Dusting off the ole photoshop...a skill that I did not master in 2021 :(
Traditionally on DOL, I've released my top X songs of the year, but last year I switched things up due to Covid and did my "top 20 songs of the year that didn't come out in 2020" since I wasn't exactly feeling a reflection on what had been the worst year of my life!
Luckily, Covid is hot as ever, and things are only getting worse, but at least concerts are back for now (I went to at least six shows this year). Ya boi actually enjoyed some new music in 2021, so we're going back to how things used to be with some minor tweaks...fuck it, I'll rank these songs 1-21! With how much older music (that was semi-new to me) I consumed this year, I might keep that 2020 tradition going as well, but this blog is all about music released in 2021. Dozonlife is a niche publication with tens of semi-loyal readers. I haven't wavered to become more appealing to the masses; I write about what I want to write about and sure as shit listen to what I wanna hear. That doesn't mean I'm not entirely immune to getting hooked to that mainstream stuff (I fuck with Olivia Rodrigo HARD), but I basically listen to podcasts and, let's call it, 15 artists. My rotation is tougher to crack than the U.S. Capitol. I'm sure some music came out this year that I'll discover in like 2024 and be like, "where the fuck was I when this came out?" but this list is unlike any other top songs of the year list you'll find because it's based on my data, ears, and brain. Admittedly, I barely consumed new music this year, so you'll see a few artists with two or three songs; Only 24 of my top 100 plays on Apple Music came out in 2021, and only two tracks from my list were on the Rolling Stone Top 50 Songs of 2021.
Enough with the caveats; let's dive into the tunes. Here are the DOL Top 21 Songs of 2021.
Honorable Mention: "Rick n Morty" Soulja Boy (Draco) ft. Rich The Kid
Back in August, at my fantasy football draft, some of the dudes were blaring this song, and surprisingly, I didn't hate it, mainly because of nostalgia for Soulja Boy in 2007 and being a sophomore in high school again. "Crank Dat" was a TikTok dance while Youtube was still in diapers. God damnit, I'm washed.
As for "Rick n Morty" it's in the "it's so bad it's good" category and gives me Ren Stevens "We Went to the Moon in 1969" vibes since it has no detail about the show itself, just the title; which is appreciated as someone who's never seen the show #nospoilers. Since "Rick n Morty" reminds me of one of the few times I got to bro out with my friends/DOL non-believers this year and brings up decent memories, it earns an honorable mention spot on the list.
Honorable Mention: "Enter Sandman" Mac DeMarco
Originally Mac's Blacklist cover made the legit cut, but I fucked up my math (it's not my swag). Since it's a cross-genre cover by my favorite solo artist, I'll put Mac in the honorable mentions to give some fresher faces a chance to shine (even though it sort of ruins my graphic). I think that's a hashtag good guy move?
Honorable Mention: "brutal" Olivia Rodrigo
Complete oversight by me. This song is 1000% worthy of a spot on the official list, but when I realized I omitted a song I reference once a week because my brain is gold-plated mush; all that remained was a spot on the honorable mentions. Brutal! ..and I too can't even parallel park.
#21. "m y. l i f e" J. Cole (feat. 21 Savage & Morray)
I don't listen to much rap nowadays, but I'll always give J. Cole and 21 Savage's shit a chance. I saw J. Cole live at Lupos a fucking decade ago (gross), and 21 Savage geeks me out with his wordplay. I definitely didn't add this last because I fucked up the math again. No chance.
#20. "Diamond Studded Shoes" Yola
I bought tickets to Newport Jazz Fest solely to see Khraungbin and couldn't have given less of a fuck about who else was performing. In my eyes, 90 bucks was a fair price to see them, and everything else was just a bonus. Then the night before the show, I finally checked out some of the other artists set to perform and heard Yola on Youtube and was instantly hooked. Her voice is more powerful than prime Manny Ramirez, her lyrical content shits on the horrors of humanity, and she's on Dan Auerbach's label; I was sold after one listen. FTR, I would love to break a bed with her. You know Yola and Dozo would do damage like the 2018 Red Sox.
#19. "Last Train Home" John Mayer
I saw John Mayer live with Dead and Co. this summer and felt more out of place than Shaq at an American Girl Doll convention. Don't get me wrong, I love doing drugs too, but I am not a Dead Head, or at least wasn't until I fifth wheeled with two couples. I didn't know a single song, but I could pass as a Dead Head since my hair is three feet long; I just had to vibe, man!
Sob Rock and an 80s aesthetic are much more my speed. I didn't give this album the attention it deserves; I might've listened once through when it came out, but I love John Mayer, and this was the only song from Sob Rock that made my Apple Music Top 100 plays. So based on the data, I enjoyed it!
"Breathe Deeper" is one of my favorite tracks on 2020's The Slow Rush, and I fuck with Lil Boat just off persona alone. Lil Yachty geeks me out, and sure I couldn't name five songs of his for all the money on earth, but I loved this one. The "Breathe Deeper" remix and "Patience" (I still don't understand why it was left off the original album) are my favorites from the still not fully released B-sides and Remixes.
Including this song is kind of cheating since it's technically an unreleased track from The Black Key's 2010 masterpiece Brothers, but idc, it's my fucking blog! It came out in 2021!!
I'm not a fighter; I have the coordination of a used car dealership blow-up man and could get categorized as a pussy, but this song makes me wanna throw on my best leather jacket, put a toothpick in my mouth and fight the first dude who hits me with that "you are NOT a leather jacket guy" look.
As the follow-up track to another Japanese Breakfast song soon to come on the list, "Kokomo, IN" certainly caught my attention with the Beach Boys reference, but the strings and storytelling kept me listening. Tranquil AF.
#15. "America's Cup" Pond
The only reason I knew about Pond before "America's Cup" was their affiliation with Tame Impala. Then this summer, "America's Cup" came on Ryan Radio (Apple Music), and between the race's Newport connection and being vaguely familiar with them, I gave it a chance. This shit is funky and fun, and sometimes that's enough to earn a spot on the countdown. If you rode in my ubah this summer, there's a great chance you heard this one!
#14. "How Can I Make It Ok?" Wolf Alice
I didn't find out about Wolf Alice until July; then, I made up for years of lost time with a month-long binge. Luckily, I wasn't too late for their latest release Blue Weekend, and this is the first of three tracks from the album to crack the countdown. "How Can I Make It Ok?" was my 15th most played song of the year, which means it should be much higher since nine of them aren't from 2021, but these numbers are fucking meaningless for the most part! P.S. Ellie Roswell is a goddess.
My old roommate showed me these guys last year, and they're the embodiment of PVO. Ocean Alley is consistently one of the biggest acts in Australia, and it's about time they start getting the recognition they deserve in the states. If this were a list of bands I'd want to smoke joints on a beach with, they'd be #1, but it's my favorite songs of 2021, and 13 is not a lousy spot for this soaking wet song that's sadly not about football.
#12. "Starlight" Yola
Speaking of smoking, my girl Yola has pipes for fucking days. I'm not trying to pin two plus-sized African America women singers against each other (there's enough room for everybody), but Yola should be a million times more successful than Lizzo. She's actually talented and doesn't dress like Winnie the Pooh for attention. Fuck the music industry, and if you're reading this, Yola, the bed-breaking offer is on the table and does not expire (although diet starts Monday)!
"Distorted Light Beam" might be a little dystopic and too on the nose at times, but it's still a solid song and catchy as hell. I'll bang the "Dan Smith has one of the most underrated voices in rock (although it's getting harder and harder to label Bastille that way)" drum until the metaverse crashes.. Read what I wrote about this song in July (linked in the heading); it all still holds up.
#10. "Be Sweet" Japanese Breakfast
The video is as cute and fun as the song itself. Right from the jump, that bass line hits you, and you know you're in for an 80s pop flashback. I loveeee the synth and "be sweets" between lines in the chorus. Even though it's about begging a siggy-O to do the bare minimum and simply be sweet, this song is right up my alley and a straight-up blast to listen to.
"Smile" almost has a Rush feel to it with that riff and doesn't sound like much of what else I've heard from Wolf Alice, but this song is a certified ass-kicker. It's a middle finger to people with preconceived notions. I, too, am not ashamed to admit that I'm sensitive! I love that whole verse, but the "If you don't like me well, that isn't fucking relevant" line gets me fired up like Randy, the dinosaur's girlfriend.
#T-8. "Hurt," "Too Good," "Just Go" Arlo Parks
Again, math is not my swag. I had a hard time picking between songs from one of my favorite albums of the year, Collapsed in Sunbeams, so I exercised some creative/executive privilege (unfortunately, this is the only exercising I've done in 2021) to loophole one of my best musical discoveries of the year. Arlo's voice is the closest I've come to curing my d3pr3ss10n lolz! She's a straight-up poet with the voice of an angel; I cannot recommend her album enough!
#7. "So Ready" Goose
I love this song, but honestly, I'm not sure it's ranked this high without the video; it's probably my favorite of the year.
Two of my best friends are Goosed down like a cozy but dangerous comforter and have tried to get me into the jam band space, I haven't dabbled as much, but I've dug what I've heard. "So Ready" was a go-to "youtube and doob" sess song in my house this year, so it'd be disingenuous of me not to include it on this countdown, but the fake motorcycling on the dance floor sealed its spot in my Top 10.
#6. "good 4 u" Olivia Rodrigo
I don't fw "drivers license" at all, so when that shit was everywhere, I was already sort of annoyed with Olivia Rodrigo and could have even been classified as a hater. Back in like Week 1 or 2 of the NFL, I watched some of the games with two of my friends, and one of them convinced me to give her another chance, and man, am I glad I did. I LOVE "good 4 u." IMO it's Olivia's best song, and I really don't care if it's a rip-off of Misery Business or not. Paramore shouldn't have cared since they don't even fucking play it anymore. I'm not trying to go down the copyright rabbit hole rn; I just know I love this song, and it fucking rocks.
#5. "Time in Disguise" Kings of Leon
"Time in Disguise" is my 2nd favorite song of KOL's When You See Yourself and maybe Jared's best bass work. According to the Followill's, it's about getting caught up in a "red carpet lifestyle." While I can't speak too much about that experience, my interpretation is similar in the sense of feeling lost and uncomfortable in a life you never expected to lead. I can't believe I'm still trying to pretend to be a history teacher, but hopefully, the first half of 2022 will be the end of that! "Close your eyes, and what do you see? Is it a man or a masked machine?" Chills.
#4. "Powered Up" Cobra Man (just watch the first 3:10 for the music video)
I love flexing my quasi-intellectual muscles as much as the next guy, but sometimes you need a not-so-serious, fun-ass power disco bop to get you through a shitty year, and that's precisely what "Powered Up" is. It's a phenomenal driving/80s movie coked-out training montage song. I have tickets to see Cobra Man in Boston in April and cannot wait. I've been big on these guys for like five years, thanks to 3 Pac.
#3. "Lipstick on the Glass" Wolf Alice
Well, obviously, I love songs about cheating.
In all seriousness, "Lipstick on the Glass" is a haunting raw vocal clinic that gives me goosebumps every listen. I haven't used this cliche yet, but you can feel the emotion in this song. Wolf Alice is easily my favorite band discovery of 2021, and this is one of two songs in the top three that made me cry in 2021; it's that good!
You may have noticed by now that if any of these songs were used as SODs this year, I linked that in the heading. I could give you a little something fresh, but nothing will top what I said back in March:
Birth rates are the lowest they've been in over 35 years, but thanks to Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars, who've joined forces as "Silk Sonic" that is about to change in a big way. These boys are dripping swag, and this song FUCKS. No two ways about it. Someone is going to get pregnant to this tonight; that's just a fact. These harmonies could destroy an IUD like an IED. I absolutely love the 70's aesthetic and sound. Makes me want to put wood paneling everywhere. "Leave the Door Open" is going to be a post-COVID anthem (fingers crossed). The choreography in the beginning, forces a smile on your face. People overuse the shit out of the term "it's a vibe", but this song and video is literally a vibe. Everybody looks like they're having so much fun (remember fun?) and the way Anderson .Paak plays drums will always blow my mind; just absolutely oozing swag from every orifice of his body. This video is so simple, yet satisfying and I cannot wait for the entire album. I was under the impression the whole thing was coming out today, but for now, we'll have to wait; unfortunately, there's no release date yet. If the rest sounds anything like this, Silk Sonic might've gone overboard and caused too many pregnancies. I know society is full of people with awful opinions, but how did 1.6K people dislike this video? David fucking Duke could vibe to this.
The #2 track on my Apple Music most played list comes in at #1 for my top song of 2021. I know Kings of Leon may be a punchline to some music fans, but they're one of my favorite bands and became my #1 most seen act when I saw them solo dozo in Mansfield in a spur-of-the-moment decision on a slow ubah night.
At first, "100,000 People" seems like a love song, but it's actually about watching a loved one battle Alzheimer's. It was like a light bulb went off; it makes perfect sense when you truly listen to the lyrics. Seeing that disease destroy my grandpa from afar while I was in college (I didn't get to see him nearly enough during my URI days) has 100,000 hit close to home. I bawled my eyes out at Xfinity when they played it, and this is not hyperbole; I think it's the best KOL song of the last 10 years. It's a beautifully composed, vulnerable masterpiece with legitimate purpose and meaning, unlike most commercial crap. I hate to end a fun blog topic on such a sad note, but I mean, that's life; it's not always perfect as we've seen this year. But after nearly 20 years, KOL still has it and only continues to evolve as a band. "100,000 People" by Kings of Leon is the 2021 DOL Song of the Year.
P.S.
LATE ENTRY HONORABLE MENTION....Who knew Chance had that country twang in him?? Try to watch this and not smile. You can't! This game shouldn't be a single segment on Fallon; I need it as a weekly hour-long program.
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