Classical music. Sad children. A Star Wars obsession manifested. This is what awaits you in my Spotify 2020 playlist.
Truth be told, there wasn’t a whole lot of NEW music for me in 2020. I listened to a lot of the same music, but fell in love with some new hits and rediscovered some music for the first time. A lot of what I listened to had two moods: calming, or motivating (though, of course, sometimes calm can be motivating, but that’s a different discussion!). So, without further adieu, here’s a look at a select ten musical notes (pun) of my 2020: the calming, the motivating, and everything in between.
1. Billie Eilish – As I stated at the end of 2019, I love Billie Eilish! That love followed me into 2020, and the song that I mentioned in my last post about her was in my “Top of 2020” playlist. Her song “Therefore I Am” became a TikTok trend, and she released what will be the next James Bond movie theme, “No Time to Die.” I also stumbled across several acoustic recordings of hers that I loved. Acoustic music accompanied a lot of my morning walks, and Billie was no exception. Speaking of acoustic music…
2. folklore by Taylor Swift – Could I NOT mention her in a 2020 retrospective? I haven’t yet taken the time to listen to her latest album, evermore, but it is a companion to folklore, which was my favorite EP released in 2020. My two favorites from the album, exile and cardigan, both have little else but vocals and piano. I also fell in love with this performance of betty, which plays homage (whether it’s intentional or otherwise, I’m not sure) to Taylor’s country roots of high school heartbreak, if with a bit more mature look at it. I really have grown up with Taylor, and I cannot wait to see what comes next. I felt like folklore sounded, and felt, like falling rain. If folklore is falling rain, this next artist is the sparkly night sky that comes after the rain stops falling and the clouds clear away…
3. Haux – I discovered this artist through a video shared by one of the Hawaii influencers I follow on Instagram. I instantly fell in love with his sound (Haux is really Woodson Black, who hails from Massachusetts, much to my surprise). His music is perfect for a nighttime stroll, or really just anytime you want to take a moment to reflect on the beauty of your present, while still holding reverence to your past. I highly recommend the songs “Caves” and “Cologne,” with a third favorite being “Sister.” Haux falls under the indie genre, with shades of dance/electronic moods. Guess what else falls into the dance/electronic category?
4. Forever Wavvy – One of my favorite Youtube accounts is Binging with Babish, which is the pseudonym of Andrew Rea, who creates real life versions of meals, desserts, and snacks you see in movies and tv. Banoffee Pie from Love Actually? Yes. Ratatouille from Ratatouille? Obviously. The “Meat Tornado” from Parks and Recreation? Of course! And he didn’t even kill a guy! The channel has expanded into its own culinary universe, including a special series called “Being with Babish,” in which Andrew travels across the US to meet fans, friends, and family, surprising them with lavish gifts, one on one cooking sessions, and yes, more than one lump sum of cash given to a fan in need. It’s his way of giving back to the people who gave him a dream career. Who’s chopping onions? Andrew almost exclusively features music by “Broke for Free,” and the theme song to “Being with Babish” is “Forever Wavvy.” It just sounds like taking a trip to somewhere new, somewhere clean, with clear blue skies, with your friends. It’s clarity, and adventure, condensed into three minutes and forty seconds. I often ran to it while doing Couch 2 5K, but looking at the description I gave, it’s no wonder that this song was my most listened to song of 2020! There’s no accompanying vocals, and trust me, that was a recurring theme in 2020…
5. Classical Music – I’ve always liked classical music. It wakes me up in the morning, and calms me down at night. This year, it got a special shoutout! When we first got Jake and Rosa, I compiled a playlist of soft, classical music that I would play as I prepared my evening routine. I would turn off most of the lights, and quietly get ready for bed, as a signal to my young kittens that it was time to stop playing and get into their spots on their bed… which yes, eventually became above my head and on top of my feet! What started out as a nighttime playlist became morning walks, afternoon work, and shower soundtracks (seriously, turn on the Swan Lake soundtrack while you take your next shower). A lot of the classical music that came into my playlist were from movies, like “The Letter that Never Came,” by Thomas Newman, from A Series of Unfortunate Events, or “Dawn,” by Jean Yves Thibaudet, from Pride and Prejudice. Another big one was “Arrival of the Birds” by the Cinematic Orchestra, which wasn’t made for any particular media, but has been used in plenty! I actually think that classical/soundtrack music was the most popular genre for me in 2020. If I didn’t get that from the many hours I spent listening to classical music, I think this next artist alone makes up the majority…
6. Samuel Kim – Have you ever been in someone’s top .5% of listeners on Spotify? I have. Samuel Kim is a Korean-Canadian composer, who while wearing many hats, sparked my attention with his epic arrangements of Star Wars music. It’s hard to improve on John Williams, and I won’t say that he did. I WILL say that his versions of “Rey’s Theme,” “The Rise of Skywalker Theme,” and “The Force Theme,” motivated me through every mini or massive step in my handstand goal! Granted, he’s created music outside the Star Wars arrangements, ranging from other arrangements of other movie/television themes as well as plenty of his own compositions. Naturally, though, with my growing Star Wars obsession, I was listening to those almost daily. And speaking of heroes…
7. The Deadpool 2 Soundtrack – A long, long time ago, before we even noticed COVID-19, I walked into the gym, ready for a good workout. I decided my “Superhero” playlist needed a few new songs. A few shuffles later, and I stumbled upon “Mutant Convoy,” by Tyler Bates, from the Deadpool 2 soundtrack. I began to ask myself, “What else could be on the soundtrack of this troll of a superhero movie?” The answer was perfect: Diplo. Skrillex. Celine Dion. I would sprint to “Bangarang,” then cool down to an acoustic version of “Take on Me” by a-ha. Yes, the beginning of 2020 had workouts that were filled with epic classical music, sweat-inspiring ballads, and yes, good ol’ fashioned classic rock. Now, what is classic rock without a little bit of…
8. Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac sort of bookended my 2020. In the beginning of the year, inspired by Marvel-themed workout music, I remembered “The Chain” from Fleetwood Mac’s seminal album, “Rumours,” because of this awesome moment from Guardians of the Galaxy, vol. 2. Then the pandemic happened, and TikTok became a way of life. As spring turned into summer, into fall, more and more people began posting TikToks featuring “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. It became an autumnal pandemic hit, and this TikTok went viral, bringing the man who posted it (Nathan Apodaca) fame, a new car, and even ads for cranberry juice. As the fall cold turned into winter cold, I rediscovered my love of “The Chain,” by way of a cover performed by…
9. Harry Styles – I fought it for as long as I could, but the seeds were planted when he hosted SNL in November 2019, and those seeds bloomed in 2020: I’m a Harry Styles stan. His second album, “Fine Line,” came out a month later, and with it came two of last year’s biggest songs: “Adore You,” and “Watermelon Sugar.” I had both of those songs on repeat all year, as well as this very nice song, “Falling.” He is fearless, evocative, and vulnerable in his music. He’s currently working in film, but I can’t imagine a third album is too far away in his mind. Until then, I have his first two albums, his SNL sketches, and this adorable onstage duet of “Juice” by…
10. Lizzo – Lizzo has BEEN around, quietly bringing her musical power and confidence across NYC circles for a few years, but I think she first went mainstream when her song “Truth Hurts” was featured in this relatable moment from the Netflix film, “Someone Great.” Since then, EVERYONE has declared their love for her, from her powerful voice to her perspective on self-love. She loves herself, and you should too! She’s come a long way from performing flute covers from her apartment! I would say that “Juice” is my favorite song of hers, but “Good As Hell” is just as catchy, and just as feel good. I personally think she’s an inspiration, and I hope her second album comes soon!
2020 had me needing calm moments of zen, and happy moments of sunshine. Music really got me through it all, as it always has. I wonder what 2021 has in store! I hope that everyone who couldn’t tour last year spent their time letting out all their creative energy bursts, and we get lots of good music as quarantine ends later this year. New Panic! at the Disco? Maybe? Please?