2014 was a great year in music!
Columbia/Interscope; EMI Australia; Capitol Records
Can you believe it's been a full decade since songs like "Bang Bang," "Break Free," "Blank Space," and "Chandelier" were taking over the airwaves?
2014 was an incredible year for pop music, with many of the albums released that year still having a lasting impact on radio and the music scene to this day. Many of these songs are still played every weekend at gay clubs, and we all know every single lyric.
Let's take a look back at 24 of the biggest and most important releases that turn 10 years old this year!
1. Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
This groundbreaking punk album was the first released by Against Me! following lead singer Laura Jane Grace’s transition and coming out. It features songs that deal with gender dysphoria like “True Trans Soul Rebel.”
2. RuPaul - Born Naked
RuPaul’s seventh studio album was released in February of 2014, coinciding with the sixth season premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race. This is RuPaul’s highest charting album to date.
3. St. Vincent - St. Vincent
Annie Clark released her fourth studio album, St. Vincent, in 2014. The album won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
4. Troye Sivan - TRXYE
Troye Sivan’s major label debut EP turns 10 years old this year!
5. Iggy Azalea - The New Classic
Australian rapper Iggy Azalea's debut album earned her four Grammy nominations and featured the number one single "Fancy" featuring Charli XCX.
6. The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack
The soundtrack to this teen rom-com featured artsits like Ed Sheeran, Grouplove, Lykke Li, Kodaline, Birdy, and of course, the song "Boom Clap" by Charli XCX.
7. Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse
Mariah Carey's 14th studio album turns ten this year. It featured tracks like "#Beautiful," "The Art of Letting Go," "You're Mine (Eternal)," and "You Don't Know What to Do."
8. Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour
Sam Smith's debut album lauched them as a music superstar with th hit singles "Money on My Mind," "I'm Not the Only One," and of course, "Stay with Me." The album was nominated for six Grammys, winning four, including for Song of the Year and Record of the Year for "Stay With Me" and Best Pop Vocal Album.
9. Jennifer Lopez - A.K.A.
Jennifer Lopez's eighth studio album featured collaborations with Pitbull, T.I., Iggy Azalea, Nas, Rick Ross, and more.
10. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
Lana Del Rey's third album was her most successful at the time, and is often considered one of the greatest albums of the 2010s.
11. Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear
Sia got some of the biggest hits of her career with this album, including "Elastic Heart" and "Chandelier," which recieved four Grammy nominations.
12. Jenny Lewis - The Voyager
Rilo Kiley lead singer Jenny Lewis released her second solo album in 2014. The song "Just One of the Guys" featured Kristen Stewart, Brie Larson, and Anne Hathaway.
13. FKA Twigs - LP1
FKA Twigs made a huge statement with her debut studio album, getting shortlisted for the 2014 Mercury Prize.
14. Ariana Grande - My Everything
Grande's second studio album was seen as a huge step up for her, debuting at the top of the Billboard charts and launching singles including "Problem," "Break Free," and "Bang Bang."
15. Hozier - Hozier
Ten years later, "Take Me to Church," the lead single from Hozier's debut album, is still just as relevant as it was the day it was released.
16. Lady Gaga and Tony Benett - Cheek to Cheek
Lady Gaga released her first collaborative album with Tony Bennett 10 years ago this September. It feautred songs like "Anything Goes," "Cheek to Cheek," and "It Don't Mean a Thing."
17. Betty Who - Take Me When You Go
Betty Who's debut album came out ten years ago, following three extended plays.
18. Jessie J - Sweet Talker
The third studio album from English singer Jessie J featured the forever iconic track "Bang Bang" with Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande.
19. Azealia Banks - Broke with Expensive Taste
You know what's up or don't you? Azealia Banks released her only studio album in 2014, giving us the instant classic "212."
20. Nick Jonas - Nick Jonas
Gay men went NUTS for Nick Jonas' second studio album 10 years ago.
21. Nicki Minaj - The Pinkprint
The Pinkprint saw Nicki Minaj get a number two hit with "Anaconda," and spawned several other hit sngs, including "Pill n Potions," "Only," "Bed of Lies," "Truffle Butter," and "Feeling Myself" featuring Beyoncé.
22. Charli XCX - Sucker
Charli XCX's hit "Boom Clap" was also released on The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack, but this album was Charli's first to debut on the Billboard 200.
23. Shakira - Shakira
Shakira released her tenth studio album, a self-titled one, ten years ago this year.
24. Taylor Swift - 1989
2014 was the year of Taylor Swift's 1989. It won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammys, cemented Swift's status as a pop icon, and was one of the best selling albums of the decade.
