This Was the Best Music From 2018, According to Vogue Editors

It’s been quite a year for the music world, from the loss of bright stars like Avicii and Mac Miller to epic live performances (ahem, Beychella) and a boomlet for hit movie soundtracks chock full of catchy pop and hip-hop hits. But what, you may ask, were Vogue editors listening to? Without further ado, these are our favorite songs, albums, and shows of the year.

“I think with troubled times comes incredible music. Attending the Grammy Awards with Rita Ora was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as was traveling to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for Kanye West’s album release party for Ye. But the album that resonated most with me was Travis Scott’s Astroworld, soulful and melodic.” —Edward Barsamian, Style Editor

“The closest I’ll probably come to having something like a ‘musical highlight of the year’ might be the low-seeming bar of ‘music I actually downloaded off iTunes,’ which is a high bar for me, who tends to listen to podcasts and that’s it. Two that made the cut: Childish Gambino’s ‘Summertime Magic’ and Ella Mai’s ‘Boo’d Up,’ which I couldn’t get out of my head after I heard it on repeat on the radio driving around this summer. (Yes, the radio! Am I old?) So I guess tonally, if not exactly sociopolitically, my 2018 was . . . groovy?” —Alessandra Codinha, Culture Editor

“Beychella, hands down the best performance of the year—maybe of the century? She redefined what the live music experience should be.” —Chioma Nnadi, Fashion News Director

“I’ve been listening to Rosalía’s El Mal Querer since it’s release this fall, totally awestruck by her voice and the artistry of her music.” —Steff Yotka, Fashion News and Emerging Platforms Editor

“First, seeing Madonna sing ‘Like a Prayer’ at the Met Gala was a pinch-me moment I’ll never forget. Second, witnessing the part-cabaret, part-comedy show of the riotous drag performer Mrs. Smith. Maybe you saw her in that Hungarian bathhouse Gucci ad last year, strumming on her guitar. She’s an elderly, pearl-wearing lady that rocks out to heavy metal and wails about her missing cat. Ridiculous and bizarrely funny.” —Lily Kupets, Visual Editor

“The Black Panther album was pretty much on repeat when it first came out, and Beyoncé’s Coachella performance was also incredible (even more so when you think about how she did the whole thing twice). I think that’s a tie.” —Lucie Zhang, Senior Social Media Manager

“I didn’t think A Star Is Born was perfect—but the musical performances were certainly fun to watch and definitely led to an album download as soon as I exited the theater. The soundtrack is my new subway commute music!” —Alexandra Macon, Contributing Living Editor

“Witnessing the folk legend, Paul Simon on his farewell tour! I got yelled at twice for dancing when I should have been solemnly sitting down, politely rocking to the beat. I don’t regret the trouble I caused—not one bit. ‘If you’ll be my bodyguard, I can be your long lost pal!’” —Lauren Sanchez, Contributor

“My two musical highlights were Kadhja Bonet at National Sawdust (with an all-female band and backup singers, completely intimate and magical) and William Kentridge’s epic The Head & the Load, which collages traditional African songs with opera and European avant-garde music to illustrate layers of conflict in Africa during World War I (it’s also beautiful and moving music on its own).” —Lisa Macabasco, Senior Digital Research Editor

“Blah blah blah, A Star Is Born . . . for my money, the most interesting movie about modern pop stardom to come out this year is Vox Lux, and the tunes (courtesy of Sia) are solid, too. Like, they actually sound like pop songs somebody would want to listen to?” —Maya Singer, Contributor

“Ariana Grande’s ‘Thank U, Next’ will forever be an iconic video. Kris Jenner’s cameo as Regina George’s mom was just the icing on the cake.” —Lauren Tom, Editorial Producer