Twostepcubchart's Best of 2016: Part Ten - #10 to #1 and the whole she-bang...

We've reached the final installment of my year-end recap of the biggest hits on my weekly music chart for 2016. These are the songs that had gone the highest and/or stuck around the longest in the year. You can click over to catch up on the whole countdown or on parts one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and the 25 also-rans...

#10 - "Ophelia" - The Lumineers
          from the album Cleopatra (2016)
          Highest rank: #2 (one week)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2016): 41 (still charting)
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #66
          Songwriters: Wesley Schultz, Jeremy Fraites

Back in 2012, the indie-folk trio had the #10 song of my year-end recap with "Ho Hey" and landing a nomination for a Grammy for Best New Artist. Four years later, they are back at #10 with the moody and plodding switched with flashes of shanty song "Ophelia". It took a while for this gem to catch on with the bright and flashy radio landscape, but it proves simple is sometimes better.

Killer lyric: Oh, oh, got a new girlfriend, he feels like he's on top,
                    And I don't feel no remorse, and you can't see past my blinders...

(Click below to see the rest of the post)

#9 - "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" - Adele
        from the album 25 (2015)
        Highest rank: #2 (two weeks)
        Weeks on the chart: 30
        Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8
        Songwriters: Adele Adkins (Adele), Max Martin, Karl Schuster (Shellback)

Adele had the top two songs on my recap for 2011 with "Someone Like You" and "Rolling In The Deep". Five years later, she returned with a new album, and again two singles in the top ten (as well as "When We Were Young" at #19). This was the more "upbeat" of her offerings, although it still delivers a bitter punch as Adele tells an ex to do better with the next one. And that dress - flawless.

Killer lyric: Send my love to your new lover,
                    Treat her better,
                    We've gotta let go of all of our ghosts,
                    We both know we ain't kids no more...

 #8 - "Cake By The Ocean" - DNCE
         from the album DNCE (2016)
         Highest rank: #1 (three weeks)
         Weeks on the chart: 30
         Billboard Hot 100 peak: #9
         Songwriters: Joe Jonas, Justin Trantor, Mattias Larsson & Robin Fredriksson (Mattman & Robin)

When the Disney sibling stars The Jonas Brothers split as a recording unit, it was a given that they would fade as most of the male actor/singers in their stable. But with major re-invention and patience, they prove they're stronger apart; last year Nick came on my year-end at #41 with "Jealous", and this time Joe, with his dance-pop band DNCE, appears in the top ten with this earworm whose title was a lost in translation moment for the Swedish co-writers for the "Sex On The Beach" cocktail. The album itself, which seems to draw heavily from K-pop influences, was one of the most enjoyable surprises of the year.

Killer lyric: See you walking 'round like it's a funeral,
                    Not so serious, girl; why those feet cold?
                   We just getting started; don't you tiptoe...

#7 - "Ride" - twenty-one pilots
        from the album blurryface (2015)
        Highest rank: #4 (two weeks)
        Weeks on the chart: 35
        Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
        Songwriter: Tyler Joseph

The modern rock duo went from being nerdy rap-rock act to rock superstars with their Blurryface album. The first single from the set, "Tear In My Heart", was at #30 on my year-end for 2015; now besides their soundtrack offering "Heathens" at #13, two more Blurryface songs made the top ten. "Ride" has a pseudo-reggae vibe that melds into an EDM-style blast that set it apart from the other "band" sounds on rock radio, and even put this on the dance airplay chart's top-5. And it's refreshing to have just one songwriter on a single instead of a committee too big for one table.

Killer lyric:  Yeah, I think about the end just way too much,
                     But it's fun to fantasize,
                     All my enemies who wouldn't wish who I was,
                     But it's fun to fantasize...

#6 - "Can't Stop The Feeling!" - Justin Timberlake
        from the album Trolls (Original Soundtrack) (2016)
        Highest rank: #1 (three weeks)
        Weeks on the chart: 30
        Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
        Songwriters: Justin Timberlake, Max Martin, Karl Schuster (Shellback)

This neo-disco jam was supposed to be the pre-ordained "song of the summer" in 2016, before Drake stole the crown with his lazy trop-house/reggae of "One Dance". But I still commend Justin for coming up with a concoction that should have repelled everyone but instead had everyone boogie in their seats. Perhaps if this came out when the Trolls movie did in the fall this would've dominated the fall. I'm sure he's not sweating it, though. And those bears in the video. Umph.

Killer lyric:  I got that sunshine in my pocket,
                    Got that good soul in my feet,
                     I feel that hot blood in my body when it drops,
                     I can't take my eyes up off it, moving so phenomenally...

#5 - "Hello" - Adele
        from the album 25 (2015)
        Highest rank (in 2016): #1 (seven weeks) (was #1 for 3 weeks in 2015)
        Weeks on the chart (in 2016): 20 (was on for 6 weeks in 2015)
        Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
        Songwriters: Adele Adkins, Greg Kurstin

...and this was the one to start it all. The first #1 of the year (carrying over from 2015), this angry-ex anthem could've been downright stalkerish in the hands of anyone but Adele (must've called a thousand times?), but we all were so starved for adult, thoughtful, and passionate pop music that we drank it like a desert oasis.

Killer lyric: Hello, how are you?
                    It's so typical of me to talk about myself I'm sorry,
                    I hope that you're well
                    Did you ever make it out of that town where nothing ever happened...

#4 - "Stressed Out" - twenty-one pilots
        from the album blurryface (2015)
        Highest rank: #1 (three weeks)
        Weeks on the chart (in 2016): 31 (was on for 9 weeks in 2015)
        Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2
        Songwriter: Tyler Joseph

The growing-up anthem from the rap-rock duo was their shining moment, with two Grammy noms for next year on the way. Lulling us with the memory of our childhoods, it created a universal mood we could cling to in these crazy-ass times.

Killer lyric: Sometimes a certain smell will take me back to when I was young,
                    How come I'm never able to identify where it's coming from,
                    I'd make a candle out of it if I ever found it,
                    Try to sell it, never sell out of it, I'd probably only sell one...

#3 - "7 Years" - Lukas Graham
        from the album Lukas Graham (2015)
        Highest rank: #1 (nine weeks)
        Weeks on the chart: 25
        Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2
        Songwriters: Lukas Forchammer & Morten Ristorp (Lukas Graham), Stefan Forrest, Morten Pilegaard

Further proof this year had us running back to our parents' came from across the ocean, as the unassuming Danish pop band captured our heart with this tale of family and aging that brought a tear to many an eye (like mine). Their entire record is stellar, but this record eclipsed it all.

Killer lyric: Soon I'll be sixty years old, my daddy got sixty-one,
                    Remember life and then your life becomes a better one,
                    I made a man so happy when I wrote a letter once,
                    I hope my children come and visit, once or twice a month...

#2 - "Unsteady" - X Ambassadors
        from the album VHS (2015)
        Highest rank (in 2016): #10 (two weeks) (still at peak)
        Weeks on the chart (in 2016): 46 (still charting)
        Billboard Hot 100 peak: #20
        Songwriters: Sam Harris, Casey Harris, Noah Feldshuh, Adam Levin (X Ambassadors), Alexander Grant (Alex da Kid)

The alternative rock band from upstate New York seemingly took over where Imagine Dragons left off, being that sort of edgy rock/pop act that's not too threatening, and flowed seemlessly through genres picking up pieces like Rogue in the X-Men to make their sound. Last year, their breakthrough single "Renegades" marched itself to #6 on my year-end chart. This time, barely making the top ten in the final weeks of the year but languishing in the top 40 for most of it, they tackled addiction and domestic problems obliquely in the lyrics and directly in the powerful video.

Killer lyric: Mother, I know,
                    That you’re tired of being alone,
                    Dad, I know you’re trying,
                    To fight when you feel like flying...

#1 - "Cheap Thrills" - Sia featuring Sean Paul
        from the album This Is Acting (2016)
        Highest rank: #1 (ten weeks)
        Weeks on the chart (in 2016): 36 (still charting)
        Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
        Songwriters: Sia Furler (Sia), Greg Kurstin, Sean Paul Henriques (Sean Paul)

The Australian songwriting master first got her major American break in 2011 with her turn on David Guetta's "Titanium", which came in at #3 for the year. In 2014, "Chandelier" made it to #21 on her own. Now, Sia claims the top song of the year on my chart by a wide margin (almost a thousand "points") with this swaying ode to joy without cash that drew from tropical house and reggaeton and slowly built its fanbase to secure its place at the summit not only on my chart, but on the Billboard chart as well. An extraordinary artist who is in her peak in her forties, and deservedly so.

Killer lyric: Come on, come on, turn the radio on,
                    It's Saturday and I won't be long,
                    Gotta paint my nails, put my high heels on,
                    It's Saturday and I won't be long...

There you go, I've finish this year's biggest. Thanks for taking this journey through the past twelve months, and thanks for dropping by my little corner of the interwebs. And now here's the top 100...

1. Cheap Thrills - Sia featuring Sean Paul
2. Unsteady - X Ambassadors
3. 7 Years - Lukas Graham
4. Stressed Out - twenty-one pilots
5. Hello - Adele
6. Can't Stop The Feeling! - Justin Timberlake
7. Ride - twenty-one pilots
8. Cake By The Ocean - DNCE
9. Send My Love (To Your New Lover) - Adele
10. Ophelia - The Lumineers
11. First - Cold War Kids (was #25 in 2015)
12. HandClap - Fitz & The Tantrums
13. Heathens - twenty-one pilots
14. Adventure Of A Lifetime - Coldplay
15. One Call Away - Charlie Puth
16. Way Down We Go - Kaleo
17. Brand New - Ben Rector
18. Don't Bring Me Down - The Chainsmokers featuring Daya
19. When We Were Young - Adele
20. All We Ever Knew - The Head and the Heart
21. This Is What You Came For - Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna
22. Hymn For The Weekend - Coldplay
23. Let It Go - James Bay
24. Spirits - The Strumbellas
25. Bored To Death - blink-182
26. Trouble - Cage The Elephant
27. Dark Necessities - Red Hot Chili Peppers
28. This Girl - KUNGS vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners
29. Faded - Alan Walker
30. Die A Happy Man - Thomas Rhett
31. I Took A Pill In Ibiza - Mike Posner
32. The Fire and the Flood - Vance Joy
33. Snapback - Old Dominion
34. Good Grief - Bastille
35. Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes
36. T-Shirt - Thomas Rhett
37. Stitches - Shawn Mendes
38. One Dance - Drake featuring Wizkid & Kyla
39. Something In The Way You Move - Ellie Goulding
40. Just Like Fire - P!nk
41. Stand By You - Rachel Platten
42. Mess Around - Cage The Elephant
43. Walking On A Dream - Empire of the Sun
44. H.O.L.Y. - Florida Georgia Line
45. Roses - The Chainsmokers featuring ROZES
46. Here - Alessia Cara
47. Home Alone Tonight - Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild
48. Lake By The Ocean - Maxwell
49. Make You Miss Me - Sam Hunt
50. Closer - The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey
51. We Don't Talk Anymore - Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez
52. Pillowtalk - Zayn
53. Hell No - Ingrid Michaelson
54. Lost Boy - Ruth B
55. On My Mind - Ellie Goulding
56. Piece By Piece - Kelly Clarkson
57. You Should Be Here - Cole Swindell
58. Think Of You - Chris Young featuring Cassadee Pope
59. Smooth Sailin' - Leon Bridges
60. Shame - Tyrese (was #26 for 2015)
61. Beautiful Drug - The Zac Brown Band
62. Stay A Little Longer - Brothers Osborne
63. Ex's & Oh's - Elle King (was #14 in 2015)
64. Dancing On My Own - Calum Scott
65. Mountain At My Gates - Foals
66. Bang Bang - Green Day
67. Wherever I Go - OneRepublic
68. Break Up In A Small Town - Sam Hunt
69. My House - Flo Rida
70. Off The Ground - The Record Company
71. Setting The World On Fire - Kenny Chesney featuring P!nk
72. River - Bishop Briggs
73. Ain't No Man - The Avett Brothers
74. Cold Water - Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber & MO
75. Humble and Kind - Tim McGraw
76. Record Year - Eric Church
77. You Look Like I Need A Drink - Justin Moore
78. I Need Never Get Old - Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
79. Move - Luke Bryan
80. Fix - Chris Lane
81. Trip Switch - Nothing But Thieves
82. Little Bit Of You - Chase Bryant
83. Casual Party - Band of Horses
84. Permission - Ro James
85. Never Forget You - Zara Larsson & MNEK
86. Rise - Katy Perry
87. Under The Influence - Elle King
88. Wish I Knew You - The Revivalists
89. Backroad Song - Granger Smith
90. Keep You In Mind - Guordan Banks
91. 11 Blocks - Wrabel
92. America's Sweetheart - Elle King
93. Different For Girls - Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King
94. The Pop Kids - Pet Shop Boys
95. Peter Pan - Kelsea Ballerini
96. Drunk On Your Love - Brett Eldredge
97. Church Bells - Carrie Underwood
98. Middle Of A Memory - Cole Swindell
99. Sit Still, Look Pretty - Daya
100. 24K Magic - Bruno Mars

Cheers, and Happy New Year...