On October 21, 2022, Taylor Swift dropped her 10th studio album, *Midnights*. This album dives into darker themes and was produced with Jack Antonoff from Bleachers. Swift announced it during the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, and it quickly became the best-selling album of the year. She released three singles from the album: “Anti-Hero,” “Lavender Haze,” and “Karma.”
Let’s take a look at some notable moments in music history from October 21 over the years:
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones:
– 1972: Curtis Mayfield’s *Super Fly* topped the Billboard 200 for four weeks. It was a soundtrack for the movie of the same name and outperformed the film in sales.
– 2015: One Direction released “Home,” part of the *Perfect* EP, their first release after Zayn Malik left the group.
– 2016: Leonard Cohen released *You Want It Darker* shortly before his passing, pouring his heart into this final project.
– 2016: Lady Gaga’s *Joanne*, her fourth studio album, hit the charts worldwide with hits like “Million Reasons” and “Perfect Illusion.”
Cultural Milestones:
– 1995: Doja Cat was born as Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini. She has since become one of the best-selling rappers, known for songs like “Say So” and “Kiss Me More.”
– 1997: Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 97” was declared the best-selling single of all time, dedicated to Princess Diana.
– 2015: Adele wrote an emotional letter about her upcoming album, *25*, calling it a “make-up” record about identity and lost time.
– 2017: Harry Styles and Niall Horan performed solo at the We Can Survive benefit concert in Los Angeles for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
These highlights show how the Top 40 has evolved over the years!
