The year was 2014: Tumblr ruled all, Victoria’s Secret was peak couture, and One Direction owned our hearts… although let’s be honest, they still do! Even though it was almost ten years ago, it feels like just yesterday. In honor of some of the most iconic songs nearing their decade milestone, here’s a walk down memory lane with some forgotten gems and those we’ll surely have stuck in our heads forever!
‘Chains’ — Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas was proving to us that he wasn’t that bushy-haired boy anymore, and we ate it up! ‘Chains’ wasn’t just catchy; it was so hot that it was practically fever-inducing. If you weren’t a Nick girl during the Jonas Brothers era, this song surely changed your mind.
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‘What About Love’ by Austin Mahone
Another dark pop masterpiece that is criminal to forget! Austin Mahone came onto the scene as another up-and-coming heartthrob with his skinny jeans, beanies, and high-top sneakers with all of the charisma to make us swoon. ‘What About Love’ solidified his spot as a teen idol of 2014, and we’ll never let him be forgotten.
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‘Steal My Girl’ — One Direction
Not only did ‘Steal My Girl’ have a legendary music video. Hello, Danny Devito AND Harry’s coat were the real stars, but this song was everywhere. You couldn’t find a radio station that wasn’t playing it on repeat, not that we weren’t complaining. Love, light, power, danger, and mystery… how could we not be obsessed?
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If you liked this song, you should remember: ‘Wild Life’ by Jack & Jack
With the kings of Vine making their way back into our hearts this year, we refuse to let you forget this piece of art. Covered in neon paint and dancing in a club with a bunch of their internet friends, ‘Wild Life’ by Jack & Jack drove us wild back then (pun intended) and has become a guilty pleasure.
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‘Ain’t It Fun’ — Paramore
Turns out, it’s not fun living in the real world. But back then, we never knew. All we were worried about was tapping our toes and snapping along to Paramore as if we didn’t have a single care in the world. This song brings us back to the simpler times we crave… not that’s fun!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PARAMORE:
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If you liked this song, you should remember: ‘American Dream’ by MKTO
This duo was a classic! Fresh off the phenomenon of their single, ‘Classic,’ MKTO tugged at our heartstrings with ‘American Dream’ and the gritty reality of trying to make our dreams a reality in times of adversity. An underrated anthem; we recommend adding this back into your playlist for some feel-good vibes.
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‘Blank Space’ — Taylor Swift
One of many infamous tracks from Blondie, ‘Blank Space’ gave us incredible visuals and one of the best-misheard lyrics in history: “A long list of Starbucks lovers.” Everyone wanted to emulate her classy, old-money aesthetic; ‘Blank Space’ quickly became a cultural staple and is as timeless as her bold red lip.
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If you liked this song, you should remember: ‘Superbad’ by Jesse McCartney
One of the top poster boys of the early 2000s, we’re here to assure you he has aged like fine wine. This one may have slipped past you back then, but we’re going to put it on your radar now. The music video has that old-timey feel paired with his knee-buckling smile and smooth-as-butter vocals, ‘Superbad’ is a hidden gem of the decade that we’re bringing to light.
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‘All About That Bass’ — Meghan Trainor
‘All About That Bass’ put Meghan Trainor on the map! A body confidence bop, its catchy melody and relatable lyrics quickly made it an earworm for the ages. It swept its way through the nation, making Meghan a household name (and gave us some of the best TikTok sounds even to this day!)
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If you liked this song, you should remember: ‘Shower’ by Becky G
Becky G did not come to play with this one. Although it’s giving us nothing but “addicted to summer” vibes (especially with the music video by the pool,) this was one of those jams that you could listen to all year round. We’d bet it’s still somewhere on your playlist because it’s the epitome of guilty pleasure.
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‘7/11’ — Beyoncé
Beyoncé has always been revolutionary, so when she popped out with this fun and flirty homemade music video for ‘7/11,’ we weren’t surprised. In a world of high-priced, overly-produced media, Beyoncé proved that all you really need is some cool choreography, an awesome hotel room, and a night with some of your favorite girlfriends to create something great!
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If you liked this song, you should remember: ‘2 On’ by Tinashe
A powerhouse from day one, we were all introduced to Tinashe through her smash debut single ‘2 On’ (and have been hooked ever since!) Both a strong vocalist and an incredible dancer, Tinashe captivated us from the very first note and has continued to be a strong hitmaker with no signs of slowing down.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TINASHE:
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‘Bang Bang’ — Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Jessie J
Back in 2014, ‘Bang Bang’ was like a fantasy football lineup but for music artists. Bringing together Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and Jessie J might have sounded insane (and impossible) on paper, but with three of the hottest women in music, anything became possible.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ARIANA GRANDE:
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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NICKI MINAJ:
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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JESSIE J:
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If you liked this song, you should remember: ‘Black Widow’ by Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora
Speaking of icon collaborations, Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora brought us hot ninja realness, and it’s been on a loop in our heads for a decade! Daring and powerful, with a music video that gives us Oscar-worthy movie vibes… what is there not to love with this one?
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IGGY AZALEA:
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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RITA ORA:
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Honorable Mentions
If we could put every hit from 2014 on this list. Sadly, we can’t. Looking back we realized just how incredible the music was this year. It was a tough decision to make, but here are a few more that deserve some recognition!
‘Happy’ — Pharell Williams
Looking for another viral radio hit? ‘Happy’ by Pharell was literally inescapable. People had it as their ringtone, and if you were at a red light, there was a likely chance you’d hear it blaring from the car next to you. If you’re anything like us, the phrase “Because I’m happy” still sends shivers down your spine.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PHARELL WILLIAMS:
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If you like this song, you should remember: ‘Habits (Stay High)’ by Tove Lo
Now that we think about it, 2014 really did give us some of the greatest pop moments, with this song reaching the top of the list. Bubbly and sweet on the surface, with lyrics that dive so much deeper, Tove Lo absolutely hit it out of the park, because this song is forever on our minds.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TOVE LO:
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‘She Looks So Perfect’ — 5 Seconds of Summer
Can you believe we’ve been obsessed with 5SOS for ten years? It feels like only yesterday we met these loveable goofballs from Australia! If we knew then that they’d still be at the top of our Spotify Top Artists list, would we believe it? Probably! ‘Cause they’ve always been iconic – even from the very beginning!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER:
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If you liked this song, you should remember: ‘Somebody To You’ by The Vamps and Demi Lovato
In a world of boy bands (yes, we know that term can be very controversial) The Vamps were another that quickly stole our hearts. With Disney princesses like Laura Morano frolicking through the water and Demi Lovato offering out-of-this-world vocals, ‘Somebody To You’ was, and always be, everything to us.
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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DEMI LOVATO:
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When We Think 2014, We Think…
Drum roll, please… this is for the ones who were there and those who didn’t have the privilege of being on the internet when these two dominated the web.
‘#SELFIE’ — The Chainsmokers
We’ve saved the best for last. ‘#SELFIE’ was the theme song of 2014. Taking a picture without announcing it in a high-pitched voice, saying, “But first, let me take a selfie.” was basically against the law. Whether it was a mirror pic or a front-facing shot, all were acceptable. You got bonus points if you did the duck lips and posted it to Instagram with a horribly colored filter. Ah, 2014… how we miss you.
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If you liked this song, you should remember: ‘Happy Little Pill’ by Troye Sivan
Before his Grammy nomination and being parodied by the one and only Timothee Chalamet, Troye Sivan was ruling the Tumblr and YouTube space. ‘Happy Little Pill’ has become practically synonymous with 2014, which makes it the perfect way to conclude our list.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TROYE SIVAN:
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Ready for the ultimate throwback? Check out the Sounds of 2014 playlist to relive the magic over and over again!
How did we do? Do you agree with our ultimate 2014 playlist? Let us know in the comments, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @thehoneypop! Connect with other music fans like you and join the Honey POP discord!
