On a whim, back in January, I started keeping track of songs that just popped into my head and wouldn’t go quietly. Now, 12 months later, I have 12 playlists of songs that I couldn’t quite get out of my head.
I tried not to post repeats of songs that were stuck in my head for multiple months but in general what you see is what we had, with maybe one or two exceptions for songs that weren’t on Spotify. Another arbitrary rule I set for myself was that the song couldn’t be something I heard somewhere or was specifically triggered by something, with the exception being if I kept hearing it in my head long after that moment. So for example, if I was watching a movie that had a song, it wouldn’t go on the playlist, but if I was still humming it days later, it would.
My plan was to end a monthly blog post with these but I couldn’t even get 12 blog posts out so, in reverse chronological order… here are the songs that were stuck in my head by month:
YES. Time to play holiday music WITHOUT fear of judgement or hatorade from grinches all around. I won’t say this video describes me, but I also won’t say that it does not.
Here we go, the Spotify playlists from the song lists I provided last year, slightly modified. Essentially, I chose the versions of songs that are/came closest to what I hear in my head when I think of these songs. That means either the classic version (often a popularized one) or one that is stripped down to the essentials. (I get a bit annoyed when artists take too many liberties with their vocal add-ons to these songs. Not a fan of super jazzed up holiday songs.) I also tried to keep some variety with the performing artists in these playlists.
ALSO, I will admit this now: I prefer a rich baritone voice for my holiday songs. I know that most of my choices are men and not women, but I think that’s because yes, I grew up listening to Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra singing these songs so that’s how I have internalized them.
I had a hard time with many of these. Sometimes, I just couldn’t find THE perfect version. (Spotify also doesn’t have everything. Where’s the Bing Crosby+Davie Bowie doozy, Spotify?!) Maybe next year, I’ll make sure to have all the mp3s I want and put up an 8tracks list, as requested. Next week, I’ll recommend some of my favorite Christmas albums if you would prefer the homogenized listening experience of one artist. (I own a few of them, so I definitely understand if you want to wrap yourself up and listen to one voice serenade you.)
I also made several concessions to my cousin, with whom I share a love of holiday music (you should see us racing to name the artists’ rendition on the radio) but who loves Taylor Swift way more than I do so NO TAYLOR SWIFT ON THIS LIST SORRY CUZ.
Anyway, here’s the Spotify playlists:
“Snow & Bells”
Happy, cheerful holiday music that makes you smile and want to sing along to, these songs have a bright tone that evokes the image of falling snow and jingling bells, going ice skating and sleigh rides. Includes most classic carols.
“Fireplaces & Cocoa”
Feel that? That’s these songs tugging at your heartstrings, making you tear up. But it feels like sipping a mug of hot cocoa while sitting in front of a fireplace while wrapped in a cozy blanket.
“Wordless Wonderland”
Wintry, holiday pieces that are a little tricky to sing along to, due to there being no lyrics, but somehow I still manage. These are good if you can’t help singing along but it is not convenient to do so, e.g. at work, etc. (Mostly Nutcracker, not gonna lie.)
“First Christmas”
These are the more religious songs. While I am not personally a Christian, I appreciate these songs that celebrate what the first Christmas was originally about. It wouldn’t quite be Christmas without these songs.
“Christmas is for Children”
This is a collection of songs that are really more geared for kids. I have a lot of fond memories singing these songs with my middle school choir for roaring audiences of elementary school kids. I didn’t want them in that first playlist because they’re a little TOO chipper.
Songs that I have purposefully excluded are:
“Feliz Navidad” – Got cut this year because the song is really repetitive and gets old after you hear the verse 3 times. Which is fewer times than you hear it in one playing of the song. Sorry!
“Happy Christmas (War is Over)” – Still doesn’t do it or me
“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” – Ugh.
“Grown-Up Christmas List” – SUPER UGH.
“Christmas Shoes” – As someone who enjoys crying to holiday music, this one makes me angry. UGH TO THE MAX.
“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” – Annoying.
“All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” – Also annoying.
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” – I actually kind of like this but it’s pretty condescending towards Africa as a continent and the new Bandaid30 version is not really any better.
But hey, “Santa Baby” got promoted so there ya go. “Seven Feet of Snow” should be on my list but Spotify doesn’t have it so. 😦
Lemme have it, what did I miss? What did I get totally wrong? (If you’re my cousin, you’re not allowed to tell me Taylor Swift.)
Tomorrow is the first of October, and we all know that October is about one thing: HALLOWEEN.
I hate being scared. I mean, I really loathe being scared. But I like Halloween. Maybe I even love Halloween. And I don’t mind things being a little bit spoopy spooky and eerie around this time of year, maybe because I can tell myself that the shivers I get are from the drop in temperature instead.
This playlist was being passed around Tumblr last week, about a week too early for a playlist called “It’s Time”. But now, at last. it is, indeed, time.
A mix of classic, retro, and different Halloween Songs*
This is Halloween – Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack
*Monster Mash – Selebrities
Day of the Dead – Voltaire
*Thriller – Michael Jackson
It’s Terror Time Again – Scooby Doo on Zombie Island
Brains! – Voltaire
Ghost Busters Theme – Ray Parker Jr.
Feed Me (Git it) – Little Shop of Horrors
Grim Grinning Ghosts – Disney’s Haunted Mansion
The Greatest Show Unearthed – Creature Feature
*Time Warp – Rocky Horror Picture Show
Oogie Boogie – The Nightmare Before Christmas
Friends on the Other Side – Disney’s The Princess and The Frog
Worst Pies in London – Sweeney Tod
*I Put a Spell on You – Hocus Pocus Soundtrack
Dinner with Drac – John “The Cool Ghoul” Zacherle
The Devil Went Down to Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band
*Welcome to My Nightmare – Alice Cooper
The Headless Horseman – Disney’s Ichabod & Mr. Toad
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) – David Bowie
*The Addam’s Family Song – The Addam’s Family Soundtrack
*Witch Doctor – Peter Pan Records
Grave Robber at Large – Creature Feature
Spooky Scary Skeletons – TheLivingTombstone mix
*Starred songs are personal favorites for Halloween
And October is ALSO when it is time for gifs of the Pumpkin Dance!
I like this playlist, but I feel like it’s probably missing a few songs and will likely put together a playlist of my own as we get closer to Halloween. (Oh joy, more promises of playlists from Starr :P)
What are some key Halloween songs that you associate with this spoopy time of year?
I’m seeing Wale and Big Sean live today and I’m so excited.
It’s difficult to say when, but I became a pretty big Wale fan about 2 years ago? I definitely remember listening to Ambition frequently when I was interning in North Carolina the summer of 2012. I think the fact that he’s local, reppin’ DC and frequently making shout-outs to PG and Montgomery counties has something to do with it.
In any case, I was really obsessed with “Lotus Flower Bomb” (one of my songs to stay on), and I loved Ambition a lot.
This mix is mostly stuff that wasn’t played on the radio, but there is really good stuff.
I’m not really as big a fan of Big Sean.
HOWEVER.
His verse in “Mercy” is one of my favorite things ever. I love when “hard” rappers make ridiculous puns in their verses because it just reveals how dorky they are, essentially. (I see you, Luda. Don’t think that making puns out of the word “ho” means you aren’t a huge dork.) So shout-out to that verse that makes the entire song for me (and I may or may not have memorized whoops):
Do you like Wale or Big Sean? Do you have any favorite musicians that are from your area?
On the very likely chance that I won’t be able to put out original stuff today, I found this fun playlist in preparation of Marvel’s upcoming film, Guardians of the Galaxy. Here’s a trailer if you haven’t seen it yet:
❝They call themselves the Guardians of the Galaxy.❞
❝… What a bunch of a-holes.❞
–
A mix for the assholiest rebel rousers in the entire galaxy, forever hooked on a feeling and jammin’ to the eternal classics.
I mean, what the hell kind of name is Star-Lord, anyways?
[ not a serious fanmix. you’ve been warned. ]
It’s a fun, feel-good playlist that is a throw-back to the same era as the first song on the mix, which is featured in the trailer.
Track listing:
i. hooked on a feeling ii. escape (pina colada song) iii. mony mony iv. apache (jump on it) v. love shack vi. i will survive vii. long cool woman in a black dress viii. december, 1963 ix. magic carpet ride x. tambourine xi. fell in love with a girl xii. another one bites the dust xiii. more than a woman xiv. tush xv. i’m gonna (500 miles) xvi. total eclipse of the heart xvii. you make my dreams come true xviii. kill the lights
Sip of Starrshine 