Top 10 Best Hit Songs of 2021

 

This year had some good songs. Here they are. I hate introductions.

Honorable Mentions:

Leave the Door Open by Silk Sonic (Year-end rank: #7): I appreciate a good throwback track. They remind me of a time that I never lived in. And Bruno Mars is the master of throwbacks, at least he is better at making them than making contemporary music. In this song, Mars and R&B singer/rapper Anderson Paak talk about all the things they will do for this girl. It is smooth. It is sweet. And it is sexy to a certain audience.

telepatía by Kali Uchis (Year-end rank:#49): Oh look, another sexy R&B jam. Kali sounds sensual as hell. At least, I think it is. I don't speak Spanish. But the vibe and her singing let me know someone should be ready for sex.

Save Your Tears (Remix) by The Weeknd and Ariana Grande (Year-end rank: #2): Now another throwback. This time it's an ELO song.

Beggin' by Måneskin (Year-end Rank: #66): Now the controversial pick. This song has a divided opinion. Many people can't stand the frontman's overwrought singing. I like it though, mostly because I like seeing rock songs chart. Plus, it is a fun take on an obscure Frankie Valli song.

Need to Know by Doja Cat (Year-end rank: #46): This is a guilty pleasure of mine. Doja does her overly raunchy singing/rapping shtick that she always does. But I like that because she has the style and personality to back it up. Plus, her ad-libs on the chorus always make me smile. Sadly, rapist Dr. Luke is still more involved in her music than he should be, but he makes a good beat.

10. Kiss Me More by Doja Cat feat. SZA (Year-end rank: #6) (Strong Language)

Time for more Doja Cat. This is a loving song she made with R&B singer SZA (pronounced "siz-zuh"). We get Doja's likable, horny personality along with the sensual singing of  SZA. The best part is that Dr. Luke did not produce this one, even though he has a songwriting credit.

9. Kings & Queens by Ava Max (Year-end rank: #73)

This song is a ton of fun. Ava is flagrantly trying to mimic better artists and has no real personality. This song, however, has a line I love and that put it on the list mostly. "And you may think I'm weak without a sword/ But if I had one it would be bigger than yours." For all who don't get it, sword=penis. It makes my inner immature side laugh. Add some strong, 80's sounding production and she made this list.

8.my ex's best friend by Machine Gun Kelly feat. blackbear (Year-end rank:#23) (Strong Language)

He won my un-coveted award for Most Improved last year. He is bringing back pop-punk to the masses. Yeah, I wish someone cooler was doing it, too. He shows himself catching feelings after hooking up with his ex-girlfriend's best friend. This works for me because he sounds sincere about it. Blackbear is also on this song. I normally hate him and his whiny douche ways, but it works here. Sadly, for us MGK decided to make lame music after the album this is on (i.e. Papercuts) and we will probably never hear from him again. Who else can make good pop-punk? Scroll down to the next spot for the answer.

 

7.good 4 u by Olivia Rodrigo (Year-end rank: #5) (Strong Language)

Okay, I did not put these songs back-to-back to make that joke, I swear. This is Olivia yelling at her ex for a few minutes and I love it. She sounds great over the pop-punk production. She may be jealous, but as an actress, she plays the role well. I look forward to her staying around. 

6. Starting Over by Chris Stapleton (Year-end rank: #53)

 

I have totally written this before, but I do not listen to country music. I do not understand its appeal. It is not for me. However, I strongly relate to Stapleton's feelings about leaving home for better opportunities. I have done this too. We are both from the same area of the US, Appalachia. The region is full of many small towns in the process of dying as the economy dried up and many people leave. It shows how hopeful the prospects are elsewhere. 

5. Levitating by Dua Lipa (Year-end rank: #1)

    Dua Lipa is great, This time she makes another fun song. I like the disco-inspired instrumentation, and the song's energy is fun with lyrics about love in space. These lyrics might be cheesy, but it works. Additionally, she remixed it with DaBaby, where many of the streams, sales, and airplay come from. However, Billboard has this version listed because many radio stations dropped the remix after DaBaby made some homophobic comments. Real shame. He has a good verse, although it sounds like his other verses. The song is still good without him.

4. Industry Baby by Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow (Year-end Rank:#24) (Strong Language)

I love this victory lap. This song is only two rappers flexing on us, but they both deserve it. Lil Nas X does his melodic flow where he brags  about his success and calls his competition "bitches like Madea." Then Jack Harlow swoops in with his more traditional flow and raps about how he is still getting cuter and about making "vets feel like their juniors." This song is not deep by any means, but it's a fun ride.

3. Leave Before You Love Me by Marshmello feat. the Jonas Brothers

This song gives me emotions, somehow. Marshmello is not good at showing feelings, but this production sounds romantic, sad, and caring at the same time. Then we have the Jonas Brothers crooning about how the girl should leave them because they will never be able to love her like she does them. This is in contrast to their real life. They are three happily married men. Yet, they have the theatrics to convince me.

2. Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish (Year-end rank: #94) (Strong Language)

    This is a real tale of two songs. She starts with a soft ukulele-ish melody talking about how she is happy when he is gone. At some point, you think this song is boring and will go on forever. However, two and a half minutes in, the song's tempo speeds up and she talks about how much she hates him. This song could be split into two, but this climax would be a lot weaker without the part at the beginning. The song, in the end, is satisfying as she says the things she should hold back.

Other songs that would be here if they charted longer:

You by Regard, Troye Sivan, and Tate McRae

Love Again by Dua Lipa

I DID IT by DJ Khaled feat. Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby, and DaBaby

Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home) by Elle King and Miranda Lambert

Street Runner by Rod Wave

1. Montero (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X (Strong Language)

This is the big one. I used a lyrics video on purpose. There was controversy earlier this year because Lil Nas X gave Satan a lap dance in the video, and evangelical Christians and conservatives do not remember KISS's publicity stunts from the 70s and didn't see Lil Nas X kill the devil at the end of the video. Additionally, I did this because I feel like the video takes away the emotions from the song. Nas sound very sincere about how he wants to find love with this man, even if it might be fake. Plus, it is the first hit song about being gay. Many love songs like "Come to My Window" and "Stay With Me" are also about gay love, but you have to know the artist's sexuality. Lil Nas X, however, makes it very obvious that this is a man-on-man relationship. For more info, watch the Rap Critic's review of the song because he covers the song and the controversy better than I could (It's linked below.).