Take that, Spotify Wrapped: for the second year in a row, I’m ranking the best needle drops 2021 had to offer. A lot of shows and movies went BIG on soundtracks this year, but did that pay off? Did all the glitz and the glamor of HBO’s big budgets result in better soundtracks, or were they over-saturated? Get that boombox, Discman, or cassette player ready —or maybe just YouTube, because that’s where most of these specific audio/visual moments are playing — here are the my favorite needle drops of 2021.
We may have missed out on another “L to the OG” from Succession, and yet, we got another classic Kendall singing moment from Season 3 of the show this year. Hits like Gossip Girl and the Fear Street trilogy packed a punch with their playlists, because, apparently, less isn’t more. Why not throw 10 pop songs into one 30-minute span of catfights, arguments, and more? Works for me.
Last year, I ranked the best needle drops of 2020. I don’t know if anything can ever top either Lovers Rock or, in stark contrast, that random Trolls song played at Quibi’s funeral. This year, TV and movies still gave it their all (and it was fun to hear music in a theater again, though most of these listed below are streaming). Here are the finest needle drops 2021 had to offer.
10
The Soundtrack Chaos of 'Fear Street'
There is not one identifiable needle drop in the entire Fear Street trilogy, but the whole damn saga is noteworthy when it comes to needle drops of 2021. From The Pixies to Radiohead, it seems the music budget was, well, the entire budget of the movie. Fear Street seemingly wrote its plot around these songs, in fact, because they fit so well. Think of Fear Street less as a trilogy of movies, and more as one big, long playlist of very popular songs that have been strung together by some horror action. Thanks, Netflix.
9
"Everlasting Love"
From 'Belfast'
Belfast isn’t the best movie — and, just to cover my bases now, it shouldn’t win any big awards as it’s being forecasted to — but it does feature a killer needle drop. “Everlasting Love” was teased in the trailer for Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical movie, and it’s as fun and exciting of a scene in the movie itself. Near the end of the drama, an uplifting karaoke scene cuts through the high stakes to make things good again for youngster Buddy. Jamie Dornan sings, dances, lifts Caitríona Balfe into his arms — what more could one ask for?
8
"All I Need Is A Miracle"
From 'Spencer'
You know when you find the perfect song to play in the middle of a long car ride? Or when a real hit comes on in the Uber? It’s hard to find the words to describe the feeling, but Spencer captures it in an isolated moment of pure delight right before the masterpiece wraps.
The rest of Spencer is filled with Jonny Greenwood’s eerie score, so when this upbeat track kicks in, it’s able to mark a real departure from the gloominess of the rest of the film in mere seconds. Our Princess Di (Kristen Stewart) is finally freed, happy, soaring down the highway with her two sons to grab some KFC. They sing along. It’s a moment of pure bliss.
7
"Honesty"
From 'Succession'
Perhaps cheating the term “needle drop,” but entirely worth it, I’m naming Succession‘s brief Billy Joel cameo as one of the best music moments 2021 had to offer. At Kendall’s big 40th birthday bash practice, he rehearses a performance of “Honesty” by Joel that is equal parts brilliant and terrifying. Unfortunately, at the actual event, Kendall wimps out and cancels all of the extravagant performances he had planned. We’re lucky we got to see just a little part of the big scheme.
6
"Doin' It To Death"
From 'Titane'
Titane is wild from start to finish. The movie doesn’t open on this scene, per se, but the story does: Alexia (Agathe Rousselle) struts around a parking lot, finds a flaming hot car, performs a sexy dance sequence for a wild audience, and closes things all out. And all the while, “Doin’ It To Death” by The Kills plays in the background. It’s a killer song for a killer opening sequence. The rest of the movie has great needle drops too, though it feels weird to hear our normal people music in such a bizarre, extraterrestrial film.
5
"Life On Mars"
From 'Licorice Pizza'
Sadly, Licorice Pizza isn’t available to stream quite yet. In fact, it’s barely showing in theaters! BUT you can watch the trailer over and over again to get excited for one of Paul Thomas Anderson’s finest features. The trailer features David Bowie’s “Life on Mars,” a perfect selection to hype incoming viewers up for the movie, and it’s actually in the film too. There’s a lot of running involved in the movie (see above), and the scene with the needle drop involves, you guessed it, some sprinting.
4
"Hannah Montana"
From 'Zola'
Hannah Montana! Hannah Montana! Hannah Montana! Hannah Montana! Etcetera. The Succession cast is sure great at making fine songs terrible (in the best way possible), and such is the case in Zola. Nicholas Braun’s phone-recorded sequence is one of the funniest parts of the entire film — which is, as a whole, hilarious — and includes the perfect song for the jubilant moment. Braun is no Migos. He’s better. (Not really.)
3
"Liability"
From 'Euphoria'
Euphoria began the year with the Lorde. I’m still waiting on Season 2, which will surely bring some of the best needle drops of 2022, but one special episode was enough to make the list this year. “F*ck Anyone Who’s Not a Seablob” was a masterful episode of television, following Jules’ (Hunter Schafer, who wrote the episode) trip into therapy. She begins by recounting her year in a new space, with thoughts mostly occupied by Rue (Zendaya), all filmed through her iris and backed by Lorde’s “Liability.” Because who doesn’t set Lorde as the soundtrack to their memories?
2
"Super Rich Kids"
From 'Gossip Girl'
Gossip Girl had the best overall needle drops of 2021, but there were way too many to keep track. The reboot’s song selections were just like the original, a firestorm of pop culture history that’s sure to elicit powerful nostalgia when watched later on down the road. Imagine hearing Charli XCX when you rewatch this series to prepare for HBO Max+’s Gossip Girl: The Reboot: The Revival in 2035. It’ll feel the same as hearing “Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo these days. Hilarious.
My favorite, however, came in the trailer. I’ll never forget when it dropped earlier this year, thanks to the super-dramatic choice. Was “Super Rich Kids” an extremely on-the-nose choice for the trailer? Yes, but sometimes, the most literal option is the best one, when it comes to needle drops. Gossip Girl went there, when it came to a soundtrack, and I can’t wait to see what makes the cut in Season 2.
1
"The Winner Takes It All"
From 'Bergman Island'
By far the best needle drop — scratch that, scene of 2021 is Mia Wasikowska’s brilliant dance sequence in Bergman Island. She’s been having a rough time with her secret lover when the moment rolls in, and like Spencer, the power of song is as freeing as ever. Finally, we get to see anxious Amy strut around the dance floor, shake everything loose, and even better, it’s all to the tune of ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All.”
Unfortunately, Amy isn’t the winner, and is therefore left empty-handed. As the song climbs, Amy lifts herself up onto the stage, dancing for an imaginary man that has, for some reason, left the building. She steps her way up to the front of the room. Spinning around to face her lover at the back of the dance floor, she realizes there’s only an empty space in his place. You can practically watch her heart shatter on the ground as she races out the door, “The Winner Takes It All” fading behind her.
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December 23, 2021 at 10:00PM
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Fletcher Peters' Favorite Needle Drops of 2021 - Decider
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