2015 was one of the biggest, most eccentric years of music. Old and new artists alike took the stage: Adele recaptured the spotlight selling 2.496 million copies of her new album, 25, while newbee James Bay’s first album, Chaos and the Calm, hit platinum. Additionally, Justin Bieber recovered his career with a newfound fanbase from his new album, Purpose. However, there was still room for some new talent from artists like Hozier, George Ezra, and Shawn Mendes.

Music festivals gained more popularity than ever in 2015. Over 300,000 people attended Chicago’s beloved Lollapalooza compared to the mere 200,000 from 2014. The spike in attendance at music festivals across the country hints at the growing popularity of the new music scene. From being outdoors all day, to eating good food with friends, to hearing tons of different, exciting artists– what’s not to love?

With the abundance of music created this past year, it was quite difficult to narrow it down to the very best. So with the help of Vernon Hills High School students, here is the official Scratching Post Top 15 Songs of 2015:

Stressed Out, 21 Pilots

Renegades, X-Ambassadors

Take Me To Church, Hozier

Love Yourself, Justin Bieber

First, Cold War Kids

Roses, Chainsmokers

Shut Up and Dance, Walk The Moon

Wildest Dreams, Taylor Swift

Stitches, Shawn Mendes

Hotline Bling, Drake

Sugar, Maroon 5

Can’t Feel My Face, The Weekend

Love Me Like You Do, Ellie Goulding

Uptown Funk, Bruno Mars

House Party, Sam Hunt
Thanks to all those who contributed!