2021 kicked off with a plethora of new tunes, leaving the world with new hits to sing along to. With soul, alternative, pop and even disco numbers, last this year was a time for all to celebrate artists releasing their highly anticipated projects.
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- “RED (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift
Growing up, you’ve probably heard an array of songs from Taylor Swift blasting on the radio. Whether you’re a “Swiftie” (a name that Taylor’s fans have given themselves), or just a radio fan, you can admit that the tunes are unbelievably catchy. When I first heard that Taylor was re-releasing her songs to get the accreditation for them after the Scooter Braun debacle, I was curious to see what the songs would sound like years after the original recording. Swift proved that the songs are timeless, and after the re-recording, it’s clear to see that Swift’s musical ability at 31 is just as impressive as when she was 22 and first released RED. The album also came with a 15-minute short film titled “All Too Well,” Swift’s first directorial debut. The short film shows us the pain, love, and healing of a toxic relationship. Swift continues to re-release her older albums, as she has already re-released “Fearless (Taylor’s Version.)”
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2. “30” by Adele
After taking a 6 year hiatus, Adele came back this winter season with her heartbreaking new album, “30,” which details how she explained the divorce from her husband to her son. The album includes different emotions ranging from sad to angry with songs like “Oh my God” and “My Little Love.” I was a huge fan of the opening track titled “Strangers By Nature” which had a melodic feel to it. “My Little Love,” created a depth to the rest of the album as Adele adds inserts of voicemails and voice-recordings talking with her son, as well as her best friend. The album was beautifully written, effortlessly tackling the idea of divorce when a child is involved. “Easy On Me,” her first single released off the album, still has a number one spot on the Billboard 100, and is expected to stay there for its second week in a row.
Courtesy of Pitchfork
3. “An Evening With Silk Sonic” by Silk Sonic
My first concert when I was 12 years old was “Bruno Mars 24k Magic World Tour.” I was in love with the sound of funk and older-sounding music rather than top 40 pop, and Bruno Mars was my absolute favorite artist for years. However, after his world tour in 2018, he hadn’t put out an album for multiple years. It wasn’t until Feb. 2020 when I was in the middle of a zoom class that I was spammed with texts from my brother: “Look up Silk Sonic! You’re going to cry!” From then on, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for this album to drop. The pairing of Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars is genius–with .Paak’s rhythmic flow and Mars’ smooth tones, the two mix together beautifully. And the album includes some of the catchiest, most popular songs of 2021 like “Leave The Door Open” and “Skate.”
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4. “Sour” by Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour” was the teenage girl anthem of the year. Her debut single “Drivers License” now joins the Spotify Billions Club, joining the likes of Billie Eilish, Drake, Mariah Carey, and Michael Jackson. Rodrigo’s fame almost happened overnight as the Disney “Bizaardvark” and “High School Musical The Musical The Series” star was brought into the music industry. The track “Sour” is an homage to everyone’s first heartbreak. With a genre range like “Good 4 U” that has an angsty pop punk feel, to “traitor” which is a full emotional ballad, Rodrigo shows her listeners that she has the capability to do great things. She plans to continue her success with a tour, and has already won multiple awards for her impressive album.
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5. “Call Me If You Get Lost” by Tyler, The Creator
Artist Tyler Okonma also known as Tyler, The Creator released his eighth studio album this June, which skyrocketed in streams of around 153 million. Okonma, who famously releases projects every two years, started this album’s press with billboards sporting the words “Call Me If You Get Lost”. Although there was no name on the billboard saying that this was his doing, there was a phone number plastered on it, and when fans called, they recieved small snippet of Tyler speaking. This created a buzz of anticipation for the new album. After the billboards came small video clips teasing at sets for music videos like “Brown Sugar Salmon” and “Side Street.” The album itself withstood the impressive content of his previous work and featured a mix between his original rap style as well as alternative sounds that he created himself. Overall, “Call Me If You Get Lost” was a 2021 classic that will be played into 2022 and beyond.
Courtesy of NMSU Round Up
6. “Donda” by Kanye West
Kanye West was named one of the most influential and confusing people of the century by multiple news outlets, with his nickname being the “mad genius.” Being involved in fashion, media and music, he has a lot going on for him, and the release of his album was pushed back at least 3 times, which was teased for months. On August 29, Donda dropped at midnight with no warning, surprising fans. “Donda,” named after his passed mother, is a letter to her with influences of spirituality and heartbreak. West covers it all–the difficulties of losing his mother, his split from former wife Kim Kardashian West, and his challenges with his faith. The album which lasts almost 2 hours, features Jay-Z, Lil Baby and Kid Cudi. I personally enjoyed the second half of the album with tracks like “New Again,” “No Child Left Behind” and “Lord I Need You.” Overall, West’s delayed album was more than worth the wait.
