Some say cultural or societal events affect music, so we will go through the years and see what is going on, the music that was popular and see what you think regarding this.
CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND MAJOR EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN 2021
COVID-19 Pandemic:
- The COVID-19 pandemic continued to have a significant impact in 2021, with vaccination campaigns rolling out globally to combat the virus.
- Variants of the virus, such as Delta and Omicron, emerged, leading to changes in public health measures and vaccination strategies.
Inauguration of Joe Biden:
- Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021, with Kamala Harris becoming the Vice President, making history as the first female, first Black, and first Asian-American Vice President.
Capitol Riot:
- On January 6, a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., disrupting the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, which led to several deaths and numerous arrests.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics:
- The 2020 Summer Olympics were postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic. They took place in Tokyo, Japan, with strict COVID-19 measures in place.
Climate Change:
- Climate change continued to be a major concern in 2021, with extreme weather events, wildfires, and record-breaking temperatures occurring in various parts of the world.
Vaccine Rollout:
- Mass COVID-19 vaccination campaigns began worldwide, with multiple vaccines authorized for emergency use and distribution.
Space Exploration:
- NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully landed on Mars in February 2021, starting its mission to search for signs of ancient life and collect samples.
- Private companies like SpaceX continued to make strides in space exploration, launching astronauts to the International Space Station and testing new technologies.
Protests and Social Movements:
- Protests against racial injustice and police brutality continued, with movements like Black Lives Matter remaining active.
- Pro-democracy protests occurred in various parts of the world, including Myanmar and Belarus.
Global Cyberattacks:
- High-profile cyberattacks and data breaches affected organizations and governments worldwide, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Entertainment and Pop Culture:
- Notable movies and TV shows were released, with streaming platforms gaining prominence.
- The music industry saw the release of popular albums and songs.
- The gaming industry continued to thrive, with the release of new consoles and games.
Natural Disasters:
- Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires impacted different regions, leading to significant damage and loss of life.
TOP 40 SONGS OF 2021
- Levitating – Dua Lipa
- Save Your Tears – The Weeknd featuring Ariana Grande
- Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
- Mood – 24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior
- Montero (Call Me by Your Name) – Lil Nas X
- Industry Baby – Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow
- Easy on Me – Adele
- Bad Habits – Ed Sheeran
- Peaches – Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon
- Good 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo
- Stay – The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber
- Up – Cardi B
- Right Thru Me – Saweetie
- No Time To Die – Billie Eilish
- Drivers License – Olivia Rodrigo
- Positions – Ariana Grande
- Champagne Problems – Taylor Swift
- Whats Poppin – Jack Harlow
- Rockstar – DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
- Industry Baby (Remix) – Lil Nas X featuring Megan Thee Stallion
- Unholy – Iann Dior featuring Lil Uzi Vert
- 34+35 – Ariana Grande
- Leave The Door Open – Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak
- Rumors – Lizzo featuring Cardi B
- Break My Heart – Dua Lipa
- The Box – Roddy Ricch
- Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
- Up (Remix) – Cardi B featuring Ye
- Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa
- No Idea – Doja Cat featuring The Weeknd
- Save Your Tears (Remix) – The Weeknd featuring Drake
- I Hope – Gabby Barrett
- Telepatía – Kali Uchis
- First Class – Jack Harlow
- My Universe – Coldplay featuring BTS
- We Don’t Talk About Bruno – cast of Encanto
- Bad Habits (Remix) – Ed Sheeran featuring Bring Me the Horizon
- Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat) – Jawsh 687 featuring Jason Derulo
- Positions (Remix) – Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd
- Bottled Up – Sam Smith
TOP 40 ALTERNATIVE AIRPLAY SONGS OF 2021
- Monsters (feat. blackbear) – All Time Low
- my ex’s best friend (with blackbear) – Machine Gun Kelly
- Follow You – Imagine Dragons
- All My Favorite Songs – Weezer
- Way Less Sad – AJR
- The Sound – The 1975
- Hit Me With Your Best Shot – P!nk
- Losing My Mind – FINNEAS
- The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
- Renegade – OneRepublic
- Bad Habits – Ed Sheeran
- Shivers – Ed Sheeran
- Easy on Me – Adele
- Leave The Door Open – Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak
- Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
- Drivers License – Olivia Rodrigo
- Good 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo
- The Box – Roddy Ricch
- Mood – 24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior
- MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name) – Lil Nas X
- Industry Baby – Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow
- Good Days – SZA
- Positions – Ariana Grande
- Levitating – Dua Lipa
- Save Your Tears – The Weeknd featuring Ariana Grande
- Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
- No Time To Die – Billie Eilish
- Break My Heart – Dua Lipa
- Happier – Marshmello and Bastille
- Heat Waves – Glass Animals
- Peaches – Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon
- Bad Guy – Billie Eilish
- Old Town Road – Lil Nas X
- 7 Rings – Ariana Grande
- Thank U, Next – Ariana Grande
- I Don’t Care – Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber
- Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
- High Hopes – Panic! At The Disco
- Bad Blood – Taylor Swift
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
TOP ROCK N ROLL SONGS OF 2021
- “Shame Shame” by Foo Fighters
- “Making a Fire” by Foo Fighters
- “And So It Went” by the Pretty Reckless featuring Tom Morello
- “Bruised and Bloodied” by Seether
- “Trouble’s Coming” by Cage the Elephant
- “Wait a Minute My Girl” by Greta Van Fleet
- “Better Without You” by Shinedown
- “Can’t Let Go” by Halestorm
- “My Lucky Card” by Mammoth WVH
- “Light Up the Fire” by Mammoth WVH
TOP CHRISTIAN ROCK SONGS OF 2021
- “The Blessing” by Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, and Elevation Worship
- “Graves Into Gardens” by Elevation Worship
- “Good Good Father” by We the Kingdom
- “Holy Water” by MercyMe
- “Hold On to Your Light” by Phil Wickham
- “Joy” by Maverick City Music
- “Never Give Up” by Bethel Music
- “Rescue Story” by Zach Williams
- “Way Maker” by Sinach
- “This Is a Good Time” by We Are Messengers
SOME COMMON THEMES IN SONGS OF THE 2021 BILLBOARD HOT 100
- Love and relationships: This was a common theme in many songs of 2021, as artists explored the many facets of love, from heartbreak to joy to nostalgia.
- Self-empowerment: Many songs of 2021 were about female empowerment, as artists celebrated their strength and resilience.
- Coming of age: Several songs of 2021 explored the themes of growing up and finding one’s place in the world.
- Social commentary: A few songs of 2021 addressed social and political issues, such as racism, sexism, and gun violence.
- Feel-good anthems: There were also a number of feel-good anthems on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021, songs that were meant to make people dance and forget their troubles.
According to Statista, R&B and hip-hop was the most popular music genre in the United States in 2021, accounting for 30 percent of all on-demand audio and video streams. This was followed by pop (23 percent), rock (17 percent), and dance/electronic (13 percent).
Here are the top 10 most popular music genres in the United States in 2021:
- R&B and hip-hop (30%)
- Pop (23%)
- Rock (17%)
- Dance/electronic (13%)
- Country (10%)
- Latin (7%)
- Alternative (6%)
- Christian (5%)
- Classical (4%)
- Jazz (3%)
It is important to note that these percentages are based on on-demand audio and video streams and may not reflect the overall popularity of each genre. For example, some genres, such as classical music, may be more popular in live settings than in streaming.
The popularity of R&B and hip-hop has been growing in recent years, and this trend is likely to continue in the years to come. This is due in part to the increasing diversity of the United States population, as well as the growing popularity of streaming services, which make it easier for people to discover new music from different genres.
MUSIC GENRES THAT BECAME MORE POPULAR THAN THEY WERE BEFORE
- K-pop: Korean pop music
- Latin music: Music from Latin America
- Country: Music about rural life and values
- Alternative: Music that is outside of the mainstream
- Indie: Music that is not part of a major record label
It is important to note that these are just a few of the genres that became more popular in 2021. The popularity of different genres can vary depending on location, age group, and other factors.