With five years left in the decade, Pitchfork has already released its list of the best songs of the 2020s, so far. The reason for not waiting the remaining five years and making the complete list is “everything that has happened” in this time. SZA, Troye Sivan, Beyoncé, Olivia Rodrigo and Bad Bunny, present.
The American media crowns Lana del Rey and her ‘A&W’, a song that was already named the best of 2023, as the best of the decade so far. Kendrick Lamar (No. 3), Caroline Polachek (No. 4) and LOW (No. 5) also score a spot in the Top 5 with ‘Not Like Us’, ‘Bunny Is A Rider’ and ‘Days Like These’, respectively.
They honor what they mention in the introduction about the “slight arbitrariness” of this type of list when the second best song of the 2020s is ‘American Terrorist’ by RXK Nephew, a 9-minute song that is closer to a drunken dissertation. than a song. ANOHNI and the Johnsons, Alex G, Bob Dylan, Fiona Apple and Xaviersobased fill the remaining spots in the Top 10.
‘Poland’ by Lil Yachty occupies position 100 and up to the middle of the ranking we come across mentions of boygenius, with ‘Not Strong Enough’ in position 72; SZA with ‘Good Days’, in ’67; or Troye Sivan with ‘Rush’, at number 49.
‘Good Luck Babe!’ by Chappell Roan (#42) can’t top Ice Spice’s ‘Munch’ (#41). Same with Charli by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion (#22) and ‘Safaera’ by Bad Bunny (#17) have also made the list.
The 10 best songs of the 2020s so far, according to Pitchfork:
10 – Xaviersobased / ‘crisp dubs’ (2021)
9 – Fiona Apple / ‘I Want You To Love Me’ (2020)
8 – Bob Dylan / ‘Murder Most Foul’ (2020)
7 – Alex G / ‘Runner’ (2022)
6 – ANOHNI and the Johnsons / ‘It Must Change’ (2023)
5 – Low / ‘Days Like These’ (2021)
4 – Caroline Polachek / ‘Bunny Is A Rider’ (2021)
3 – Kendrick Lamar / ‘Not Like Us’ (2024)
2 – RXK Nephew / ‘American Terrorist’ (2020)
1 – Lana del Rey / ‘A&W’ (2023)
