Opinion / Pop queens of Covid-19, ranked: Blackpink, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and 11 more divas who kept us dancing through the pandemic, making 2020 the best era of pop music in decades
When we think back on the year of the coronavirus, we will indeed remember the dreadful skin rashes from our masks, the endless Zoom calls and empty city streets, but we will also remember it as the year the world’s most talented female artists gave us their most iconic bodies of work yet. Yes, there were some great male releases, but 2020 was the year that girl power lifted our spirits and kept us dancing as the pandemic ripped our lives and worlds apart. It was like our brightest divas turned into a barrage of superheroes who collectively flew in to save the world from Covid-19 one banging tune after the other.
Watch out, Blackpink! The most shocking girl band member exits of all time
So without further ado, here are our 15 best albums of 2020 that made the pandemic a little easier to tolerate.
15. Haim’s “Women in Music Pt. III”
“Women in Music Pt. III” is the third studio album by American sisters Alana, Danielle and Este Haim, and third time has certainly been the charm.
Haim has been consistently good over the years, but 2020 was a highlight for the girls. They’re also up for Album of the Year at the 63rd Grammy Awards, in case you don’t believe this highly reputable list.
The world’s top-paid music artists made millions in 2020, defying Covid-19
14. Ariana Grande’s “Positions”
Ariana has practically been releasing albums yearly since 2013, so it would’ve been rude of her to not show up for us in 2020.
13. Little Mix’s “Confetti”
The year 2020 has been bittersweet for the UK’s beloved girl band, Little Mix.
They released their sixth album “Confetti” in November to much praise thanks to their slick pop songs, but only a month later, member Jesy Nelson walked out on the band.
12. Kesha’s “High Road”
Now meet the new Kesha. From the Super Mario-infused Birthday Suit to the uplifting Little Bit of Love, “High Road” took Kesha (and our moods) to new heights during the pandemic. She even filmed her own music video at home with her cat, which we could all relate to.
Video: Inside Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s US$24m home, now for sale
11. Kylie Minogue’s “Disco”
Fortunately, Australia and Europe’s gay communities were thrown a lifeline during the pandemic when Kween Kylie dropped her 15th album.
You’d think after 15 albums Kylie would be stale, but this mix of 1970s and 1980s disco and modern-day electronic dance is the freshest thing we’ve heard all year.
How K-pop genius Rain became one of Korea’s richest celebrities
10. Jessie Ware’s “What’s Your Pleasure”
English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware has been in business for about a decade, but in recent years it’s been her brilliant podcast “Table Manners” that we loved most about her.
Fortunately, 2020 became the year Jessie finally got widespread critical acclaim thanks to her disco banger of a new album, which will transport you straight back to an 80s dance floor (and if it’s your first time, you’re in for a treat).
9. Alicia Keys’ “Alicia”
The year 2020 may not have had a lot of soul, but Alicia Keys sure did.
Stripping back the album title, her make-up and her sound, Alicia made it clear she was returning to her roots with her seventh album, and boy does it sound good.
Perfect Way To Die catered to our more sombre moments, while Time Machine had us stomping our way through the pandemic, and for that we salute you, Alicia.
Forget Hollywood beauty standards – these 10 stars are all about body positivity
8. Rina Sawayama’s “Sawayama”
While the charts were dominated by voices we know and love, there was also a new name on our Spotify 2020 Wrapped chart this year – Japanese-British singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama.
From the moment you hear the bizarre yet brilliant nu metal track STFU!, or overly camp disco bop Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys), you know there is something very special about this newcomer.
7. Alanis Morissette’s “Such Pretty Forks in the Road”
Alanis Morissette has been consistently good throughout her career, so it’s a pity most people only know the “Jagged Little Pill” era.
Her ninth studio album “Such Pretty Forks in the Road” is the Canadian star’s first release in eight years, and it’s the classic, wonderful Alanis we know and love. We hate to say it, but it’s the “Jagged Little Pill Alanis” in all her glory.
Sadly, Alanis had to cancel the 25th anniversary tour of her 1995 album this year, but it’s given us more time to appreciate the work of art that is “Such Pretty Forks in the Road.”
Covid-19 and K-pop: 7 idols who tested positive
6. Melanie C’s “Melanie C”
Then, all these years later, she unexpectedly drops the best record of her career and shoots herself straight back into the UK’s top 10 album chart and mainstream success.
She sings on Here I Am (official banger, FYI): “They said I was too old, but I’m on fire, I’m on fire!” Indeed you are, Melanie, and you’ve once again spiced up our lives when we needed it the most.
5. Miley Cyrus’ “Plastic Hearts”
While Dua Lipa collab Prisoner instantly became a worldwide hit, it was the tracks with rock legends Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett and Billy Idol that really threw the world off its axis and made us question what era we were living in. Seriously, Stevie Nicks? Could we be any more blessed?
Miley Cyrus, Samuel L. Jackson: 10 stars who quit veganism
4. Blackpink’s “The Album”
3. Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia”
As the world went into lockdown, and most new releases were put on hold, Dua Lipa raised eyebrows when she decided to move ahead regardless with the release of disco banger “Future Nostalgia” during the darkest period the world had collectively felt in recent times.
When there were no gyms to train in, there was Dua Lipa’s 80s workout-inspired Physical music video.
Before Blackpink and Gaga: the 6 biggest K-pop collaborations
2. Taylor Swift’s “Folklore” & “Evermore”
While most of us spent our initial weeks of lockdown keeping low key and getting fat, Taylor Swift recorded not one but two of the best low key albums of her career.
After 2019’s epic “Lover”, Swifty would’ve been forgiven for taking 2020 off, but instead she became a folk singer and recorded two albums. Just as our quarantine blues seemed to peak, Taylor surprised us with the mesmerising “Folklore” in July. And then again, out of the blue, with “sister album” “Evermore” in December. We are not worthy!
Not only did she show us a completely new side of herself, but the Bon Iver collaboration Exile is quite possibly the best ballad of the year, and of her career to date. Respect.
Is Taylor Swift’s Betty a future LGBT anthem?
1. Lady Gaga’s “Chromatica”
“Chromatica” is not only the critically acclaimed comeback Lady Gaga deserved, it’s also the pop album we needed to get us through the pandemic. While it was frustrating to not be able to dance to it on our favourite dance floors, it transported us to nightclubs in the early 90s, made us want to rave again and even gifted us enough social media memes to last a lifetime (The Chromatica II instrumental will live on our timelines forever).
A complete triumph, “Chromatica” brought us a lot of happiness in 2020, and could well be Lady Gaga’s best album to date. We will all dance to it together eventually, even if we have to leave Earth and go live on Chromatica to get away from Covid-19.
Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter .
For more great stories on Korean entertainment, artist profiles and the latest news, visit K-post, SCMP's K-pop hub.
Taylor Swift outdid herself with not one but two great albums, Folklore and Evermore, Blackpink proved its mettle with The Album and Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga had us dancing around our living rooms to upbeat anthems from Chromatica