The Biggest Songs of 2016 So Far

The year is far from over, but that doesn't mean music hasn't left a mark on 2016. Dancehall influences had a moment, thanks to Rihanna and Drake, breakout hip-hop stars gained major traction and collaborations with DJs and EDM acts resulted in catchy hits. Scroll down to see—and listen to—the biggest songs of the year.

"Formation" by Beyoncé

This was arguably the year of Beyoncé, with the release of her momentous visual album Lemonade, resulting world tour and the several extraordinary awards show performances that ensued. But what kicked off the whirlwind was this single, which she dropped by surprise (noticing a trend here?) the night before her explosive set at the Super Bowl Halftime show. The celebration of female empowerment and southern black culture in the song made it all the more relevant, as it coincided and was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, though some conservative listeners criticized it for being "anti-police."

"One Dance" by Drake feat. Wiz Kid and Kyla

With the reigning song of the summer (on Spotify at least), Drake made a major impact with the biggest hit from his album Views. The song was met with so much enthusiasm when it was released, that it gave the Toronto native his first-ever #1 single on the Billboard charts. Not even his prior hits "Hotline Bling" or "Best I Ever Had" had made it that big. The song's popularity becomes obvious in its infectiousness; those dancehall and afrobeat influences make the jam impossible to stop playing.

"Work" by Rihanna feat. Drake

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/32lmL4vQAAotg6MrJnh... [/spotify]

Rihanna started off 2016 with a hit strong enough to last the whole year, after dropping the lead single off Anti—and the album itself—in January. After serving us pop anthems through most of her career, a chiller and Caribbean-inspired track like "Work" seemed an unlikely hit, but it soon won listeners over and stuck.

"Too Good" by Drake feat. Rihanna

This Drizzy and RiRi collaboration was actually a product of doing "Work" together, Drake said on OVO Sound Radio. "She got in the studio and just bodied it. It was like a flawless victory when she sent it back," he said of Rihanna's contribution. The song's premise of being in a relationship kept the artists' romantic past in question. "We have a genuine energy between us," Drake later added. We're well aware.

"This Is What You Came For" by Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/0azC730Exh71aQlOt9Z... [/spotify]

Continuing her hit streak, Rihanna teamed up with Calvin Harris (for the second time, after "We Found Love" in 2011) for another dance-heavy anthem. Though the song's pop-EDM-crossover formula made it destined to become a hit, what really gave it momentum was the buzz over the involvement of Harris' ex, Taylor Swift. It was discovered that she wrote the song with her former DJ boyfriend under the pen name Nils Sjoberg while they were still together. After news spread that she was associated with the track, she was eventually credited under her real name.

"Panda" by Desiigner

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/275a9yzwGB6ncAW4SxY... [/spotify]

This 19-year-old Brooklyn rapper originally premiered his breakout song in December of 2015, but it really started infiltrating airwaves starting in the winter, with the help of Kanye West, who sampled the song in his track "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2" and signed the teen to his G.O.O.D. Music record label. "Panda," which was ubiquitous by the beginning of summer, proved a great launching pad for Desiigner, who went on to release a debut mixtape, another banger called "Timmy Turner" and even a hook with Travi$ Scott on G.O.O.D. collab, "Champions."

"Cheap Thrills" by Sia

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/6b3b7lILUJqXcp6w9wN... [/spotify]

The talented songwriter might have penned renowned tracks for the likes of Rihanna and Beyoncé, but she knows how to save a hit for herself. Though this song was originally intended for RiRi's Anti album (can you imagine?) Sia did a stellar job popularizing it on her own. The release of a remix with a guest verse by Sean Paul catapulted the song to Sia's first number one spot on Billboard's Hot 100 list. Who knew appealing to penny-pinching millennials would make an instant chart-topper?

"Closer" by The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/7BKLCZ1jbUBVqRi2FVl... [/spotify]

The Chainsmokers, like many of us, have a soft spot for Blink-182, especially their somber heartbreak anthem "I Miss You." Although the song they wrote about it is much more upbeat than the original, the result was an inescapable hit that's been sitting pretty at the top of the iTunes and Billboard charts since its release. Tapping indie-pop star Halsey for the second verse made it an even more realistic conversation between two (relatable) former lovers.

"Famous" by Kanye West

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/19a3JfW8BQwqHWUMbcq... [/spotify]

#TeamSwift can protest all it wants, but this song, whether you found it offensive or genius, became the center of so much the pop culture scene in 2016—and developed in stages throughout the year. West dropped the track in February, Swift responded the day after, the rapper released an irreverent music video in June, Kim Kardashian exposed that damning video in July and just last week, an older, harsher version of the song surfaced online. Who knows what other surprises it'll bring up for the rest of the year.

"No Problem" by Chance the Rapper feat. Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz

Chance, West's 23-year-old protege and fellow Chicago native, had been on music fans' radars for a few years now, but the long-awaited release of his third mixtape Coloring Book launched him into the mainstream spotlight, especially with songs like this one. Over an incredible gospel-inspired beat (a fitting sound for a rapper who's uniquely vocal about God), Chance teams up with Wayne and 2 Chainz for a catchy "F You" track to record labels, which the yet unsigned artist clearly didn't need to achieve the success he's reached now.

"Into You" by Ariana Grande

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/2meEiZKWkiN28gITzFw... [/spotify]

Although the pop princess teased her new album Dangerous Woman with its seductive title track, what really stuck was this upbeat and equally flirtatious song. You can thank hit machine Max Martin (who penned Grande's "Break Free," and dozens of other recognizable pop songs) for the tune you probably heard at most radio-soundtracked pool parties this summer.

"Cold Water" by Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber and MØ

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/7zsXy7vlHdItvUSH8Ew... [/spotify]

Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire (the electronic three behind Major Lazer) tapped Bieber and Cool Girl singer-songwriter MØ for an unexpected summer anthem. Though a Top 40 jam, the its lyrics carry some emotional depth, thanks to songwriter Ed Sheeran, over an addictive EDM beat, courtesy of the Lazer trio.

"Never Be Like You" by Flume feat. Kai

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/6y0igZArWVi6Iz0rj35... [/spotify]

The Australian producer teamed up with Toronto-based singer-songwriter Kai for an inescapable tune on the struggles of getting over a broken relationship. The track appears on Flume's sophomore album, Skin, but the lyrics actually revolve around a moment in Kai's life when "her inner saboteur tried to do what she does best," she said.

"Starboy" by The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/2IY7eOUDjw2ArKYxKa2... [/spotify]

When The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) cut his hair, switched his Instagram handle and teased his next album cover, he hinted that big changes were on the way. His lead single proved just that, ushering in a new sound on a track produced by Daft Punk. The song broke records and now boasts the biggest opening weekend in streaming history, but The Weeknd hints in his lyrics that stardom isn't painless—it comes with its consequences.

"Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" by Adele

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/3LGxef3inmn5jMLGDz9... [/spotify]

The Brit singer has a penchant for singing about heartbreak―which was especially obvious with her album 25—but after forlorn singles like "Hello" and "When We Were Young," "Send My Love" was a surprising, tongue-in-cheek response to a breakup. Rather than make a tear-inducing ballad, she shows us it's ok to be snarky over an ended relationship, through an acoustic-led melody and her signature belt-y vocals.

"Pink + White" by Frank Ocean feat. Beyoncé

[spotify ]https://play.spotify.com/track/3gATNBVu8d7oWs9WijP... [/spotify]

After years of teases and fake-outs, Frank Ocean finally graced us with new music this year with not one but two albums, Endless and Blonde. (One might even count the alternative version of the latter, which were handed at his pop-up shop, as a third.) With all of Ocean's new songs, and none previously released as singles, this track has proven itself to be a favorite, partially because it boasts big names in the credits (Pharrell Williams produced, Beyoncé sang backup), but also because of its raw, relatable nostalgia.

"Broccoli (feat. Lil Yachty)" by D.R.A.M.

Two breakout stars of 2016 joined forces to release this addicting track in April before it hit the mainstream in June. Who knew an ode to weed could have so much quirk and optimism?

"Black Beatles (feat. Gucci Mane)" by Rae Sremmurd

Before it became the essential score to the #MannequinChallenge, this was a single on Atlanta duo Rae Sremmurd's sophomore album, SremmLife 2. But being the soundtrack to the viral video trend spurred the song to the number one spot on Billboard for six weeks straight.

"Let Me Love You" by DJ Snake and Justin Bieber

Although Bieber didn't release an album this year, he still rode on the popularity of singles from last November's Purpose and collaborations with major DJ acts. After hopping on Major Lazer's "Cold Water" (with MO) over the summer, he teamed up with DJ Snake for this romantic dance track.

"24k Magic" by Bruno Mars

Mars channeled the retro-fresh vibe from Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk" in his own album released in November, and gave us a taste with the title track. Its obvious '80s pop vibe and funk groove made it inescapable for the final months of the year.

"I Took a Pill in Ibiza" by Mike Posner

This tongue-in-cheek single—much like the prospect of Posner making a comeback in 2016—was totally unexpected. In it, the artist sings of the not-so-great moments of his music career (hence, "I took a pill in Ibiza to show Avicii I was cool"), but over a catchy EDM beat that made it a catchy play on the radio.

"Bad and Boujee (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)" by Migos

Thanks to the internet, this Migos and Lil Uzi Vert collab has turned into the next viral meme craze. (If you've seen any "Rain drop, drop top" jokes, this is the origin.) Expect the hype to carry on into the new year, especially with the Atlanta trio's sophomore album C U L T U R E's highly-anticipated release.

Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now. 

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