If playlists are the ultimate currency of coolness, we're your virtual treasury.
There are a plethora of songs that have a happy sound that actually can be stretched to be the anthem for antagonistic characters, sleazy situations, or tweaked for turmoil within the topic of the plot. Over the years, I've found many songs that I've analyzed to be used for the creative assistance of dark humor. I love to hear a song that is too happy for the dark undertone. but at the same time it fits perfectly because it's something that normally wouldn't be heard at all during a dire situation. Depending on what character you are creating for the tricky turmoil they are in or the way they are. A certain tune might be what you need to tweak that turmoil your characters are in.
989 songs are in my most recent playlist - "Late Fall 2020" and I'm about to use that playlist to create "Winter 2021" - keeping the songs I still want to listen to right now, shedding the Christmas music and other songs I've grown tired of. I joke that my playlist has multiple personality syndrome and I'm kind of right. Spotify says I listened to 416 music genres this year, and these are usually all on the same playlist, played in shuffle mode. I get bored with too much of the same thing, so I load up my playlists and skip songs as needed. It was hard coming up with a sampler of 20 songs that got me through the year, but here is a sample.
2020 has been a challenging year for all. The pandemic has been compared to both world wars and all the other health pandemics before them. With a new vaccine on the way, there is a message of hope. Until the vaccine becomes safe and available to all, the world works on becoming tighter neighbours and some people have done whatever it took bring smiles to those less fortunate.
I listened to a lot of music in 2020. Well, according to Spotify, I listened for 37,653 minutes, which seems like a lot. Much of my free time for the last nine months has been spent listening to music — playing an album while washing dishes or folding laundry has helped to break up the monotony of spending every day inside my apartment.
To say 2020 has been difficult, would be a great understatement. What 2020 was, was a dumpster fire of epic proportions that greatly tested the patience of every single person on the planet! *Big sigh*. But in the midst of everything, 2020 wasn’t all bad. We did see it bring out the best in people as we saw so much giving to help those less fortunate. We saw heart-warming moments between family members who hadn’t seen each other in months. Additionally, we got new tunes gracing our eardrums. All of which helped us drown out the doom and gloom of the world, even for just a moment.
In early March when the kids were about to go on Spring Break, there were rumors going around the district forums that the kids may not be returning to school because of this mysterious virus we had limited information on. It went from the district delaying 2 weeks to a full month, and then we got the call they wouldn't be returning at all. I was in straight panic mode. My kids both 4 and 2 now both have autism. They thrive on structure and routine, and not to mention they were getting services through the special education department.
January: Better by Khalid The year started off hopeful, as usual. Armed with my list of resolutions, I felt ready for anything. I was prepared to fight off my mental demons and achieve my dream body for the fifth year in a row. The new semester was coming and with it, new opportunities for genuine connections and happiness. I felt a great sense of euphoria. The essence of these feelings was perfectly captured by the song Better by Khalid.
As 2020 finally finds itself on the way out and we blow our noisemakers alone in our living rooms this Thursday offering it good riddance, we have to do these requisite round ups of the year that was. I have no idea why, apparently it's the law or something.
Let's be honest, there wasn't much that 2020 had to offer us. Between $1200 stimulus checks to spread over nine months (if you live in the U.S.), a never-ending presidential election, a global pandemic in the form of a virus, and a global pandemic in the form of police brutality, 2020 felt like falling down on a trampoline while everyone else just keeps jumping.
I have enough songs on my iPod to get me from my home state of Michigan to Florida without any repeats, but there are a few songs in my library that make driving even better. Whether it’s an upbeat song or something slower, each of these tracks talks about driving.
Music is my most favorite hobby. I love making playlists. For me it is one of the most therapeutic things to do. I have a pretty eclectic taste in music that I am always trying to expand. And I want to do more collaborative playlists too. I have an Instagram profile dedicated to posting songs and that is also a really great way to find new bands that are trying to get their music out there more. I really hope sharing their music helps get it out there more as well.
Crying is good for you. The alternative to crying is holding it all inside. That may work for a while, but eventually, the tears will come. I know this as a widow who experienced sudden loss. I also know this as a counselor.