2018 in Review: Top Songs

RaeLynn: “Queens Don’t”

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RaeLynn from The Voice Season 2 hit the Billboard country charts in 2018 with Queens Don't

RaeLynn from The Voice Season 2 hit the Billboard country charts in 2018 with Queens Don’t.

Since competing on Season 2 of The Voice at age 17, RaeLynn has become one of the most distinct female voices in country music.

And after her successful 2017 album “WildHorse,” she hit the country-pop sweet spot in 2018 with her single “Queens Don’t.”

Racheal Lynn Davis — RaeLynn’s real married name — wrote the song with James Abrahart and Corey Crowder. And, in spite of the title, she said she was hoping to deliver a universal message through the lyrics.

“A ‘queen’ is any person who knows that they are royalty from the inside out, regardless of where they came from,” the 24-year-old said when she released the song in May.

“I wanted all my incredible friends and fans to remember that their self-worth shouldn’t be based on material things or other’s opinions, but rather the beauty and strength of your spirit.

“I hope this song inspires everyone who hears it – guy or girl, young or old – to be a queen and to never settle for people in your life that don’t see your true incredible worth.”

Plenty of people heard her message. The song has been streamed more than 7 million times on Spotify and became a Top 40 hit on Billboard’s country charts.

RaeLynn has since followed up “Queens Don’t” with a new single, “Tailgate.”

Here’s “Queens Don’t.”




Editor’s Note: By my count, former contestants from The Voice released more than 70 albums or EPs, more than 90 music videos and more than 800 original songs in 2018.

This week, I’m featuring my favorites, spotlighting what I’m calling the Top 5 music videos, Top 20 songs and Top 5 albums/EPs.

I hesitate to call them the best because that’s very subjective. Besides, I easily could have made each of these lists five times as long and still omitted lots and lots of great music.

That’s why I grit my teeth when Marshmellow or Ann-Marie or even a coach or advisor winds up with a guest performance spot on The Voice. I’ll never understand why the show doesn’t do more to promote its alumni.

Ah, but this isn’t a time for griping. It’s time to celebrate the accomplishments of talented artists.

I’ve also posted a complete list of post-Voice singles, albums and EPs, with links for your listening pleasure. And a blog with all 90-plus music videos. Please, check them out. Find your own favorites.

And if I’ve missed anyone, let me know. Stage names change. Side projects are created. Tracking the output of 600 post-Voice artists … well, I’ll be shocked if I didn’t miss someone. Just let me know by commenting below or emailing [email protected]. In terms of singles, my goal is to list any where the former contestant is the primary vocalist.

Coming tomorrow: The Top 5 post-Voice albums of 2018.

Happy listening.

Top songs (not ranked)

Adanna Duru, “Doll”
Amanda Brown, “Take a Pill”
Amy Vachal, “Wait”
Austin Jenckes, “In My Head”
Brian Nhira, “‘Til Death Do Us Part”

Cartelli, “Last Night’s Mascara”
Chloe Kohanski, “Come This Far”
Christiana Danielle, “Resignation”
Darby, “Save a Thought for Me”
Domo, “Currency”

D.R. King & Jackie Foster, “Love is a Drug”
Jamie Lono, “New Orleans”
Johnny Gates, “Brooklyn Nights”
Koryn Hawthorne, “Down Goes Rome”
Loren Allred, “Never Enough”

Matt McAndrew, “Game Over”
Natalie Stovall, “Making Out in Cars”
RaeLynn, “Queens Don’t”
Riley Biederer, “Heartbreak Back”
We McDonald, “Head Up High”

Top Videos

1. Faultlines (Ashley Morgan), “Rain”
2. Sawyer Fredericks, “Hide Your Ghost”
3. Darby, “Play Pretend”
4. Brian Nhira, “Is This Love?”
5. Dawson Coyle, “Saturn”

All 2018 music videos
All 2018 albums and EPs
All 2018 singles

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