2021: Intro & Singles
- kevpalowe8
- Mar 23
- 6 min read
Originally posted June 2025
INTRO:
According to my own premise that pop music took a dip during Covid, 2021 should be the worst year as we were in lockdowns or observing major restrictions for the entire calendar year. That said, live music (with major restrictions) did return. Support and money was pumped into live venues. My basic research suggests that there was NOT a drop in the output of recorded music, although (as I previously discussed) much of it was music produced in people's bedrooms, basements and over the Internet rather than in studios. It should be no surprise that streaming continued to be rife following the 2020 surge as everyone stayed at home. Interesting, trends of streaming, although much bigger in numbers, did not change very much. The biggest genres being consumed and things like old music vs new music, music from certain decades, pop vs classical etc etc, remained very much the same. This suggests that we consumed much more of the music we knew we loved but, sadly, didn’t use the opportunity to explore very much.
Ed Sheeran took the trophy for most successful single in the UK with “Bad Habits”.....
......... which is pretty good stuff to be fair. The most successful album went to Adele with “30”. This was followed closely by Ed Sheeran and the 3rd most successful album was ABBA’s “Voyage” – their 1st new studio album in 40 years.
ANYTHING I DIDNT LIKE?
Ella Henderson & Tom Grennan “Let's Go Home Together”
I’m afraid the little jokes in the lyrics are too cringy for me and spoil the whole thing. I struggle to get past it.
I’d never have given you a second look.
But I like the way you don’t give a... [pause]... damn.
U’gh
Even though you’re talking way too fast
I cant stop looking at your... [pause].... eyes
U’gh – make it stop!
Måneskin “Beggin’ You”
My issue with this is it feels like that typical old rock vs pop thing where a rock group says ‘you know what everyone, that pop track would ACTUALLY be a decent track if there were electric guitars and a drum kit’. Nah, it was a perfectly good track that did not require guitar power chords and belting drums because, guess what rockers, most thing ACTUALLY don’t!!
THE“M'eh” LIST
Joel Corry, Raye, & David Guetta “Bed”
Jonasu “Black Magic”
Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar, & GIVĒON “Peaches”
Galactic, David Guetta, Little Mix “Heartbreak Anthem”
A1 & J1 “Latest Trends”
ATB, Topic, & A7S “Your Love (9PM)”
Shane Codd “Get Out My Head”
Masked Wolf “Astronaut In The Ocean”
Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow “Industry Baby”
Lil Tjay & 6lack “Calling My Phone”
Polo G “Rapstar”
Ava Max “My Head & My Heart”
Ckay “love nwantiti (ah ah ah)”
GOOD BUT NOT TOP TEN CONTENDERS
Olivia Rodrigo “good 4 u”
Lil Nas X “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber “Stay”
Tion Wayne, ArrDee, E1 (3x3), ZT (3x3), Bugzy Malone, & Russ Millions “Body”
Riton, Nightcrawlers, Mufasa, & Hyperman “Friday”
Anne-Marie, KSI, Digital Farm Animals “Don’t Play”
Meduza & Dermot Kennedy “Paradise”
Måneskin “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE”
Tones & I “Fly Away”
TOP TEN CONTENDERS
Olivia Rodrigo “driver's licence”
Half decent melody, breakup lyric that’s not cliché, good climax, good arrangement. Well done.
Glass Animals “Heat Waves”
The track is based around a very infectious groove with a subtle and sparse arrangement. The melody lands and hovers on notes that are not dissonant but do not belong to the harmonic make up of the current backing. They are not one of the 3 notes of the current chord’s triad so you would expect them to be used as passing notes rather than emphasised in the way they are. The lyrical structure is fairly traditional, but while on the surface it feels like a ‘breakup’ song, I would suggest the loss described is actually bereavement or maybe even murder, given that some of the imagery is intriguing and unexplained.
Doja Cat & SZA “Kiss Me More”
I seem to be really liking Doja Cat, who came close to winning my best single for 2023, and this is a good one.
Tiësto “The Business”
This is well done. Simply, catchy, but also interesting enough. I like the fact that the melody, although you would think of the track as particularly ‘traditional’ uses one of the most basic and traditional melodic structural techniques ever. The line 1, 2, & 4 being almost identical with line 3 being the contrasting element. The most famously cited example is the Beatles’ “Eight Days A Week”. Yep. That’s right. I just made that comparison. What you gonna do about it?
The Kid Laroi “Without You”
Arguably a little predictable and cliché and admittedly the melody is a little lacking. But, somehow I’d still say its very well done.
Tom Grennan “Little Bit Of Love”
Just perfect pop. Strong song-writing.
Travis Scott “Goosebumps”
Top tune. Although the melody is repetitive, I like the way it centres around a note that doesn’t belong to the harmony that surrounds it (on the word ‘tiiiime’). It keeps landing on the 4th note of the scale. If you assume you are in E-minor (keys can be debatable in pop music) this note is an ‘A’ which falls outside the E-G-B make-up of E-minor. Often, when this occurs in music, it is by use of a technique called ‘suspension’. This is where the note belongs to the previous chord and is sort of carried over. However, this is not the case here. The melody just lands there confidently as if it thats the way it always works. I really like it.
Olivia Rodrigo “deja vu”
Another good one from her.
Mimi Webb “Good Without”
It seems to be a fan favourite and I can see why. The subject of moving on after Heartbreak is always a winner, despite being hammered to death, just because so many people can relate to this at some point in their life. The song and its decent melody showcase Webb’s vocal talents well. This means that ‘relatability’ is delivered particularly well. Good job.
Dave & Stormzy “Clash”
I’ve actually failed to quite work out the politics of this one – but I like it.
Doja Cat “Streets”
Another good one from Doja Cat.
Sunflower Thieves “Don’t Mind The Weather”
Winners of my 2022 single. I really like the open harmonies in this one (they often use these but they are particularly prevalent in this one and a track that will feature very highly on my upcoming 2020 list I’m sure).
TOP 3
3. Nathan Evans “Wellerman – Sea Shanty”
I’ve always been in 2 minds about whether I actually like this or not...... well not so much whether I like it..... I do. However it was only ever a hit because it ‘went viral’ and ‘trended’ on TikTok. It didn’t result in such music surging into popularity as some naive people wondered at the time. But, if you put that debate aside, it is great stuff.
2. Sunflower Thieves “Sirens”
Probably my 3rd favourite by them. I love the contrast between the solo/unison story telling vocal of the verses against the wonderful harmonies of the contemplative choruses – and then both of those against the ‘sirens’ section with it staccato singing. I also really like the way the 2nd statement of the ‘sirens’ section is sung further down the scale.
1. The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Save Your Tears”
An example of this particular artist at their best. Good melody (at least in the chorus), and a great arrangement (with its keyboard countermelodies, for example). The music matches the lyrics well. The lyrics address some dark themes and regret but with a contemplative ‘move on’ slant. The airy backdrop, and bass-y texture that contrasts a fairly upbeat melodic tone suggests something similar. Its all very well done, and the chorus really sticks with you.
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