Photo courtesy of ChartExpress on YouTube
Hope everyone enjoyed having this in text form last year because I’m doing it again. Ever since 2017 when I first started reviewing music, I would always make a list at the end of the year of every song that would reach the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, ranked from my personal least favorite to my personal favorite. From 2017-2019, I would post this list as a YouTube video, but last year, my busy schedule made it more convenient to post the list on my blog in text form. This year is no different.
While posting this on my blog as opposed to YouTube or TikTok might limit the number of views it gets, I’m not too concerned about that. I enjoy making these lists, and just being able to put them out for the world is good enough for me. Plus, doing them in written form like this is the easiest, most stress-free way to be able to do my lists without breaking myself in the process. With 80 songs to rank this year, we had a pretty packed 2021 in terms of chart-climbing music.
This is the fifth year that I’ve done this list, but in case this is your first time seeing something like this, I’ll give a quick refresher: I divide my list into five different “tiers,” and place each song into these tiers while numerically ranking them as best as I can. With each song, I’ll also include at least a few sentences to sum up and explain my feelings about each song. As always, I will stress that this list is just my own opinion. I tend to be a bit more positive than most other critics, hence why you’ll see a lot of songs in some of the higher tiers. It’s totally fine to disagree, but let’s keep all potential disagreements civil and respectful in the comments. With that said, let’s get into the list:
I HATED THESE!!!
80. Bang! by AJR
This overproduced mess of a song honestly just feels like what I imagine Twenty One Pilots would sound like if they made music for DreamWorks movies. I don’t know if this song outwardly frustrates me as much as everyone else on the planet, but if that’s truly the case, I’m terrified to know of the effects that it had on the rest of the population. Because all it did for me was cause a bit of a headache: I’m terrified to hear about the potentially visceral reactions it caused among others.
79. Fancy Like by Walker Hayes
One of the worst things that I can say about this song is that I had to listen to it multiple times for this list. Not because I wanted to, of course, but because every time I heard the song, it completely left my brain and I had to remember what it was. As it is, it’s just an amalgamation of everything that makes modern country so unsavory to me, but just with a slightly more agreeable tone. It’s a shame because I actually liked his song “You Broke Up With Me,” but this? I’d like it out of my head again, please.
78. WHOOPTY by CJ
What a waste of a pretty good drill beat. I could honestly have seen Pop Smoke doing something pretty damn good with this, but instead, we get “calmer 6ix9ine” trying his hand at it. It just doesn’t land for me whatsoever. Seems like this is one of those songs that blew up because of TikTok, and I think we’ll look back in the future and wonder how it hit the Top 10. At least that will make it fun for bar trivia, though.
77. Way 2 Sexy by Drake ft. Future and Young Thug
Even though I didn’t hate “Certified Lover Boy” as much as 90% of the population, I feel like it was probably the biggest misstep I’ve heard from him as far as his own albums are concerned. Very few moments showed that more than this song, which I was surprised to see go #1. Look, I like Drake, and I’ve defended even some of his “weakest” projects, but…dude, Taylor Swift couldn’t even stick the landing with the “I’m Too Sexy” sample, I don’t think you were going to either. And he didn’t: he and Future phone it in (honest take: I don’t see Drake and Future as a “legendary” duo as some others do), and the only great thing Young Thug does on the song is exist. The only reason this isn’t even lower on the list is because I see its appeal as a song that is so bad that it turns around and becomes enjoyable. Otherwise, yeah, really bad.
I DIDN’T LIKE THESE!
76. In The Bible by Drake ft. Lil Durk and Giveon
And right as we get out of the “hated” tier, we still have another low-tier Drake song. This song has what might genuinely be one of the worst choruses I’ve ever heard Drake spit. The song as a whole is only not in the “hated” tier because Lil Durk and Giveon sound great (which speaking of...how did Giveon's “Heartbreak Anniversary” not reach the Top 10? That would probably be in or around my Top 5 had it made it there). I miss when Drake actually cared about the quality of his music.
75. Wasted On You by Morgan Wallen
Why does this song have trap drums? That sounds like a minor detail, but it’s something I can’t stop circling back on. It’s a country track that, for some reason, has trap drums on it that just stick out like a sore thumb and don’t sound right. It shoots the song in the foot right from the start, making it a pretty bad follow-up to “7 Summers,” a single that I actually quite liked. I mean, this certainly wasn’t the worst thing to happen to Morgan Wallen in 2021, but…still a pretty bad song, in my eyes.
74. I Hope by Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth
Yeah, this song was on my list last year, it was pretty low, and it didn’t grow on me at all this year. Still sounds like a Carrie Underwood runoff, and Charlie Puth’s addition to the song adds nothing in my eyes.
73. TSU by Drake
Three Drake songs in the bottom two tiers. And not just songs with Drake features, these are his own songs that he put on his new album. I must be getting cynical in my old age...of 23. I don’t find this to be mind-numbing or horrible, but it’s just so much of a snoozer for Drake. His performance is uninspired and lacks the passion and emotion that makes his R&B jams work so well, and a lot of the lyrics just feel corny even by his standards. It’s the kind of song I can only see playing well with the most hardened Drake stans that absolutely can’t say a bad thing about him.
THESE WERE OKAY
72. Astronaut in the Ocean by Masked Wolf
I’m surprised: I don’t really hate this. I do think some of it comes across as “white mansplainer stands up for ‘real rap’ against 'mumble crappers' that aren’t actually fighting him,” but even after multiple listens, I don’t find it entirely rage-inducing or frustrating, just extremely generic. Masked Wolf has some decent flows, but the same could be said of any of these artists who treat “real rap” as being more about impressive flows than genuinely good lyricism. Still, it’s not the worst popular music to come out of Australia in recent memory…hard to be worse than Tones And I.
71. Girls Want Girls by Drake ft. Lil Baby
You know it’s bad when I, someone who generally likes Drake a lot more than most others, find time to put four of his songs in my bottom ten tracks on this list. To be fair, I don’t absolutely hate this song like some others do, largely because Drake still has a few passable vocal moments here and there, and I don’t mind Lil Baby’s verse, but otherwise, the song just feels pretty bland. Although…is this the part where I’m supposed to applaud Drake’s bravery in coming out as a lesbian? I didn’t even know he could be a lesbian.
70. Permission to Dance by BTS
I’ve been a BTS defender over the last year or so, but gosh...this one did very little for me. It doesn’t sound terribly bad, but it honestly just sounds like more of what the boys did on “Dynamite.” And that was a song I quite liked, but I did have a few light issues with it (the overuse of autotune especially) that unfortunately get exacerbated on this cut. This honestly just feels like it’s losing something compared to something like “Dynamite.” I get that it’s one of their usual bright, sunny, fun jams, but it feels like it just doesn’t hook. I wanted to like it, but the more times I tried to listen to it, the more disappointed I was.
69. Butter by BTS
Sadly, everything I just said about “Permission to Dance” can be applied to this. Again, I don’t dislike the direction or the positive sentiments of the song, but it just really doesn’t grab me at all. Honestly, it kinda makes me worried about the group’s future direction. I hope that when the boys do eventually release their next album that it’s not just a collection of “Dynamite” soundalikes.
68. Holy by Justin Bieber ft. Chance the Rapper
Yeah, I probably heard this song more times than I thought I would in 2021. I talked about it in both my 2020 list, as well as my review of Justin’s new album, and my thoughts are pretty much the same. It didn’t grow away from me, but I can’t say I enjoy it anymore now than I did before.
67-60. All The Christmas Songs (Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano / Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow by Dean Martin / Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry / It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams / Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives / Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee / All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey / Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms)
Yes, I’m counting all these Christmas songs as a tie again (well, except for one we’ll talk about later). Call me a Christmas curmudgeon, but I’ve said before that I can only really enjoy these songs in the context of Christmas, and given that Christmas has become a little less special for me. I’ve lost interest. Honestly, if you want me to rank a Christmas song outside of the “Okay” tier...can we get “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande to chart in the Top 10 at some point? I can listen to that any time of the year.
59. Anyone by Justin Bieber
I have heard this song multiple times this year, I’ve talked about it in a review, I know how it goes…and I can still never remember what my opinion is on it. I guess that’s the good part about writing it down: I’ll be able to remember now. I certainly think this was a better “beginning of the year” single than “Yummy” was, but it just felt very average to me. I think it’s got some decent emotion, and Bieber has some good vocal moments (outside of that E-YEAH), but it just doesn’t hook all that much for me. Certainly could’ve been worse, but it’s just kinda bland. Still, I’ll give him credit: in 2020, I felt that “Yummy” was a precursor to the absolute shitshow that year would prove to be. 2021 was a terrible year (for me, it was even worse than 2020), but this time around, I can’t say a Justin Bieber single predicted that or deserves blame for it. Maybe that “Freedom” EP, but this was no “Yummy.”
58. Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran
This song has already been put through the proverbial wringer, and I know people will probably be upset that I put this song so high and will believe it’s the Ed Sheeran fan in me doing so. Honestly, even as a huge Ed Sheeran fan, I can’t say I loved this thing, though I can’t say I hate it like the rest of the world seems to. It’s just a kinda generic pop filler song. It takes some cues from The Weeknd but doesn’t do enough with them. My issue isn’t that the song sounds bad: it just feels so undercooked, like Ed doesn’t do enough with it. That said, it sounds fine enough, it’s just not anything special, and it feels rather toothless at points.
57. Shivers by Ed Sheeran
I feel like I can’t really say much about “Shivers” other than that you can take my thoughts on “Bad Habits” and tone down a few of the criticisms the tiniest bit. I think it takes that electronic direction from “Bad Habits” and does it marginally better, but not by much. The hook is a little catchier, but it’s still not the best thing I’ve heard out of Ed. I kinda hope he moves away from this direction with his next project.
56. WITHOUT YOU by The Kid LAROI and Miley Cyrus
Not a bad hook, and some passable vocal interplay between LAROI and Miley, but...honestly, while I don’t mind the sound, isn’t this the same instrumental as Shawn Mendes’ “Imagination?” Because it really sounds like it. I like this style, and I think it does sound nice, but I’ve heard acoustic ballads more captivating than this. Also, yes, that “can’t make a wife out of a ho” is definitely one of the worst lines I’ve heard in a popular song this year. And that’s including Drake calling himself a lesbian.
55. One Right Now by Post Malone and The Weeknd
You don’t know how badly I wanted this song to be great. I love both of these guys and I honestly thought a collaboration between them would be fantastic. As it turns out, said collab is just kinda okay. The sad thing is that there is a good song in here somewhere: the general style of the song feels like it should be a slam dunk for these two, and the melodies are pretty catchy. The issue is that the actual beat doesn’t hit as hard as it should, and the vocals are so drowned in autotune that it takes away from the song a lot. It’s a shame just how good this really could’ve been, but it’s sadly just missed potential.
54. RAPSTAR by Polo G
This song has some pretty interesting lyrical ideas, the emotional tone is pretty solid, and I think the hook is rather catchy, but otherwise, it doesn’t really feel like it stands out as much as it should. I can see its appeal, but I just can’t say I rock with it as much as many others do. It’s fine while it’s on, but it’s not the most interesting thing I’ve ever heard.
53. Heat Waves by Glass Animals
I see what Glass Animals is doing, and I do respect it. This song feels like a decent blend of indie and trap, two styles that don’t seem like they should mix on the surface. It sounds fine, and I think the hook has some mild catchiness, but otherwise, it’s a song I can only really appreciate for its ideas, as opposed to its execution. I definitely understand how it’s gained an audience, though.
52. My Universe by Coldplay and BTS
I mean, given how underwhelmed I was by BTS’s other singles this year, and how much of the population utterly detested the new Coldplay album, I can at least say this turned out to be a better collaboration than I had initially expected. It’s not the most memorable thing I’ve heard this year, but I think there’s a good amount of vocal charm and chemistry here, and the chorus is if nothing else very nice. Nothing mind-blowing, but it’s a cute single.
I LIKED THESE!
51. Yonaguni by Bad Bunny
A decent new emotional direction for Bad Bunny, I do appreciate quite a few of the slightly darker lyrics and the sad tone of the song. Not one of the best or catchiest hooks I’ve heard out of Bad Bunny, but it’s a pretty solid song. I don’t think it breaks a ton of new ground or does anything that hasn’t been done before, but if you’re a fan of him, you should like this.
50. Love All by Drake ft. Jay-Z
Okay, look, as disappointed as I was in “Certified Lover Boy,” I was still nicer to it than some others were. There were quite a few tracks from it that I really enjoyed, and this was one of them. This is one of the more lowkey, lighter moments that works a lot better for me: I think Drake’s bars are a bit better on here than on some of the album’s worst moments, and his sing-rap flows are solid. Jay-Z’s emotional verse is a good addition, too. I can see it being a bit too much of a slowburn for some, but I still enjoyed it.
49. Up by Cardi B
As boisterous and wild as any number of Cardi B songs, the beat is extremely bouncy with some great pianos laced in, and I think Cardi brings her usual charisma and energy to her performance. I’m still not all that crazy about the hook, though: it builds extremely well in the pre-chorus but drops a bit during the actual chorus itself. Still an enjoyable track, and I hope to see Cardi’s next album sooner rather than later.
48. Go Crazy by Chris Brown and Young Thug
I definitely heard this song quite a bit in late 2020 and early 2021, and while it wasn’t the kind of song I returned to more frequently than anything else, I still enjoyed it about as much as I did last year. It might not have grown on me more than that, but it was already one of my favorite tracks from Chris Brown and Young Thug’s collaborative project, and it didn’t stale with repeat listens. Again, I’m not begging for them to collab more, but this was a fun song.
47. Easy On Me by Adele
Adele’s formula is pretty well-established at this point, and if you haven’t heard this song yet, I’m very sure you can probably predict right off the bat how it’s gonna sound. Even with that, though, Adele understands that well and is able to make her songs work regardless of that familiarity. That style has a timelessness to it, and she’s always able to sell them excellently with incredibly powerful vocal performances. This is another example of that; it’s a very enjoyable song.
46. Knife Talk by Drake ft. 21 Savage and Project Pat
While researching this song for this list, I learned that this was actually supposed to be included on 21 Savage and Metro Boomin’s “Savage Mode II” album. Hearing it back…yeah, I can see that. I never got to listen to that album fully, but based on the singles that I heard from it, this kinda sounds like it would fit better on that than on “Certified Lover Boy.” That said, I’m glad it was on “CLB” just because that album needed good songs, so I’m glad this was one of them. I do think 21 Savage and Project Pat really steal the show and I think a good portion of my enjoyment comes from them, but Drake still does a good job helping to sell what is a very venomous, cutthroat song.
45. Champagne Poetry by Drake
Classic example of a Drake album opener. Drake spits nonstop in a freestyle over a light, soulful instrumental that includes a wonderfully implemented sample of Masego’s song “Navajo.” There’s also a really solid beat switch in the second half that rounds out the song well. Man, as disappointed as I was in “Certified Lover Boy” as an album…he had me with the first two tracks, not gonna lie.
44. Jail by Kanye West (uncredited feature by Jay-Z)
While I didn’t love this song quite as much as everyone else did, I do still think it’s quite good. The dark, vibrant, and brash instrumental laced with guitars and reverb is unbelievably memorable. Kanye’s autotuned vocals are also pretty fantastic, as is that really memorable hook. I think I was a little more lukewarm on Jay-Z’s verse, and that’s what stopped me from loving the song in the same way that others did, but otherwise, I do enjoy it a lot. Also, I’m glad this was the version that charted in the Top 10, as opposed to that horrid “Jail pt 2” version.
43. Oh My God by Adele
This was a bit of an unexpected direction from Adele: there’s a little more of a bouncy vibe that feels a bit like dance-pop (I’ve also seen some call it afrobeat), but it works. Adele’s powerful vocals and ability to craft a memorable hook with great melodies make this a nice move into some surprising territory. Definitely a huge high point from Adele’s newest album.
I LOVED THESE!!!
42. Rumors by Lizzo ft. Cardi B
Sometimes, you just need a fun little jam that doesn’t take itself seriously, where a couple personalities take over and win the song. That’s what happens here: Lizzo and Cardi B take on a funk-driven hip-hop style but manage to take their charisma and charm and make something pretty enjoyable out of it, complete with some great self-love. I’ll admit it did grow away from me with a few repeat listens (initially I had it all the way up at #21 on the list), but it’s still a really fun song. It could honestly grow on me if I hear it in the context of an album. Guess we’ll see when Lizzo makes her next move with a full project.
41. Stay by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber
I’m pleasantly surprised: two artists who have been extremely inconsistent throughout 2021 come together and actually make something quite fun. I love the retro, synth-heavy instrumental (that I didn’t know was partially produced by Charlie Puth), and the song has possibly one of the catchier choruses of any pop song this year. The vocal interplay is also pretty great, too, making this a very enjoyable track.
40. Essence by Wizkid ft. Justin Bieber and Tems
While writing this list, I had this song sitting in the “liked” tier around #50. And then I listened to it again. And then I listened to it again. And then I kept singing the chorus to myself. And now, here we are. It’s a wildly fun, earworm-y little Afrobeat jam with an extremely fun and memorable hook. I know some people were not crazy about Justin Bieber’s contribution to the remix, but honestly, I thought this was a rare moment where his vocal fit well with the instrumental. I understand why some might not like it, but it got stuck in my head and I didn’t want it out, so that’s an accomplishment.
39. I Hate U by SZA
SZA made a song that I absolutely love. In other news, the sky is blue. I was surprised to find that this was originally a song released on SZA’s SoundCloud that only just got an official release. I’m very glad it got that official release, though; the synth-leaning electro-R&B instrumental is pretty fantastic, and I think SZA’s vocals are stunning (also, special shoutout to that “FUCK YOU!!!” ad-lib). Further proof that SZA is one of the best out right now.
38. Papi’s Home by Drake
Surprisingly enough, Drake had a few tracks off of “CLB” that made it into my highest tier. That’ll happen when you have 21 tracks on your album, of course. Still, this is a song I love. Drake usually does a great job when he raps with this level of energy over a much more boastful, big instrumental, and this is another example. The instrumental also has a lot of soul thanks to the sampling of Montell Jordan’s “Daddy’s Home,” and Nicki Minaj’s light appearance at the end is funny, too. It’s short but sweet, and I wish there was more of this on “Certified Lover Boy.”
37. Fair Trade by Drake ft. Travis Scott
A more straightforward banger out of Drake, this is another classic example of some strong sampling work, as the integration of Charlotte Day Wilson’s “Mountains” factors nicely into the dark, hard-hitting trap beat. This is by far one of the best tracks on Certified Lover Boy: Drake goes extremely hard, and Travis Scott delivered the verse of his life before he went off and destroyed any and all goodwill he’s built in his career.
This might be a bit of mood whiplash, but I have to say it: my heart goes out to the victims of the Astroworld tragedy, and I pray that the families, friends, and loved ones of those who passed can find some peace in what’s without question an inconceivable and unacceptable situation. Concerts are supposed to be a time of love, fun, and happiness, and no one should go to such an event worried that they won’t make it home that night. Travis and his team deserve to be held accountable for this, and they’ve earned whatever criticism and repercussions come their way. I’m sorry if that broke up the tone of this list, but I didn’t make a huge statement on Astroworld in a video so I feel like I needed to say something. Now, at risk of an awkward transition, let’s continue with the rest of the list…
36. 9 5 . s o u t h by J. Cole
J. Cole dropped an excellent new album this year, and he was able to get quite a few tracks from it to start. Pretty much all of them were greatly enjoyable. A track with a very boastful instrumental where Cole reflects on his massive success in the industry, I think this track has some of the funniest and most memorable punchlines on the record. Like the “M on your head, you Luigi brother now” bar, or the line about a 30-song album selling 100,000 units in its first week, far below Cole’s first-week numbers. Definitely really enjoy this track.
35. a m a r i by J. Cole
That pipe flute in the background mixed with the guitar plucks? Fantastic in and of itself. And as if the beat itself isn’t already awesome, I think Cole’s flows on this one are some of the best I’ve heard out of him (and that’s saying a lot). It feels like I can never predict where he’s gonna land next, and it makes this a really amazing track.
34. p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l by J. Cole ft. Lil Baby
Cole goes a little more lowkey on us with this one with the guitars laced on top of the beat. Cole’s fast flows are mixed nicely in with some more melodic moments, especially on the hook, and Lil Baby goes extremely hard on his verse. Even as someone who doesn’t follow Lil Baby that much, he might honestly be one of the better feature artists as of late. This is definitely not the last we’ll speak of him in this list.
33. i n t e r l u d e by J. Cole
The fact that an interlude is higher than several of the other J. Cole tracks I’ve talked about so far is certainly not an insult to the quality of “The Off-Season” or its other tracks: it’s a testament to how strong of an interlude this is. I like the soul integrations on the samples, and it’s crazy to me that this song feels almost like Cole “warming up.” He goes ham with his flow on this very short track, and while I wasn’t crazy about the autotune at first, it really grew on me with repeat listens. J. Cole really came through on this one.
32. Wants and Needs by Drake ft. Lil Baby
Much as “Certified Lover Boy” left me underwhelmed…at least “Scary Hours 2” was a lot of fun. This dark banger has the amount of upbeat energy and potency that I often felt was missing from “CLB,” with Drake constantly switching up his flows over a beat that often feels pretty spacey despite how upbeat it is. This is also a perfect playground for another fantastic guest verse for Lil Baby. Tracks like this give me confidence that Drake still has some fire left in him. I just hope he delivers more in the future.
31. Lemon Pepper Freestyle by Drake ft. Rick Ross
I can’t tell you how many times I listened solely to the instrumental on this song this year. It’s so ethereal and beautiful, with a pitch-perfect sampling of a live performance of Quadron’s “Pressure.” It’s a pretty long track, sitting at just under six and a half minutes (with Drake taking up a good portion of that), but Rick Ross’s verse has some fun bars on his verse, and Drake brings one of his typical stream-of-consciousness verses, with a bit of an interesting twist and he talks a lot about his son, Adonis. Once again, it was nice to see Drake hungry. I hope he can bring that hunger back in the future.
30. Dynamite by BTS
While I mentioned that BTS’s newer singles felt like “Dynamite” redos, I can happily say that my lukewarm feelings on those tracks didn’t change my more positive feelings on this one. Most of my opinions are about the same as what I wrote in my list last year: not my favorite from BTS, and there are elements to it that I’m not crazy about, but still a fun, bubbly track I enjoy returning to.
29. THATS WHAT I WANT by Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X’s hitmaking capabilities continued into 2021. The bright, upbeat instrumental laced with the pertinent guitar strums interestingly juxtaposes the more emotional lyrics about Lil Nas X wanting to find love. Top it off with some strong vocals and a very memorable hook, and we have ourselves a winner. And there’s plenty more where this came from with Lil Nas X.
28. m y . l i f e by J. Cole ft. 21 Savage and Morray
It’s really starting to feel like whenever J. Cole and 21 Savage come together for a song, it’s gonna bang. “a lot” remains an incredible song, and now we have this new track from J. Cole’s latest album that’s a fantastic follow-up. Cole does his thing and goes hard over a banging trap beat that mixes some beautiful soul samples. Morray comes through with a stunning hook with beautiful vocals, and we also get an emotional verse from 21 Savage with bars that continue to highlight the incredible growth that he’s shown throughout his career. I’m glad this song was able to hit the Top 10, it’s incredible.
27. Calling My Phone by Lil Tjay ft. 6LACK
If there was an award for “Top 10 Hit I’m Most Surprised I Loved” in 2021, it would probably go to this. I got way more replays out of this song than I reasonably expected I would when it first hit the Top 10. It’s probably because I’m a sucker for these sad-sounding fusions of R&B and trap, but this one really gets it right. I can’t tell you how many times the hook got stuck in my head, and I think the vocal interplay between Lil Tjay and 6LACK is awesome. Big surprise of this year for me, but I’m glad it hit my radar and made the Top 10 because it’s great.
26. Last Christmas by Wham!
Oh, fuck it, this is a Christmas song I can get behind at any time of the year. Every once in a while, I can just enjoy a good piece of 80s synth-pop or new wave, and even if they’re cheesy, they’re just too fun. Come on, I unironically listen to “Dance Hall Days” by Wang Chung, how can I not like this?
25. positions by Ariana Grande
Much of my thoughts on this single didn’t change from last year. I enjoyed it a bit when I first heard it, and it really grew on me with repeat listens. I still don’t know if I’d call it one of my favorite Ariana Grande singles, but it’s one I definitely got a good bit of mileage out of. I heard it a lot this year, and I’m glad I did because it’s great.
24. traitor by Olivia Rodrigo
One of the year’s brightest new artists certainly made something pretty damn special with her debut album. This was a heart-wrencher of a track: very lowkey pop production that swells and mellows appropriately throughout with a lot of instrumental variation. Olivia’s vocals are fantastic, and her writing perfectly encapsulates a lot of emotions and feelings that will be familiar to a Gen Z audience. When you put out music like this on your debut album? Yeah, this is something special.
23. Mood by 24kGoldn ft. iann dior
Yeah, I’ll be honest, this moved up a tier compared to my 2020 list. It kinda got catchier and catchier the more I heard it, and even though I wasn’t really that into 24kGoldn’s debut album “El Dorado” this year, I actually enjoyed this song a bit more when I heard it in the context of that album. Bit surprised, but it’s a nice surprise.
22. 34+35 by Ariana Grande (Remix also features Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion)
My feelings on this song are roughly the same as those that I wrote about in my list last year; it’s still as fun and catchy as I remember being. I also appreciated Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion’s contributions to the remix of the song. I know that most popular remixes that pop up these days can feel superfluous, but every once in a while, they can be pretty fun, and I think Doja and Megan help elevate the song a good bit.
21. What’s Next by Drake
I know this song became more notable as a meme because of Drake announcing to the entire world that he had sex on Valentine’s Day, but honestly, this was probably my favorite song off of “Scary Hours 2.” This track proves to me that Drake can still absolutely go off when given the right production; the hook is catchy as hell, Drake's rapid-firing flows like the rent is due, and the synth-heavy rage beat that almost feels reminiscent of Playboi Carti is amazing. Drake, next album, put in the amount of effort you put into this. Although…maybe we don’t need another bar about you having sex on Valentine’s Day.
20. Take My Breath by The Weeknd
Outside of his Super Bowl performance and re-releasing the original version of the “Trilogy” on Spotify, I expected The Weeknd to largely take 2021 off after dropping the album of his life with “After Hours.” As it turns out, he’s right back to work with this single that’s supposedly leading into a new album. As a huge fan, I’m definitely excited for new music, especially after this new single. Abel goes full disco, and absolutely nails it with a slick synth-filled instrumental that feels like it nicely expands on the sounds of “After Hours.” It sounds like “The Dawn” is coming, and if this is any indication, it can’t come soon enough.
19. Need To Know by Doja Cat
Mixed as I was about this album...damn, am I happy this became a Top 10 hit. A big, reverb-heavy trap banger, Doja goes all the way in with the sexual imagery while mixing fantastic flows with sultry vocals. Also, this track avoids one of my biggest problems with “Planet Her,” that being the large number of unmemorable choruses. This one immediately sticks out and is unbelievably catchy. Whether or not Doja is inconsistent on the album front, I’ve maintained that her singles are often too damn amazing, and low and behold, that rings true here.
18. Good Days by SZA
SZA made another song that I loved. In other news, grass is green. A stark contrast to “I Hate U,” this track has a larger amount of optimism to it, and SZA definitely nails that tone with her beautiful vocals. The whole sound of the song has this vibe of spending a nice day in the park where everyone is out and having a great time. It’s one of those songs that makes you kind of forget your cynicisms and feel like maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay. SZA absolutely nails that atmosphere with what is an amazing single.
17. What You Know Bout Love by Pop Smoke
While on the topic of songs I’m glad turned into Top 10 hits, I’m happy to see that this song became a belated success for Pop Smoke. It’s a more R&B-leaning direction for Pop Smoke, which feels like a major change of pace from his usual drill music, but Pop makes it work extremely well. His vocals fit really nicely for the vibe of the song, helping to nail the lovely vibe of it. It’s a shame that Pop couldn’t be here to see the song become a hit, but wherever he is, and wherever one goes after death, I hope he sees how much this song has meant to a lot of people. R.I.P. Pop Smoke.
16. drivers license by Olivia Rodrigo
Honestly, I wasn’t all that crazy about this song when I first heard it. It’s always crazy how songs can grow on or away from you. Olivia showed a lot of her early potential on her debut single: the piano instrumental will feel very familiar to many pop music listeners, but Olivia adds her own stamp on it with great vocals and brutal, raw lyricism (that may have been related to a relationship with her co-star from the new “High School Musical” series). At first, I wasn’t sure what to think, but repeat listens helped me understand how this became such a major hit.
15. deja vu by Olivia Rodrigo
But she wasn’t done there. Olivia Rodrigo capitalizes on that early success with another fantastic single in “deja vu.” The light production feels almost like a lullaby of some kind, but it builds into something a bit more punchy with some bigger drums. Olivia owns this production, though, and she continues to show a great ability to write some pretty raw, memorable lyrics. Another fantastic single from someone who could be pop’s biggest star sooner than later.
14. good 4 u by Olivia Rodrigo
And she still wasn’t done after that! After a pair of downbeat, emotional lead singles, Olivia Rodrigo decided the next logical step was to make a full-blown rock song that is basically a modern version of Paramore’s iconic “Misery Business.” My bad jokes aside, I don’t know how many of us genuinely predicted that she would move in that direction, but she absolutely owns it. The guitar riffs are fantastic, and Olivia’s dark, powerful vocals show that she can definitely dominate in this style. Keep in mind, she’s still just 18 and she’s dominating this much on a track like this. If she can make something like this at 18…the sky is the limit.
13. Hurricane by Kanye West (uncredited features from The Weeknd and Lil Baby)
“Donda” was an album with some shining moments, and this was by far one of the brightest ones. I mean, the instrumental is damn near heaven-sent, and having The Weeknd jump on this song to deliver what I might call one of his best choruses? You had me at “hello.” You grabbed me even more when you had Lil Baby rapping as if his life depended on it, with a verse where he performed like the landlord was about to kick him out of his house. I initially thought Kanye’s verse started a bit slow, but when he gets going, you remember why he’s been such an enduring figure in hip-hop, controversies and all. What a song.
12. MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X
Ever since I first heard this snippet from Lil Nas X, I was so excited to see it become a full song. I got my wish, and it was everything I wanted it to be. Lil Nas X takes some of the light rock-leaning sounds of his “7 EP” and adds in elements of hip-hop and electropop, showcasing a lot of his stylistic and vocal range on this very sex-driven song. That “7 EP” was hinting at a lot of his potential, and he absolutely showed it with his new album and its singles this year. Oh, and did you see the music video?
11. INDUSTRY BABY by Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow
Hey, since I was just talking about Kanye, did you know he was a producer on this song? No wonder the instrumental absolutely bumps. Big, boisterous, and potent, Lil Nas X brings every bit of charisma that he can on his verse, while also dropping one of the catchiest, most memorable choruses of the year. He shows on here that he’s not gonna let the industry take him down, and he brings his pal Jack Harlow along to drop one of his best verses yet. Lil Nas X was not about to let himself be “just the ‘Old Town Road’ guy,” he went and did it again and again and again. I hope he keeps on doing it.
10. Kiss Me More by Doja Cat ft. SZA
I said it earlier and I’ll say it again: Doja Cat knows a thing or two about releasing singles. When this lead off the “Planet Her” cycle, it got me hyped, and while I would be a bit disappointed in this album, this remained a single I returned to plenty. In many ways, this feels like a follow-up to “Say So,” with a pretty similar vibe and sound, but it’s still a fantastic, lighthearted bop with more of the sex-driven charm and charisma of Doja Cat. Bringing SZA along for the ride and giving her a chance to kill it vocally also feels like adding the finishing touch to a perfect ice cream sundae. By far one of my favorite singles Doja has put out, and that’s saying a lot given her excellent track record of singles.
9. Levitating by Dua Lipa (Remix also features DaBaby)
As a huge fan of Dua Lipa, I sometimes get this weird feeling that she goes underrated compared to other pop stars (maybe it’s the fact that “Future Nostalgia” didn’t hit #1 on the Billboard 200), so it makes me happy when she reaches high on the charts. “Levitating” was already a track that I loved on the album, and it was wonderful to see it jump up into the Top 10. The electro-disco mix feels like a great throwback that respects the sound of yesteryear while feeling fresh all on its own. Dua’s vocal presence is also wonderful, as she delivers very bouncy, memorable melodies that make for one of the best pop hits of the year. The remix featured DaBaby (before he showed himself as a homophobic dumbass and then tried to triple down on it), and while I’m generally mixed on his music, this was an example where he worked well for the song and actually made it a bit more fun. I wasn’t sure how to feel when I first heard that he would be joining for the remix, but I’m glad he helped elevate (or…levitate?) a song that was already pretty spectacular.
8. All Too Well (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
Whether it’s the shortened 5-minute version or the 10-minute version, this is one of Taylor’s finest hours. While I don’t have a ton of experience with the original release of “Red,” this is a track that I immediately clung to when listening to “Taylor’s Version” of the album. It plays perfectly into the lighter, more country-leaning style for Taylor. Her vocals are perfect for this kind of emotional song, and she has some really memorable lyrics all throughout the song. Not that this is a hot take, but I’d even argue the 10-minute version is Taylor’s songwriting opus. It’s stunningly rich with emotion, and it’s crazy just how much Taylor can take a nine-year-old song and still make it sound raw and intense. Even with its length, it commands your attention for every single second. It’s earned its reputation as a career highlight for Taylor; to me, it’s not just a song, it’s a moment, and a damn beautiful one.
7. Peaches by Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar and Giveon
Much like with Drake, I feel like I was nicer to Justin Bieber’s new album this year than some others were, even if I wasn’t overly positive about it. That said, I fully acknowledge that it needed more tracks like this. Badly. “Peaches” felt like the R&B pivot Justin desperately wanted to convince everyone that “Changes” was, and the extremely chilled beat allows him to showcase one of his better vocal performances in recent memory. Even better, Justin was able to recruit Daniel Caesar and Giveon for this track, and both of them add beautiful vocals to help lift the song even higher. I could honestly go as far as to say this is possibly one of Justin’s best singles, it’s a track I honestly can’t get enough of.
6. Your Power by Billie Eilish
Soon as that acoustic guitar kicks in at the beginning, I already feel all the emotions bubbling up. I’ve said it before, but this is the kind of song to sit in the shower and have a hard 30-minute cry to. Billie takes things down several notches on this single but delivers what is by far one of her most vulnerable songs yet. She discusses power dynamics within an abusive relationship, all over this extremely lowkey, almost folk-leaning acoustic guitar. Her vocals are powerful, and the added reverb adds fantastically to the palpable emotion of the song. I still kinda wish we were able to get the title track into the Top 10, but hey, a song as amazing as this getting into the Top 10 is still great news.
5. Smokin Out The Window by Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak)
2021 was home to the collaboration I didn’t know I wanted but I’m unbelievably glad that I got it. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, two artists I absolutely love, came through as Silk Sonic to give us a truly special album that feels like a new-school Motown project. Leaning deep into the R&B and soul sounds of that era, Bruno and Anderson show an unbelievable level of vocal chemistry on the song, while driving the concept as far as they can with some really fun, playful lyrics as well. I don’t even know the first thing about relationships and I can’t help but sing “THIS BITCH GOT ME PAYIN’ HER RENT” as soon as I hear it. There’s a classic feel to the song that will help it endure long into the future, it’s a really incredible song.
4. Laugh Now Cry Later by Drake ft. Lil Durk
Now why was this not on “Certified Lover Boy?” I know the logic is “it’s over a year old,” but he couldn’t include it as a bonus track like when “Hotline Bling” was on “Views?” I don’t know, Drake confuses me these days. Regardless, I still stand by my assertion that this is Drake’s best single in years, and as a more modern take on “Headlights” with the addition of Lil Durk, this really hits the mark. There are probably at least seven songs this could’ve replaced on Drake’s new album, but I guess the fact that it didn’t show up makes it one of the best one-off, non-album singles in recent memory.
3. Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
This tied for my top spot last year, but don’t think that it not being #1 again means it grew away from me. There were a few songs I liked a bit better this year. Even so, it should be obvious but this song remains an absolute top-tier synthwave/pop jam, and it’s extremely easy to see how it’s become one of the biggest commercial successes in Billboard history. Even if it’s not #1, it’s one of those rare songs that I enjoy more and more with each new listen. Truly incredible song from a truly fantastic artist.
2. Save Your Tears by The Weeknd (Remix also features Ariana Grande)
While “Blinding Lights” is universally loved (and for good reason), I will admit that I personally liked “Save Your Tears” a bit more. Honestly, I was also glad to see that this song hit the Top 10 because I thought that “In Your Eyes” deserved to get there, and this felt like a darker, more emotional version of that. The bass groove is incredible, and Abel sounds perfectly at home over the dark synths with a heartbroken, impassioned vocal performance. And, as if the original version wasn’t already great enough, I think the remix is even more potent, as Ariana Grande’s surprising lower tone is a perfect fit for this sound. When Abel and Ariana come together, they know how to make some fantastic stuff, and this remix is another example of that.
1. Leave the Door Open by Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak)
That surprising collaboration I told you about earlier? Yeah, I forgot to mention they dropped my favorite Top 10-peaking song of the year. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak introduced Silk Sonic with a throwback to Philadelphia soul (as a Philly native, I gotta love that) that immediately swept me off my feet at first listen. The glistening production is incredibly smooth, feeling like it carries that timeless feel that makes old Motown music so fantastic today. It’s also amazing just how much Anderson and Bruno complement each other here: they play to each other’s strengths and manage to have a lot of fun with this unique throwback. I mentioned earlier that I don’t know a single thing about love or relationships, but this is the kind of song that makes me want to fall in love just to have someone to sing it with. It’s the kind of track that I feel is gonna be timeless for me: it’s gonna be the kind of song I continuously come back to and never get tired of (I’ve already done that, and I’m sure I’m going to continue to). I didn’t know I needed Silk Sonic in my life until I got it, and damn, am I glad I did. What a year these two had.
And that's the show! Thank you to everyone for checking out this list and for supporting me throughout 2021. It's been the worst year of my life, but at least I can put it in the rearview mirror. Here's to 2022 being a lot better. Cheers. Also, what were your favorite and least favorite Top 10 hits of 2021? Let me know in the comments!
