Year-end is the time to look back to all the stuff what happened to you. Ideally you rather remind the good moments. This posting is about some of the best three to five minutes I spend during 2021 – the best songs of the year, from my very personal perspective. Enjoy my thoughts – and of course, if you like, discuss with me via the comment function or on my social media channels. There is also a posting about my Favorite Albums and EPs of 2021.
My Favorite Non-Country Songs in 2021
Out of all my Best of categories, this is typically the one, which gives me the biggest headaches. A lot of songs are – and not all of them have been part of Flyctory.com reviews. Also as non-country genres played a bigger role in my reviews this year, I decided to go for ten songs in here instead of the seven I did in 2020.
10. Raphael by Paule
Paule’s album Wunderschon Unperfekt was an absolutely stunning listen to me. While the album will just barely miss the top non-country albums, this melodic masterpiece just deserves to be in my Top 10 songs of the year, non-country. Hope you like it, too.
9. Believe Me by Lordi
The seven album Lordiversity project by my favorite Finnish monsters is definitely one of the most remarkable releases of the year to me. The album SuperFlyTrap, in which Lordi are recording disco pop, is just outstanding. The leading single just makes me smile whenever I listen to it.
8. Wellerman by Nathan Evans
Okay, this one somehow has to be on a German best of songs 2021 list. Nathan Evans dominated German radio stations with the shanty Wellerman. The right song at the right time.
7. Zeit Heilt keine Wunden by Nino de Angelo
Nino de Angelo released a lovely album Gesegnet und Verflucht early in 2021. “Time does not heal wounds” is the title in German. Such a direct and grand song.
6. Mother Earth by Ray Wilson
I love Ray Wilson. The former Genesis singer released The Weight Of Man, a fabulous album, in August 2021. My favorite song is Mother Earth – but you will find plenty of really good recordings on this one.
5. Zahltag by Hämatom
With Berlin and Die Liebe ist Tot, Hämatom released two very different albums in 2021. Zahltag, which is a song on the latter album is so deep and describing the thoughts of an abused child. A breathtaking song.
4. Weaker by Heart Healer feat. Adrienne Cowan
Adrienne Cowan is one of my favorite female metal voices. I was so glad when I read that she will join Magnus Karlsson in his Heart Healer metal opera project. In Weaker, Cowan illustrates her extraordinary vocal skills. An amazing metal track.
3. Wounded Knee by Peter Maffay
With So weit, Peter Maffay released a great new album this year, which even touches country music here and there. This sound reminds of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, in which 300 native Americans have been slaughtered by the US cavalry. Breathtaking.
2. Cold Heart by Elton John & Dua Lipa
I really not at all an Elton John fan, but his The Lockdown Sessions just blew me away. Even weeks after the single has been released, I still love Cold Heart with Dua Lipa.
My Favorite Non-Country Song 2021:
Cabriolet Panorama by The Kolors
I just happened to run into this Italian retro-pop song during a trip to the country, as I described in my The Hits of The Trips – My Summer 2021 in Music posting. The Kolors did an amazing ear catcher there. If you like 1980’s pop, be alert: you might not get this one out of your head.
My Favorite Song during 2021, which has been recorded in previous years
Un’Estate Italiana by Gianna Nannini & Edoardo Bennato
Also due to their very reliable Covid-19 regulations, I made it rather frequently to Italy the last 18 month. This song, which was so big in 1990, is simply my song about Italy. Whenever I think of the country, this is the song I have in my ear. Even when I just went to the Italian-speaking Ticino in Switzerland, these tunes accompany me. I dedicated this classic also one of my Songs of my Life postings this year.
My Favorite Country Songs in 2021
Despite being more active on the non-country side, country is still my main genre. Not too surprisingly, my list of candidates for this Favorite Songs list was really long. These ten tracks finally made it.
10. Can’t Do Without Me by Chayce Beckham & Lindsay Ell
Especially towards the end of the year, Canadian Lindsay Ell was part of multiple really good duets. This one of Chayce Beckham is a simply amazing one. Great collaboration
9. I Only Date Cowboys by Kylie Morgan
I loved Kylie Morgan and her songs in 2021. Her EP Love, Kylie including this track. Great listen.
8. To Us It Did by Mitchell Tenpenny
Mitchell Tenpenny is indeed a great singer-songwriter. To Us It Did is a beautiful anthem about country life.
7. When I Say I Do Today by Carolyn Miller
This song was even featured in a wedding in Malta – Carolyn Miller’s wedding song is indeed a global success. She is a great artist and proofs that in her wonderful track.
6. Identity by Sylvia Aimee
The Dutch Sylvia Aimee is such a great songwriter. Identity is such a deep and wonderful track. I even had a dedicated Spotlight interview episode about it.
5. County Roads by Elvie Shane
Elvie Shane did an awesome track with County Roads. Lovely, energetic listen.
4. What Christmas Means To Me by Stephanie Ryann
Not only due to the Country Christmas 2021 Playlist, I invested quite a lot of time into festive country music. What Christmas Means To Me combines holiday spirit with deep lyrics. Love it.
3. You’ll Always Be My Baby by Alan Jackson
Wedding song, part 2: in contrast to Carolyn Miller, Alan Jackson is not writing this one to a beloved one, but to his daughter for her very special day. The song is a very special song, for sure.
2. Wine at the Church, Beer at The Bar by Logan Mize
Logan Mize‘s 2021 album Welcome To Prairieville was on my long list for my “Album of the Year” selection. This song about the fictive small town is just a great song – and there are quite some more on the album.
My Favorite Country Song 2021:
29 by Carly Pearce
Great EP, great title track: 29 by Carly Peace is dealing with so many things happening to Pearce at that age. A very personal song and a lovely listen in 2021.
All “classic” blog posts
No reviews – just debating and certain topics – these are my “traditional” blog posts in the categories Just blogging, Just blogging on music and Sports Blogging:

The Privilege of the Loo – On Bathroom Distribution in Airplanes


Rock of Ages – 2024 International Dates of the Musical


Thank You, Rohan Bopanna!



Food I Had Onboard X (July 2023 til early September 2023)


Praise The Underdogs – I Look Back to the European Soccer Competition Qualifications


Heart to Heart – Semmel Concerts Introduces the Songwriters Round to Germany


Home is where the heart is – My Twelve Favorite Cities of the World


NHL Schedule 2023-24 released – Here are my suggested Trips


Seepark Biker Days Pfullendorf 2023 – Atmosphere & Impressions


Seepark Biker Days Pfullendorf 2023 – A Preview



Food I Had Onboard IX (Mid-May 2023 til June 2023)


Rock of Ages UK Tour – A Personal Farewell and Thanks


My Traveler’s Thoughts About… Renting a Car and Driving in Iceland



Food I Had Onboard VIII (April 2023 til Mid-May 2023)


My Favorite Eurovision Song Contest Songs


Traveling on Iceland’s Ring Road (Reprise)


Travel all Germany for 49 EUR a Month? The New Deutschland Ticket


Rock of Ages Opening Night – Red Carpet Impressions



Thumb Up or Down? A Personal View on my Loyalty Program Portfolio



Food I Had Onboard VII (mid-February 2023 til March 2023)


Five Years of Flyctory.com – My 20 Most Popular Travel Posts (so far…)


Jim “Kimo” West is playing the very first German Weird Al Show tonight – he is back with “Nacht der Gitarren” in Fall



Food I Had Onboard VI (December 2022 til mid-February 2023)


Davis Cup Qualifiers – A Bad Day For (Men’s) Doubles Tennis


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2022


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2022


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2022


How I would love European Flight Compensation Regulation to Change


Covid-19, Strikes and more – My Flight Rebooking Experience


Some 2022 new Christmas Song Releases – Good Ones and Weird Ones



Food I Had Onboard V (September 2022 til November 2022)


Loyalty Programs – Are We Too Committed To Stay Rational?


Weird Al Yankovic is touring Europe 2023 – Tour Dates and Travel Hints


Visiting the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Sites in 2022


Steel Guitar Santa is Back – The Flyctory.com Country Christmas Playlist 2022


Rock of Ages – International Dates of the Musical in 2023



Food I Had Onboard IV (May 2022 til August 2022)


NHL Schedule 2022-23 released – Some suggested Icehopping Itineraries


The Bergisch Coffee Table (Bergische Kaffeetafel) – A Sweet and Savory Tradition


European Airports Go Mad – a Morning at Dusseldorf Airport



Food I Had Onboard III (Mar 2022 til April 2022)


Currently my favorite animal: Leon The Lobster



Food I Had Onboard II (Nov 21 til Mar 2022)


No Business as Usual – but I felt it is right to continue to share the World with you…


Beijing 2022 – No Flyctory.com Medal Count, Just Thoughts…


Riding the Swan Adventure Pedal Boat in Dubai – A Special Ride and Posting


Rock of Ages – Central European Shows of my Favorite Musical in 2022


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2021


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2021


Some Non-Country Christmas Songs 2021



My Top 15 Airports Flown – With Some Brief Thoughts


Ho Ho Ho – The Flyctory.com Country Christmas Playlist 2021



Food I Had Onboard (Oct 2021 til Nov 2021)


The Hits of the Trips – My Summer 2021 in Music


My Hotel Checklist – Some Services Too Many Overnights are still failing at


Tokyo 2020 – My Thoughts By Sports (… and some more)


The Flyctory.com-Style Medal Count of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics


Some weird sports I discovered during Covid-19



The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)


Music Publications – Does Nowadays The Length Still Matter?


Smooth McGroove – A Very Special Kind of Gaming Music


Jan-Marten Block is the German Idol – Some Thoughts After a Strange Season


Bricky Trouble over Germany


Cologne – My Ten Favorite Songs About My Home Town


(Over) 400 Media Reviews on Flyctory.com – your most popular ones


The Dutch Museumkaart – One Year of Culture and History (almost) for free in the Netherlands


Understanding Train Station – A Podcast on Living Abroad and Cultural Differences


Dubai – A December 2020 Pandemic Disappointment


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2020


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2020


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2020


“Zärtliche Chaoten II” – exploring Gran Canaria 32 years later


My Ten Favorite Weird Al Yankovic Songs


My First PCR Test (Centogene Dusseldorf Airport)


Seven Things I look forward to do in the United States again


Some Christmas Present Ideas for Flyctory.com Music Lovers


Hawk-Eye Live – the End of the Tennis Line Judges?


The Country Music Week turns Digital


One Year of Flyctory.com Country Music Playlists


The Big Three of Tennis Men Singles – Unique Dominance?


German Girl in America – YouTube Videos about US-German Differences


Nashville, Let the Girls Play – Some Thoughts on Women Country Music


Olivia Lane – “Living Instead” Podcast about Artists’ Life and More


“Lady Antebellum” becomes “Lady A” – My Thoughts


Lake Constance after the touristic Lockdown – My Experience


Women Soccer Bundesliga is back – But some Girls score in a different Way


Mrs. Greenbird: Strong Crowdfunding Start for New Album


Back To Soccer-Country: Germany


Kenny Foster – His Stories behind “Deep Cuts”


Flyctory.com vs. Covid-19 – An unequal battle


Two new Flyctory.com-managed Playlists on Amazon Music and Spotify


Made in Bolka – About the Rise of a Floorball Club


My Favorite C2C: Country To Country 2020 Songs


Why I feel it makes sense to continue Flyctory.com during the Corona crisis


C2C Country To Country Berlin – Day 3 (08.03.2020) – Splitter


C2C Country To Country Berlin – Day 2 (07.03.2020) – Splitter


C2C Country To Country Berlin – Day 1 (06.03.2020) – Splitter


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2019


Christmas Songs – Why not Hawaiian Style?


My Favorite Music Albums 2019


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2019


No Women WFC 2019 Coverage on Flyctory.com?


Flyctory.com – My Postings on a Map


Luke Combs – This One’s For You – The Record-Breaking Album


Frog Leap – An Amazing Project Back On Tour 2020


The Flyctory.com Country Music Playlists – The First Ten Weeks


Country 2 Country 2020 Lineup – My View


Sound of Nashville Press Event & Logan Mize Concert (11th Sep 2019, Cologne)


Flyctory.com on Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited


A Preview to Country Music Concerts (European Tours)


Very Important Postings – January to June 2019


CMA Fest 2019 – My Meet & Greets


Visiting CMA Fest 2019


My Favorite CMA Fest Songs 2019


Christina Taylor & Carolyn Miller – Two Upcoming Country Artists


CMA Fest 2019 – Fan Events with Cassadee Pope and Jana Kramer


Country Music Concert Summer 2019 in Germany – a small Boom?


Shallow-ism – One Song in countless Versions


My Favorite Country 2 Country Songs 2019


European World Floorball Championship Qualification – A Preview



Entertaining or not? An Inflight Magazine Comparison


Floorball Champions Cup 2019 – A Preview to Gävle


Very Important Postings – July to December 2018


My Favorite Songs 2018


How to buy a Hotel Group Status


Davis Cup World Group Playoff 2018 – More complex than ever!


Very Important Postings – Flyctory.com’s 1st Half 2018



Flyctory.com’s Introduction on Mileage Pooling


Atlanta 1996 – 22 Years later


Ode to my Superhero – Leander Paes


My favourite Country 2 Country 2018 songs


My Medal Count Winner 2018: Canada


Why WordPress?
Aviation on Flyctory.com
Here are all postings about Airports & Airlines:


Vagar Faroe Islands Airport (FAE)



The Privilege of the Loo – On Bathroom Distribution in Airplanes


Flying with FLN Frisia-Luftverkehr from Harle (EDXP) to Wangerooge (AGE)



Food I Had Onboard X (July 2023 til early September 2023)


Finnair Lounge Helsinki (HEL) Schengen (A22)


Airport Marrakech-Menara (RAK)


Air France / KLM Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)


Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX Saga Premium Class


Iberia Dali VIP Lounge Madrid T4 (Madrid MAD)



Food I Had Onboard IX (Mid-May 2023 til June 2023)


Aspire Lounge Manchester (MAN) Terminal 2


Larnaca Airport (LCA)


Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)


Open Sky Lounge Dusseldorf Airport (DUS)



Food I Had Onboard VIII (April 2023 til Mid-May 2023)


Flying Contour Airlines Embraer E135


Primeclass Lounge Zagreb Airport (ZAG)



Thumb Up or Down? A Personal View on my Loyalty Program Portfolio



Food I Had Onboard VII (mid-February 2023 til March 2023)


British Airways Boeing B777 Club Suite Cabin


Nice Upgrades to Manchester Airport (MAN) Terminal 2 (Pictured Story)


American Airlines / British Airways Soho Lounge New York JFK Terminal 8


Oasis Lounge Royal Air Maroc Marrakech (RAK)



Food I Had Onboard VI (December 2022 til mid-February 2023)


Iberia Regional / Air Nostrum ATR 72 Business Class


Aegean Lounge Larnaca Airport (LCA)


Singapore Airlines A380 Premium Economy


Frankfurt Airport (Fraport) Visitors’ Center


VIP Business Lounge Tirana Airport (TIA)


Andorra La Seu d’Urgell (LEU) Airport



Food I Had Onboard V (September 2022 til November 2022)


SAS Gold Lounge Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL, International Flights)


Lufthansa Bistro Lounge Frankfurt (FRA) C14/C15


Aspire Lounge Inverness Airport (INV)


Flying Cape Air from Marion (MWA) to St. Louis (STL)


Austrian Senator Lounge Vienna Airport (VIE) Non-Schengen (D/G)


Flying with OFD (Ostfriesischer Flugdienst)



Food I Had Onboard IV (May 2022 til August 2022)


Malta Airport (MLA)


Inverness Airport (INV)


Tupelo Airport (TUP)


Aspire Lounge Amsterdam-Schiphol (AMS) Non-Schengen (Lounge 41)


Flying with Icelandair Domestic (Flygfelag Islands / Air Iceland Connect)


American Airlines Admirals Club New York LaGuardia (LGA)


The Lounge Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)


Helgoland Airport (HGL)


Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois in Marion (MWA)



Food I Had Onboard III (Mar 2022 til April 2022)


La Valette Club Lounge Malta Airport (MLA)


Graz Airport (GRZ)


Marhaba Lounge Dubai International (DXB) Terminal 1


Finnair Business Lounge Non-Schengen Helsinki Vantaa (HEL)


Keflavik Airport (KEF)



Food I Had Onboard II (Nov 21 til Mar 2022)


Menzies Norrsken Lounge Stockholm-Arlanda (ARN) T5


Gdansk Airport (GDN)


Egilsstadir Airport (EGS)


LOT Business Lounge Mazurek (Warsaw WAW Non-Schengen)


Flying With Porter Airlines from Toronto (YTZ) to Ottawa (YOW)


Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV)


Flying Norlandair from Akureyri (AEY) (not) to Grimsey (GRY)


Salzburg Airport (SZG) Business Lounge


Salzburg Airport (SZG)


Lufthansa Senator Lounge at Dubai (DXB) Terminal 1



My Top 15 Airports Flown – With Some Brief Thoughts



Food I Had Onboard (Oct 2021 til Nov 2021)


Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich Airport (near G28)


Air France / KLM Lounge Toronto Pearson (YYZ) Terminal 3


Bolzano Airport (BZO)


Flying With Lübeck Air


Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)


Condor Boeing 767 Business Class from Toronto (YYZ) to Frankfurt (FRA)


Boeing 757-200 Icelandair Saga Premium Class


Saga Lounge Kefklavik (KEF)


Flying With SkyAlps


Akureyri Airport (AEY)


Lübeck Airport (LBC)


Flying with DAT (Danish Air Transport) from Saarbruecken to Hamburg



The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)


VIP Lounge Graz Airport (GRZ)


Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)


Saarbruecken Airport (SCN)


Flying from Paderborn / Lippstadt Airport (PAD)


Las Palmas / Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) – Airport Review


Alaska Airlines A320 Domestic First Flight Experience


Sylt / Westerland Airport (GWT)


Berlin Brandenburg Airport Terminal 1 (BER) – My First Review


Flying the PAD Aviation Embraer Phenom 300


A Walk Through Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal at Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Lufthansa Business Lounge Berlin/Brandenburg (BER) during Covid-19


MeerExpress – Flying the Air Shuttle to Norderney & Juist


Flying Dortmund Airport (DTM)


Long Beach Airport (LGB)


Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge London-Heathrow


Flying Under Covid-19 conditions from Venice Airport (VCE)


British Airways First Class Lounge London Gatwick Airport


Tenerife North Airport (TFN) Review


Überlingen Plane Collision Memorials


Air New Zealand Boeing B777 Premium Economy from London to Los Angeles


Traveling Through Germany at Covid-19 Times – A special Trip Review


Frankfurt Airport during Covid-19


Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles Airport (LAX)


Cologne/Bonn Airport during Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Jersey Airport (JER)


Planespotting at In-N-Out Burger Los Angeles Airport


Finnair Airbus A350 Business Class from Helsinki to Dubai


Flying PSA Airlines from Washington Reagan to Chattanooga


British Airways Lounge Jersey Airport


SAS Lounge Stockholm Arlanda (Terminal 5)


Airport Lounge World Munich Airport


Eurowings Lounge Munich – The Low(est) Cost Lounge Experience?


American Airlines Admirals Club Pittsburgh


Sharjah Al Mahatta Historic Airport Museum


The Christmas Market at Munich Airport


George Best Airport Belfast (BHD)


Newcastle International Airport (NCL)


The New 2021 Miles & More Points – Back to FREQUENT Flying?


Iberia Express A321 Business Class


Dusseldorf Airport Photo Tour


LOT 787 Business Class


American Airlines Boeing 777 Flagship Business Class


Loganair From Glasgow To Barra Airport (BRR)


Stockholm Arlanda Aurora Lounge (Terminal 2)


Flying the Aerotask A320 Simulator (in Essen)


American Airlines Flagship Lounge New York JFK (now: Greenwich Lounge)


Riding the Arlanda Express


Finnair Platinum Wing Helsinki Airport


Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport


Singapore Kallang Airport Today


Luxembourg Airport (LUX)


Billund Airport (BLL) Review


Flying Sun-Air of Scandinavia


Concorde Technical Tour at Manchester Airport


Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)


Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA)


British Airways B747-400 Club World (Business Class)


Flying Singapore Airlines First Class (B777-300ER)


Lufthansa First Class Flight Experience


Swiss A330-300 Business Class from Zurich to Dubai


Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt


Malaysia Airlines B737-800 Business Class


Malindo Air Business Class (B737-800)


Jewel Changi Airport (Singapore)


Bus Transfer from Heathrow to Oxford: The Airline


Lufthansa Panorama Lounge in Frankfurt


London City Airport (LCY) – UK’s Capital best choice?


Emirates Aviation Experience London


American Airlines A330 Premium Economy


Flying with Southern Airways Express


Madrid Airport Terminal 4 (Review)


Air Belgium Business Class from London to Dubai


Seville Airport (SVQ) Review



Entertaining or not? An Inflight Magazine Comparison


Glasgow Airport (GLA) Review


Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) Review


Flying Aegean Airbus A320


Manchester (MAN) Airport Review


Belgrade Airport BEG (Airport Review)


Flying Iberia A350 Business Class


BA 1 – British Airways’ Most Exclusive Intercontinental Experience


Flying with VLM from Cologne to Antwerp


The new SWISS Senator Lounge Zurich A


Flying Air Canada Premium Rouge


LATAM 705 – Love Letter to a Flight


Ponta Delgada PDL Airport Review


Malaga Airport AGP – Review


Flying with Helity


Melilla Airport MLN (Review)



Flyctory.com’s Introduction on Mileage Pooling


Flying LOT Premium Class


Airport Review: Kinmen (KNH), Taiwan


Airport Review: Vilnius (VNO), Lithuania


Flying the Hello Kitty Jet


Airport Review: Taipei Songshan Airport – TSA