Top 50 Songs 2021!
decembre 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣
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When times are dark we rely on art to keep us afloat. In what has been a very difficult year, art: music, movies, books, the act of creation itself; has kept me anchored to the mortal plane.
This year’s top 50 is unranked.
I wanna thank every artist for making art ♡ I wanna thank myself for making art ♡ I just wanna talk about the songs I love and the way they made me feel ◠‿◠✿ Let’s go?
꧙꧙꧙꧙꧙꧙꧙꧙
Like You (feat. Fluffy) – Komato$e, CCI Midas, Lucas Versace
Theme
Grief, loss, platonic love
Favorite lyric(s)
“Hope that you will always feel love”
“No one like you, no one like you, when the lights go out Ima find you”
“Just kicked all the pigs out of heaven, fuck em right?” :) <3
Why listen?
This song is obviously special to me personally, because of the artists. CCI Midas and Komato$e are no longer with us. Komato$e wrote this song about the loss of his friend CCI Midas, who took their life in 2020. I think this song really honors platonic love, and how we need to love and interact with people while they’re around. It’s about having that one friend who just gets you, across artificial boundaries. I find there is a powerful continuity in acknowledging how much we can miss someone special, while promising to find them wherever we all go.
Something Comforting – Porter Robinson
Theme
Comfort, hope, nostalgia
Favorite lyric(s)
“If I send this void away, have I lost a part of me?”
“Someone tell me, something comforting”
Why listen?
Porter Robinson’s Spitfire is the reason I got so excited about electronic music (that…and Lady gaygay <3). There’s something so powerful in listening to the same artists work at various points in your life. This song is exactly what the title says: it’s comforting. There’s so much hope in the twinkly music. I think this song helps me acknowledge that sometimes Something Comforting isn’t Something You Can Be Scared Of – you can fear healing but want it deeply. I highly recommend listening to the live version from Second Sky. Get into Porter y’all.
Cicada feat Arca – Sega Bodega
Theme
Sexy, dance, loss
Favorite lyric(s)
“Tell me you knew
How much I cared
To the ends of earth for you”
Why listen?
You know, sad can still be sexy! There’s really beautiful soft whispers and Arca’s glossy soundwork here with a really strong undercurrent at 1:50, you want to play that loud-soft. I love how the lyrics are angsty, for that ‘I can’t get you out of my head’ person and organic; the insect motif weighs down the strappy-heels-I-wanna-dance-in-the-moonlight vibe. It makes me wanna move, but it’s slinky and enigmatic.
back n forth – ericdoa
Theme
Angsty, fuck-you!
Favorite lyric(s)
“You can’t ever hurt me, boy you don’t deserve me!”
Why listen?
I think that very specific 00s angst is making a real comeback this year. My favorite thing is a deep song with a hype beat. Get in your (mom’s) car and blare the chorus and sing along. The theme really is ‘I hate everyone and I’m going to set a car on fire!”. Watch the video - he does mess his car up real bad, I admire that.
Bands x3 – Malick McFly, Yung Davon, Plan Á
Theme
Happy fuck-you!
Favorite lyric(s)
“want these bandz bandz bandz, I ain’t your mans mans mans!”
Why listen?
Y’all don’t love the Arizona rap G.O.A.T. with Smooth Davon voice and the Plan Á beat? This is truly one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. I’m beyond impressed at each verse, the catchy beat, the finesse on this. The transition from cocky-dancy-calm-fuckyou-FUCKYOU! is …beyond. It’s just good y’all, it’s happy.
Token – Roma Radz
Theme
Brokeup, nostalgia, dance
Favorite lyric(s)
“Play machine games, play machine games with my heart and my brain”
Why listen?
It’s time to give pop princesses center stage. This makes me feel like I got broken up with in an arcade. I love a good stutter on femme vocals, around 2:05. I think CD Romz is going to blow up y’all. I’m going to EVERY SHOW! (p.s. she was great at Pitchfork if you didn’t go you missed out teebeeH).
Bunny is a Rider – Caroline Polachek
Theme
Escapism, dance
Favorite lyric(s)
“bunny is riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiider”
“I’m so non-physical”
Why listen?
Listen…00:36 to 00:42…what can I say. Aren’t we all a little tired of being found? I could hide behind some boxes to be honest. I think there’s a real fluidity to this song, and I’m loving how many Alice in Wonderland metaphors this year has inspired (Alice – Lady Gaga’s Chromatica, The Matrix Ressurection). I really think we all feel a little non-physical and could use a little heart unbreaking. This is the perfect summerpop song and I’m a huge fan of the whistle. It’s ethereal, but grounded!
G R O W – WILLOW ft Travis Barker, Avril Lavigne
Theme
Personal growth, nostalgia, angst,healing
Favorite lyric(s)
“GROW! GROW! GROW!”
“I been really searching emotional wealth
Honestly my heart is broke”
Why listen?
Bruh it’s been a really long time since I listened to an Avril Lavigne song. Willow is incredible. Her vision is beyond. This song for me acknowledges how all that cheesy shit people say will help you…actually does (not being alone, affirmations…). It’s saying growth is taking some hits before it gets real Good. It made me feel a whole lot better about feeling so stupidly immature about growing up; it’s cathartic. I also think Willow has her found her sound and I hope we hear a hell of a lot more from her. Who else got Avril on a feature this year?! Mhm.
Montero – Lil Nas X
Theme
Personal growth, inner child
Favorite lyric(s)
“Call me when you want, call me when you need
Call me in the morning, I'll be on the way
Call me when you want, call me when you need”
Why listen?
Remember how much we loved Judas by Lady Gaga? Remember how good Bloody Mary is? Yeah there’s a little TENSION evoked with religious metaphors, and I really love it. This is just pure affirmation, pulling out that ~private into public. It makes you feel seen (and I mean; the music video…packed full of incredible artists). The vibrance of the music video, I can’t tell you enough how beautiful it was.
acid reflux – io
Theme
Tension
Favorite lyric(s)
“doo doo beep boop”
Why listen?
Uh, it was me. I like songs that feel like your car is speeding and the steering isn’t quite in your control. I like tension. I like a big finish. I felt tense deep within when I made this cuz I had mad acid reflux. The best part is probably that siren, it’s like “uhhhh should I call me an ambulance or find something in this pain I can enjoy?” I went for the latter. It’s a really good interlude to clear the air with.
1 (feat. Umru, Himera & trndytrndy) – Petal Supply
Theme
Longing, affirmation
Favorite lyric(s)
“Tell me I’m the 1”
Why listen?
11ish minutes of bliss. Petal Supply is so good at creating that glossy-wistful mood. For me, this song is about taking up space, asking for the affirmations you want to hear, and it’s also real nostalgic cause it’s bringin back the 00s trance scene. I like this version of 1 because it hits harder, right where you want it to. I love ethereal married with video-game-PEWPEW. 3:38 to 4:10 is incredibly comforting. Don’t skip. Stay with it.
Check1 – Umru, Tommy Cash & 645AR
Theme
Cocky, dance
Favorite lyric(s)
“If she rides automatic then” …my mom reads my blog fill the gaps urself
Why listen?
Grandeur, swagger. big sound. big cocky lyrics to match. It’s theatrical, it’s the bedazzled-at-home leather jacket of music. It’s also catchy, and personally relevant because I can’t drive stick.
Xenomorphgirl – Arca
Theme
Ethereal, transformative
Favorite lyric(s)
“Tell me I’m the 1”
Why listen?
This is the one Arca song I might like better than Brokeup. It’s so beautiful and wistful, but there’s that tension of ‘is this enough’, ‘are we ramped up enough?’. I personally love vocals I cannot understand, so it’s the enigmatic energy here too, I love the fade into oblivion at the end. I’m a girl but don’t I morph?
Free Woman (Rina Sawayama, Clarence Clarity remix) – Lady Gaga
Theme
Healing, transformative
Favorite lyric(s)
“I’m not nothing without a steady hand”
Why listen?
I’m a free bitch, baby. The original of this song is just as beautiful, but all the more so set against the ladscape of a successful #FreeBritney. I think everyone can find comfort in empowerment, but I would also like to add that Rina not only held her own, she met theatrical and vocal power like Gaga’s. Again, it’s cheesy, but I think this has been the year to find comfort in simplicity of message, true freedom, after all, is the ability to feel cool as fuck while saying whatever you want. Tell me you don’t want to holler the chorus…you do. She’s a free woMAN//! My choice of fav lyric is purely based on developing hand tremor this year lol. It’s the little things.
Good Ones – Charli XCX
Theme
Angsty, self-destructive
Favorite lyric(s)
“I wish you gave me a reason”
Why listen?
Let me preface by saying this is a better pop song than anything the Dula Peep and the blonde whiney one have put out this year. This is girl becoming woman. However. I have really unpopular opinions about the music video, I hated it!!!!! Before I am a woman, I am a hater, I’m also a Charli stan so go easy on me. I loved the Eurythmics reference, I love the 80’s but I feel like this deserved brighter colors and a slightly more hectic video. It feels a little flat with the aesthetic she pushed, there’s a real mismatch visually, and visuals are important to me. This song is a masterclass in pop music. I’m just kinda mad cause I feel kinda played but it’s also not me being played. Charli really toed the line of sellout and talent here. I kinda love it.
NEEDA HAND – Tony Velour
Theme
Fast, tense
Favorite lyric(s)
“catch up please!”
Why listen?
It’s the way I wanted to feel while listening to DnB, but DnB didn’t quite do it for me. this is IT. I feel like we are popularising asking for help this year, this is on brand. If you haven’t heard this yet, catch up please!
911 (Charli XCX & A.G. Cook Remix) – Lady Gaga
Theme
Tension, healing, personal growth
Favorite lyric(s)
“keep myself in beautiful places
paradise is in my hands”
Why listen?
The 911 original and music video means so much. It’s really about confronting your crazy head on. This remix is almost too good to be true. There’s a real art in keeping the original spirit of a song alive, in being additive and not taking away. I feel like none of us realise how deeply Charli XCX understands pop music, but she really gets it. This is her at her angsty best, elevating Gaga’s raw, honest pop perfection. I love that Charli & AG kept the focus on that high pitched Gaga vocal. If you’re only around for a verse, 1:36 to 1:50 – it created tension and desperation like nothin else. Go on. Pop a 911.
On Your Mind – DOSS
Theme
Got someone on your mind
Favorite lyric(s)
“On Your Mind”
Why listen?
This is Doss’s year. Their remix of Enigma is also sublime. This is a solid standalone.
Summary feat. Lucas Versace – Komato$e
Theme
Reality, loss, hope
Favorite lyric(s)
“broke a couple hearts, healed a couple hearts”
“blah blah blah”
Why listen?
There are some songs honest enough to make you want to d*e. The chorus really is, the Summary. The worst part of this song is that I released it posthumously for Komato$e, in some grotesque way, was it a Summary? For me this song is about meeting myself where I am. This takes you all the way to the brink before revealing that it doesn’t matter, right at the end (there is hope, it always gets better…unless?).
Sine From Above (Chester Lockhart, Mood Killer & Lil Texas Remix) – Lady Gaga
Theme
Catharsis, dance
Favorite lyric(s)
“healed my heart, heard a sine”
Why listen?
This life is ephemeral. I think this song speaks to a real isolation and pain as a signal (well, duh). For me this is about finding delight even in the darkest moments. It’s about believing in utopia and light when you can’t see it, and listening to pain because it’s trying to get your attention for a reason. ALSO can I just say…there’s SILENCE, there’s a SINE WAVE, completely unrelated sax and then there’s the hardest I’ve ever heard a song go right at the end. Lil Texas didn’t have to, but he obliged, I’m grateful. More Gaga X Lil Texas pls.
Drama feat. Charli XCX – Bladee & Mechatok
Theme
Being a little toxic for fun
Favorite lyric(s)
“Crying in Prada, in the Bahamas, stand up for drama”
Why listen?
Sneaky vibes. Slightly toxic-for-fun vibes. I really really love Mechatok’s sounds.
The Steps – HAIM
Theme
Feeling misunderstood but standing up for yourself
Favorite lyric(s)
“I can't understand
Why you don't understand me, baby”
Why listen?
The perfect balance between being self-indulgent and standing up for yourself. HAIM really brings back that Jojo-type angst for me and I love it. If you’re feeling misunderstood…and tryin ‘ to grow…this could be for ya!
Unisil – SOPHIE
Theme
SOPHIE
Favorite lyric(s)
“HEY! HEY!”
Why listen?
This post - what more can be said about SOPHIE.
Unlimited Ammo – namasenda
Theme
Mutual toxicity, but knowing you are done
Favorite lyric(s)
“Feeling high, dopamine
Crushing like I'm 17”
Why listen?
This is Namasenda’s best work, it’s a bop. I just really like pop songs about relationships, especially if there’s toO muCh fEelinGs.
100 Boyfriends – Alice Longyu Gao
Theme
The disposability of men
Favorite lyric(s)
“Life is too short to not be kissed
That's why I keep hot boys on my wrist”
Why listen?
Alice Longyu Gao is so creative and resilient. This is one for the themmes, femmes, maybe hims. Life is short, you have the power. The beat is very Missy Elliot and I personally love whispers in songs.
Need You – Lil Texas & Kayzo
Theme
Catharsis, dance
Favorite lyric(s)
“yo0o0uu nana”
Why listen?
I realised how powerfully cathartic hardstyle music was this year thanks to Lil T. This is gentler than his other work, much more grounded in THE FEELS. But it’s high energy, who says you can’t party when you’re sad? If you have ADHD, do yourself a favor and listen to this.
Bloody Mary – Lady Gaga
Theme
Out of Touch With Reality, Angst
Favorite lyric(s)
“We are not just art for Michaelangelo to carve,
He can’t, Rewrite the aggro of my furied heart”
Why listen?
I could write an entire blog post about this song. Yes, I realise Born This Way came out a decade ago. This is from the re-edition so it counts. For me this song is about romanticising your life and giving yourself the space to be as theatrical as you want, if that empowers you in what you’re living through. Again, I love a good TENSE religious reference, she really made the most of this Mary Magdalene motif here. ‘Rewrite the aggro of my furied heart’ is one of the best pieces of songwriting I’ve ever seen. This song is ultimately about outlasting pieces and parts of your life – you are the focal point. It’s also about losing yourself in love to the point of dissassociating from reality; becoming almost religiously involved with someone. Just go listen to it man.
Look at the Sky – Porter Robinson
Theme
Healing, hope
Favorite lyric(s)
“Look at the sky, I'm still here
I'll be alive next year
I can make something good, oh
Something good”
Why listen?
Nostalgic, but open air. If you haven’t touched grass in a while. If you haven’t looked directly up at a blue sky in a while. If you’re feeling a little musty, a little stifled, a little too indoors. You can still make something good, you’re still you. Porter’s entire album is true to the title, Nurture really is heady comfort. This was personally comforting to me because while my friend wasn’t still here, and wasn’t alive this year, isn’t he still here? I’m still here! What is grief if not love living past the object of its affection?
Telefang – Komato$e & Lucas Versace
Theme
Yes. None. All.
Favorite lyric(s)
“I feel amazing in the limelight”
Why listen?
Driving late at night in my feelings, thinking about something everything. Been there? Listen to it. Soothing. Gentle powerful voice. The opening sounds like Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv. LOL. I love the artist. I really love him so much. Talent. Also, fuck Lucas Versace.
Enigma (DOSS Remix) – Lady Gaga
Theme
Transformation, self-belief, dance
Favorite lyric(s)
“We could be anything we want”
Why listen?
That Mysterious Girl, Who is An Entire Girl! Doss really brought the tension, energy and a continuity to what was already such a beautiful song. Doss also brought a little challenge to Gaga’s raw power – give yourself something to believe in! I realise half of Dawn of Chromatica is in my top 50 this year, but…have you listened to it?
Don’t Rob The Plug – Yung Davon feat. Malick McFly
Theme
ouid, troll
Favorite lyric(s)
“Never mind”
“The revolution will never be televised, I’m hella high”
“In a hypothetical situation if I really did sell weed…”
Why listen?
Davon’s style is unique. Malick voice deep. COUGH COUGH COUGH adds a lot. It’s a solid song, I just really enjoy it.
Black Ops 2 – Namasenda
Theme
Winning!
Favorite lyric(s)
“Look at me winning now”
Why listen?
Are ya winning son? You could if you listen to this cute song. Not all music has to be deep, I love a superficial banger. I’m personally made of 99% cringe so I find this motivational. That’s just me baby.
Xcxoplex– A.G. Cook
Theme
Winning!
Favorite lyric(s)
“Body got no weight, gone without a trace”
Why listen?
God, Charli has that very specific brand of high pitched depth nobody else does. This is my disassociation soundtrack. I think it’s about floating above everything, especially at PARTIES and CLUBS!!!! This music makes me feel truly free, sadfree, carefree, out of reach!
Replay (Dorian Electra Remix) – Lady Gaga
Theme
Fighting, despair, dance!
Favorite lyric(s)
“Never stop like a song playing and I can't escape
On rewind, on repeat, incessant, all day
Spinnin' it like you're a DJ, torture me on replay”
Why listen?
Replay the original: angsty dance pop. Replay the remix: screaming at a festival, pure euphoria, I don’t care! This truly is about letting your (little) Monsters free. I didn’t expect Dorian to go so Sum41 hard but I mean…it’s Dorian. I feel like the embellishments really brought this song together – the gasping, the raw, the raspy whispery. Gaga’s growl has been a source of comfort since 2009. Dorian not only matched that growly freedom energy, they elevated it. I swear I hear Tom Hiddleston’s Loki somewhere in here though.
The Void pt 3 – Malick McFly
Theme
Cocky, growth
Favorite lyric(s)
“Some people’s biggest fear is their thoughts, my biggest fear is these THOTS”
Why listen?
Short and sweet, a Malick classic. He just gets better every single song.
Kanpai – Alice Longyu Gao
Theme
Cocky, dance!
Favorite lyric(s)
“Everybody’s drinking about me”
Why listen?
I felt cooped up. I want to CLINK GLASSES WITH YOU. I want a good damn time! So I play Kanpai!
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett
Theme
Loving deeply, platonic love
Favorite lyric(s)
“I’ve got you under my skin, like a tattoo, under my skin”
Why listen?
Some people really weave themselves into the fabric of your being. There’s a song for that feeling. This entire album is not the kind of music I’d have listened to if not for the obvious reason *cough* lady gaygay. I’m glad I did, it brought me a lot of joy to see black abundance celebrated, to see Tony Bennett breaking through Alzheimers with music – it really did feel magical. It’s festive too! I also think it’s healthy not to give a shit about genres and find what you love wherever it sits.
Ram It Down (feat. Mood Killer, Lady Mariko, Lil Texas) – Dorian Electra
Theme
Family values
Favorite lyric(s)
“Keep it locked up tight, ah
Oh, what you do at night, ah
Just don't bring it out into the daylight”
Why listen?
Take it literally. Firstly, listen because Lil Texas – do you not enjoy endorphins?! I don’t know if I feel good below 120BPM anymore. Secondly. Because. What you love. Ram it down the metaphorical throat of everyone and anyone! Thirdly. Hey Man, sounds a whole lot like Dorian is calling my name. I choose to really enjoy that.
boys wanna txt (feat. ericdoa) – daine
Theme
Teen angst
Favorite lyric(s)
“Feeling so impulsive
I just want your cold grip, but you ignore my text”
Why listen?
That feeling when everyone is blowing up your phone, except the one person you really want to hear from. I am a compulsive triple texter, which kinda makes me love this all the more. Again, ericdoa…get into it.
Queer (feat. planningtorock) – Arca
Theme
Power, transformation
Favorite lyric(s)
“Queer fire, shower in power line
Tears will shower in my time
Like magic”
Why listen?
Title.
Freedom – Christine and The Queens
Theme
Healing
Favorite lyric(s)
“So please don't give me up (freedom)
'Cause I would really, really love to stick around”
Why listen?
There’s big and loud theatrical. Then there’s Christine and The Queen’s almost poetic theatrical. There’s soft power in this song. It might be a little dramartique but I welcome this.
Dick (feat. Doja Cat) – StarBoi3
Theme
Take a wild guess
Favorite lyric(s)
“She not with him tonight, she not with Jim tonight, she in the gym tonight!”
Why listen?
Listen, you need to find 4 goofy friends, a car, and play this out loud. Everyone needs to scream the chorus.This is one of those cute short-lived pop songs. I LOVE IT. (I also love Doja Cat, she is definitely a Little Monster tbh).
Solar Power – Lorde
Theme
Healing, love
Favorite lyric(s)
“Turn it on in a new kind of bright
It's solar (solar, solar, solar)
Come on and let the bliss begin
Blink three times when you feel it kicking in”
Why listen?
This is my favorite Charli XCX song. LOL. It’s about finding your own genre of power. I have to be honest, I hated this song so much when it came out. I HATE the summer. I HATE yellow. I deeply dislike sand, self-reflection, slow songs. It really grew on me though, it is classically Lorde. TBH, I also would like to throw my cellular device into the water. This song and Bunny Is A Rider are sisters – don’t ask me to explain further. I don’t understand music.
Butter – BTS
Theme
Butter
Favorite lyric(s)
“Ooh, when I look in the mirror
I'll melt your heart into two
I got that superstar glow, so
Ooh (do the boogie, like)”
Why listen?
Look, I’m a simple woman of Persian heritage. I love butter and I love BTS. I think they make truly feel good music. I think we need that. Also, THEY ARE SO CUTE LOL!!!!
mememe – 100 Gecs
Theme
Angst
Favorite lyric(s)
“But I'll laugh too fucking hard, you probably think I'm so mean
But I don't even know you, and now you'll never really know”
Why listen?
Do you want to be kinda mysterious, but know deep inside you are way too cringe to achieve true enigma status? For some reason this song validates That Specific Part of me. It’s also very 00s Simple Plan.
strangers – ericdoa
Theme
Growing Up
Favorite lyric(s)
“She like everything about me, I'm the one that she adore”
Why listen?
ericdoa. very teen early-are-we-talking-dating-relationship vibes. no more parties in LA reference.
Rainbow (make it double Oklou remix) – Bladee and Mechatok
Theme
Joy, seeking
Favorite lyric(s)
“Night wrap me in a black velvet blanket
I could've had it all, I didn't wanna have it
You don't believе it, how can I work the magic?”
Why listen?
Bladee and mechatok are always ethereal. There is some beautiful textural songwriting matched by twirling sounds here. The Oklou remix is even more JOYFUL than the original I also just love the metaphor of looking for rainbows. I love spoken word bits in songs. This is just a really delicate, beautiful piece of music - it is like delicate elderflower meeting liquid chrome.
Exact – Tony Velour
Theme
Growing Up
Favorite lyric(s)
“All my trust, how much to be exact?”
Why listen?
This is one I think I’ll be listening to for a looooooong time. I like it a lot, I’m not sure why yet. It’s groovy.
SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE – Tyler The Creator
Theme
Relationships
Favorite lyric(s)
“But God gotta know he might have peaked when he made you
The cosmos' only mistake is what they named you?”
Why listen?
I love extra long, not quite cohesive songs. Tyler is really exploiting sugary metaphors, but I love a high calorie diet. A song that shifts and gives me a little more than I thought I’d get.
The One – Hyd
Theme
Relationships
Favorite lyric(s)
“The world is yours
For you to decide
No use in hiding
Your next self-design?”
Why listen?
When I first heard this, which was live at Pitchfork, it blew my mind. There ar every few songs that can walk the tightrope of twinkling-starlight-ambience and ANGRY-METALLIC-BOOM in the same way. It really is cathartic, and again, I love a song that shifts. Marrying the elegance of quiet vocal with CLANG CLANG gets me.
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ideally bandcamp / buy but if you must, listen on apple music & spotify
What if you actually listened to every single song on this playlist and found your new favorite? ay.