Top 10 music tracks of 2014 – in pictures

Chandelier – Sia. Being selfish is a good thing: Sia, who in addition to Beyoncé has written for Rihanna, Katy Perry and many others, decided to keep Chandelier for herself – and thankfully so. The upbeat party anthem can get anyone in the right mood. Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

Turn Down for What – DJ Snake and ­Lil Jon. Do we really need to explain why this is so good? Jeff Daly / Invision / AP

Blank Space – Taylor Swift. Kudos to Tay Tay for writing a song about the media’s portrayal of her love life – or the multitude of boyfriends. It’s creative, smart, funny and cool. Evan Agostini / Invision / AP file

Don’t Tell ’Em – Jeremih (featuring YG). The other song full of swagger this year was Jeremih’s Don’t Tell ‘Em, thanks to DJ Mustard’s grungy but digestible production. Call him producer of the year – he also helmed Tinashe’s 2 On, Big Sean’s I Don’t and Fergie’s L.A. Love (La La), among other favourites. Courtesy of WHITE Dubai

Bailando – Enrique Iglesias (featuring Sean Paul, Gente de Zona and Descemer Bueno). It doesn’t matter whether it is the Spanish or English version, Enrique Iglesias’s Bailando was the track with the most swagger this year. I wanna be contigo, and live contigo, and dance contigo. Danny Lawson / EPA

Pretty Hurts – Beyoncé. Contemporary music’s top singer and songwriter – Beyoncé and Sia – join forces to create a song that is deep and emotional – but most importantly, beautiful. Pretty Hurts, with its winning accompanying music video, tackles the insecurities anyone and everyone feels, and Beyoncé’s rising vocals bring Sia’s words to life, including lyrics such as “It’s the soul that needs surgery”. We could cry. Ian Gavan / Getty Images

All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor. The year’s most viral and colourful song still sounds good months after its release. All About That Bass is addictive and empowering, and it showcases the bright newcomer Meghan Trainor, who we think won’t fall into the all-too-common trap of being best remembered for having one-hit-wonder status. John Shearer / Invision / AP

Take Me to Church – Hozier. Hozier’s humane and emotional lyrics, matched with his commanding voice, make for a bluesy, soulful, indie-rock treasure, with Take Me to Church likely to win the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret

I’m Not the Only One – Sam Smith. Yes, Sam Smith stole your heart with Stay With Me, but I’m Not the Only One proves he will be around for a long time to come. His honest delivery, lyrically and vocally, makes him so irresistible it makes you wonder who was so foolish to have broken his heart. John Shearer / Invision / AP

Need a new playlist? How about revisiting some of the year’s musical highlights? Check out Mesfin Fedaku’s pick – in no particular order – of the best songs of the year.