Top 50 Songs of 2016 (#10-#1)

   The final stretch in my year-end countdown is here and it brings together the best of the best in 2016. We saw predictable hits from a few powerhouse names, a few made it into the Top 10, but solely based on merit. Artists including Demi Lovato, Todrick Hall, Alex Newell, Ben Hazlewood, Tyler Glenn and Lady Gaga have already been featured and made way for work from a sister duo, one of the top pop females in the game and a handful of GRAMMY Award winners.

#10. "Rise" by Katy Perry

   "Rise" may have been the typical, supposedly inspiring, pop anthem we've heard Katy Perry cranking out for the last few years ("Firework", "Part Of Me", "Roar"), however, the encouraging premise and Olympics tie-in boosted the energy and euphoria to exciting levels. While a great anthem to motivate athletes, the rousing power ballad doubled as a needed call for unity, a likely response to attacks in Orlando and France. Even though the song glowed bright with a message of perseverance and strength, there was a dark, gloomy and ominous vibe that surrounded the single. With the support of a thumping, synth-pop beat produced by Max Martin, Perry insisted that every person get back up on their feet after a fall.

#9. "Sudden Death (OMG)" by Tyler Glenn

   Neon Trees frontman Tyler Glenn took a hiatus from his colorful pop group to pursue a grim, personal turn for his solo debut album. On the album's opener "Sudden Death (OMG)", the artist questioned the disrespect from others in regards to his life choices. As a man of faith, it confused Glenn as to why his prayers were no longer being answered. The private, meaningful narrative buried within the songwriting paired with an infectious electronic/rock beat added a intriguing layer to the mixed emotion. "We could go and fake through everything, and they could hear us louder if we scream, maybe life is more than just a dream," he belted while struggling to deal with the new perspective of conflict between identity and religion.

#8. "You're My Favorite" by Gwen Stefani

   From the first tinkering, video game-like synth notes, it was clear that "You're My Favorite" was going to became a fan favorite off Gwen Stefani's third solo studio album. As if she was falling down a rabbit hole, the artist started revealing childish feelings of finding the one she was meant to be with. The track highlighted the artist's bubbly, quirky personality while providing a radio-ready hook that could have easily dominate airwaves. "The way you kissed me wasn't typical, take me out of my body, something spiritual," Stefani detailed about her first encounter with a new lover, possibly Blake Shelton. It was a sugary sweet affair that became an endearing, heartfelt addition to an overall personal, theraputic album.

#7. "Devil Side" by Foxes

   Sad to know English singer-songwriter Foxes is still best known as just the featured voice of a dance hit, when in 2016, she unleashed her strongest release to date in the form of the dark and gloomy beauty "Devil Side". Released as a promotional single prior to her sophomore album, the moving ballad found the artist struggling with the realization that sometimes the bad outweighs the good when committing to a new, unfortunately unpredictable relationship. "So tell me why I deal with your devil side, I deal with your dangerous mind, but never with you," she hopelessly belted on the powerful and stirring great single that unfortunately never was.

#6. "Diamond Heart" by Lady Gaga

   We can be honest and say Lady Gaga's most recent studio album was not for everyone, but consensus showed nothing but love for the grim and moody album opener “Diamond Heart”, which also served as one of its brightest highlights. Gaga’s intriguing country/pop/rock mix fused together perfectly to provide an invigorating, bold statement of empowerment. While embodying the persona of a young, self-willed runaway, doing what it takes on the streets to make it through another day, the artist’s soaring vocal performance, narrative songwriting and ear for a good beat showed she still had the talent for knowing when a future hit had been crafted within the first few notes.

#5. "That's My Girl" by Fifth Harmony

   The brass-heavy, pop-leaning album opener "That's My Girl" was just another power smash for girl group Fifth Harmony in 2016. The production was loud and infectious, built around a refreshing saxophone-assisted beat and a chant worthy chorus that screams for female unity and empowerment, as well as a fierce stomp down the nearest runway. Similar in style and message to that of a Pussycat Dolls track, specifically "I Don't Need a Man", the song effortlessly mixed Fifth Harmony's pop sensibility with their contagious R&B attitude and energy. The message of picking your fellow woman back up on her feet, letting her know that no man is worth the hurt, was inspiring, supported by the year's most explosive chorus.

#4. "Welcome to the Show" by Adam Lambert feat. Laleh

   The striking and slightly vulnerable "Welcome to the Show", featuring guest vocals from Swedish-Iranian singer/songwriter Laleh, kept with Adam Lambert's recent artistic transformation, focusing on mature synth-pop instead of the campy, glam-inspired theatrics of his early days. Opening with the somewhat cruel spotlight shining heavily on the artist's insecure soul, the soft piano ballad vibe paved way for passionate vocal delivery from both artists. As Lambert highlighted a surprising timid nature when dealing with fame, he soon overcame the fear to embrace his crowd of devoted fans once the lights came on. Listeners got a behind-the-scenes peek into Lambert's personal life and the mixed feelings that come with being an artist.

 #3. "Into You" by Ariana Grande

   Blossoming pop princess Ariana Grande reached exciting heights with masterpiece "Into You", throwing the artist onto the dancefloor where she rightfully belongs with the help of mega producer Max Martin. Perfect for high-ponytail hair twirls in the nearest neon-lit club, the artist journeyed into heated, scandalous territory as she tempted her man to make te first move. Immediately, the song tapped into some unearthed, 90s-like pop beats that assisted with Grande's convincing seduction techniques. It's like a had been moth drawn to a technicolor flame. Conversation swirled around Grande's mature turn, but the artist was not playing the part of the innocent schoolgirl this time around, instead embracing her sexuality with successful end results.

#2. "Million Reasons" by Lady Gaga

   Multi-talented artist thankfully serviced the country-driven, heart-shattering ballad “Million Reasons” as her latest album's second single. On the soul-inspired, twangy-folk ballad, Gaga was supported by nothing more than a prominent acoustic guitar and some serious vocal pipes to shed dim light on the final glimmer of hope that kept her hooked into her current, possibly destructive relationship. Co-written with Hillary Lindsey, the touching ballad dove deep into Gaga’s recent rocky love life, was possibly inspired by her relationship with former fiancé Taylor Kinney, and brought the artist back to her lyric and instrument-driven early days, performing in small NYC bars as the lesser known Stefani Germanotta.

#1. "In My Blood" by The Veronicas

   The Veronicas kickstarted a new album era with the release of "In My Blood", an emotional, euphoric, dance-charged track that took the artists down a new musical route. The song maintained the sisters' ability to convey the emotions associated with a particular experience, this time they just brought that skill to the crowded dancefloor with an energetic, pulsating, electro-influenced beat and infectious surge on the chorus that quickly encompassed the listener. After a delicate, piano-driven intro, the single immediately switched production gears as they began to perfectly describe the feeling of love at first sight. It beautiful complexity highlighted the tricky mixed emotions that come along with intimacy.