The Music of 2016, But Make It 2026
Written by Addy Gomez and Ana Marks.
“Black Beatles” and “Formation” were some of the most iconic tracks from 2016, and in 2026, songs like “BREATHE!” and “Aperture” are emulating that energy.
The year is 2016. Vine has announced its ultimate death — which we mourn daily — Musical.ly is TikTok before its rebrand, and Snapchat has us all oscillating between the dog and flower crown filter. Somewhere in the background, “Hotline Bling” by Drake is playing unironically.
With the internet collectively digging through their archives and deciding to relive 2016, it’s impossible not to remember the songs that soundtracked those simpler times. These weren’t just chart-toppers of the year — they were tracks that had us learning dances with friends and filming lip-sync videos on Musical.ly, and have since cemented themselves in our memories as cultural time capsules. After ruminating on what 2016 was and means to all of us, we’re reminiscing on a few of the tracks that defined that year, as well as recommending some recent releases that strum those same chords of nostalgia.
Songs That Defined 2016
“Black Beatles” by Rae Sremmurd and Gucci Mane
You most likely know this track because of the viral “Mannequin Challenge” that swept across the internet in 2016. Doesn't it ring a bell? Just stand completely still while this song plays in the background. That’s it. The challenge started as just that, with a group of friends from Jacksonville, FL, who all froze in a pose while the camera panned around the room. With an eerie introduction of sparse piano keys and echoey vocals from the EarDrummers collective (Rae Sremmurd spelled backwards), the Mike WiLL Made-It-produced track establishes a hypnotic atmosphere that feels frozen in time, even a decade later. Rooted in Southern trap-rap, the song is driven by 808s and crisp hi-hats that give Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi space to glide effortlessly over the beat, creating a groovy, instantly catchy rhythm.
“Nights” by Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean’s culturally defining album, Blonde, is an unforgettable release. Across its 17 tracks, the record is steeped in intimacy and lived experience, with “Nights” serving as the centerpiece. In the song’s first half, its groovy vocal and instrumental melody carries Ocean as he unpacks the highs and lows of a past relationship, drifting into reflections on the daily grind: “Can’t keep bein’ laid off / Know you need the money if you gon’ survive / Every night shit, every day shit.” At the three-minute mark, the beat abruptly switches, pulling the listener into a trance-like state that feels like quiet acceptance, as Ocean’s tone softens and the song settles into emotional resignation.
Watch the official music video for “Formation.”
“Formation” by Beyoncé
Beyoncé released her sixth studio album, Lemonade, as a deeply personal and politically resonant body of work that explores father issues, Black identity, and themes of infidelity and forgiveness within her marriage to Jay-Z. The album is a powerful fusion of music, visual art, and cultural commentary, marked by its depth and beauty. One of its standout tracks, “Formation,” became a cultural anthem in 2016. Both lyrically and visually, the song celebrates Black culture, feminism, and heritage, while also highlighting systemic racial inequality. Its iconic music video amplifies these themes through references to Hurricane Katrina, police brutality, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
“Lover Is a Day” by Cuco
2016 marked the beginning of bedroom pop and the indie resurgence movement. Artists like Vacations, Sales, and Cuco carved out a lo-fi indie sound that felt soft, DIY, and just underground enough. By 2017, a full-on storm of artists followed, flooding SoundCloud with bedroom recordings — most notably Clairo, who began uploading her own songs and quickly became one of the defining voices of the era. “Lover Is a Day,” the opening track on Cuco’s debut album wannabewithu, remains his most-streamed song, a lovestruck anthem that’s a dreamy ode to fleeting love.
“PILLOWTALK” by ZAYN
After five years of performing with one of the world’s biggest boy bands, One Direction, Zayn Malik parted ways with the group in March 2015, citing stress as the reason for his departure. A year later, Malik released his debut solo album, Mind of Mine. “PILLOWTALK” quickly emerged as the album’s standout track. Leaning into a fully alt-R&B sound, Malik’s vocals sit at the front and center of the track. His delivery pulls listeners into an intimate setting shaped by conflict, desire, and vulnerability as he sings, “I’m seeing the pain, seeing the pleasure / Nobody but you, ’body but me / ’Body but us, bodies together / I love to hold you close, tonight and always.”
Recent Releases with 2016 Energy
“Stateside” by PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson
After opening up for Tate McRae on the North American leg of her Miss Possessive Tour, Zara Larsson is bringing the same main-girl pop energy from 2016 to 2026. PinkPantheress is a decade-defining artist for the 2020s, shooting to stardom by making music in her bedroom and posting it to TikTok. The British songwriter and producer has carved out a unique sound for pop music within the last five years, and with Zara Larsson’s incredibly catchy verse on the viral 2025 hit “Stateside,” you can feel the 2016 energy radiating from this track. The art of the radio-hit pop collab is entirely back.
Watch the official music video for “Aperture.”
“Aperture” by Harry Styles
Ten years ago, the future of Harry Styles after his One Direction hiatus was a cloud of mystery. In that time, Styles has catapulted himself into immense solo stardom, becoming one of the top performing solo artists in the world. His latest single, "Aperture,” is a techno-inspired pop hit. With heavy synths and a bass that transports you to the club, the energy of this track calls back to the integration of EDM into pop music that can be found in 2016. What many miss about 2016 is the homogeneous culture that the Internet generation has attached to it. With the repetition of the phrase, “We belong together,” Styles inadvertently attaches himself to this time in culture where individualism and division weigh heavily on the way we interact with one another.
“Grime Of The World” by Djo
While riding the high of his hit, “End of Beginning,” artist Djo released his third album, The Crux, in April 2025, and the deluxe version in September. “Grime Of The World,” one of the 12 tracks featured on the deluxe version of the album, calls directly upon its 2016 indie ancestors and blends them together in a way that becomes singular. The Crux Deluxe is by no means a genre album, but what this track does in particular is take bits and pieces from 2016 alternative trends — a slightly Midwest emo guitar riff and a dark, energetic beat that serves as a distraction from the lyrics’ critique of capitalism (very 1975 of him) — and throws them together for this electronic indie-rock tune.
“BREATHE!” by Leven Kali
Dance music had its reign on the charts in 2016, with the sound of pop synths and bass. Leven Kali is a Dutch-American producer and singer-songwriter, with credits on acclaimed records such as Beyoncé’s Renaissance and Playboi Carti’s self-titled album. On Jan. 23, Kali released the single “BREATHE!,” a groovy disco-inspired dance track paired with kicks and an infectious bass.
“Headphones On” by Addison Rae
The TikTok star of the early pandemic made waves in 2025 with her debut self-titled album, Addison, landing her a Best New Artist nomination in the 2026 Grammys and many other accolades. From dancing with fellow influencers like Charli D'Amelio to more recently performing her remix of “Von dutch” with Charli XCX at Madison Square Garden, it's safe to say Addison Rae’s pop stardom has reached the masses. The fourth single off her debut record, “Headphones On” is a dreamy, trip-hop-inspired track about the escape that music can provide.