The 50 songs you really should have heard in September

There is so much music out there. Some of it is good and some of it is bad. Some of it is “important” and some of it is super unimportant. It’s hard to keep up! September, for example, was jam-packed with new tunes. Pop stars are trying to promote their pre-Christmas albums and a bunch of other randoms also put out albums. It’s really not safe to head into October without catching up. Here are the 50 songs you needed to hear last month:

1. “What Do You Mean?” by Justin Bieber

“What do You Mean?” was the number one song in the country in September, so if you haven’t heard it I can’t imagine how you’re going to survive the rest of this list.

2. “Art Deco” by Lana Del Rey

All of Lana Del Rey’s third album Honeymoon is worth listening to, but Art Deco (a deep cut) is my personal favorite.

3. “Same Old Love” by Selena Gomez

Not only does Selena Gomez look great in this video, she sounds great, too—like she’s singing through a grimace.

4. “Your Girl” by Natasha Kmeto

With heavy synth work and Kmeto’s brilliantly radiating voice, “Your Girl” sounds like a more approachable, more indie Björk.

5. “Alive” by Sia

Sia’s newest project will create every song in the style of another pop artist. “Alive” is her ode to the vocal titan Adele.

6.”Kingsize” by Jenny Hval

With its whispered lyrics and thumping beats, “Kingsize” sounds like a revival of early ’00s European house music that we are 100% on board for.

7.”Here for You” by Kygo feat.Ella Henderson

‘When you feel you’ve had enough, and you wasted all your love/I’ll be here for you, here for you.” Thank you, Kygo featuring Ella Henderson.

8. “Magnets” by Disclosure feat.Lorde

The twist in this music video is almost as interesting as Lorde’s voice.

9. “Bad Blood” by Ryan Adams (covering Taylor Swift)

Rock boys of the world united in September to celebrate Ryan Adams’ cover of Taylor Swift’s no. 1 hit “Bad Blood.”

10. “Bad Blood” by Father John Misty (covering Ryan Adams covering Taylor Swift)

Alternative artist Father John Misty poking fun at Ryan Adams’ cover by covering Taylor Swift in Lou Reed’s voice might be my favorite track of the month.

11. “30 for 30 Freestyle” by Drake and Future

Drake still hasn’t released his much-hyped next album Views from the 6, but at least he gifted us this collaboration with Future.

12. “Standard” by Empress Of

Part pop, part tech rhythm, and part pure hook, “Standard” is the kind of slow pop song you need heading into the transitioning days of fall.

13. “I Mean Something” by Peaches feat. Feist

I never would have put Peaches and Feist together in my mind, but the two of them build a song that’s as thoughtful as it is groovy.

14. “Automatic” by ZHU and AlanaGeorge

“Automatic” might be the best dance song I have ever wanted to take a nap to.

15. “Bank Rolls Remix” by Tate Kobang

There’s not much to  “Bank Rolls Remix”—simple lyrics over simple beats. It’s refreshingly great.

16. “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)” by The Knocks & Matthew Koma

“I wish I could find my Taylor Swift/ Be bad as hell, take no one’s shit/ She’d be a boss and so legit.” Yes. Amen.

17. “Weak” by Wet

Wet has consistently produced love ballads with an edge, and “Weak” is no different. It has the beautiful tone of a love song, and the swelling chorus of a break-up anthem.

18. Höru Mej Bae by Michel Dida

This song was released in August, but didn’t come to Spotify until September so I’m counting it. It’s in Swedish, has not one but five female rappers, and I cannot stop listening to it.

19. BURNITUP! by Janet Jackson feat. Missy Elliot

Janet Jackson sounds so much like her brother here it’s unbelievable.

20. “Kicker” by Alex G

With a brassy instrumental and Alex G’s soothing music, this is the perfect background music song.

21.”Nelly” by Isaiah Rashad

Isaiah Rashad has a flow that’s so smooth you could drink it.

22. “On My Mind” by Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding, who is everywhere and nowhere all at once, will put out an album in November. This song will be on it.

23. “Alexander Hamilton” by the Hamilton Cast

There is a broadway play about Alexander Hamilton. That’s a thing to know! I liked this song better when Lin-Manuel Miranda performed it at the 2009 White House Poetry Jam.

24. “Dopamine” by DIIV

This is a song people like, but that I think is only okay! Have fun!

25. “Party Favors” by Tinashe and Young Thug

I’m still waiting for Tinashe to have such a fire breakout single that no one can deny how great she is. This isn’t it, but it will come.

26. “D.A.M.” by Fetty Wap

It’s nice that this video has the lyrics on top of it since it’s very difficult to understand anything Fetty Wap says. Not that it matters, because all of Fetty Wap’s new album is great. 

27. “Baby Blue” by Deafheaven

After the success of Deafheaven’s 2013 Sunbather, many worried the San Francisco metal-ish band wouldn’t be able to live up to expectations. Wrong! This song is great!

28. “Confident” by Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez are in a face off going into October over who will emerge as the next pop princess. The slow chorus of “Confident” gives Lovato an edge, but might not help her win the crown.

29. “Breaker” by Deerhunter

The lead singer of Deerhunter got hit by a car in 2014, but this song is still pretty good!

30.”Gave Me Something” by Jess Glynne

This is the fourth single Jess Glynne has trotted out in advance of her new album, and who knows how many more there will be? But listening to “Gave Me Something” is like having an EDM stroke… in a good way!

31. “Keep You On My Side” by CHVRCHES

CHVRCHES released a new album in September with a different track as the single, but I don’t care, I like this song better.

32. “I Got You” by Leona Lewis

Remember Leona Lewis? She’s the one who sang “Bleeding Love,” that song we were all obsessed with for a brief period of time. She’s still making music!

33.”Piss on your Grave” Travi$ Scott feat. Kanye West

I don’t know how to feel about Travi$ Scott, but I feel great about him coupled with Kanye West.

34. “I Bite Through It” by OneohTrix Point Never

This is a song I don’t understand because it sounds like a baby banging on a synth to me, but everyone I know who knows about music like this likes it, so here you go.

35. “The Woods” by Angel Haze

Out of nowhere, Angel Haze dropped a mixtape on SoundCloud in September. “The Woods” is the last track.

36. “Infinity” by One Direction

One Direction also dropped a single in September. Their new album is coming later in November; you should probably prepare.

37. “Rewind” by Kelela

“Rewind” has five artists listed in the credits, but I’m glad they were all there, because this song is great.

38. “My Father’s Daughter” by Jewel feat. Dolly Parton

Jewel : (

39. “Demons sing love songs” by Unwound

The backing vocals on this song are by Sleater-Kinney!

40. “Never Forget You” by MNEK and Zara Larsson

This is the second track on this list that features Zara Larsson, but I feel good about it. Her voice soars on this one.

41. “Vice City” by Jay Rock feat Black Hippy

I listened to this song five times in a row on accident, and I didn’t mind.

42. “Foreclosures” by Rick Ross

Nothing is real. Everything is a lie. This song is pretty good still.

43. “LA Lately” by Israel Nash

I heard this song on an ancient form of entertainment called the radio. My Shazam didn’t recognize it, and I liked it enough to look it up anyway! If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is.

44. “Writing’s On the Wall” by Sam Smith

If I could make Sam Smith stop, I would.

45. “Ankles” by Palm

Rock and roll isn’t dead! Who told you that? No, you be quiet. Shhh. Palm is playing.

46. “Leaving the City” by Joanna Newsom

Joanna Newsom plays the harp!

47. “Bombs Away” by Boots

After a pretty forgettable and boring mixtape, it seems like Boots is back (maybe).

48. “Shadow” by Chromatics

No one knows when the next Chromatics album will drop, but “Shadow” might just tide us over until it gets here.

49. “Knock Knock” by Med, Blu, Madlib & Mfdoom

This is fine. Madlib and MF Doom fans have been waiting a decade for the two to follow up Madvilliany, so they are excited kind of.

50. “Pretty Pimpin” by Kurt Vile

“‘All I want is to just have fun/ Live my life like a son-of-a-gun,” Vile sings, and with that we’re done!

Oh: 43 out of 50 of these songs are available on Spotify, so here’s a playlist for you:

Correction: an earlier version stated that the new One Direction album would be released in October. We were over-excited. It comes out November 13.

Kelsey McKinney is a culture staff writer for Fusion.