My Top 50 Songs of 2021
Featuring Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Olivia Rodrigo and a whole lot else
This probably doesn’t need much of an introduction as it is pretty much explained in the title. This is a list of my 50 favorite songs from the past year.
On the topic of what counts in this list, there are a few stipulations:
I pick a maximum of two songs per artist to add more variety
I am counting songs that I deemed new enough. If an artist re-released an old song and nothing about that song has changed besides the sound, I don’t count it. If it is an old song with new stuff in it, I counted it. I’m guessing you know who I’m talking about, but if not, you’ll find out soon enough.
Let’s get to the list.
50.) Charmander - Aminé — I really enjoy the new sound Aminé goes for on this “TWOPOINTFIVE” EP, and the single is my favorite track on it.
49.) Who I Smoke (ft. Whoppa Wit Da Choppa) - Spinabenz, Yungeen Ace and FastMoney Goon — These dudes go absolutely nuts over a sample of Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles,” what else is there to say?
48.) Guerrilla - Remi Wolf — Remi Wolf has such a remarkable energy in her songs, and I think the beat and delivery on this track make for one of her highlight moments.
47.) Ziptie - Julien Baker — I’ll spoil it and tell you that you’ll see all three members of boygenius on here because they are three of the best artists working today. Julien Baker’s closer off her most recent album is a stunner for me every time I listen.
46.) How Dare You Want More - Bleachers — I think Jack Antonoff’s best work comes as a producer (don’t yell at me), but Bleachers is still a solid group, and this total banger is still a highlight on the year.
45.) Kiss Me More (ft. SZA) - Doja Cat — Doja Cat and SZA make for a fantastic pairing on this absolutely infectious song that continues to grow on me to this day.
44.) Narrator - Squid and Martha Skye Murphy — God, Squid makes some batshit music, and this eight-minute effort is my favorite of theirs.
43.) MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) - Lil Nas X — It’s short, but it’s unbelievably catchy and gets bonus points for making so many people so, so mad because of a music video and pair of shoes.
42.) I Got Money Now (ft. JID) - Deante’ Hitchcock — I was unaware of Deante’ Hitchcock before this year, but I’m certainly on notice now. This song from him is excellent, and JID’s feature in the back half is equally great.
41.) The Only Heartbreaker - Mitski — I like Mitski, but I din’t fall in love with her last album like so many did. But let me tell you that I am completely amped to hear her new effort in 2022. All three singles, this being my favorite, have slapped.
40.) Stupid Big Teeth - EMMY — A late addition because I heard this song for the first time last week (I hear it’s on TikTok, which I do not go on, again no yelling at me this is my newsletter). Regardless, what a bop. It took me about five seconds to fall in love with it, and it’s that enjoyable for the entirety of its runtime.
39.) Jail (ft. JAY-Z) - Kanye West — We’re talking about the version without the bad people in it, which is still tremendous. “Donda” is a polarizing album and I 100 percent understand why, but I still think there is so much great stuff in it if you can get through the mess and filler. Jail hits you early and hits you hard, and I think Kanye gives one of his best performances on it.
38.) Amoeba - Clairo — Clairo built on a strong debut album and exceeded all of my expectations with her new effort, “Sling.” This is my favorite track on it, but really this spot is for the whole album, which I have consistently returned to since its release.
37.) To Be Loved - Adele — Adele’s new album has a lot of high points, specifically in the back half, but I think “To Be Loved” is the megastar at her best, showing off her tremendous vocals and her ability to crush my soul into tiny pieces.
36.) fafo - Zack Fox — Following up such a beautiful song with Zack Fox feels like a bit but I promise it’s not. “fafo” is a legitimately great song with a nasty beat, clever lyrics and catchy as hell hook.
35.) CORSO - Tyler, the Creator — Picking songs off the Tyler album was about as easy as picking a favorite son, but he really gets the blood pumping early on this one, and I think it sets the tone well for what this project is. And, on its own, it is one of Tyler’s strongest rap outings to date.
34.) Renegade (ft. Taylor Swift) - Big Red Machine — Justin Vernon scratches Taylor’s back, Taylor scratches his by starring in this outstanding track. This song just works, as Vernon and Swift often do together.
33.) Be Sweet - Japanese Breakfast — Holy shit Japanese Breakfast really did the thing with this album, good lord. “Be Sweet” seems to be the popular pick off the album and for good reason, it’s as sugary sweet and addicting as the title would suggest.
32.) Solar Power - Lorde — The album of the same name isn’t bad, but it didn’t live up to the unreasonably lofty expectations that Lorde put in place with her two prior efforts. That being said, the first single for it got the expectations going for a reason, with a slow start and tremendous build that blew me away.
31.) Look at the Sky - Porter Robinson — There is just something beautiful about this song that is hard to describe. You hear more of Porter’s actual singing voice here, and that move adds an extra level of feeling to these lyrics, and the results are stunning.
30.) Life Is Not The Same - James Blake — Another album that didn’t quite live up to the singles for me, but my god the singles were the good stuff, this being the best of them. Just peak James Blake in every way.
29.) Liquor Store - Remi Wolf — Did I mention Remi’s energy? Because it is peaking through the damn roof here. What an opener to the album, and what a surprise hit Remi was in 2021. More of this soon, please.
28.) Days Like These - Low — I won’t even begin to describe this, just listen to it. Low melts my brain with their music and this song is absolutely not an exception.
27.) Brando - Lucy Dacus — Maybe my favorite lyricism of the year. I love the concept of the song, which has so many lines that are equal parts funny and heartbreaking. The beat and Lucy’s performance also bring it all together excellently.
26.) All Eyes On Me - Bo Burnham — “Inside” is probably the best thing I’ve watched this year and this song feels like the climax. It has some of Bo’s humor, but is mostly deeply moving, especially in the context of the rest of the project.
25.) deja vu - Olivia Rodrigo — How could Olivia Rodrigo follow up “driver’s license”? With an even better song, apparently. The concept, the production, Olivia’s performance, this is all just excellent stuff, and it proved that Rodrigo was going to be much more than a one-hit wonder.
24.) Good Days - SZA — Technically from late December of 2020 but I do not care! This is my list! Anyway yeah this song rocks like almost everything else SZA does, just give me the album soon please, pleeeeease.
23.) Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic — I about passed out when I heard this song the first time. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak were meant to make music together, and this first song off their collab album proved it.
22.) Superstar - Beach House — Beach House has this way of transcending me out of my body whenever I hear their music, and this new album is trending toward being their best album yet. Half the album is released and it is a masterpiece, with Superstar being the clear highlight despite every song being so great.
21.) Introvert - Little Simz — The most underrated artist working today gets her first song in just outside the top 20. The opener to Simz’s audacious 2021 album sets the tone with an epic production, fantastic lyricism and, of course, a great performance from the artist herself.
20.) Pretty Places - Aly & AJ — Yes, that Aly & AJ. The duo came back for their first album in 14 years and created a classic. Plenty of great songs to pick from on this thing, but again I must go with the first one I heard. Best way I can describe it is that it epitomizes the record with its truly immaculate vibes.
19.) Nothing New (ft. Phoebe Bridgers) - Taylor Swift — I mean it’s a song with Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift, are you surprised it’s here? But even I didn’t think this song would be this good. The lyrics are heartbreaking, some of the best of Taylor’s career, and the duo’s voices work perfectly together. It is simple, yet so effective, and is a clear highlight on Red TV.
18.) family ties - Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar — Kendrick Lamar’s return in the form of a feature lived up to the expectations, because of course it did. I do want to give a whole lot of credit here to Keem, who I think was about as good here. His album is solid but inconsistent, but he knew he had to deliver here and oh my goodness he did in a big way.
17.) Come to Life - Kanye West — Kanye’s magnum opus in terms of his new era of music. This is the gospel music he is capable of making, and when he hits on it, the results are jaw-dropping. Also, the vocal performance here is, unquestionably, the best of his career.
16.) Paprika - Japanese Breakfast — The Paprika-Be Sweet opening duo on this album is untouchable, and I think that the former is the best song on the project. It is just so full of good shit, from the instrumentals to Michelle Zauner’s performance. It’s a stunner man, a true stunner.
15.) SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE (ft. Brent Faiyaz and Fana Hues) - Tyler, the Creator — If there’s a slash in a Tyler song, you know that thing is about to bang. This one does, but in a way that shows just how much range Tyler has at this point in his career. At nearly 10 minutes long, this track keeps my attention the whole way through with stunning production, tremendous guest performances, and, of course, Tyler, who is great every single time he shows up here.
14.) Take My Breath (Extended Version) - The Weeknd — The parentheses here are key. The Weeknd took a strong single and turned it into a masterpiece with the extended cut thanks to increased build up and an incredible synth instrumental that now has more room to breathe. I have not listened to the original version of the song on my own accord ever since.
13.) INDUSTRY BABY - Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow — Undeniable banger that just works. Nas is great in the opening half, Jack Harlow has maybe his best verse ever in the back half and the chorus and ridiculously good beat bring it all home.
12.) good 4 u - Olivia Rodrigo — How did Olivia Rodrigo follow up two classic singles? By making it a three-peat. The angstiest song of the year is also brilliantly executed, with a hook that you simply have to yell when you hear it. This song rocks, and I can’t wait to see where Rodrigo goes from here.
11.) I Love You, I Hate You - Little Simz — Ahh, there’s Little Simz once again, just missing out on the top 10. The intro track is exceptional, but there’s just something special about this one. I love the sample used here, but above all, it is Simz’s lyrics that cut remarkably deep about the relationship she has with her father. It is a stunning listen, and shows once again how impressive an artist this UK rapper is.
10.) Great Mass of Color - Deafheaven
Deafheaven switched up their sound in 2021 to something a little more accessible, and yet they still managed to bring the same level of excellence they are used to. That was immediately clear with “Great Mass of Color,” a catchy, gorgeous track that continues to excite and impress for all six minutes of its runtime.
9.) Smokin Out The Window - Silk Sonic
As mentioned, Bruno and .Paak really did the damn thing with this album, but they never did it harder than with this track here. The vocals are as perfect as they always are, but the added flair of humor and witty lyrics to this one make it stand out, even when next to a loaded track list.
8.) BUZZCUT (ft. Danny Brown) - BROCKHAMPTON
BROCKHAMPTON has made great album after great album since the SATURATION trilogy, and they did it again with this year, though without some of the same highs as prior outings. That does not take away from this absolute gem, that has the same weird production and ridiculous sound that I love to hear from these guys. The addition of king weirdo Danny Brown also made all the difference in getting this song so high on this list.
7.) Hot & Heavy - Lucy Dacus
One of my most listened to songs of 2021 for a reason. Dacus has a way with words that very few artists do, and she proved that throughout her most recent album. “Hot & Heavy” is the perfect mix of that talent with the music that makes her words shine through. This is a beautiful song that also has a lovely closing that sweeps me away with each new listen.
6.) Superman That - Injury Reserve
I will have more to say about this entire album next week, but just know that there is nothing like this song, or anything else from this project. “Superman That” is a completely insane listen that somehow manages to make you feel something despite it all. After all this group has went through, it’s hard to not hear a lot of that pain in this, from the samples used, to the mix, to the entirety of the final product.
5.) Happier Than Ever - Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish is a great artist, and I knew that already. I did not know she had this in her wheelhouse, but I’m glad I do now. This song starts out as many Billie tracks do on this album: subdued, laid back, but powerful all the same. What this song gets to by the end is something else entirely, but it does so without losing everything great about Billie on the way.
4.) HAZARD DUTY PAY! - JPEGMAFIA
Jesus christ, this song. Peggy couldn’t clear the sample and get this on the LP! release, which is a damn shame because it’s probably the best song he has ever made. His performance is visceral and great on its own, but it is taken somewhere else entirely because of this completely absurd sample. If you haven’t heard this one yet and need a jolt, this is musical cocaine.
3.) Silk Chiffon (ft. Phoebe Bridgers) - MUNA
It’s the bop of the year, I’m proclaiming it as such. I went from vaguely aware of MUNA to fully invested in everything they put out thanks entirely to this one song, and I am grateful for that. This is the catchiest, most smile-inducing song of 2021. It’s a brilliant piece of work and I still listen to it most days despite it being atop my most played songs list because it refuses to go stale.
2.) All Too Well (10-Minute Version) - Taylor Swift
Yes, this counts, how could it not? Sure, a large chunk of this song has been heard before in some form, but there is no denying just how different, and better, this 10-minute masterclass is. For all the anticipation this song had, somehow it was significantly better than I had expected it to be, with great lyrics, gorgeous instrumental passages and the proper emotional delivery by Swift that it deserved. This is a 10. Minute. Song. And it never, ever gets old. Not at any point throughout the track, not in repeat listens. It is a stunning feat, and likely the best song Taylor Swift has ever made.
1.) The Beachland Ballroom - IDLES
And yet, I think there was one song that was better. IDLES is a British-Irish rock group that has made a couple tremendous albums in recent years, but I never envisioned that they’d have a song that could be here.
Cue “The Beachland Ballroom.” With production by Kenny Beats, IDLES takes their sound to a new, exciting level. The guitars are still as punchy as ever, but the sound is generally more brooding than their prior efforts. That’s all great, but the exclamation point is in the performance by Joe Talbot on vocals. These are dark, dark lyrics, and Talbot gives them every bit of anguish that they deserve.
“The Beachland Ballroom” is a special track. It hurts the soul, it brings you down into the pain and it has you screaming its gut-wrenching chorus by the time it’s over. This is the best song I heard all year.
The bonus is that the song is named after a location in Cleveland, which also rocks.
Next week: Top albums of the year. In two weeks: Why Cincinnati can beat Alabama. Let’s ride.
If you are interested in me talking about random topics like this, or on my more focused posts with Big Ten women’s basketball, you can subscribe with the button above or share with the button below.