Rob Sheffield’s Top 25 Songs of 2021
From “Deja Vu” to “Todo de Ti,” and “I Drink Wine” to “Champagne Poetry”
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Tracks by Olivia Rodrigo, Megan Thee Stallion, Wet Leg, and Silk Sonic (pictured, clockwise from top left) landed on Rob Sheffield's list of his favorite songs of 2021.
Louis Brown*; Marcelo Cantu*; Courtesy of Aftermath Entertainment/Atlantic Recording Corporation*; Hollie Fernando*
Olivia called it right and exact this year: God, it’s brutal out here. But tough times call for tough tunes, and these tunes delivered, in an absurdly abundant year for music. These are my 25 favorite songs of 2021 (though some gems are over on my albums list, to avoid duplicating all the same artists). Including, but not limited to: hits, flops, obscurities, pop kicks, rap hustlers, soul divas, guitar monsters, disco jams, country bros, TikTok beatmasters, damn sociopaths, keychain throwers, punk rockers, and karaoke room-clearers. And Adele, obviously.
