your side now / I’m on your wave right now

If you’ve already read my 2024 albums blog post, you know that Tems has made her way into my most listened artist with a vengeance, and although I like literally everything she’s released so far, “Love Me, Jeje” became my absolute number one jam, that goes well beyond the parameters of the year 2024.