Top Songs of 2021:
ArtsQuest Staff Picks
At ArtsQuest, we’re fans first! Each of our staff members are passionate about live music, and like our diverse lineup showcases, we have an eclectic mix of musical tastes. So please enjoy our annual tradition of celebrating our favorite songs of the year. We hope you find a new artist to follow in the year ahead!
EDITOR’S NOTE:Our staff picks are listed in order of when the selection was submitted (slackers are at the bottom).
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Ben Youngerman – Marketing Manager
Gojira – “Born For One Thing”
French band Gojira has broken through to the top echelon of modern metal in recent years, and solidified its claim with the genre’s near-unanimous record of the year, Fortitude. While the track “Amazonia” is nominated at this year’s GRAMMY Awards, “Born For One Thing” is my favorite as the punishing opening track that kicks off an epic record. Plus, I saw their lead singer/guitarist play through bloody fingers on stage in their first concert back from a pandemic break, so they get even more respect from me.
\m/ (*>*) \m/
Steve Henderson – HR & Payroll Specialist
Cody Fry – “Underground”
I like this song because I love that he has managed to create a song that feels so contemporary and classic at the same time. It is a great mix of singer/songwriter and classical orchestra that I haven’t really heard before. I also think he is a brilliant lyricist and his words weave together with the story of the orchestra so well.
Cavan Mulligan – Volunteer & Internship Coordinator
Beach Bunny – “Blame Game”
This has been an eye-opening year for the way women are treated in the media, with things like the Free Britney movement and Taylor Swift re-recording her discography. I certainly have come to realize the way my opinion of these two women has been influenced by what I’ve seen on TV and social media, and I think Beach Bunny’s “Blame Game” does a great job of putting into words the way many women learn from a young age to act certain ways to protect themselves. Lili Trifilio has tackled things like eating disorders, “nice guys,” and self-esteem in her music, but “Blame Game” really hit home for me from the first time I heard it.
Alli Poczak – Programming Specialist
Japanese Breakfast – “Be Sweet”
Japanese Breakfast’s album, Jubilee, dropped in March of 2021 featuring the energetic single, ‘Be Sweet,’ a song I immediately placed on repeat. Singer Michelle Zauner showcased her Indie Pop/Rock genre by bringing upbeat guitar lines, strong bass, synth and an overall feeling of joy and happiness. To make it even better, she gave us the 90s nostalgia we love by taking the line “I wanna believe” and shooting an X-Files themed music video. Take a listen and I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do!
Juliann Masenheimeer – Lead Creative
Walker Hayes – “Fancy Like”
Love it or hate it the viral hit “Fancy Like” by Walker Hayes has earned my top spot for the year. This fun hit blew up on Tik Tok and then later was redone with a Kesha feature. Walker Hayes has graced our free stage at Musikfest and Kesha has played the Wind Creek Steel Stage. These two were a Musikfest hit in the making! One of the biggest surprises of the year was at the Grammy awards when it earned a nod for Best Country Song! Not to mention Walker and his family also managed to get in on that Applebee’s commercial.
Nicole Harrell – Director of Communications
Elton John, Dua Lipa – “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”
Elton John is a legend. His Lockdown Sessions with artists from multiple genres has been a gift during this difficult time. I’m also a huge fan of Dua Lipa and her many dance hits. I think we were robbed of properly celebrating her bops during quarantine. This new, but familiar song is perfect to kick off any night out!
Shayna Super – Programming Manager
Lorde – “Solar Power”
It may be December but it’s summer in my mind when I listen to “Solar Power.” Admittedly, I love the winter, but Lorde wrote a song that makes even a devout cold weather junkie crave a day at the beach. A far cry from her early, angsty music, Lorde’s music continues to evolve with each album she releases.
Anne Sturm – Sr. Talent Buyer & Executive Director of Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
Olivia Rodrigo – “good 4 u”
Olivia Rodrigo is so impressive. At just 18 years old, her smash hits this year were good 4 u, drivers License, deja vu, and traitor. Her lyrics draw me in as I mentally escape and daydream unrealistic glamorized scenarios. I can’t be the only one who gets lost like that, right?
Kimberly Koehler – Partnership Activation Specialist
BTS – “Butter”
There is clear reason why “Butter” is my most listened song of 2021 and you hear it as soon as you hit play! The song’s energy is “smooth like butter” and grabs your attention with the funky beat and rubbery bass tones throughout. This song always brings a smile to my face and makes me want to dance. BTS also released a “Hotter” version of the song which is everything I needed and more! With “Dynamite” in 2020 and “Butter” in 2021, I am looking forward to hearing what BTS will bring to my jams playlist in 2022! I would also like to give my girl, Taylor Swift, a shout out for blessing the world with a TEN minute “All Too Well”!
Alyssa Ascher – Visual Arts Coordinator
Big Red Machine – “Phoenix (feat. Fleet Foxes & Anais Mitchell)”
From the back-up brass by The Westerlies, to vocals by the Fleet Foxes, and the music mastermind of Justin Vernon, this song is by far my favorite of 2021. The collaboration of these artists created a piece that feels like it’s existed for years.
Saige Sufrin – Marketing Coordinator
IDLES – “Car Crash”
This year was full of wonderful new releases as many artists returned to the studio. For my personal favorite of 2021 I would have to choose a single off the album I had most anticipated this year. The track is titled Car Crash and comes from Bristol band IDLES’ fourth studio album Crawler, coproduced by Kenny Beats. Car Crash is a fantastic listen as the band delivers intense storytelling through powerful song structure and the striking vocals of Joe Talbot, guaranteed to give you chills.
Linda Colonna – Accounts Payable Specialist
Little Simz – “Introvert”
If you haven’t heard of Little Simz, you’re in for a treat! Her album “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” is a work of art. Though I love the entire album, this one is beautifully poetic, providing insight to her feelings and life experience.
Jenna Minetola – Business Development Manager
Smallpools – “Ancient History”
Smallpools just released their newest album Life in a Simulation in October 2021 – yay! It has a lot of great songs including their single “Life of the Party,” but the one that I play on repeat is “Ancient History.” It’s a layered song with catchy chants that are fun to sing along to at a live show or in your car.
Morgan Fehnel – Graphic Designer
Skrillex, Justin Bieber & Don Toliver – “Don’t Go”
Justin Bieber is my favorite artist, and it is only fitting that I picked one of his songs as my favorite this year. It was very hard to choose just one of his songs since he also released an album “Justice” this year. “Don’t Go” just has a contagious beat thanks to Skrillex while Bieber and Toliver’s vocals complement each other well. Bieber’s rap-like versus also add a different element to the song, which is something different from many of his well-known hits.
Cory Stevens – CHVRCHES
CHVRCHES ft. Robert Smith – “How Not to Drown”
2021 put us through the ringer, especially after we got the unexpected announcement that crowd restrictions were being lifted heading into the summer. We needed to put a full Musikfest together in two months. It was a whirlwind of responsibility that will leave its mark on me for the rest of my life. Between that, things going on in my personal life, and just the general feeling of emergency about everything these days, I latched onto this new CHVRCHES song and made it my anthem for the summer. “I wasn’t dead when they found me…” and I’m still not! I must keep swimming.
Jacob Rivera – IT Computer Systems Analyst
Olivia Rodrigo – “Happier”
I am “Patrick Praying to God” that I do not lose any ounce of “street cred” or “gangster-ness” over this choice. Being the empathetic person that I am, I felt this song hit the core of my soul, possibly causing a salty liquid to seep from my eyes (allergies ya know?). Not only is the song beautifully written, but it tastefully exemplifies raw emotions caused by heartbreak. The whole Sour album is incredible and if you see me in traffic with the windows down blasting it, Mind Yo Bizness. God, It’s Brutal out here.
Ryan Hill – Sr. Director of Programming
SZA – “Good Days”
There are just so many layers of magic going on here, and floating above it all is SZA’s untethered and unbothered vocal, delivering the line that would truly usher in 2021 (this song was technically released in the waning days of 2020): “Gotta get right, tryna free my mind before the end of the world.” Same, SZA, and this song helped.
Fred Stellato – General Council
Dierks Bentley – “Beers on Me (ft. BRELAND, HARDY)”
…just one guy talkin to one of his boys.
Patrick Moyer – Partnership Activation Specialist
Post Malone, The Weeknd – “One Right Now”
This song features two of my favorite artists: Post Malone and the Weeknd. When I first saw they released a song together I was excited but also intrigued because I feel like they have different styles. The song was able to mesh both their styles together well. Overall, the song is just one you want to jam out to.
BONUS PLAYLIST!
Listen to all of these 2021 tunes in one awesome playlist…
Previous end-of-year staff picks:
