Best song of each year?

[Kamala]

Do as many or as few as you want. Probably should be a relatively popular song.

Mine, so far:

2000: Independent Women Part I by Destiny's Child
2001: Fallin' by Alicia Keys
2002: A New Day Has Come by Celine Dion
2003: Crazy in Love by Beyoncé and Jay-Z
2004: Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
2005: Cool by Gwen Stefani
2006: Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado and Timbaland
2007: Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood
2008: I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry
2009: Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus
2010: Your Love by Nicki Minaj
2011: Someone like You by Adele
2012: She-wolf by David Guetta and Sia
2013: Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
2014: Yellow Flicker Beat by Lorde
2015: Elastic Heart by Sia
2016: Starboy by The Weeknd
2017: Green Light by Lorde

[HillGoose]

Hey, another Lorde fan! I think "The Louvre" is the best of Melodrama but "Green Light" is also kick ass.

2001: Blurry - Puddle of Mudd
2002: Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne
2003: Numb - Linkin Park
2004: American Idiot - Green Day
2005: Photograph - Nickelback
2006: Hips Don't Lie - Shakira
2007: Pictures of You - The Last Goodnight
2008: The Sound of Madness - Shinedown
2009: According to You - Orianthi
2010: Coming Home - Diddy
2011: Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes
2012: Payphone - Maroon 5
2013: Cruise (Remix) - Florida Georgia Line
2014: Tennis Court - Lorde
2015: Shut Up and Dance - Walk the Moon
2016: Closer - The Chainsmokers
2017: Castle on the Hill - Ed Sheeran

[Skunk]

I listen mostly to mainstream pop and rap, so...

2000: Oops I Did It Again by Britney Spears
2001: Ms. Jackson by Outkast
2002: A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
2003: Crazy in Love by Beyoncé and Jay-Z
2004: Jesus Walks by Kanye West
2005: Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson
2006: Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
2007: Potential Breakup Song by Aly & AJ
2008: Paper Planes by MIA
2009: Just Dance by Lady Gaga ft. Colby O'Donis
2010: Runaway by Kanye West ft. Pusha T
2011: Rolling in the Deep by Adele
2012: Die Young by Kesha
2013: Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe by Kendrick Lamar
2014: Latch by Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
2015: Run Away with Me by Carly Rae Jepsen
2016: Greedy by Ariana Grande
2017: Praying by Kesha

[SingingAnalyst]

2000: Kryptonite, Three Doors Down
2001: I’m Like a Bird, Nelly Furtado
2002: Beautiful, Christina Aguilera
2003: I’m With You, Avril Lavigne
2004: Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson
2005: You’re Beautiful, James Blunt
2006: Something Beautiful, The Newsboys
2007: Hey There Delilah, Plain White T’s
2008: Single Ladies, Beyonce
2009: Home, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
2010: California Gurls, Katy Perry
2011: Someone Like You, Adele
2012: Payphone, Maroon 5
2013: Hey Brother, Avicii
2014: Shake It Off, Taylor Swift
2015: Stressed Out, Twenty One Pilots
2016: Hands to Myself, Selena Gomez
2017: Shape of You, Ed Sheeran

[DFL]

1971: Halleluwah - Can
1972: Close to the Edge - Yes
1973: Bel Air - Can
1974: Starless - King Crimson
1975: Ohm Sweet Ohm - Kraftwerk
1976: Sowiesoso - Cluster
1977: Venus - Television
1978: Die Mensch Maschine - Kraftwerk
1979: Even the Losers - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
1980: None
1981: (TIE) Computerliebe - Kraftwerk & City Life - Camel
1982: New World Man - Rush
1983: That's All - Genesis
1984: Bad - U2
1985: Mystic Rhythms - Rush
1986: I Know It's Over - The Smiths
1987: Invisible Touch - Genesis
1988: None
1989: Debaser - Pixies
1990: None
1991: What You Want - My Bloody Valentine
1992: None
1993: Bring Da Ruckus - Wu-Tang Clan
1994: The World is Yours - Nas
1995: Drink Away the Pain - Mobb Deep
1996: Where It's At - Beck
1997: None
1998: Blaise Bailey Finnegan III - Godspeed You! Black Emperor
1999: Never Meant - American Football
2000: Frontier Psychiatrist - The Avalanches
2001: Hard to Explain - The Strokes
2002: Poor Places - Wilco
2003: 12:51 - The Strokes
2004: Winters Love - Animal Collective
2005: The Predatory Wasp of the Pallisades is Out to Get Us!!! - Sufjan Stevens
2006-2008: None
2009: Brother Sport - Animal Collective
2010: Impossible Soul - Sufjan Stevens
2011: Under Cover of Darkness - The Strokes
2012: Mladic - Godspeed You! Black Emperor
2013: I Won't Be Long - Beck
2014: Blue Moon - Beck
2015: Maud Gone - Car Seat Headrest
2016: Fool - Frankie Cosmos
2017: Sure - Hatchie

[HillGoose]

I listen mostly to mainstream pop and rap, so...

2000: Oops I Did It Again by Britney Spears
2001: Ms. Jackson by Outkast
2002: A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
2003: Crazy in Love by Beyoncé and Jay-Z
2004: Jesus Walks by Kanye West
2005: Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson
2006: Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
2007: Potential Breakup Song by Aly & AJ
2008: Paper Planes by MIA
2009: Just Dance by Lady Gaga ft. Colby O'Donis
2010: Runaway by Kanye West ft. Pusha T
2011: Rolling in the Deep by Adele
2012: Die Young by Kesha
2013: Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe by Kendrick Lamar
2014: Latch by Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
2015: Style by Taylor Swift
2016: Greedy by Ariana Grande
2017: Praying by Kesha

"Die Young" was my second choice for 2012, and someone else already said "Payphone," 2012 had pretty obvious choices I think lol.

also "Unwritten" was a great choice for 2006. I was stuck on 2006 a while.

[°Leprechaun's Rainbow]

1969: Helplessly Hoping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUSEb2xtuaI

and:

Puede Ser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGVFzjxkDkQ

English translation ("Maybe"):

http://lyricstranslate.com/en/puede-ser-it-may-be.html#songtranslation

[Leinad]

2004: Winters Love - Animal Collective
2005: The Predatory Wasp of the Pallisades is Out to Get Us!!! - Sufjan Stevens

FF!!!

The former is super awesome, but the latter especially is probably one of my top 5 all-time songs.

-

I'll make one of these myself later today I think.

[Skunk]

Decided I'll also do the 90's since some other people are doing it.

1990: Escapade by Janet Jackson
1991: Emotions by Mariah Carey
1992: Don't Walk Away by Jade
1993: The Sign by Ace of Base
1994: Come to My Window by Melissa Etheridge
1995: Fantasy by Mariah Carey
1996: Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey
1997: Show Me Love by Robyn
1998: Believe by Cher
1999: Say My Name by Destiny's Child

[7,052,770]

This was compiled quickly and could have some that I wouldn't stand by if pressed:

1967 - The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever
1968 - Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
1969 - Neil Young - Down by the River
1970 - Derek and the Dominoes - Layla
1971 - The Who - Baba O'Riley
1972 - Yes - Close to the Edge
1973 - Led Zeppelin - Over the Hills and Far Away
1974 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
1975 - Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
1976 - Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand
1977 - David Bowie - Heroes
1978 - Bruce Springsteen - The Promised Land
1979 - The Clash - Train in Vain (Stand by Me)
1980 - Rush - Freewill
1981 - Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train
1982 - Queen/David Bowie - Under Pressure
1983 - U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
1984 - Bruce Springsteen - No Surrender
1985 - Bon Jovi - Livin on a Prayer
1986 - Europe - The Final Countdown
1987 - U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name
1988 - Guns N' Roses - Patience
1989 - Tesla - Love Song
1990 - Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike
1991 - Pearl Jam - Alive
1992 - Screaming Trees - Nearly Lost You
1993 - Smashing Pumpkins - Disarm
1994 - Weezer - Only in Dreams
1995 - Oasis - Wonderwall
1996 - Counting Crows - A Long December
1997 - Foo Fighters - Everlong
1998 - Aerosmith - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
1999 - New Radicals - You Get What You Give
2000 - U2 - Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out of
2001 - The White Stripes - Hotel Yorba
2002 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop
2003 - Muse - Time Is Running Out
2004 - The Killers - Mr. Brightside
2005 - The White Stripes - Blue Orchid
2006 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Make Your Feel Better
2007 - Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
2008 - Coldplay - Life in Technicolor ii
2009 - Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
2010 - Muse - Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forver)
2011 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Look Around
2012 - Muse - Madness
2013 - Black Sabbath - God Is Dead?
2014 - Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
2015 - Coldplay - Birds
2016 - David Bowie - Lazarus
2017 - ?

[DFL]

1972 - Yes - Close to the Edge

Yesssssssss

2004: Winters Love - Animal Collective
2005: The Predatory Wasp of the Pallisades is Out to Get Us!!! - Sufjan Stevens

FF!!!

The former is super awesome, but the latter especially is probably one of my top 5 all-time songs.

Seeing Predatory Wasp live was easily the #1 concert memory I have. Easily top 5 all-time songs for me too!

[mvd10]

2017: Up Till Dawn (Lucas & Steve)
2016: Cheap Thrills (Xia)
2015: Renegades (X Ambassadors)
2014: Animals (Maroon 5)
2013: Toss-up between Cool Kids (Echosmith) and Riptide (Vance Joy). 2013 was a great, great year.
2012: Whistle (Flo Rida)
2011: Pumped up Kicks (Foster the People)
2010: Dynamite (Taio Cruz) for pure nostalgia
2009: All the Right Moves (OneRepublic)
2008: Viva La Vida (Coldplay)
2007: This Is the Life (Amy MacDonald)

Can't believe Pumped up Kicks is that old. Omfg I feel so old right now .

[JGibson]

2007: Paramore "Crushcrushcrush"
2008: Paramore "Decode"
2009: Green Day "Know Your Enemy"
2010: Muse "Resistance"
2011: Foo Fighters "Rope"
2012: Linkin Park "Burn It Down"
2013: Imagine Dragons "Radioactive"
2014: Kongos "Come With Me Now"
2015: Walk The Moon "Shut Up and Dance"
2016: Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dark Necessities"
2017: Portugal. The Man "Feel It Still"

[7,052,770]

Oops, I forgot "Fight Song"

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Oops, I forgot "Fight Song"

Sad! I was going to say what a strong list you pit together that I could start with as a template. Forget about that!

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

This was compiled quickly and could have some that I wouldn't stand by if pressed:

1967 - The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever
1968 - Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
1969 - Neil Young - Down by the River
1970 - Derek and the Dominoes - Layla
1971 - The Who - Baba O'Riley
1972 - Yes - Close to the Edge
1973 - Led Zeppelin - Over the Hills and Far Away
1974 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
1975 - Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
1976 - Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand
1977 - David Bowie - Heroes
1978 - Bruce Springsteen - The Promised Land
1979 - The Clash - Train in Vain (Stand by Me)
1980 - Rush - Freewill
1981 - Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train
1982 - Queen/David Bowie - Under Pressure
1983 - U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
1984 - Bruce Springsteen - No Surrender
1985 - Bon Jovi - Livin on a Prayer
1986 - Europe - The Final Countdown
1987 - U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name
1988 - Guns N' Roses - Patience
1989 - Tesla - Love Song
1990 - Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike
1991 - Pearl Jam - Alive
1992 - Screaming Trees - Nearly Lost You
1993 - Smashing Pumpkins - Disarm
1994 - Weezer - Only in Dreams
1995 - Oasis - Wonderwall
1996 - Counting Crows - A Long December
1997 - Foo Fighters - Everlong
1998 - Aerosmith - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
1999 - New Radicals - You Get What You Give
2000 - U2 - Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out of
2001 - The White Stripes - Hotel Yorba
2002 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop
2003 - Muse - Time Is Running Out
2004 - The Killers - Mr. Brightside
2005 - The White Stripes - Blue Orchid
2006 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Make Your Feel Better
2007 - Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
2008 - Coldplay - Life in Technicolor ii
2009 - Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
2010 - Muse - Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forver)
2011 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Look Around
2012 - Muse - Madness
2013 - Black Sabbath - God Is Dead?
2014 - Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
2015 - Coldplay - Birds
2016 - David Bowie - Lazarus
2017 - ?

>Not having a single Nirvana song as the best of '89/'91/'93
Rape Me is my favorite song of 1993, Lithium is my favorite song of 1991 and Floyd, The Barber is my favorite song of 1989.

[politicallefty]

Oops, I forgot "Fight Song"

I'll come back to your list, but I just wanted to say I never want to hear that song again (or Katy Perry's Roar). I'd like to erase as much of 2016 from my mind as I possibly can.

[SingingAnalyst]

Take 2, female only version (1971-1997):

1971- Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves, Cher
1972- Brand New Key, Melanie
1973- Killing Me Softly, Roberta Flack
1974- Midnight At the Oasis, Maria Muldaur
1975- Theme from Mahogany, Diana Ross
1976- Evergreen, Barbra Streisand
1977- Nobody Does It Better, Carly Simon
1978- Don’t Cry Out Loud, Melissa Manchester
1979- Dim All the Lights- Donna Summer
1980- Upside Down, Diana Ross
1981- The Tide is High, Blondie
1982- When He Shines, Sheena Easton
1983- Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Tyler
1984- Let’s Hear It For the Boy, Deniece Williams
1985- Saving All My Love for You, Whitney Houston
1986- La Isla Bonita, Madonna
1987- I Live for Your Love, Natalie Cole
1988- One Moment in Time, Whitney Houston
1989- Straight Up, Paula Abdul
1990- Noting Compares 2 U, Sinead O’Connor
1991- Baby Baby, Amy Grant
1992- I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston
1993- Run to You, Whitney Houston
1994- Zombie, the Cranberries
1995- One of Us, Joan Osborne
1996- Because You Loved Me, Celine Dion
1997- My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion

[Leftbehind]

1977 - Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen
1978 - PIL - Public Image
1979 - The Clash - London Calling
1980 - The Jam - Going Underground
1981 - Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure
1982 - The Cure - One Hundred Years
1983 - Tears for Fears - Mad World
1984 - REM - Pretty Persuasion
1985 - The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?
1986 - Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over
1987 - The Replacements - The Ledge
1988 - The Sugarcubes - Birthday
1989 - The Sundays - Can't Be Sure
1990 - The La's - There She Goes
1991 - Nirvana - Lounge Act
1992 - Alice in Chains - Would?
1993 - The Cranberries - Linger
1994 - Suede - We Are the Pigs
1995 - Oasis - Morning Glory
1996 - The Bluetones - Slight Return
1997 - Jane's Addiction - Jane Says
1998 - Matthew Good Band - Indestructible
1999 - Our Lady Peace - One Man Army
2000 - Mansun - I Can Only Disappoint U
2001 - Muse - Bliss
2002 - Ryan Adams - Dear Chicago
2003 - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Stop
2004 - The Music - Freedom Fighters
2005 - Modest Mouse - Ocean Breathes Salty
2006 - The Vines - Take Me Back
2007 - Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
2008 - Lily Allen - The Fear
2009 - Manic Street Preachers - All Is Vanity
2010 - Warpaint - Elephants
2011 - Cut Off Your Hands - Hollowed Out
2012 - Susanne Sundfør - White Foxes
2013 - Jagwar Ma - The Throw
2014 - Wolf Alice - Moaning Lisa Smile
2015 - Tame Impala - The Less I Know the Better
2016 - Blossoms - Charlemagne
2017 - ...

Not definitive / tried to not splurge on certain artists / arbitrarily starting at '80 '77 'cos PIL / didn't try too hard to restrict myself to popular tracks.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

This list is absolute trash, but I didn't just waste 30 minutes of my life not to post. This is basically an impossible exercise. Hot 100 Quality changes year-to-year. Can't get print edition of older magazines as a refresher. Singles vs. Albums. Too much. Can't help but feel I am disrespecting Kanye.

2017   New Year's Day   Taylor Swift
2016   Closer   The Chainsmokers
2015   Speed Trap Town   Jason Isbell
2014   I Wish You Would   Taylor Swift (Take your pick from this album tbqh)
2013   Waitin' on June   Holly Williams
2012   Birmingham   Shovels & Rope
2011   Alabama Pines   Jason Isbell
2010   1968   Turnpike Troubadours
2009   I And Love And You   The Avett Brothers
2008   I Kissed a Girl   Katy Perry
2007   Watching You   Rodney Atkins
2006   When You Were Young   The Killers
2005   The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!   Sufjan Stevens
2004   Remember When   Alan Jackson
2003   Heathens   Drive By Truckers
2002   Travelin' Soldier   Dixie Chicks
2001   Austin   Blake Shelton
2000   How Do You Like Me Now   Toby Keith
1999   Believe   Cher
1998   In the Aeroplane Over the Sea   Neutral Milk Hotel
1997   My Heart Will Go On   Celine
1996   Strawberry Wine   Deanna Carter

[Drop Billionaires, Not Bombs]

1994: Lisa Loeb - Stay (I Missed You)
1995: Oasis - Wonderwall
1996: Sheryl Crow - If It Makes You Happy
1997: Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
1998: Semisonic - Closing Time
1999: Tal Bachman - She's So High
2000: Nine Days - Absolutely (Story of a Girl)
2001: U2 - Beautiful Day
2002: Vanessa Carlton - A Thousand Miles
2003: Evanescence - Bring Me To Life
2004: Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending
2005: Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends
2006: My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade
2007: Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry
2008: The Fray - You Found Me
2009: Train - Hey, Soul Sister
2010: Lady Antebellum - Need You Now

I did my birth year through 2010 because this decade has been absolutely terrible for music.  Or maybe I'm just getting old.  I do feel nostalgic going through these lists.

[Reaganfan]

I did a 2000s one 8 or 9 years ago.

MY TOP 20 SONGS OF THE DECADE

1. Why Don't You & I - Santana (2002)
2. Superman (It's Not Easy) - Five for Fighting (2000)
3. Shattered - O.A.R. (2008)
4. Hey Ya - Outkast (2003)
5. Ride Wit Me - Nelly (2000)
6. Don't Let Me Get Me - Pink (2001)
7. Who Says You Can't Go Home - Bon Jovi (2005)
8. Here Without You - Three Doors Down (2002)
9. Drops of Jupiter - Train (2001)
10. Whenever, Wherever - Shakira (2001)
11. Don't Matter - Akon (2006)
12. Don't Blink - Kenny Chesney (2007)
13. Only in America - Brooks and Dunn (2001)
14. One Last Breath - Creed (2001)
15. Celebrity - Brad Paisley (2003)
16. Have You Forgotten - Darryl Worley (2003)
17. This Love - Maroon 5 (2004)
18. It's My Life - Bon Jovi (2000)
19. I Wanna Talk About Me - Toby Keith (2001)
20. Absolutely (Story of a Girl) - Nine Days (2000)

2000 - 4 songs
2001 - 6 songs
2002 - 2 songs
2003 - 3 songs
2004 - 1 song
2005 - 1 song
2006 - 1 song
2007 - 1 song
2008 - 1 song

Honorable Mentions:
Back Here - BBMak
Faded - SoulDecision
Breathless - The Coors
Angel - Shaggy
Who I Am - Jessica Andrews
I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
Escape - Enrique Iglesias
Who's Your Daddy - Toby Keith
Mr. Mom - Lonestar
How You Remind Me - Nickelback
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's
When We Were Young - The Killers
19 Somethin' - Mark Wills
Beautiful Girls - Sean Kingston

[heatcharger]

^^ Really wild that white supremacists can have good taste in music.

Anyway I'll just do this decade:

2010: Runaway by Kanye West
2011: N***as in Paris by Jay-Z and Kanye West
2012: Pyramids by Frank Ocean
2013: Get Lucky by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell (Royals by Lorde is a pretty solid pop song tho)
2014: Fight Night by Migos
2015: The Blacker the Berry by Kendrick Lamar
2016: Broccoli by D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty
2017: T-Shirt by Migos

[Crumpets]

Sticking to my lifetime, since going back to the years of classic rock, it's pretty much impossible to pick some songs over others. I'm a bit generous on what year a song came out, since some were released as singles one year, but on an album the next year, or didn't get radio play until the year after they were released:

1993: Blind Melon - No Rain
1994: Nirvana - The Man Who Sold the World
1995: Hootie & the Blowfish - Only Wanna Be With You
1996: The Smashing Pumpkins - 1979
1997: The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
1998: The New Radicals - You Get What You Give
1999: Santana feat. Rob Thomas - Smooth
2000: Third Eye Blind - Never Let You Go
2001: Train - Drops of Jupiter
2002: Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
2003: Coldplay - The Scientist
2004: Green Day - Homecoming
2005: U2 - City of Blinding Lights
2006: The Shins - Phantom Limb
2007: MGMT - Time to Pretend
2008: Coldplay - Life in Technicolor II
2009: Fun. - Light a Roman Candle With Me
2010: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Home
2011: Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound (probably the hardest year to pick from)
2012: Fun. - We Are Young
2013: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Can't Hold Us
2014: Sleeper Agent - Waves
2015: Houndmouth - Sedona
2016: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown
2017: Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still

EDIT: Changed 2014

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

2015: Houndmouth - Sedona

One of the three finalists I had for this year. Such a tough choice to leave it off.