2021 Pop Hits Explorer
2021 Pop Hits Summary
Most Streamed: Blinding Lights by The Weeknd (3.4 billion streams)
Highest Chart Position: Save Your Tears and Mood both reached No. 1
Top Award Winner: Leave The Door Open by Silk Sonic (Grammy Record of the Year)
2021 was a wild ride for pop music. From viral TikTok anthems to polished radio staples, the year delivered a soundtrack that still shows up on playlists everywhere. Below you’ll find the songs that dominated the charts, racked up billions of streams, and defined the vibe of 2021 pop hits. Whether you’re revisiting a favorite or discovering a missed gem, this list has you covered.
Quick Take
- Levitating - Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby
- Save Your Tears - The Weeknd
- Blinding Lights - The Weeknd
- Mood - 24kGoldn feat. iann dior
- Good 4 U - Olivia Rodrigo
- Kiss Me More - Doja Cat feat. SZA
- Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic
- Montero (Call Me By Your Name) - LilNasX
- Peaches - Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon
- Butter - BTS
1. Levitating - Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby
Levitating is a dance‑pop track that blends disco‑era strings with a modern synth groove, propelling Dua Lipa back to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021. The song peaked at No.2 on the year‑end chart and accumulated more than 2.5billion Spotify streams by the end of 2022. Its catchy chorus and DaBaby’s punchy verse made it a club staple and a TikTok favorite, earning a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year.
2. Save Your Tears - The Weeknd
Save Your Tears is a synth‑driven pop ballad that showcases The Weeknd’s falsetto over a melancholy melody. The original 2020 release surged again in 2021 after the remix featuring Ariana Grande hit radio, pushing the track to No.1 on the Hot 100 for four weeks. It logged roughly 1.9billion streams on Spotify and dominated the Billboard Year‑End ranking at No.4.
3. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd
Blinding Lights is a retro‑futuristic anthem that channels 80‑s synthwave while delivering a modern pop punch. Although released in late 2019, the single’s longevity earned it the top spot on the 2021 year‑end Hot 100. It remains the most streamed song on Spotify with over 3.4billion plays and won the Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Song.
4. Mood - 24kGoldn feat. iann dior
Mood is a genre‑blending pop‑rap single that pairs breezy guitar chords with a catchy hook. The collaboration topped the chart at No.1 for one week in 2021 and accumulated 1.2billion Spotify streams. Its light‑hearted vibe made it a summer staple and it earned a ASCAP Pop Music Award for Most Performed Song.
5. Good 4 U - Olivia Rodrigo
Good 4 U is a pop‑rock anthem that mixes punk‑edge guitars with a sing‑along chorus, marking a bold shift from Rodrigo’s ballad debut. The track vaulted to No.1 on the Hot 100 and stayed there for three weeks, amassing 1.7billion streams on Spotify by the end of 2021. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance and solidified Rodrigo as a breakout star.
6. Kiss Me More - Doja Cat feat. SZA
Kiss Me More is a smooth, breezy pop‑R&B track that blends Doja Cat’s playful verses with SZA’s silky vocals. The single peaked at No.3 on the Hot 100, logged over 1.5billion Spotify streams, and earned both artists a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
7. Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic
Leave The Door Open is a retro‑soul love song that showcases Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s chemistry over lush, 70s‑style instrumentation. Debuting at No.1 on the Hot 100, the track held the top spot for two weeks, collected 1.1billion streams, and swept the Grammy Awards, winning Record of the Year and Best R&B Performance.
8. Montero (Call Me By Your Name) - LilNasX
Montero (Call Me By Your Name) is a provocative pop‑rap anthem that blends lush production with a bold, unapologetic message. The controversial video sparked massive online discussion, helping the song climb to No.2 on the Hot 100. It gathered 1.6billion Spotify streams and earned a nomination for Best Music Video at the MTV VMAs.
9. Peaches - Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon
Peaches is a smooth, R&B‑inflected pop track that highlights Bieber’s mellow vocal tone alongside Caesar’s and Giveon’s soulful contributions. The song landed at No.1 on the Hot 100 for one week, surpassed 1.4billion streams, and was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the Grammys.
10. Butter - BTS
Butter is a up‑tempo, funk‑flavored pop single that showcases BTS’s polished choreography and global appeal. The track topped the Hot 100 for ten consecutive weeks, broke the record for most‑watched YouTube premiere on release, and amassed over 2.2billion Spotify streams, cementing its place as 2021’s biggest K‑pop crossover.
2021 Pop Hits at a Glance
| Song | Artist(s) | Billboard Peak (2021) | Spotify Streams (Billions) | Notable Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levitating | Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby | No.2 | 2.5 | Grammy Nom - Record of the Year |
| Save Your Tears | The Weeknd (feat. Ariana Grande) | No.1 | 1.9 | Billboard Top Song |
| Blinding Lights | The Weeknd | No.1 (Year‑End) | 3.4 | Billboard Music Award - Top Hot 100 Song |
| Mood | 24kGoldn feat. iann dior | No.1 | 1.2 | ASCAP Pop Music Award |
| Good 4 U | Olivia Rodrigo | No.1 | 1.7 | Grammy Nom - Best Pop Solo Performance |
| Kiss Me More | Doja Cat feat. SZA | No.3 | 1.5 | Grammy Nom - Best Pop Duo/Group |
| Leave The Door Open | Silk Sonic | No.1 | 1.1 | Grammys - Record of the Year |
| Montero (Call Me By Your Name) | LilNasX | No.2 | 1.6 | MTV VMA Nom - Best Video |
| Peaches | Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon | No.1 | 1.4 | Grammy Nom - Best Pop Duo/Group |
| Butter | BTS | No.1 | 2.2 | Billboard Music Award - Top Streaming Song |
Frequently Asked Questions
How were the top 10 songs selected?
The list follows Billboard’s Year‑End Hot 100 rankings, which combine radio airplay, sales, and streaming data from the entire calendar year. Additional factors like cultural impact and award recognition were considered for context.
Which song had the most Spotify streams?
The Weeknd’s "Blinding Lights" topped the list with over 3.4billion streams on Spotify, making it the most‑streamed pop track of 2021.
Did any non‑English songs make the top 10?
Yes. BTS’s "Butter" is primarily in English but the group’s K‑pop background brought a non‑Western flavor to the chart. No fully non‑English tracks cracked the top‑ten list in 2021.
Which of these songs won Grammy awards?
SilkSonic’s "Leave The Door Open" won Record of the Year and Best R&B Performance at the 2022 Grammys. Olivia Rodrigo’s "Good 4 U" earned a nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance.
How can I add these songs to my playlist quickly?
Open your preferred streaming app, search each title, and use the “Add to Playlist” feature. Most services let you create a new playlist and batch‑add songs via the search results or by selecting multiple tracks at once.
Will these songs still be popular in 2025?
Many have become modern classics-"Blinding Lights" and "Levitating" still receive heavy radio rotation. Others, like "Montero" and "Butter", have strong fan bases that keep them in playlists years later.
