Best Songs of 2024 - The New York Times

Listen to 68 tracks that made major statements, boosted big beefs, propelled up-and-comers and soundtracked the party this year. By Jon ParelesJon Caramanica and Lindsay Zoladz JON PARELES Here’s a dipperful of worthwhile tracks from the ocean of music released this year. The top of my list is big-statement songs, ones that had repercussions beyond how they sound. Below those, it’s not a ranking but a playlist, a more-or-less guided cruise through what 2024 sounded like for one avid listener. I didn’t include any songs from my list of top albums, which are worth hearing from start to finish. But in the multiverse of streaming music, there are plenty of other possibilities. Belligerent, accusatory and as tribalistic as its title, “Not Like Us” wasn’t an attack ad from the 2024 election. It was the coup de gras of Kendrick Lamar’s beef with Drake, a rapid-fire, sneering assault on multiple fronts. Its spirit dovetailed with a bitterly contentious 2024. “Texas Hold ’Em” isn’t just an invo

Listen to 68 tracks that made major statements, boosted big beefs, propelled up-and-comers and soundtracked the party this year. By Jon ParelesJon Caramanica and Lindsay Zoladz JON PARELES Here’s a dipperful of worthwhile tracks from the ocean of music released this year. The top of my list is big-statement songs, ones that had repercussions beyond how they sound. Below those, it’s not a ranking but a playlist, a more-or-less guided cruise through what 2024 sounded like for one avid listener. I didn’t include any songs from my list of top albums, which are worth hearing from start to finish. B