The Music of 2022: Semester 1
I finally got the old computer turned back on, all excited to open my Music List file, and...what the hell. I hadn't updated it since January?? Well, that makes my general failure to start a new doc on this computer in April, even if not numbered, very stupid (I made a half effort to track in a private LJ post, better than nothing, but it was scattershot).
But over the last week, combing through Spotify adds and Tumblr posts, I've gathered up quite a number I forgot, so I'm finally comfortable with my set. Lots of familiar names with multiple numbers, only a few newbies. In a desperate attempt to finally finish this post, this one is also missing YouTube links and I can't promise I'll ever add them back in, but at least I've got the titles up now. I'm keeping great track of July's songs so far, so...progress!
January
1. The Light Princess soundtrack (Rosalie Craig/Nick Hendrix) -- Gravity
I checked out this epic-looking soundtrack to a Broadway musical (with music written by Tori Amos!) from the library, but it did not hook me in its entirety. I am hopeful I can try again someday, but in the meantime, this bonus track bowled me over and blew me away.
2. Taylor Swift - Message in a Bottle
Standing here, hoping it gets to you
Heard on the radio by accident*...instant addiction. Very Carly Rae Jepsen.
*One day I'll get around to listening to some of the Taylor's Versions albums -- at least the new songs (I tend to hate having multiple versions of a song from one artist, which is one reason I avoid live performances; a song should sound the way it sounds and that's IT!) -- but I have heard a few snippets while attempting the T-Swift Heardle**, and I'm Intrigued.
(**which I quickly abandoned because at this point I know less than half her songs)
February
3. Nickelback/The Lottery Winners: Rockstar Sea Shanty
Everybody's got a rum dealer on speed dial
I know I missed the initial ~sea shanties~ craze, but now I never want to hear any of the others because this is so perfect. I've always loved the original, but this Celtic-flaired version with its occasional lyric changes is even better. Especially the one above. (also, the fiddle bridge is incredible)
March
4. CD Rec: Spell Songs II
I was going to get my dad The Lost Spells for his birthday, since it's not at our local library but he really loved it when he got it via Interlibrary Loan, and when I looked it up online I found out not one but two albums were produced to accompany the book. Celtic-type music, which he loves. Unfortunately, both they and the book were hella expensive, so I had to go with the sequel album instead of the original because it was the less expensive version. I haven't heard the original Spell Songs yet, but this album is perfectly lovely and while I do have some favorites, I like listening to its as a whole, so onto the list as a single it goes!
(to be added later: a song-by-song rundown)
5. Madilyn Paige - Red Ribbon
A heart that's been broken is a heart that's been loved
Scrounging around Spotify for recs, what a treat to find a new Madilyn Paige original! I love the wave-like effect of "red, red ribbon, ribbon red..."
CD Rec: Josh Groban, "Harmony"
There's a reason it took me so long to get to this one, and yep, it's definitely not my favorite of his albums -- in fact, arguably it is only above Stages and maybe Noel (although I usually leave Christmas albums out of rankings), with few candidates for addition to my list of all time favorite tracks -- but after several plays, I eventually concluded that I do enjoy nearly half the songs. Full rundown here; for now I'm putting them in the order I fell for them. Cheat version: the good songs are 1, 2, 4-6, 12, 14 and 15; bless my library for having the Deluxe Version.
6. Josh Groban/Sara Bareilles - Both Sides Now
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
A dizzy dancing way to feel
Can never decide if I actually like the original - it seems like I should, but it’s never fully clicked in my heart - but these two gorgeous voices really let the incredible lyrics shine while creating beautiful harmonies.
7. Josh Groban/Helene Fischer -- I'll Stand By You
Oh, why you look so sad?
The tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Obviously, the other safe bet was the duet of a song I already love (it was Sad Teenage Me's PEAK comfort song). Admittedly I was a little unsure about it being a duet, because him covering it alone as one of those supportive directly-to-the-audience songs would have been amazing…but it turns out the harmonies they create are still lovely.
8. Josh Groban/Leslie Odom Jr. - Shape of My Heart
I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
I still think I might like this better as a solo (although the harmonies on the chorus are admittedly cool), but dang, those are some cool metaphors for card-playing.
9. Josh Groban ft. Kirk Franklin - The Fullest
Would you follow me out on the thin branches?
Going blind, trying to soak up the sun
I believe, I believe, that the space in between
Is what we become
I really don’t love Franklin’s rap-like interjections and gospel choirs are hit or miss with me, so it wasn’t instant love, but it's just so JOYOUS that I found myself playing it on loop while taking a day trip out to H___, driving down rural highways, and fell in love. I was not surprised to find this was a Groban original.
10. Josh Groban - April, Come She Will
July, she will fly
And give no warning to her flight
I don’t know this song -- apparently it's a Simon & Garfunkel cover?! -- but I immediately liked it. Lovely music and I like the way it walks through various months.
11. **Josh Groban - Your Face**
I believe in all of us
I won't let this go to waste
Initially I skipped over this because I associated it with “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and checked it at the door, but one time I forgot to skip from track 4 to 6, and out of nowhere I was surrounded by Classic Groban sound (I was pleased with my ability to recognize that sound when I found later it was the other original on the album). See, this is what I wanted; I just want more this. So jubilant and triumphant in its message of optimism, I think it's fighting with the duets for album favorite.
12. Josh Groban -- Angels
Down the waterfall, wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call
Feels a little bit Hallmark-cheesy in the way that this album cover looks, but it's perfectly pleasant and piano features prominently, which always helps.
13. Josh Groban -- Over and Over (The World We Knew)
And since I'm here...this inherently should not please me, because Josh Groban is not a person I in any way associate with the James Bond sound this has - side note, my slapdash Googling seems to indicate this actually was NOT used as a theme for any of those movies? really?? - but I finally decided his voice is deep enough to give it really cool gravitas on the lower notes.
14. Josh Groban -- Mia Per Sempre
While I was busy falling in love with the Harmony tracks, I learned that there was a 20th anniversary release of his first album, featuring TWO NEW BONUS TRACKS! "Roma Nun Fa' La Stupida Stasera" is nothing special (though it's still worth a listen), but this one immediately blissed me out. A new song in Italian...that isn't boring as sin...oh, I have craved this sound for years. And it was actually recorded back then too; apparently it was a Japanese edition exclusive before? Better late than never.
15. Amanda Mair - Sense
I saw your picture in a magazine
You looked bigger, brighter, stronger than everything
And I stood and remembered how you left the scene
As you were telling everybody about your dreams
I had a free trial of Amazon Music, and although I mostly used it to listen to Groban obsessively without having to rip & transfer music from all my CDs onto my phone, it threw me one catchy song rec that was frankly perfect and that I fell in love with instantly; good algorithm! I didn't actually know any of the lyrics besides "it doesn't make sense" until today, that's how snappy it is. They're quite good, though.
16. Phoebe Bridgers - Kyoto
You called me from a payphone
They still got payphones
It costs a dollar a minute
To tell me you're getting sober
And you wrote me a letter
But I don't have to read it
Chris played this for me when it released, and frankly her haggard appearance in the low-budget music video was so off-putting it ruined the whole song for me, but then I checked out the "Punisher" CD from the library in an attempt to repeat the magic of her first album. It didn't work. But I did find a few catchy tunes while spinning it round and round during my commute, including this one coming back around.
17. Phoebe Bridgers - Chinese Satellite
Took a tour to see the stars, but they weren't out tonight
So I wished hard on a Chinese satellite
I want to believe
Instead I look at the sky and I feel nothing
Abfavorite on the album. Haunting music & imagery about not believing in life after death, but wishing you did, so that a person you loved wouldn't be gone forever.
18. Phoebe Bridgers - Graceland Too
So she picks a direction, it's ninety in Memphis
Turns up the music so thoughts don't intrude
Sleepy and slow but comforting, the lilting Bluegrass melody pulled me in before I knew what had happened.
(dis?)Honorable Mention: Phoebe Bridgers - I Know The End
Romanticize a quiet life
There's no place like my room
This WOULD have been my second favorite on the album, a song that starts soft and pretty, with many poignant images and poetic lines, and gradually escalates in tempo and instrumentation up to the apparent end of the world (and starts sounding a lot like something off Sufjan's "Feel the Illinoise" album, when the trumpets kick in)...except at 4:33 it devolves into a cacophony of SCREAMING and other horrendous noise, closing out with creepy heavy breathing/growling. So I need an edited version that cuts off around the 4:30 mark. I don't care what your artistic vision for representing the apocalypse/rapture is, it's crap.
April
19. CD Rec: Josh Groban, "Bridges: Live at Madison Square Gardens"
The "Awake" concert DVD somehow bypassed me back in the day, so I haven't heard a live album since The Greek in 2005, but Spotify made me click this out of curiosity. The opening track sounded great live, and then while scanning down the list, I was bowled over by joy to find not one but two duets w/ Idina Menzel -- I knew she'd toured with him, but somehow I thought that just meant like an opening act?? -- AND a bunch of my all-time faves mixed in with songs from the then-current album?? Also, if you get the MP3 version it's all twenty tracks from the concert and 18 of them are amazing or at least good, so I am once again going to make this a single number and staple in a rundown of the entire album below.
P.S. It literally took me 48 hours from playing my first song on this album to ordering it. Best decision I ever made. Even though I haven't actually...watched the DVD yet oop.
[into the spoiler cut with you now]
a. Bigger Than Us
I didn't think this song could get better, but it CAN! The "ooo-ooh" part is so much lovelier with a little vibrato in it, the audience screaming actually...adds? to the triumphant power?? THAT'S never happened before -- and the percussion and guitar are on fire. This is a song that was made for crowds in stadium venues and it shows.
b. You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)
When your heart is feeling lonely
And your voice cannot be heard
You can't always see the ending
You don't need to find the words
You are someone I believe in
When the tears fall from above
Know that right now I am with you
And when I'm with you, you are loved
OK, two things: one, this is one of his most gorgeous songs ever and it sounds special in every incarnation, but there's something extra special about hearing it again now, with over 10 years of maturity added to his voice, and two, NEW BRIDGE NEW BRIDGE NEW WORDS!!! How long as has this version been happening?? don't know, don't care, as long as I have it now.
c. Won't Look Back
It won't ever rain on us
It won't ever get too rough
You know I can't promise you that
But I promise I won't look back
brb upgrading this song from middle tier to AMAZING
d. Granted
This song is also meant to be performed; not much different here than on the album, but a beautiful part of the set.
Pure Imagination
^ JUST KIDDING. I hate this with such a fiery burning passion that he has never and will never be able to rescue it. I do not accept it exists in this otherwise stellar set.
e. Oceano
Piove sull'oceano, piove sull'oceano
Piove sulla mia identità
ALL TIME FAVE ALL TIME FAVE!!!! (one of them) I did NOT expect this song to come out swinging. Unfortunately, he still doesn't sound quite as strong and rich live as he did on the original Closer album, which really surprises me, but it's def. still an upgrade from Live at the Greek and I feel so spoiled to have yet another version of the first song I ever heard from him. And I love the extra "hey!" at the end of drawn-out closing note to "normale."
f. Marrakech
I don't know what this is or where it came from (looking forward to an explanation on the DVD!), but it proved to be a fabulous 3-minute Middle-East-inspired (with a side of electric guitar) instrumental.
g. The Wandering Kind
BUMMED because the original version of this instrumental is my favorite track on Illuminations and it's also one of the most beautiful and evocative instrumentals I've ever heard outside of Celtic music -- but this arrangement, while excellent at first as the loss of some instrumentation allows his piano playing to shine, kinda sounds like he just starts fumbling the keys at the end. I do like how he starts to transition into the next song, though.
h. She's Always a Woman
She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth but she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her as long as it's free
brb, updating this song from skippable to....tolerable. That's the best I can do, appreciate the warmth in his voice.
**i. Lullaby**
Hush now baby, don't you cry
Rest your wings, my butterfly
But of all the songs getting the upgrade button stabbed today, it is THIS ONE. As a duet with Idina Menzel, backed by piano instead of a capella and the second verse sung in Spanish, this song went from The Dullest to MINDBLOWING. It's actually better than the duet I came for. I even went back to listen to the original in case I'd misjudged it, but no. This arrangement is really just singularly spectacular.
g. Falling Slowly (duet w/ Idina Menzel)
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won
To be clear: this is still amazing. You know how long I have loved Darren Criss/Lea Michele dueting on this number, even though I've never had a studio or studio quality recording, so hearing these older versions of them cover it? a gift I never imagined to be blessed with.
h. Bring Him Home
I can pine for "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" if I want to, I can leave this one behind! But it's still fine and certainly better than I Dreamed a Dream, so I can't hate.
i. Musica Para Carminer
Kinda surprised this is its own track, as it is really just a 37-second intro to the next number, but very invigorating and cool!
j. Musica del Corazon
I can't put my finger on exactly why this feels even better than the album version -- the lack of clapping? is there different instrumentation? a little faster tempo, maybe, while simultaneously being a little softer/gentler on the delivery? -- but it really has me like wow, YEAH! A definite album upgrade. Also love the vocals near the end, and the actual ending.
k. River
See "Granted."
l. Alla Luce del Sole
Questa notte passera
I nearly swallowed my tongue to find my other favorite, like possibly Actual All Time Favorite, also performed nearly 20 years after its release. Loooove getting to hear this in an older voice. The lyric quoted above has been my mantra for getting through hard times for half my life at this point.
m. 99 Years (duet w/ Jennifer Nettles)
So let's look forward to you and I looking back
I still don't love it as much as I want to, but enjoy it as part of the set? Absolutely.
n. You Raise Me Up
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
It really is Live at the Greek all over again! Love this concert for me. I overplayed this early on so it's still hit or miss for me as to whether I'll love any given listen, but when it's on it's on. And I like the addressing of the audience during an instrumental bridge mid-song.
o. To Where You Are
And isn't faith believing all power can't be seen?
(what year is it!!) Oh my goodness. This was one of the first 5 songs I fell in love with from him, but I didn't upload it to my computer, so I actually forgot it existed. So beautiful. So much more meaningful now that he's not a literal teenager singing songs too old for him. (I also really enjoy the verbal explanation at the beginning of this song, thanking the audience for being there and mentioning how he first performed this on Ally McBeal.) (On a related note, I gotta rewatch his episodes.)
Bridge Over Trouble Water
I don't hate it, but I am sure gonna ignore this one and stop the playlist early. I do not care how much he loves it or the fact that it forms the basis of this album/tour's title. It boring.
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20. Josh Groban - Your Hideaway
When the tears stream down your face
And you've given all your light away
I'd like to be the safest place
Your hideaway
Amazon Music informed me of this standalone single I've somehow missed for eight years, which apparently didn't even make the cut as a bonus track for All That Echoes, and the second I heard it after hearing that I hit the ROOF because this is one of his most beautiful songs ever. It's even headier stuff than "You Are Loved" as far as songs in 2nd person from him go, and that was already pretty peak comfort music.
CD Rec: Madilyn Paige, "Anymore"
Back to Maddie -- yeehaw! There are only 7 tracks on this feel-good EP that is all about girl power and believing in yourself, so even though they aren't all my fave, I'm spotlighting them anyway. As individual numbers this time, because WHY NOT.
21. Perfect
Hide the scars and hide the flaws
Fading in is all she wants
She needs to be more than she sees
Fun and bouncy; also, we can never really have enough songs encouraging girls (or, I guess, anyone) not to fixate on being perfect, or even presenting as such on social media.
22. Anymore (ft. David Archuleta)
You're not the mistakes you made before
You're more than the past you're fighting for
This is actually how I found ithe EP -- this song came up as a rec for one of my playlists, and I liked it enough that I followed it home. Good harmonies, beautiful and encouraging lyrics.
23. Scribbles
Without you my story is just
Pen and ink on a page
Slow it down for ballad time! Love the extensive use of writing metaphors for love, but my favorite part is absolutely how quickly that "pen-and-ink" part spills from her lips.
24. One Day at a Time
It's just one day at a time
One day I'll see all the stars align
It'll all turn out just fine
Nothing really standout about this one, but it's a good song of general encouragement. That's what this album's all about.
25. We Are the Riptide
Stand up, join in from the sideline
Dive deep, kicking up from the inside
One voice but many combined
We're the riptide, riptide, riptide
LOVE the music in this, particularly the chorus. Very catchy. Also very timely and relatable to the current backlash against the Supreme Court (especially the bridge, "let me hear your voice, come on girls and represent")
26. Anonymous
Think you're clever, fool me never
Caught red handed, you don't know
I see the super girl inside of you
Absolute fave! Mostly for the boppy chorus. It's all metaphorical and applicable to the everyday unsung heroes, but also it's just asking you to make Supergirl fanvids to it.
27. Shine
We're all different by design
Coming all together like
Constellations in the night
Or: We're gonna shine lke the stars in the sky-y-y!
Dishonorable Mention: I just wanna call out Justin Bieber's "Ghost of You" with the funny Tumblr post I made about it after continually hearing the same lyrics of the chorus on the radio, out of context/not knowing the singer, and having the same reaction every time. The song itself is boring to me, but the takeaway is golden. (Side note: my beef with Bieber has disappeared since he got married/went all Born-Again Christian on us and became infinitely less annoying to me as a person.)
May
I got nothin' recorded for May, and I'm pretty sure that's because on the rare occasion I had time to hear music, I just spent all of it continuing to obsess over Josh Groban music new and old. And when I got tired of that, I lulled myself to sleep by finally trying out some soothing, extended-play white noise tracks like rainfall/thunderstorms.
June
28. Tracy Chapman - Crossroads
Some say the devil be a mystical thing
I say the devil he a walking man
He a fool, he a liar, conjurer and a thief
He try to tell you what you want
Try to tell you what you need
Oh, I am SO embarrassed I missed this particular single when I added "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" to Fast Car & Telling Stories in my library. Now I have a truly perfect quartet of singles. One play -- nay, fifteen seconds of this chill acoustic guitar and hand drumming -- and I was a goner.
(Background: so, what happened here is that Heardle used "Fast Car," I nailed it in one second, and then decided I needed to play it on loop. Googling landed on an article about what's given the song such enduring popularity, and noticed a YouTube thumbnail of this song in the mix. And that led me back to Spotify to see if maybe I was sleeping on even more. Her debut album is probably worth reccing as a whole, but I was in a rush to set up a playlist I could lose myself in while falling asleep, so I only sampled a handful of tracks, limiting the list to those that instantly grabbed my ear, and I haven't gone back for a closer look yet.)
29. Tracy Chapman - Across The Lines
Little black girl gets assaulted
Ain't no reason why
Newspaper prints the story
And racist tempers fly
I got nothin', this is just a Good Song about the racism-to-violence cycle and its futility. Choosing the best lyric was a random dart throw.
30. Tracy Chapman - Why?
Why are the missiles called Peacekeepers
When they're aimed to kill?
Why is a woman still not safe
When she's in her home?
30+ years later and the questions are generally still relevant; the woman is good. They're also set to a jazzy, finger-snapping beat that makes me very sorry it's barely 2 minutes long.
31. Tracy Chapman - If Not Now
You can wait 'til morning comes
You can wait for the new day
You can wait and lose this heart
You can wait and soon be sorry
No piercing social commentary to this one, but I'm still at a loss for words...it's just Good.
32. Tracy Chapman - Change
If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Random skip to a new album, based on Spotify's algorithm. This was a great closer to my playlist, and probably a good closer to any given mix CD; optimistic and hopeful. I know those are synonyms, but it sounded good.
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But over the last week, combing through Spotify adds and Tumblr posts, I've gathered up quite a number I forgot, so I'm finally comfortable with my set. Lots of familiar names with multiple numbers, only a few newbies. In a desperate attempt to finally finish this post, this one is also missing YouTube links and I can't promise I'll ever add them back in, but at least I've got the titles up now. I'm keeping great track of July's songs so far, so...progress!
January
1. The Light Princess soundtrack (Rosalie Craig/Nick Hendrix) -- Gravity
I checked out this epic-looking soundtrack to a Broadway musical (with music written by Tori Amos!) from the library, but it did not hook me in its entirety. I am hopeful I can try again someday, but in the meantime, this bonus track bowled me over and blew me away.
2. Taylor Swift - Message in a Bottle
Standing here, hoping it gets to you
Heard on the radio by accident*...instant addiction. Very Carly Rae Jepsen.
*One day I'll get around to listening to some of the Taylor's Versions albums -- at least the new songs (I tend to hate having multiple versions of a song from one artist, which is one reason I avoid live performances; a song should sound the way it sounds and that's IT!) -- but I have heard a few snippets while attempting the T-Swift Heardle**, and I'm Intrigued.
(**which I quickly abandoned because at this point I know less than half her songs)
February
3. Nickelback/The Lottery Winners: Rockstar Sea Shanty
Everybody's got a rum dealer on speed dial
I know I missed the initial ~sea shanties~ craze, but now I never want to hear any of the others because this is so perfect. I've always loved the original, but this Celtic-flaired version with its occasional lyric changes is even better. Especially the one above. (also, the fiddle bridge is incredible)
March
4. CD Rec: Spell Songs II
I was going to get my dad The Lost Spells for his birthday, since it's not at our local library but he really loved it when he got it via Interlibrary Loan, and when I looked it up online I found out not one but two albums were produced to accompany the book. Celtic-type music, which he loves. Unfortunately, both they and the book were hella expensive, so I had to go with the sequel album instead of the original because it was the less expensive version. I haven't heard the original Spell Songs yet, but this album is perfectly lovely and while I do have some favorites, I like listening to its as a whole, so onto the list as a single it goes!
(to be added later: a song-by-song rundown)
5. Madilyn Paige - Red Ribbon
A heart that's been broken is a heart that's been loved
Scrounging around Spotify for recs, what a treat to find a new Madilyn Paige original! I love the wave-like effect of "red, red ribbon, ribbon red..."
CD Rec: Josh Groban, "Harmony"
There's a reason it took me so long to get to this one, and yep, it's definitely not my favorite of his albums -- in fact, arguably it is only above Stages and maybe Noel (although I usually leave Christmas albums out of rankings), with few candidates for addition to my list of all time favorite tracks -- but after several plays, I eventually concluded that I do enjoy nearly half the songs. Full rundown here; for now I'm putting them in the order I fell for them. Cheat version: the good songs are 1, 2, 4-6, 12, 14 and 15; bless my library for having the Deluxe Version.
6. Josh Groban/Sara Bareilles - Both Sides Now
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
A dizzy dancing way to feel
Can never decide if I actually like the original - it seems like I should, but it’s never fully clicked in my heart - but these two gorgeous voices really let the incredible lyrics shine while creating beautiful harmonies.
7. Josh Groban/Helene Fischer -- I'll Stand By You
Oh, why you look so sad?
The tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Obviously, the other safe bet was the duet of a song I already love (it was Sad Teenage Me's PEAK comfort song). Admittedly I was a little unsure about it being a duet, because him covering it alone as one of those supportive directly-to-the-audience songs would have been amazing…but it turns out the harmonies they create are still lovely.
8. Josh Groban/Leslie Odom Jr. - Shape of My Heart
I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
I still think I might like this better as a solo (although the harmonies on the chorus are admittedly cool), but dang, those are some cool metaphors for card-playing.
9. Josh Groban ft. Kirk Franklin - The Fullest
Would you follow me out on the thin branches?
Going blind, trying to soak up the sun
I believe, I believe, that the space in between
Is what we become
I really don’t love Franklin’s rap-like interjections and gospel choirs are hit or miss with me, so it wasn’t instant love, but it's just so JOYOUS that I found myself playing it on loop while taking a day trip out to H___, driving down rural highways, and fell in love. I was not surprised to find this was a Groban original.
10. Josh Groban - April, Come She Will
July, she will fly
And give no warning to her flight
I don’t know this song -- apparently it's a Simon & Garfunkel cover?! -- but I immediately liked it. Lovely music and I like the way it walks through various months.
11. **Josh Groban - Your Face**
I believe in all of us
I won't let this go to waste
Initially I skipped over this because I associated it with “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and checked it at the door, but one time I forgot to skip from track 4 to 6, and out of nowhere I was surrounded by Classic Groban sound (I was pleased with my ability to recognize that sound when I found later it was the other original on the album). See, this is what I wanted; I just want more this. So jubilant and triumphant in its message of optimism, I think it's fighting with the duets for album favorite.
12. Josh Groban -- Angels
Down the waterfall, wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call
Feels a little bit Hallmark-cheesy in the way that this album cover looks, but it's perfectly pleasant and piano features prominently, which always helps.
13. Josh Groban -- Over and Over (The World We Knew)
And since I'm here...this inherently should not please me, because Josh Groban is not a person I in any way associate with the James Bond sound this has - side note, my slapdash Googling seems to indicate this actually was NOT used as a theme for any of those movies? really?? - but I finally decided his voice is deep enough to give it really cool gravitas on the lower notes.
14. Josh Groban -- Mia Per Sempre
While I was busy falling in love with the Harmony tracks, I learned that there was a 20th anniversary release of his first album, featuring TWO NEW BONUS TRACKS! "Roma Nun Fa' La Stupida Stasera" is nothing special (though it's still worth a listen), but this one immediately blissed me out. A new song in Italian...that isn't boring as sin...oh, I have craved this sound for years. And it was actually recorded back then too; apparently it was a Japanese edition exclusive before? Better late than never.
15. Amanda Mair - Sense
I saw your picture in a magazine
You looked bigger, brighter, stronger than everything
And I stood and remembered how you left the scene
As you were telling everybody about your dreams
I had a free trial of Amazon Music, and although I mostly used it to listen to Groban obsessively without having to rip & transfer music from all my CDs onto my phone, it threw me one catchy song rec that was frankly perfect and that I fell in love with instantly; good algorithm! I didn't actually know any of the lyrics besides "it doesn't make sense" until today, that's how snappy it is. They're quite good, though.
16. Phoebe Bridgers - Kyoto
You called me from a payphone
They still got payphones
It costs a dollar a minute
To tell me you're getting sober
And you wrote me a letter
But I don't have to read it
Chris played this for me when it released, and frankly her haggard appearance in the low-budget music video was so off-putting it ruined the whole song for me, but then I checked out the "Punisher" CD from the library in an attempt to repeat the magic of her first album. It didn't work. But I did find a few catchy tunes while spinning it round and round during my commute, including this one coming back around.
17. Phoebe Bridgers - Chinese Satellite
Took a tour to see the stars, but they weren't out tonight
So I wished hard on a Chinese satellite
I want to believe
Instead I look at the sky and I feel nothing
Abfavorite on the album. Haunting music & imagery about not believing in life after death, but wishing you did, so that a person you loved wouldn't be gone forever.
18. Phoebe Bridgers - Graceland Too
So she picks a direction, it's ninety in Memphis
Turns up the music so thoughts don't intrude
Sleepy and slow but comforting, the lilting Bluegrass melody pulled me in before I knew what had happened.
(dis?)Honorable Mention: Phoebe Bridgers - I Know The End
Romanticize a quiet life
There's no place like my room
This WOULD have been my second favorite on the album, a song that starts soft and pretty, with many poignant images and poetic lines, and gradually escalates in tempo and instrumentation up to the apparent end of the world (and starts sounding a lot like something off Sufjan's "Feel the Illinoise" album, when the trumpets kick in)...except at 4:33 it devolves into a cacophony of SCREAMING and other horrendous noise, closing out with creepy heavy breathing/growling. So I need an edited version that cuts off around the 4:30 mark. I don't care what your artistic vision for representing the apocalypse/rapture is, it's crap.
April
19. CD Rec: Josh Groban, "Bridges: Live at Madison Square Gardens"
The "Awake" concert DVD somehow bypassed me back in the day, so I haven't heard a live album since The Greek in 2005, but Spotify made me click this out of curiosity. The opening track sounded great live, and then while scanning down the list, I was bowled over by joy to find not one but two duets w/ Idina Menzel -- I knew she'd toured with him, but somehow I thought that just meant like an opening act?? -- AND a bunch of my all-time faves mixed in with songs from the then-current album?? Also, if you get the MP3 version it's all twenty tracks from the concert and 18 of them are amazing or at least good, so I am once again going to make this a single number and staple in a rundown of the entire album below.
P.S. It literally took me 48 hours from playing my first song on this album to ordering it. Best decision I ever made. Even though I haven't actually...watched the DVD yet oop.
[into the spoiler cut with you now]
a. Bigger Than Us
I didn't think this song could get better, but it CAN! The "ooo-ooh" part is so much lovelier with a little vibrato in it, the audience screaming actually...adds? to the triumphant power?? THAT'S never happened before -- and the percussion and guitar are on fire. This is a song that was made for crowds in stadium venues and it shows.
b. You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)
When your heart is feeling lonely
And your voice cannot be heard
You can't always see the ending
You don't need to find the words
You are someone I believe in
When the tears fall from above
Know that right now I am with you
And when I'm with you, you are loved
OK, two things: one, this is one of his most gorgeous songs ever and it sounds special in every incarnation, but there's something extra special about hearing it again now, with over 10 years of maturity added to his voice, and two, NEW BRIDGE NEW BRIDGE NEW WORDS!!! How long as has this version been happening?? don't know, don't care, as long as I have it now.
c. Won't Look Back
It won't ever rain on us
It won't ever get too rough
You know I can't promise you that
But I promise I won't look back
brb upgrading this song from middle tier to AMAZING
d. Granted
This song is also meant to be performed; not much different here than on the album, but a beautiful part of the set.
Pure Imagination
^ JUST KIDDING. I hate this with such a fiery burning passion that he has never and will never be able to rescue it. I do not accept it exists in this otherwise stellar set.
e. Oceano
Piove sull'oceano, piove sull'oceano
Piove sulla mia identità
ALL TIME FAVE ALL TIME FAVE!!!! (one of them) I did NOT expect this song to come out swinging. Unfortunately, he still doesn't sound quite as strong and rich live as he did on the original Closer album, which really surprises me, but it's def. still an upgrade from Live at the Greek and I feel so spoiled to have yet another version of the first song I ever heard from him. And I love the extra "hey!" at the end of drawn-out closing note to "normale."
f. Marrakech
I don't know what this is or where it came from (looking forward to an explanation on the DVD!), but it proved to be a fabulous 3-minute Middle-East-inspired (with a side of electric guitar) instrumental.
g. The Wandering Kind
BUMMED because the original version of this instrumental is my favorite track on Illuminations and it's also one of the most beautiful and evocative instrumentals I've ever heard outside of Celtic music -- but this arrangement, while excellent at first as the loss of some instrumentation allows his piano playing to shine, kinda sounds like he just starts fumbling the keys at the end. I do like how he starts to transition into the next song, though.
h. She's Always a Woman
She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth but she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her as long as it's free
brb, updating this song from skippable to....tolerable. That's the best I can do, appreciate the warmth in his voice.
**i. Lullaby**
Hush now baby, don't you cry
Rest your wings, my butterfly
But of all the songs getting the upgrade button stabbed today, it is THIS ONE. As a duet with Idina Menzel, backed by piano instead of a capella and the second verse sung in Spanish, this song went from The Dullest to MINDBLOWING. It's actually better than the duet I came for. I even went back to listen to the original in case I'd misjudged it, but no. This arrangement is really just singularly spectacular.
g. Falling Slowly (duet w/ Idina Menzel)
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won
To be clear: this is still amazing. You know how long I have loved Darren Criss/Lea Michele dueting on this number, even though I've never had a studio or studio quality recording, so hearing these older versions of them cover it? a gift I never imagined to be blessed with.
h. Bring Him Home
I can pine for "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" if I want to, I can leave this one behind! But it's still fine and certainly better than I Dreamed a Dream, so I can't hate.
i. Musica Para Carminer
Kinda surprised this is its own track, as it is really just a 37-second intro to the next number, but very invigorating and cool!
j. Musica del Corazon
I can't put my finger on exactly why this feels even better than the album version -- the lack of clapping? is there different instrumentation? a little faster tempo, maybe, while simultaneously being a little softer/gentler on the delivery? -- but it really has me like wow, YEAH! A definite album upgrade. Also love the vocals near the end, and the actual ending.
k. River
See "Granted."
l. Alla Luce del Sole
Questa notte passera
I nearly swallowed my tongue to find my other favorite, like possibly Actual All Time Favorite, also performed nearly 20 years after its release. Loooove getting to hear this in an older voice. The lyric quoted above has been my mantra for getting through hard times for half my life at this point.
m. 99 Years (duet w/ Jennifer Nettles)
So let's look forward to you and I looking back
I still don't love it as much as I want to, but enjoy it as part of the set? Absolutely.
n. You Raise Me Up
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
It really is Live at the Greek all over again! Love this concert for me. I overplayed this early on so it's still hit or miss for me as to whether I'll love any given listen, but when it's on it's on. And I like the addressing of the audience during an instrumental bridge mid-song.
o. To Where You Are
And isn't faith believing all power can't be seen?
(what year is it!!) Oh my goodness. This was one of the first 5 songs I fell in love with from him, but I didn't upload it to my computer, so I actually forgot it existed. So beautiful. So much more meaningful now that he's not a literal teenager singing songs too old for him. (I also really enjoy the verbal explanation at the beginning of this song, thanking the audience for being there and mentioning how he first performed this on Ally McBeal.) (On a related note, I gotta rewatch his episodes.)
Bridge Over Trouble Water
I don't hate it, but I am sure gonna ignore this one and stop the playlist early. I do not care how much he loves it or the fact that it forms the basis of this album/tour's title. It boring.
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20. Josh Groban - Your Hideaway
When the tears stream down your face
And you've given all your light away
I'd like to be the safest place
Your hideaway
Amazon Music informed me of this standalone single I've somehow missed for eight years, which apparently didn't even make the cut as a bonus track for All That Echoes, and the second I heard it after hearing that I hit the ROOF because this is one of his most beautiful songs ever. It's even headier stuff than "You Are Loved" as far as songs in 2nd person from him go, and that was already pretty peak comfort music.
CD Rec: Madilyn Paige, "Anymore"
Back to Maddie -- yeehaw! There are only 7 tracks on this feel-good EP that is all about girl power and believing in yourself, so even though they aren't all my fave, I'm spotlighting them anyway. As individual numbers this time, because WHY NOT.
21. Perfect
Hide the scars and hide the flaws
Fading in is all she wants
She needs to be more than she sees
Fun and bouncy; also, we can never really have enough songs encouraging girls (or, I guess, anyone) not to fixate on being perfect, or even presenting as such on social media.
22. Anymore (ft. David Archuleta)
You're not the mistakes you made before
You're more than the past you're fighting for
This is actually how I found ithe EP -- this song came up as a rec for one of my playlists, and I liked it enough that I followed it home. Good harmonies, beautiful and encouraging lyrics.
23. Scribbles
Without you my story is just
Pen and ink on a page
Slow it down for ballad time! Love the extensive use of writing metaphors for love, but my favorite part is absolutely how quickly that "pen-and-ink" part spills from her lips.
24. One Day at a Time
It's just one day at a time
One day I'll see all the stars align
It'll all turn out just fine
Nothing really standout about this one, but it's a good song of general encouragement. That's what this album's all about.
25. We Are the Riptide
Stand up, join in from the sideline
Dive deep, kicking up from the inside
One voice but many combined
We're the riptide, riptide, riptide
LOVE the music in this, particularly the chorus. Very catchy. Also very timely and relatable to the current backlash against the Supreme Court (especially the bridge, "let me hear your voice, come on girls and represent")
26. Anonymous
Think you're clever, fool me never
Caught red handed, you don't know
I see the super girl inside of you
Absolute fave! Mostly for the boppy chorus. It's all metaphorical and applicable to the everyday unsung heroes, but also it's just asking you to make Supergirl fanvids to it.
27. Shine
We're all different by design
Coming all together like
Constellations in the night
Or: We're gonna shine lke the stars in the sky-y-y!
Dishonorable Mention: I just wanna call out Justin Bieber's "Ghost of You" with the funny Tumblr post I made about it after continually hearing the same lyrics of the chorus on the radio, out of context/not knowing the singer, and having the same reaction every time. The song itself is boring to me, but the takeaway is golden. (Side note: my beef with Bieber has disappeared since he got married/went all Born-Again Christian on us and became infinitely less annoying to me as a person.)
May
I got nothin' recorded for May, and I'm pretty sure that's because on the rare occasion I had time to hear music, I just spent all of it continuing to obsess over Josh Groban music new and old. And when I got tired of that, I lulled myself to sleep by finally trying out some soothing, extended-play white noise tracks like rainfall/thunderstorms.
June
28. Tracy Chapman - Crossroads
Some say the devil be a mystical thing
I say the devil he a walking man
He a fool, he a liar, conjurer and a thief
He try to tell you what you want
Try to tell you what you need
Oh, I am SO embarrassed I missed this particular single when I added "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" to Fast Car & Telling Stories in my library. Now I have a truly perfect quartet of singles. One play -- nay, fifteen seconds of this chill acoustic guitar and hand drumming -- and I was a goner.
(Background: so, what happened here is that Heardle used "Fast Car," I nailed it in one second, and then decided I needed to play it on loop. Googling landed on an article about what's given the song such enduring popularity, and noticed a YouTube thumbnail of this song in the mix. And that led me back to Spotify to see if maybe I was sleeping on even more. Her debut album is probably worth reccing as a whole, but I was in a rush to set up a playlist I could lose myself in while falling asleep, so I only sampled a handful of tracks, limiting the list to those that instantly grabbed my ear, and I haven't gone back for a closer look yet.)
29. Tracy Chapman - Across The Lines
Little black girl gets assaulted
Ain't no reason why
Newspaper prints the story
And racist tempers fly
I got nothin', this is just a Good Song about the racism-to-violence cycle and its futility. Choosing the best lyric was a random dart throw.
30. Tracy Chapman - Why?
Why are the missiles called Peacekeepers
When they're aimed to kill?
Why is a woman still not safe
When she's in her home?
30+ years later and the questions are generally still relevant; the woman is good. They're also set to a jazzy, finger-snapping beat that makes me very sorry it's barely 2 minutes long.
31. Tracy Chapman - If Not Now
You can wait 'til morning comes
You can wait for the new day
You can wait and lose this heart
You can wait and soon be sorry
No piercing social commentary to this one, but I'm still at a loss for words...it's just Good.
32. Tracy Chapman - Change
If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Random skip to a new album, based on Spotify's algorithm. This was a great closer to my playlist, and probably a good closer to any given mix CD; optimistic and hopeful. I know those are synonyms, but it sounded good.
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