The 30 greatest pop songs of the 2020s

Just three years after releasing her self-titled debut album, Dua Lipa returned in 2020 with her sophomore project, Future Nostalgia. Lipa’s hit single “Levitating” is pop perfection with its electro-disco style, making it an essential song for getting people on the dance floor. 

Sam Smith teamed up with Kim Petras on their 2022 hit “Unholy.” The title of the track has always been interesting because the unholiness they describe is in regards to a person being unfaithful, but the song has choir elements in its sound. 

Sabrina Carpenter has been in the entertainment industry for quite some time, but it seems like she hit a new elevation in 2024 with her sixth album Short n’ Sweet. The lead single “Espresso” finds Carpenter comparing herself to the caffeinated drink and how it can keep consumers addicted and alert. Not only did “Espresso” become a top three hit on the Billboard Hot 100, but it won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance. 

For a hit song so explosive, it seems like K-pop band BTS had the right idea with “Dynamite.” The song finds the band trying to find happiness in the world around them, while also knowing they can light up any room they walk into. BTS made Billboard history, making them the first South Korean act to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

A duet between Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga is pure pop magic, and their single “Die With a Smile” shows the world just how much audiences want more collaborations with them. On the track, they describe the connection they have with a lover, and if they were to experience unfortunate events, they would want to experience them with each other, having their lover by their side through the good and the bad.

Although Harry Styles’ sophomore album, Fine Line, was released in December 2019, he didn’t release his smash single “Watermelon Sugar” until the following year. On the track, Styles compares the feeling he has for a lover to a summer feeling. The song helped earn Styles his first Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance. 

Olivia Rodrigo had the pop world in her hands when she released her debut album, Sour, featuring her hit song “Good 4 U.” On the track, she addresses her former lover about moving on to a new relationship fairly quickly. “Good 4 U” was a commercial success as it debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. 

In 2021, Doja Cat released her third album, Planet Her, led by the SZA-assisted single “Kiss Me More.” The bubblegum pop track finds the two artists describing how love-making is cool, but sometimes they just want to feel the intimacy of kissing their partners. “Kiss Me More” earned Doja and SZA their first Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. 

Miley Cyrus is an advocate for finding her own happiness on her 2023 single “Flowers.” On the track, she describes a past relationship that went sour, but she realizes she doesn’t need that relationship to truly fulfill her. It’s an upbeat track that adds some sweet interpolation of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” making it an essential dance track. 

Beyoncé has never been afraid to elevate her artistry, and that tenacity showed tremendously in 2022 when she released Renaissance. Taking a departure from her usual R&B pop sound, Beyoncé gave audiences pop, dance, and house music with her hit single “Break My Soul.” It’s an empowerment anthem highlighting how people can persevere no matter how hard life tries to hold them back. 

Adele always takes a few years between albums, but it’s always well worth the wait. Six years after her previous album, 25, Adele returned in 2021 with her fourth album, 30. On the lead single “Easy On Me,” Adele is describing how her marriage didn’t work out, and she’s hoping her son can forgive her for the relationship not lasting forever, even though she had good intentions that it would. 

In 2022, Charli XCX released her fifth album, Crash, which featured the hit single “Beg for You.” Accompanied by Rina Sawayama, the track finds the two yearning for a lover not to leave because they will miss them too much. 

There’s no doubt that Billie Elish and her brother and producer, Finneas, know how to create magical music together. It was no different in 2024 when Eilish released her hit song “Birds of a Feather.” On the track, Eilish describes how she wants to be with her lover until the end of time and after that.

There’s no doubt that Justin Bieber released one of the most popular songs of 2021 with his single “Peaches.” Bieber teamed up with R&B singers Daniel Caesar and GIVEON as they use the track to describe their attraction for a lover. 

In 2022, PinkPantheress released her hit single “Boy’s a Liar,” a track in which she describes feeling inadequate around a lover. As she sings in the first verse, “Take a look inside your heart, is there any room for me? / I won't have to hold my breath till you get down on one knee because / You only want to hold me when I'm looking good enough / Did you ever feel me? Would you ever picture us?”

Ed Sheeran is well aware that although he might have good intentions, sometimes his vices might get in the way on his 2021 track “Bad Habits.” In the song, he mentions how his bad habits don’t always lead to good things, but sometimes, he can’t help that his habits take over his actions. 

Thanks to the success of his K-pop group BTS, member Jung Kook stepped out with his solo debut album Golden back in 2023. He teamed up with rapper Latto on the lead single “Seven,” a track in which the singer describes how he can give love to a potential partner seven days a week. 

Post Malone has changed up his sound a few times throughout his career, and when he released his fourth album, Twelve Carat Toothache, he was aiming for a more pop sound. It was evident when he teamed up with Doja Cat on the third single, “I Like You (A Happier Song).” It’s a feel-good track that Post uses to describe his feelings and admiration for a potential lover. 

Pop princesses Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande teamed up on their 2020 single “Rain On Me.” Mixing pop, disco, and house sounds, the pop girlies use the track to describe how no matter how hard life can get, they still try to be positive that things will turn out a little bit better. 

Tate McRae is confident in how much people are attracted to her on her hit song “Greedy.” She describes how people try to get to know her, but it takes a lot for her to open up to them. Teaming up with OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder on co-production and co-writing, “Greedy” peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Rosé took the world by storm in 2024 when she teamed up with Bruno Mars on her smash hit “Apt.” On the track, the two reflect on how they want to have a party with their lovers at their cribs. “Apt.” stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and became the longest-running number-one song of the year. 

Ariana Grande knows exactly what she wants on her 2020 single “34+35.” The title is a math equation in reference to 69, a sexual position that Grande is longing to have with her lover. Throughout the track, Grande makes sure to express her sexual prowess and how she can please the one she’s with until the sun comes up. 

Pop singer Benson Boone had quite a massive year in 2024 with the success of his hit song “Beautiful Things.” On the track, Boone reflects on how much he believes he’s found the love of his life and hopes that this relationship will be a forever thing. “Beautiful Things” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Boone a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. 

In 2022, The Weeknd released his fifth album, Dawn FM, led by the hit single “Take My Breath.” With production from Max Martin and Oscar Holter, “Take My Breath” is a pop track that mixes dance, disco, and electronic, making it an essential party banger. 

In 2022, pop princess Taylor Swift released her tenth album Midnights, led by the hit single “Anti-Hero.” Co-produced and co-written by frequent collaborator Jake Antonoff, Swift uses the track to reflect on her shortcomings and puts blame on herself for how her life has turned out.