Year in review: 25 biggest songs of the year

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December 22, 2021
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Year in review: 25 biggest songs of the year

, "Music is life itself. What would this world be without good music? No matter what kind it is." Whether rap, pop, country, or alternative, Armstrong was right鈥攇ood music knows no genre. What matters is the way music makes us feel. The lyrics, the beat, the instrumentation, and the artists all come together to offer a few minutes of pure joy.

To determine the biggest songs of 2021, took a look at 's year-end Hot 100 chart, the definitive gauge for hit-makers. These songs made us dance, sing along, and provided comfort during yet another unprecedented year. They gave us a chance to escape for a while, to connect with ourselves and each other, and to feel understood and seen. One song signaled the return of a pop star who'd taken a bit of a hiatus from music; another track became a posthumous hit from a rapper who was tragically killed in his West Hollywood rental home; and yet another smash marked the massive crossover for a rising hip-hop artist.

Although a number of the songs that appeared on Billboard's Hot 100 chart are a blast from years past, they were still considered contenders on this list of the biggest songs of 2021. They were performed live everywhere from Facebook to "Saturday Night Live." Keep reading to see if your favorite song of the year made the cut.

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#25. 鈥楾herefore I Am鈥 by Billie Eilish

Released in 2020, Billie Eilish wrote 鈥淭herefore I Am鈥 with her brother and longtime music collaborator, Finneas O鈥機onnell. Eilish also directed and shot the music video, which takes place in a local shopping mall and was filmed on an iPhone. A play on philosopher Ren茅 Descartes鈥 famous dictum 鈥淚 think, therefore I am,鈥 this dark, upbeat pop song was influenced by hip-hop and the song鈥檚 instrumentation includes synthesizer, kick drum, and bass line.

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#24. 鈥業ndustry Baby鈥 by Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow

Lil Nas X teamed with fellow rapper Jack Harlow for this track and its accompanying music video, which . The LGBTQ+ rapper is best known for his megahit 鈥淥ld Town Road.鈥 , Reanna Cruz called the song 鈥渁n exercise in braggadocio; a triumphant, horn-driven beat from Kanye West and Take A Daytrip.鈥 鈥淚ndustry Baby鈥 garnered a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

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#23. 鈥楳y Ex鈥檚 Best Friend鈥 by Machine Gun Kelly and blackbear

鈥淢y Ex鈥檚 Best Friend,鈥 the guitar-heavy song pairing Machine Gun Kelly and blackbear, appears on the rapper鈥檚 fifth studio album, 鈥淭ickets to My Downfall.鈥 Released in 2020, the album didn鈥檛 arrive without some criticism, as many music critics felt MGK had  in favor of a pop-punk style. Even so, the LP debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, garnering MGK his .

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#22. 鈥榃hat You Know Bout Love鈥 by Pop Smoke

This track, which appears on Pop Smoke鈥檚 posthumous debut studio album 鈥淪hoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon,鈥 leaked online in February 2020, just after the rapper鈥檚 death. It eventually climbed to the #9 spot on , where it spent 42 weeks. The rapper was just 20 years old when he was killed in February 2020 in a home invasion in the Hollywood Hills home he was renting.

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#21. '34+35 (Remix)' by Ariana Grande featuring Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion

Taken from her sixth studio album "Positions," Ariana Grande's "34+35" is an explicit track that contains graphic lyrics and sexual content, including numbers in the song's title that, when added, spell out a well-known sexual innuendo. Earlier this year, the track got even hotter with added verses from collaborators Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat on its sticky-sweet remix version. , Grande said, "It's absolutely absurd. It was just a fun thing. We heard the strings that sounded so Disney and orchestral and full and pure. And I was just like, 'Yo, what is the dirtiest possible, most opposing lyric that we could write to this.'"

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#20. 鈥楢stronaut in the Ocean鈥 by Masked Wolf

Australian rapper Masked Wolf made his debut in 2018 with 鈥淪peed Racer.鈥 Originally released in 2019, 鈥淎stronaut in the Ocean鈥 was re-released in 2021 when Masked Wolf U.S. recording label Elektra Records in a multi-album deal. The song has become known for its guitar-heavy intro, which has been used in hundreds of thousands of videos on TikTok.

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#19. 鈥楪o Crazy鈥 by Chris Brown and Young Thug

鈥淕o Crazy鈥 received two in 2021 and was a critical and commercial success for Chris Brown and Young Thug. The track sampled The Showboys鈥 1986 single, 鈥淒rag Rap,鈥 and inspired a dance challenge on Instagram called the #GoCrazyChallenge, which challenged fans to make videos showing them dancing to the song next to a moving car with an open door.

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#18. 鈥楩orever After All鈥 by Luke Combs

Country star Luke Combs鈥 love ballad was originally released in 2020 as an album track on 鈥淲hat You See Ain't Always What You Get,鈥 the deluxe edition to his sophomore studio album, titled 鈥淲hat You See Is What You Get.鈥 In February 2021, the North Carolina native that 鈥淔orever After All鈥 would be his next single to hit country radio. The song is a tribute to his wife Nicole and the music video released in April 2021 features footage from the couple鈥檚 wedding ceremony.

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#17. 鈥榃ithout You鈥 by The Kid LAROI

After a successful premiere in 2020, Australian musician and teen sensation The Kid LAROI debuted the remix version of his smash hit song 鈥淲ithout You鈥 with singer Miley Cyrus on 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥 in May 2021. The song went viral on TikTok, which is where the singer also got a huge response after name-checking TikTok megastar Addison Rae. LAROI also had a mentor-like relationship with the late rapper Juice Wrld, who died in December 2021 from a drug overdose. 鈥淭hat was my big brother. I learned a whole lot from him,鈥 the rising artist said of his friend in an .

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#16. 'Heat Waves' by Glass Animals

While Glass Animals are no strangers to success, "Heat Waves" is the group's first song to hit the Billboard Hot 100. , critic Chris DeVille described the track as, "Trap drum programming, woozy electronic bass and keyboards, pitched-down vocals, a guitar loop that blurs into the digital morass." The indie British rock band has come a long way since the members met in secondary school in Oxford and came together as an act in 2010.

11 / 25
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#15. 鈥楤ad Habits鈥 by Ed Sheeran

Snow Patrol鈥檚 Johnny McDaid co-wrote and co-produced this electro-pop song that brings a bit of an edge to wholesome pop star Ed Sheeran. In the music video for the record, a pink-suited Sheeran dons fangs and the ability to fly. Not only did the song help Sheeran  this year, but it also discussed the difficulty of vices, such as substance use and smoking, both of which the singer has dealt with in the past.

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#14. 鈥楶ositions鈥 by Ariana Grande

As the lead single on her latest album, 鈥淧ositions鈥 is a simple track featuring trap drums, strings, and the soft hum of crickets. The Ariana Grande in a female-centric White House, serving as both the leader of the free world while navigating the White House, and as the woman of the house who belts in the captivating chorus: 鈥淪witchin鈥 the positions for you/Cookin鈥 in the kitchen and I鈥檓 in the bedroom/I鈥檓 in the Olympics, way I鈥檓 jumpin鈥 through hoops.鈥 Grande鈥檚 alluring track even garnered her Grammy acclaim, earning a nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

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#13. 鈥楧eja Vu鈥 by Olivia Rodrigo

The heart-aching follow-up to Olivia Rodrigo鈥檚 debut single and megahit 鈥淒rivers License,鈥 鈥淒eja Vu鈥 finds the singer lamenting about an old flame doing the same things with his new girlfriend that he once did with her. With added song credits given to Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, and St. Vincent, the track proves Rodrigo is no one-hit-wonder鈥斺淒eja Vu鈥 debuted at #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming the second consecutive single from her Grammy-nominated debut album 鈥淪our鈥 to enter the top 10 of the chart.

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#12. 鈥楽tay鈥 by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber

The repetitive rhythm of 鈥淪tay鈥 makes this pop song a dance hit and a TikTok favorite. Variety 2021鈥檚 Song of the Summer, and the track debuted at #3 on Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100 chart. This is the second collaboration between LAROI and Bieber, with the first being 鈥淯nstable鈥 from 鈥淛ustice,鈥 Bieber鈥檚 sixth studio album.

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#11. 'Butter' by BTS

"Butter" is the second English-language single from Korean pop group BTS, and is the follow-up to their Grammy-nominated track "Dynamite." , critic Rhian Daly called the track "a clean and crisp piece of dance pop that's undeniably cool without sacrificing immediacy or memorable hooks." What's more, "Butter" bagged the group its second Grammy nomination of their career, earning a bid for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

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#10. 鈥楶eaches鈥 by Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon

鈥淧eaches鈥 debuted at #1 on both Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100 and Billboard鈥檚 200 chart, making Justin Bieber to receive such an honor. The song also earned the first #1 for R&B favorites Giveon and Daniel Caesar. The success of 鈥淧eaches鈥 earned Bieber even more acclaim at the upcoming 2022 Grammy Awards, receiving nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best Music Video.

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#9. 鈥楳ontero (Call Me by Your Name)鈥 by Lil Nas X

First featured in a 2021 Super Bowl LV , 鈥淢ontero (Call Me by Your Name)鈥 is named after the 2017 Timoth茅e Chalamet and Armie Hammer film of the same name, which focuses on a gay love story. Lil Nas X came out in 2019 and has been very open about his sexuality in both his music and the videos that accompany it. The music video stirred up a with its content, which depicted the rapper giving Satan a lap dance after he joined him in hell via a stripper pole. Despite the hubbub surrounding the record, the song earned several nominations at the 2022 Grammy Awards, including for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Music Video.

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#8. 鈥楧rivers License鈥 by Olivia Rodrigo

The debut single and love ballad by the Disney actress received an overwhelmingly positive response from fans and critics alike, in its arrival earlier this year. The singer marries two teenage milestones鈥攏avigating a breakup and getting a driver's license, which may be why the song is so relatable. Speculation over the song鈥檚 subject also caused a stir across TikTok, with many believing it was written about Rodrigo鈥檚 鈥淗igh School Musical: The Musical: The Series.鈥 . 鈥淒rivers License鈥 received recognition at next year鈥檚 Grammy Awards as well, earning nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

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#7. 鈥楲eave the Door Open鈥 by Silk Sonic

Singer Bruno Mars and rapper Anderson .Paak came together to form the R&B duo Silk Sonic, which has seen much success with its debut single, 鈥淟eave the Door Open.鈥 The song is plucked from their debut album, 鈥淎n Evening with Silk Sonic,鈥 and serves as a nod to the slow, soulful bluesy jams of the 1970s. Funk-icon Bootsy Collins contributes a one-minute for the album and also came up with the duo's cool band name. The fan-favorite track will compete at the 2022 Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

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#6. 'Kiss Me More' by Doja Cat featuring SZA

, British journalist Alexis Petridis described "Kiss Me More" as "a laid-back bit of disco-infused pop-rap with a neat immediately recognisable hook from Olivia Newton-John's 'Physical' in the chorus." Featured on her third studio album "Planet Her," which features guest appearances from Ariana Grande and Young Thug as well, Doja's SZA-assisted "Kiss Me More" for Collaboration of the Year. Not to mention, the record is a top contender at the 2022 Grammys, earning nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

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#5. 鈥楪ood 4 U鈥 by Olivia Rodrigo

Featured on her debut album 鈥淪our,鈥 鈥淕ood 4 U鈥 is the third single to release from the track, and the second after 鈥淒rivers License鈥 to reach the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Not only does the song鈥檚 instrumentals call to mind the 1990s and 2000s but the music video that accompanies it references several movies from that period, including 鈥溾 and 鈥淭he Princess Diaries.鈥 Like Rodrigo鈥檚 other songs, 鈥淕ood 4 U鈥 calls out an ex-boyfriend for his post-breakup behavior. The visual for the track received a nomination at the 2022 Grammy Awards for Best Music Video.

22 / 25
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#4. 鈥楳ood鈥 by 24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior

Speaking of his chart-topping collaboration with Iann Dior, rapper 24kGoldn , 鈥淩ight from the jump, I knew 鈥楳ood鈥 was gonna be huge because I鈥檇 never had a song debut so strong.鈥 The upbeat song from the San Francisco native features some heavy lyrics and an appealing guitar riff. A hit not only on the charts, but on TikTok as well, 鈥淢ood鈥 has .

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#3. 鈥楤linding Lights鈥 by The Weeknd

In November 2021, the viral hit 鈥淏linding Lights鈥 made Billboard history when it knocked Chubby Checker鈥檚 hit 鈥淭he Twist鈥 off the charts as the greatest song of all time on Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100 chart. The unstoppable track spent an epic 90 weeks on . The pop song has a 1980s vibe with its synth-heavy sound.

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#2. 鈥楽ave Your Tears (Remix)鈥 by The Weeknd and Ariana Grande

鈥淪ave Your Tears鈥 is not the first hit-making collaboration for The Weeknd and Ariana Grande but rather the third. The Weeknd鈥檚 first Top 10 hit came when he guested on Grande鈥檚 鈥淟ove Me Harder鈥 in 2014. 鈥淪ave Your Tears鈥 was originally a solo project but languished in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 until the remix with Grande released earlier this year, thrusting it up the charts to the #1 spot, becoming the sixth #1 Billboard Hot 100 entry for both artists.

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#1. 'Levitating' by Dua Lipa

The single from Dua Lipa's 2020 album "Future Nostalgia" bounced all over the Billboard Hot 100 but went on to become the on Billboard's Hot 100. A remix with DaBaby and a collaborative Grammy performance made this TikTok favorite soar. However, a  DaBaby delivered onstage at Rolling Loud in Miami has since turned fans off to the remix, which prompted Lipa not to submit the track for consideration at the 2022 Grammys. Billboard followed the controversy by dropping the rapper's name from the track's chart credit altogether.

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