๐ง Best Songs of 2021 features songs courtesy of Adele, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Jazmine Sullivan, Lil Nas X, and Taylor Swift.ย
O
ne of the most daunting tasks, each and every year, is to select the BEST SONGS OF XXXX. After making the decision to axe the rankings and merely select a list of the best songs mid-year on ๐ง 40 Best Songs of 2021 (So Far), the rankings have returned for the final edition, ๐ง 50 Best Songs of 2021. In 2020, the final best-of list comprised of 100 songs (100 Best Songs of 2020).ย This, year, there are four lists.ย One list features 15 honorable mentions (๐ง Best Songs of 2021: Honorable Mentions), while the other three features songs 50-36, 35-21, and the top-20 respectively.๐งBest Songs of 2021 is loaded, as youโd expect! Some of the big names contributing their gift of songs are ๐ Adele, ๐ Billie Eilish, ๐ Doja Cat, ๐ Jazmine Sullivan, ๐ Lil Nas X, and ๐ Taylor Swift among others. Honestly, thereโs a little bit of everything here, including songs I highly doubt others selected on their year-end/year in review lists. Agree or disagree, I hope you enjoy the most time-consuming, arduous compendium to put together year-in and year-out, ๐งย Best Songs of 2021. Here, is ๐ง Best Songs of 2021: Top 20.
20. Jon Batiste, โCryโ
๐ฟ We Are โข ๐ท Verve โข ๐ 2021
๐ Jon Batiste delivers one of the yearโs best and most satisfying R&B albums with ๐ฟ We Are. Featuring numerous elite songs, arguably the crรจme de la crรจme is ๐ต โCry.โ The soulfulness is fully ingrained into โCryโ including a righteous, robust bass line anchoring things down.ย Throw in a simple but effective drum groove and commanding, nuanced vocals from Jon and โCryโ is nothing to cry over in the least โ save for its inspiring, ear-catching brilliance!
The messaging, which laments the injustices of the world, further fuels that ear catching brilliance on this unsung 2021 gem:
โFor the loss of the innocence For the struggle of the immigrants For the wrongful imprisonment.โ
Give โCryโ the flowers it deserves โ ROSES!
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: March 2021
๐ ๐ง 40 Best Songs of 2021 (So Far)
19. Olivia Rodrigo, โBrutalโ
๐ฟ Sour โข ๐ท Geffen โข ๐ 2021ย
โWhereโs my fucking teenage dream? / If someone tells me one more time / โEnjoy your youth,โ Iโm gonna cry.โ Woo! ๐ Olivia Rodrigo kicks off her debut album, ๐ฟ SOUR with a surefire bang (and swear words) on ๐ต โBrutal.โ Itโs terrific opener which does a masterful job of setting the tone of the album.ย Here, we get โbrutalโ honesty from Rodrigo.
I love the attitude and spunk that Rodrigo brings to the track. The sound perfectly encapsulates Gen-Z.ย The chorus is epic, highlighted by the line, โGod, itโs brutal out here.โ
โAll I did was try my best This the kinda thanks I get? Unrelentlessly upset They say these are the golden years But I wish I could disappear Ego crush is so severe God, itโs brutal out here.โย
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Brutal: 3BOPS No. 56 (2021)
18. Lil Nas X, โSun Goes Downโ
๐ฟ MONTERO โข ๐ท Columbia โข ๐ 2021ย
โI wanna run away / Donโt wanna lie, I donโt want a life / Send me a gun and Iโll see the sun.โ Wow, those lyrics from ๐ต โSun Goes Downโ (๐ฟ MONTERO) are definitely troubling, capturing the suicidal thoughts of a younger ๐ Lil Nas X, apparently.ย Beyond the chorus, the ๐ Grammy winner goes on to expound about his younger life, coping with bullying, colorism, and homosexuality.ย While thereโs ample sadness as to be expected, Nas X arrives at a happier place later, asserting, โAnd Iโm happy by the way / That I made that jump, that leap of faith / Iโm happy that it all worked out for meโฆโ
The production is a big selling point on โSun Goes Down.โ A team comprised of ๐ Take A Daytrip, ๐ Omer Fedi, and ๐ Roy Lenzo do a marvelous job, with some of the best features being the warm sound, created by guitars and later, strings.ย This is perfect fuel for Lil Nas X, who also has a well written, tuneful melody to work with. He gives a fine vocal performance, showing off his lower register.ย The effect is a masculine sound that is sweet music to the ears.
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: May 2021
17. serpentwithfeet, โSame Size Shoeโ
๐ฟ DEACON โข ๐ท Secretly Canadian โข ๐ 2021
โCanโt love no man โtil I measured his feet,โ alternative R&B artist ๐ serpentwithfeet (Josiah Wise) asserts on ๐ต โSame Size Shoeโ. โSame Size Shoeโ is arguably the best song from his sophomore album, ๐ฟ DEACON.ย Later, Wise heeds the advice of his aunt singing, โMy auntieโs right, donโt fuck a man / If his shoes are two times the size of your hands.โ Woo!
Besides the unique lyricism of the record, serpentwithfeet delivers an expressive, nuanced, and truly refined vocal performance. His best moments include the ad-libs, the bridge where he asks for his trumpet (you just must hear it for yourself), and of course, the chorus.ย The chorus, as to expected, is infectious to the nth degree: โMe and my boo wear the same size shoe.โ Additionally, the production (Wise, ๐ Brandon Juhans, and ๐ Batu) allures as well.
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Same: 5ive Songs No. 33 (2021)
๐ ๐ง 12 Captivating Same & Different Songs
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: April 2021
๐ ๐ง โSโ Songs: No Rhyme or Reason, Vol. 2
๐ ๐ง A Must-Hear PRIDE ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ Compendium: 2021
๐ ๐ง 15 Gay Anthems That Exude Joy (Vo1. 1)
16. BTS, โButterโ
๐ต โButterโ โข ๐ท BIGHIT MUSIC / HYBE โข ๐ 2021
โSidestep, right, left to my beat / High like the moon, rock with me, babyโฆโ The ๐ Grammy-nominated kings of K-Pop, ๐ BTS, dropped another hot single, with the chart topping ๐ต โButterโ. Honestly, itโs everything. The production (๐ Rob Grimaldi, ๐ Stephen Kirk, and ๐ Ron Perry) is sleek. The backdrop is rhythmic, colorful, and ear catching.
Beyond the canvas, we get vocals and rhymes, exclusively performed in English. Adding to the excellence is a killer, tuneful melody, infectious, tongue-n-cheek lyrics, and tasty raps further boosting the โswaggerโ rating.ย Honestly, all Iโs are dotted and Tโs are crossed on this crowd-pleasing, buttery smooth pop single. BTS simply have IT.
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง 40 Best Songs of 2021 (So Far)
15. Billie Eilish, โHappier Than Everโ
๐ฟ Happier Than Ever โข ๐ท Darkroom / Interscope โข ๐ 2021
โWhen Iโm away from you / Iโm happier than ever / Wish I could explain it better / I wish it wasnโt true.โ ๐ต โHappier Than Everโ ranks among the biggest surprises of ๐ฟ Happier Than Ever, the awesome sophomore album from ๐ Billie Eilish. What makes the penultimate record surprising, you ask? Well, โHappier Than Everโ transforms into this bold, overblown rock cut. ย Say what?
Eilish, who tends to be a subtler vocalist, gives us a powerful, unexpected dynamic vocal on the second half of the track.ย Just hearing this โabout-face,โ particularly after how the song commences is enough to make it a surefire winner.ย Also, worth noting, as the record progresses, Eilish seems to grow angrier and angrier as opposed to happy.
โAnd I donโt talk shit about you on the internet Never told anyone anything bad โCause that shitโs embarrassing, you were my everything And all that you did was make me fuckinโ sad.โ
Here pain is our listening pleasure!
14. Justin Bieber, โPeachesโ
Ft. Daniel Caesar & GIVฤON
๐ฟ Justice โข ๐ท Def Jam โข ๐ 2021
โI got my peaches out in Georgia (Oh, yeah, shit) / I get my weed from California (Thatโs that shit).โ Thereโs nothing profound about either of those lyrics ๐ Grammy-winning pop superstar ๐ Justin Bieber sings on his ๐ no. 1 Hot 100 hit, ๐ต โPeachesโ and yet, itโs absolutely and utterly infectious to the nth degree.ย He continues on the golden chorus of this ๐ฟ Justice gem, โI took my chick up to the North, yeah (Badass bitch) / I get my light right from the source, yeah (Yeah, that’s it).โย While it seems that Bieber has this fruit-loving number on lockdown all by himself, he enlists the services of ๐ Grammy winner ๐ Daniel Caesar and ๐ Grammy nominee ๐ GIVฤON.
This isnโt a game changing record, yet the more you listen, the more you find yourself hypnotized and wooed.ย In the context of Justice, Bieber loosens up (the profanity on the chill chorus), while still focused on the modus operandi, LOVE. Both Caesar and GIVฤON devote their verses to their respective lovers โค. โPeachesโ is definitely a one of 2021โs crowd pleasers.
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Peach: 3BOPS No. 23 (2021)
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: March 2021
๐ ๐ง 10 Incredibly Peachy Peach ๐ Songs
๐ ๐ง 40 Best Songs of 2021 (So Far)
13. Brandi Carlile, โRight on Timeโ
๐ฟ In These Silent Days โข ๐ท A Low Country Sound / Elektra โข ๐ 2021ย
โIt wasnโt right / But itโs right on time.โ ๐ Grammy winner ๐ Brandi Carlile experienced a productive 2020-21 despite COVID-19.ย She published a memoir (๐ Broken Horses: A Memoir) and recorded a new album, ๐ฟ In These Silent Days. ย The song at hand, ๐ต โRight on Timeโ, serves as an amazing opener and promo single.
โRight on Timeโ commences simply with Carlile accompanied by piano, with bass entering the mix.ย She sings with great control, eventually expanding her scope, showing off the sheer power of her pipes.ย The instrumentation expands on the second verse including drums, guitar, and backing vocals sweetening the mix as well. Carlile does a fantastic job of starting minimal and building โRight on Timeโ into a gorgeous, grandiose record. The songwriting is elite; the lyrics are poetic, and Carlile sings them with great emotion.ย Notably, she highlights the title of her album: โItโs not too late / Either way, I lose you in these silent days.โ โRight on Timeโ plays to her strengths: great writer, great singer, and a top-notch artist.
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: July 2021
๐ ๐ง Right: 5ive Songs No. 79 (2021)
๐ ๐ง 13 Intriguing Right or Left Songs
๐ ๐ง Time โฐ: 5ive Songs No. 86 (2021)
๐ ๐ง 13 Intriguing Songs Fixated on Time โฐย
12. Doja Cat, โNeed to Knowโ
๐ฟ Planet Her โข ๐ท Kemosabe / RCA โข ๐ 2021
โI just been fantasizinโ (Size) / And we got a lotta time (Time) / Baby, come throw the pipe (Pipe).โย ๐ Doja Cat isnโt referencing a cigar! On ๐ต โNeed to Knowโ, one of the best moments from ๐ฟ Planet Her, Doja gives us a little bit of everything, singing often, while also dropping un-pitched rhymes on the second verse. The theme and topic of choice for Doja is SEX. What really sells this sexed-up joint is her big personality. Of course, SIZE matters in the bedroom: โWhatโs your size? (Size) / Add, subtract, divide (โVide).โ
Furthermore, Doja wants her man to know, โI got a lotta new tricks for you, baby / Just sayinโ Iโm flexible / I do what I can to get you off.โ She doesnโt stop there, considering on the second verse sheโs a magician: โOh, wait, you a fan of magic? / Poof, pussy like an Alakazam.โ Woo! The crรจme de la crรจme โ the crowning achievement โ is the memorable chorus:
โWanna know what itโs like Baby, show me what itโs like I donโt really got no type I just wanna fuck all night.โ
A bonus? A music video ๐ถ๐ผ supplementing this sexed-up bop encompassing Dojaโs abilities in the bedroom.
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: June 2021
๐ ๐ ๐ Doja Cat, โNeed to Knowโ: After Dark No. 10
๐ ๐ง 15 Steamy Songs Best Listened to After Dark
11. Taylor Swift, โAll Too Well (10-Minute Version)โ
๐ฟ Red (Taylorโs Version) โข ๐ท Taylor Swift โข ๐ 2021
๐ Taylor Swift is living her best life. She is one of the savviest businesswomen in the game, ensuring she gets the proper compensation and the rights to her music. Few artists could re-record an album and receive significant success. Swift did so twice in 2021, releasing ๐ฟ Fearless (Taylorโs Version) and more recently, ๐ฟ Red (Taylorโs Version).ย Among the most rewarding aspects of these re-recorded LPs has been the nostalgia, particularly revisiting the days when Swift was a country musician exclusively. One of the best instances of recapturing the past and incorporating the present is the fabulous, expanded ๐ต โAll Too Well (10 Minute Version).โ Honestly, it takes skill to make a 10-minute song successful. Swift โ well โ she possesses those skills!
The original version and the shorter ๐ต โAll Too Well (Taylorโs Version)โ, are strong.ย That said, โAll Too Well (10 Minute Version)โ is EPIC โ a juggernaut to say the least!ย What stands out most is what makes Taylor Swift elite โ her songwriting. Yes, her voice sounds great, but itโs her pen โ the lyrics โ that shine. Verse after verse on this expanded version, Swift unleashes greatness.ย Furthermore, back in 2012, would we ever expect to hear the clean-cut Swift dare utter โAnd you were tossing me the keys / โFuck the patriarchyโ / Key chain on the ground, we were always skipping town?โ Those lyrics rank among my favorites. Of course, the chorus and itโs variations is the centerpiece โ catchy and memorable to the nth degree.
โโCause there we are again in the middle of the night Weโre dancing โround the kitchen in the refrigerator light Down the stairs, I was there I remember it all too well.โ
10. Olivia Rodrigo, โGood 4 Uโ
๐ฟ Sour โข ๐ท Geffen โข ๐ 2021
๐ต โgood 4 uโ gives ๐ต โdrivers licenseโ โ the crowning achievement of ๐ฟ SOUR, the debut album by ๐ Olivia Rodrigo โ a run for its money. Written by Rodrigo and ๐ผ โ Daniel Nigro, Nigro also produces alongside ๐ Alexander 23. Nigro and Alexander 23 craft a lit punk-pop-oriented backdrop filled with angst.ย
Rodrigo matches the intensity, bringing ample personality via her angst-filled Gen-Z teenage persona!ย Furthermore, she has the songwriting to sell via her performance, dabbling in that ever-relatable topic of heartbreak. The best moment is the chorus where sheโs โCryinโ on the floor of my bathroom / But youโre so unaffected, I really donโt get it / but I guess good for you.โ
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: May 2021
๐ ๐ง An Alphabet of Random Songs
9. Adele, โTo Be Lovedโ
๐ฟ 30 โข ๐ท Melted Stone / Columbia โข ๐ 2021ย
One of the most emotional songs from ๐ฟ 30, the fourth studio album by ๐ Academy and Grammy Award winner, ๐ Adele, is also among the crรจme de la crรจme: ๐ต โTo Be Loved.โย โIโm so afraid, but Iโm wide open,โ Adele sings vulnerably on the second verse, continuing, โIโll be the one to catch myself this time.โ Throughout the lengthy record, she reflects on the hardship of love and the number that it did on her.
โTo Be Loved,โ a ballad, is simple, accompanied by piano, but grows grander as her voice ascends (belts).ย As this stunning record progresses, you feel every ounce of emotion she experiences.ย The final chorus is the strongest, with the combination of high-flying vocals and gut-wrenching, heart-driven lyrics hitting the hardest:
โTo be loved and love at the highest count Means to lose all the things I canโt live without Let it be known, known, know That I will choose, I will lose Itโs a sacrifice, but I canโt live a lie Let it be known, Let it be known that I tried, that I tried Let it be known that I tried.โย
8. Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, โIndustry Babyโ
๐ฟ MONTERO โข ๐ท Columbia โข ๐ 2021
โI ainโt fall off, I just ainโt release my new shit.โ Anyone who thought that ๐ Lil Nas X would be a one-hit-wonder was totally tripping.ย The unapologetic, openly gay pop artist has been โeating it upโ throughout 2021.ย Once more, heโs killing it on ๐ต โINDUSTRY BABYโ (๐ฟ MONTERO), collaborating with red hot rapper ๐ Jack Harlow (Harlow doesnโt lie when he asserts, โI didnโt peak in high school, Iโm still out here gettinโ cuterโ).ย
Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow on the same track? Magical. How about throwing in the production genius of ๐ Take A Daytrip and ๐ Kanye West?ย The sound of the record is epic with hard-hitting drums and bright, accented brass.ย Unsurprisingly, some samples shape the backdrop, which fuels both Lil Nas and Harlow.ย I love the sheer confidence of Nas as well as the fact he doesnโt shy away from who he is: โI donโt fuck bitches, Iโm queer, hah / But these niggas bitches like Madea, yeah, yeah, yeah, ayy.โ Harlow gets his in too, beyond the โcuteโ line cited earlier: โI sent her back to her boyfriend with my handprint on her ass cheek.โ Day-um, Jack!
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: July 2021
๐ ๐ง An Alphabet of Random Songs
7. Ari Lennox, โPressureโ
๐ต โPressureโ โข ๐ท Dreamville / Roc Nation โข ๐ 2021
โNow Iโm on top and now Iโm ridinโ sky-high / Donโt need nobody, but Iโll take you down tonight.โ Woo! ๐ Ari Lennox is on fire on ๐ต โPressureโ, period.ย Her vocals are sassy and sexy โ potent to the nth degree. The big draw is the personality she unleashes, in all its unrepentant sexiness. โSo fine and spicy, baby, jump up on this (pressure) / I guess thatโs why you like it baby, come and get this pressure,โ she sings on the infectious chorus.ย Besides the chorus, Lennox โdoes the damn thingโ on the verse, proving sheโs a surefire, bad chick.ย โToo fuckinโ hot for all these clothes anyways,โ she confidently asserts, continuing, โMy body drippinโ, boy, but you gonโ have to wait / But when you get it, lick it like a candy cane.โ Day-um! Clearly, the sex is through the roof, and we wouldnโt have it any other way!
Although painfully underrated, the R&B singer/songwriter is incredibly talented. The utterly sublime, steamy single was produced by ๐ Jermaine Dupri, ๐ Bryan-Michael Cox, and ๐ Elite. Not only is Ari Lennox is fierce AF on โPressure,โ but so is the backing instrumental, which has a dash of old-school. โPressureโ ranks among the best songs released in 2021.
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง 15 Steamy Songs Best Listened to After Dark
6. Doja Cat, โKiss Me Moreโ
Ft. SZA
๐ฟ Planet Her โข ๐ท Kemosabe / RCA โข ๐ 2021
Back with another big-time hit, ๐ Doja Cat taps ๐ SZA for the assist on ๐ต โKiss Me Moreโ. The first time you hear โKiss Me More,โ itโs infectious to the nth degree.ย There are several reasons why this joint is so successful.ย For one, it goes to the trackโs underpinnings โ the harmonic progression used is sweet.ย Furthermore, the lush production work awesomely supports sweet vocal performances by both Doja Cat and later, SZA. Worth noting, an ๐ Olivia Newton-John classic, ๐ต โPhysicalโ, further fuels that fire.
Doja Cat both sings and rap, showing off her incredible versatility. She brings the heat on her rhymes coming over aggressive and sexed-TF-up (โI, I feel like fuckinโ somethinโโ and โNiggas wishinโ that the pussy was a kissinโ boothโ).ย Furthermore, she remains playful.ย As for SZA, she brings vocal contrast on the third verse, matching the aggressiveness of Doja (โPussy like holy grail, you know that / You gonโ make me need bail, you know thatโ). Once more, Doja Cat has constructed another surefire bop โ it screams H-I-T / B-O-P!
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: April 2021
๐ ๐ง Kisses: An Intriguing Compendium of Kiss Songs ๐
๐ ๐ง 15 K Songs: No Rhyme or Reason
5. Elton John & Dua Lipa, โCold Heart โ PNAU Remixโ
๐ฟ The Lockdown Sessions โข ๐ท Mercury โข ๐ 2021
๐ต โCold Heart (PNAU Remix)โ kicks ๐ฟ The Lockdown Sessions โ the 32nd studio album by iconic musician, ๐ Elton John โ off with a bang!ย ๐ PNAU โ ๐ Nicholas Littlemore, ๐ Sam Littlemore, and ๐ Peter Mayes โ create a transformative remix, period. ๐ Dua Lipa joins John on a delightful mashup sampling his classic, ๐ต โSacrificeโ and the interpolation of another, ๐ต โRocket Manโ.
From the onset, โCold Heartโ grooves hard. The production is brilliant โ colorful, picturesque, and incredibly slick. John is the first voice heard, adorning the warm, groovy backdrop with lyrics from โSacrifice.โย Following verse and pre-chorus, a sublime sounding Lipa enters singing โRocket Manโ creating a super cool effect.ย I like the way that Lipaโs vocals are layered as โCold Heartโ progresses
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: August 2021
4. Silk Sonic, โLeave the Door Openโ
๐ฟ An Evening with Silk Sonic โข ๐ท Aftermath / Atlantic โข ๐ 2021
๐ Grammy winners ๐ Bruno Mars and ๐ Andersonย .Paak join forces as duo ๐ Silk Sonic releasing an album, ๐ฟ An Evening with Silk Sonic. ย In advance, the duo released an instant classic in ๐ต โLeave the Door Openโ. โLeave the Door Openโ was written by Paak, Mars, ๐ผโ Christopher Brody Brown, and ๐ผโ Dernst โDโMileโ Emile II, with Mars and DโMile also producing. The four-minute-plus cut features a lush backdrop โ weโd expect no less from these two.
We get soulful vocals by .Paak on the first verse: โWe should be dancinโ, romancinโ / In the east wing and the west wing / Of this mansion, whatโs happeninโ.โ Sexy! He doesnโt stop there, bringing the heat to the second verse as well: โThereโs so much love we could be making /โฆ Girl, letโs jump in, itโs bubblinโ.โ As for Mars, he serves up the pre-chorus and the centerpiece, the chorus:
โIโma leave the door open ...That you feel the way I feel And you want me like I want you tonight, baby.โ
โLeave the Door Openโ is just what the doctor ordered, checking off all the boxes.
Also Appears On ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Leave: 5ive Songs No. 27 (2021)
๐ ๐ง 40 Best Songs of 2021 (So Far)
๐ ๐ง 13 Songs Where Youโre Required to Leave
๐ ๐ง Open: 3BOPS No. 66 (2021)
3. Adele, โEasy on Meโ
๐ฟ 30 โข ๐ท Melted Stone / Columbia โข ๐ 2021ย
โI know there is hope in these waters / But I canโt bring myself to swim / When I am drowning in this silence / Baby, let me in.โ Woo โ that hits deep! ๐ Adele returned formidably on ๐ต โEasy on Meโ, a personal promo single from her superb fourth studio album, ๐ฟ 30. The ๐ Grammy winnerโs voice is the biggest selling point of โEasy on Me,โ which she wrote with ๐ผโ Greg Kurstin. Kurstin, a mastermind when it comes to the boards, does work on the production end of things too.ย That said, โEasy on Meโ is primarily a piano ballad, though we add a robust bass line and some light drum programming (nothing too crazy).
With soaring vocals, sound production, and a tuneful melody, the last box to be checked off is songwriting.ย โEasy on Meโ is the perfect song that allows Adele to get personal.ย Divorce seems to be the primary culprit of the singerโs petition for โease,โ though she also asserts, โI was still a child / I didnโt get the chance to / Feel the world around me.โ That seems to open the door to a variety of things that have affected her in her life.ย The return of Adele = sheer brilliance!
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: October 2021
2. Olivia Rodrigo, โDrivers Licenseโ
๐ฟ Sour โข ๐ท Geffen โข ๐ 2021
๐ Olivia Rodrigo totally compels on her former no. 1 single, ๐ต โdrivers licenseโ,ย the crowning achievement of her critically acclaimed, commercially successful debut album, ๐ฟ SOUR. โDrivers licenseโ was written by Rodrigo and ๐ผ โ Daniel Nigro, who also produces. While Olivia should totally be stoked here โ she gets her driverโs license after all โ sheโs bummed. โToday I drove through the suburbs / Crying โcause you werenโt around.โ Ugh.ย Of course, the guy she desired to be with is with someone else, and that person makes her totally insecure โ I feel that.ย On the third verse, she continues her lament, expressing how โAll of my friends are tired / Of hearing how much I miss you.โ
Rodrigo sums up her feelings superbly on the chorus, asserting at the end, โI guess you didnโt mean what you wrote in that song about me / โCause you said forever, now I drive alone past your street.โย She also gets totally in her feelings on the bridge, dropping the bomb: โCanโt drive past the places we used to go to / โCause I still fuckinโ love you, babe.โ โDrivers Licenseโ is a bop thanks to the songwriting, solid production and of course, an emotional, strong vocal performance, particularly on the chorus and bridge.ย This is a contender for the best of the best, period.
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: January 2021
1. Lil Nas X, โMONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)โ
๐ฟ MONTERO โข ๐ท Columbia โข ๐ 2021
โIโm not fazed, only here to sin / If Eve ainโt in your garden, you know that you canโฆโ ๐ Grammy-winning, openly gay ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ pop artist ๐ Lil Nas X returned in 2021 with a controversial single, ๐ต โMONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)โ, the title track from his debut album, ๐ฟ MONTERO. Here, he reflects on his own experiences with his sexuality. Fueling the fire musically is sleek production courtesy of ๐ Roy Lenzo, ๐ Omer Fedi, and ๐ Take A Daytrip. Itโs the lyrics, narrative, and music video that make the record โcontroversial.โ
โMONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)โ shares experiences associated with many gay men at some point. Lil Nas X expresses desire: โI wanna feel on your ass in Hawaii / I want that jet lag from fuckinโ and flyinโ / Shoot a child in your mouth while Iโm ridinโ.โ Heโs a man who wants to have sex, but plenty of folks are quick to criticize him for โpromoting a gay agenda.โ Gay sex remains taboo, sadly.ย Another interesting lyric โ โNever want the niggas thatโs in my league / I wanna fuck the ones I envy, I envyโ โ is ear-catching because of its layers.ย While โincredibly gayโ to those who arenโt gay, Nas X speaks about crushing on someone more fit, handsome, as well as potentially hetero- as opposed to homosexual. Furthermore, he expresses the plight of being gay, whether itโs being trapped in the closet, religious tension, and other factors. You know what created an even bigger stir than this the best song of 2021? The music video ๐ถ๐ผ, which is unapologetic indeed!
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: March 2021
๐ ๐ง 40 Best Songs of 2021 (So Far)
๐ ๐ง A Must-Hear PRIDE ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ Compendium: 2021
๐ ๐๐ถ Lil Nas X, โMONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)โ: Controversial Tunes ๐๐ถ No. 3
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๐ ๐ง Name: 5ive Songs No. 92 (2021)
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