17 Pop Songs From The 2010s Linked To Benny Blanco

You may not always see Benny Blanco in the spotlight, but chances are you’ve sung along to his work without realizing who was pulling the strings behind the hits.

Quietly operating from the studio while pop stars took center stage, he helped build the sound of the 2010s one stick-in-your-head chorus at a time.

These seventeen tracks reveal how one behind-the-scenes hitmaker helped turn everyday songs into era-defining pop moments.

1. “Teenage Dream” – Katy Perry (2010)

Few songs capture the feeling of being seventeen again quite like this unforgettable summer anthem.

Behind the scenes, Blanco co wrote and co produced the track that became Katy Perry’s defining pop moment, bottling the rush of young love in shimmering production.

Bright synths bubble with energy while the chorus lands like a favorite memory replaying again and again. Windows down, volume up, and voices singing at full strength perfectly match the spirit of a song where nostalgia and pure joy collide.

2. “California Gurls” – Katy Perry Feat. Snoop Dogg (2010)

Candy-coated vocals meet West Coast swagger in this sugary confection. Blanco helped whip up a summer smash that tastes like popsicles and sunshine, with Snoop adding that smooth California cool.

The beat bounces like beach balls at a pool party.

It’s impossible to hear those opening synths without picturing palm trees and convertibles. This track turned every backyard barbecue into a mini festival, proving Blanco knew exactly how to bottle summer in three minutes and forty-eight seconds.

3. “Dynamite” – Taio Cruz (2010)

Firework like production gives the track an instant burst of energy from the very first beat.

Cruz delivers lines about throwing hands up with an enthusiasm so contagious that standing still feels impossible. Sharp synth stabs cut through the speakers like electric exclamation points driving the momentum forward.

Any wedding DJ knows to keep this song ready for the moment a dance floor needs saving. Pure celebration pulses through every second, turning even an ordinary grocery store trip into something that feels like a runway walk.

4. “Eenie Meenie” – Sean Kingston & Justin Bieber (2010)

Justin Bieber’s youthful voice drifts over Benny Blanco’s production like a paper airplane gliding through study hall.

Sean Kingston and Bieber trade verses about playground-style romance, transforming a classic counting rhyme into a flirty back-and-forth that had middle school lockers buzzing.

Trademark Blanco polish gives the beat its bounce, full of shimmer and snap. Soundtrack energy recalls passing notes in class, refreshed for the text message generation.

5. “Moves Like Jagger” – Maroon 5 Feat. Christina Aguilera (2011)

Whistle hooks pierce through the mix like Jagger himself just strutted into the room wearing leather pants.

Blanco co-wrote and produced this cheeky homage to rock royalty, letting Levine’s falsetto dance around Aguilera’s powerhouse vocals. The production feels loose and funky, like a jam session that accidentally became a worldwide smash.

It’s the rare song that makes your hips move before your brain registers what’s happening.

6. “Stereo Hearts” – Gym Class Heroes Feat. Adam Levine (2011)

Above the hip hop verses, Levine’s chorus rises like a melody slipping out of headphones on a crowded bus. Blanco’s production makes the genre mashup feel effortless, blending rap cadences with pop hooks so smoothly that the differences almost disappear.

Hearts compared to stereos land with extra meaning when the song plays through earbuds during a walk home under flickering streetlights.

Romance and rhythm collide here in a way that turns a simple metaphor into one of pop’s most instantly catchy moments.

7. “Payphone” – Maroon 5 Feat. Wiz Khalifa (2012)

Nostalgia drips from every note as Levine laments lost connection in an era when payphones were already museum pieces.

Blanco co-wrote and produced this heartbreak anthem that pairs rock guitars with hip-hop swagger, Khalifa’s verse cutting through like a voicemail you wish you could delete. The drums hit hard, matching the emotional punch of the lyrics.

It’s the song playing when you’re scrolling through old photos at 2 AM, wondering if you should hit send.

8. “Diamonds” – Rihanna (2012)

Throughout a ballad created by Benny Blanco, Rihanna’s voice shines with tenderness, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of seeing stars come out at nightfall.

Shimmering production stays restrained, allowing her vocals to carry the emotional weight of finding light in darkness.

Gentle synth pulses move like a heartbeat, rising toward a soaring chorus about being beautiful like diamonds in the sky.

Rare pop balance lets the song shine through car speakers or feel intimate through earbuds on a rainy commute, proving Blanco could craft both bangers and beauty.

9. “Die Young” – Kesha (2012)

Over pulsing electro pop production, Kesha delivers a full throttle carpe diem philosophy that feels like neon signs flickering to life.

Momentum never slows as pounding drums race forward like sneakers hitting pavement during a midnight adventure.

Living with a no-regrets energy becomes the song’s heartbeat, driven by pure adrenaline and zero hesitation. Massive synth swells carry Blanco’s unmistakable touch, giving every moment a cinematic lift.

10. “Maps” – Maroon 5 (2014)

Vocals carry a pleading urgency over Benny Blanco’s atmospheric production, evoking the feeling of driving through fog while searching for something just out of reach.

Desperation swells in the chorus, asking if love can guide the way back like GPS coordinates for the heart.

Synths glide across the verses like headlights reflecting on wet pavement, creating space for vulnerability to breathe. Late-night conversation energy defines the track, offering comfort without solutions and proving Blanco understood that heartache moves in many tempos.

11. “Animals” – Maroon 5 (2014)

Primal energy courses through this Blanco co-write that prowls like its title suggests.

Levine’s vocals growl with obsession over production that feels intense and sleek, bass lines stalking through verses before that explosive chorus hits. The track pulses with tension, each beat landing like footsteps in an empty parking garage.

It’s darker than typical pop fare, showing Blanco’s range beyond sunshine anthems. The kind of song that adds extra momentum to a night drive playlist.

12. “Black Widow” – Iggy Azalea Feat. Rita Ora (2014)

Azalea’s delivery hits with bite as Stargate’s production leans into a darker, more ominous tone, with Blanco credited on the songwriting.

Ora’s vocals glide over the track with sweetness edged with tension, creating a contrast that feels bold and dramatic. A creeping beat stalks forward, mirroring lyrics about toxic love and revenge served ice cold.

Sharp strings cut through the mix like approaching danger while heavy drums land with the weight of consequences closing in.

Framed like a big-screen breakup storyline set to music, the song carries the kind of energy that makes every automatic door entrance feel powerful, proving Blanco could score darkness just as convincingly as light.

13. “Don’t” – Ed Sheeran (2014)

Sheeran’s lyrics cut deep over Blanco’s minimalist production that lets every word land like a text you shouldn’t have sent.

The beat clicks and snaps with R&B smoothness while Ed details betrayal in excruciating detail, turning heartbreak into a groove you can’t help but nod along to.

It’s the rare kiss-off that makes you want to dance and cry simultaneously. Blanco’s restraint here shows his genius – sometimes less production means more emotional impact, especially when the story’s this raw.

14. “Same Old Love” – Selena Gomez (2015)

Defiant energy rises over Benny Blanco’s moody production, simmering with frustration and newfound strength as Selena Gomez claims her independence. Tension builds through the pre-chorus like a pot nearing a boil before the chorus lands with satisfying resolve.

Pulsing synths echo the exhaustion of repeating familiar mistakes, while her vocals carry the weight of finally learning a hard lesson.

Anthemic spirit suits moments of blocking numbers and deleting photos, choosing self-worth when old patterns refuse to change. Clear emotional focus shows how perfectly Blanco captured that moment of realization.

15. “Love Yourself” – Justin Bieber (2015)

Over stripped down acoustic production, Bieber delivers one of pop’s sharpest, calmest break-up messages.

Guitar and vocals carry the entire arrangement, proving that restraint can become the loudest statement of all. Each gentle string pluck sharpens lyrics that tell someone exactly where to go without ever rising above a calm conversational tone.

Like a perfectly timed comeback that arrives in the moment instead of hours later, the song turns simplicity into quiet power.

16. “Cold Water” – Major Lazer Feat. Justin Bieber & MØ (2016)

Soft tropical beats roll in beneath Bieber’s reassuring vocals like waves arriving at a quiet sunset shoreline.

Behind the scenes, Blanco co wrote an electronic pop hybrid that feels like a friend’s arm resting across your shoulder during difficult moments.

MØ’s voice adds warmth to the breezy production, giving the track an atmosphere that feels both light and comforting. Rather than exploding, the drop lands gently, mirroring lyrics centered on support and solidarity.

17. “Señorita” – Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello (2019)

Chemistry crackles through every note as Mendes and Cabello trade verses over Blanco’s sultry Latin-influenced production.

Acoustic guitar strums set the scene while their voices intertwine like a conversation happening in glances across a crowded room.

The production breathes and pulses, letting space emphasize the tension between the vocalists. It’s the sound of attraction you can’t quite hide, translated into three minutes of musical flirtation.

Blanco’s touch kept it intimate even as it conquered charts worldwide, proving slow burns can be explosive hits.

Note: Songwriting and production credits can vary by release version, liner notes, and database updates, so credit details should be verified against official releases and reputable music-credit sources when publishing.

Descriptions of sound and cultural impact reflect a general pop-culture perspective and may not match every listener’s experience.