The Music of 2023:
Final round o' posting let's go. (and mourn for the loss of even my standard music icon, for it was not among the first 15 I uploaded)
OCTOBER
53. A Hundred Wishes - Loreena McKennitt
Could we be in Spain again?
Dance beneath the oak trees
I may never recapture the magic spell those first 5 albums wove over me, but after a couple of plays through "Lost Souls," this track kinda gave me similar vibes. It's a bit more personal lyric-wise than I think of from her, but in a good and haunting ballad way.
54. Ages Past, Ages Hence - Loreena McKennitt
Ancient castles on climbing cliffs
Summoned by the sea
Windswept shores and crashing waves
Rages furiously
Now make it medieval again!
55. I See Fire (acoustic instrumental track) - Ed Sheeran, at least originally
We're not gonna talk about how I found it*, but this is officially the most calming track I know now. Maybe someday I'll unlock the full song, but at present moment I just. Cannot tolerate the a capella intro; why would u do that.
(*FINE but only because it's a legit well done video and a decent vocal copycat)
56. Last Selfie - Candy Machine
A, L, P-H-A
You're gonna take our breath away!
a.k.a. Ode To A Killer Sloth (from the movie Slotherhouse)
NOVEMBER
57. Timeless - Taylor Swift
Somehow, I know that you and I would've found each other
In another life, you still would've turned my head
Oh hey guess what's finally here to make me cry. (Time is a trigger word for me right now, thanks Loki)
CD REC: Alecia Elliott, "I'm Diggin' It" (2000)
I finally got around to playing another of my April book sale CD purchases -- on my way to another book sale in the same general direction/on a fair stretch of the same rural highways, lol -- and HOLY COW INSTA-LOVE. Despite a Nashville record label trying to claim it's contemporary-country-crossover, what it actually sounds like is one of my favorite genres of music: Y2K teen girl pop (non-trashy). Her voice is really interesting -- lower register and surprisingly full-bodied for a 16/17-year-old -- the lyrics are good, the music is largely quite catchy. Sadly it seems she disappeared from the music scene shortly after this, at least according to one site.
Top six from the CD below...
58. Some People Fall, Some People Fly
We climbed that mountain and we got so high
Then on the wings of an angel, we took to the sky
The music that launched my "holy cow insta-love, I don't even care if it's Secret Christian Music" statement (it's not). Like, fifteen seconds and I was obsessed; this could have been a single.
59. I Don't Understand
Is everybody livin' in a world without windows?
Am I the only one who sees?
If this is all that's left of what was once the promised land, oh
I just can't comprehend it
I just don't understand
Cliche subject matter ("why do bad things happen")? Sure. Do I wish it had some rhymes in the verses instead of just repeating the title phrase every other line? Yeah. But is it cliche in a way that totally works for a girl this age*, and listeners like me? Yep-sker-doodles. The relatively upbeat music helps.
*despite relative hilarity of being asked to believe this fresh-faced white girl has ever seen a "crack house," let alone one down the street.
60. Ain't No Ordinary Love
One look, one touch
And the skies just opened up
Ain't no ordinary love
Lightnin', thunder
And the fateful arrow struck
Ain't no ordinary love
A typical love song, but a catchy one.
61. I'm Diggin' It
I almost picked Every Heart because of how much I love the "wholeheartedly / every part of me" part of the lyrics, but then I investigated which songs were the actual singles, and lmao what a music video. (seriously she doesn't actually sound 17, so this vid taking place in the halls of a high school?? being about high school romance?? threw me for a LOOP) That said it is distinctly more Country than some of the others, albeit crossover-pop-y.
62. Say You Will
It only takes two hours by plane
If you drive you can make it in a day
Just think, baby, if we met halfway
A somewhat slower one, ft. an ode to long-distance relationships. (I will wait for you, will you wait for me?)
63. You Wanna What
You wanna what? I don't think so
I don't waste my time on guys like that
A+ SASSINESS. (Apparently this was the second single. Makes sense.) (also this one does sound like a high schooler, in the best way. I love the let's-go-to-the-mall setting for this video, too)
64. Manhattan Moon - Lucy Kaplansky
So you look for her in the books we read
In the shadow's curve you show her to me
When the sun goes down and she's there again
Brighter now, your brand new friend
The CD this is on was another of my April book sale buys, and I don't know if I dig it as a whole, but the first two are SO excellent, insta-love in my heart. Pretty good folk musician. And what a sweet little song to a daughter.
65. Amelia - Lucy Kaplansky
This is my story, like so many girls before
Just another story that doesn't matter anymore
Lil' lump in my throat. I'm starting to play this one as much as the above.
66. Swimming Song - Lucy Kaplanksy (cover
This summer I swam in the ocean
And I swam in a swimming pool
Salt in my wounds, chlorine in my eyes
I'm a self destructive fool
Listen, what you see (in the title) is what you get. There is nothing profound here lyrically, but the southern fiddle really sells this one. It keeps getting stuck in my head, making me sing it in the shower, etc.
***67. 28 - Gabby***
I’m 28 and I’m doing fine
Under the trees in the summertime
A lovely original song written & performed by one of my new favorite BookTubers. It's very simple, just acoustic guitar accompaniment, but it was insta-love for me and I am suddenly having the STRONGEST feeling of what it's like to hear a demo and imagine how amazing it could be fully produced on an album (not that I don't love it as is. This is just a suuuuper strong melody in addition to great lyrics! Where did the time go... echoed in my head for like 3 days straight.)
68. Put Me in the Car - Ryan Gosling
Just put me in the car
And drive so far
Until I'm free again
Thank u to the do-you-know-this-song poll Tumblr!! WILL explore rest of this album at a later date. Listen to this fantastic late 90s/Y2K solo dude singer sound. I don't even know what this reminds me of -- my closest personal reference is Matt Werner -- and it just thrills me that this is neither overly pop-y nor heavy on electric guitar and rock sounds. Woulda fit right in with my beloved adult contemporary music station back in the day. I don't love the vocal affectation on the verses, but the chorus? swoon.
December
69. Taylor Swift - Matt Cooper
You belong with me, I belong with you
Knew it at fifteen, now we're 22
Last-minute addition! What a catchy, fun, vaguely country, way to make an ode to one's relationship stitched together of as many Taylor Swift song titles as possible, because you always listened to her together.
List Extra
Always Been a Dreamer - Steffan Carlen
Always been a dreamer, will you dream with me?
If I should lose my way then would you follow me?
Speaking of GabbyReads...she uses the chorus from this at the end of her videos and it is now stuck in my brain. I don't know if I like the whole song enough to play on repeat, but I wanted to remember it.
OCTOBER
53. A Hundred Wishes - Loreena McKennitt
Could we be in Spain again?
Dance beneath the oak trees
I may never recapture the magic spell those first 5 albums wove over me, but after a couple of plays through "Lost Souls," this track kinda gave me similar vibes. It's a bit more personal lyric-wise than I think of from her, but in a good and haunting ballad way.
54. Ages Past, Ages Hence - Loreena McKennitt
Ancient castles on climbing cliffs
Summoned by the sea
Windswept shores and crashing waves
Rages furiously
Now make it medieval again!
55. I See Fire (acoustic instrumental track) - Ed Sheeran, at least originally
We're not gonna talk about how I found it*, but this is officially the most calming track I know now. Maybe someday I'll unlock the full song, but at present moment I just. Cannot tolerate the a capella intro; why would u do that.
(*FINE but only because it's a legit well done video and a decent vocal copycat)
56. Last Selfie - Candy Machine
A, L, P-H-A
You're gonna take our breath away!
a.k.a. Ode To A Killer Sloth (from the movie Slotherhouse)
NOVEMBER
57. Timeless - Taylor Swift
Somehow, I know that you and I would've found each other
In another life, you still would've turned my head
Oh hey guess what's finally here to make me cry. (Time is a trigger word for me right now, thanks Loki)
CD REC: Alecia Elliott, "I'm Diggin' It" (2000)
I finally got around to playing another of my April book sale CD purchases -- on my way to another book sale in the same general direction/on a fair stretch of the same rural highways, lol -- and HOLY COW INSTA-LOVE. Despite a Nashville record label trying to claim it's contemporary-country-crossover, what it actually sounds like is one of my favorite genres of music: Y2K teen girl pop (non-trashy). Her voice is really interesting -- lower register and surprisingly full-bodied for a 16/17-year-old -- the lyrics are good, the music is largely quite catchy. Sadly it seems she disappeared from the music scene shortly after this, at least according to one site.
Top six from the CD below...
58. Some People Fall, Some People Fly
We climbed that mountain and we got so high
Then on the wings of an angel, we took to the sky
The music that launched my "holy cow insta-love, I don't even care if it's Secret Christian Music" statement (it's not). Like, fifteen seconds and I was obsessed; this could have been a single.
59. I Don't Understand
Is everybody livin' in a world without windows?
Am I the only one who sees?
If this is all that's left of what was once the promised land, oh
I just can't comprehend it
I just don't understand
Cliche subject matter ("why do bad things happen")? Sure. Do I wish it had some rhymes in the verses instead of just repeating the title phrase every other line? Yeah. But is it cliche in a way that totally works for a girl this age*, and listeners like me? Yep-sker-doodles. The relatively upbeat music helps.
*despite relative hilarity of being asked to believe this fresh-faced white girl has ever seen a "crack house," let alone one down the street.
60. Ain't No Ordinary Love
One look, one touch
And the skies just opened up
Ain't no ordinary love
Lightnin', thunder
And the fateful arrow struck
Ain't no ordinary love
A typical love song, but a catchy one.
61. I'm Diggin' It
I almost picked Every Heart because of how much I love the "wholeheartedly / every part of me" part of the lyrics, but then I investigated which songs were the actual singles, and lmao what a music video. (seriously she doesn't actually sound 17, so this vid taking place in the halls of a high school?? being about high school romance?? threw me for a LOOP) That said it is distinctly more Country than some of the others, albeit crossover-pop-y.
62. Say You Will
It only takes two hours by plane
If you drive you can make it in a day
Just think, baby, if we met halfway
A somewhat slower one, ft. an ode to long-distance relationships. (I will wait for you, will you wait for me?)
63. You Wanna What
You wanna what? I don't think so
I don't waste my time on guys like that
A+ SASSINESS. (Apparently this was the second single. Makes sense.) (also this one does sound like a high schooler, in the best way. I love the let's-go-to-the-mall setting for this video, too)
64. Manhattan Moon - Lucy Kaplansky
So you look for her in the books we read
In the shadow's curve you show her to me
When the sun goes down and she's there again
Brighter now, your brand new friend
The CD this is on was another of my April book sale buys, and I don't know if I dig it as a whole, but the first two are SO excellent, insta-love in my heart. Pretty good folk musician. And what a sweet little song to a daughter.
65. Amelia - Lucy Kaplansky
This is my story, like so many girls before
Just another story that doesn't matter anymore
Lil' lump in my throat. I'm starting to play this one as much as the above.
66. Swimming Song - Lucy Kaplanksy (cover
This summer I swam in the ocean
And I swam in a swimming pool
Salt in my wounds, chlorine in my eyes
I'm a self destructive fool
Listen, what you see (in the title) is what you get. There is nothing profound here lyrically, but the southern fiddle really sells this one. It keeps getting stuck in my head, making me sing it in the shower, etc.
***67. 28 - Gabby***
I’m 28 and I’m doing fine
Under the trees in the summertime
A lovely original song written & performed by one of my new favorite BookTubers. It's very simple, just acoustic guitar accompaniment, but it was insta-love for me and I am suddenly having the STRONGEST feeling of what it's like to hear a demo and imagine how amazing it could be fully produced on an album (not that I don't love it as is. This is just a suuuuper strong melody in addition to great lyrics! Where did the time go... echoed in my head for like 3 days straight.)
68. Put Me in the Car - Ryan Gosling
Just put me in the car
And drive so far
Until I'm free again
Thank u to the do-you-know-this-song poll Tumblr!! WILL explore rest of this album at a later date. Listen to this fantastic late 90s/Y2K solo dude singer sound. I don't even know what this reminds me of -- my closest personal reference is Matt Werner -- and it just thrills me that this is neither overly pop-y nor heavy on electric guitar and rock sounds. Woulda fit right in with my beloved adult contemporary music station back in the day. I don't love the vocal affectation on the verses, but the chorus? swoon.
December
69. Taylor Swift - Matt Cooper
You belong with me, I belong with you
Knew it at fifteen, now we're 22
Last-minute addition! What a catchy, fun, vaguely country, way to make an ode to one's relationship stitched together of as many Taylor Swift song titles as possible, because you always listened to her together.
List Extra
Always Been a Dreamer - Steffan Carlen
Always been a dreamer, will you dream with me?
If I should lose my way then would you follow me?
Speaking of GabbyReads...she uses the chorus from this at the end of her videos and it is now stuck in my brain. I don't know if I like the whole song enough to play on repeat, but I wanted to remember it.