ILM's Top 100 Tracks of the 2010s

If we remove the repeated artists the Top 10 for 2016 would be:

2016 Now
1. Solange - Cranes in the Sky (3)

2. Ariana Grande - Into You (5) 

3. KING - Native Land (63)

4. Rae Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane - Black Beatles (1) 

5. Grouper - Headache (58) 

6. Rihanna ft. Drake - Work (6)
7. Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert - Bad and Boujee
8. 
Mitski - Your Best American Girl
9. David Bowie - Blackstar
10. Melanie De Biasio - Blackened Cities

Which is honestly a great top 10 imho and almost as good, if not better than the eoy one, although I miss Shura and ATCQ from that one.

Xxxpost to rob

In terms of the then/now comparison, I'll say that obviously cross-decade votesplitting plays a role. If you're KING and you only release one album in a decade, that's going to have outsize representation compared to artists that released numerous albums

And I can't speak for how everyone constructed their ballots, but ballot decisions for a decade poll won't necessarily be the same as decisions for a year poll. Balloon might have been 2019 personified, but clearly a lot of voters didn't feel it represented the decade. I mean, I voted for it then but not now, due to the sheer profusion of things I had to fit in. Still sad at how low it placed mind

I don't get Chris's Gangnam Style comment?

It isn't entirely the fault of the voters; I'm sure many ballots had some unusual choices on them, but the less-unusual choices are the ones that will appear, because to get into this poll, a song needed to have accumulated consensus. Of course, some consensuses are stronger than others.

I agree it's not the voters' fault! I think my first post in this thread is saying basically that. At any rate, I think my main "problem" with these polls is that because I joined ILM around 2009/10 and the EOY polls loom large in my ILM memories, everything just feels really familiar. Maybe next year we should do an alternative poll where nothing that placed in any EOY top 77 is eligible...or something? Idk I'm also just not a big ballot poll lover so don't listen to me

If I had to make a combination with what’s available and there was a “only one track per artist” rule I’d use the 2016 NOW with Bowie and De Biasio and drop Black Beatles and the Grouper song - as much as I like her and love seeing her on a top 10 - and exchange for ATCQ and either Shura or Lindstrøm.

I think Beyonce’s Formation on the 2016 then list is more self-congratulatory than anything on the 2016 now list.l, btw.

I love the ballot polls as a place where all the tastes of ILM can come together and show each other what they've learnt (with a bit of light-hearted jostling for supremacy thrown in). It's a delicate balance though, and a shift in power can cause a lot of damage in terms of diversity. We basically need more posters again, and not necessarily ones who like [redacted] or [ahem], or indeed [hmm]

Thanks KP! 2017 in particular seems to have had some considerable revision -- the "Now" list looks much better to me. Interesting that "Money Trees" is the only track in a "Now" list not to have placed "Then."

Moka, your revised 2016 is def more interesting!

RE: Formation: December 2016 was a dark fucking time is how I break it down to some extent. But by "self-congratulatory" I meant how the EOY polls often feature posters praising ILM for being so different from bad and horrible music pubs. I don't think liking Beyonce fits into that mythos :)

not necessarily ones who like [redacted] or [ahem], or indeed [hmm]

otm

And I can't speak for how everyone constructed their ballots, but ballot decisions for a decade poll won't necessarily be the same as decisions for a year poll. Balloon might have been 2019 personified, but clearly a lot of voters didn't feel it represented the decade. I mean, I voted for it then but not now, due to the sheer profusion of things I had to fit in. Still sad at how low it placed mind

― imago, Friday, August 26, 2022 8:30 AM (thirteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

I'd be surprised if a lot of voters are thinking about how a song "represents the decade," but clearly a decade poll is going to reward songs that voters continue to enjoy and return to, whereas a year-end poll may feature more temporary enthusiasms. ("Gangnam Style" was a genuinely fun pop moment in 2012, even if I have no desire to hear it again.)

Well yes, that's a better way to put it

Lol ok I get you. I thought you meant “self congratulatory” as in consciously choosing “important songs”, which “Formation” definitely felt like back then.

Lol that does remind me of a very earnest 22-year old white (Canadian) girl telling me "no white person needs to say anything about Formation" the day after the video dropped. Tbf it's quite possible I voted for it back then!

Really all you can ask of ILM is either broad musical curiosity, or deep special foci. Posters who do the listening.

I will say despite not really vibing with these particular polls, I've been finding ILM super fun & useful lately. People cherry-picking that pitchfork overlooked albums list was a goldmine (plus Evan telling me to check out Gwenno's whole discography: amazing), I have a bunch of Moon Glyph albums to check out based on responses to that thread, rolling afropop has been delivering, etc.

It helps that I've stopped caring about ILM's disengagement with dancehall. This place does tend to "work" better if you let it pull you in its own direction to a degree

I don't get Chris's Gangnam Style comment?

To me, it's kinda like if "I'm Too Sexy" had been in the top 10 songs of 1992. But, I'm getting old and am always skeptical of the pop zeitgeist, so ignore me.

Gangnam Style was huge. I heard it the other day at a water aerobics class. Not my water aerobics class. I just took my daughter to swim lessons and there was an aerobics class at the other end of the pool. Anyway, it's a mega banger. I'm Too Sexy was a dashed-off piece of novelty piss.

I have not yet been medically advised to do water aerobics.

So glad others have enjoyed the comparison lists I put together. As I posted them I had this sudden realisation other people might not care as much.

I think overall I prefer the now lists just because a few personal favourites have benefited (Susanne Sundfør, Paramore, KING, tracks by Hatchie Wolf Alice and my favourite Charli XCX).

Looking at the changes, the two artists that suffered are Miguel who made our top ten four times and Jessie Ware who had two songs in our 2018 and 2019 lists that didn't get a single vote (Aaliyah and Imagine It Was Us didn't make our top 100 either). With Miguel, the biggest shock was the duet with Mariah. At some point somebody had put a list together of our most popular songs from the decade due to votes and it was in there. 37 people voted for it in 2013 and it went down to three for this decade list. I spent all last week thinking it would be at least top 20. With Jessie Ware, obviously she dominated our 2020 lists and it was more down to vote splitting.

Missed this poll completely, but I’m gona check out the Spotify playlist. Most surprising thing as I skim the results is no Cardi B. I thought “Bodak Yellow” would be a lock for top ten.

I have never heard of KING or Susanne Sundfør and had no idea ILM rated them so highly. It’s like I don’t even know who you people are anymore.

miguel also got very vote-split, 5 tracks (counting "#beautiful") got 3+ votes but only "adorn" placed

"bodak yellow" only made #11 in 2017 and that was when there were a lot more rap fans still posting/voting. it was fairly controversial here too

To me, it's kinda like if "I'm Too Sexy" had been in the top 10 songs of 1992.

it's a little better than that but mostly otm lol and i'm one of the board's biggest kpop fans

Interesting that "Money Trees" is the only track in a "Now" list not to have placed "Then."

"cartoon & cereal" was the best-placing kendrick track in 2012 but that kinda fell off in prominence due to it never getting an official release, it's still a fan favourite though. "money trees" also was never a single but has apparently since become the consensus favourite from gkmc

honestly, only vaguely knew of Sundfør before this poll and am very much enjoying her music right now. i def would have voted for 10 Love Songs and maybe a few tracks had i known her stuff better going in.

Initial thought on the first thirty or so:

“Super Bass” is fun and catchy! “boom ba boom-boom, boom ba boom-boom bass”
That twenty-minute death metal jam is… ok, not really my thing, especially the vocals.
“Operator” is another dance classic. Everything I’ve heard from DJ Koze has been great.
“Slow Burn”: one of the lyrics is “Grandma cried when I pierced my nose.” LOL!
“Habits Stay High”: My nine-year-old niece loves this song and always asks Alexa to play it. Errrrr…
“Love Is a Bourgee Construct” = WOW!!! Who knew PSB were still capable of dance-pop genius?
It turns out KING is great! Mellow and druggy with beautiful singing.
“Incapable”: great funky bassline
“XMAS EVE”: come on, he is capable of so much better.
“Marry Me Archie”: those are some BAD vocals
“All You’re Waiting For”: What is with so many bands out there trying to do the ‘80s electro revival? Still, this is pretty great stuff.

I voted for Cartoon & Cereal, and I still think it's the best thing he has ever done. Although Mother I Sober is up there.

Not been following this poll as I've not been around much but people really cooled on "Wut" didn't they?

Relevantly, it was never particularly great in the first place.

I always liked it, although I suppose it sounds less remarkable in today's context

I don't think it was nominated, but otherwise I would have voted for it. Great track.

ngl “Super Bass” has made me cry— on a good system it sounds so incredible

"wut" was #107 so it didn't do terrible

fred b let wut down

Wut still sounds fantastic to me

I’m more disappointed by the lack of Waka… was “hard in da paint” 2009?

2010. We need a Goon Crew 2010s list.

2010. Ended up in #127

Grove St. Party all the way down in #772

i think i was the only voter for grove street

no I voted for it too

high five

Oh, lol, I thought you all meant Le1f. That's the Wut I like. I'd completely forgotten about Girl Unit.

i voted for hi five

Yeah baby that's the Wut I like!

Wut revisionism is...wild to me.

is it really revisionism when a completely different of people are voting? that KAS album only got like 4 votes too

different group

girl unit - wut is complete trash

In a rather good way. It just doesn't need to be six minutes, it gets long after four.

“All Too Well”: easily the worst thing I’ve heard from TayTay. Terrible clichéd “I/You” lyrics.

“Don’t Start Now”: the “Live in L.A.”remix is better, but this is still pretty great. Future Nostalgia is an amazing album.

“Video Games”: What a pretty voice! But I mean “heaven is a place on earth”? Really? Gee I wonder where have I heard that lyric before?

“Work”: No no no no no.

“Tightrope”: A fun danceable romp! I miss Big Boi.

“Money Machine”: GOOD GOD this is awful. You people are fucking idiots for liking this trash.

“The Greatest” and “Native Land”: Awwww yeah. KING are my new favorite discovery of this poll. I’m gonna snag their album the first chance I get. Mellow and groovy.

“King Kunta”: He sounds like a raspy James Brown.

The 1975: Shut up, shouty bro.

“Cranes in the Sky”: I like the deedle-dee background on this.

“212”: I haven’t heard this song in a LONG time but man, I coulda sworn this song had harder beats and not this goofy house/techno dance shit. Either I’ve been listening to a far superior remix the whole time or my memory is terrible.

“Dancing on My Own”: Yippy-skippy. Yet another song on this poll sung by a lovesick woman about how much she misses her man. Good but insanely overrated. “Be Mine” and “Konichiwa Bitches” are both better.

“Realiti”: Not bad! Catchy! The riff sounds like “The Melody” by DJ Mangoo.

“Call Me Maybe”: I like Carly Ray Jepsen. She should’ve released the Fuller House song as a single.

“Inspector Norse”: A great dance song, but this can’t possibly be the best song of the decade!

It can and it is!