For many, 2016 was a tough year. From the loss of multiple celebrities to the mess of politics that occurred this year, things could have been better. However, there was one especially bright light amidst seemingly endless darkness: music. This year brought us a number of great songs and breakout artists. Here our a few of WVCW’s staff members top song picks for 2016!

Note: Some of the songs on this list are explicit!

Leah Dickshinski- DJ

  1. No More Parties in L.A.- Kanye West
  2. Identikit- Radiohead
  3. Your Best American Girl- Mitski
  4. FloriDada- Animal Collective
  5. Pneumonia- Danny Brown
  6. Obsidian Counterpoint- Tim Hecker
  7. Frankie Sinatra- The Avalanches
  8. Judas- Esperanza Spalding
  9. I Can’t Give Everything Away- David Bowie
  10. Sister- Angel Olsen

Courtney Miller-DJ

  1. Too Dark- Frankie Cosmos
  2. Heart Shaped Face- Angel Olsen
  3. Desert Island Disk- Radiohead
  4. Mondays- Sales

Sean Pritchard-DJ

  1. Really Doe- Danny Brown
  2. Vignette: Panacea- Disasterpeace
  3. How I Died Today- Jeremy & Lynne
  4. Pain- De La Soul
  5. Ain’t It a Sin- Charles Bradley

Nia McLeod- DJ

  1. Same Drugs – Chance the Rapper
  2. Backseat – Ari Lennox
  3. Neighbors – J. Cole
  4. Redbone – Childish Gambino
  5. Me & Your Mama – Childish Gambino
  6. Caroline – Amine
  7. Stay – Mac Miller
  8. 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
  9. Smile – Isaiah Rashad
  10. Maniac – Jhene Aiko
  11. Wifi – D.R.A.M feat. Erykah Badu
  12. Girlfriend – NAO
  13. Wolves – Kanye West feat. Sia & Vic Mensa

Brandon Herbin- DJ

  1. I Love You So Much- V.Rose ft. Tripp Lee
  2. Skittles and Iced Tea- Hostyle Gospel ft. John Givez
  3. Ain’t Worried- Mike Bell, Legin, Sinai ft. T-Haddy
  4. Home- Sean C. Johnson
  5. Arthur Agee- K-Drama
  6. We Live It- B-Fade ft. Brvndon P & Pray Area
  7. Wanna Be- Drew Smith

Kayla Pangilinan- DJ

  1. Never Be Mine- Angel Olsen
  2. Your Best American Girl- Mitski
  3. Gemini Feed- Banks
  4. Ivy- Frank Ocean
  5. Hopeless- Khalid
  6. Wedding Singer- Modern Baseball
  7. This Song Is a Mess but So Am I- Joyce Manor
  8. Floated In- Frankie Cosmos
  9. Versace On the Floor- Bruno Mars
  10. I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore- Lucy Dacus
  11. Aquasun- Basement
  12. Barely 21 (feat. Tavi Gevinson)- Seth Bogart

Alan Booth- General Manager

  1. Radio- Sylvan Esso
  2.  Wild Horses- Bishop Briggs
  3.  Take It All Back- Judah & the Lion
  4.  Getaway- Saint Motel
  5.  Money- Con Brio
  6.  If You Want It- The Sam Roberts Band
  7.  Grand Canyon- The Wind and The Wave
  8.  Take It From Me- The KONGOS
  9. Loud(y)- Lewis del Mar
  10.  HandClap- Fitz and the Tantrums
  11.  Banshee- Santigold
  12.  Once in a While- Timeflies

Kiara Walker- Programming Director

  1. Somebody Else- The 1975
  2. Gemini Feed- Banks
  3. Room in Here- Anderson.Paak (DJ Jazzy Jeff Remix)
  4. YOURE THE ONE- Kaytranada ft. SYD
  5. C’mon- Big Gigantic ft. GRiZ
  6. 33 “GOD”- Bon Iver
  7. Have Some Love- Childish Gambino
  8. Junie- Solange
  9. Innocence- Flume ft. AlunaGeorge
  10. Alaska- Maggie Rogers