Two years ago, I made a blog post about the playlist I use. My favorite way to listen to my playlist is on shuffle--it's like my own personal radio station. It also allows me to easily put my various holiday music in and out according to the season.
In the past two years, my playlist has changed quite a bit. I have deleted some music, and I have added more. Although there is still some discrepancy between what is in my playlist and what I would like to have in my playlist, I do like my current playlist more than I liked the one back then.
So here is the list of the music I put in my playlist. This frequently changes, usually when I add music, but sometimes when I get rid of annoying or boring songs. Not to mention all the changes for holidays.
Cherie Call, 56 songs. I feel like I talk about Cherie Call enough that I don't need to talk about her here. I did delete most of the songs from her first album, because her first album really wasn't very good at all. I only kept the very depressing song "Two Story House." But lest you think I'm not a fan, I have bought her singles. She's great.
Taylor Swift, 39 songs. Two years ago, I said I didn't understand why Taylor was so popular. I still kind of feel that way, but I figured out the problem. My first Taylor album was her eponymous debut album, which isn't very good at all. I've retained only a few songs from that album, and even those I don't like that much. I really don't understand how she got popular with her debut album being mediocre at best--but I'm glad she did, because I like her other albums, especially Speak Now. (I actually haven't heard much of Fearless; it's the one album I don't have.) Do I think she's overrated? Absolutely. Don't let the numbers fool you; there are other musicians I like more than Taylor, but I've collected so many songs because she makes long albums. Like others, I get annoyed with her one-track relationship mind. But on rare occasions, she'll come out with a song about a different topic--like "Mean."
The Lower Lights, 37 songs. I think I first heard of the Lower Lights because Cherie Call is part of them. I first got one of their songs on Mother's Day last year, because I wanted a recording of "Israel, Israel, God Is Calling." I got a full album for my birthday last year, and now I have all of them. Whereas the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sometimes sucks the life out of hymns, the Lower Lights puts it back in. I hope they work on another album soon.
Owl City, 36 songs. When Owl City released a new album (The Midsummer Station) last year, I didn't really want to get it, because so much of his music sounds the same. But I feel an obligation to him, since there are so few squeaky clean popular musicians these days. I wasn't disappointed. He has moved away from the predictable sounds of his early career. Some people say he sold out, but if he did, I'm glad he did. (I'm only sad he sold out on lyrics.) I like his last two albums more than his "Hello Seattle" and "Fireflies" days.
Coldplay, 32 songs. When I made the post two years ago, I said I wanted to get Coldplay's new album, Mylo Xyloto,
when it came out. Two years later, I still don't have that album. I've
just gotten bored with Coldplay. Oftentimes, when a Coldplay song comes
up, I think, "Oh great, this song again." ("Oh great" is supposed to be sarcastic there.) If I got their latest album, I
think I would like it at first (definitely better than the Parachutes or A Rush of Blood to the Head albums), but I think that once the novelty wore off, I'd be stuck with even more mediocre songs cluttering my playlist. I think "Viva La Vida" is the only song that I'm not bored by.
The Beatles, 25 songs. There are people who hate the Beatles and say they are overrated. But even if the Beatles are overrated (and I might argue that their early stuff is, but definitely not their later stuff), that doesn't mean they are bad. The Beatles are probably the most influential band ever. I think people who don't like them simply say they don't like them because they are popular. If you tell me you don't like the Beatles, I'm not going to trust your opinion on a lot of things. How could you not like "Let It Be," as one example?
The Monkees, 24 songs. I liked the Monkees a lot in high school, but I didn't like them much right after I came home from my mission. But now I like them again. They may have been a made-for-TV band, but that's no different than when people listen to Glee music (which is probably even worse). Probably my favorite Monkees song is "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round?" It's a cover of an old country song, but I didn't know that until my mission when I walked into an investigator's house and she was listening to one of the country versions.
Vince Guaraldi, 23 songs. I find that Vince Guaraldi is the only jazz musician I care to listen to on a regular basis. I used to listen to his songs from the 1970s Peanuts specials, but I got bored of them. A recent favorite CD I got was the Charlie Brown Suite, which was a live concert Vince did. It's Charlie Brown music with an orchestra. I don't listen to all of the songs, because some of them are slow--but others are a-mazing.
Lady Antebellum, 21 songs. I feel that Lady A has polarized my opinion of country music. I was mostly indifferent before, but I have really come to like their kind of country-pop sound--while your more stereotypical country sound (Garth Brooks, Scotty McCreery) I like less, because now I know what country can sound like. I'm not too impressed with their latest album, Golden--especially since I had to delete three songs for language--but their Own the Night album was great.
Kelly Clarkson, 20 songs. Does it make me a girl that I love Kelly Clarkson? (Kelly herself says, "Don't be a girl about it.") I was really sad that she was at the Stadium of Fire this year, meaning she was on my college campus, and I was out of town. I got her Thankful album for my birthday two years ago, and I found it good but not spectacular. Last summer I bought her Stronger album. It is one of my absolute favorite albums. I don't think there's a song I don't like (although my playlist doesn't contain "You Can't Win," since it's a little edgy). I'm really excited for her Christmas album this year. You've probably heard "Mr. Know It All" and "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)," but one of my favorites is "I Forgive You."
Imagine Dragons, 18 songs. I think the first time I heard "Radioactive" was on my trip to Death Valley last November. I liked it, and I was surprised when the person whose iPod was playing said that they were local. I remember one of the songs sounded familiar, but I don't remember what one (probably "It's Time"). I just barely got this album, so I haven't really listened to much of it yet, but I've liked what I've heard. I like them, and it's an added bonus that they, like Neon Trees, are Mormon. In case you've been living in a cave and haven't heard "Radioactive," here it is (although I don't like the way this video keeps pausing the music).
Simon and Garfunkel, 13 songs. I grew up listening to Simon and Garfunkel in my family, but I kind of forgot about them for a while. This summer I needed to buy some extra stuff to get free shipping on Amazon, so their Bookends album was something I bought (along with the Mamas and the Papas). I think a lot of people still like them, and that kind of surprises me. Not because I think they're bad, I just find it surprising. I think they are still popular because their music has a timeless sound. You can often hear music and pinpoint the decade it's from, but I think it's harder to do that with Simon and Garfunkel.
Of Monsters and Men, 12 songs. I'm glad that folk rock is popular now, because I really like it. And who would have guessed that one really good folk rock group is from Iceland? I really liked "Little Talks," so I heard some of their other stuff, and I liked it enough to use an Amazon gift card to buy their album. You've probably heard "Little Talks," but that's my favorite song on the album.
The Mamas and the Papas, 12 songs. While on road trips with my family this summer, I realized how great the Mamas and the Papas are, and now I'm hooked. They exude 60s-ness, but that's not a bad thing. I love their vocal harmonies, their folk rock sound, and Mama Cass's powerful voice. Considering that the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel are still fairly popular, I'm surprised the Mamas and the Papas haven't resurged, especially with the current folk trend. I have their If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears album, which is wonderful. It has both "Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin'," as well as many other great songs. "Monday, Monday" has been stuck in my head for two months now because I love it so much.
Christina Perri, 12 songs. I think when I got Christina Perri's lovestrong. album two years ago was the first time I realized folk music was making a comeback. She's just innocuous, Carpenters-esque music. I hope she stays that way, since I think her personality is a little edgier--as evidenced by her "Arms" video.
Mindy Gledhill, 11 songs. I liked Mindy Gledhill when I heard her on my mission, but she wasn't memorable enough for me to continue listening after I got home. Last month I saw her at the Provo Rooftop Concert Series, and I liked her, even more than on my mission (I think she has found her niche of musical style). She just has perky, lighthearted music.
Lady Gaga, 11 songs. OK. When I say I like Lady Gaga, some of you probably judge me. So I have to make some disclaimers. First, the songs I listen to are clean enough to be on the radio, or cleaner. (I once downloaded "Bad Romance," only to discover that it had swearing in it, so I deleted it. It was a wasted download. But a few months later I discovered that the swearing was edited. If I had known the song had those words in the first place, I wouldn't have bought it--but since I didn't want a wasted download, and since it was edited, I redownloaded it from my Amazon Cloud Player.) Second, if you look beyond the meat dress, the intentionally ugly makeup, and the outlandish wigs, she's really a talented singer. I have more dreams about her than any other celebrity, and they usually involve her going to church or otherwise hanging out with Mormons. I wish she were more virtuous; if she were, she would probably be my favorite singer. "You and I" is probably the most inappropriate song I own--but it's awesome.
Neon Trees, 11 songs. I first heard and liked "Animal" before I even knew that Neon Trees were Mormons in a band from Provo (although I still don't have that song). I liked their single "Everybody Talks," so when their Picture Show album came out, I thought I'd get it, especially since they're from Provo. I like them. But I wish their lyrics were a little bit more Mormon--no more Word of Wisdom problems or half-enunciated swear words.
Adele, 9 songs. I got Adele's 21 album the day after Mother's Day last year. As I've listened to her more, I've become a little bored with her, and two years ago she was extraordinarily overplayed, but I still like her.
The Black Eyed Peas, 6 songs. I know a lot of people hate the Black Eyed Peas, but I still kind of like them, although they're nowhere close to being my favorite. The problem is getting songs without swearing; I got their Beginning album for Christmas two years ago, but I could only keep half of the songs. You've probably heard their "Where Is the Love?" anthem from 2004, so here's another positive song I like, "Someday." (Even if you're a hater, I think you might find this song all right.)
Michelle Tumes, 4 songs. Michelle Tumes is an Australian Christian singer. On my mission, I thought she could hold a candle to regular musicians--but now I notice that contemporary Christian music has a certain sound to it that will never make it popular in the mainstream.
Katy Perry, 2 songs. I got my first Katy Perry song after my roommate kept blasting "Part of Me" through the apartment when it first came out. Then when I downloaded Lady Gaga's "You and I," I figured that if I could download that song, I could certainly download "The One That Got Away."
Blue October, 1 song. I liked "Into the Ocean" when I was in high school--in large part because it was depressing. I used a free download a few years ago to get this song on Amazon.
Isabelle Boulay, 1 song. When I took French 321 last summer, we had to get exposure to French by doing things like watching news programs. I would watch news reports about music, and once Isabelle Boulay was a guest on the news program. I fell in love with her song "Fin Octobre, Début Novembre."
John Mayer, 1 song. I downloaded "St. Patrick's Day" because it mentions all sorts of holidays. I've considered counting it as a St. Patrick's Day song, but it's about too many holidays to do that. John Mayer is an all right musician, but I don't think he's anything spectacular, and I know he's kind of dirty. If there are lots of artists who make the same kind of music, why would I pick a dirty artist over a clean artist?
Michael Franti, 1 song. "Say Hey (I Love You)" is another example of a song that I once really liked, but I have become kind of bored of it.
Rachel Platten, 1 song. I first heard "1000 Ships" one cold morning in 2011 when I was on my way to work. I liked it, and then I heard it again at Burger King a few days before Christmas in 2011. Then one day I remembered it again, and eventually I bought it. It's really perky, although I can understand how it could get a little grating if you listened to her a lot.
The Original Caste, 1 song. I grew up listening to "One Tin Soldier," but the version was by Coven (a Satanic band, surprisingly!). I couldn't find the Coven version on Amazon, but the original version is also good. One of the most meaningful songs I own.
Jessie Clark (now known as Jessie Clark Funk), 1 song. Jessie Clark (Funk) is another artist I really liked on my mission, but now she's a little boring for lots of regular listening.
Ke$ha, 1 song. I know, right? "Your Love Is My Drug" reminds me of fall 2010.
Mumford and Sons, 1 song. I like "I Will Wait," although I think I mostly like it for the banjo. If I had to listen to the lead singer's voice too much, I think it would really get annoying. (I've been generally apathetic about the other Mumford and Sons songs I've heard on Pandora, but I probably haven't heard enough to form a valid opinion.)
Yep, that's what I listen to!
No comments:
Post a Comment