The 100 Best Songs of 2020


Music gives us so much—an escape, a salve, a reflection of the world in which we live. But in 2020, it felt vital in a new way. Consider the joys of Dua Lipa’s “Physical”, a modern, disco-indebted stunner that—outside of the countless clubs and parties for which it’s still ultimately destined—reminded us to keep dancing, especially in quarantine. Or the urgency and impact of music from artists such as Headie One, J Hus, and Lianne La Havas, who, in the midst of a global reckoning with systemic racism, shone important, diverse lights on the Black British experience. From Bad Bunny to beabadoobee, Joel Corry to Arlo Parks and The Weeknd, music of all styles and perspectives brought us closer together at a time when many of us have been forced apart. That’s the story of the year, and these are the songs and sounds that defined it, as chosen by Apple Music’s team of editors.