Only eight days into 2021, Olivia Rodrigo released “drivers license” and, in an instant, the year’s undisputed breakout star had been found. “drivers license” became the most listened-to song on Apple Music in Ireland in 2021, with “good 4 u,” also taken from Rodrigo’s huge debut SOUR, just behind it. The music had never stopped in 2020, but 2021 marked the moment we were all truly able to dance again—and the world’s biggest artists stepped up. Ed Sheeran’s mighty comeback single “Bad Habits”—specifically released to soundtrack a summer of lockdown easing—was one of the year’s most inescapable hits, while Joel Corry continued to dominate with his RAYE and David Guetta collab “BED” (2020’s MNEK-assisted “Head & Heart” also reigned supreme). Home-grown talent Dermot Kennedy was another permanent fixture, with “Giants,” “Outnumbered,” and “Paradise”—his collaboration with Meduza—all on heavy rotation, earning him multiple entries on this playlist of 2021’s most-played songs. Relive all of those smashes—as well as the other most popular tracks of the year on Apple Music—right here.