CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The year 2016 is far from over, but we've already laid witness to some historic chart burners that have become inescapable.

Songs from the likes of Justin Timberlake ("Can't Stop the Feeling!)," Justin Bieber ("Lose Yourself") and Drake ("One Dance") have all taken turns ruling the charts. But none of those tracks made our list of the best songs at the halfway point of 2016.

Five words: Panda, Panda, Panda, Panda, Panda!

(Photo: Vevo)

Troy L. Smith, cleveland.com

20 best songs of the year (so far)

From Beyonce and Kanye West to Radiohead and Fifth Harmony.

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20. Sia - 'Reaper'

On her album “This is Acting,” Sia took songs intended for other artists and made them her own. It doesn’t always work, but “Reaper” is certainly an exception, thanks to a thrilling chorus and some of Kanye West’s most radio-friendly production in years.

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19. Zayn - 'Pillowtalk'

Zayn Malik couldn’t have chosen a better song to kick of his post One Direction career, biting the style of artists like Miguel and The Weeknd for one of the year’s best love-making anthems.

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18. Jonas Blue feat. Dakota - 'Fast Car'

If nothing else, Jonas Blue’s EDM cover of “Fast Car” proves just how amazing Tracy Chapman’s original is, while adding a euphoric vibe to it.

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17. A Day to Remember - 'Paranoia'

A Day to Remember has certainly come into its own as one of rock’s best headlining bands. “Paranoia” is a force of nature, driven by heavy drums, piercing guitars and frontman Jeremy McKinnon’s soaring vocals on one of ADTR’s best hooks to date.

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16. Beyonce - 'Sorry'

The only artist with two songs on this list; it’s hard to deny the power of Beyoncé’s “Sorry,” a song that spawned the phrase “Becky with the good hair” and left everyone wondering if Jay and Bey were finished.

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15. Maxwell - 'Lake by the Ocean'

If Maxwell’s BlackSUMMMER’snight is intended to be a proper follow-up to his 2009 Grammy nominated album, he certainly succeeds on brilliant levels with the stunningly blissful “Lake by the Ocean.” It serves as evidence Maxwell should make albums more often.

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14. Babymetal - 'Karate'

Babymetal isn’t for everyone. Still, there’s something to be said for Japanese metal band that can craft universal pop melodies over some of the most ferocious instrumentation in the scene.

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13. Drake - 'Summer Sixteen'

Drake’s “Summer Sixteen” proved to be a big tease, as his proceeding album “Views” opted for the more emo than lyrically proficient Drake. But the promotional single gives us hope that when Drake’s angry, he’s still one of the best in the rap game.

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12. James Blake - 'Radio Silence'

The opening track to James Blake’s “The Colour in Anything” sets the tone for his most complex album’s to date. “Radio Silence” is a majestic opus of sadness that stays with you until the very end.

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11. Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla Sign - 'Work from Home'

It seems every time you try to count Fifth Harmony out, the former “X-Factor” contestants deliver one of the best radio jams of the year. “Work From Home” comes armed with a fantastic guest appearance from Ty Dolla $ign, but it’s the catchy chorus that pushes it over the top.

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10. Gallant - 'Weight in Gold'

Long before he dropped his debut album “Ology,” Gallant was already generating a tremendous buzz with his single “Weight in Gold.” It isn’t hard to see why. The song’s soulful lyrics, backed by a surging hybrid of electronic music and R&B, are as infectious as it gets.

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9. Car Seat Headrest - 'Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales'

Car Seat Headrest has spent 2016 proving indie-rock is still alive in its truest form. No song establishes that more than the lengthy “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales,” which melds parts of Beck, Pavement and Weezer for a sing-a-long tailor-made for Pitchfork readers.

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8. Chance the Rapper feat. 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne - 'No Problem'

The most riveting song on Chance the Rapper’s masterful “Coloring Book” is so good it breathes much-needed life into Lil Wayne and, especially, 2 Chainz. By the time the latter pulls out a Petey Pablo reference, you’re ready to press the repeat button.

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7. The 1975 - 'The Sound'

Insert any of the singles from The 1975’s sophomore album here. But if you’re forcing us to choose, we’ll go with “The Sound,” the kind of 1980s-inspired pop you’ll find yourself dancing around in your underwear to when no one’s looking.

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6. Fat Joe and Remy Ma feat. French Montana - 'All the Way Up'

It looks like Fat Joe and Remy Ma are good for a monumental club anthem about once every 12 years or so. More than a decade after “Lean Back,” the duo reunites for “All the Way Up,” the trunk-rattling hip-hop jam of the year that even received a remix featuring Jay Z.

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5. Kanye West - 'Ultralight Beam'

Listening to the first three songs on Kanye West’s “Life of Pablo,” you might think you’ve discovered the greatest rap album in recent memory. The starting point for that is the opener "Ultralight Beam," Kanye's greatest opening track ever and a song that features one of the best guest appearances of the year from Chance the Rapper.

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4. Rihanna feat. Drake - 'Work'

Rihanna’s “Anti” was mostly void of blatant commercial appeal, with the exception being “Work,” the single featuring Drake that consumed radio airwaves. Rihanna’s dancehall hook is the perfect match for the kind of Drake-worthy lines we’ve come to love like, “If you had a twin, I would still choose you.”

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3. Beyonce - 'Formation'

If Beyoncé’s “Formation” seems a bit out of place on “Lemonade,” it’s because it’s just be too powerful for one album to contain. It’s the most in your face thing Beyonce has done, getting political and putting haters on notice.

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2. Radiohead - 'True Love Waits'

Maybe it’s a bit unfair to choose a Radiohead song that first surfaced in the mid-1990s. But an official studio version of what might be the band’s greatest song ever deserve some respect.t “True Love Waits’” inclusion on “A Moon Shaped Pool” stunned fans in the best way imaginable. And instantly became Radiohead’s greatest album closer ever, which is saying something.

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1. Desiigner - 'Panda'

You either love it or you hate it. But you can’t escape it. Desiigner’s “Panda” is completely unoriginal (basically a Future knockoff). But so brilliantly crafted with lines repeated so many times they’ve become their own singular entities (“I got broads in Atlanta”). “Panda’s” slow rise to the top was given a boost by Kanye’s “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2.” Since then, Desiigner has ridden the song like a tidal wave all over the country, making him the most exciting new hip-hop artist of 2016.