# Best #1 Single of the Year: 2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761 "2017-12-18T11:32:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/1 "2017-12-18T11:32:22Z")
It’s that time again! 2017 has been something of a mixed bag when it comes to pop. We’ve seen an inexplicable resurrection of crunk coupled with a number of singer-songwriter hits, a foreign-language song tying for the longest-running #1 of all time, and the rare occasion of an act landing its first #1 more than two decades after their debut. Twelve songs topped the charts this year. What’s your favorite? Best #1 single polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734168) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734331) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734535) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734741) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735107) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735304) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735502) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735659) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735871) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736076) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736316) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736501) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736705) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736957) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737099) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737315) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737488) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737732) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737957) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738178) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738403) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738639) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738829) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739067) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739360) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739525) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739880) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740122) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740302) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740709) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740859) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741047) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741267) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741450) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741604) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741730) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741915) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742069) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742147) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742282) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742467) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742676) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742846) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) [2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743899) [2015](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=777453) [2016](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=813726) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743046) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743240) [1970s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743399) [1980s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743597) [1990s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743803) [2000s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743981) [2010-2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744176) [All-time (1956-2014)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744358) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/2 "2017-12-18T11:44:48Z")
Pop music has gotten pretty boring the past couple of years. Had to vote for Taylor Swift by default because at least she still knows what fun is. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/3 "2017-12-18T13:43:24Z")
I know I’m not the demographic but in all honesty if you tied me to a spinning wheel of death and threw knives at me I wouldn’t be able to tell you how any of those go. Are singles charts even relevant any more? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/4 "2017-12-18T13:44:27Z")
I agree that the pickings are rather slim, but _Despacito_ is catchy and fresh. And it is interesting to hear a foreign language song catch on. Usually I am all about the Taylor Swift, but her latest is kind of meh. And I don’t like Bruno Mars or Ed Sheeran for no particular reason. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/5 "2017-12-18T13:51:38Z")
Wow, really slim pickings this year… I have 3 kids, 8-13, so I think I’ve heard all of them a few times, I went with the song that I have heard _ad naseum_ all year… Ed Sheeran’s _Shape of You_ ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/6 "2017-12-18T14:07:01Z")
I find “I’m the One” ridiculously hooky, and somehow I haven’t gotten sick of it despite hearing it a zillion times, so that’s my vote. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/7 "2017-12-18T14:13:15Z")
I want to go ahead and vote for Tay-tay as her song stirred useless controversy about any number of topics (Kanye, Taylors evolution as a singer/songwriter, the typical “this song sux” takes), but, like always, will listen to all the others on YouTube before voting as I’m sure I’ve heard more of these than I merely recognize from title alone. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/8 "2017-12-18T14:57:45Z")
I think of Despacito as the the breakout song of the year. Bad and Boujee and Bodak Yellow are the other ones I got the sense were the coolest hits. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/9 "2017-12-18T14:58:20Z")
I listen to quite a bit of pop on my commute but I must not know titles because about half of those songs were unrecognizable by title to me. I voted for Perfect but that’s because my eyes missed Despacito on the list. That was easily the best pop song of the year. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/10 "2017-12-18T15:11:28Z")
Several songs on this list didn’t get any airplay on the top 40 stations, so they aren’t rated in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System**. I just haven’t heard them enough to make any assessments on them. Of the songs I am familiar with, none of them were good enough for me to vote for. For the first time since 1960, I will not vote for any #1 single. The Justin Bieber and Ed Sheerhan songs tie for dead-ass last place. I can’t stand either one of those fuckers. The real story of 2017 is the resurgence of Kesha. I will do a write-in vote for her Billboard #1 album _Rainbow_. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/11 "2017-12-18T15:35:53Z")
I like the Taylor Swift song and _Shape of You_, but I like \*Humble \*more. ---
**Author:** ![Gus\_Gusterson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/12 "2017-12-18T16:31:59Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I find “I’m the One” ridiculously hooky, and somehow I haven’t gotten sick of it despite hearing it a zillion times, so that’s my vote. I chose “I’m the One” too. It’s the only one on the list that I wouldn’t mind hearing again. The others range from “Boring” (“Perfect”) to “God, that’s awful” (“Look What You Made Me Do”). ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/13 "2017-12-18T18:04:59Z")
The Weeknd w/ Daft Punk - “Starboy” is one of the best pop tunes I’ve heard in the past couple of years, easy choice for me ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/14 "2017-12-18T18:22:01Z")
> [@Gus\_Gusterson](#): > > I chose “I’m the One” too. It’s the only one on the list that I wouldn’t mind hearing again. The others range from “Boring” (“Perfect”) to “God, that’s awful” (“Look What You Made Me Do”). “Humble” and “Starboy” are solid tracks, too. I can’t stand “Shape of You” and “Despacito” for some reason. I think I’m just burnt out on those Caribbean and Latin-influenced pop beats. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/15 "2017-12-18T19:46:44Z")
I voted for “Despacito” because it’s the only one I’m 100% sure I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rainbow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@black\_rainbow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rainbow)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/16 "2017-12-18T20:43:08Z")
I think Black Beatles came out last year. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/17 "2017-12-18T20:52:20Z")
I voted The Weeknd w/ Daft Punk - “Starboy” because it has the coolest name, but I haven’t heard any of them. I’m not sure what’s changed in my life. Pop songs used to inflict themselves upon my consciousness, but now I mostly seem to be able to avoid them. Maybe it’s those UFOs everyone is suddenly talking about. Are they putting up some kind of screen? ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/18 "2017-12-18T21:07:11Z")
I don’t listen to a lot of pop but I do make my way to that radio station now and then. Still surprised at how many of these I hadn’t heard, but I suppose it’s because they’re more hip-hop and the pop stations don’t really play those. The ones I have heard: “Starboy” “The Shape of You” “That’s What I Like” “Despacito” and “Perfect” I guess my vote goes to Perfect (even though it’s boring), with Despacito as the follow-up for the only one that wouldn’t make me change the radio station. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/19 "2017-12-18T21:37:50Z")
> [@black\_rainbow](#): > > I think Black Beatles came out last year. It did, but it was still #1 in January of this year so it makes the cut. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761/20 "2017-12-18T22:29:58Z")
I’ve never heard of any of these songs (except perhaps a title or twobeen thrown around) so abstained from voting. I’m old. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2017/804761.md?page=2)