Best Songs of 2015
                                                                                   Isobel Nash

  Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Uptown Funk has clearly been influenced by the Minneapolis music of the early 1980s, along with a modern EDM twist. The single achieved global success, spending 14 weeks at number one on the US Billboard  and seven weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart. On YouTube, it has over 1 billion views! For me, what makes this song great is the catchy lyrics and the feel good feeling.

Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding

Love Me Like You Do has a beautiful balance between delicacy and power. Ellie’s unique voice for me really makes the song. However, it was originally intended for American singer, Demi Lovato. This brilliant song was written for the sensual film Fifty Shades of Grey and was an instant hit all over the world, spending four weeks at number one in the UK.
 

Lay Me Down – Sam Smith
Lay Me Down is a beautiful love ballad. The song has been released three times.  With a little help from John Legend, the latter release  reached number one in the UK Singles Chart, as the Children In Need single for 2015.  Sam Smith’s amazing voice has now won him 4 Grammys!
 

See You Again – Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifia

See You Again was written in memory of Paul Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident on 30th November 2013 in Valencia, California.  See You Again was a global commercial success, becoming both Khalifa's and Puth's biggest hit to date. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 non-consecutive weeks and also featured 2 weeks at number one in the UK charts.

Cheerleader - OMI

"Cheerleader" is a song recorded by Jamaican singer OMI. OMI first began developing the song in 2008, when he created its melody. It was refined over several years. The song became a massive global success in 2015 where the song reached number one in 20 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Germany.  
 

Want to Want Me – Jason Derulo

Want to Want Me throws it back to the 80s with a classic dance sound. For me, Jason Derulo’s falsetto that follows in the tradition of soul men like Prince makes the song irresistible. It had major success in the UK with four weeks at number one.
 

Black Magic – Little Mix

Black Magic has an upbeat and catchy sound similar to that of other songs from Little Mix’s debut album, DNA (2012). The single topped the UK Singles Chart making it the group's first single to top the chart since their 2012 release of Wings. “Black Magic" remained at the top of the chart for three weeks, becoming the first single by a girl group to do so since the Sugarbabes’ "About You Now" in October 2007.

Drag Me Down – One Direction
This track marked One Direction’s first single since Zayn Malik's departure in March 2015. This song has a more mature sound than previous singles and has a mid-tempo ballad with hints of R&B and EDM influence. "Drag Me Down" became an instant hit, debuting at the top of the charts in many countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand upon its release.  

What Do You Mean – Justin Bieber
“What Do You Mean?" is Justin Bieber’s leading song for his fourth studio album “Purpose”. “What Do You Mean?" debuted at the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 where it stayed for one week, and topped various other charts worldwide, including Australia, Norway and the United Kingdom. It is a pop and tropical house inspired song.  Many say this song has started the Bieber revolution with many doubters becoming fans. 

Hello – Adele
“Hello” is Adele’s first single since “Skyfall” in 2012. The song is a stunning piano ballad with soul influences, and lyrics that discuss themes of nostalgia and regret. It has received global success reaching number one in 28 countries.
 

Sorry – Justin Bieber
After the success of “What Do You Mean?” Justin struck gold with the second single of his new album “Purpose”. It peaked within the top ten of the charts in 19 countries. The song is produced by Skrillex, who also produced "Where Are U Now".
 

​Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid 30
In 1984, Band Aid and Live Aid were formed to help those suffering as a result of the Ethiopian famine. Band Aid 30 was formed on the 30th anniversary of the original Band Aid to support the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The lyrics from the original song were changed to suit the Ebola crisis.  The group was announced on 10th November 2014 by Bob Geldof  who formed the band after the United Nations had contacted him, saying help was urgently needed to prevent the Ebola crisis. The song was recorded by some of the biggest-selling current British and Irish pop acts, including One Direction, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sandé, Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora.  

Listen to my playlist on Spotify featuring all the songs in the article and a few more great hits from 2015! https://open.spotify.com/user/isobelnash1999/playlist/6xsVZalJ7OHoKF3Sv8mlZ0