DavesMusicDatabase.com is devoted to ranking, rating, and reviewing music of all genres and eras. The DMDB blog serves up album and song reviews, best-of lists, music history snapshots, and music-related essays.
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 | Top 50 Songs of the Decade (so far):2020-2029 |
These are the top 100 songs from the 2020s according to Dave’s Music Database. Rankings are figured by combining sales figures, chart data, radio airplay, video airplay, streaming figures, awards, and appearances on best-of lists. Check out other “songs of the decade” lists here.
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First posted 10/12/2024; last updated 1/21/2026. |
 | Grammy for Best New Artist:1959-2024 |
The Grammy for Best New Artist was first awarded in 1959. The guidelines state it is “for a new artist who releases, during the eligibility year, the first recording which establishes the public identify of that artist.” Oddly, it does not necessarily mean the first release by the artist. For example, Shelby Lynne won in 2001 after releasing six albums over 13 years. Bon Iver was nominated in 2012 despite his first album, For Emma, Forever Ago, being released in 2007. Similarly, Esperanza Spalding hardly represents the class of 2011 since her debut album came out in 2006. The award definitely doesn’t serve as much of an indicator of future success. As of 2012, there were more than 40 acts on the DMDB list of the top 100 of all time who were not even nominated. They include AC/DC, Aerosmith, The Beach Boys, The Bee Gees, David Bowie, Garth Brooks, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Neil Diamond, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5, Billy Joel, John Lennon, Madonna, Bob Marley, Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, Nirvana, Dolly Parton, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Pink Floyd, Prince, Queen, R.E.M., Kenny Rogers, Smokey Robinson, The Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, Santana, Simon & Garfunkel, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, The Supremes, The Temptations, U2, The Who, Stevie Wonder, and Neil Young.  The Rolling Stones: Not worthy – so said the Grammys Even when just those acts who were actually nominated are evaluated, the Grammys have a startling bad record of picking the act which would go on to have the most influence or success. To compare, I have listed the actual winners below as well as the nominee which ranks highest in Dave’s Music Database. In addition, I’ve added the DMDB Act of the Year. It includes acts who were not nominated for Best New Artist (indicated with an asterisk) and references the first year the act released a single, EP, or album instead of the year the act may have been nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy. Those rankings are based on acts’ chart success, sales, awards, and appearances on best-of lists. Note: the years indicated below refer to the year of eligibility. The actual Grammys were awarded the following year. See other best-of lists from publications/organizations.  Olivia Rodrigo on stage at the Grammys
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 Billie Eilish
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 Once again, the Grammys are confused by the meaning of the word “new.” 2011 winner Esperanza Spalding released her debut album in 2006.
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 2001 Best New Artist Shelby Lynne. First Album? 1989. Wait, huh?
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 Yup. Milli Vanilli won a Best New Artist Grammy. Nirvana wasn’t even nominated.
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 1977 winner: Starland Vocal Band – because everyone knows they were far more influential than, say, Boston or the Sex Pistols
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 The Beatles: one of the few cases when a deserving act was nominated and won
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First posted 2/11/2012; last updated 2/2/2025. |
 | New Musical Express (NME):Songs of the Year, 1953-2024 |
New Musical Express (NME) is a British music magazine first published in 1952. The magazine was responsible for the first UK singles chart that same year and has gone on to publish multiple best-of lists (links at bottom of page) throughout its history. Based on those lists are the top songs of each year from 1952 to 2008. From 2009 on, the top songs are determined by year-end lists. Check out other “songs of the year” lists here.
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First posted 4/12/2019; last updated 1/3/2025. |
 | Dave’s Music Database:Top 50 Songs of 2020 |
These are the top 50 songs of 2020 based on their overall performance in Dave’s Music Database, which is determined by combining chart data, sales figures, streaming, video views, and aggregates from year-end lists. Check out “Top Songs and Albums of the Year” lists here.
DMDB Top 1%:
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First posted 12/26/2021; last updated 1/17/2023. |
 | WAPCardi B & Megan Thee Stallion |
Writer(s): Cardi B, Megan Pete, Austin Owens, James Foye III, Frank Rodriguez, Jorden Thorpe (see lyrics here) Released: August 7, 2020 First Charted: August 22, 2020 Peak: 14 BB, 12 DG, 110 ST, 110 RB, 13 UK, 14 CN, 16 AU, 28 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 8.0 US, 1.2 UK, 11.2 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1097.67 video, 1369.63 streaming |
Awards:Click on award for more details. 
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About the Song:Cardi B had already topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves” (2017), “I Like It” (2018), and “Up” (2020) when she paired with Megan Thee Stallion for her fourth #1. The latter was born Megan Jovan Ruth Pete in Texas in 1995. She had also been part of the rap game since 2017, experiencing her first big success with “Hot Girl Summer” (#11 BB, 2019). She had her first chart-topping success earlier in 2020 with a remix of “Savage” that paired her with Beyoncé. Pairing these two American rappers together was a no-brainer. Not surprisingly, it was the first female collaboration to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100. The song was fueled by heavy bass and drum beats and a sample from 1993’s “Whores in This House” by DJ Frank Ski. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion rap about “how they want to be pleased by men, specifically referencing numerous sexual practices” WK and “exchanging dirty talk about their lady parts.” SF Some praised the song for “its sex-positive message and for empowering women.” WK Pitchfork’s Lakin Starling called it “a nasty-ass rap bop, bursting with the personality of two of rap’s most congenial household names.” WK The New York Times’ Jon Caramanica said it was “an event record that transcends the event itself.” WK NPR’s Taylor Crumpton said it was “an already iconic song about women sexuality.” WK There were also conservative pundits who criticized the song for sexually explicit lyrics. The New York Times’ Ben Sisario said it “is almost certainly the most explicit song” SF to top the Hot 100. A clean radio version of the song made changes to the song, such as substituting the hook “wet-ass pussy” (the title is an acronym for “Wet-Ass Pussy”) with “wet and gushy.” WK Cardi B explained that the video used the censored version because “even YouTube was like ‘Hold on…that song might be too nasty.’” SF Resources:
First posted 1/16/2024; last updated 10/13/2024. |
 | Savage (remix)Megan Thee Stallion with Beyoncé |
Writer(s): Megan Pete, Anthony White, Bobby Session Jr. (see lyrics here) Released: April 7, 2020 First Charted: March 28, 2020 Peak: 11 BB, 13 DG, 11 ST, 38 A40, 13a RB, 3 UK, 9 CN, 4 AU (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, 0.6 UK, 4.83 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 156.94 video, 436.60 streaming |
Awards:Click on award for more details. 
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About the Song:Megan Jovan Ruth Pete (aka “Megan Thee Stallion”) was born in 1995, in Houston, Texas. The “feisty firecracker with complete confidence in her allure to men” SF became part of the rap game in 2017, experiencing her first big success with “Hot Girl Summer” (#11 BB, 2019). In 2020, she had her biggest success yet with “Savage,” the third single from her Suga EP. A TikTok dance challenge by choreographer Keara Wilson went viral, with celebreties even performing it. WK “Savage” amassed more than 7.5 billion views on TikTok in March 2020. WK Consequence of Sound’s Candace McDuffie said, Megan “paints herself as the hood Mona Lisa.” WK Jessica McKinney of Complex said the song’s beat is “reminiscent of nostalgic hip-hop music videos set on a Miami beach, and its chorus is expressive, which is perfect for dancing.” WK A remix of the song featuring Beyoncé was released on April 29, 2020 and later featured on Good News, Megan’s debut album. The remix “was met with widespread critical acclaim with praise for Megan and Beyoncé's chemistry and various delivery styles, as well as for fully transforming the song with new verses.” WK The New York Times, Slate, and The Ringer all ranked the song as the best of the year. It also was nominated for Grammys for Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance, winning the latter two. Megan also won the Grammy for Best New Artist. Resources:
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First posted 5/1/2024; last updated 10/15/2024. |
