The Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2017
As bad as the worst of 2017 was, it's good to look at the best as well. 2017's good music was excellent. The songs on this list are all certified bangers and classics that deserve to be remembered for a long time. Unlike how angry I got on the worst list, I'm gonna be in a good mood for this one because, obviously, I'm talking about the good stuff. The stuff I enjoy. I'm excited for this one. This is my opportunity to share my thoughts on songs that I love and that I've been wanting to talk about for a while. This one's going to be a lot easier than the 2018 best list because, let's be honest, the songs that were high on that list probably wouldn't even be in the top 10 here (other than my #1). The highs of 2017 were very, very high, so I'm excited to get talking about it.
Once again, the rules for this list are simple. The song has to be well-known in the public eye to be considered a hit. This means that if it reached the year-end Hot 100 or the Billboard Top 50, then it qualifies for the list automatically. I am also willing to make exceptions in some cases if there are songs I feel are deserving of make the list that didn't quite chart that high, but are either known enough or charted high on a genre chart. So, with that out of the way, let's get started.
The Landoman Experiment is proud to present...
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#10.
I talked in my 2023 worst list (go read that if you want to see just how much I've improved) about how first impressions are important, and, well, this artist clearly didn't listen. His first single was a god-awful duet with Meghan Trainor, and his second single was a boring piano-led pop-soul song that compared himself to Superman despite the fact that he sounded like he hadn't hit puberty when it released. However, first impressions aren't necessarily everything. Take Geno Smith for example. He was awful on the Jets. Then, he eventually went to Seattle and turned things around for himself. That's kind of what Charlie Puth did when he released "Attention".
10. Attention - Charlie Puth
Prior to 2017, the idea of Charlie Puth being good was... laughable, at best. His reputation as a singer was that he was a high-pitched guy who sang embarrassing lyrics. Then, this song happened, and it changed everything. I now see Charlie Puth as a talented artist who just got off on the wrong foot. "Attention" is a jam and a half. It's got one of the best basslines I've heard in a modern pop song, and the production work is amazing. It complements Puth's voice in a way I feel that "Marvin Gaye" and "One Call Away" failed to.
The main premise of "Attention" is that Charlie is accusing the girl he's with of only wanting attention from him, and not actually wanting his love. She's spreading rumors to get him to call her, and going to parties looking for him, clearly signifying that she wants him to give her his time of day, even when she doesn't actually want him, but more what he represents. He doesn't have to say anything more - "You just want attention" works as a scathing line in itself. It plays that he's telling this girl off, and you can feel the anger in his voice by the final chorus.
"Attention" was the start of a new legacy for Charlie Puth. Sure, he hasn't quite kept up this quality, but he's still making decent music and hasn't made anything nearly as bad as "Marvin Gaye" since. This song is where most of my respect for Puth as an artist stems from, and I'm glad it exists. We needed a jam like this in a year where a lot of the music felt dark and broody. Good work, Puth.
#9.
You know what, I miss when pop-punk was one of the biggest genres in the country. I listened to a lot of pop-punk artists like Avril Lavigne and Paramore, and even Christian pop-punk artists like Relient K and Stellar Kart, and it's probably one of my favorite genres. Nowadays, it feels like you rarely get pop-punk hits anymore. It's why I was so glad when Olivia Rodrigo broke out onto the scene, because songs like "bad idea, right?" fit that perfectly. We also saw a pop-punk band make their return in 2017 and, while this wasn't a big hit, it was rightfully critically acclaimed as one of the best songs of the year.
9. Hard Times - Paramore
Paramore is one of those bands where you're always just happy to hear them. I'm never in a bad mood after listening to a Paramore song, and this is one of their best. "Hard Times" is a synth-rock song with an upbeat groove that is just infectious. This is the kind of upbeat music I love, because it sounds like every member of the band genuinely had a lot of fun making it, which makes it more fun to listen to. This only peaked at #90, but it's got over 500 million streams on Spotify so I'd consider it big enough to count for this list.
Lyrically, "Hard Times" is about how the rough moments in life just wear you down and how it's tough to get through them. I find it's a bit of a stark contrast from the tone of the song's music, but that's the fun part. It allows you to realize you can still have fun despite how much life can suck. The lyrics about how hard times are going to make you wonder why you even try are 100% true. They do that. I've thought about this so many times, and listening to this song helps make those worries go away because I'm just having so much fun listening to it.
"Hard Times" is an excellent song in every way. It's groovy and well-produced in a way that I just love. Hayley's voice complements this song so well, and it comes together to form one of the best hits of the year. It was also critically acclaimed, as multiple people called it one of the best songs of the year, and that acclaim was well-deserved. I wish Paramore was still chart-toppers the way they used to be, as I feel like "This Is Why" deserved so much more success. Hopefully they'll get that big smash hit again soon... maybe.
#8.
I trashed country music pretty heavily in the worst list, but I don't want to sound like a country hater. I pretty obviously love country music, as my last 3 best list #1s (2022-2024) have been country songs. it's just that this era of country music wasn't particularly strong, as shown by the abysmal chart-toppers that were "Body Like A Back Road" and "Meant To Be". While those are the songs that show the bad side, there's still a good side. 2018 had Thomas Rhett's "Marry Me" which was an excellent look into the mind of someone who saw their chance slip away from them. 2017 had this.
8. What Ifs - Kane Brown (feat. Lauren Alaina)
The premise of "What Ifs" is fairly simple. Kane's partner is having doubts about their relationship, and asking questions about "what if" a bad thing happens. Kane tries to calm down her fears by saying "not so fast, what if these good things happen instead". I enjoy it as a premise, and think it's done really well through the lyrics. "What if I was made for you and you were meant for me, what if this is it, what if it's meant to be" is a strong opening line that really puts this concept to good use.
"What Ifs" was the best country song to hit it big in 2017. There weren't a lot of big country hits this year, but the ones that were big were mostly mediocre and, in some cases, egregious. This was the exception. Kane Brown delivers his strongest performance to date, and its accentuated by Lauren Alaina's background vocals. I feel like we need more country songs with interesting premises like this one, rather than just "I like drinking whiskey" (looking at you, Morgan Wallen).
#7.
I have this weird thing I like where I enjoy collaborations between artists that just... shouldn't work. For example, there was a song released in December 2024 that was a collaboration between Quavo, Luke Bryan, and Teddy Swims. That song was "Georgia Ways", a country rap song that works surprisingly well for what it's given. It won't be making my best list this year or anything, but I do appreciate that it exists. I feel like a lot of people had that same "what am I about to listen to" reaction when they saw these three acts working together.
7. Slide - Calvin Harris (feat. Frank Ocean & Migos)
There's a lot I could say about Calvin Harris, who might be one of my favorite producers. I liked his stuff from before this, but this is really where he started to get in everybody's good graces. This song was part of a project called Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, which may be my pick for the best EDM album of 2017. It's a different vibe to most of Harris' work, and it sounds like summer (not the song of the same name, also by Calvin Harris) wrapped up in a bottle. Out of all the songs on that album, I'd have to pick "Slide" as my standout.
Frank Ocean is the key to making this work. His voice has this soothing factor that goes really well with the instrumental, which is a catchy, upbeat jam with a lot of piano and disco themes. The song is about Frank asking somebody why they're constantly having meaningless sex and what their true intentions are. Following Frank's chorus and verse, we get a verse from Quavo (tying it back to the intro, I see) and a verse from Offset. These verses are both very good and also fit the vibe very well despite how strange they sound next to Frank Ocean. It's an interesting vibe and I am 100% for it.
"Slide" is an example of an experiment that succeeded. Before this song, the idea of a Calvin Harris-Frank Ocean-Migos song seemed like it would end in disaster. It emphatically did not. In fact, I'd argue that this is a Top 5 Calvin Harris song. Just an absolute masterclass in production, vocal performance, and lyricism. The fact that it's not higher on this list is a testament to just how strong this year was for popular music.
#6.
I was researching my Spotify history lately, and I came across some interesting trends. 3 of my top artists were country artists (#1 - Morgan Wallen, #3 - Eddie and the Getaway, #5 - Nate Smith) while #4 was EDM producer Gryffin. My #2 artist? Well, I wouldn't say he has a main genre at all. He's been versed in country, rap, pop, and even EDM music at times. This is a guy who's had 5 number one hits in those genres, and is, in my opinion, one of the defining artists of the past two decades. That man... is Post Malone.
6. Congratulations - Post Malone (feat. Quavo)
"Congratulations" was the first song where I really got Post Malone. It was his first top ten hit and showed that he did actually have potential as an artist after the disaster that was his first single "White Iverson". The trap production on this is very good, and its dark sound combined with its uplifting lyrics creates an interesting contrast that works surprisingly well. The theme of the song is fairly simple - Posty is reminiscing about the hard work he did to make it this far in his music career, and singing about the hypocrisy of people who said he'd never make it now congratulating him on his success.
Everything about "Congratulations" is a vibe. The lyrics about the hypocrites in his life feel sincere and genuine, and you can really tell he put a lot of thought and commitment into this. My personal favorite line is "how could I make sense when I got millions on my mind", which is a clever double-meaning. Post's unusual vibrato is complemented well by Quavo's verse, which is an excellent way to put it all together. Without it, I don't feel like the song would feel as complete. Quavo raps about how he was patient and how his life is big in status like a "ball game", and it fits well with the theme of the song.
Post Malone has become one of my favorite artists. This isn't my favorite of his (that's "Take What You Want"), but it's one I'll always be grateful for since it kick-started his career. It's an excellent beginning for an artist who's gone nowhere but up. If you ignore "White Iverson" and start Posty's hit-making career from this song instead, I think that's a much more impressive beginning. God speed, Posty. Love your music.
#5.
The EDM phase of my life is one I don't regret whatsoever. I love EDM, and think it's a good genre to get you pumped up and motivated. That being said, it hasn't been as much of my thing as of late. I still like a lot of it, but since it's not as big on the charts anymore, I don't listen to it as much as I used to since I don't need to for these lists. I still like to listen to it from time to time, but it's not my main genre like it used to be. I honestly miss the days that EDM used to chart high all the time, as we haven't had a big smash EDM hit in a while (I'm choosing to ignore that David Guetta abomination from 2022). That brings me to a question. What happened to the Chainsmokers? Where have they been?
5A. Paris - The Chainsmokers
5B. Something Just Like This - The Chainsmokers (feat. Coldplay)
The Chainsmokers were one of the biggest acts in music for a little bit there in the mid-to-late 2010s, and then they just sort of vanished. What happened? Well, it's pretty simple. They decided to have feelings. Their 2018 sophomore album Sick Boy was a flat-out disaster, essentially ending the band's hit-making career and dooming them to being a one-album wonder. That one album was pretty darn good, though, as it featured 2 of my favorite hits of 2017 in "Paris" and "Something Just Like This".
"Paris" is probably the objectively better song, featuring uncredited vocals from Emily Warren and good production. This song is about two young lovers who go to Paris to hide away from the girl's parents (there has to be less expensive ways to do that, guys) and how they're going to stick with each other through it all. It's a strong emotional premise that works quite well with the production that is similar to their other hits. I'd argue that the drop on "Paris" is one of their best, utilizing an electric guitar and synths to create an emotional climax to the chorus.
Meanwhile, "Something Just Like This" is a more polarizing song for the public, but I personally love it. Yeah, the lyrics are clunky, but I appreciate the idea. The premise is essentially that Chris Martin isn't some perfect person, but that's still enough for the woman he loves. The song also just sounds excellent. It's got a very similar drop to "Roses", which is also one of their best songs, so I'm perfectly alright with it. The end of the song features a guitar solo, and that's what gave it the boost for me to tie it with "Paris" on this list. Just... a great all-around moment.
Overall, I find, looking back, that I miss the Chainsmokers. Despite how hated they were at the time and still are, I thought they were a breath of fresh air. Their style of EDM works wonders in my mind, and I love how they manage to combine emotional depth with their production. Both of these songs are classics in my mind, and I'm grateful that, for a brief moment, we were able to experience the Chainsmokers as a cultural phenomenon.
#4.
Continuing on the EDM discussion, another artist that I've listened to for a long time is Martin Garrix, a Dutch DJ who broke out onto the scene in 2013 (at age 17, mind you) with the release of "Animals", an absolute jam that I remember quite fondly. He's got a lot of other songs I like, including "Virus (How About Now)", "Waiting For Tomorrow (feat. Mike Shinoda)", and "Ocean (feat. Khalid)", but I wouldn't say any of those are his best hit. I'd say it's this.
4. Scared To Be Lonely - Martin Garrix (feat. Dua Lipa)
Ah, Dua Lipa. How you never fail to amaze me. Out of all of the pop stars currently working, I'd have to say that I have a special appreciation for Dua, who knows exactly what she's capable of and doesn't venture to try and go beyond that. This is probably her best EDM collaboration, and it's a song I've genuinely appreciated for a long while. I'd argue that it's the best EDM hit of the past 10 years, and it features emotive production that complements the premise quite well.
What is the premise of this song? Well, Dua sings about how she's still with this guy, but questions that the only reason they're together is because they're scared that, without each other, they're going to be alone. I find this to be an incredibly strong emotional premise, bringing together the fear of loneliness with the reality of settling for someone you know isn't the "perfect person" for you. It's captivating and honestly somewhat overwhelming. One of my biggest fears is ending up lonely or with someone I don't actually love.
Being scared of loneliness is normal. I wouldn't recommend latching onto whoever you can find, though. I don't know what the best course of action is, as I haven't been able to overcome that fear in my life, but I do know one thing - it's okay to be afraid. It's okay to be uncertain of the future. "Scared to Be Lonely" is a song that emphasizes those fears and displays them in a thrilling way that draws you in and lets you understand them. Just an excellent song all around.
#3.
As many of you may know, I'm a big Christian music guy. I know it's not everyone's thing, but I do appreciate it for what it's done for me throughout my life. Well, there's this song by tobyMac called "Feel It", which features some funk production performed by Byron Chambers, otherwise known as Mr. TalkBox. Why am I bringing this up? Well, this song reminded me of another song when I heard it, and... well, turns out Mr. TalkBox also was part of the production of this song. What is this song? Well...
3. 24K Magic - Bruno Mars
"24K Magic" by Bruno Mars is just unbridled joy in song form. It's one of the best-sounding hits Bruno's ever had, which is quite an accomplishment considering just how good his discography is. The talkbox production from the aforementioned Mr. TalkBox is a highlight, starting this song off strong with a funky sound and demeanor that gives this earned critical acclaim. I'd honestly make the argument that this is better than "Uptown Funk", which seems to be commonly agreed to be Bruno's best hit. The smooth R&B production combined with just how happy he sounds to be doing it projects that joy onto those listening to it, and it's just awesome.
This song exudes confidence. Bruno sounds like the most determined and self-confident person I've heard in music apart from, like, Kendrick Lamar. He doesn't care what other people think, and he's letting the whole world know that he's about to have the best night of his life. He's wearing nice clothes, he's spending money, and he's having fun. The call-and-response verses with the background singers is a nice touch, as it sounds like he's being hyped up by the people around him.
In my mind, this is Bruno's defining song. A song that shows just how talented of an artist he is and how his confidence comes to the forefront of his music. It's so upbeat and catchy that I just don't see anyone hating it whatsoever. Bruno's continued to be a hitmaker to this day, and he'll likely have the biggest song of 2025 with "Die With A Smile". He's continued to put out banger after banger, and this was
no exception.
#2.
Out of every best list I've ever made, this was the hardest decision about what was going to be the top spot. I considered both of these songs for the #1 slot, and it went back-and-forth up until I began writing this list. I decided on this song for the #2 spot, and I may regret that after some time, but this is how I'm feeling right now, so let's go.
I'm a huge proponent of nostalgia in music. Songs that make me reminisce about the past are usually pretty emotive for me, and it's something I look for in the hits of a given year. It's the reason I put "Next Thing You Know" by Jordan Davis on my 2023 best list, and it's the reason that this song is one of the best hit songs of both 2017 and the entire 2010s decade.
2. Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran had one of the biggest hits of 2017 with "Shape of You", but that song is more of a clunky mess than anything. "Castle On The Hill" is a much better song than that one, and I'd argue that it should've been the big hit instead. This was released on the same day as that song, which makes it even more surprising that it wasn't nearly as big. This reminds me of "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams, which is another amazing track. It has the emotive instrumentation in a way that song does, and it's complemented thoroughly by Ed's detailed lyrics.
"Castle On The Hill" is about how Ed can't wait to go back home, and the things he did when he was younger. He broke his leg and fell down the hill at age 6. He was drinking with his friends at age 15. He had his first kiss on a Friday. He remembers all these things he did, good and bad, and longs to go back to the place where they all occurred. He also discusses how each of his friends turned out, and it shows a diversity between their life results. You can tell Ed has a genuine love for his old friends and cherishes the memory of hanging out with them. He clearly can't wait to see them again and this song proves it.
This is Ed Sheeran's best song. As much as I love "Don't", "Sing", and "Beautiful People", this is it. The U2-style instrumental, the insightful and emotive lyrics, and the nostalgia of it all combine together to form one of the best listening experiences the 2010s have to offer. I'm grateful that this was a song Ed gave us during his hit-making career, and I'm hoping he can make something this good once again now that he's charting this year. God speed, Ed. Love this.
And, before we reveal the best hit of 2017, some honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
HM1. Silence - Marshmello (feat. Khalid)
This song being on here is mostly due to Khalid rather than Marshmello, but the production on this is still well done and made efficiently. The lyrics about being scared to express himself and how he's no longer going to be silent due to this other person's abuse. "Can't show me, there's no point in trying". There's no point in trying to abuse him anymore, he's no longer going to be silent about what they've done. Just an all-around wonderful song.
HM2. XO Tour Llif3 - Lil Uzi Vert
The song that gave Lil Uzi Vert their big break, and it's a pretty good one. The production is slick and well-made, and it's got a nice tempo. Weird title aside, this song is just sad. "All my friends are dead", "Xanny, help the pain", and "Push me to the edge" just show how broken this person is. Uzi isn't sure whether to brag or be sad, and it comes through in the inconsistencies in the lyrics. That's not a flaw with the song, but instead it's what captivates me.
HM3. Feel It Still - Portugal.the Man
One of the catchiest songs of the year, albeit overplayed. This was in so many commercials that it was hard for me to keep track at the time. The sharp bassline and this man's unique voice give it so much interesting characteristics. Shame this band never got another big hit, I was interested to see what more they could do. "Live In The Moment" was really good, why couldn't that have been as big as this one? Not sure, but glad this band exists nonetheless.
HM4. All Time Low - Jon Bellion
I'm not quite sure how to feel about Jon Bellion. His voice is interesting, but some of his lyrics get pretty clunky at times. I honestly think this would've made the lyrics if the censored version without the masturbation lyric was the main one, but it's still a catchy song nonetheless. The production is good and I love the use of chopped-up vocals in the background. It reminds me of what AJR would sound like if they actually made good music.
HM5. Goosebumps - Travis Scott (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
A dark, creepy trap song that became one of Travis Scott's biggest hits while also featuring an excellent Kendrick Lamar verse? This was an excellent example of what trap music should be, and it's everything the title implies it be. The beat is one of Travis' best, with some hard-hitting bass and synth work that really accentuates the creepy vibe this is going for. Add in Kendrick spitting some hot bars and this is one of the best rap hits of the year.
HM6. Black Beatles - Rae Sremmurd (feat. Gucci Mane)
Another good rap hit, this showed Rae Sremmurd's true potential after "No Type" and "No Flex Zone" really made me not like them. I love this, though. The production by Mike Will Made It was one of his best of the year (not his best, but still very good), and both Rae Sremmurd members sound better than they usually do. The only reason this isn't on the list proper is because I don't like Gucci Mane's verse that much, but that's more of a nitpick than anything. Still very good.
HM7. Green Light - Lorde
This was probably the hardest cut from the list. The piano production on this is some of the best I've ever heard (not the best, but still very good), and the premise is emotionally strong and powerful. Honestly, everything about this song is great. There's no complains from me, this was just that strong of a year in my opinion. There's a reason this song received such widespread acclaim, and Lorde's journey as one of the most interesting artists of our generation continued in such an excellent way.
HM8. Stay - Zedd (feat. Alessia Cara)
"Stay" is one of Zedd's best pieces of music. Alessia Cara does pretty well on this, too. The vibes are immaculate and I love how this sounds so much. The ticking clock works better in this song than it does in any other apart from Katy Perry's "Never Really Over", and the drop is one of his best. He hit his sell-out point after this with "The Middle", as that was such a downgrade from this in nearly every way. Excellent work, Zedd and Alessia. Shame we haven't seen that much from you since.
And now, with the honorable mentions done, The Landoman Experiment is proud to present my pick for the best hit song of 2017.
#1.
The past year-and-a-half have been very interesting in the world of rap music, as we have seen the paradigm shift in a massive way. Drake used to be the biggest artist in the genre, but he's lost almost every bit of respect he earned over his long career. It's not like I disagreed with that, though. I named "Not Like Us" the 2nd-best song of 2024, which was lower than it would've been any other year, and that song just straight up calls Drake a pedophile without giving any actual evidence. It seems that the man who made that song, Kendrick Lamar, has taken over as the most popular rap artist in the world. "Luther" has been #1 for weeks, and he had a lot of other songs hit #1 including the aforementioned "Not Like Us", "Squabble Up" (stay tuned for December on that one (: ), and his feature on Future & Metro Boomin's "Like That". He's clearly the most popular rap artist in the world, and he's 100% earned that.
My only question is... why didn't he replace Drake earlier?
1. HUMBLE. - Kendrick Lamar
I said in my honorable mentions that "Green Light" didn't have the best piano production of the year. I also said that "Black Beatles" didn't have Mike Will Made It's best beat. That's because of "HUMBLE." This is one of the best rap songs of the past decade. It won multiple Grammy awards. More importantly, though, it's a song that marked a shift. It was Kendrick's first solo #1 single on the Hot 100, and was the beginning of Kendrick's career as a "mainstream" artist. Sure, he'd had hits before, but nothing he'd released had hit higher than #17 (which is a lower chart peak than conservative commentator Ben Shapiro for some reason). This was.. different. DAMN. was the best rap album of 2017, and peaked atop the Billboard 200 (which Kendrick has done 4 times now).
What makes "HUMBLE." the best hit song of 2017? Let's start with that beat. For lack of a better term, this is the hottest beat of the year. The bouncy piano combined with the excellent trap percussion creates such a captivating instrumental that Kendrick utilizes to the best of his ability. If you know Kendrick Lamar, "the best of his ability" is.... the best of anyone's ability. He absolutely smokes this. The lyrics about having a humble attitude and being your authentic self are something we need more of in modern rap music, despite how braggadocious Kendrick can get at points. Hell, even in this song he gets some of that, but it goes to show that he's not a perfect person and that he could be talking to himself. It's incredibly interesting to listen to and his flows just accentuate that even more. He may be the greatest rapper of the modern day, but he still has flaws.
Kendrick Lamar is the defining rapper of our generation. Not Drake. Not Eminem. Not Lil Wayne. Kendrick Lamar. He's been a culturally relevant artist who's made some of the greatest political statements hip-hop has ever seen. He's also made some of the best bangers the genre has seen, and this is no exception. "HUMBLE." is the perfect combination of relatable, emotionally strong lyrics and a banger instrumental that has no right being as good as it is. Apparently, this instrumental was supposed to go to Gucci Mane. Man, imagine if that had happened. We really dodged a bullet there. Thank goodness.
2017 had some insanely high highs. The top 3 songs on this list all could have an argument to be one of the best of the decade. Each song on this list is excellent in so many ways, and I will continue to have respect for them as long as I know them.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day. This is Lando from the Landoman Experiment, signing off.
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