These are our favorite tracks of 2021 — unranked and individually selected — they helped us get up in the morning and fall asleep (or stay awake) at night. Or sometimes we simply played them on repeat ...

has been named the best record of 2021. A journey through her family background and artistic struggles, it's been praised for its "razor-sharp lyricism" and "extravagant, orchestral" songs.

Swift once again remade popular music in her own image in 2021. By Jason Lipshutz Editor For the 2021 update of our ongoing Greatest Pop Star by Year project, Billboard counted down our staff ...