{"id":8364,"date":"2021-12-17T19:37:08","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T19:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/?p=8364"},"modified":"2025-04-27T06:53:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-27T05:53:15","slug":"best-songs-of-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/best-songs-of-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"BeSt SoNgS oF 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From number 50 to number 1, here are the songs we loved most this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

50. While She Sleeps, Nervous<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

49. Doll Skin, Control Freak<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4<\/strong>8. Creeper, Midnight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

47. The Summer Set, Back Together<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

46. One Step Closer, Chrysanthemum<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

45. Mayday Parade, Bad At Love<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

44. underscores, Spoiled little brat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

43. Stand Atlantic w\/ nothing,nowhere., deathwish<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

42. AS IT IS, I LIE TO ME<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

41. Maneskin, ZITTI E BUONI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

40. VUKOVI, KILL IT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

39. Boston Manor, Carbon Mono<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

38. Avril Lavigne, Bite Me<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

37. Coldplay w\/ BTS, My Universe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

36. Trash Boat, He\u2019s So Good<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

35. Palaye Royale, Paranoid<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

34. Dude Trips, Polola<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

33. Trophy Eyes, 27 Club<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

32. Self Esteem, I Do This All The Time<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

31. Studio Killers w\/ Kim Petras, Jenny<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

30. Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

29. Delilah Bon, I Don\u2019t Listen To You<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

28. Charli XCX, Good Ones<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

27. phem, silly putty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

26. chloe moriondo, Favorite Game<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

25. Magnolia Park w\/ LiL Lotus, Tonight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

24. Zoe Wees, Girls Like Us<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

23. Alec Benjamin, Older<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

22. Bring Me The Horizon, DiE4u<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

21. nothing,nowhere., Pieces Of You<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

20. Hot Milk, I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I\u2019M DEAD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

19. Maggie Lindemann, She Knows It<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

18. Stephany Joanna, boyshit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

17. Mustafa, Ali<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. girlfriends, Tattoo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. Ava Max, EveryTime I Cry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

14. Dashboard Confessional, Here\u2019s To Moving On<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

13. For Those I Love, To Have You<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. Kim Petras, Future Starts Now<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. girl in red, Serotonin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. To Kill Achilles, There\u2019s No Right Way To Say This\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. GIRLI, More Than A Friend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Our Hollow, Our Home, Seven Years (Shine A Light On Me)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. ElyOtto w\/ Kim Petras & Curtis Waters, SugarCrash!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. LiL Lotus w\/ Chrissy Costanza, Romantic Disaster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. YONAKA, Seize The Power<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Taylor Swift, Mr. Perfectly Fine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Against The Current, weapon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Olivia Rodrigo, good 4 u<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Holding Absence, Celebration Song<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can listen to the bEsT sOnGs Of 2021 right here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then if, like us, you want to spend as much time as possible with the best songs of the year, have a look at our selection of short reviews below. Then, complete the activities – all of which will support your GCSE\/A-Level English study.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of the reviews will offer you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. A suggestion as to how you might build your ideas\/paragraphs\/essays on a firm contextual foundation. See how we’ve started each time with a concisely expressed insight into a significant contextual factor which will then help us to to understand why the writer’s language choices make such an impact.<\/li>
  2. The opportunity to analyse 3 or 4 layers of a quote. Aim to articulate your ideas concisely and in a way that helps to define how the techniques work in relation to each other, and how the effect of each technique is intensified when explored in the light of the other techniques used.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Ultimately, you’ll be able to create a series of paragraphs by linking each pink section to each blue section and then to the work you’ve done in response to the purple section. (Note, though, that in YONAKA’s case, there’s no blue section because the quote is already embedded in the pink section).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Holding Absence, Celebration Song <\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Having lived through such a long period of Covid-induced craziness, Holding Absence\u2019s reminder that we\u2019re still breathing felt SO important and SO inspiring.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Just look at that \u201cI\u2019m alive\u201d refrain\u2026 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TASK 1<\/span> : Now dig into the layers of the “I’m Alive!” quote. Examine the pronoun, the connotations of the word \u201calive\u201d, the exclamatory nature of the sentence, the positioning of this line as the opening statement and its ensuing repetition – explain how these techniques have all the more impact when explored in light of each other.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Olivia Rodrigo, good 4 u<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2018good 4 u\u2019 was a smash in more ways than one. A HUGE hit, it took a hammer to the idea that love is all roses and romance. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Linger on that line: \u201cRemember when you said that you wanted to give me the world?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TASK 2<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now dig into the layers of the \u201cRemember when you said that you wanted to give me the world?\u201d quote. Examine the imperative, the metaphor and the rhetorical question – explain how these techniques have all the more impact when explored in light of each other.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Against The Current, weapon<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The unsettling \u2018weapon\u2019 is as much a wrestling match as a song. In the ring are Chrissy Costanza and her anxieties \u2013 anxieties that, as people living in 2021, we TOTALLY relate to.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The conflict\u2019s absolutely embedded in the lines: \u201cNo, I won’t go under \/ No, I won’t back down \/ Bittersweet surrender \/ It’s better now.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TASK 3<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now dig into the layers of the \u201cNo, I won’t go under \/ No, I won’t back down \/ Bittersweet surrender \/ It’s better now.\u201d quote. Examine the repetition, the oxymoron, the prepositions and the connotations of “surrender” – explain how these techniques have all the more impact when explored in light of each other.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Taylor Swift, Mr. Perfectly Fine<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In 2021, maybe it\u2019s true that some men still feel entitled to their own happy endings. Mr Perfectly Fine, though, paints a picture of a world in which \u2013 ultimately \u2013 women are taking control of their own destinies.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look at the juxtaposition of these two lines: \u201cI never got past what you put me through,\u201d and: \u201cI was Miss Here To Stay” \/ Now I’m Miss Gonna Be Alright Someday.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TASK 4<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now dig into the layers of the \u201cI never got past what you put me through,\u201d and: \u201cI was Miss Here To Stay” \/ Now I’m Miss Gonna Be Alright Someday\u201d quotes. Examine the pronouns, adverb, alliteration and rhyme – explain how these techniques have all the more impact when explored in light of each other.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    YONAKA, Seize The Power<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    YONAKA\u2019s \u2018Seize The Power\u2019 is a STATEMENT. Play the song loud, pay particular attention to Theresa Jarvis\u2019 assertion that: \u201cI don’t need lessons \/ I do what I want, it’s refreshing,\u201d and you might just start feeling that bit more optimistic about life beyond 2021.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TASK 5<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now dig into the layers of the \u201cI don’t need lessons \/ I do what I want, it’s refreshing\u201d quote. Examine the repeated pronoun, the relationship between \u201cdon\u2019t\u201d and \u201cdo\u201d, the relationship between \u201dwant\u201d and \u201cneed\u201d, the connotations of that word \u201clessons\u201d – explain how these techniques have all the more impact when explored in light of each other.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    LiL Lotus w\/ Chrissy Costanza, Romantic Disaster<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Beguilingly short and bewitchingly sweet, the structure of \u2018Romantic Disaster\u2019 mimics the explosive nature of relationships in 2021. That its chorus proves as addictive as the kind of romance it\u2019s detailing is quite an achievement.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The song\u2019s success is compounded by that key line: \u201cThis is a romantic disaster \/ The nightmare comes after.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TASK 6<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now dig into the layers of the \u201cThis is a romantic disaster \/ The nightmare comes after\u201d quote. Examine the oxymoron, hyperbole and metaphor – explain how these techniques have all the more impact when explored in light of each other.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once you’re done, you might want to take a look at our Taylor Swift lesson and write your own poem<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    From number 50 to number 1, here are the songs we loved most this year. 50. While She Sleeps, Nervous 49. Doll Skin, Control Freak 48. Creeper, Midnight 47. The Summer Set, Back Together 46. One Step Closer, Chrysanthemum 45. Mayday Parade, Bad At Love 44. underscores, Spoiled little brat 43. Stand Atlantic w\/ nothing,nowhere., […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8377,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1004,298,1231,1005,1639],"tags":[111,872,112,1043,846,1090,811,1257,173,71,1025,822,1262,752,147,40,1186,1264,1124,1199,1258,1132,1265,1107,1111,1266,489,684,854,1187,1014,1263,1185,501,1116,560,1260,1105,1256,398,699,1261,1259,510,1122,1190,946,1255,1049,488,547,1205,536,842,1191],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8364"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8364"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8382,"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8364\/revisions\/8382"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/soundofpen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}