Best Songs of 2021

2021 has been a great year for music. Perhaps as the shock of the pandemic subsided and the reality of its longevity settled in, artists are once again drawing from that greatest well of inspiration: dread and uncertainty. While these two emotions dominated some of the greatest songs of 2020, it was in this year that they were explored in greater depths. At the same time, many artists have chosen to ignore that dread in favour of escapism. The resulting diversity is breathtaking.

In celebration of that, we are starting a new tradition: ranking the best songs and albums of the year. That this list is subjective should be a no-brainer. But it should also be noted that songs are particularly difficult to rank. If this writer’s opinion is taken as gospel, the list may be dominated by a few artists. Hence, for this list, we have tried to explore diverse genres of music, to represent the many different and clashing tastes in music.

But first, let’s talk honourable mentions.

Lil Nas X proved himself a true pop star this year, with hits like “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and our favourite “Sun Goes Down”, which barely misses the last spot. Lana Del Ray puts out an excellent album, with its titular song being our favourite. At least half of Silk Sonic’s album could conceivably make this list, but we could only pick one. Durand Jones & The Indications puts out one of the most fun songs of the year with “Witchoo”. And Billie Eilish’s “Your Power” truly sinks deep into your soul. Kings of Leon’s “Claire and Eddie” is kind of my (writer) personal favourite, and is the most difficult cut I have to make – for the sake of variety.

Now, on with the actual list.

12. Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties”

We don’t know what exactly to say about this song, rather than that it’s just so fun. Seeing Kendrick Lamar, now taking a break from doing horrible guest verses, and sitting down to spit bars and banters with his nephews put a smile on our face. That’s all we can say.

11. WILLOW – “transparentsoul”

The revenge of rock is real. Who would have thought that Willow Smith would be the hip hop artist to successfully make a rock debut. This song in particular benefits from the drumming styling of Blink-182’s Travis Barker. At the end of the day, “transparentsoul” may not be the most lasting pop-punk song, but for this year, at this moment, it is a darn impressive one.

10. Bartees Strange – “Weights”

Bartees Strange is a London oddball who makes music that combines indie rock, hip hop and jazz. While not exactly pathbreaking, Strange is an incredibly competent musician who makes songs that are extraordinarily catchy. “Weights” is one of his more conventionally upbeat songs but still includes a sudden piano section – the little zing that pushes it onto this list.

9. Chris Stapleton – “You Should Probably Leave”

Next up is the representative from the country genre. While not as vocally and instrumentally piercing as “Tennessee Whiskey”, “You Should Probably Leave” has all the trademark of a great Chris Stapleton song. From the soulful vocal and weeping guitar, this song paints the picture of two people drawn together by forbidden love. No song this year is more atmospheric.

8. Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever”

Billie Eilish makes such a huge entrance with her hit “Bad Guy” that it seems impossible for her to outdo herself. But in all honesty, “Happier Than Ever” is a near-perfect track that is maybe, one of her best. This song does not mix genre but rather juxtaposes the two to create the effect of a suppressed emotion erupting into the open. No other song this year makes us feel such a visceral release as of this.

7. Olivia Rodrigo – “Good 4 U”

Many people have compared Rodrigo’s Tik Tok hit to Paramore’s “Misery”. And while they are very similar, Rodrigo succeeds precisely because she cannot be mistaken for Hayley Williams. Her songs will always be distinguishable. At a young age, she has somehow managed to cement a style unto herself. Like Taylor Swift before her, Rodrigo found the right balance between innocence and righteousness that is reflected in her unique vocal performances. From the world of the hits, she is the true stand-out debut of the year.

6. Kings of Leon – “The Bandit”

After what appears to be a really good break, Kings of Leon return with a fresh southern rock album – “When You See Yourself”. Its most famous track – “The Bandit” – is a testament to Kings of Leon’s raw ability to harvest the power of southern rock to deliver a story with the gravitas of mythology. “The Bandit” feels like a whole movie unto itself. Better yet, it feels like tales bards would pass on. Tales of people, places and crimes, upheld by a powerful bassline. What more could you ask for?

5. Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – “Smokin’ Out the Window”

The intense popularity of “Leave the Door Open” makes it the true song of 2021. But “Smokin’ Out the Window”, many would agree, is the most entertaining song of the year. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak show themselves to be connoisseurs of the classic capable of bringing out and in some cases improving the best music of the yesteryears.

4. Anna B Savage – “Baby Grand”

Telling a story through a song can be an insurmountable task. But Anna B Savage’s meditation on her relationship with her ex is so candid and powerful that it seems to achieve that task effortlessly. Savage uses her guitar to bring highlight issues and emotions embedded in the observational lyrics. The result is the kind of true poetry only conveyable sonically. It seems to mean to say this, but Savage is exactly the kind of artist we thought Ed Sheeran would have grown into by now.

3. Japanese Breakfast – “Be Sweet”

As the dude-bros of indie rock – Imagine Dragon, OneRepublic – seem to be subsiding, it’s great to see some more female bands taking up this niche. Japanese Breakfast has been big in the indie scene for a while, but “Be Sweet” infectiously fun beat pushed them ever closer to the mainstream. That said, it’s the unapologetically corny quality of Japanese Breakfast that makes them special.

It’s a conundrum. One hopes more people would listen to “Be Sweet”. One also hopes it remains obscure. I must profess that it’s impossible to listen to this song on a bus because my shoulder would just be moving automatically. It’s irresistible.

2. Japanese Breakfast – “Posing in Bondage”

Of all the songs in Japanese Breakfast’s incredible album, “Posing in Bondage” is the most secretly complex. Listening to it the first time, one won’t be able to pick up all the details – both in the lyrics and the music. But with repeated listening, one is mesmerized by the song’s ability to describe the emotions and perception of its singer. “Posing in Bondage” grows on you. And it wouldn’t be surprising if, in a few years, it is reevaluated to be the top song.

1. Bo Burnham - “That Funny Feeling”; Phoebe Bridgers, “That Funny Feeling”

No song in 2021 better capture what it feels like to live through this pandemic. In a year when things happen so much in so little time, it’s great to have a song that is about accepting the contrasting conditions of humanity. While the simple guitar highlights the raw emotion of the song, the observatory lyrics hide great depths that may require a great deal of deciphering.

When Phoebe Bridger – the true heroine of Indie Rock – decided to cover it, we began to see the manifold layers of the song. Its last sentence could be seen as haunting as if humanity will end soon – it’s overdue. On the other hand, it could be interpreted as positive – COVID was overdue, but it’s going to be over soon. Bridger’s interpretation is dissimilar from Bo, but they don’t contradict each other. They make the song and its lyrics more meaningful.