Much like Jack White doesn't trust anyone who doesn't like Led Zeppelin, I don't trust anyone who doesn't like Pharrell.
To me, he's modern music's superman and has been for quite some time. This past year has been his most fruitful, earning him a whopping seven Grammy award nominations and catipulting him to new levels of fame, but what you may not realize is that he's been churning out hits since 2001.
It all began as one half of The Neptunes, where Pharrell spent the early 2000's producing game-changing albums for Britney Spears, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg, and Nelly — and that's just to name a few. During that time, he also formed N.E.R.D, a band that much like his production work, spanned a multitude of genres — including hip-hop, rock, and funk —and put on one hell of a good live show (if I do say so myself).
More recently, he composed the soundtracks for Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2, collaborated with Daft Punk on album of the year Random Access Memories, and had his hand in two of the biggest songs of 2013: "Blurred Lines" and "Get Lucky." His new album G I R L, and its smash single "Happy," are just the latest offerings that prove he's truly one of the most resilient artists of our time.
Narrowing down Pharrell's best tracks is a tricky business, but I've chosen 30 songs that not only represent his deep-rooted body of work, but just as importantly, get the party started — because that's what Pharrell does best
Listen below and be sure to subscribe to the Marie Claire Spotify profile for our weekly playlists.
CREDIT: Pharrell x Uniqlo I Am Other Graphic T-Shirt, $19.90; uniqlo.com.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Lauren is the former beauty editor at Marie Claire. She love to while away the hours at coffee shops, hunt for vintage clothes, and bask in the rough-and-tumble beauty of NYC. She firmly believes that solitude can be a luxury if you’ve got the right soundtrack—that being the Rolling Stones, of course.
-
'30s Beauty Is Back
Your Cupid's Bow is about to get a lot of attention.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Published
-
30 Beauty and Wellness Items I'm Gifting for Mother's Day
I *might* be borrowing these later.
By Emma Walsh Published
-
Kim Kardashian Loses 100,000 Followers on Social Media—Is Taylor Swift to Blame?
"Finally someone stood up to Aimee."
By Meghan De Maria Published
-
The 60 Best Musical Movies of All Time
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
By Amanda Mitchell Last updated
-
The 21 Best Album Releases of 2022 (So Far)
Get your headphones out.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Last updated
-
The 50 Best Love Songs of All Time
The best, most romantic love songs ever written, spanning every genre.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Published
-
4 Best Sad Songs of 2022 to Play When You're in Your Feels
New songs from Maren Morris, Iann Dior, and more.
By Marie Claire Published
-
5 Best Love Songs of 2022 (So Far)
Raise your hand if you're very much here for the Avril Lavigne renaissance!
By Rachel Epstein Published
-
The 16 Best Sad Songs of 2021 to Play When You're Feeling Down
Not me still listening to "Drivers License" on repeat!
By Rachel Epstein Published
-
The 31 Best Love Songs of 2021
"I still burn for you." —Avril Lavigne and also Daphne Bridgerton.
By Rachel Epstein Published
-
16 Gifts Any Music Lover Will Be Obsessed With
AirPods beanies? Say less.
By Rachel Epstein Published