If I Were a Singer: My Top Picks of the Last 20 Years

Have you ever wondered which hit songs you'd choose if you were a singer? Inspired by the same curiosity, I decided to compile a list of my favorite songs from the past two decades, with a mix of newer releases and classics that have aged like fine wine. Let's dive into the selection.

My Top Picks

Here are the songs that would be in my toolkit if I were a singer, across a variety of genres and moods:

Recent Hits

Shape of You - Ed Sheeran - A catchy pop hit with a perfect blend of beatboxing and modern RB See You Again - Charlie Puth - A soulful tribute to Furious 7 that transcends the typical banshee bobs Heart Attack - Enrique Iglesias - A soaring ballad with a distinct Latin flair, a staple in every late-night drive playlist Attention - Charlie Puth - Another heartfelt ballad that resonates with a personal touch Despacito - Luis Miguel - A fun and feel-good Spanish-language track that deserves a spot on this list

Timeless Classics

While the past two decades have seen their fair share of hits, some older songs have a timeless appeal that remains relevant. Here are a few gems that I would add:

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen The Beatles - Let It Be AC/DC - Highways to Hell

My Musical Influences

While the above songs are my top picks, the genres that truly inspire me are Bossa Nova, Rap, Classic Rock, and Metal. Here’s a mix of songs across these genres that I would love to sing if I were capable:

Estrelar - Marcos Valle Na Boca do Sol - Celia In the Zone - Earth, Wind Fire (here referred to as Brazilian Rhyme) You’re My Best Friend - Queen Please Please Me - The Beatles Hallowed Be Thy Name - Iron Maiden Highways to Hell - AC/DC Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Other Artists and Tracks

Though the last two decades are my focus, there are a few other artists with songs of particular interest:

Primo Victoria - Sabaton Mamma Mia - ABBA Hey Ya! - Outkast Hey Ya! - Coolio Africa - Toto Gangsta's Paradise - L. V. Staying Alive - Bee Gees

Further Discoveries

Some of these songs don’t strictly fit the 20-year criteria but are timeless and well-loved. Here are a couple more:

Escape - Rupert Holmes (Pina Colada Song) The Soul Bones - The Trammps

Recent Phenomena

Lastly, here are some recent hit songs from the past few years:

Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve (1998) Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers (1999) Beautiful Day - U2 (2000) How You Remind Me - Nickelback (2001) Like a Stone - Audioslave (2002) Viva La Vida - Coldplay (2003) Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day (2004) The Hand That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails (2005) Fairytale Gone Bad - Sunrise Avenue (2006) What I've Done - Linkin Park (2007) Little Lion Man - Mumford Sons (2008) Fireflies - Owl City (2009) Lovely the Way You Lie - Eminem (2010) Walk - Foo Fighters (2011) Gangnam Style - PSY (2012) Wake Me Up - Avicii (2013) Summer - Calvin Harris (2014) Stitches - Shawn Mendes (2015) Alone - Marshmello (2016) Despacito - Luis Fonsi (2017) Chlorine - Twenty One Pilots (2018)

Each song on this list has left a significant mark on music history, and together, they paint a picture of the musical landscape over the past two decades.