In the vein of inaneness, the first Recess covers my top 10 songs of 2021. As a major disclaimer, I think 90% of the songs on this list were released before 2021, but these were my 10 top songs from 2021 in no particular order:
1. Old Pine, Ben Howard
Old Pine reminds me of trips to New Hampshire and Maine with family and friends. A global pandemic was a perfect time to find this nostalgic song.
Favorite line: “I’ve come to know- the friends around you are all you’ll always have”
2. Pretty, Marcus Mumford
The first season of Ted Lasso was one of my favorite TV experiences. Pretty is a melancholy and upbeat song that epitomizes the entire season for me. Since I didn’t watch the show until 2021, this still counts
Favorite line: Error, not found
3. Don’t Ask Me Why, Great Caeser
A song about identity that is incredibly fun to scream-sing in the car when you’re by yourself. What else is there to want?
Favorite paragraph (shouting at top of lungs):
“Because I’ve dreamed of what this world could be
In all its possibility
And I’ll be damned if I don’t get to see
So take my hand and hold it tight
We’re gonna make it out alright
Jump with me and promise to believe.
4. Bad Decisions, The Strokes
A great song I just discovered.
Favorite glove type: Fingerless
5. Good 4 U, Olivia Rodrigo
I wish I hated someone this much after a break up.
Favorite line: “Good for you”
6. Monument (Live in Mumabi), Mutemath
Having just gotten engaged, this song seemed to hit harder this year. I enjoy this live version much more than the studio version.
Favorite instrument: Accordion-piano combo
7. What’s Wrong, half-alive
Just a great song. I’m also a sucker for music videos with interpretive dance. This isn’t really interpretive dance, but I loved it.
Favorite line: “The whisper in my heart – it could never speak up. The message in my chest gathered too much dust”
8. Agnes, Glass Animals
It took me maybe 27 listens to figure out that this song is incredibly sad, and I think it made me like the song more. This is a song to listen to when you’re mad at the world or when you need to cry about the past.
Favorite line: “Where went that cheeky friend of mine? Where went that billion dollar smile?”
9. With or Without You, U2
The more I feel the emotion of this song, the more I realize I don’t understand the meaning, and the more I don’t really care. This song has aged well with Bono’s more gravelly voice in old age.
Favorite Bono: Boston Bono
10. Part of Your World, Jodi Benson (Little Mermaid Soundtrack)
After watching a documentary about Howard Ashman (highly recommended viewing) and learning more about Alan Menken and the whole Disney musical animated picture song generation process, I was blown away. I think I latched on to this song because of its prevalence in the documentary, but also because it’s a great song.
Most relatable line: “I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty. I’ve got whose-its and whats-its galore. You want thingamabobs? I got twenty.”
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