Songs

In this third installment, we are going to look at the top downloaded songs of the years.  What’s interesting are all the songs that didn’t make this list.  Sure, Apple only lets us know about the top downloaded songs, but how do online streaming services fit into this?  I would hazard a guess that those songs will also have an impact, but wouldn’t make this list.  That’s not to say that these aren’t great songs, but I am wondering how many people are still downloading music in 2017?  There’s a good chance that those numbers have decreased over the years.

Shape of You – Ed Sheeran

The first song to make the list is Ed Sheeran’s The Shape of You.  Sheeran has been making the news lately.  This time it’s because he mishandled how he approached the Royal Family.  With so much protocol around the Royal Family, we need to cut him some slack.  But that’s not what this song is about.  Originally written with Rihanna in mind.  However, when Sheeran and the other songwriters included a reference to Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, they decided not to give it to her.  Can you blame them?  Fun fact about this song – it actually broke a Spotify record for the number of streams in a single day.  It played 6,868,642 times globally in the first 24 hours.  That’s what I’m talking about Apple.  Which means my theory about Spotify might be correct.

Despacito – Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber

Every time I hear this song, it is automatically stuck in my head for hours, if not days.  I am literally singing it right now, and will for days on end.  It has a fun Latin/pop feel to it that makes you want to dance.  The song was recorded by Luis Fonsi and his fellow Puerto Rican Daddy Yankee.  Fonsi states, “I played him the demo and told him where I wanted to go with the song and he jumped on it right away. He was involved in putting all the pieces together. His collaboration was crucial and it’s what made the song.”

That’s What I Like – Bruno Mars

I like Bruno Mars’ music, but usually only when I need a strong hit of pop music.  Which is kind of how I feel about this particular song also.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike it.  And clearly, a lot of people agree with me, as it was one of the top downloaded songs according to Apple.  The song doesn’t have much to it by way of substance.  It’s essentially a list of things that Mars likes, and they are mostly expensive things.

Humble – Kendrick Lamar

I think this is advice that we could all take.  But in this track, Kendrick Lamar challenges his fellow rap artists to sit down and be more humble.  He also urges them to respect his position as one of the greatest in the genre.  During the second verse, Lamar spits about being paged by Barack Obama but refuses to flaunt his communication with the former president.  Obama has stated several times that he is a fan of Lamar’s music.

Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt

This song became a bright spot in what was becoming a heavy album for Sam Hunt.  He states, “I’ve been writing songs over the past, I guess, year and a half, trying to conceptualize a new record and it kinda started taking a heavy direction, and I sat down at one point and was like, ‘OK, I’m gonna lighten this up a little bit, it needs a lighter flair’.”  When I first saw this song on the charts, I kind of laughed.  I grew up in the country, and I would not describe a back road as anything positive.  Therefore, I wouldn’t want you to say that about my body.  I even texted this to a friend as I thought it was kind of odd.  But that’s not what the song is.  If you’re a fan of the country music genre, then this song making the top downloaded list shouldn’t be a surprise to you.