January
"Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo
“Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo was released on Jan. 8th, 2021. Running at four minutes and two seconds, the song was number one on the charts for eight weeks. The melody, a slow and calm work of art, creates a melancholy feeling. The song is about going through teenage love and feeling the emotions of breaking up afterward. The song was how Rodrigo made her debut as a singer, an actress on Disney shows like “Bizaardvark” and more recently, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.”
February
"Shame Shame" by Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters, a popular 90’s rock band, released their album “Medicine at Midnight” on February 2nd. One of the songs, “Shame Shame,” talks about shame and loneliness. The melody is rather sad all the way through the song and it really fits with the lyrics. The song says, “Another splinter under the skin, another season of loneliness, I found a reason and buried it, beneath the mountain of emptiness,” going very deep into what it’s like to feel shameful and lonely.
March
"Mood" by 24KGOLDn and Iann Dior
On March 24, 2021, 24kGoldn released a remix of the well-known song “Mood” featuring Iann Dior. Running at about two minutes and 21 seconds long, the song comes from his album “El Dorado.” It talks about being in a “mood” and describes manipulation in the chorus, saying, “Why you always in a mood? Messin’ ‘round, actin’ brand new, I ain't tryna tell you what to do, But try to play it cool, Baby I ain't playing by your rules, everything look better with a view.”
April
"You Belong With Me (Taylor's Version)" By Taylor Swift
On April 9, 2021, Taylor Swift released her album “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).” The album, a rerelease of her old album “Fearless,” contains the same songs, plus some new ones she calls “From the Vault.” One of the songs, “You Belong With Me,” talks about heartbreak and wanting someone you can’t have. She talks about how she feels someone belongs with her instead of who they’re with and is completely oblivious they are. The chorus repeats how she wishes they could see they belong with her. “If you could see that I’m the one who understands you, been here all along so why can't you see? You belong with me.”
May
"Shy Away" by Twenty One Pilots
Twenty One Pilots released their album “Scaled and Icy” on May 21, 2021. One of the most popular songs from the album is “Shy Away.” The song has a very catchy melody and you can hear the drums throughout the entire piece. The song encourages its listeners not to be too shy in a relationship and take a leap of faith. One of the main lyrics, “don’t you shy away,” really gets into what the piece is about: embracing relationships and not being scared.
June
"Lost" By Maroon 5
Maroon 5 released their song “Lost” on June 11, 2021. The song talks about being lost and then found. The piece describes being lost and not knowing who you are. It portrays being found by someone close and dear to you, either romantically or platonically. It describes the impact of how close relationships help you discover yourself and provide you with a sense of safety and comfort that you never had before when you were “lost.”
July
"Beautiful" by Anne Marie
Anne Marie released her album “Therapy” on July 7th, 2021. One of her most popular songs from that album, “Beautiful,” encapsulates the idea of self-acceptance and feeling good about yourself, no matter what people say. The melody is very uplifting and the lyrics will make you want to dance. Marie talks a lot about confidence, which is shown in her lyrics, “Darlin’, when they put you down like that. Yeah you can reply right back. You are beautiful (yeah). I know, I know, you are,” and how you should feel confident no matter what. The song will cause listeners to want to listen on repeat for hours.
August
"Quiet Town" by The Killers
“Quiet Town” by The Killers is a sad song released at the end of summer, on Aug. 13, 2021. The song talks about serious topics based on true stories, so listen with caution. The song was written about a small town in Utah, where everyone knew each other, and two children were hit and killed by a train. This event occurred in the mid-’90s, in the city where The Killers’ frontman grew up. One of the most meaningful lyrics says, “In this quiet town, families are tight, good people, they still don’t deadbolt their doors at night, in this quiet town.” It really describes how tight-knit the people of this town are.
September
"Wrecked" by Imagine Dragons
On September 3, 2021, Imagine Dragons released their song “Wrecked.” The song is a tribute to the lead singer's late sister-in-law, who passed away after a long battle with cancer. The song describes what it's like to grieve, with lyrics like, “Oh I’m a wreck without you here. Yeah I’m a wreck since you’ve been gone. I’ve tried to put this all behind me. I think I was wrecked all along.” It describes the lead singer's experience of what it was like to grieve someone dear to him.
October
"Easy On Me" by Adele
“Easy On Me” by Adele was released with her album “30” on October 15th, 2021. Her first album in six years gives fans a huge glimpse into her personal life. “Easy On Me” is a song about her divorce and was written to explain to her son why she and his father got divorced. “Easy On Me” is a sad piece with lots of emotions, but its subtle piano and calm melody make it an amazing work of art.
November
"Just A Notion" by ABBA
ABBA’s “Just a Notion” was released on November 5, 2021. The song is a love song about someone trying to let someone know that she knows that they’re into them, or “Just a Notion.” They’re hoping the other person gets the message so that they’ll eventually be “Dancin’ through the night.” The song is from their album “Voyage” and has a disco kind of feeling, like many other songs by ABBA.
December
"Basket Case" by Green Day
Green Day released their album “BBC Sessions” on December 10, 2021. The album consists of many of the most popular songs recorded live for BBC between 1994 and 2001. “Basket Case” is about anxiety attacks and feeling like you’re about to go crazy. The lyrics “Sometimes I give myself the creeps. Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me” are about how scary and debilitating anxiety attacks can be, and how easy it is for your mind to trick you. The song has the perfect balance between heavy rock and intense background music.