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See this year's top songs live and in person

 
LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 19:  Singer The Weekend performs at the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 19, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 19: Singer The Weekend performs at the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 19, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Published Dec. 1, 2015

It's almost the end of the year, which means it's almost time for some year-end best-of lists. But what fun is looking back if you can't also look ahead? Over the next three weeks, you can hear at least 10 of 2015's defining hit songs live and in person. All you have to do is know where to look.

Here, let us lead the way.

97X Next Big Thing Dec. 4, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

Shut Up and Dance, Walk the Moon: True, it actually came out last year, but if this isn't the biggest hit song by an actual band this year, what is?

Renegades, X Ambassadors: It took off in a Jeep ad (and was, in fact, written in part specifically for that Jeep ad), but that didn't stop America from embracing this rumbling folk jam. Here's to the Spielbergs and Kubricks, indeed.

Mix 100.7 Mistletoe Show Dec. 14, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Fight Song, Rachel Platten: Need a mid-December pick-me-up to get you through all the shopping, socializing and holiday stress? This is your fight song, take-back-your-life song.

The Weeknd Dec. 17, Amalie Arena, Tampa

Can't Feel My Face, The Hills, Earned It: Take your pick. R&B's It Boy of 2015 is a one-man wrecking ball of sizzling hot Top 40 action.

Antidote, Travi$ Scott: Fetty Wap's Trap Queen got all the attention, but over the last few months, this hazy, Auto-Tuned hit has been shooting up the chart and dominating every crowd that hears it. Is Scott, who opens for the Weeknd, the actual weirdball hip-hop hit of the year?

93.3-FLZ Jingle Ball Dec. 19, Amalie Arena, Tampa

Cool For the Summer, Demi Lovato: Ah, now we're talking: The Jingle Ball, Tampa's wall-to-wall hit parade from the previous year. Expect this one to take fans down to paradise late in the show. (And bonus hit song alert: Maybe she'll hit us with her stellar cover of Adele's Hello!)

I Want You To Know, Zedd: The Russian-German EDM whiz has the Midas touch when it comes to pop-crossover hits. This one with Selena Gomez is up there with his best.

Talking Body, Tove Lo: Slinky, sexy, sugary-sweet and Swedish. What more do you want?

Here, Alessia Cara: Tampa got a sneak peek at this one when Cara popped up on stage with Taylor Swift at Raymond James Stadium in October. Already a bubbling hit, Here has only taken off since then.

See You Again, Charlie Puth: Okay, sure, Wiz Khalifa is nowhere near this Jingle Ball bill. But Puth sang the song's moving hook, which is the part we were all singing anyway.

Contact Jay Cridlin at cridlin@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8336. Follow @JayCridlin.