2021 Music Highlights: ABBA Returns, Adele Blows, Olivia Slays, Elton Shines

The year 2021 in supposedly rock music review, but this time expanded to all mainstream music. Check out the selected highlights.

ABBA Returns. Mighty and Magical. First studio album in a little less than 40 years, first-ever Christmas single, upcoming virtual tour…

In a state of the world that needed it the most, Swedish pop superstars is back and it is huge! The hotly anticipated new album with mostly new recordings tops the chart around the globe last month, just to prove that after all these years, fans still have faith in them. Hot links [Official Web], [Buy Album], [UK Charts].

ABBA. Photo by: Ludvig Andersson. Source: Twitter @ABBA

The group also release a special single, Little Things, that serves as their first-ever Christmas single to cheer up us this holiday season. They have recently announced early this December that all proceeds from the single will be donated to UNICEF. Hot links [Stream/Buy Single], [UNICEF].

The group will be doing stunning virtual shows next year, featuring their own avatars known as ‘ABBAtar’, accompanied by a 10-piece live band, in a custom-built arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. Hot links [ABBA Show].

Adele Blows. The singer’s new album in six years ’30’ breaks record everywhere. Plus, the intimate show…

Another big release last month is pop diva Adele with her latest studio release, 30. To nobody’s surprise, it breaks so many records, with some record-breaking numbers in music industry since the release of her own ’25’ in 2015. As of writing this blog post, the album still tops both US and UK Charts. Hot links [Buy 30], [UK Chart], [US Chart].

Adele also made a TV special that debuted few days prior to album release in US. ‘Adele One Night Only’ hosted by Oprah Winfrey and aired on CBS. Guess what, not only the album that breaks record, the special show is now the most watched TV special since the Oscars in April, with at least 10 million viewership (US). Hot links [CBS].

Olivia Slays. The pop-punk newcomer’s debut year in mainstream music is phenomenal…

Some says the year belongs to Olivia Rodrigo. In a way, it is. Olivia may not be new to Disney and High School Musical lovers, but when entering larger, mainstream music industry, she is known to nobody until after new year with ‘drivers license’. Her debut album later in the year ‘Sour’ then become one of the best-selling album of the year, and produces hit singles one after another. She also receives 7 nominations for the Grammys next year. Here we say thank you Olivia for incorporating rock/punk to your music. Hot links [Buy/Play Sour], [US Chart], [UK Chart].

Elton Shines. One of the best year for musical legend Sir Elton John…

Elton John was in music business for decades, but this year shows him in no decline as he adds several notable releases to his already wonderful career. Thankfully, for his collaborations. First with Dua Lipa on ‘Cold Heart’, chart-topping collaboration-fueled album ‘The Lockdown Sessions’, and the subsequent holiday anthems ‘Merry Christmas’ with Ed Sheeran, and the parody of itself ‘Sausage Rolls for Everyone’ with Ladbaby. The said parody version just won the race to UK Christmas Number 1 song this year. Hot links [Buy/Play Music], [Xmas No.1].

Personal Chart: Top 20 Albums of 2021

Another year with great list of musicians putting out music to their best. I’m almost certain that there’s still many good albums out there that I missed, but for the time being, I only need to compile my own list of favorite studio albums this year that grabbed my attention the most.

Personal Chart: Top Album of 2021. (Chart order: 20 to 1)

20.  Music of the Spheres by Coldplay. Parlophone/ Atlantic. Release date: October 15th.
19.  The Future Bites by Steven Wilson. Caroline International. Release date: January 29th.
18.  Nowhere Generations by Rise Against. Loma Vista. Release date: June 4th.
17.  A View from the Top of the World by Dream Theater. Inside Out. Release date: October 22nd.
16.  Wild Dreams by Westlife. East West. Release date: November 26th.
15.  Typhoons by Royal Blood. Warner. Release date: April 30th.
14.  Motorheart by The Darkness. Cooking Vinyl. Release date: November 19th.
13.  Let the Bad Times Roll by The Offspring. Concord. Release date: April 16th.
12.  When You See Yourself by Kings of Leon. RCA. Release date: March 5th.
11.  Medicine at Midnight by Foo Fighters. RCA/ Roswell. Release date: February 5th.

10.  In the Court of the Dragon by Trivium. Roadrunner. Release date: October 8th.
9.  The Lockdown Sessions by Elton John. EMI/ Interscope. Release date: October 22nd.
8.  Pressure Machine by The Killers. Island. Release date: August 13th.
7.  Senjutsu by Iron Maiden. Parlophone/ BMG. Release date: September 3rd.
6.  The Bitter Truth by Evanescence. BMG. Release date: March 26th.
5.  Sour by Olivia Rodrigo. Geffen. Release date: May 21st.
4.  OK Human by Weezer. Atlantic/ Crush. Release date: January 29th.

3.  The Battle at Garden’s Gate by Greta Van Fleet. Lava/ Republic. Release date: April 16th.
2.  Voyage by ABBA. Polar/ Universal. Release date: November 5th.
1.  30 by Adele. Columbia/ Melted Stone. Release date: November 19th.