SONG OF THE YEAR

SONG OF THE YEAR

BLACK PARADE

Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso”Tice, songwriters Beyoncé, artist

Beyoncé released “Black Parade” on Juneteenth, which commemorates when Union soldiers came to Texas with news of the emancipation of the enslaved. In the thick of a modern uprising against social injustice, she wrote this so people would remember, and for a worthy cause. On this charity single, Beyoncé channeled her ancestors and empowered those who have endured and triumphed. “Share joy and celebrate each other,” she wrote. “Even in the midst of struggle, please remember our beauty, strength and power. ‘Black Parade’ celebrates you, your voice and your joy and will benefit Black-owned small businesses.”

THE BOX

Larrance Dopson, Samuel Gloade, Rodrick Moore, Adarius Moragne, Eric Sloan & Khirye Anthony Tyler, songwriters Roddy Ricch, artist

The first rap song of the decade to become a No. 1 hit, “The Box” sparks with such compelling sonics and viral appeal that its smash hit status seems to be a calculated move. But it wasn’t. “We never were like, ‘Oh, it’s a single,’” Roddy Ricch said to Entertainment Weekly. “I don’t even believe in singles ... I believe in full albums ... I really just wanted to put out songs with people that I was rocking with.” About the suddenness of his success, he said, “I feel like it’s just God’s timing. God just chose me to be a leader of the new era … and I’m thankful for it every day.”

CARDIGAN

Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift, songwriters Taylor Swift, artist

It’s a song about “lost romance,” Taylor Swift said on Twitter, “and why young love … leaves such an indelible mark.” She wrote it with Aaron Dessner, who told Vulture that Swift invited him to send music. “Just send anything … it could be the weirdest thing you’ve ever done.” He sent a folder with many new pieces he was excited about. One song sketch was called “Maple,” and it was the one she chose. Five hours later, she sent back “Cardigan” complete. “That’s when I realized something crazy was happening,” he said. “She just dialed directly into the heart of the music and wrote an incredible song.”

CIRCLES

Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post & Billy Walsh, songwriters Post Malone, artist

Written by Post Malone with Adam Feeney (aka Frank Dukes), Billy Walsh, Kaan Gunesberk, and Louis Bell, “Circles” was the third single from Hollywood’s Bleeding, and Malone’s fourth No. 1 hit. It began with a distinctive track by Dukes, Gunesberk and Bell. Malone loved it. “[It had] another cool unique vibe,” he said to Spotify. “I was super inspired working in Toronto with Frank Dukes while sitting down playing the instruments. Super Fleetwood Mac vibe. A lot of my music is about being a glutton for pain. Knowing you are in a sh**ty situation, but you keep on going back.”

DON’T START NOW

Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa & Emily Warren, songwriters Dua Lipa, artist

“It’s about moving on,” Dua Lipa told Radio.com about “Don’t Start Now.” “It’s about finding confidence in that and not letting anyone get in the way of your happiness. I think it’s always important to remember that your happiness should come first.” Featured on her highly anticipated sophomore album, Lipa wrote the track to counteract some of the other songs’ pervasive sense of “dance crying,” the underlying sorrow woven into her music. It’s a serious journey, but also “very nostalgic and fun and dancy,” she said. “It’s honest but not taking itself too seriously.”

EVERYTHING I WANTED

Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters Billie Eilish, artist

A perfect crystallization of their singular collaboration, “Everything I Wanted,” grew out of a dream Billie Eilish had of leaping off a building. A dream too dark for producer/co-writer Finneas, who wouldn’t go there with her. “I felt like an enabler in helping her write a song as bleak as that,” he told The New York Times. In his resistance, she saw the bigger truth of the song, and it expanded to become a message of love through the darkness. “We had a complete block,” she said, “and the way we got through it was to make it about us as siblings and what we mean to each other.”

I CAN’T BREATHE

Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters H.E.R., artist

It’s one of the saddest song titles of recent times, echoing the last words of George Floyd and the rage of the world that witnessed his death in real-time. “I have a responsibility as an artist to talk about what’s happening around me,” H.E.R. said to “Access Hollywood,” “and put it in a song … We had all these injustices flood the internet. I am really proud of my generation for taking a stand and trying to make a change.” “I Can’t Breathe” is a song about “all people who are suffocating in this life,” she added. “That’s not a way to live — in fear — knowing that could be you.”

IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING

Julia Michaels & JP Saxe, songwriters JP Saxe Featuring Julia Michaels, artists

It was while writing a lovesong that they fell in love. Itwas also the first song theyever wrote together. “Thatsession was one of themost magical in my life,” JPSaxe said to People. “Thatsong just poured out of us.”The idea was triggered bya recent earthquake, whichled to a discussion aboutthe effect of apocalypse on the heart. “[The song] is about thatspecial person in your life,” Julia Michaels told E! Online, “thatfor whatever reason you can’t make it work with. If the world isending, and there was nothing left to hold you back, would youmake your way back to them for one last night?”

By Paul Zollo