As per usual I’ve started making the 2022 playlist. So far it’s not long, but it will definitely grow over time. The songs that make up any given year’s playlist consist of tracks I’ve discovered during the year. Could be something new, could be a new track off an old album I just realized was there and I love, could be a new to me artist that isn’t new at all. The list is always about discovery.
Every year I make a playlist. It works like this… throughout the year I pick songs I like that are new, or new to me, and I add them. I used to burn these off at the end of the year and give them away as gifts to friends, which meant that they couldn’t be more than 17-20ish tracks. “Here’s your 2016 playlist” kind of thing. They were always well received. I’ve actually been making playlists my whole life, from those early mixtapes recorded directly from the Casey Kasem top 40, to compilation tapes and finally, burned CDs. I am a huge music person. Always looking for that next new to me artist or song, new genres, new sounds, new.
In recent years I’ve moved into the streaming/digital age with full on gusto. I’m a big fan of Spotify and make playlists of various kinds there as the mood strikes. It’s also a great format for finding new music, sharing music with friends, and getting access to stuff I might not otherwise have access to or have found in other ways.
In that vein I started making my yearly playlists on Spotify instead of iTunes and because I don’t have the restriction of length so it would fit onto a CD, the playlists tend to be a bit longer. This year’s list, possibly because of COVID and how much I’ve been at home listening to music, finding music, etc., got a bit longer than I intended. I might normally try and trim it down, but since it’s digital, why?
So for friends and family who didn’t receive a disc this year, here it is. Anyone can listen, you just have to get a Spotify account. You can get one for free. Seriously, it rocks. I recommend listening on shuffle play, but that’s not a requirement. Listen however you want. That’s the beauty of music, right? It’s personal. So play on shuffle or not, skip songs you don’t like, replay songs you do. It’s up to you.
These are all songs I found in 2020. There really are no parameters here, other than it has to be “new to me” music. Could be from a completely new artist I found, or a hidden gem from a tried and true favorite. I dig the list this year. I hope you do too. Enjoy!
Whatever you want to say about 2020, and there’s probably a lot to say, one thing is certain, for me anyway, my playlist for 2020 rocks. It could be my favorite all time. Though, 2013 was pretty darn good too.
I make a playlist every year of songs I discover during that year. It could be new artists, but it doesn’t always hold to those conventions. I also sometimes include older artists I’ve just discovered and/or deep dive tracks from albums I already own but may have not paid enough attention to. There are no real parameters other than it has to feel new to me, even if it isn’t something new. I’ve done this for years and years now. Initially I made mix-tapes on cassette recorded from the radio, then mixes recorded from CDs, then playlists on iTunes and burned onto a CD on a laptop. I used to make copies and give them as gifts to friends. But, with the advent of streaming services and a change in laptops that made it harder to burn discs, I switched to making them on Spotify last year. Sharing doesn’t involve making discs for people anymore, but I can still share, which I love.
I know 2020 isn’t over yet (just keep hanging on and getting through people) which means I’m still adding to this list, but I’ve been giving the 2020 list a listen quite a bit recently and I’m really into it. Just past the midway point, I guess you could say this is the mid-mix 2020.
Enjoy and know going in, it’s a mix for sure. My tastes are eclectic, so be prepared.
We have been cleaning and organizing. It’s a great winter activity, which is what prompted it. That and the fact that we couldn’t really walk through or find anything in our storage room. So we cleaned. We had a big bin of old electronics. That’s always my area, since I’m the tech nerd. I made it my mission to go through that box and look at everything, make sure everything was wiped clean and save anything that needed saving. One of the things we had in that box was an old Palm One organizer. Before we had cell phones we had this. A kind of electronic calendar. I used it at work for appointments, meetings, etc. Anyway… it had a card in it. So I took the card out and put it into my computer. What I found was a mini playlist of music. I must have put some stuff on there so I could listen (I don’t even remember it having that function, but obviously it must have) while I waited for an appointment or was stood up by one. This is that playlist. The songs I chose to carry with me on the Palm One. The year? 2005. I think I got my first iPod not long after so I didn’t use the music on the Palm One for very long. I forgot it was even there. Kind of cool though, mining for gold in the stuff you haven’t looked at in years. I also found old home movies on an old MacBook Pro and old photos as well. Awesome.
I have been known to make a playlist or two. Every year, as has been my habit for a number of years, I make a playlist of songs I found in that particular year. They may be newly released that year, or just something or someone I discovered that I hadn’t known about before. These playlists have been condensed and made into CDs for friends every year, until last year, when I decided to just put the “playlist” here via Youtube videos of songs I’d added. This year I’m taking a different approach as I made the playlist on Spotify. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.
I have loved Brandi Carlile’s music for a long time. Since the beginning. 2005 or 2006. She’s a sneaker wave. Out there, picking up momentum, rolling in. This year she’s finally getting some good recognition, having just won three Grammys. Her songwriting and incredible voice are both amazing. This one, Party of One, off of her latest album, By The Way, I Forgive You, is a favorite. The album is all about forgiveness, in its many forms. I love that. A whole album about forgiving, being forgiven. Party of One is about a couple who is struggling, feeling like it’s impossible, but in the end, you know there is this one person for you and you love them. No matter how mad you get, no matter what the struggle, “I am yours”. I love the strings, in the end, soaring. It captures that feeling so well of coming back to someone, remembering you love them, that in the end, the love is all that really matters. This is the second video for this song. On the album, it’s just Brandi singing, but here Sam Smith does a one of a kind assist. His voice, also incredible, marries so well. Enjoy.
In recent years I’ve built a sort of favorite and/or found songs I fell for during the year playlist. They can be songs that came out in the current year or older songs I didn’t know about and discovered. I usually burn some copies and give it out as gifts to friends. This year, possibly because of the travel right before the holidays, I didn’t get it done. But, I’d built the list and have decided to put it here. I’ll post it, share it, and hopefully those who I’d usually give it to see it and give it a listen.
I love the funk of this. The beat. The sing-ability. It was played a lot on the radio, but somehow I didn’t get tired of it. It created many fun dancing moments for us around the house, which is always good.
Anderson East has soul. He has heart. It comes out in his songs. This one, a particular favorite is from his Encore album. The message is simple, you have me, and always will. I love a good love song. Who doesn’t?
I found this song accidentally on a compilation CD I’d gotten for other music. It was a surprise, which is always awesome. It resonated with me. Not just because I have younger siblings I love, but in just thinking about grandkids, K’s kids, etc. It’s a song of hope and love and says really simply that there is love, and that I’m here for you, always.
Glen Hansard appears nearly every year on my playlist. Either as a solo artist or with The Frames. I love his voice, his passion, his storytelling, his raw and emotional voice. This song had a lot of meaning for me this year. I know a lot of people who went through something or maybe even more than one something this year. This song is a message of healing, of knowing that things move, they change, and they get better.
This song is just enjoyable. Love the pairing, which was unexpected, and this video. Also, love the message of it. It’s another song that was played a lot, but I didn’t get tired of it. Sometimes the greatest way to say somethin’ is to say nothin’ at all.
This one is so catchy. I love it. Plus, I’m a huge fan of strings in a pop song. It’s also totally danceable. A big plus. These guys are brothers and know how to get a hold of you with a lyric.
Brandi Carlile is an amazing storyteller. There’s always truth in it. I was so anticipating the release of her album, “By The Way, I Forgive You”, this year and was not disappointed. It’s an album all about forgiveness, in all its forms. I could’ve picked a few off of it, like “Party of One” for instance, but this one is the first I heard and is about being who you are, and rising. About owning yourself. About not letting all the people who say no, or make fun, or try to hurt you… not letting them win. This song soars and lifts and rises, just like it’s message. And the video, well it makes me cry.
I just discovered the Bleachers this year. They’ve been around for a little bit, under the radar, not mainstream, but I’d not heard of them. This song sort of propelled them into the spotlight and hearing it I was hooked. Just listening to it makes me have to dance. It’s also totally fun to sing along to. I dare you not to.
This is the second appearance of Chris Stapleton on this list, he was up there with Justin Timberlake. I can’t say enough about this guy. His songwriting is off the charts good. He used to write for other people before finally doing his own thing. The feeling he exudes is phenomenal. This song actually came out last year, but I somehow overlooked it. There’s this segment of Country music now, kind of the modern outlaw, fringe country, that is led by the likes of Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Butch Walker, Robert Ellis, and the new guy, though he’s not so new, Travis Meadows. I can’t get enough of it. If you haven’t listened to Chris Stapleton, do. His songs appear on most of the playlists I make for us because he’s just that good.
I love this song for the throwback feel of it. It’s awesome. What can I say? It’s catchy, funky, and has a great vibe.
I’ve been a Ben Harper fan for a long time, in all his iterations. This one doesn’t disappoint either. Simple, funky, a great bluesy vibe. This is a great pairing as well, and just simply a good rainy afternoon song.
I’ve also been a fan of Jason Isbell for awhile. He and the 400 Unit, his band, had an album come out last year. I’d only heard his solo work, not his work with the 400 unit, so I did some exploring and found this song. I don’t really know what it is about it, it kind of makes we want to play the spoons. Seriously, I want to play them along with this song. Not sure why. I just love the production of it. Great storytelling, slightly gritty, slightly swampy, and fun.
This song is haunting and quiet, and all kinds of awesome. I love the lyrics, the songwriting, the structure. It gets to me, in all the right ways. “You’re lost at sea I’ll command your boat to me again”. Just really great writing.
I listen to all sorts of music. Most genres. Including, even though I’m not Christian, Christian music. There are some great messages and artists there. This song is one of those, and Lauren Daigle is awesome. So good. You could apply the message of this to a person, or God, or whoever your spiritual center is. It’s uplifting, centering, and her voice is rich and lovely.
I was watching a movie this year and heard this guy’s music in it. I used Shazam and found his name and started exploring his music. I like him a lot. He was a good discovery. Lots of grit in his voice. This one has a great toe-tapping beat to it. It wasn’t made this year, it’s one of those found tunes, but it’s fun and so catchy. I have no idea why more people don’t know about him. Why isn’t he more famous?
This song has a great feel to it. Slightly dark and brooding. It’s beat and rhythm stick and it’s hard to shake. I found this through a Netflix show. There’s some really good music used on television and film now. This is one of those.
OK, this song is from a couple of years ago. It’s a song from the Hamilton Mixtape. I play this often. Kelly Clarkson is stunning here. Just simple, beautiful, and very emotional. The line, “forgiveness, can you imagine” gets me every time. This song on the video is sung live. It’s perfection. I realized I don’t think I’d included it on the playlists from the last couple of years, so here it is.
This song is one of my favorites over the last year. I don’t even know how I found this guy. Mining, searching, exploring. The lyrics are amazing. He’s such a great heart-felt storyteller. It’s simple and true. I never tire of listening to it.
What a great beat. Good funk. I dare you to listen without swaying a little, or tapping your toe. A really great break as well. It’s just got good soul.
The Verve. I have an old CD of theirs. They’ve been around for a long time. I don’t even know why I started looking at them again and listening a little, but I did. I stumbled on this one. It’s haunting, and aches a little. It also has strings, and as we’ve mentioned earlier, I love that.
His voice is so pure sounding. It’s got a singsong swaying vibe to it that is great. It’s an older song as well, another I think I might have heard on a TV show, but possibly not. I don’t know why I’d never heard of him. I’m a sucker for singer songwriters. He’s a good one. As is this song.
Sugarland. Jennifer Nettles. Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift actually wrote this song and gave it to Sugarland. It’s very catchy. Plus, I just love Jennifer Nettles. Her voice is round and full and no matter what she sings she sings it with feeling and heart and passion. Taylor Swift does good background vocals as well. I was very happy to see Sugarland back together with a new album.
I’ll stop here. Carrie Underwood. What can you say? She’s powerful, soulful, and the message of this song is awesome. The build of this song is also great. No wonder she’s such a Country superstar.
I hope everyone is enjoying the end of 2018 and is looking forward to 2019. I know there will be a lot of good music to find and explore, which is always soul filling. I can’t wait to see what I find.
put on your face
know your place
shut up and smile
don’t spread your legs
I could do that
But no one knows me no one ever will
if I don’t say something, if I just lie still
Would I be that monster, scare them all away
If I let the-em hear what I have to say
I can’t keep quiet, no oh oh oh oh oh oh
I can’t keep quiet, no oh oh oh oh oh oh
A one woman riot, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
I can’t keep quiet
For anyone
Anymore
Cuz no one knows me no one ever will
if I don’t say something, take that dry blue pill
they may see that monster, they may run away
But I have to do this, do it anyway
I can’t keep quiet, no oh oh oh oh oh oh
I can’t keep quiet, no oh oh oh oh oh oh
A one woman riot, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh I can’t keep quiet
Let it out Let it out
Let it out now
There’ll be someone who understands
Let it out Let it out
Let it out now
Must be someone who’ll understand
Let it out Let it out
Let it out now
There’ll be someone who understands
Let it out Let it out
Let it out now
This song, to me, is probably one of the best ever created for a film. I listened to it again today and was uplifted. Then I went out and found this cool live version. Hope it brings a moment of beauty, love, and light into your day like it did mine. I give you, Hans Zimmer’s Chevaliers de Sangreal.
I haven’t seen Hamilton, don’t know this song in the context of the story, and I haven’t even heard the original, but Kelly Clarkson sings it on the Hamilton Mixtape that just came out. This is a master class in singing, and I get so emotional when I listen to it… “forgiveness, can you imagine, forgiveness… can you imagine”. This isn’t meant to be a Christmas song, but somehow it is.
Warm. Groove. Old-school. Poetic. Smooth. Funk. Wonderful. Quality. Unique. Yes.
The Life of Things 