The first three months of 2019 gave the world some pretty great tracks that set the bar high for the rest of the year. Ariana Grande and Khalid continue their hit-making streaks, but left some room for newcomers to shine, such as Blueface, Lizzo, and Lil Nas X. Without further ado, here are the 20 best songs of Quarter 1:
20. "Keanu Reeves" by Logic
This one kind of snuck under the radar and didn't seem to get much attention, but Logic's rapid-fire track about success, poking fun at himself ("Did you know I'm mixed like Obama?"), and comparing himself to Neo from The Matrix makes for one hell of a banger.
19. "Lost in the Fire" by Gesaffelstein & The Weeknd
As soon as I found out Gesaffelstein produced two tracks on Kanye West's Yeezus, I was an instant fan. Cut to six years later and he's made another hit with The Weeknd, in which the crooner sings about his rollercoaster of a relationship with Bella Hadid.
18. "Tempo" by Lizzo (ft. Missy Elliott)
Lizzo is possibly the best find for me so far this year. She takes nothing from no one, knows she's the shit, and loves being the voice of big women everywhere. Shout out to the big girls, because this one's just for you. The Missy feature is just a bonus.
17. "Dancing With a Stranger" by Sam Smith & Normani
There is proof everywhere that Sam Smith is a Fifth Harmony stan, but this duet he did with former member, Normani, is organic, groovy, and danceable, even if it's still classic Sad Sam™.
16. "Tia Tamera" by Doja Cat (ft. Rico Nasty)
Both Doja Cat and Rico Nasty are never to be taken seriously and they make that obvious on "Tia Tamera", a song that's simply about boobs. Weird subject matter? Yes. Clever wordplay? Also, yes.
15. "Sucker" by Jonas Brothers
A decade after the Brothers' last album, they decided to make a comeback and fangirls around the world lost their shit. Easily their catchiest song to date, "Sucker" is an ode to each member's respective partner. Adorable.
14. "Look Back At It" by A Boogie wit da Hoodie
I was skeptical to listen to any music by an artist who has to describe what they're wearing in their stage name, but ABWDH changed my mind with "Look Back at It". The hypnotic synths, bouncy beat, and interpolation of classic Michael Jackson songs had me sold upon first listen.
13. "Thotiana" by Blueface
A song that gives you instructions on what to do is always a winner ("Pick it up, now break that shit down"). Congratulations to Blueface for making a viral hit that spawned dozens of remixes and thousands of memes.
12. "break up with your boyfriend, i'm bored" by Ariana Grande
Not a fan of the overall message. Fun to sing along to. NSYNC interpolation is fire.
11. "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X
A viral hit overnight, "Old Town Road" sparked a lot of controversy when it charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was immediately removed one week later. This song, at its very core, is a country song. Yes, it's also trap, which is obvious from the beat, but give it another listen and you'll discover it's much more than that.
10. "bury a friend" by Billie Eilish
If you read my previous blog post on my review of Eilish's debut album, then you know that I've recently become a fan of hers after ignoring her for the longest time. "bury a friend" is a quiet, electronic track that actually goes hard and emits Kanye "Black Skinhead" vibes.
09. "Numb Numb Juice" by ScHoolboy Q
I never would have thought that a song that lasts less than two minutes could pack so much punch. ScHoolboy Q returns with an intimidating record that proves that he's here to stay and he's still grinding.
08. "Please Me" by Cardi B & Bruno Mars
Clearly, the world needed another Cardi and Bruno collaboration after she hopped on his remix of "Finesse" just last year. They have an obvious chemistry and "Please Me" is just another gem in their respective collections. Here's to hopefully more from this dynamic duo.
07. "Saturday Nights (Remix)" by Khalid (ft. Kane Brown)
Khalid dips his toe in the country realm with a remix to his already-excellent "Saturday Nights". I mean, the kid's from El Paso, Texas, so it was only a matter of time. With the help of Kane Brown's Southern twang, it took the track to the next level.
06. "No Scrubs" by Weezer
Weezer effortlessly covering a classic girl group anthem from the 90s R&B? What more could you ask for?
05. "Stay Flo" by Solange
Want to get the feeling of drinking and smoking without doing either? Listen to this one. It's dreary rhythm and complex lyrics will have you in an intoxicated state.
04. "Talk" by Khalid (ft. Disclosure)
Slow it down and just have a conversation. That's the point Khalid's trying to make on "Talk", his best song of 2019 so far. Disclosure also really knows how to perfectly balance R&B/Pop with EDM using their signature production style.
03. "Momma I Hit A Lick" by 2 Chainz (ft. Kendrick Lamar)
Though they've technically collaborated three times before, "Momma I Hit A Lick" marks their first direct collaboration. It's 2 Chainz' song, but Kendrick's verse is what makes it. His transformative use of different delivery methods keeps the song fresh.
02. "Morning Glory" by Kehlani
Speaking of TLC, Kehlani somehow managed to create an original song that fits right into that era. Not only that, but she plays each member's parts perfectly.
01. "7 rings" by Ariana Grande
I never would have thought that I'd live to see a day where an interpolation from The Sound of Music and Southern trap would come together. Let alone sung by a Floridian pop star. Somehow it all came together and it still remains at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. What a time to be alive.