My Favorite Songs, 2021
The tracks that got me through pandemic year 2
Going through my favorite songs of the year, listed in chronological order! Below you can stream a playlist with all the songs on it:
The list begins with a few songs that were released in 2020, but I first heard them off of the albums they were on that dropped in 2021. I know that technically disqualifies them from the list, but it’s my list, and they were truly some of my favorites of this year, so they’re staying on.
Black Dog by Arlo Parks
This song made me cry the first time I heard it.
Hurt Me by Sibille Attar
In my writeup on this album, I said this song had the “best use of strings in a pop song since Untouched by The Veronicas” and I stand by that statement.
Young On The Mountain by Lia Ices
This tracks drips with nostalgia in a way I can’t really explain, but it really does feel like being a kid out in some mountains.
Megan Fox by Kezia
Yesterday I crowned claire as my favorite EP of 2021, and today I reveal that “megan fox” was one of my most played songs of the year. No matter who you are, Kezia will have you singing “thick like ass on Megan” like you really believe that shit.
Do You Understand (What Has Happened To You) by Slaughter Beach, Dog
I really appreciated this song as someone who rarely understands what has happened at any given time.
Miss This by Starrah
In less than 2 minutes, Starrah shows why she’s still one of the best pop writers in the industry with a song that will bounce around your head for days.
Blue by Madison Beer
As (I think?) I’ve said before on this blog, I’m a sucker for some well executed synthetic vocal harmonies in pop songs, and this chorus hits that note perfectly.
Forever Fifteen by Mothica
TW for suicide and sexual assault on this song
If you like ‘sad bops’ this song takes both of those words to the extreme.
Show Me How You Disappear by Ian Sweet
I love the way the guitars are mixed in this song to just completely take over when they come in during the chorus.
Electric Girl by Connie Constance
Prim & Propa made my list for favorite EPs of the year, and this electrifying lead single was a major reason why!
Bad Chick Bad Dude by Exum
This is the track (and video) that drew me into EXUM, and made me realize he was doing something different.
Deja Vu by Olivia Rodrigo
Drivers License was the song that exploded for Rodrigo, but this was the one that really made me a believer.
Rollercoaster by Briston Maroney
I don’t mean to do this track a disservice, but I honestly don’t know what I like about it. I just kept coming back and enjoyed every listen.
Force Of Habit by Paris Texas
This was the go-to confidence boosting track for 2021.
Much Money (Feat. Freddie Gibbs) by Kenny Mason
According to Apple Music, this one was my most played song of the year. No Surprise there.
Body Move by Dizzy Fae
This song essential demands to be danced to like no song in recent memory has.
Stop Making This Hurt by Bleachers
Wish we had gotten a whole album of tracks as good as this one *upside down smiley face emoji*
Hood Blues (Feat. Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, & Conway The Machine) by DMX
I did not expect my favorite Griselda cut of the year to come on a DMX posthumous album, but here we are. RIP DMX!
Touchable by Remble
This song somehow has a hook that reads like it could have been written by Druski, while still feeling menacing.
In Your Eyes by Snoh Aalegra
Snoh Aalegra and The Neptunes make you wish they started making tracks together a long time ago.
Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish
Whenever you’re ready to make a full album with this sound Billie, I will be waiting here patiently.
Just For Me by pinkpantheress
I don’t care how short pinkpantheress songs are, if they continue to be as good as this I will continue to listen on loop so they feel like a normal-length song.
Time Flies When You’re Having Fun by BLACKSTARKIDS
I just feel like you really need to hear this song live to fully appreciate it. But streaming it on repeat doesn’t hurt either.
When She Comes Around by No Rome
This song boasts one of the biggest choruses of the year, and instantly became my favorite No Rome song off just one listen.
The Dress by Dijon
About a week after this song came out I had to set ground rules for myself that I could only listen to it once a day because I was playing it too much. And I broke that rule.
Albums list (part one of two) coming tomorrow!