The year 2016 was an era that defined the mainline speakers with artists such as Frank Ocean, Rihanna and Bruno Mars, who released albums that changed the soundscape.
Music fans saw the real death of the traditional artist and the birth of innovators.
With a recent resurgence of popularity of the 2016 times, here is a look back on some of the best songs that defined the year.
“Starboy” – The Weeknd
Abel Tesfaye didn’t just change his hair in 2016, he changed his whole persona, including his stage name, The Weeknd.
By partnering with the legendary Daft Punk duo, he traded his moody R&B sound for a more synthy-pop style.
Starboy is the anthem of a new era, an era proves that the darker side of pop can still dominate the chart.
“Formation” – Beyoncé
Beyoncé didn’t just release a new song, she released a manifesto for the coming years.
Dropping unannounced just before her Super Bowl performance where she sung it live, “Formation” was a celebration of black resilience and heritage set to a funky, catchy beat.
It served as a lead single for her critically-acclaimed album “Lemonade.”
“One Dance” – Drake
In 2016, Drake was the undisputed king of hits. “One Dance” is a song that cemented him as an artist who can create music in many different genres, it became the first song on Spotify to reach one billion streams.
“Pink + White” – Frank Ocean
After four years of silence, Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” came at us like a fever dream.
“Pink + White” is easily the album’s most accessible gem, with it’s lush, acoustic-led track about memory and loss.
Listen closely toward the end and fans can hear Beyoncé’s vocals in the background. Truly an unforgettable track.
“Love on the Brain” – Rihanna
While the rest of the industry was exploring synth and new sounds, Rihanna went vintage.
This song is a raw, 1950’s inspired soul ballad showcased vocal ranges that many didn’t know existed.
It remains as one of her most enduring hits, proving that timeless talent doesn’t need a high tech beat to succeed.
“We Don’t Talk Anymore” – Charlie Puth (feat. Selena Gomez)
The ultimate break up anthem of the digital age, Charlie Puth and Selena Gomez both deliver encapsulating vocals throughout it.
This song kickstarted a large number of rumors circulating around a potential relationship between the two singers.
The track captures the universal experience of ghosting and the awkward silence that follows breakups.
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars spent 2016 proving that everything old is new again.
He has a sound that remains consistent throughout his career, but it works every time for him.
With this song, he brought a level of showmanship and pure fun to the radio that felt both classic and fresh.
“Into You” – Ariana Grande
Widely regarded as a “perfect” pop song, “Into You” is a masterclass in building tension.
From its whispered verses to its explosive and bass heavy chorus, it solidified Grande’s transition from a Nickelodeon star to the reigning queen of the pop landscape.
“Beauty and A Beat” – Justin Bieber (feat. Nicki Minaj)
Two powerhouses of the music industry, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj gave 2016 one of the most memorable songs of this generation.
“Beauty and Beat” has been a staple since its release and was recently played at Coachella 2026, showing this song will never go out of style.
It redefines technopop and EDM music with its fast paced beats and iconic rap portion by Minaj.
“Cake by the Ocean” – DNCE
Sang by Joe Jonas, the lead vocalist and member of the Jonas Brothers, this song is brought alive with his soft but high pitch vocals that capture the essence of 2016’s electropop and disco funk to create a song that has gone down in history.
“Cake by the Ocean” takes elements of 1970s pop and R&B spun into a nostalgic song that’s played at Target or in teens’ rooms on full blast.
Looking back, 2016 was a year of unity in the music industry.
With so many different trending topics and genres getting the spotlight, these 10 songs didn’t just go viral for a week or two, they defined the soundtrack for a whole generation.
