Google’s year-end list of most-searched artists and songs is topped by, who else? Beyoncé. Not only did Queen Bey beat out the rest of the top five — Céline Dion, Kesha, Kehlani and Coldplay — her song «Formation» even bested Prince’s «Purple Rain» and Rae Sremmurd’s ubiquitous «Black Beatles.»
The top 10 music artist search list, according to data provided by Google, is a fascinating snapshot of 2016 virality, from ‘Yonce’s world-killing Lemonade album (and tour) helping vault her to the top, to Dion just below, with her return to Las Vegas and the tragic death of her longtime husband Rene Angelil, and then Kesha, who earned headlines all year courtesy of her ongoing legal battle against onetime mentor/label boss/producer Dr. Luke. Kehlani made news in 2016 thanks to her spot on the Suicide Squad soundtrack, news about her upcoming debut album and a brief hospitalization in May.
Teyana Taylor rocketed into the No. 6 spot, likely because of her infamous performance in Kanye West’s «Fade» video (besting Yeezy himself, who was down two spots at No. 8). America’s Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal was sandwiched in between at No. 7, with social star Jacob Sartorius in at No. 9 and the reunited Guns N’ Roses rounding out the list.
The top 10 most Googled songs of the year:
1) Beyoncé — «Formation»
2) Prince — «Purple Rain»
3) Rae Sremmurd — «Black Beatles»
4) Desiigner — «Panda»
5) Drake — «One Dance»
6) DNCE — «Cake by the Ocean»
7) Adele — «Hello»
8) Ruth B — «Lost Boy»
9) Disturbed — «Sound of Silence»
10) Mike Posner — «I Took a Pill in Ibiza»
