You know it’s December when you start seeing everyone you follow on social media sharing the results of their Spotify Wrapped for 2021. It’s a tradition, after all.
This year, the streaming service offered cool in-app features such as determining your “music aura” and turning your listening habits into a movie soundtrack and, of course, there were some of the more head-scratching genres that we’ve all come to know and love — even if we had no idea we listened to such tunes.
While you’re probably already well-versed in your own list for the year, you might be curious to know what Australia, as a whole, was listening to over a year of more lockdowns and pandemic uncertainty.
Well, it seems that in the land down under we just couldn’t get enough of Taylor Swift, who was the country’s most artist, while Glass Animals’ Heatwaves was the country’s most streamed track for 2021. The British indie rockers will be in Australia in 2022 as part of the recently announced lineup for Splendour In The Grass.
Local legend The Kid LAROI was Australia’s most streamed local artist and also featured on the list of top globally streamed songs thanks to his catchy collab with Justin Bieber, Stay.
And Olivia Rodrigo made an appearance on the top list also — her debut album Sour, was the most-streamed album in both the country and the world.
Rodrigo’s hit single Driver’s License was the number one streamed song for 2021 with 1.1 billion streams, while Lil Nas X’s Montero (Call Me By Your Name) came in second.
On the international front, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, Justin Bieber’s Justice, Ed Sheeran’s = and Doja Cat’s Planet Her were the most popular albums and the most popular artist in the world award goes to Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny with 9.1 billion streams. Taylor Swift, BTS, Drake and Justin Bieber rounded out that list.
When it comes to our team here at The Latch, it turns out we are an eclectic bunch, although the trends of 2021 certainly rang true for Ange Law, our Commercial Content and Shopping Editor who joked that her Wrapped playlist “has been designed as my yearly reminder that I am, in fact, a basic bitch.”
“This year (like all other years) Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande featured in my top five artists and because of her re-records, Taylor Swift has also weaselled her way in,” says Law. “Olivia Rodrigo is self-explanatory, too.
“What I am pleased and proud about is the couple of Aussie artists who have made the cut too. The Kid LAROI, a proud Kamilaroi man, earned his spot among my top five for his collab with Justin Bieber, STAY, but I’m shocked his song, WITHOUT YOU didn’t make the cut because I had it on high rotation all year. Apricots by MAY-A also made it into my top five and that’s for good reason — if you haven’t wound down the window to your car while blasting this, please do.”
For publisher Amanda Bardas, a cancelled Offspring concert and a newborn daughter resulted in a different vibe to what she has gravitated to in previous years.
“For the first time in probably 15 years my number one genre was punk,” she said, noting that Offspring was in her top artists.
“I was meant to go to see Offspring about a year ago with my high school friends I think and it was cancelled because of COVID so I was making up for it.”
She added, “Normally rap is my number 1 but this year I had a baby and my moments of solitude became sitting in the car and playing the punk songs from my youth as loud as possible.”
Thrillist Editor Ben Tyers mused that his top songs were “all Dope Lemon”, adding, “not sure what that said about my lockdown experience” while Senior Account Manager Alyce Thomas was amused by the inclusion of “organic house” on her most enjoyed genres list.
Culture Editor Jack Revell said that his Wrapped was not terribly surprising, but noted” Red Hot Chilli Peppers got a big boost having read Scar Tissue and Acid for the Children this year.”
He continued, “I think my Spotify listening skews heavily towards rock because I mainly just listen to DJ sets on YouTube and use Spotify for more easy listening/background music or parties and road trips.”
As for me, just like last year, my music taste has not evolved at all. The Rolling Stones were my most played artist, closely followed by Foo Fighters, Notorious B.I.G. and RÜFÜS DU SOL.
In terms of genres, I am still all about classic and indie rock and hip hop but was intrigued to see “tropical dance” appear on this year’s list. The one newcomer to my wrapped was the soundtrack to In the Heights which I absolutely listened to every day after seeing the incredible film version of it and which I have recently started playing to my belly for my unborn bub to hear (along with a robust collection of jazz, classical, rock and hip hop — so lord knows how this kid will turn out).
And there you have it, I would say that is a wrap on Spotify Wrapped for 2021, but we all know we’ll be seeing everyone’s results for a week or so yet on social media.
Until next year!
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