It's 2025. I'm writing a retrospective on the best hit songs of 2016 because I'm bored and have nothing better to do with my time. Well, that's not exactly true. I've actually been doing a lot this year. I've been working an internship at an accounting firm. I've went camping with my family multiple times. I've been trying to make my life better by losing weight. This is just a nice hobby to do in my free time. I've enjoyed making these lists. It's been a way to help improve my writing skills before school starts, and I get to share my musical opinions with other people. Sure, people may not agree, but I'm not writing this so people agree with me. I'm writing this because I like doing it. Honestly, that's what we should aim to do when we don't have bigger issues. 

For 2016, I've seen a lot of people calling it one of the worst years in music history, and I don't think it's unwarranted. I talked about a lot of garbage in the worst list, most of which was just dull and lifeless. I'd honestly rather a song be a spectacular flop than a void nothing. However, I do think a lot of people forget the fact that, outside of the garbage, there was a lot of good. In fact, there were so many songs I liked that I had like 5 songs that I couldn't even put in the honorable mentions here because there was such a high quality and quantity. This feels like one of my best lists yet, so let's explain the rules and get started because I'm sure you want to get right into this.

As said in the last list, the rules are as follows: A song must've: a) peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100, and b) have had spent 15 weeks or less on the charts by the time the year started. If it fit those qualifications, I put it in a spreadsheet. I then proceeded to listen to every single song on that spreadsheet to determine my thoughts and gave them a score out of ten. I listened to 162 songs, and decided on my top 20 before ranking those to decide a top ten. I'm excited to get started.

Without further adieu, the Landoman Experiment presents...

THE TOP TEN BEST HIT SONGS OF 2016

#10.

Over the past few years, I've become a lot more familiar and interested in country music. I used to not listen to it at all, and only really got into it when I left for college in 2022. Now, it's probably the genre I would list as my favorite. It helps that my roommate has introduced me to a lot of great underground country music. This artist is someone he didn't introduce me to, mostly because there's no way I was going 20 years without hearing of this guy. My roommate would say, however, that his is his favorite popular country artist, and probably by a large margin. I can completely understand why.

[10] Eric Church - Record Year

The love of music is something that's been ingrained on me since I was really young. It can do a lot of things. It can help motivate you, it can make you happy, and it can give you an opportunity to connect with others. There's another thing it can do, too. That would be helping you move on. "Record Year" deals with this topic in a heart-wrenching way. Church deals with a breakup by not drinking himself to death, but listening to some of his favorite music. In my opinion, that's a very healthy way to heal from heartbreak. You're not hurting yourself even worse, but instead giving yourself a chance to understand the experiences of others and relax your mind. 

To dissect this song, let's start with how it sounds. This song's production is pretty normal by Eric Church standards - that is to say, this song sounds amazing. I love the little guitar loop that starts the song and how everything starts to build to the chorus. The 2nd verse has a different feel from the first, and that gives it a nice touch that I really enjoy. Church's voice also really fits this production well, and he hits some notes that are definitely out of my range. I think it's the right amount of upbeat that gives it a profound but uplifting feel. This complements the lyrics so well, and it was definitely the right choice to make it sound this way.

As for the lyrics, the song starts with a nice double meaning about the phrase "turning the tables", and then Church goes into what's going on. This girl left him, and now he's trying to get over it by listening to some of his favorite artists, like George Jones, Waylon Jennings, and Hank Williams. In the chorus, he mentions how he's either going to get over her or he's "going to blow out [his] ears". That's just how it works. It either does or it doesn't. It's oddly profound in that way, but it really hits in the right moment. At the end of the chorus, he says that she's out there feeling "God knows how", while he's stuck where he is, in his "record year".

Overall, "Record Year" is an example of how artists can correctly portray the positive effects of music on your life. It can be a powerful tool to help give you motivation to start again or move on from a bad event, like a breakup. This song is a perfect encapsulation of using music as a tool to help get over a breakup. I have a lot of respect for Eric Church, and the fact that he continues to make great music to this day is, hopefully, a great sign for the future of country music.

#9.

2016 was one of the most superhero-oriented years of pop culture I can remember. You had a ton of hit blockbuster movies, such as Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, and Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. None of those were really that big of a deal from a music standpoint. There was one, however, that had some very popular artists sign on to make music for it. That would be the legendary Suicide Squad. You had artists like Wiz Khalifa, Logic, Lil Wayne, Imagine Dragons, Ty Dolla $ign, and X Ambassadors joining the soundtrack - and that was just on one song. On other songs, you had Rick Ross, Mark Ronson, Kevin Gates, Kehlani, Skrillex, and, of course, the biggest breakout star of 2016... twenty one pilots.

[9] twenty one pilots - Heathens

I'm pretty certain this is the first song I've ever put on a best list (apart from the Best Christian Songs list) that I've seen sung in concert. I saw twenty one pilots this year at the NHL's Stadium series in Columbus, and it was a nice experience. I wish I could've gotten videos of that, but my phone decided to kill itself at 67% while I was there. They did this song, and it got the crowd unbelievably hyped. "Heathens" works as the perfect piece to introduce people to TOP's music, even if it is just a one-off single from a DC movie that had Jared Leto in it for some reason.

The vibe of "Heathens" is strange from the get-go, but that's the beauty of the song. It has a creepy vibe that's unmistakably dark the way the movie is trying to be. The piano line that opens the song is simplistic but great. The drum production also has that same feel. All of the instruments build up as it gets close to the chorus and Tyler Joseph sings the slight intro into it. Every production choice has a purpose and it builds the song to be as eerie and cautious as it sounds. The breakdown in the bridge really has the feel of climaxing a build to an apex, and I love it so much.

The lyrics of this song involve the narrator warning someone not to move quickly and be cautious around their friends, as they're all bad people who are weird and evil. This fits perfectly with the theme of the movie it's from, as the Suicide Squad is full of criminals and prisoners who are only given the opportunity to be part of the squad because of the fear that Superman might kidnap the President or some nonsense. Throughout the song, he keeps trying to warn this person that "they'll never know" the people around him and what they are. At the end, though, he says "now they're outside, ready to bust. It looks like you might be one of us". The interpretation I got from this is that the police are there, ready to "bust", and that this person will go down with them now. There are a lot of ways to interpret that, though, and a lot of the other ones are just as intriguing. 

I love twenty one pilots. They've been one of my favorite mainstream bands for a long time, and they're one of the reasons I love music as much as I do. "Heathens" isn't their best song, but it is the best one that was eligible for this list. Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun had a beautiful ride in 2016, culminating in this song. They became the third rock act in history to have 2 top 5 singles at once, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. I'd say that's pretty good company. This song is just one of the reasons they were able to get there, and I love it for that.

#8.

So, I've talked about this before, but one of my favorite songs of all time is "Take What You Want" by Post Malone, Ozzy Osbourne, and Travis Scott. There are a lot of reasons for that, but it mostly comes down to the extent to which the rock-rap fusion works. The combination of Travis Scott's rapping and Ozzy Osbourne performing the best chorus of his career, blended together by Post Malone's genre-combining talents, is one of the most important songs of all time from a personal perspective. Without that song, I wouldn't be doing what I do. I wouldn't love popular music to the extent I do. It's only right that one of those artists continues to get the love they deserve.

[8] Travis Scott - Antidote

Travis Scott is one of the more interesting rappers I've covered on The Landoman Experiment, mostly for the fact that you never really know what you're going to get from him. You could get the beautiful experiment that is "Sicko Mode", the explosive pump-up anthem that is "FE!N", the completely forgotten "Franchise" (seriously, does anyone remember this?), or the boring disaster that is "4x4" (we'll get to that later this year... maybe). Travis' debut album in 2015, Rodeo, was a sign of things to come. That album is incredible. "Antidote" may legitimately be the best song on it, so let's discuss why.

"Antidote" is a song about doing drugs. That much is obvious. The "antidote" that Travis is discussing is smoke from, presumably, weed. Most of the lyrics are just typical bragging, with a particularly funny Robert Horry reference that mentions his involvement in the Los Angeles Lakers' 3-peat from 1999 to 2001. It also talks about partying and "the night show", which I assume is some sort of party. He repeats "anything can happen at the night show" throughout one of the last parts of the song before going into a faster, more frantic verse, which creates a nice dynamic.

The real reason this song is on the list, though, is for how it sounds. The production on this is even darker and creepier than "Heathens", and it sounds great. The drum machine in the background has the perfect feel to it, and the bass used sounds great. Every single thing about this song's atmosphere hits the spot in an awesome way. There's something hypnotic about it that just draws you in and makes you feel calm instead of angry, and then the final verse makes it crazy the way you would expect at a Travis concert. This creates one of the weirdest but best experiences you can have listening to a song. 

"Antidote" is one of the strangest popular rap songs I've ever heard, but Travis Scott made this type of sound normal, and I'm all for it. We need more rap on the charts now, as this is the first week in a long time where there isn't a single rap song in the top 40. Oh, how things can change ever so quickly. 

#7.

2016 was the year that I watched the seemingly unstoppable Carolina Panthers suddenly get stopped by a dominant Denver Broncos defense in the Super Bowl. That game was notable, as I had fully expected the Panthers to dominate a rough Peyton Manning-led offense, but I underestimated how good the Broncos' defense was. I was also 10 at the time so it's not like I knew that much about football, so don't judge me for my lack of ball knowledge back then. I was excited for the halftime show, too, as I knew of the band in it and liked a few of their songs. Unfortunately, the satellite connection went down halfway through the show and we weren't able to watch it. That meant I wasn't able to hear these songs for the first time then. 

[7A] Coldplay feat. Beyonce - Hymn For The Weekend

[7B] Coldplay - Adventure of a Lifetime

Coldplay is one of the most accomplished bands of all time. Every album they've released as a band has gone #1 in the U.K. Only one of their albums has missed the U.S.'s Top Ten. The fact that they've only had 5 top ten hits in the states is just as surprising to me as it is sad. The fact that neither of these songs hit that mark is genuinely confusing, because these are both incredible, albeit in different ways. "Hymn For The Weekend" has a surreal, magnificent vibe that can be transcendent in the right mood, while "Adventure of a Lifetime" is a fun, upbeat track that features some cool guitar work and percussion. Let's discuss why these both work.

You may have noticed that I credited Beyonce despite the fact that the official song does not. This is because, in my opinion, she is what connects everything together and makes the song wonderful. Her voice has this flair to it that fits the "hymnal" aspect of the song. It also helps that the piano on this sounds great, with some bounce to it that really feels smooth and enjoyable. This song is about the intoxicating feeling of being with someone you love, and it really feels that way when you get to the chorus. Beyonce's portion just gives it that extra push over the hump into being something truly special. My favorite lyric in "Hymn For The Weekend" is "put your wings on me, when I was so heavy" implying that this person lifted them out of a rut and into happiness.

Meanwhile, "Adventure of a Lifetime" is a completely different vibe of a song. Instead of being anthemic, this one is more a banger than anything. The smooth electric guitar line and the percussion create a nice groove that really hits the spot. There's nothing transcendent about it, but it doesn't need that. It's here to be fun and groovy, and that's what does in an exceptional manner. The lyrics talk about how to make the most of your dreams, and that "we are diamonds taking shape", which is a nice little message. Coldplay has been the masters of creating songs that are more than just how they sound, and they more than manage that in a song that would probably still be on this list with no lyrics.

Overall, Coldplay's 2016 is one of the best years the band has ever had, outside of 2008 of course. Both of these songs are way better than I remember, and they prove themselves to be easily worthy of making this list. What's bad is, they could've had a 3rd song on the list if "Up & Up" had been a hit (honestly I think that one might be better than these two), but I'm perfectly okay with just talking about these two. This is what the best of the year had to offer - both fun and meaningful at the same time.

#6.

2016 was a great year for country music. I've already talked about "Record Year", but there were a lot of great country hits. There was even a huge country mashup made to honor the 50th anniversary of the CMAs, that being "Forever Country". That was eligible for the list, but I felt that it was more of a celebration of country music rather than a song in its own right, so I didn't include it. Instead, I decided to include a song that is, surprisingly, very similar to a song I had on the worst list. 

[6] Kelsea Ballerini - Peter Pan

When I put "Lost Boy" on the worst list what feels like years ago at this point, it wasn't because it was about Peter Pan. It was because it did nothing with it. This song, by contrast, is really good because it took the idea of Peter Pan and did something with it. I've always liked Kelsea Ballerini (her appearance on "This Feeling" by The Chainsmokers is still one of their best songs), and this is her best work. This song isn't a boring retelling of the story like the other one was, but recontextualizes the entire story to fit a personal experience. Let's see why that works.

The idea behind "Peter Pan" is that Kelsea is with a guy who's very immature and refuses to grow up and take responsibility for himself. She thought this guy was perfect when she met him, but came to realize that he was living in fantasy land and was not capable of being a real adult. Because of this, she says that "[he'll] never grow up" and "[he'll] never be a man" before calling him Peter Pan. He wants to live this irresponsible lifestyle, but it means that she's going to leave. At the end of the song, she says that this guy "don't know what [he] lost", and that's the real tragedy of it all. It's too late for him to change. She's gone, and now there's nothing more that will come from this.

It also helps that this song just sounds great. The production on it is incredible, with some great guitar and drum work that really give it a cool flair. It's a nice contemporary country song that isn't too flashy, but sounds good enough to make the story really work. It's complementary rather than overtaking, which is more than I can say for a lot of songs in 2016. You need that balance to make your song really pop rather than overshadowing one of the elements. That's an underrated aspect of what makes "Peter Pan" a special song to me.

When comparing this and "Lost Boy", it isn't a competition. "Peter Pan" is the superior song lyrically, musically, and vocally. This is a song I have a lot of respect for, made by an artist I also have a lot of respect for. I wish Kelsea could have had a little more success after this, but she's still made some very good music over the years. "Cowboys Cry Too" with Noah Kahan and "Half of My Hometown" with Kenny Chesney are both great songs that reveal her true talent as an artist as much as this one. Check those out, too! 

#5.

This entry is going to be... tough to talk about. That's not because of the song itself, but the man who made it. I've talked about him before, but in a very negative context. But, you know what? 2016 was a different era. Things change. This artist wasn't seen the way he is now back then. Hearkening back to what I said in the 2024 worst list, but in a much more positive way, here we go.

Let's talk about Kanye.

[5] Kanye West - Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1

I'm not going to hold back on this one. Kanye West has made a lot of great music over the years, and "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1" is one of those songs. Yeah, it's awkward to listen to know considering everything that's happened since then, but I honestly consider 2016 Kanye to be a different person from 2024 Kanye for 1 reason. In late 2016, Kanye suffered temporary psychosis that I think genuinely changed him for the worse. I think that really messed with him in a lot of ways, and that isn't going to impact what I think of his music pre-crashout.

"Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1" isn't anything special lyrically. I don't even want to talk about it. So, I won't. Kanye clearly doesn't want me to. Instead, we'll focus on the miracle that is the production of this song. The song starts with a gospel choir singing "you're the only power", clearly a Christianity reference of sort due to how the choir songs. Then, it drops into a hip-hop beat before Metro Boomin's iconic tag, "If young Metro don't trust you, I'm gon' shoot you". That's what leads into Kid Cudi singing the pre-chorus of "beautiful morning, you the sun in my morning babe, nothing unwarranted" and Kanye doing the chorus. 

The contrast of Cudi and Kanye singing with the choir's background vocals makes for an interesting musical complexity that I really love. It's one of the best songs of the year, though, simply because it sounds the best. The piano work on the pre-chorus and chorus is some of the best I've heard in a rap song, and the bass on the verse, while a bit clunky, is still fun and infectious. This is just a bop, a banger that mystifies me with just how far it gets itself musically. The fact that it's on this list despite that Kanye verse is really something. 

"Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1" isn't the last Kanye song I would say I liked (I really liked that song where he sampled the Lil Globglogabgalob meme on Donda), but it is the last remnant of Kanye before things changed. I miss the old Kanye. Can we bring him back? I'd rather forget that the new Kanye even exists.

#4.

Do you guys remember U2? I would hope so, obviously, but this is more a rhetorical question than anything. I grew up on "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" as their definitive song in my household. It was one of my favorite songs growing up, and it continues to be one of my favorite songs from before I was born to this day. Why am I bringing this up? Well, in 2016, there was a hit song that, when I heard it for the first time, made me think of that song. What song was it? Well, let's put it this way. I could not have loved country music more in 2016.

[4] Brothers Osborne - Stay A Little Longer

Brothers Osborne has been one of the best bands in country music for a while year, and their big breakthrough hit, "Stay A Little Longer" has always been my main impression of them. It's really just an all-around great song with a lot of great elements that come together to form something special. This is a song I fell in love with on the first listen, and it continues to get better every time I hear it. This wasn't a huge hit, but the personal impact is enough to land it this high on the list. 

This song is about an encounter with an "on again, off again" significant other, whom they want to stay a little longer but don't know if it's the best idea. It reminds me of Chris Stapleton's "You Should Probably Leave", but in a more dramatic fashion than that song, which makes it better for me. This guy tells himself he's not in love, but the more he keeps going, the more he realizes he is. It's a very intriguing song that just hits the right emotional spots. Everything about the lyrics of this song makes you feel what this guy is going through. Are they going to stay a little longer? Is he in love? Do we know?

What really makes this song is the way it sounds. I compared it to U2, and a lot of that is due to the guitar work that sounds dramatic but has its own unique flair at the same time. That intro just immediately catches your attention and continues to hold it as the song goes. What really makes this song, though, is that guitar solo at the end. It just has the grit and intensity of a regular guitar solo with added emotional weight to make it really hit. It's just a beautiful-sounding song that justifies every musical choice it makes with something even better, building up to an awesome climax.

"Stay A Little Longer" is what would happen if you took the U2/Boston style arena rock of the 80s and mixed it with country music. It's an insanely good sound that gets better every time I hear it. This is a special song for a lot of reasons, and I for one am glad that this is what broke these two through into the country music scene. I hope they're doing well. I know they had some issues with mental health earlier in the 2020s, so I'll be keeping them in my prayers for now. God speed, gentleman. I can't wait to see what's next.

#3.

Later this year, the sequel to Wicked, Wicked: For Good, comes out. I still have to watch the first one, but I've heard some good things. I probably need to go check them both out. They star Ariana Grande, a pop star who I've had a very complicated history with. I put "yes, and?" on my worst list last year, and it was ... an odd choice to say the least. Do I regret it? A little. I was too harsh on it for what was just one lyric referencing a situation that I may not have completely understood, but the truth is that song still managed to make me uncomfortable, but the past is the past. I still stand by my pick but understand why people would love it. To those people, here's a make-up call.

[3] Ariana Grande - Into You

Ariana Grande is the Mariah Carey of our generation. I don't think it's irresponsible to say that, for multiple reasons. 1. She has one of the greatest and most powerful voices I've ever heard when used correctly. 2. She has a Christmas song that shows up on the charts every December. 3. At her peak, she's one of the best pop stars in the world. "Into You" is the best song Ariana Grande has ever made. It could've easily been #1 on this list if it wasn't for the two songs ahead of it being what they are. It's a genuinely amazing song that shows how good she can be when she puts everything, and I mean everything she has into a song.

Let's start with the production on this song. The bass on this is just so good. It has that electronic bass factor that I really love hearing. It also helps that the synths on this provide the exact level of power that is needed for a song like this. Everything knows where it needs to be, and when. The percussion complements all of that perfectly and forms an instrumental that is truly magnificient. It's what Ariana does with that instrumental that truly makes this one of the best pop songs of all time.

I'm going to put it simply. Ariana's vocal performance on "Into You" is one of the greatest things I've ever heard. She's calm and seductive during the verses, but bursts out into one of the most vibrant and soaring voices I've ever heard in a song like this. When she sings the line "I'm so into you, into you, into you", it builds up before coming back down in a way that really hits the right spot musically. When the bass swells on the final chorus with Ariana's vocals, it is just one of the best moments you will hear in popular music 2016. She really nails the sensuality that is required to show the love in a love song, and it really makes this song so special because of it.

It's rare we get a song this good in the mainstream. It's even more rare that we get 3 songs of this quality in the mainstream. It's a shame this song didn't get any higher, but that's the reality of 2016 popular music. The lows were low, but the highs were absolutely higher. I'm grateful that I can enjoy the true pop music we have, because despite how a lot of people think, it's still really darn good.

#2.

If you want to know the real reason "Into You" isn't #1 despite me calling it one of the greatest pop songs of all time? Well, there's a reason. The two songs ahead of it aren't "pop" songs. They're both generational pieces of music in their respective genres that exemplify the best of both. #2 is a very predictable song that I saw on basically every best list of the year 2016. I mean, it obviously deserved it... so, yeah. Here it is. The 2nd best song of the year is...

[2] Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (Seeb Remix)

This entry isn't going to be very long. This song is great. Everybody knows it's great. Everybody knows why it's great. It's a modern masterpiece of dance music and I doubt very many would object to that. The fact that a guy like Mike Posner wrote a song like this is one thing. The fact that he needed a dance remix of it to get popular to get it over the hump is another thing entirely. I mean, nobody had heard of Mike Posner for a few years when this came out, and then he was suddenly back in the limelight with a song about being out of the limelight. The irony is real. 

What works about "I Took A Pill In Ibiza" is the contrast between the depressing lyrics and the upbeat nature of EDM. It somehow makes the original song even more sad. The reverb in the pianos and percussion just hits hard, and when the melody comes in on the chorus, you just feel it. You don't even need to hear the lyrics to understand that this instrumental comes from one of the most real songs you've ever heard. Versus the original, which was just an acoustic guitar-led ballad, it comes across in a much better way. It's called "I Took A Pill In Ibiza". It should be something related to EDM. The original is good. Not "best songs of 2016" good, but good. The remix is what brought it here.

However, this song obviously wouldn't be nearly as impactful as it is without the lyrics. Posner sings about all of these things he does as a "real big baller", spending all his money on shoes, girls, and a sports car. To him, though, it all feels meaningless. He can't keep a relationship going. He's somebody that used to be famous and "already blew his shot". There's a difference between a current pop star doing this and what he's doing. Posner hadn't had a hit in years. Nobody expected him to have a resurgence. Hell, I don't even think HE knew he was going to be back in the limelight after all that time. This song about being a washed-up has-been took him away from that, and yet... I don't think it was enough. Posner never reached this height again. I wonder how he feels about it all now. He's still making music. I just hope the guy's doing well.

There was a Time review about this song that I saw. It said this. "Originally conceived as a folksy pop song in the vein of Jason Mraz, there was something clever about Posner's withering takedown of drug-taking EDM bro culture. But the much more popular SeeB remix sapped it of its wit, turning it into the exact thing it was satirizing. What a comedown." I think this comment misses the entire point. The remix doesn't work just because it's EDM. It works because of the irony. The irony that the nightlife and culture doesn't satisfy Posner, but the song tearing it down being remixed in that style brought him his biggest success. Irony hits hardest when saddest.

And now, before I reveal my pick for the best hit song of 2016, some honorable mentions...

HONORABLE MENTIONS

[HM1] The Chainsmokers feat. ROZES - Roses

This might be the best production work the Chainsmokers have ever had on a song. Everything about this song hits perfectly. The synths used on the drop on the drop mixed with the perfectly produced electronic piano afterward just creates something truly special. Rozes has a pretty unique voice, and mixing it with this level of production is just awesome. The build-up to the final drop is one of my favorite musical moments of 2016, and it's all made worthwhile by a great song.

[HM2] Desiigner - Tiimmy Turner

"Tiimmy Turner" is a very strange song. I love the dark trap production surrounding it, and I honestly find it a lot better than his other hit "Panda". It kind of reminds me of Future, but I honestly think it's done more precisely than a lot of what Future does. The concept of this is also just strange. The idea of a rap song about a cartoon character going on a murderous rampage, but Desiigner just sells it so well. He has said this song is more a metaphor for himself, with the 2 "i"'s in the title of the song representing that. It's such an interesting song that I've grown to really be intrigued by over time. 

[HM3] Taylor Swift - New Romantics

This is the Taylor song that finally unlocked why I haven't really liked her over the years. This is one of the best songs she's ever made, but I can feel where she's trying to turn into too much of an "artist" rather than a musician. Even still, the production on this is some of the best she's ever had and that chorus is a masterpiece. This was going to be on the list at #10 until "Stay A Little Longer" moved into the #4 slot right at the last moment. The competition was close this year. I still really love this.

[HM4] Kevin Gates - 2 Phones

The best-produced rap song of the year. I'm not even joking. The production on this song is immaculate. It's just kind of unfortunate that Gates wasted this instrumental on a topic so absurd. Writing a song about the amount of phones you have is something you do when you run out of ideas. Somehow, I still don't think it could have been executed any better. This is at least better than his OTHER big hit, "Really Really", which missed the worst list because frankly it's just a worse version of this.

[HM5] DJ Snake (feat. Justin Bieber) - Let Me Love You

Writing this list, I've realized that I have never really liked a lot of Justin Bieber songs. His hits in 2016 were "Sorry" and "Love Yourself", which I thought weren't bad, but weren't really my thing. "Let Me Love You", however, is the song that made me realize that Bieber actually can be really awesome and profound when given the right context. This DJ Snake beat just sounds really cool, and the build-up to the drop after the chorus makes the Justin Bieber lyrics sound all the better. Great song, and I think Bieber should do more EDM stuff. 

[HM6] Drake & Future - Jumpman

Metro Boomin really had himself a great year in 2016. First, producing Kanye's "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1" and then this? Man. This is one of the catchiest songs Drake has ever made. That chorus is bouncy and energetic in a way that contrasts with Drake's modern style. When he catches fire, though, he can be a genuinely a great artist. Future is also pretty good on this, with his voice going against the beat with a lot of flair. This is how you combine these two. Good work, Metro.

[HM7] Cole Swindell - You Should Be Here

This a pretty emotional song, written about Cole's father, William, who passed away in 2013. The instrumental is a great balance of country and ballad that I think really emphasizes how truly hurt Cole feels that his father isn't there with him through all of the things he's doing in life. I can't listen to it too often because it makes me sad, but this is a loving tribute that shows all of the upside Cole has as an artist. Rest in peace, William Swindell. You really should be here.

[HM8] Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling

People gave this so much crap for being in a kid's movie, and... I don't get it. This is an excellently produced pop song with a lot of genuinely fun moments. The lyrics aren't particularly amazing, but they don't have to be. I love how the bass sounds, and the transition into the pre-chorus is a really smooth way to move the song forward. I didn't really like the movie Trolls that much, but I will acknowledge that this song is probably the best part of that movie.

[HM9] The Chainsmokers (feat. Halsey) - Closer

The Chainsmokers had one hell of a year in 2016, making not just one, but two of my favorite hits of the year. "Closer" is a song that beautifully portrays what it's like to be in a messy relationship. They're not perfect. Nothing about the song is perfect, and that's what makes it so wonderful. Both singers on this do a good job of expressing the exact emotions needed for what they're singing about, and the song benefits so much from it. This very nearly made the actual list, and I'm still not sure if it shouldn't have.

And, before we hit #1, probably my most contentious honorable mention to this day...

[HM10] Disturbed - The Sound of Silence

Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" is always mentioned among classics of the 1960s, and rightfully so. So, when metal band Disturbed did a cover of it, the reception was jarring. I have seen so many people call this one of the worst covers of all time, and I have never understood way. Disturbed's version of this adds a darkness that really inflates the tension and makes the "sound of silence" seem much more threatening than in the original. The best covers add something new to make them distinct from what it's based on, and lead vocalist David Draiman makes sure to do that, adding in one of the strangest yet best vocal performances I've ever heard. It sounds triumphant when you reach the end, and that's one of the best feelings you can feel when listening to a song. If that's not your thing, I understand, but it's mine, and I'll continue to enjoy this song as long as I can. 

Now, as for the CYRIL remix? That can go die now. 

And, now, finally, for the best hit song of 2016.

#1.

2016's popular music was defined by the commentary of it all. It was the year that things really... changed. No more were the fun times of "Uptown Funk" and "Shut Up and Dance", but instead we got the dreary, downbeat nature of "Unsteady" and "Let It Go". Obviously, that's not what I'm looking for. Instead, for the best hit song of 2016, you'll have to go to a genre that had one of it's most underrated years in 2016... country music.

I've already talked about a lot of country music on this list, with Eric Church, Kelsea Ballerini, and Brothers Osborne already making appearances in the top ten. Every song on this list has been amazing, but I think the vast presence of country music really says something about how the music of 2016 hit to me personally. While "Into You" features the best vocal performance of the decade, and "I Took A Pill In Ibiza" hit the right spot between sadness and irony, the #1 song on this list just feels... different. From the first listen, you can tell that this is a song you need to remember. I personally feel that it's also best to remember what it tells you.

[1] Tim McGraw - Humble and Kind

Tim McGraw is one of the greatest country artists of all time. I don't think it can really be denied at this point. He's accomplished so much within the genre, with 25 number 1 songs, 3 Grammys, 11 CMAs, and even a Taylor Swift song named after him. His impact on country music will be felt for the rest of time, and it's not hard to see why. If you've listened to "Live Like You Were Dying", you know Tim McGraw can do the "life advice song" pretty darn well, but "Humble and Kind" feels a lot more unique than that one. There's a lot of reasons as to why, but the difference is that this one is more simple, and yet more profound because of it.

"Humble and Kind" is a song that is pretty straightforward in it's message. McGraw is telling his audience to continue to have humility and kindness no matter what situation arises, not to hold animosity towards anybody, and to treat relationships with respect. This is just exactly the kind of advice that I think is necessary in a world that's become anything but "humble and kind". It also helps that McGraw just genuinely seems like a good guy. If a guy like Jason Aldean was singing this, I wouldn't like it. It'd feel preachy and condescending. It doesn't feel like that with McGraw. I can tell he means this. 

My personal favorite part of the song is "Know the difference between sleepin' with someone and sleepin' with someone you love. I love you ain't no pickup line, so always stay humble and kind." There's just so much meaning behind that, and it makes me remember that love should wait until you meet someone you truly fall for. You can't take for granted what you have when it comes to love. That is what pushes this songs lyrics from just profound to overall being meaningful. McGraw knows exactly what this song needs. He adds that part to show how humility is more than just treating other with kindness, but also treating them and yourself with respect.

Then, there's the music. It starts off really simple, with just a guitar in the intro and the first verse. Any percussion starts on the first chorus, although very minimal. It still builds up the dramatic flair of the song that I really love. The percussion builds again after that chorus to become more exposed. Then, the thing that puts this song over the edge and onto #1 on the list happens. The guitar solo. If you don't know, I am a sucker for a good guitar solo. Whether that be in a country song, a rock song, a rap song, or an EDM song, it's always welcomed. This one hits the exact spot I need it to. It's a wonderful addition to an already amazing song that turns it into an experience. It's the build-up the entire song was waiting for.

"Humble and Kind" was the best hit song of 2016. It's a song that has hit me hard in the years since, and a song I think deserves to be remembered as McGraw's best. In a year dominated by experiments and spectacle, Tim McGraw delivered a country hit that resonated far beyond the genre. It's truly something special, and I'm absolutely glad that it exists. Thank you, Tim McGraw. If this is your last #1 country hit, it's truly a good one to go out on.

Thank you for reading. I'm Lando from the Landoman Experiment, and I'm glad you were here. Have a good day.