At The Insurance Emporium, we can hardly believe we’re at the end of another year, let alone another decade! The past 10 years have been full of magical adventures. But what’s an adventure without a great soundtrack? Fortunately, the 2010s have given us some fantastic tunes, so much so that it’s been a real challenge to whittle this list down to just 10 entries! From pop hits to party anthems, ballads to bangers, here are our top songs of the 2010s!
10. Someone Like You – Adele (2010)
We’re starting this list with a big old ballad, the type which perhaps only Adele has the pipes to really pull off! The song’s about as minimalist as they get, with just a piano complementing the singer’s powerful voice. The song tells a tale of heartbreak, sadness and rejection that most can probably relate to, before Adele attempts to move on. “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you.”
9. Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (2012)
Back in 2012, rapper Macklemore had us all drop the designer labels and poppin’ tags at the thrift store! There were a few songs we wanted to talk about from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ The Heist album, like the party anthem Can’t Hold Us, or the excellent Same Love. But, for us, Thrift Shop has it all; a super funky beat courtesy of producer Ryan Lewis, some cracking one-liners, and a serious takedown of the commercialism and attitudes often rife in modern hip-hop.
8. Pumped Up Kicks – Foster the People (2010)
Released at the beginning of the decade, Foster the People’s debut hit has proven its staying power 10 years later! Describing the events of a school shooting, sadly, the song has only become more and more relevant as time has passed. For some, it’s a funky, upbeat track with a singalong hook. For others, it’s a visceral look into a modern American tragedy.
7. Let It Go – Idina Menzel (2013)
Whatever you think about Disney’s Frozen or its signature tune, you can’t mistake its status as a global phenomenon. From radio stations to shopping centres, kids’ parties to pubs, we guarantee you’ll have heard the ice queen Elsa – played by Idina Menzel – belting out the chorus on repeat. The song resonated with so many people through underlying themes of social repression. Both Frozen and Let It Go came at just the right time to inspire several generations of fans the world over.
6. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran (2017)
Ed Sheeran burst onto the scene in 2011 and has been a creative powerhouse in the music industry ever since, going from strength to strength. His popularity arguably peaked in 2017 with the release of Shape of You, telling the story of a one-night-stand with somebody he met at a bar. Fun fact: the song was originally intended for Rihanna, but he couldn’t imagine her singing lines like “putting Van The Man on the jukebox”. You never know, Ed, Rihanna might be a huge Van Morrison fan!
5. Chandelier – Sia (2014)
In an era where image is everything and we’ve all got access to our favourite stars’ social media, Sia stands out as something different. She’s been behind the scenes for years, writing huge hits like Rihanna’s Diamonds and David Guetta’s Titanium. The singer-songwriter broke out on her own with Chandelier, her first collaboration with then 12-year-old dancer Maddie Ziegler to create one of the most-viewed YouTube videos of the time.
4. Budapest – George Ezra (2014)
For something a little more light-hearted, we’re going to George Ezra’s house in Budapest! The lead single from the singer’s debut album features a rolling guitar riff and a beat that’s just foot-tappingly groovy enough to dance along to, while leaving Ezra’s booming voice enough room to really stand out.
3. Not Afraid – Eminem (2010)
The rap god’s rebirth, Not Afraid was a return to form for Eminem in a big way. This was clearly a new generation for the rapper, storming into the new decade older, more mature and free from the addictions of his past. With hits like Love the Way You Lie and Rap God following it, Not Afraid might not be Slim Shady’s best track of the decade, but it might just be the most important, solidifying both his return and his status as the G.O.A.T.
2. Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi (2018)
The biggest hit of 2019 released in 2018! Lewis Capaldi’s breakthrough ballad proves that Britain loves a little heartbreak. It’s hard to believe this tear jerker came from the same Twitter warrior who has been feuding with Noel Gallagher and whose album promotion looks like this. The incredible music video stars another Capaldi, Peter, and ends with a real tear jerker. Who’s cutting onions?
1. This Is America – Childish Gambino (2018)
In an interview, Donald Glover (Childish Gambino himself) said he’d wanted to make a music video so iconic that you couldn’t picture the song without it. To say This Is America accomplishes that is an understatement. Full of racial symbolism, the song made waves in the industry in 2018 for its portrayal of racism and the inherent fears rife in American culture. We don’t have the word count to unpack it all here, but with This Is America, Glover really made his mark.
Those were our 10 favourite tunes of the last decade, but there’s been so many more we haven’t mentioned! If you’re a budding musician hoping to break into the mainstream, you might want to think about insuring your instrument! At The Insurance Emporium, our Music Insurance includes cover for things like Theft, Loss and Accidental Damage as standard. You can then customise your cover with our range of Optional Benefits. You could even receive a 25% Introductory Discount!* Play your way down to The Insurance Emporium to find out more.
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