The Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2021

I've already made my worst list for 2021, so we're on to the best list now. Honestly, I thought 2021 had some pretty good music. It wasn't an all-time great year or anything, but there are some songs I absolutely love from that year. Here's the thing, though. Unlike my 2022 and 2023 lists where I knew exactly what song would top the list before I even started making it, I had no idea what would take that spot. This one required me to go through and listen to all of the big hits from this year and compare them much more in-depth than normal. I want this to be a representative list of how I actually feel. 

To do this, I wanted to clarify some things. My song-picking strategy is pretty simple. For a song to make this list, it must speak to me in some way. That can be through the instrumental, which can appeal to me from an aesthetic, emotional, or just awesomeness standpoint. That can be through the lyrics, which can be relatable and personal or about something fun and exciting. The point I'm trying to make is that songs can have many positive qualities, so what determines the list depends on what the song's goal is. Does it succeed at that goal? Is that a goal worth achieving? These are questions I think about with this list. With the songs I've selected, I feel like they are the best examples of success 2021 had to offer. Each song on this list has left some sort of impact on me, whether that be making me laugh, cry, or just overall vibe. I want this list to be a detailed, thorough explanation of why the music of 2021 gave me joy, so bear with me as I explain why these are the songs I appreciated the most.

So, with this list, I'm going to be approaching it slightly differently. For starters, I have expanded the requirements for what a "hit" is. If the song hit the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 or was in the top 50 at any point throughout the year, it will count for the list. I will also be expanding the number of honorable mentions (and thus, dishonorable mentions on my worst list) from 8 to 10. Each honorable mention section will feature my favorite non-hit of the year, just for fun. I really want these lists to be more detailed and expansive moving forward, so I hope these changes will allow the formatting to improve and the quality to be much better than they were before. 

Now, without further adieu, it's my pleasure to present to you....

#10

The country music of 2021 does not have a very good reputation. At the beginning of the year, the whole "Morgan Wallen drunkenly shouting the n-word" incident happened and sort of killed the vibe right from the get-go. What followed was one of the most sterile periods for the genre in a while, with some absolutely boring and some absolutely terrible songs all charting, including the obnoxious poverty-mocking "Fancy Like", the generic and underdeveloped "If I Didn't Love You", and the bafflingly incompetent humble brag "The Good Ones", all of which were some of the worst hits of the year. Combine that with the large number of boyfriend country hits that started to take hold, the Confederate-defending Aaron Lewis anthem "Am I The Only One", and a 2nd collaboration between Nelly and Florida Georgia Line, you can see why this was considered a rough period for the genre. Why am I bringing this up? Well, while the awful stuff for country music was legitimately terrible, there were some great songs released in the genre this year that I feel more than make up for the previously mentioned atrocities. For example...

10. Starting Over - Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton is one of the best country singers currently working. His combinations of country, rock, and soul music have made up some of the best charting singles of the past decade. His cover of David Allan Coe's "Tennessee Whiskey" is still a staple of country music to this day, and both "You Should Probably Leave" and "White Horse" were excellent songs released after this. Those all pare in comparison to "Starting Over", however. This song is an acoustic piece that doesn't really implement the rock elements I'm used to hearing in Chris' music, but its simplicity allows it to truly shine. The lyrics to "Starting Over" are powerful. Stapleton sings about a relationship, and how he feels that he and his lover should stick together, work out their problems, and essentially make a new beginning for themselves, hence the title "Starting Over". It's a sentiment of perseverance that would definitely hit hard for someone going through relationship issues or trouble in life.

What truly makes this strong, though, is the timing. We had just went through the COVID-19 pandemic, which created a lot of stress and anxiety for everybody. Things changed, and nobody knew if anything was going to be the same again. So, when right after that, a song about restarting and going back to square one becomes a smash country hit, it feels like destiny. This song released at the end of 2020, and that was the perfect time for it to come out, as it gave the song an unintended second meaning that makes it twice as powerful as it otherwise would have been. Combine that with Chris Stapleton's excellent guitar playing and you have one of the best country hits of the year. I am a sucker for acoustic guitar playing where you can hear the strumming, which is one reason I like this so much. Honestly, the fact that this is only number ten on this list is wild considering how much praise I've given it, but that more shows how good I think the year was overall than it is an indictment on the song itself. Keep up the good work, Chris. You've earned your spot in mainstream country music, and I'm absolutely glad you did.

#9

I don't know if I've ever talked about this on this website, but Spanish-language music has absolutely been killing it on the charts these past couple years. The main catalyst for this is the increased Latin population in southern America causing an increased number of streams and sales in the United States. Artists like Bad Bunny and movements like the Regional Mexican music scene have begun to earn their place among the highest-charting genres in the country. This is the first time I've put a foreign language song on either of my lists, mostly because it's hard for them to captivate me due to the language barriers. There are some exceptions, though. Bad Bunny and J Balvin's "Yo Le Llego" is one example of this, as the music there is just so catchy that, even though I have no idea what they're saying, it still makes me jam out every time I hear it. Another one is this song right here.

9. Todo De Ti - Rauw Alejandro

Rauw Alejandro's "Todo De Ti" feels somewhat out of place in the Spanish music scene of the decade so far. For starters, it sounds nothing like most of the charting hits we've had of either the reggaeton or regional Mexican genres, the two highest-charting subsections of that scene. Honestly, I'd consider that a good thing, though, because this is one of the best-sounding songs I've heard on the charts in a while. Which makes sense, because, according to Alejandro himself, the first thing they did when in the studio was try to find the perfect melody. That's one reason many foreign pop producers like Max Martin are so successful. They focus on melody first and add the lyrics afterward. Considering that's what this song did, I feel like they've done an excellent job recreating that effect.

"Todo de Ti" is a disco, dance-pop song, which is definitely a trendy choice considering the year's top song was Dua Lipa's "Levitating". This doesn't sound anything like that song, but it does have an 80s vibe to it that I absolutely appreciate. It's just nostalgic and absolutely gives off a warm vibe. This was easily the best Latin hit to chart in 2021. I suppose I should give some sort of shout-out to the lyrics, which are about Alejandro dumping all of his feelings out to this girl (apparently his at-the-time girlfriend, fellow Latin pop star Rosalia) about how he likes everything about her. The title, "Todo De Ti" is a direct translation of "everything about you". I find that message to be very heartwarming. It's like if John Legend's "All Of Me" was uplifting and fun rather than boring and tedious. Overall, I find it to be an excellent addition to pop music that exceeded every expectation I had for it. Also, why is Shaquille O'Neal in the music video for this? I find that funny on so many levels.

8.

There are many artists in pop music that many people have a preconceived notion of that sometimes clouds their judgement of their music. For example, most people in the music critic community absolutely hate Chris Brown and refuse to give him any sort of credit. Honestly, I think it's absurd that we let him continue having success, but I will acknowledge that there are songs of his that I didn't immediately dislike. Knowing they were by him made me feel a little icky inside for listening, but that's the thing about a lot of music. This artist I'm referring to for this entry is a saint compared to Chris Brown, but his reputation is... not great. Especially considering some of the music he's made in the past. But, you know, even a blind monkey can find a banana every once in a while.

8. STAY - The Kid LAROI feat. Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber is an artist it's very easy to dislike. He came off as a bratty, obnoxious kid in the early 2010s. Following that, he had a whole bunch of legal issues and controversies that eventually led to a whole 9-paragraph section on his Wikipedia page. That being said, I won't say he's as bad of an artist as people say he is. Sure, he has the obviously terrible songs like "Yummy", "Baby", and "Eenie Meenie", but he's had some songs I didn't actively despite, and this is probably one of his best. Of course, this isn't just a Justin Bieber song. It's actually mostly a The Kid Laroi song. I talked about Laroi in my worst list, where I placed "Without You". Considering that I had a mostly negative preconception of both artists, it's kind of surprising that this captivated me so much.

The best thing about "STAY" is the production. It's an electropop song with elements of pop-rock and synth production. It sounds great. The opening riff is one of the best I heard all year in 2021 and gives the song an added flair that I'm not sure it would've had without it. It's catchy and fun in a way that constrasts well with Laroi's rough, textured voice that works much better on this track than on his other big hit from this year. While the lyrics of this song are somewhat toxic due to Laroi admitting that he's not able to change, I don't mind those much because honestly, the lyrics just aren't important to me when the song sounds this great. I always enjoy hearing this because I can just jam out and have some fun with it. It feels both nostalgic and modern at the same time. It feels like a perfect fit in today's pop music scene, and I'm very glad to have it around.

#7

One thing about Chris Stapleton I forgot to mention in my #10 entry is that he's one of those guys in country music that just have a super high level of respect. I'd say that's earned, considering Chris seems like a genuine, humble guy who makes some great music. There's a few guys in country music, especially older artists like George Strait and Hank Williams Jr., who just have an absolutely fantastic reputation around the scene. Of course, this next song comes from one of those artists, someone who I have a great amount of respect for and will always be glad to see around the charts. Someone who's made some absolutely fantastic music over the years. That man is Eric Church.

7. Hell Of A View - Eric Church

I need to take a deeper look into Eric Church's discography. He's got some great songs like "Springsteen", "Kill A Word", and his Morgan Wallen collaboration "Man Made A Bar", but I still feel like I'm lacking important context for a lot of his work. Out of all of the songs he's made, though, this might be my favorite. There's something surreal about this one. The guitars on this sound excellent and the backing vocals by Joanna Cotten are some of the best I've heard in a country hit, adding a . Honestly, this is just one of the best sounding songs I've heard in a while. The guitars feel somewhat tense, fitting with the song's lyrics about living on the edge. It's just a perfect match of instrumental to lyrics that makes this a thrilling listening experience.

I said before that this is about living on the edge, with Eric and his significant other both living life to the fullest and enjoying each other's company along the way. It's a wholesome tale of two thrill-seeking individuals finding someone to share that journey with, and it climaxes in one of the best choruses I heard all year. As Church says, this life isn't for everybody, but these two feel they have nothing to lose. The "view" they refer to is the view of them looking off a ledge off into the distance while they hold each other. Based on both the tone and previous lyrics, I imagine a sunset over a mountaintop, with beautiful orange and yellow lighting. I don't know if that's what Church's intention was, but that allows for such a warm feeling that this song absolutely earns. I absolutely love this, and think it deserves all the praise it gets. Good job, Eric. Keep it up.

#6

I've had a few people accuse me of "not liking rap music", which just isn't true. I absolutely love a lot of Kendrick Lamar's stuff (stay tuned for my 2024 best list on that one), Travis Scott's UTOPIA was one of my favorite albums of last year, and I would say that "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis is one of the best hit songs of the 2010s. Just because I think Drake sucks doesn't mean I hate the genre as a whole. Sure, I could probably be a little more outward in my praise of the genre, as my last two best lists have not had a lot of rap on them. So I thought I'd remedy that here. Now, who made the big rap song in 2021 that really hit the spot for me? Well...

6. Rapstar - Polo G

Polo G seems like he's already lost the credibility that made this work, and that saddens me, because this is one of the best rap hits of the past few years. The ukelele trap beat sounds great and has an emotional pull to it that many rap hits don't tend to create. And what emotion is this trying to evoke? Polo G seems to be discussing how he feels like the surface image he's creating for himself isn't real and that being a big "rapstar" is more difficult than it seems, with all of the violence and anxiety causing him to question himself completely. It's an interesting angle for a hip hop song that got this big considering this debuted at #1 on the Hot 100. 

Polo G just absolutely kills this, too. He absolutely nails the vibe of conflicted inside, giving an emotional performance that feels completely personal. The part that really shows me the things going on inside Polo G's head, though, has to be the lyric "shut the f*ck up- I mean please don't talk", showing his insecurities about how he treats people and that he thinks he needs to adjust that part of himself. There's so much going on behind the scenes that it makes all of the surface level stuff feel like they're insignificant. It's one of the harder-hitting songs I heard this year considering that I've struggled with anxiety myself. It's not the same as Polo G's considering the difference between our lives, but there's still something that connects with me about it. I hope Polo G can come back to the top, because if he keeps making stuff like this, he absolutely deserves to.

#5

The previous two country songs on this list were made by two of the best, most well-respected artists in the genre. This third one, which is the highest country song on the list, is not. In fact, this man had one of the worst years of anybody in country music. He's managed to bounce back from it, but man I did feel guilty about liking this one at the time. Of course, you probably all know who I'm talking about, so let's cut to the chase.

5. Sand In My Boots - Morgan Wallen

"Sand In My Boots" was the best country hit of the year. Wallen created one of the most emotional country songs I've ever heard, singing about a night he had with a girl he was really hoping could've been "the one" before she leaves him behind, going home disappointed and with some "sand in [his] boots". The song sounds incredible, being a toned-down piano ballad that uses typical country instrumentation rather than the trap percussion Morgan seems to like so well in a lot of his other songs. The song all comes to a climax in the final bridge, where he sings "I said meet me in the morning and she told me I was crazy, yeah, but I still thought that maybe she'd show up". That was the most heartbreaking line of the year, as you realize that everything Wallen thought could happen with this girl is gone. It will always be a night he'll remember, but it's one he wishes he could forget. 

Unlike some other songs (such as Diplo's "Heartless") where Wallen's voice can be somewhat grating, this song utilizes his accent perfectly, even mentioning the girl attempting to copy it in the first verse. The pianos create an absolutely emotional tone, showing the sadness Morgan feels at this missed opportunity. It's the best song from Wallen's "Dangerous: The Double Album", and while it isn't my favorite of his, I'd argue that it's probably his best-produced song. The sound of it is much cleaner and emotional than any of his trap hits, and has much more depth to it than many of his other ballads, even the ones I find to be excellent. Even though he may have had a terrible year personally in 2021, he still had one of the best songs of the year, and well, I'm glad for it.

#4

In 2020, we saw the rise of a new artist who showed she had almost unlimited potential. Her first big hit of that year was a disco throwback that showed her versatility in both singing and rapping while also sounding like one of the smoothest, catchiest hits of that year. Her second big hit of that year was a dark, fast-paced theme song for a superhero movie that bombed at the box office that, while not charting as high as it probably should've, is still a recognizable tune that I'm not unhappy to hear every once in a while. Her first full length album released in 2019 (which featured her first really big hit), and one of the album tracks went viral in 2021 due to its unique, dark sound. Of course, that song was the best song on the album and one of the best hits of the entire year.

4. Streets - Doja Cat

Doja Cat is an artist I'm more intrigued by than I actually like. Well, apart from this song, that is. I was captivated from the first moment I heard this. It's dark, it's tense, and it's absolutely one of the coolest-sounding songs I've ever heard. It's both dark and erotic, capturing a vibe that I don't hear often in songs by artists like Doja. It's easily the most unique song I've heard from her, and it doesn't seem to fit in the rest of Hot Pink whatsoever. The fact that this got popular is a testament to the public's curiosity about Doja Cat as an artist, as so many of her songs went viral this year, including this one. This wasn't even originally pushed as a single, it was something the public chose to listen to.

I credit this song's unique sound to producer duo Blaq Tuxedo, who I had never heard of before this. They really did a wonderful job fitting the song to Doja's voice, which is made much more insane because it is tailored to both her singing voice and her rapping voice, which are starkly different from one another. But what is Doja's voice even saying? Well, the song is about Doja's attraction to this guy, and that she can't find anyone else like him. There's not really many details about what makes this guy so special, but she makes it clear that it's someone she's incredibly in love with and wants to settle down with. You can tell Doja is truly into this dude. An absolute masterclass from her here, here's to hoping she makes more like this.

#3

2021 kicked off with one of the most interesting musical events of the decade so far. Some song by a Disney actress immediately went to number one following its release, launching a brand new pop superstar into the limelight. Of course, I'm referring to "Drivers License", the debut single of Olivia Rodrigo. That song was... fine, I guess. I don't see anything really too special about it. It's a solid piano ballad about a failed relationship that I don't really connect with too much. Apart from that song, Rodrigo released two more singles in 2021. One of these was a Paramore-inspired punk rock song, "Good 4 U", which was also decent. However, her second single was the one that really connected with me. I feel like I've already said all this before, for some reason. I guess it must be deja vu.

3. Deja Vu - Olivia Rodrigo

Deja Vu, to me, was by far the best song on SOUR, Olivia's debut album. Apparently this interpolates Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer", which is an interesting choice. I like it, considering that song is one of Taylor's best in my opinion. I also think this concept for a song is great. Listing out everything you used to do as a couple before calling him out on doing the same things. While that would be a little more childish if this were someone like Taylor Swift singing it, it feels more authentic coming from an actual teenager. This is also one of the better-produced songs I've heard get popular. The psychedelic pop style is something I really love, which this song integrates absolutely perfectly. Every element of this song's production is pristine. Every filter over the sound feels like it has a purpose, and it's an incredibly layered tune with punch and replayability.

Deja Vu, as I said before, is about how Olivia's ex does the same things he did with her with his new girlfriend. Some of these things are eating strawberry ice cream, driving to Malibu, and listening to Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl", It all comes to a head in the bridge, where Olivia begins repeating a lot of the verse's points, trying to come across as more demanding and questioning. You can really feel the teenage angst in her voice. I feel like this was the perfect choice for a second single. While "Drivers License" had the emotional pull to draw you in, "Deja Vu" kept it interesting enough musically to keep you in. Now, Olivia is an established superstar, with her 2nd album featuring multiple hits, including one absolute banger in "Bad Idea, Right?". I am very excited to see what she has in store.

#2

So, remember EDM? I'm sure you do. It was one of the most popular genres of the 2010s, launching names like David Guetta, Marshmello, Avicii (RIP), and Calvin Harris into stardom. I used to be a gigantic EDM fan, with it being probably my most listened to genre in the late 2010s. I've cooled down a bit on that phase, now being more into tons of other genres rather than sticking to the one. Of course, I still like EDM, but not as much as I used to. However, songs can still move me. If an EDM producer can manage to create something truly heartfelt and emotional, it'd definitely be good enough to place on this list. If you told me it'd come from Marshmello? I'd probably shove you in a locker. But, that's the way the world works sometimes, so, hey, you never know.

2. Leave Before You Love Me - Marshmello & the Jonas Brothers

Before we go any further, let me clarify that I do not hate Marshmello as a producer. Many other critics I follow do, but I'm not one of those. I actually find that he has plenty of good songs. So, me disliking one of his songs is not a predetermined thing. Especially with this one. "Leave Before You Leave Me" is definitely a top 3 Marshmello song. I can't outright say it's his best, considering a couple of songs he released in 2020, but it's definitely top 3. That is in no small part due to the other half of this song, the Jonas Brothers. Nick and Joe are the ones who sing on this (sorry Kevin), and both of them do a wonderful job bringing the emotion to a full level on this. The song is about the narrator leaving a one night stand before the other person can get too attached, saying he has to "leave before [they] love [him]". It paints the narrator as someone afraid of commitment, and I don't think that's a bad thing. Some people just aren't ready for being with someone for the rest of their life, and this is a song that is for those kind of people, meant to be relatable towards them.

This song is a pop ballad with a catchy groove and bassline. Honestly, I've heard people say it reminds me of "Last Christmas", and I completely agree. "Last Christmas" is one of my favorite Christmas songs (and one of the only ones I can really stand), so that's high praise for me to say that. Everything about this, much like the previous entry, feels pristine and calculated. It's meant to be a catchy, pop radio song, so it's supposed to be well-made. It's an upgrade from Marshmello's usual formulaic drops, and, considering "Be Kind" from the previous year was also a great song, it's clear that this is the direction Marshmello should take if he wants his music to be great. "Leave Before You Love Me" is a shining example of two artists I was kind of just okay with coming together to form something truly special. Good job, guys. Maybe you should work together more often.

And now, before I reveal my favorite hit song of those long gone days of 2021, I do have some honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

DM1. Family Ties - Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar's much-anticipated first single after COVID-19 was absolutely worth it. While not my favorite of his, I do think "Family Ties" is a song worth listening to if you feel like it. Shout out to Baby Keem, who manages to still be a notable presence on a song that has Kendrick on it, but let's be real. Kendrick is the reason most people listened to this song. Still some absolutely incredulous lyrics that highlight some really important topics. Good job, Baby Keem, and I'll get back to you in December, Kendrick.

DM2. Meet Me At Our Spot - THE ANXIETY (WILLOW & Tyler Cole)

This is a catchy little tune about being stressed out with the insecurites life brings, and I find both Willow and Cole to be excellent presences on it. I do have to ask, though, were the people in charge of marketing this song trying to screw these two over? The official studio version that released is leagues worse than the live version. I'm glad people realized this, because the live version of this song is amazing. I think Willow and Cole both have bright futures in the music industry, and I hope they keep doing well for themselves.

DM3. Industry Baby - Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow

Man, you remember when Lil Nas X made good music? I don't find this to be anywhere near as good as "Panini", but this is definitely a banger. The horns on this sound great, and Jack Harlow's guest verse is probably the best verse he's ever recorded. It's a shame the newest single bricked as hard as it did considering how good Lil Nas X can be. I've heard people call this Gen Z's "We Are The Champions", and honestly I get it. If "Sicko Mode" is the Bohemian Rhapsody of Gen Z, then I guess that comparison is apt. (I guess that makes "Not Like Us" the "Another One Bites The Dust"???)

DM4. Happier Than Ever - Billie Eilish

This song is just one buildup to an absolutely incredible climax. This isn't one I come back to often considering how intense it is, but it's one I absolutely love if I'm in the right mood for. This is the song that proved to me just how versatile Billie is, as this is something completely different than I was used to for her. This song feels like it was so much bigger than it was. How did this only peak at #11? What's going on, America? 

DM5. Dakiti - Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez

This was my 2nd-favorite Spanish hit of the year, and it's another song that doesn't fit the typical reggaeton vibe. Honestly, I really like Bad Bunny. I think he has a unique voice and style that really stands out among the popular Spanish music scene. This song's dark, groovy bassline is just one of the best-sounding things I've heard from Bad Bunny, and I also really like Jhay Cortez on this too. Just a wonderful song altogether.

DM6. Beers and Sunshine - Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker is a country artist who deserves wayyy more success than he's had. Apart from "Wagon Wheel", which I consider to be one of the best country cover hits of all time, he hasn't really had much success. "Beers and Sunshine" barely charted high enough to qualify for this list, and I was absolutely tempted to put it on the actual list. Rucker sings about not being worried and relaxing over a catchy, blissful instrumental, and it's absolutely a vibe. Just a song to drink lemonade to and chill.

DM7. My Ex's Best Friend - MGK and Blackbear

I was not aware that Machine Gun Kelly had something this good in him. Same goes for blackbear, honestly. It's a shame MGK killed his momentum with the atrocious "Emo Girl", but at least he'll always have this to look back on. The rock sound this brings to the table is great and I love some good electric guitar. This would be on the actual list if I could unhear the guitar pick hitting the guitar every time I hear a note.

DM8. Astronaut In The Ocean - Masked Wolf

Believe it or not, this was the last cut I made for the list. In fact, I was already starting to write the section for this at #10 before I realized another song that was eligible for the list. Apart from some incredibly cringey and terrible lyrics, this has an insane groove and Masked Wolf seems to be a very technically skilled, albeit showoffy, rapper. This is one very memorable song to be sure.

DM9. Every Chance I Get - DJ Khaled feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk

I know that DJ Khaled is less a producer and more a marketing gimmick, but this is one of the better songs I've heard from him. Lil Baby and Lil Durk both provide excellent performances on this, and the production is excellent. The beat to this is hard, and feels tense and scary at the same time. Also just one of the bluntest songs of the year, with Lil Baby's chorus just seeming to not really care about what anyone thinks. One of the better rap hits of the year for sure.

DM10. Pressure - Martin Garrix feat. Tove Lo

And for my favorite non-hit of the year, another EDM artist I have a crazy amount of respect for. Martin Garrix is someone who has made some absolute bangers over the years, and this is no different. It's kind of similar to Streets in that it has a distinct darker vibe to it, but it's a little faster and catchier in my opinion. Tove Lo also does an excellent job on this with the vocals, proving she's still a capable singer even though she hasn't had a charting hit in quite a while. Man, I wish this one was a hit.

And now, for the single best hit song of 2021.

#1

Pop success seems to be measured in so many different ways. By all accounts, having a top ten single is proof that your song is just one of the biggest in the country, and even one of the biggest in the world in some cases. However, my #1 pick was not a top ten hit. It was not even a top twenty hit. It debuted at #27 and immediately started to fall out of the charts entirely. And, honestly, the lack of reaction and success this song received was baffling to me. By all accounts this should have been much bigger. For starters, one of the artists involved is arguably the single biggest pop star of the decade so far. It's also that guy's best song by a mile for me, which is saying something considering who it is. Despite the popularity of this artist, this song still plummeted. Well, at least in America. Around the world, this song was, by all acounts, a hit. It made the year-end Global 200 in 2022, was one of the ten biggest EDM songs in America that year, and was a top ten hit in multiple different countries. So, I have to ask, America. Why do you have to be different?

1. Moth To A Flame - Swedish House Mafia & the weeknd

"Moth To A Flame" is a miracle of modern music. For one, it brings back a group I had desperately been missing for years in Swedish House Mafia. After their 2012 smash hit "Don't You Worry Child", the group quickly vanished, instead opting to disband right after that song became huge. They eventually reunited in 2018 and released their first official studio album, Paradise Again, in 2022. That album featured, of course, this song. Why do I find this to be so special, you ask? Well, Swedish House Mafia are probably my favorite EDM producers currently working. They are experts at controlling a beat and making it work exactly how it needs to in order for the song to be what they envision it to be. That's no different on "Moth To A Flame", where their production is tailored to the weeknd's vocals in such an intricate way that creates a perfect balance between instrumental and singing. While this song doesn't have the emphatic drop of "Don't You Worry Child", it does have buildups of intensity that are truly special. The second chorus and the final instrumental break near the end are both excellent. The song starts off slow and quiet but eventually gets bigger and louder.

I also want to highlight the lyrics, which feature Abel singing about a woman who, despite being in a relationship with another person who seems to be perfect for her, still feels like she needs to be loyal to Abel despite their breakup. It's kind of like Doja Cat's "You Right", but from the perspective of the other guy, and it works so much better this way for me. Abel questioning this girl about whether her boyfriend knows about their past relationship and the fact that they still communicate with one another is a somewhat compelling narrative to follow, and it's made all the better by Swedish House Mafia's intricate production techniques. The synth and bass in the chorus are in sync with Abel's voice and sound excellent once layered together. It's just an absolute masterclass that combines two artists I truly enjoy separately into one of my favorite songs of the decade so far. It's a shame this wasn't bigger - the world deserved for this to be a smash hit.

And with all of that out of the way, I'm Landoman of the Landoman Experiment, and I appreciate you reading this. Please leave a comment letting me know if you agree or disagree with my choices for the best hits of 2021, and stay tuned for my lists for 2020 and 2019, coming soon to this website.