Fused with the same glitchy, DIY production that earned her and brother Finneas five Grammys for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, “Therefore I Am” picks up right where Eilish left off, and throws a digitized middle finger up to anyone who dares question her place in pop stardom. Why tell someone to kick rocks when you can get downright philosophical with them? Billie Eilish’s existentialist kiss-off “Therefore I Am” does more than beat back her detractors - it questions their very existence.

Much of it is thanks to her TikTok-aided breakout hit “Supalonely,” an unflinching assessment of post-breakup sadness that feels reassuring - if not borderline happy - thanks to its candid assessment of the singer’s emotional state, even as she grapples with the reality of being “a lonely bitch.” With her knack for melody and candor, Benee’s future is far brighter than her self-deprecating assessment of life on “Supalonely.” - J. New Zealand upstart Benee is gradually and deservedly gaining international recognition. (Oh, and the remix can include a little bit of Dominican superstar Natti Natasha, as a treat.) “Baby I’m Jealous” is simply too big to fail - and best of luck attempting to get that guitar-driven chorus out of your head. Yes, Virginia, there is a formula for a flawless bop: one part Bebe Rexha vocals, one part Doja Cat sassiness, and a dash of Justin Tranter’s powerful pen. The track sounds straight out of the hair-metal ’80s, but it’s also deceptively heartfelt, as Max assures her fellow queens that they’re never alone - with or without a king. “You might think I’m weak without a sword/ But if I had one, it’d be bigger than yours,” she cheekily boasts over riotously fun beats. There is nothing subtle about this over-the-top power-pop dynamo, from chess metaphors to pounding electric guitars, and that’s just how Ava Max likes it. “Positions” is perfectly, well, positioned as her quarantine sex jam: With a skittering beat, finger-picked guitar and a few woozy strings for good measure, this is the sound of making the most out of the least, and keeping things interesting even as the world grinds to a halt. In less than a decade, Ariana Grande has gone from hopeful hitmaker to unassailable purveyor of pop prowess, nailing the sound of the moment while pointing to the industry’s next step.

History will look kindly upon Aly & AJ’s impressive post-Disney output, which continued in 2020 with “Attack of Panic.” The slithering slice of electronica answered the question, “What would it sound like if Aly & AJ sounded like a cross between Nine Inch Nails and Grimes?”, with a resounding “Amazing!” - JASON LIPSHUTZ Mad props to 0171’s mad scientist pop chops, and we can’t wait to see what they brew up next. Take “Follow,” where staccato beats, melodic piano and stop-go vocals (“Vacation, vibration/ I’m happy when it kills me/ The vivid life, five stars/ She smiles, and I’ll go far”) swirl together in a euphoric tornado.

We might be living in 2020, but London duo 0171 is living in 3020 futuristic doesn’t begin to cover the sort of concoctions that Joe Bedell-Brill and Georgie Hoare have cooked up recently. Without further ado, here are Billboard staffers’ picks for the 30 best pop songs of 2020, in alphabetical order by artist name. The 25 Best LGBTQ Songs of 2020: Staff Picks

Best runway songs 2020