GM GRQ

‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)’ by Beyoncé
If you weren’t already a member of the Beyhive, this one surely got you hooked. It’s an anthem for single ladies everywhere, yes, but an infectious dance number for all. Come on, who can resist that chorus or trying to copy those Fosse-inspired dance moves? This song has ‘...one of the best videos of all time’ according to Kanye West, and pretty much everyone else too.

‘If you didn’t come to party, don’t bother knockin’ on my door,’ the diminutive Minneapolis genius declared in one of the earliest blockbuster hits of his purple reign. Like Orwell’s 1984 and Kubrick’s 2001, Prince’s ‘1999’ is less a sell-by date than a declarative prediction made timeless by persuasive art. It isn’t possible to party like it’s 1999 every single time – hey, we’re only human – but this song will get even the dullest wedding disco popping.

A truly great party has to have drama, and who better to provide this than the Queen of Pop, Madonna. Indeed, there was drama around ‘Like a Prayer’ even before the single came out in 1989—remember that Pepsi ad campaign? And then there’s the song itself: jags of electric guitar followed by a huge, cavernous drum thwack. A waft of angelic choir singing. Then: ‘Life is a mystery / Everyone must stand alone / I hear you call my name / And it feels like…’—wait for it—‘Home.’ And lo, the drumbeat kicks in and we’re thrust right into the chorus.

What makes us great: Bangkokians have always taken pride in their city’s dining culture and readers seem to agree: 96 percent of Bangkok residents love what their home city has to offer food-wise, and this year proved that they will do whatever they can to support the scene. When many of Bangkok’s food businesses, especially small restaurants and street stalls, were struggling to survive, non-profits stepped in, encouraging consumers to patronise their fave locals. Delivery platforms lowered their commission rates. And local media joined in by celebrating community heroes. In response, the food world has given back, with more than a few Michelin-recognised chefs cooking gourmet food for frontline workers. The past 18 months have tested the resolve and mettle of Bangkokians, but we’ve also witnessed more humanity and empathy than ever before.

What makes us great: Istanbul has taken a big hit from Covid, but the city hasn’t been beaten. Turkey’s biggest city and its intrepid entrepreneurs have done their best to weather the storm and have really rallied in step with the vaccine rollout. Istanbul kept its spirits up during the pandemic through community projects like the Sen Güvende Kal (‘You Stay Safe’), a Unesco-commended initiative from Umut Karakuş of meze bar Muutto. This brought chef-cooked meals to the doorsteps of over-65s across the city. A proposal by the mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, meanwhile, encouraged wealthier citizens to come to the aid of families adversely affected by the crisis. Istanbul has always offered some of the best culture this side of Europe – with 71 percent of locals rating the arts scene highly in our survey – so it was fitting enough that theatre was one of the first things to come back to life as lockdown lifted.

What makes us great: Whether you want to devour your own weight in steak, sip skin-contact wine or dance all that off to tango (or all three), Buenos Aires is bursting with late-night gratification. Though the city has not yet bounced back to its pre-pandemic buzz, BA was still voted the world’s second-best for nightlife. A drawn-out six-month lockdown was tough for Porteños, but 62 percent still think it’s a great place to ‘discover ‘new things’, like taking alfresco merengue or boxing classes in the city’s 1,000-plus squares and parks, or helping cultivate urban gardens (one organisation created 180 during the pandemic).

What makes us great: When someone says ‘Moscow’, you might well think of the Red Square, or Saint Basil’s Cathedral, or some other breathtakingly grandiose sight known the world over. History glares at you from every corner here, and this year the Russian capital will be celebrating its 870th anniversary. But this marvellous city isn’t living entirely in the past. Moscow has morphed into a vast, bewildering, fast-moving place filled with amazing museums, first-rate restaurants and incredible contemporary architecture. ‘Community spirit’ may have flagged here since the days of Soviet comradery – with only 34 percent of respondents rating Moscow highly for that quality – though 50 percent did describe the city as ‘ambitious’ in this year’s Index. And yet what Moscow lacks in communal spirit, it more than makes up for in cultural offerings, with a whopping 95 percent of locals giving it top marks for ‘culture’. Pushkin would be proud.

What makes us great: Though the city is so rooted in tradition, the pandemic has indisputably propelled Rome into the twenty-first century. With brand-new bike lanes, electric scooters for rent on every corner and an explosion in outdoor dining, it’s never been a better time to enjoy alfresco entertainment in the Eternal City. Some 90 percent of locals said Rome was good for ‘culture’ and new pre-booking options at the city’s major museums and attractions are helping offer a safe and enjoyable experience for travellers. This is a great year to get outside and stroll through the city’s many panoramic villa parks: 30 percent of respondents agreed this is one of the ‘greenest’ cities they’ve visited (believe it or not, that’s a lot compared with most cities). And you can finally book a table at your favorite trattoria online – see, there are some silver linings.

What makes us great: Life in Johannesburg has been quite the ride this past year. But if the city is known for anything, it’s resilience. People have adapted, and businesses are now opening up again. There’s still a curfew in place, but Joburgers have found a way to make it work – and still have fun. Many locals have seen their income dwindle, not aided by recent riots that forced the closure of many businesses across the city, but as ever, this city ultimately came together as one. In our survey, some 54 percent of locals rated Joburg highly for ‘community spirit’, and the period of growth and learning that followed the turmoil is testament to that.

What makes us great: With creatives from all over the world leaving their mark on our ever-shifting city, São Paulo is constantly in a state of flux – so it makes sense it was ranked the third most ‘dynamic’ city in the world this year. Despite the pandemic, changes kept coming: giant graffiti made their home on city walls and old creative spaces shuttered just to make room for new ones. Many of the city’s museums are now open again, exhibiting up-and-coming Brazilians, while even smaller venues like Lona Galeria are embracing digital options as supplements to their exhibitions.

What makes us great: It might not have the glitz and skyscrapers of Dubai, but the UAE capital more than holds its own when it comes to quality of life, world-class restaurants and big-hitting attractions. Despite the global pandemic, 72 percent of Abu Dhabians would describe the city as ‘relaxing’. This might be down to the year-long sunshine and the ability to blow off steam on the world’s fastest roller coaster (at Ferrari World) – or just to do with the layout of the city. With more than 200 islands, you’re never far from a sea view and coastal wander. Plus: 99 percent said that they wouldn’t describe the city as overcrowded – and in a year when social distancing was a necessity, this was very welcome indeed.