Whatever You Want Crowded House I want to keep the 80s alive, and that’s so true on this next song by the group Crowded House. And, it also shares the same title as a song by the Pat Metheny Group that I really enjoy as well, and it’s also worth checking out! But, be forewarned that was not a hit on my chart of 2021! But, for what it’s worth, I guess you could say that songs about trains definitely do not derail on my charts! John’s latest song has already spent 2 weeks at #1 on my charts, right before Christmas. It seems like it would’ve been perfectly at home back on pop stations back in the 1980s, featuring a Steve Winwood “feel.” As always, this tune features impeccable songwriting and production quality, as is featured on each of John Mayer’s hits. Last Train Home John Mayer So many artists were making a return to the charts, at least my charts, in 2021! John Mayer was back after a long absence, with this tune. If you sing along with this song, you will feel better it’s cathartic in a good way! This song debuted and peaked at #2 in the fall of 2021! Note: Some explicit language in song/video. Bite Me Avril Lavigne Having a bad day? Feeling 90s nostalgic? Avril has you covered! We’ve been missing that “attitude” on the charts for awhile, but Avril picked right up where she left off with Girlfriend back in 2007. And then there are some of us who like all of her music, regardless of genre! This is the first of Taylor’s three appearances on my year end chart, and the only one not to reach #1, peaking at #2 for 2 weeks in the fall of 2021. This particular song is definitely “all country,” and it is sounding as good as ever! Some of her fans prefer her pop sound, while others prefer her initial country roots. One way to resolve that? Re-record her entire catalog! And that’s just what she did, re-recording and releasing new versions of her music throughout 2021.

All Too Well (Taylor's Version) Taylor Swift Talk about ambitious! Taylor was in a legal battle over who “owned” the rights to her music. It features that “classic” Coldplay sound, which always seems to resonate with their fans! Higher Power Coldplay “Power” was a frequent theme on this year’s countdown, with Coldplay doing their part with a “higher power!” This song powered up to #3 on my weekly charts, and had enough chart power to rank at #34 for the entire year. Some of her songs have more a more serious “message” or “tone ” this song eschews that for a more light and fun adventure. Lost Cause Billie Eilish Lost cause? I don’t think so! Billie continued to take up regular residency on my weekly charts for a good portion of 2021. The Tipping Point Tears For Fears Tears For Fears have never been on my year-end countdown until now! But, for the record, I only started doing this in 1995, and this is their first release I’ve heard since then! It’s a subdued tune, but it grows on you with each listen…and then you reach the “tipping point!” Merry Christmas Ed Sheeran and Elton John This is the lowest ranked #1 song of the year on my year-end countdown, but to be fair, it’s a seasonal tune, which seriously limits it’s potential for chart longevity! But, there’s no doubt that pairing up Sir Elton John with Ed Sheeran would be a winning combination, and that is so vocally true on this fun holiday tune! Find My Way Paul McCartney Sir Paul never disappoints, and that’s true on this tune as well! He is still in fine vocal form for an added treat, check out the video of the song produced by Beck ! It is definitely a bit trippy! There is no doubt that Paul is always helping each of us “find our way!” If you like that sound, you will appreciate their “new” music, but if you were hoping they might have incorporated more modern elements in their songs, you might be a bit disappointed!

Don't Shut Me Down ABBA With the song at #39, if you close your eyes, you might just feel a bit like a dancing queen! Well, we never want to shut that feeling down, and ABBA are back to ensure we don’t! It’s the “classic ABBA sound,“ and not really much different from their last set of tunes from 1980. The song at #40 is classic David Crosby but it’s a new song, which makes it all the more special! Seems like this would have been right at home on classic rock stations, but alas, they don’t take a chance playing new songs from vintage artists. This year, there’s a bit of a time warp with the first three songs ranking #40 through #38, with artists and groups who first made it big in the 1960s and 1970s. Rodriguez For A Night David Crosby One of the things I love about doing my annual countdown is that I am never sure how songs will “land” on the chart and what their placement will be relative to one another.

Dramatic countdown music