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Think of the best songs of 2021 as a playlist catering to the most basic human urges. Within it, booties were called, muffins were buttered and bloody revenge was contemplated. It was quite a year.

A new video, featuring a score by Steven Mackey with Jason Treuting, retells the ancient tale of love, loss and the power of music.

In this archival concert, Pharoah Sanders and Jon Faddis joined Turre to welcome the year 2000.

Antibalas' nearly 13-minute Afrobeat epic "Sanctuary" unwinds with a graceful, unhurried pace that ever-so-slowly builds steam with each rhythmic reiteration. Though the bassline anchors the song, Antibalas works in a marvelously subtle mix of other elements.

After 35 years together, the Emerson String Quartet is still making superb music. Hear them play part of one of Mozart's "Prussian" quartets.

TED Fellow Abigail Washburn wanted to be a lawyer working in Beijing — until she picked up a banjo. She tells the story of the remarkable connections she's formed touring across the U.S. and China while playing that banjo and singing in Chinese.

NPR's David Folkenflik plays the puzzle with this week's winner Eli Shear-Baggish from Arlington, Massachusetts and puzzle master Will Shortz.

NPR's Eric Westervelt plays the puzzle with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and Michigan Public listener Shailesh Dubey of Battle Creek, Michigan.

The best albums from the first half of the year include sprawling offerings from Big Thief and Bad Bunny, works of fiery introspection from Kendrick Lamar and S.G. Goodman and an abundance in between.

On her bustling third album, the former Carolina Chocolate Drops member maps her vision of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora while gently taking Anglocentricism (and capitalism) down a notch.