AP's top songs of 2019: Jhene Aiko, Sam Smith, Normani
NEW YORK (AP) - The top 10 songs of the year by Associated Press Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu.
1. Jhené Aiko, 'œTriggered (freestyle)": Jhené Aiko brilliantly captures so many emotions in one song on 'œTriggered (freestyle),'ť as she rapidly spits out lyrics in a raw way that range from 'œI HATE YOU SO MUCH RIGHT NOW" to 'œSup, you up?" She's a ball of emotions, but she's direct and honest, and those lyrics are piercing and appealing, and make for a great song - rather, the song of the year. She's trying to move on, but she needs closure. She's saying I hate what you did, but I can't still be with anyone else intimately yet. She's angry. And bitter. And hurt. And healing. Overall, she's human. And she's a beast of a songwriter.
2. Sam Smith and Normani, 'œDancing With a Stranger'ť: Sam Smith's recent songs have been a batch of dance-flavored bops, and we need more of it.
3. H.E.R., 'œMake It Rain - Live at Austin City Limits": H.E.R. is one of the best live performers of our time, and her rendition of Foy Vance's 'œMake It Rain'ť is heavenly. Her magical guitar playing mixed with her powerful voice - and the voices of her groundbreaking background singers - make this track one of the best of the year.
4. Lewis Capaldi, 'œSomeone You Loved": The award for the song most likely to make you cry goes to breakthrough singer Lewis Capaldi, who bares it all on 'œSomeone You Loved,'ť one of the songs we loved all year long.
5. Daddy Yankee and Snow, 'œCon Calma": Though the contemporary Latin music world has been dominated by young and emerging acts, Daddy Yankee has continued to shine brightly, and even outshined most of his counterparts. Long after blazing the charts with 'œGasolina," he's still putting out hits, and this year it was with the anthemic 'œCon Calma." And we're talking about the original version featuring rapper Snow, not the gentrified one with Katy Perry.
6. Kehlani featuring Ty Dolla $ign: Kehlani and Ty Dolla $ign are the prom king and queen of R&B thanks to this hella addictive track.
7. Chris Brown featuring Gunna, 'œHeat": Chris Brown's 'œIndigo" has 32 tracks, but 'œHeat" is the hottest.
8. City Girls, 'œAct Up'ť: Wake up. Brush teeth. Wash face and body. Listen to 'œAct Up." Leave the house feeling untouchable.
9. RosalÃa and Ozuna, 'œYo x Ti, Tu x Mi": RosalÃa. Can. Do. No. Wrong.
10. Normani, 'œMotivation'ť: I probably account for 70 million of the 72 million views Normani's fun, striking and eye-popping 'œMotivation'ť has on YouTube. The song and video is just the beginning for this future icon.