The top 10 pop songs of 2024
Releases from Tate McRae, Shawn Mendes and more soundtracked this year
Between comebacks from Nelly Furtado and Shawn Mendes, and new releases from Lu Kala and Tate McRae, pop music was in good hands in 2024.
These are the 10 best Canadian pop tracks of the year.
10. 'Corazón,' Nelly Furtado feat. Bomba Estéreo
"You can't play me like I'm dumb/ I already know what I've done/ I've already been on the run/ don't want to be under your thumb," Nelly Furtado sings defiantly in the first verse of "Corazón," with Bomba Estéreo's explosive percussion emboldening her. The song is a celebration of sticking to one's guns that perfectly spotlights Furtado's confidence.
9. 'Did Life Work Out For You?' Charlotte Cardin
"Did Life Work Out for You?" is a tender song, with pared-back piano and shimmering guitar chords as Cardin sings with a mild country twang, reminiscing on a summer fling that perhaps could have been something more. "That summer together, then never again/ I go through the 'whys' and the 'what-could-have-beens,'" she sings.
8. 'Dead Man,' Alessia Cara
"Dead Man" is a tragic song about an ill-fated romance, and over a jazz-inspired drumbeat and bright bursts of horns Alessia Cara wonders: "If you really care, then why am I feeling you slip right through my hands?" Jazz is just one of the many influences on Cara's upcoming new album.
7. 'Who's Gonna,' Lu Kala
"Say you want a queen, better level up," asserts the twice Juno-nominated singer, listing all the things a potential partner needs to do to get her attention. The addictive bass line officially opens the door to Lu Kala's funk era, and an unexpected sax solo brings the song home.
6. 'Bora Bora,' AP Dhillon feat. Ayra Starr
Over thumping beats, AP Dhillon sings about falling in love on the French Polynesian island and showering his significant other with luxurious gifts. His lyrics paint sparkling images of diamond rings and designer purses as he tries to woo his love interest, whose role is fulfilled by Nigerian singer Ayra Starr.
5. 'It's OK I'm OK,' Tate McRae
Although Tate McRae was barely alive at the time, she's really leaning into the Y2K resurgence with "It's OK I'm OK." Her coy vocal delivery and the banging 808s on the track would fit seamlessly on a pop-R&B crossover from the early 2000s.
4. 'Timeless,' the Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
"Timeless" opens with an ethereal mix of synths and the Weeknd's falsetto before that smooth, slinky beat drops and Playboi Carti hops on (with a production assist from Pharrell Williams). It's a coming together of two of the most popular artists in the world right now, and the song has already amassed more than 270 million streams on Spotify, and 25 million on YouTube.
3. 'Heart of Gold,' Shawn Mendes
On "Heart of Gold," a standout track from Shawn Mendes's latest album, the pop star sings about a childhood friend who died of an overdose. There's a delayed sense of grief as he sings, "I didn't even feel the pain/ and then it hit me all at once/ when we talked about you yesterday."
2. 'Dirt Roads,' Tia Wood
Blending traditional Indigenous singing with a contemporary R&B/pop mix, Tia Wood uses her striking vocals to evoke nostalgia: "Dirt roads lead me back home," she sings. There's so much heart in every verse and Wood makes you feel the immense joy, fear and hope she's experiencing in real time, as she balances chasing success with staying grounded.
1.'Stick of Gum,' Nemahsis
On "Stick of Gum," Nemahsis sounds defiant, and her disdain for an industry that attempted to cast her aside is palpable. The driving guitar melody and buoyant synths rise above the fray, as Nemahsis unleashes layered lyricism about navigating the social politics of desirability and marketability.