ILM's Top 100 Tracks of the 2010s

Here’s a Spotify playlist I'll be updating if you want to follow the results over there:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0DQ45I1yLMnT7XsLytSMgU

I will also be posting links to youtube for every winner, but I will not be updating a YouTube/Tidal/Apple Music/Amazon Music playlist. If anyone wants to give it a go please share the links.

This poll is brought to you by ufo and yours truly. Thank you, ufo, for organizing and setting everything up!

Don't get too excited yet! Poll starts in around 11 hours. Just starting preemptively this thread since I'll be posting on mobile tomorrow and I was afraid I might mess up the opening thread if done that way.

Number of votes will act as tie-breakers for tracks with the same number of points.

As explained in the voting thread this tie-breaker method leaves out our #101 which technically has the same number of points as #100, so I'll also post it as a runner-up.

See you tomorrow!

Fingers x'ed for no Drake

lol

I look forward to waking up to this!

Fingers x'ed for no Drake

Which 10s mainstay would you rather complain about showing up? Cause we have to complain about someone

Why complain about only one?

And why limit complaints to artists? my foot is itchy

Itchy Foot vs Wet Leg

yes, the 2020s poll will be horrible too

Wet Leg will be completely forgotten by 2030. The only feeling experienced upon their mention will be a vague sense of embarrassment

Which 10s mainstay would you rather complain about showing up? Cause we have to complain about someone

Destroyer and Lana Del Rey, perhaps.

there were times during the voting period where the results were very silly and would have really annoyed nearly everyone

I can feel the outrage simmering within me already.

Feel like anywhere between 2 and 25 of my votes could place. stoked for the outrage.

I forgot to submit a ballot for this but that won't quell my outrage anyways.

THEY'RE READY

https://uploads.dailydot.com/2019/12/doge-meme.jpg
https://uploads.dailydot.com/2019/12/supa-hot-fire.jpg
https://uploads.dailydot.com/2019/12/how-do-you-do.jpg

I Love The 10s!

I’ll start a bit early today so I can post the full 20+1 results of the day.

Let the rage begin!

https://i.imgur.com/Cnyfzqv.jpg
101. Jack Ü (Skrillex and Diplo) feat. Justin Bieber - Where Are Ü Now (2015)
[302 points / 5 votes]
Previous Placement: 19 in 2015
Video

Just checked my response to this in the 2015 poll, and it is the same as my response now: not really into it, but that hook is definitely something Kevin Shields might have come up with

amazing song

apparently i didn't have room on my ballot to vote for it? jeez

Interesting! Never heard this before or even knew that it existed, but yeah, not a bad hook.

Which 10s mainstay would you rather complain about showing up? Cause we have to complain about someone

― Vinnie

Richard Dawson

didn't vote for it, was on my long list though so nice to see it show up, my favourite Bieber related track of the 2010s.

Where Are Ü Now and Sorry are the only two Justin Bieber related songs I really enjoy.

Good call picking an image that doesn't feature Justin to start the countdown.

I avoided, without any particular effort, Bieber entirely until this came out. Then a bit less so.

How quickly we forget U Smile (slowed 9x)

I kind of dislike all of three of the people involved in here but yeah that beat and hook - actually made up of chopped and processed vocals from within the song, which is some sort of signature sound skriplo liked to use a lot at the beginning of the decade - are classic.

didn't vote for this but i'm glad it's on here as a kind of blueprint for a certain brand of mid-10s pop done very well

I couldn't muster up the enthusiasm for anything to vote in this poll, but I probably would have fit that track on my ballot.

I kind of dislike all of three of the people involved in here

I hate all three of the people involved! Track rules, though.

Yes it’s a very “2010s sound” in my mind.

(NB: my lack of enthusiasm about 'anything' is not referring to the tracks, just... life)

Perhaps some pop to start our actual top 100?

https://i.imgur.com/XBfTWI1.jpg
100. Oranssi Pazuzu - Vasemman Käden Hierarkia (2016)
[302 points / 6 votes / 1 Nº1 vote]
Previous Placement: 43 in 2016
Video

All downhill from here folks

My favorite Oranssi Pazuzu track is probably "Tyhja Temppeli" from 2013, but this is good too.

great images moka once again

I feel like I should try to explain why this is my #1 of the decade, but equally I also think that if you get through all 17 minutes you'll understand. Let's go with: Michael Bay and Christian Vander co-direct psych-prog-metal version of Echoes, in space, on drugs, in hell. (Loud Version) (Extended)

Seeing it live was the purest euphoria

https://i.imgur.com/jvIlZfv.jpg
99. Chromatics - Shadow (2015)
[303 points / 4 votes]
Previous Placement: 39 in 2017
Video

perfect outtro to the return first episode

Ok, I'm liking this (Oranssi Pazuzu) a lot better than the Justin Bieber! I don't usually find myself listening to very much metal, but this gets deeply psychedelic. Good choice, imago!

yeh i had forgot this oranssi pazuzu track but it rules

so far these results are extremely "ilm," so good job voters

Vasemman Käden Hierarkia video doesn't seem to work for me (in UK) - here's a link which plays here and (I think) is the same track.

I didn't end up voting for any Italians Do It Better tracks. I might have gone for Kill For Love if it had been nominated. Should have probably given Warm In the Winter a few points.

Really like that we have the previous placements for these tracks. Will be interesting to see how things have changed.

https://i.imgur.com/dfqNwBr.jpg
98. Kacey Musgraves - Slow Burn (2018)
[304 points / 6 votes]
Previous Placement: 21 in 2018
Video

A part of me will never be able to look past the fact that "Shadow" rips off "Wish Fulfillment" by Sonic Youth, but it's been one of my most-listened to tracks since it came out, so you kinda can't argue with those end results. And as pointed out it's indelibly linked with Twin Peaks.

so far these results are extremely "ilm," so good job voters

― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever)

I feel like if we stop it now these four tracks might be a p perfect representation of ILM. Maybe not enough tasteful disco yet, though.

Thanks KP! 2017 in particular seems to have had some considerable revision -- the "Now" list looks much better to me. Interesting that "Money Trees" is the only track in a "Now" list not to have placed "Then."

Moka, your revised 2016 is def more interesting!

RE: Formation: December 2016 was a dark fucking time is how I break it down to some extent. But by "self-congratulatory" I meant how the EOY polls often feature posters praising ILM for being so different from bad and horrible music pubs. I don't think liking Beyonce fits into that mythos :)

not necessarily ones who like [redacted] or [ahem], or indeed [hmm]

otm

And I can't speak for how everyone constructed their ballots, but ballot decisions for a decade poll won't necessarily be the same as decisions for a year poll. Balloon might have been 2019 personified, but clearly a lot of voters didn't feel it represented the decade. I mean, I voted for it then but not now, due to the sheer profusion of things I had to fit in. Still sad at how low it placed mind

― imago, Friday, August 26, 2022 8:30 AM (thirteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

I'd be surprised if a lot of voters are thinking about how a song "represents the decade," but clearly a decade poll is going to reward songs that voters continue to enjoy and return to, whereas a year-end poll may feature more temporary enthusiasms. ("Gangnam Style" was a genuinely fun pop moment in 2012, even if I have no desire to hear it again.)

Well yes, that's a better way to put it

Lol ok I get you. I thought you meant “self congratulatory” as in consciously choosing “important songs”, which “Formation” definitely felt like back then.

Lol that does remind me of a very earnest 22-year old white (Canadian) girl telling me "no white person needs to say anything about Formation" the day after the video dropped. Tbf it's quite possible I voted for it back then!

Really all you can ask of ILM is either broad musical curiosity, or deep special foci. Posters who do the listening.

I will say despite not really vibing with these particular polls, I've been finding ILM super fun & useful lately. People cherry-picking that pitchfork overlooked albums list was a goldmine (plus Evan telling me to check out Gwenno's whole discography: amazing), I have a bunch of Moon Glyph albums to check out based on responses to that thread, rolling afropop has been delivering, etc.

It helps that I've stopped caring about ILM's disengagement with dancehall. This place does tend to "work" better if you let it pull you in its own direction to a degree

I don't get Chris's Gangnam Style comment?

To me, it's kinda like if "I'm Too Sexy" had been in the top 10 songs of 1992. But, I'm getting old and am always skeptical of the pop zeitgeist, so ignore me.

Gangnam Style was huge. I heard it the other day at a water aerobics class. Not my water aerobics class. I just took my daughter to swim lessons and there was an aerobics class at the other end of the pool. Anyway, it's a mega banger. I'm Too Sexy was a dashed-off piece of novelty piss.

I have not yet been medically advised to do water aerobics.

So glad others have enjoyed the comparison lists I put together. As I posted them I had this sudden realisation other people might not care as much.

I think overall I prefer the now lists just because a few personal favourites have benefited (Susanne Sundfør, Paramore, KING, tracks by Hatchie Wolf Alice and my favourite Charli XCX).

Looking at the changes, the two artists that suffered are Miguel who made our top ten four times and Jessie Ware who had two songs in our 2018 and 2019 lists that didn't get a single vote (Aaliyah and Imagine It Was Us didn't make our top 100 either). With Miguel, the biggest shock was the duet with Mariah. At some point somebody had put a list together of our most popular songs from the decade due to votes and it was in there. 37 people voted for it in 2013 and it went down to three for this decade list. I spent all last week thinking it would be at least top 20. With Jessie Ware, obviously she dominated our 2020 lists and it was more down to vote splitting.

Missed this poll completely, but I’m gona check out the Spotify playlist. Most surprising thing as I skim the results is no Cardi B. I thought “Bodak Yellow” would be a lock for top ten.

I have never heard of KING or Susanne Sundfør and had no idea ILM rated them so highly. It’s like I don’t even know who you people are anymore.

miguel also got very vote-split, 5 tracks (counting "#beautiful") got 3+ votes but only "adorn" placed

"bodak yellow" only made #11 in 2017 and that was when there were a lot more rap fans still posting/voting. it was fairly controversial here too

To me, it's kinda like if "I'm Too Sexy" had been in the top 10 songs of 1992.

it's a little better than that but mostly otm lol and i'm one of the board's biggest kpop fans

Interesting that "Money Trees" is the only track in a "Now" list not to have placed "Then."

"cartoon & cereal" was the best-placing kendrick track in 2012 but that kinda fell off in prominence due to it never getting an official release, it's still a fan favourite though. "money trees" also was never a single but has apparently since become the consensus favourite from gkmc

honestly, only vaguely knew of Sundfør before this poll and am very much enjoying her music right now. i def would have voted for 10 Love Songs and maybe a few tracks had i known her stuff better going in.

Initial thought on the first thirty or so:

“Super Bass” is fun and catchy! “boom ba boom-boom, boom ba boom-boom bass”
That twenty-minute death metal jam is… ok, not really my thing, especially the vocals.
“Operator” is another dance classic. Everything I’ve heard from DJ Koze has been great.
“Slow Burn”: one of the lyrics is “Grandma cried when I pierced my nose.” LOL!
“Habits Stay High”: My nine-year-old niece loves this song and always asks Alexa to play it. Errrrr…
“Love Is a Bourgee Construct” = WOW!!! Who knew PSB were still capable of dance-pop genius?
It turns out KING is great! Mellow and druggy with beautiful singing.
“Incapable”: great funky bassline
“XMAS EVE”: come on, he is capable of so much better.
“Marry Me Archie”: those are some BAD vocals
“All You’re Waiting For”: What is with so many bands out there trying to do the ‘80s electro revival? Still, this is pretty great stuff.

I voted for Cartoon & Cereal, and I still think it's the best thing he has ever done. Although Mother I Sober is up there.

Not been following this poll as I've not been around much but people really cooled on "Wut" didn't they?

Relevantly, it was never particularly great in the first place.

I always liked it, although I suppose it sounds less remarkable in today's context

I don't think it was nominated, but otherwise I would have voted for it. Great track.

ngl “Super Bass” has made me cry— on a good system it sounds so incredible

"wut" was #107 so it didn't do terrible

fred b let wut down

Wut still sounds fantastic to me

I’m more disappointed by the lack of Waka… was “hard in da paint” 2009?

2010. We need a Goon Crew 2010s list.

2010. Ended up in #127

Grove St. Party all the way down in #772

i think i was the only voter for grove street

no I voted for it too

high five

Oh, lol, I thought you all meant Le1f. That's the Wut I like. I'd completely forgotten about Girl Unit.

i voted for hi five

Yeah baby that's the Wut I like!

Wut revisionism is...wild to me.

is it really revisionism when a completely different of people are voting? that KAS album only got like 4 votes too

different group

girl unit - wut is complete trash

In a rather good way. It just doesn't need to be six minutes, it gets long after four.

“All Too Well”: easily the worst thing I’ve heard from TayTay. Terrible clichéd “I/You” lyrics.

“Don’t Start Now”: the “Live in L.A.”remix is better, but this is still pretty great. Future Nostalgia is an amazing album.

“Video Games”: What a pretty voice! But I mean “heaven is a place on earth”? Really? Gee I wonder where have I heard that lyric before?

“Work”: No no no no no.

“Tightrope”: A fun danceable romp! I miss Big Boi.

“Money Machine”: GOOD GOD this is awful. You people are fucking idiots for liking this trash.

“The Greatest” and “Native Land”: Awwww yeah. KING are my new favorite discovery of this poll. I’m gonna snag their album the first chance I get. Mellow and groovy.

“King Kunta”: He sounds like a raspy James Brown.

The 1975: Shut up, shouty bro.

“Cranes in the Sky”: I like the deedle-dee background on this.

“212”: I haven’t heard this song in a LONG time but man, I coulda sworn this song had harder beats and not this goofy house/techno dance shit. Either I’ve been listening to a far superior remix the whole time or my memory is terrible.

“Dancing on My Own”: Yippy-skippy. Yet another song on this poll sung by a lovesick woman about how much she misses her man. Good but insanely overrated. “Be Mine” and “Konichiwa Bitches” are both better.

“Realiti”: Not bad! Catchy! The riff sounds like “The Melody” by DJ Mangoo.

“Call Me Maybe”: I like Carly Ray Jepsen. She should’ve released the Fuller House song as a single.

“Inspector Norse”: A great dance song, but this can’t possibly be the best song of the decade!

It can and it is!

Can Be, Maybe.

but no, not really, no.

Then again, it's possible

Never got the whole deal about Realiti demo

“Dancing on My Own”: Yippy-skippy. Yet another song on this poll sung by a lovesick woman about how much she misses her man

I'm not even a fan but this is such a stupidly grotesque take

Yeah you’re right. I take it back!

"One more chick bitching."

It’s like if you let women artists into your poll then you have to listen to them sing about their feeeeeelings