The Best Albums Born During the Pandemic: Taylor Swift, BTS, Dua Lipa & More

Introduction: Music Beyond the Stage

The best albums of 2020? Music is no longer just about the person singing and the person listening. It’s about topping charts, selling merchandise, and filling stadiums. But when the world closed its shutters in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, that rhythm came to a halt.

Tours were canceled, projects delayed, and carefully crafted album “eras” put on hold. Audiences and artists alike were disappointed. Yet, some musicians found a silver lining – time, space, and creativity. The result? Some of the most poignant and powerful albums of recent years.

Here are must-add albums to your collection, born out of resilience and artistry during uncertain times.

Evermore – Taylor Swift’s Storytelling Gem

Evermore highlights Swift’s best skill – storytelling

In July 2020, Taylor Swift surprised fans with Folklore, a narrative-driven album that won Grammy Album of the Year. Just months later, she dropped its “sister” record – Evermore.

While Folklore will go down in history, Evermore remains an underrated masterpiece. It explores love, longing, infidelity, reflections on the past, and even murder, wrapped in lyrical finesse by Swift, Aaron Dessner, and Joe Alwyn (under a pseudonym).

Album highlights:

• Gold Rush – a dreamy Jack Antonoff production about the thrill of crushes.

• Champagne Problems – a gut-wrenching narrative of heartbreak.

3.15.20 – Childish Gambino’s Minimalist Masterpiece

No frills, no fuss, no labels – the cover art of 3.15.20

Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, defied norms with 3.15.20. No artwork, no promotion, no labels – just raw music. Its plain white cover and timestamp track titles made a bold statement.

Though some critics noted disjointed flow, the album was praised for its songwriting, guest features, and bold commentary. Glover touches on deeply personal themes and societal issues, including 42.26 (originally released as Feels Like Summer).

Why Listen: It’s bold, experimental, and deeply relevant to our times.

Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa’s Pop Powerhouse

Future Nostalgia cements Dua Lipa’s status as the Pop Alpha

The clubs might have been shut down, but Dua Lipa kept the dance floor alive with Future Nostalgia. This Grammy-winning album is a vibrant celebration of love, heartbreak, and empowerment.

Retro beats, disco-inspired synths, and Lipa’s magnetic voice cemented her as a pop alpha. While some critics called the lyrics simplistic, the album delivered exactly what fans needed – unapologetic fun.

Album highlights:

• Don’t Start Now – an anthem of resilience.

• Levitating (DaBaby Remix) – a global chart-topping hit.

The reissue of the album, titled The Moonlight Edition, has been marked with similar acclaim. This version of the album was released in February 2021 as a deluxe reissue of Future Nostalgia (2020).

It included all the original tracks plus several new additions, such as “We’re Good,” “Fever” (with Angèle), “Prisoner” (with Miley Cyrus), and “Not My Problem” (with JID).

Plastic Hearts – Miley Cyrus’ Rock Rebirth

Miley Cyrus’ interesting turn to rock could be her career marker

After the lukewarm reception of Younger Now (2017) and a turbulent personal life, Miley Cyrus reinvented herself with Plastic Hearts. Originally planned as an EP trilogy, it evolved into a full-length rock-driven album.

The result? A bold, sultry, and powerful collection that showcased Miley’s vocal strength and raw honesty.

Album highlights:

• Midnight Sky – a defiant lead single.

• Heart of Glass (cover) – a fan-favorite performance from iHeart Radio Festival.

With this album, Cyrus may not have made a rock classic – but she proved she’s destined to be one.

Map of the Soul: 7 – BTS’ Global Reflection

Language barrier doesn’t stop BTS from communicating a universal desire for reflection and direction

Named for its 7 members and 7 years in the industry, BTS’ Map of the Soul: 7 is both a personal reckoning and a global statement.

The album blends experimental flows with heartfelt storytelling, all sung in Korean. Despite the language barrier, its themes of reflection, identity, and purpose resonated worldwide. Collaborations with Halsey, Troye Sivan, and Sia expanded its reach without diluting BTS’ authenticity.

Album highlights:

• ON – a powerful anthem of resilience.

• Black Swan – a hauntingly artistic reflection on artistry itself.

Even without English lyrics, BTS proved music’s universal language is emotion.

Conclusion: A Playlist Born of Resilience

The Covid-19 pandemic reshaped the music industry, but from that disruption came brilliance. From Swift’s storytelling to Lipa’s party anthems, Gambino’s social reflection to BTS’ global connection, these albums captured the mood of the moment and beyond.

There has never been a better time to update your playlists. So – what was your pandemic album on repeat? Share it with us!