Last week, the nominations for the 2021 Grammys were released, acknowledging and celebrating the music released this year. Music is one of the few aspects of life left unviolated and unchanged by this year and so it’s one of the few things we have left to celebrate⁠—something I am very thankful for. And while I am nothing short of musically inept, I decided I would be the most suitable person to review the nominations for Song of the Year. I can’t hold a tune, but I can recognise one when I hear it. Admittedly, I hadn’t heard some of the songs on this list before compiling it. The others have been branded into my mind by the red hot poker that is TikTok and its epidemic of dance trends, but I have tried my best to be impartial and listen to all of these songs with an open mind and open ears. So without further ado, here are my thoughts on what the Grammys decided were the best songs of the year. No facts, technical terms or foundational knowledge whatsoever. Just my unwarranted opinions.

 

‘I Can’t Breathe’ – H.E.R.

This song is an instant chiller, in all senses of the word. The slow, RnB-esque beat is so smooth it dissolves on the tongue, while the lyrics made goosebumps prickle up on my arms. H.E.R. is making a declaration in this masterpiece. She calls out racial injustices, corruption and hypocrisies, all starting with the title that references George Flyod’s tragic last words. The silky harmonies over the vital message made this song stick in my head and play on my mind. The spoken word section is fist-thrust powerful as it blares nothing but truth and is angry with the passion of protest. This is something I could slip into and stick up for all at once. The message and melody of this song is fantastic. H.E.R. is moving, motivating and empowering here.

‘Everything I Wanted’ – Billie Eilish

This was a huge song this year, and it’s particularly unsurprising to see Billie nominated after her huge victories in last year’s Grammys. I can see this song being just as successful; it combines the hushed, echoey tones typical of her style with a backbeat that makes my foot tap all on its own. While my head nods to the tune, my brows furrow to the lyrics.  They’re pretty elusive, and it seems like they’re supposed to be. I think Billie likes leaving the story of her songs up to interpretation, adding a more personal touch to them. The textures in this song were a fantastic choice. The underwater sounds, the changes and instrumental additions made at just the right time make this song a transmissive experience. Billie is taking us on a journey here, and it’s a top-class one.

‘If the World Was Ending’ – Julia Michaels, JP Saxe

This song came out this year? Someone end 2020, please. Quite apt how this song is about the end of the world when the world is basically on its knees and we’re left to our own devices. Get out of my social bubble, JP.  

In all seriousness, this song is heartbreaking in the best way. The melancholic, plodding piano feels almost as pleading as the lyrics. This retrospective love song, the realisation you’re not over someone, the miscommunication is all delivered through her gorgeous vocals. Julia Michaels truly is an angel, and surely I’m not the only one who wants to give JP Saxe a hug after listening to this? Granted, this song has been a bit overplayed, but I need you to play it again, I’m not finished crying.  

‘The Box’ – Roddy Rich

The Grammys thought a bit outside the box with this one, if you’ll pardon the pun. This is a really great song, an earworm for sure. While I’m not really sure what message he is trying to convert with these lyrics, that won’t stop me from bopping along. This is one of those songs that was really catapulted by Tiktok and helped to launch Rich into the mainstream music megasphere. In the future, I don’t think I’ll be able to hear this song without thinking of either Covid-19 or the Hype House. Truly a moment in time, and a time-capsule song.

The string sections in this one are almost cinematic, and the squeaks in the background are an iconic and unique signature. Roddy Rich’s voice works spectacularly well over the trap beat. A pretty good song all round, a major success for Mr Rich, and a bit of a wildcard on this list.

‘Black Parade’ – Beyoncé

No, My Chemical Romance’s reunion didn’t warrant them a Grammy nomination for a 14-year old song. This is Beyoncé’s new hit, and while it celebrates being Black, being a woman and embracing culture, it is also a charity single. Truly flawless.  I can tell this song is a celebration. It is Beyoncé’s declaration of pride for who she is, her heritage and her race.  The vocals, even the voice breaks are immaculate, as if I would expect anything less, and this song’s sound is fresh and completely out of the mainstream in the best way. This song feels like an injection of confidence, and it’s message and purpose adds to its genius.  

‘Cardigan’ – Taylor Swift

The natural, ethereal vibe Taylor Swift delivers in this song, and in her whole album in fact, may have been one of the best things to come out of 2020. The almost-messy tune with the softly foreboding piano and strings push me down the rabbit hole of Folklore, plunging me into Taylor’s wholesome world of knitwear and crunching autumn leaves. I must admit, I do love a good story in a song, and it was hard to escape the narrative when it was first released. All the talk of the ‘Teen Love Triangle Trilogy” had me completely sold. Taylor uses metaphors to colour in her world of young love and heartbreak, and a pleading and resentful yet beautiful song is the result. What does ‘you drew stars around my scars’ mean? Anything. But somehow I get it exactly. This both makes me want to be someone’s cardigan and want to cry all at once. A masterpiece. 

‘Circles’ – Post Malone

This is the kind of song that would get stuck in my head for days, aided so kindly by how often it was played on every radio station this year. Not that I’m complaining. The twangy guitar under his signature echoey vocals blend together seamlessly, and when the bass is introduced, I’m already fully invested in this track. This is a song to please the masses, as it’s a bit more funky than most of Posty’s repertoire. Post Malone’s voice is hypnotic, and while this is a song I love to sing along to, his tendency to mumble means I have no idea what he’s saying half of the time, but I’m sure the sentiment is there.

The lyrics are a bit vague, but they’re catchy so objective achieved. I suppose he does have a point in saying that seasons change – even though this year has just felt like the same day relived, now we can say it is colder than before.

‘Don’t Start Now’ – Dua Lipa

The fact that I could name this song from the first piano note just shows how huge it was this year.  The nightclubs being closed have most definitely stunted this dance hit’s potential, but how it dominated TikTok made up for those lost plays on the dancefloor. Dua Lipa really has me craving the clubs with this song; the iconic piano, exquisite bass and surprising little cowbell moments come together to make a tune fit for the dance floor, whenever they reopen. With the lyrics, Dua Lipa brings the sassy feminist, feeling-herself energy we can always rely on her for.  Her confidence in this song is contagious, and I can see this being a girls’ night anthem.  

All of these tunes are spectacular, and their nominations are of course deserved. As difficult as it has been, after my exhaustive listens I have decided to make my prediction for the winner, which is……. ‘Cardigan’. Taylor Swift dominated this year with the release of Folklore, and ‘Cardigan’ has all the best motifs of the album compacted into one beautiful piece of music. Now, it must be noted that none of these songs spent 40 consecutive weeks in the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100, like a certain ‘Blinding Lights’ did this year. I guess if you want to see my thoughts on that, just check Elton John’s Instagram.