20 Songs of '21
Happy New Year, friends!
Before we get too far into 2022, let’s review 20 songs that stood out amidst a whole lot of new music this past year. For a little bit of context, I am not double dipping from any of the albums that made my 20 Albums of ‘21 list, and there are plenty of gems in there as well. Enjoy!
20. Another Day in America - Kali Uchis & Ozuna
An honest update of the Sondheim/Bernstein classic recorded for the Spielberg remake of West Side Story that I have yet to see. I’m a sucker for Kali Uchis, and it’s great to have Ozuna here as well rapping in Spanish.
Lyrical Highlight:
Everything change in America / Except nothing changed in America /
Wanna tell me what’s America / Who do you think built America?
19. Devotion - The Staves
There’s something about siblings singing together, and although The Staves’ harmonies have long been their super power, this is one of the first times I’ve paid attention to their actual song. “Devotion” stands out as a well-produced reflection on being at the mercy of someone else’s decisions, and it gets me everytime.
Lyrical Highlight:
How Sweet, life in the backseat / And it’s happening again / And it’s happening again /
Devotion will be the death of me
18. New Shapes - Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens, Caroline Polachek
You had me at another Charli XCX and Christine and the Queens collaboration. I loved their earlier collab,in 2019: “Gone”, and along with Caroline Polachek who is a new artist for me this year, this song makes me crave a whole Charlie/Christine album.
Lyrical Highlight:
All night, all day / We could fall in love in new shapes / New Shapes
17. GLAM! - Allie X
Apparently Allie X has been sitting on this retro-fabulous jam since 2015. Little did she know how much we would need this confidence boost wrapped in synth-pop this year.
Lyrical Highlight:
I’ll be the girl that changes the world / I’m so close I can taste it /
So give me a chance and give me your hand / Spotlight, love me forever
16. Thot Shit - Megan Thee Stallion
Megan has spent a significant amount of time outshining any artist she does a feature for (with the exception of Beyoncé, of course), but this track was everything I wanted from a rapper who is not afraid to feel herself and call out the powers that love to hate her. If you can handle a whole lot of twerking, I highly recommend this unforgettable music video experience.
Lyrical Highlight:
Actin’ like you winnin’ / if you think about it actually /
Are they supporting you or really just attacking me? /
I don’t give a fuck ‘bout a blog tryna bash me /
I’m the shit per the Recording Academy
15. Silk Chiffon - MUNA featuring Phoebe Bridgers
Another song that only gets better with the music video, which is a full homage to the queer cult classic film But I’m a Cheerleader. If I wasn’t already going to love this poppy queer lady jam featuring one of my favourite musical bisexuals, Phoebe Bridgers, then the video would seal it for me anyway. But the song is pretty great too.
Lyrical Highlight:
I’m high and I’m feeling anxious / Inside of the CVS /
When she turns ‘round halfway down the aisle /
With that ‘you’re on camera’ smile / Like she wants to try me on
14. How Much Can a Heart Take - Lucky Daye & Yebba
Lucky Daye’s EP this year, Table for Two, was very nearly on my albums list, and if you’re a fan of this track I highly recommend checking out the rest of that collection. Ultimately this groovy duet with Yebba was the true standout that I’ve returned to the most.
Lyrical Highlight:
Ooh this shit is trash / but I’ma give it right on back /
‘cause that’s what I’ve been getting from you / yeah, lately /
You’ve been out on the block acting crazy, doin’ your thing /
And then you turn around and blame it on the moon / Just ‘cause you’re feeling blue
13. White Teeth - Kay Young
Kay Young is one of my favourite new artists of 2021. She’s a London-based rapper who was picked up by Roc Nation after Jay Electronica played her demo for Jay-Z. I perked up at this song’s title as it alludes to a novel of the same name by one of my absolute favourite writers, Zadie Smith. Not only does “White Teeth” tackle the experiences of a young child dealing with a world of racial inequality, Kay does so in that smooth lyrical hip hop style that speaks directly to my neo-soul-raised heart.
Lyrical Highlight:
You ain’t got to worry ‘bout me / What’s not to like about me? /
All I heard growing up / “Got to work twice harder than your average” /
I’ve got superpowers, daddy
12. Weakness - Poppy Ajudha
Good luck not dancing from one place to another when you hear this incredibly catchy beat. Poppy is yet another young English singer I have been following for the past couple years - I don’t know why I have such a soft spot for Brits, but I do - and I’m very excited about her name becoming a bit more recognizable.
Lyrical Highlight:
Been doing me / Don't need nobody by my side /
Left lonely / Got used to walking in my stride /
Thought nobody could ever leave me untied / But baby, I'm lost without you now
11. Feel Better - Devan
Within a week of each other, I had two friends from either side of the continent tell me I should check out this new artist, Devan. They were both right, and this little encouraging ditty has given voice to what so many of us have needed to say and hear this year.
Lyrical Highlight:
And if it takes some time to feel alright / I won’t be going anywhere /
‘Cause I just want to make you feel better
10. Be Alive - Beyoncé
I’m not sure it’s possible for Beyoncé to NOT make one of my lists each year. This song was released for the soundtrack of the biopic of Venus and Serena Williams’ father, King Richard, which I haven’t yet seen, but if anything makes me want to, it’s this fantastic, uplifting song about Black struggle, Black community and Black excellence.
Lyrical Highlight:
And can't nobody knock it if they tried / This is hustle personified /
Look how we've been fighting to stay alive / So when we win, we will have pride /
Do you know how much we have cried? / How hard we had to fight?
9. Witchoo - Durand Jones & The Indications
Disco is back baby! Witchoo is a reminder of a time when we could go to the club, dance with our friends, meet strangers, and go home with them. Remember that time? Yeah, me neither, but “Witchoo” will help you at least imagine such a night.
Lyrical Highlight:
I know you came with your friends / But who you leaving with? /
Bodies talk between the lines / And we both reading it
8. Come Over - VanJess
Yes, this is a booty call in my top-ten songs of the year. It’s got a groove to it that cannot translate through the lyrics alone. This song is not only about desire, but about joy and excitement and enthusiastic consent, and captures these feelings in every note and moment. Sister-duo, VanJess very nearly made my top albums with Homegrown, so if you dig this you might want to check that out as well.
Lyrical Highlight:
I hit you on your line / I wanna come over / I wanna come over /
No need to waste my time / I wanna come over /
I wanna come over, baby / When can we kick it / Tonight?
7. Best Friend - Saweetie featuring Doja Cat
In a rap industry that has so often pitted women against each other for the profit of labels, I cannot stress enough how refreshing it is to hear two young, up-and-coming femcees spend the entire time talking each other up. It’s a bonus that it’s this much of a bop.
Lyrical Highlight:
Beep Beep / Is that my bestie in a Tessie?
Fresh blow out, skin on ten / Ooh she ready
Bitch you look goodt with a T at the end
I’ma hype her every time / That my motherfuckin’ friend
6. Good Days - SZA
SZA released “Good Days” on Christmas Day last year, making it one of the first tracks to make it on to my New Music list of 2021, and it continued to be one of my favourite vibes through every season. The guitar riff seems to float over the light synth pads, making for a dreamy quality as SZA fights to remember and believe in good days. The whole vibe is given some assistance from Jacob Collier who provides additional vocals throughout.
Lyrical Highlight:
I try to keep from losin' the rest of me / I worry that I wasted the best of me on you /
Baby, You don't care / Said, not tryna be a nuisance, it's just urgent /
Tryna make sense of loose change / Got me a war in my mind
5. Intimidated - Kaytranada & HER
One of my favourite vocalists/multi-instrumentalists teamed up with my DJ-crush to make this positively irresistible vibe late in 2021. Thankfully it was still enough time to play it on repeat over the last couple of months of the year. I have no doubt that whenever we get back to in-person dance parties, I’ll bump this on the regular.
Lyrical Highlight:
Time / Don't wanna waste the feel / Like we could make it real /
Don't run away when you could be lovin' me /
Signs, too busy reading minds / Already made it here /
Don't overthink when you could be lovin' me
4. Rainforest - Noname
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Noname is the best rapper alive right now. Every line in this short track is a spider web of facts and references and concepts woven into pure poetry. The beat is simple, so you have no excuse for failing to pay attention to what she’s saying. Sure, you might miss a reference, but the hope is you’ll dig in and get further educated. Maybe even join her Bookclub.
Lyrical Highlight:
Dyin’ on stolen land for a dollar like that ain’t fucked up /
It’s fuck they money, I’ma say it every song /
Until the revolution come and all the feds start runnin’ /
Fuck a Good Will Hunting, this is brand new murder /
Revolutionary suicide then close the curtain
3. ALTAR - Kehlani
I already love Kehlani, and she released a lot of my most played collaborations this year. Yet this solo ode to remembering and honouring a passed loved one stands out as one of my favourite things this boss artist has offered yet. I can’t wait for her new album, expected in 2022.
Lyrical Highlight:
If I set a flame and I call your name / I'll fix you a plate / We can go to dinner /
We can share a meal your way / And I'll play you the songs that you used to play
2. Worth It - Amber Mark
Amber Mark may have been my artist of the year right along with Jazmine Sullivan, and one of the hardest decisions in writing this blog was choosing which of her singles I would include. I played her constantly all year long - in the car, in the house - often in the presence of my wife. And yet, at least once a month, Beth would remark, “This is great! Who is this?” Every single time, Amber Mark was the answer.
Lyrical Highlight:
We've all got that feeling / I can see you hurting / You don't think you deserve it / But, baby, you are worth it /
Just open up the ceiling / Come on, let the love in / 'Cause, baby, you are worth it
1. ANTIDOTE - NAO, Adekunle Gold
My song of the year, without a doubt. The only chance this had of not being on the top of this list was when I considered including NAO’s 2021 live album from which this song is from, And Then Life Was Beautiful. But ultimately I decided that although it’s a great collection, “Antidote” stands out as the best track by far. It doesn’t matter what kind of mood I’m in - if you play this song, I will automatically dance, and that’s exactly how I spent the final 3 minutes of 2021.
Lyrical Highlight:
I pray for something more than just physical / Ooh, you're something spiritual /
Ooh, we made a miracle, oh
I pray for something more than metaphysical / Ooh, you're something spiritual /
Ooh, you've been my antidote-dote
As always, 20 songs and albums is not even close enough to capture all the music that got me through the year, but I can’t pressure my self to write more than this every year! I hope this helped you discover a new artist or reminded you of a song you fell in love with earlier this year. Let me know what you liked and what I missed!
If you want to check out a couple of playlists that contain selections from both my songs and albums of the year lists, check out Chillin’ in 2021 or Bouncin’ in 2021 depending on your mood.
Cheers!