The music industry had a remarkable year in 2021, with many artists breaking records and reaching new heights of popularity. Whether you prefer pop, rock, hip hop, or any other genre, you will find something to enjoy in our curated playlist of the 100 best songs of 2021.
Listen to the hits that defined 2021 and discover some new favorites along the way!
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Music Charts in 2021
The Year-End list crowned “Levitating” by Dua Lipa as the number one song, even though it only reached number two on the weekly Hot 100 chart. This was the first time a song achieved this feat since “Hanging by a Moment” by Lifehouse in 2001.
Then Olivia Rodrigo. She had the most #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2021 with 3: “Drivers License”, “Good 4 U” and “Deja Vu”.
She is the first artist to have the lead singles from two career-opening albums debut at #1 on the Hot 100 with “Drivers License” and “Vampire”.
In addition to the above success, Olivia Rodrigo’s “driving license” was the most popular song of 2021 on Spotify, with more than 1.6 billion streams.
A true global sensation. The song is about a teenage girl’s heartbreak and grief after her boyfriend breaks up with her.
“Drivers License” was a critical and commercial success, winning several awards, including Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards. It also topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for several weeks.
The song’s success is a testament to Rodrigo’s talent and songwriting skills. She is one of the most exciting new artists in music today and “Driving License” is one of the most iconic songs of 2021.
List of 100 Best Songs of 2021
| # | Title - Artist |
|---|---|
| 1 | Levitating (feat. DaBaby) - Dua Lipa |
| 2 | Save Your Tears (with Ariana Grande) (Remix) - The Weeknd |
| 3 | Blinding Lights - The Weeknd |
| 4 | Mood (feat. iann dior) - 24kGoldn |
| 5 | good 4 u - Olivia Roderigo |
| 6 | Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) - Doja Cat |
| 7 | Leave The Door Open - Bruno Mars |
| 8 | drivers license - Olivia Rodrigo |
| 9 | MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) - Lil Nas X |
| 10 | Peaches (feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon) - Justin Bieber |
| 11 | Butter - BTS |
| 12 | STAY (with Justin Bieber) - The Kid LAROI |
| 13 | deja vu - Olivia Rodrigo |
| 14 | positions - Ariana Grande |
| 15 | Bad Habits - Ed Sheeran |
| 16 | Heat Waves - Glass Animals |
| 17 | WITHOUT YOU - The Kid LAROI |
| 18 | Forever After All - Luke Combs |
| 19 | Go Crazy - Chris Brown |
| 20 | Astronaut In The Ocean - Masked Wolf |
| 21 | 34+35 Remix (feat. Doja Cat - Megan Thee Stallion) |
| 22 | What You Know Bout Love - Pop Smoke |
| 23 | my ex's best friend (with blackbear) - Machine Gun Kelly |
| 24 | INDUSTRY BABY (feat. Jack Harlow) - Lil Nas X |
| 25 | Therefore I Am - Billie Eilish |
| 26 | Up - Cardi B |
| 27 | Fancy Like - Walker Hayes |
| 28 | DÁKITI - Bad Bunny |
| 29 | Best Friend (feat. Doja Cat) - Saweetie |
| 30 | RAPSTAR - Polo G |
| 31 | Heartbreak Anniversary - Giveon |
| 32 | For The Night (feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby) - Pop Smoke |
| 33 | Calling My Phone - Lil Tjay |
| 34 | Beautiful Mistakes (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) - Maroon 5 |
| 35 | Holy (feat. Chance The Rapper) - Justin Bieber |
| 36 | On Me - Lil Baby |
| 37 | you broke me first - Tate McRae |
| 38 | traitor - Olivia Rodrigo |
| 39 | Back in Blood (feat. Lil Durk) - Pooh Shiesty |
| 40 | I Hope (feat. Charlie Puth) - Gabby Barrett |
| 41 | Dynamite - BTS |
| 42 | Wockesha - Moneybagg Yo |
| 43 | You Right - Doja Cat |
| 44 | Beat Box 2 (feat. Pooh Shiesty) - SpotemGottem |
| 45 | Laugh Now Cry Later (feat. Lil Durk) - Drake |
| 46 | Need to Know - Doja Cat |
| 47 | Wants and Needs (feat. Lil Baby) - Drake |
| 48 | Way 2 Sexy (with Future & Young Thug) - Drake |
| 49 | telepatia - Kali Uchis |
| 50 | Whoopty - CJ |
| 51 | Lemonade - Internet Money |
| 52 | Good Days - SZA |
| 53 | Starting Over - Chris Stapleton |
| 54 | Body - Megan Thee Stallion |
| 55 | willow - Taylor Swift |
| 56 | Bang! - AJR |
| 57 | Better Together - Luke Combs |
| 58 | You're Mines Still (feat. Drake) - Yung Bleu |
| 59 | EVERY CHANCE I GET (feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk) - DJ Khaled |
| 60 | Essence (feat. Justin Bieber & Tems) - Wizkid |
| 61 | Chasing After You (with Maren Morris) - Ryan Hurd |
| 62 | The Good Ones - Gabby Barrett |
| 63 | Leave Before You Love Me (with Jonas Brothers) - Marshmello |
| 64 | Glad You Exist - Dan + Shay |
| 65 | Lonely (with benny blanco) - Justin Bieber |
| 66 | Beggin' - Måneskin |
| 67 | Streets - Doja Cat |
| 68 | What's Next - Drake |
| 69 | Famous Friends - Chris Young |
| 70 | Lil Bit - Nelly |
| 71 | Thot Shit - Megan Thee Stallion |
| 72 | late at night - Roddy Ricch |
| 73 | Kings & Queens - Ava Max |
| 74 | Anyone - Justin Bieber |
| 75 | Track Star - Mooski |
| 76 | Time Today - Moneybagg Yo |
| 77 | Cry Baby (feat. DaBaby) - Megan Thee Stallion |
| 78 | All I Want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey |
| 79 | No More Parties - Coi Leray |
| 80 | What's Your Country Song - Thomas Rhett |
| 81 | One Too Many - Keith Urban |
| 82 | Arcade - Duncan Laurence |
| 83 | Yonaguni - Bad Bunny |
| 84 | GOOD TIME - Niko Moon |
| 85 | If I Didn't Love You - Jason Aldean |
| 86 | Knife Talk (with 21 Savage ft. Project Pat) - Drake |
| 87 | pov - Ariana Grande |
| 88 | Just the Way - Parmalee |
| 89 | Take My Breath - Single Version - The Weeknd |
| 90 | We're Good - Dua Lipa |
| 91 | Hell Of A View - Eric Church |
| 92 | Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee |
| 93 | Put Your Records On - Ritt Momney |
| 94 | Happier Than Ever - Billie Eilish |
| 95 | Single Saturday Night - Cole Swindell |
| 96 | Things a Man Oughta Know - Lainey Wilson |
| 97 | Throat Baby (Go Baby) - BRS Kash |
| 98 | Tombstone - Rod Wave |
| 99 | Drinkin' Beer. Talkin' God. Amen. (feat. Florida Georgia Line) - Chase Rice |
| 100 | Todo De Ti - Rauw Alejandro |
Number One Song of 2021
Other Playlists You May Like
Spotify Playlist
Top 10 Songs of 2021
- Levitating (feat. DaBaby) – Dua Lipa
- Save Your Tears (with Ariana Grande) (Remix) – The Weeknd
- Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
- Mood (feat. iann dior) – 24kGoldn
- good 4 u – Olivia Roderigo
- Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) – Doja Cat
- Leave The Door Open – Bruno Mars
- drivers license – Olivia Rodrigo
- MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X
- Peaches (feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon) – Justin Bieber
Music videos
Final thoughts
The 2021 music charts in the United States reflected the changing landscape of the music industry. New artists and genres emerged to take the top positions, and the charts became more diverse than ever before.
The growing popularity of Latin music in the U.S. reflects the country’s increasingly diverse population. Latin artists such as Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Daddy Yankee have achieved mainstream success in recent years, and their music is now played on mainstream radio and TV stations.
K-pop is another genre that has gained popularity in the U.S. in recent years. Groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK have sold out stadiums and arenas around the world. K-pop is known for its catchy melodies, elaborate dance routines and stylish fashion.
Overall, the 2021 US music charts were a sign of a healthy and vibrant music industry. New artists and genres are constantly emerging and the charts are becoming more diverse than ever before. This makes it exciting to see what the future holds for music.
