It’s crazy to think that it has been an entire semester already! It seems like just yesterday I was listening to my first few new bands on Spotify and eagerly writing reviews of them. Now, four months later, I can honestly say that writing this passion blog has been a real joy in my week, because it’s allowed me to not only spend forced time listening to music, but I feel like I’ve simultaneously broadened my horizons and refined my tastes (which in my opinion can totally happen at the same time).
This week, I decided to wrap up the entire blog by doing a “best of” playlist that highlights the entire semester’s journey through the files of Spotify. These are all songs that I really enjoyed listening to, and have continued to listen to even after I was done with that week’s blog. The list is pretty diverse, but I like it that way. There’s something for every occasion or situation on there, which makes it really reflect the genre of “Alternative” as a whole. So without further ado, here are the top 11 songs of the semester in no particular order, and then some very random ramblings about what I’ve learned this semester.
Danse Caribe – Andrew Bird
Let’s Go – Matt & Kim
Howlin’ For You – The Black Keys
My Name is Jonas – Weezer
Something Good Can Work – Two Door Cinema Club
Thunder – Boys Like Girls
This = Love – The Script
Runaways – The Killers
Violin Sonata in G Major K 301 2nd Movement – Mozart
Remember Me As a Time of Day – Explosions in the Sky
My Body – Young The Giant
Something that I really liked about all these songs is that they each are so unique from the others. Each artist and each song has a truly unique flair to it, one that you don’t really find elsewhere. The songs are distinct and memorable, and each is a work of art in its own way. Each paints a picture that I struggled to find elsewhere in music for various reasons, which makes each a 3 to 4 minute gem amid a world of repeats and cliches.
And that’s probably what I liked best about this blog. I knew for a fact that before I listened to any of these artists, I was stuck in a musical rut, and I didn’t even realize it. I was listening to what I considered to be essentially the same songs over and over again, just with different words or different instruments or different artists. One thing this blog has taught me is that a lot of music is the same, and that music that repeats the works of another looses credibility and legitimacy. It’s also taught me that a song or artist that breaks that mold is a great find that deserves a few minutes of my time. Each song is one that I feel like in some way, I could relate to (hence my descriptions of where various songs would fit into the soundtrack of my life ). As I go through this extremely variable and constantly changing college life, I find it necessary to find music that reflects all these new experiences, and thus I found a need to expand my listening habits to cover music that could still relate to me in these new and constantly shifting times.
As Albert Einstein said: “I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” Music is, for me and most others, an expression of the self that can’t be said with just words. This semester of exploration has taught me that finding music that makes you happy and that fits with your life is hugely rewarding. I used to say “Ugh, I have the worst taste in music”, and I now take that statement back. It’s my taste in music, and as long as it makes me happy and satisfies me, I don’t have to measure it against anyone’s standards. Branching out and listening to new music has not been to try to change my tastes into the taste of others, but simply to see what new material is out there that might satisfy my ears.
So I recognize that while this is my list and I love all the songs on it, it might not suit any of you, or anyone else for that matter. It’s tailored to my tastes, and that’s what’s good about it. So I would encourage you to, instead of listening to my top playlist of the semester, take a few minutes to make your own, and listen to it. Branch out a bit, sample some new stuff, and find music that makes your heart happy. It’ll do ya some good 🙂