"It was a few years ago, and it was before Josh and I were able to make money playing music. And I called him up and I said, 'Hey Josh, do you want to come over to my rental house and watch the Grammy's?' … As we were watching we noticed that every single one of us was in our underwear. And seriously, Josh turned to me said, 'If we ever win a Grammy we should receive it just like this,'" quoted Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots at the 2017 Grammy Awards. Anyone who's listened to the radio in the past year can name some of Twenty One Pilots' songs. However, every musician didn't just make it to the Grammy's by themselves. A lot of work was required to get them there, some of it including the fans' dedication. A quick scroll through Spotify will produce a lot of the top hits that fans around the world have approved. Here is a breakdown on some of those songs and why they are my personal favorites.

Of course, Closer, by the Chainsmokers featuring Halsey, was a number one favorite of many people up until the radio stations played the song for the 9,875,650th time. There is such a thing as overplaying, of course. However, the Chainsmokers were determined to stay in the charts and released their next hit, Paris, which many people claimed was "Closer 2.0." Regardless of this interpretation, many people still listened to the songs that the Chainsmokers created. This leads me to the introduction of Something Like This, featuring Coldplay, a nostalgic interpretation of childhood (and even adulthood) hero stories. While critics again railed against the Chainsmokers for their lack of originality on the background music for the song, I argue that their song is completely original. A song does not necessarily have to take on a completely new rhythm or beat to be something that no one has ever heard before. The premise of the song is about a man who feels that he is no match to the heroes that he normally sees in the world portrayed as the epitomes of manhood. However, his lover, presumably, doesn't ask him to be anybody but himself. At first, the song is very much similar to the past Chainsmoker tunes, but the lyrics are what make the song relatable and truthful. In an era where the big-screen movies constantly promote images of the great, magical beings that save helpless civilians, the common man is left without his own anthem. Whenever I hear this song, I feel empowered and left with a sense of peace and happiness. This song preaches acceptance and understanding. Being equals in a relationship means that not one person has to be the "hero," they just have to be satisfied together.

2017 is already defined by Ed Sheeran's stellar album that honestly has a song for every emotion! Starting with some of his first releases, Shape of You and Castle on the Hill, Ed Sheeran easily made his songs rise to the top of the charts. Shape of You has a pop melody with an easy rhythm, capturing karaoke enthusiasts everywhere. Castle on the Hill is his more classical tune that reminds his audience why he is always on the top. He addresses his childhood memories in this music and brings his audience with him as he goes back home and sees that everything has changed, but really, everything is as he remembers it to be. It's easy to be caught up in his descriptive explanations of his now-grown childhood friends. Ed Sheeran has the capability of making people I have never met before as close to me as my own friends. As a senior in high school, I hope to have the opportunity to one day return from college, see my old friends, and still feel at home with them. Ed Sheeran gives me that hope. The rest of his album is a powerful showcase of Sheeran's singing capabilities. With songs like Barcelona, Nancy Mulligan, and, my personal favorite, Galway Girl, fans are given a taste of different cultures within his album.

There are also notable mentions in the pop category that must not be forgotten, such as Alessia Cara, Julia Michaels, Olivia Holt, and MAX. Starting with Alessia Cara, teenage girls everywhere are bolstered by her optimism and powerful lyrics. With her song How Far I'll Go from the hit motion picture Moana, I am given a distinct image of a child torn between staying with her family and being the perfect girl versus following her dream. Any student pursuing a college degree and, subsequently, a career knows what it's like to follow a passion versus follow something that is practical. Her song with Zedd, Stay, is the latest pop hit that is ranking on all the music charts. I particularly like this song for its new, innovative chorus that stands out among other songs.

Julia Michaels is a new talent that released her song, Issues, recently. Although she has worked on other songs (collaborating with Demi Lovato, Fifth Harmony, Justin Bieber, and more), this is her first song that she has sung by herself. With her unique vocal power, she is sure to continue being a hit. Olivia Holt is a childhood star from the show "Kickin' It" on Disney Channel. She released a video for her song History with child costar Leo Howard. Her song has garnered a lot of attention for its catchy beat and pop vibe. MAX is another artist who collaborated with gnash and released the song Lights Down Low, a perfect contender for a wedding song. These artists are by no means all of the notable 2017 artists, but I would keep an eye on them for future releases. They seem to be the rising stars thus far!