All is Ephemeral

In Street Livin’ will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo share out the verses of the track and share tales of racial and social injustice in the US.

In Lord, Young Fathers seem to be a narrator who is lost and speaking to God. They are trapped in a moment of indecision in their lives.

Million Reasons is a tragic love song with Lady Gaga’s narrator at the end of their tether with a relationship they are in.

Letissier confirmed in an interview that Tilted is concerned with trying to acknowledge who we are as individuals.

Formation is a song of empowerment for black women with Beyoncé proudly tracing her roots in Alabama and Louisiana.

Ultralight Beam is credited to Kanye West but the song is divided between him, Kelly Price and Chance the Rapper.

In Man, Skepta analyses his life and career, the success he has had and how he feels a kind of alienation as a result of his fame.

Leonard Cohen's You Want It Darker appears to be a reverential reflection of life and imminent death.

Anohni's Drone Bomb Me was written in response to the modern world of drone warfare and the devastation it inflicts on people.

FourFiveSeconds has vocals primarily by Rihanna with Kanye West responding to her verses, while McCartney is on guitar and backing vocals.

White’s album Lazaretto took some inspiration from short stories he wrote as a nineteen year old and were found stashed away in a box.

This third album followed a period of heavy touring for The War on Drugs with Adam Granduciel struggling to readjust to life off the road.

The track Digital Witness is a commentary from St. Vincent on the Internet and in particular on social media.

The track Hunger of the Pine addresses some of the anxiety Alt-J faced when Sainsbury departed in early 2014.

Taylor Swift co-wrote Shake It Off as a commentary on the media scrutiny she had endured as a rising star in the music industry.

In Two Weeks, FKA Twigs is a narrator who seems to be addressing someone whose current relationship is fragile.

Arguably the most popular song of 2014 based on awards and sales, Happy was a huge hit for Williams and resonated with many listeners.

In Death to My Hometown, Bruce Springsteen writes both a protest and a lament about the death of the town he once called home.

Lana Del Rey's Video Games is both a pleasant and tragic song in equal measure. It’s a poignant, slow piece, led by the piano.

Harvey’s album drew inspiration from a range of poets, musicians and films, while also exploring conflicts such as wars in the Middle East.