Elsewhere, we saw hip-hop and drill music go on to dominate our charts, as woman region artists ongoing to be big Resourceful forces and dance-pop continued to thrive. And where viral times once made for surprising hits, in 2021 we saw them revitalize more mature songs within the likes of Kali Uchis and Italian rock revivalists (let alone reigning Eurovision champs) Måneskin.

To witness the birth of music playlist a star is actually a rare thing—but in 2021, we witnessed two. it absolutely was just per week into January that Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license” arrived, a debut single so quick and so relatable that it speedily turned a pop cultural landmark, a Song from the calendar year-stage assertion that felt similar to a affirmation: Here was a singer-songwriter poised Otherwise destined to outline another 10 years just as In a natural way as she would the rest of the year. Add to that the ascent of Doja Cat, whose kaleidoscopic eyesight of pop was completely realized on this 12 months’s properly titled Earth Her—an album that felt such as radiant existing and near potential unexpectedly, liquefying elements of rap, reggaetón, Afropop, R&B, dance music, and so far more.