After 2020 blindsided us, 2021 was the year when we got used to a new music landscape: lockdowns came and went (and came back again), release dates generally went ahead as planned, and we all tried to find some solace in entertainment.
Looking back on our top 10 news stories of this very eventful year, there are some unpleasant reminders of our new reality: there was that moment an Ontario politician disobeyed public health orders in a moment eerily similar to The Simpsons, and the time Ed Sheeran caught COVID-19 just before his SNL appearance.
But for the most part, our top news stories of 2021 looked like a fairly typical year: there were rumours of new album releases, the new single from a rock legend's son, and a Canadian music icon moving back to his home country. There was also a big slide shaped like a penis.
Revisit Exclaim!'s top 20 news stories from 2021 below.
20. Grimes Gets Super Defensive About Elon Musk in the Wake of His SNL Backlash (April 27, 2021)
19. Montreal Teacher Suspended After Showing Students His Music Video (December 1, 2021)
18. Here's Record Store Day's Full List of 2021 Black Friday Releases (November 11, 2021)
17. An NFL Player Vomited After Eating Eminem's "Mom's Spaghetti" (October 18, 2021)
16. TikTok Star Shreds Metallica After Followers Called Her Out for Wearing Their T-Shirt (December 30, 2020)
15. Did the Beatles Record the First Heavy Metal Song? (December 13, 2021)
14. Watch Keanu Reeves Help the Crew Carry Gear on John Wick 4 Set (October 21, 2021)
13. Grimes Apologizes for Praising Elon Musk's SNL Performance (May 12, 2021)
12. William Shatner Blasts Jim Carrey, Bill Nye, Jason Alexander for Their Captain Kirk Impressions (September 17, 2021)
11. Someone Turned Radiohead's "True Love Waits" into Shoegaze and It Sounds Amazing (December 21, 2021)
10. BC's Massive Penis-Shaped Slide Reportedly Part of Seth Rogen-Produced Film (October 8, 2021)
9. Everyone Is Volunteering to Replace Ed Sheeran on SNL (October 25, 2021)
8. John Frusciante's Barber Simply Won't Stop Leaking Info About Red Hot Chili Peppers' New Album (June 2, 2021)
7. Werner Herzog Watched Skate Videos for the First Time and Instantly Understood the Subculture (January 26, 2021)
6. The Simpsons Predicted the Ontario Finance Minister's St. Barts Controversy (December 31, 2020)
5. Neil Young Is Back Living in Ontario (April 28, 2021)
4. SNL Calls to "Save Kim's Convenience" (March 29, 2021)
3. Adam McKay Opens Up on His Personal and Professional Split From Will Ferrell (November 30, 2021)
2. Thom Yorke's Son Noah Just Released a Song, and It Sounds a Lot Like Radiohead (September 24, 2021)
1. Red Hot Chili Peppers Have Reportedly Finished Their New Album with John Frusciante (May 31, 2021)
Looking back on our top 10 news stories of this very eventful year, there are some unpleasant reminders of our new reality: there was that moment an Ontario politician disobeyed public health orders in a moment eerily similar to The Simpsons, and the time Ed Sheeran caught COVID-19 just before his SNL appearance.
But for the most part, our top news stories of 2021 looked like a fairly typical year: there were rumours of new album releases, the new single from a rock legend's son, and a Canadian music icon moving back to his home country. There was also a big slide shaped like a penis.
Revisit Exclaim!'s top 20 news stories from 2021 below.
20. Grimes Gets Super Defensive About Elon Musk in the Wake of His SNL Backlash (April 27, 2021)
19. Montreal Teacher Suspended After Showing Students His Music Video (December 1, 2021)
18. Here's Record Store Day's Full List of 2021 Black Friday Releases (November 11, 2021)
17. An NFL Player Vomited After Eating Eminem's "Mom's Spaghetti" (October 18, 2021)
16. TikTok Star Shreds Metallica After Followers Called Her Out for Wearing Their T-Shirt (December 30, 2020)
15. Did the Beatles Record the First Heavy Metal Song? (December 13, 2021)
14. Watch Keanu Reeves Help the Crew Carry Gear on John Wick 4 Set (October 21, 2021)
13. Grimes Apologizes for Praising Elon Musk's SNL Performance (May 12, 2021)
12. William Shatner Blasts Jim Carrey, Bill Nye, Jason Alexander for Their Captain Kirk Impressions (September 17, 2021)
11. Someone Turned Radiohead's "True Love Waits" into Shoegaze and It Sounds Amazing (December 21, 2021)
10. BC's Massive Penis-Shaped Slide Reportedly Part of Seth Rogen-Produced Film (October 8, 2021)
9. Everyone Is Volunteering to Replace Ed Sheeran on SNL (October 25, 2021)
8. John Frusciante's Barber Simply Won't Stop Leaking Info About Red Hot Chili Peppers' New Album (June 2, 2021)
7. Werner Herzog Watched Skate Videos for the First Time and Instantly Understood the Subculture (January 26, 2021)
6. The Simpsons Predicted the Ontario Finance Minister's St. Barts Controversy (December 31, 2020)
5. Neil Young Is Back Living in Ontario (April 28, 2021)
4. SNL Calls to "Save Kim's Convenience" (March 29, 2021)
3. Adam McKay Opens Up on His Personal and Professional Split From Will Ferrell (November 30, 2021)
2. Thom Yorke's Son Noah Just Released a Song, and It Sounds a Lot Like Radiohead (September 24, 2021)
1. Red Hot Chili Peppers Have Reportedly Finished Their New Album with John Frusciante (May 31, 2021)
