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The Best Songs of 2021, From "Essence" to "Good 4 u"

Sounds of 2021: All the Songs We Couldn't Stop Listening to This Year

Dec 14 2021

This year brought us a lot of things: lockdowns, flickers of hope and the ensuing disappointments, a semblance of freedom, and ultimately finally being able to meet up with our loved ones. What it also brought us was great music from countless artists who were inspired by the events of the last 12 months. Artists like Little Simz, who graced us with the presence of her comeback album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert; Joy Crookes, who released her debut record, Skin, this year; and Arlo Parks, whose soulful release Collapsed in Sunbeams got us through some pretty difficult times this year.

With new albums came new collaborations, and perhaps most notably the very welcome pairing of Wizkid and fellow Nigerian singer Tems on "Essence", closely followed by the remixed edition that featured Justin Bieber. Next up on our list was R&B singer Mahalia, who released collaborations with a number of incredible artists, from grime artist AJ Tracey to American rapper Rico Nasty. Along with firm favourites like Mahalia, we continued to hear new music from Jorja Smith and Olivia Rodrigo and were treated to comeback albums from the likes of Ed Sheeran and Adele. We were also introduced to some inspiring new artists this year, from Swiss-Tamil musician Priya Ragu and soul songstress Olivia Dean to TikTok stars PinkPantheress and Mimi Webb.

Read on to see which tracks made it into our 2021 playlist.

Image Source: ITV

"Essence" by Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber and Tems

Wizkid was one of the most-talked about artists this year, and it's for good reason. His epic track "Essence", featuring fellow Nigerian singer Tems, was remixed to include Justin Bieber, and Twitter had a lot to say about it.

Whilst the remix was undoubtedly a smart business decision, it does also make for a pretty good track — though we're hardcore stans of the original, of course.

"I Love You, I Hate You" by Little Simz

A gut-wrenching track from Simz's new album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, "I Love You, I Hate You" is a powerful tribute to the artist's relationship with her father. Speaking about the track on Annie Mac's show, the rapper said, "This is too honest, and too real, and really scary. I didn't think I'd have to go this deep but I'm glad I did."

"Peng Black Girls Remix" by Enny feat. Jorja Smith

The remix for Enny's poetic "Peng Black Girls" track arrived back in December 2020, and its infectious nature brought it all the way into the new year. The song itself is as important now as it was back then, with lyrics that speak to the British Black woman experience. Speaking to NME about the collaboration, Enny explained, "Then to have Jorja drop a cold verse and bring a whole new vibe to it. Madness! The remix song and vid all just reiterate again the culture of being 'Black and British' and living in it."

"Leave the Door Open" by Silk Sonic

A collaboration between the silky-voiced Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak seemed like it was inevitable, and the result was honestly pretty magical. "Leave the Door Open" is a gentle, jazzy number with seriously smooth vocals and very funky shirts, and it was the first single to be released from the Silk Sonic album that came shortly after.

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"Thot Sh*t" by Megan Thee Stallion

The video for Megan Thee Stallion's hot girl summer anthem did not disappoint, and it was undoubtedly one of the most talked-about videos of the year. A combination of political satire, thot-cellations, and catchy lyrics, "Thot Sh*t" did not come to play, and neither did Megan Thee Stallion.

"Hot Hot" by Bree Runway

Bree Runway has never failed to impress, and her 2021 release "Hot Hot" may be her best song yet. The glorious summer anthem was paired with an equally glorious video that saw Runway serving some serious looks.

"I feel like this is the song everyone needs to hear as it gets hotter and the world eases up," the singer told Trench. "This pandemic hasn't been easy on the brain, and with being indoors wearing joggers 24/7, it's been hard to feel like a hottie, so I'm hoping this track will help!

"Typically for me, it's about reaffirming your power and believing in yourself cause 'you can never do it like a Brenda'. I want my fans to never feel afraid to hype themselves up, they're the sh*t and they don't need to wait for anybody to tell 'em they are!"

"Good Love 2.0" by Priya Ragu

Swiss-Tamil artist Priya Ragu is undoubtedly one to keep an eye on next year, especially since she's just been named to BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2022 list. She merged funky rap lyrics with soulful harmonies in her track "Good Love", with South Indian influences present throughout.

"Good 4 U" by Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo is a name that everyone is familiar with, thanks to her first release "Drivers License", but many fans were inclined to believe that her follow-up single, "Good 4 U", was even better. Lyrically, it felt similar to the likes of Paramore and Avril Lavigne, and paired with a video inspired by teen classic Jennifer's Body, the end result was unmatched.

"All My Friends Know" by PinkPantheress

We're pretty sure we're going to be listening to PinkPantheress's To Hell With It until she inevitably releases more music in 2022. The TikTok star rose to fame after her videos went viral, and it's only been uphill from there. "All My Friends Know" is one of the longer tracks on the project, and it was the perfect song for fans of jungle, garage, and pop.

"Jealous" by Mahalia feat. Rico Nasty

A departure from Mahalia's usual sound, this collaboration with American rapper Rico Nasty was a little edgier, a little sexier, and a lot more visually arresting than her previous releases, but one of our favourites this year.

"I was sat in the studio with Cadenza and Miraa May getting some stuff off my chest from the past few weeks. 'Jealous' was born pretty fast after chatting," she told magazine DIY. "It was a weird time . . . I was dealing with friends being super unsupportive about decisions I was making and I was struggling with navigating that. I'm really proud and excited about what came out in this song and I hope people love it in the same way we did when we wrote it. Rico Nasty is a badass and one of my favourite artists so getting her to feature was a huge moment for me!"

"Caroline" by Arlo Parks

"Caroline" was definitely one of the standout tracks from Arlo Parks this year. As the next iteration from Parks since her Glass Animals collaboration, the song is full of mellifluous vocals and, as always, pairs a melancholy tale with a wonderful tune and streams of effortless percussion.

"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" by Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X was the talk of the town after releasing this track, and after dropping the video, his influence was undeniable. A super-catchy tune with powerful visuals, it has an equally powerful message along with impressive outfits and *that* pole-dancing scene that Twitter couldn't get enough of.

"Body" by Russ Millions and Tion Wayne

Just named TikTok's most popular song of 2021, "Body" by Russ Millions and Tion Wayne is a track that stood the test of time, because we all definitely still have it stuck in our heads a solid nine months later.

"Siberia" by Headie One feat. Burna Boy

Headie One and Burna Boy were two of the most influential artists to release music in 2021, and this collaboration cemented that status. "Siberia" is a laid-back melody with icy visuals and stripped-back sounds. Lyrically, the song acts as a reflection of Headie's personal journey as he began to come to terms with the expectations of his fame.

"We're Good" by Dua Lipa

A new release from Dua Lipa is always welcome, and the release of "We're Good" definitely defied expectations. A jazzy breakup anthem about a relationship that's amicably run its course, its melodic vocals inspire visions of lying on a tropical beach (despite the impending breakup, of course). Paired with an ultraglam video set in a fancy restaurant against a backdrop of lobsters (the Friends metaphor surely played a part here), it's a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek offering from Lipa.

"In Between" by Hamzaa feat. Miraa May

"In Between" is the ultimate women empowerment anthem released this year. Soulful songstress Hamzaa paired up with Algerian British artist Miraa May, and the result is a glitchy R&B ballad with some seriously impressive vocals and some very bad-b*tch energy.

"Good Without" by Mimi Webb

Mimi Webb definitely needs to be on your radar this year. Her breakout single, "Good Without", features her signature husky vocals paired with a super-sweet romantic melody. Since that release, she's only gotten better and better. One for fans of Dua Lipa and Lennon Stella, Webb is one to watch for 2022.

"Bussdown" by Jorja Smith feat. Shaybo

With all the releases we got from Jorja Smith this year, one thing remained true: she knows how to create a catchy single. After the releases of "Addicted" and "Gone", she came back for more, and this time she partnered with South London rapper Shaybo for the perfect collaboration: "Bussdown".

"Little More Love" by AJ Tracey

Taken from his second studio album, Flu Game, AJ Tracey's "Little More Love" is an effortless look at how far the rapper has come, exemplified through powerful lyrics and his uniquely dexterous flow. The video for the track also acts as a tribute to the late American rapper DMX, who died on 9 April.

"Confetti" by Little Mix feat. Saweetie

A classic Little Mix banger, "Confetti" marked the band's first release since Jesy Nelson officially announced that she was leaving the band. Accompanied by a hilarious video that features a cheeky cameo from Drag Race UK stars A'Whora, Tayce, and Bimini Bon Boulash, it's still a definite yes from us.

"Be My Own Boyfriend" by Olivia Dean

If you don't have Olivia Dean on your current playlist, you should probably do something about that. Her sombre single "Be My Own Boyfriend" is a confident, self-assured ballad about self-love, with vocals so soulful, you'll have goosebumps for life.

"Peaches (Remix)" by Justin Bieber feat. Ludacris, Usher, and Snoop Dogg

We didn't think that we could love "Peaches" by Justin Bieber any more, and then he released the remix. Featuring a star-studded line-up that includes the likes of Ludacris, Usher, and Snoop Dogg, the remixed track hits a whole new level.

"Clash" by Dave feat. Stormzy

A pretty iconic collaboration between Dave and Stormzy, "Clash" is a confident and assured track with sharp, witty lyrics. It almost acts as a recap of 2021, with Stormzy reminding us all about that feud with Chip and Piers Morgan's dramatic exit from Good Morning Britain, and Dave giving both Jeremy Corbyn and the entire Labour Party a shout-out.

"Learning Curve" by Aitch

"Learning Curve" is another classic Aitch anthem, complete with a glitchy backing track and the distinguished flow that we're so used to hearing. The video sparked some debate on social media, questioning whether or not Aitch's inclusive casting was genuine or not, but either way, we're glad to see that representation in the music-video industry is finally changing.

"One Night" by Griff

We've been watching Griff pretty closely since she was announced as 2021's Brit Rising Star, and since then, we've not been disappointed. Her single "One Night" is a glittery dance anthem made up of Griff's signature sweet vocals — and the video that accompanies it features some seriously impressive outfits, so it's definitely worth a mention here.

"Solar Power" by Lorde

"Solar Power" was the first release from Lorde in a few years, and it came from her brand-new album, which shares the same title. The track is a breezy summer anthem, accompanied by a glorious beachside video. It also features the lyric "I'm kind of like a prettier Jesus," which, after watching the video in its entirety, we couldn't help but agree with.

"Roadside" by Mahalia and AJ Tracey

A collaboration between Mahalia and AJ Tracey was only ever going to go one way (excellently), but when paired with the cinematic video, it ended up even better than we imagined. The song itself is essentially about finding out that your partner has been unfaithful, and Mahalia's subsequent reactions (yes, they involve a baseball bat and some smashed car windows) are both beautifully sung and hilariously captured.

"Lost Cause" by Billie Eilish

Since Billie Eilish dyed her hair blond and graced the cover of Vogue, we've been even more into her than usual. "Lost Cause" marked a slightly new sound for the singer, and though somehow more effortless than previous tracks, it still has all the Eilish attitude that we've grown to know and love.

"When You Were Mine" by Joy Crookes

It's not been long since Joy Crookes announced an incredibly spontaneous show at London's Hackney Wick, and the new release that she performed stayed stuck in our heads for months after. "When You Were Mine" is a breezy soul ballad about past lovers and one of the first singles to be released from her new album, Skin.

"Easy on Me" by Adele

Unsurprisingly, Adele's comeback single made it onto this year's playlist, because honestly? We've really f*cking missed her! The new single was the first release from her new album, 30, and it was exactly the Adele we'd been hoping to hear, thanks to her incredible vocals and soothing piano sounds.

"Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran

"Bad Habits" marked quite a different sound for Ed Sheeran, and it appears to be his first solo dance track. Chatting to James Corden on The Late Late Show, Sheeran said, "My single was scheduled to come out in June, and I was like, 'I don't know if the world needs a depressing, sad, slow acoustic song when it's all opening up,' so I was in the studio and we created this song and it's just fun, I think."

"Be Kind" by Zak Abel

This release marked the first single we'd had from Zak Abel in almost a year. "Be Kind" was written by Abel during lockdown "in response to the division and intolerance that exists on social media & generally in the world right now", according to his Twitter. On the context of the song, Abel added, "I wish that we could treat each other with more kindness, even & especially people who might have a different experience of the world to you."

"I'd Rather Die Than Be Deported" by Berwyn

"I'd Rather Die Than Be Deported" is a trap-infused song by rapper Berwyn. Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, the artist moved to London at age 9 and has pretty much been making music ever since. It helps that his dad used to be a DJ, which, as Berwyn wrote in his Spotify bio, meant that he "grew up on that good sh*t". A bold claim, indeed.

"Cherry Bomb" by Finn Askew

"Cherry Bomb" is the perfect song for fans of Rex Orange County, Tom Grennan, and Zak Abel. Finn Askew's distinctive vocals are fused with a fun, up-tempo melody, and honestly, you'll find yourself singing along to the lyrics after hearing it even just once.

"Ocean View" by Easy Life

Easy Life are an English R&B group from Leicester, though you wouldn't know it from hearing their music. Their debut album, Life's a Beach, was released this year, and "Ocean View" is one of the key singles. A breezy, sun-filled anthem with effortlessly cool vocals, it made for very easy listening this year (no pun intended).

"Nah It Ain't the Same" by Greentea Peng

"Nah It Ain't the Same" is exactly the type of single you'd expect to hear from South London's Greentea Peng. Described by Peng herself as "an expression and exploration of my utter confusion and inner conflicts amidst shifting paradigms", the track features syncopated rhythms, husky tones, and melismatic vocals.

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