Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus was born on this date in 1966. A handful of Pavement songs are included on today’s playlist.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 2-15-24
In late 2002 I had credit card points that were about to expire so I ordered a bunch of CDs by artists whose music I had not heard, which included Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground by Bright Eyes, which turned out to be a good choice. The album’s title is a reference to a quote by William S. Burroughs: “The story is in the soil, lift it up, anything can happen.”
Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst was born on this date in 1980. Lots of tunes from Conor are included on today’s playlist.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 2-9-24
The Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt was sitting in a piano bar in Manhattan, listening to the pianist’s interpretations of Stephen Sondheim songs, when he decided he ought to get into theater music because he felt he had an aptitude for it. “I decided I’d write one hundred love songs as a way of introducing myself to the world. Then I realized how long that would be. So I settled on sixty-nine. I’d have a theatrical revue with four drag queens. And whoever the audience liked best at the end of the night would get paid.”
The Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt was born on this date in 1965. Lots of his/their music is included on today’s playlist.
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My Favorite Songs Of 2023
Five years after then president of The Recording Academy proclaimed that women need to step up, the ladies have responded with “How’s this, jerkface?” Women dominate this year’s Grammy nominations. More importantly, all but two of the top 20 songs on my year-end list are led by female artists (with one guy showing up to provide guest vocals). That’s a record, I think, but don’t quote me on that. I’m too lazy to check. I don’t have a deep analysis for this phenomenon, but I do have a deep appreciation for the talent and diversity of these women (not that women have ever been underrepresented in my annual tallies). The highest placing male acts on my 2023 list are none other than The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Yes, you read that right. The legends are back, and they still can show the young-uns how it’s done. With their song “Angry,” The Rolling Stones have achieved a remarkable feat: the longest span from first appearance to most recent appearance in my year-end surveys. In 1981, my first year of making such lists, the group placed with “Start Me Up.” The 80s are also well represented by Kylie Minogue and Madonna, each of whom made a triumphant return to my list after long absences. Welcome back, ladies! And last but not least, let’s give a round of applause to Megan Thee Stallion, who has been in my top five for five years in a row. That’s a record, I think, but don’t quote me on that. I’m too lazy to check. Now, without further ado, here is my list of the best songs of 2023. Enjoy!
- Ice Cream Man. – RAYE
- vampire – Olivia Rodrigo
- Kill Bill – SZA
- Bongos – Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
- Not Strong Enough – boygenius
- Flowers – Miley Cyrus
- Escapism. – RAYE & 070 Shake
- Paint the Town Red – Doja Cat
- Lipstick Lover – Janelle Monáe
- Nobody Gets Me – SZA
- Dance the Night – Dua Lipa
- Shirt – SZA
- AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM – Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar
- What Was I Made For? – Billie Eilish
- Padam Padam – Kylie Minogue
- Cobra – Megan Thee Stallion
- Brenda Put Your Bra On – Ashley McBryde, Caylee Hammack & Pillbox Patti
- Angry – The Rolling Stones
- Now and Then – The Beatles
- Cool About It – boygenius
- RATATA – Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo
- Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd – Lana Del Rey
- Calm Down – Rema with Selena Gomez
- Gorilla – Little Simz
- Seven – Jung Kook feat. Latto
- My Love Mine All Mine – Mitski
- bad idea right? – Olivia Rodrigo
- Jaded – Miley Cyrus
- Tropic Morning News – The National
- Someday At Christmas – Lizzo
- Used To Be Young – Miley Cyrus
- Pretty Girls Walk – Big Boss Vette
- River – Miley Cyrus
- Light On In The Kitchen – Ashley McBryde
- Out Alpha the Alpha – Megan Thee Stallion
- Bubblegum – Dawn Richard
- Rush – Troye Sivan
- It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody – Weyes Blood
- Weightless – Arlo Parks
- Psychos – Jenny Lewis
- The Sea – Romy
- Lil Boo Thang – Paul Russell
- Popular – The Weeknd & Madonna feat. Playboi Carti
- The Narcissist – Blur
- (It Goes Like) Nanana – Peggy Gou
- Tukoh Taka – Nicki Minaj, Maluma and Myriam Fares
- Freak Me Now – Jessie Ware
- Standing Next To You – Jung Kook
- Eyez – The Arcs
- What Now – Brittany Howard
- Thinking About You – Beck
- Wall of Eyes – The Smile
- Good Lookin’ – Dixon Dallas
- Girl Like Me – Dove Cameron
- Wild Flower – RM with youjeen
- Helmet – Steve Lacy
- Everybody’s Got to Learn – First Aid Kit
- Flip a Switch. – RAYE feat. Coi Leray
- Nothing Left To Lose – Everything But The Girl
- Say Yes To Heaven – Lana Del Rey
- Moonlight – Kali Uchis
- Bending Hectic – The Smile
- In My Head – The Lemon Twigs
- Snooze – SZA
- Attention – Doja Cat
- get him back! – Olivia Rodrigo
- Will Anybody Ever Love Me? – Sufjan Stevens
- Tux (Your Body Fills Me, Boo) – US Girls
- Lottery – Latto feat. LU KALA
- Bug Like an Angel – Mitski
- The Hands – serpentwithfeet
- A day in the water – Christine & the Queens
- Drummer Boy – Titus Andronicus
- Little Things – Jorja Smith
- Daydreaming – Harry Styles
- True Love – Christine & the Queens & 070 Shake
- Evicted – Wilco
- Got Me Started – Troye Sivan
- Eye For An Eye – Rina Sawayama
- Water Slide – Janelle Monáe
- Single Soon – Selena Gomez
- Odyssey – Beck & Phoenix
- I Don’t Know What You See In Me – Belle & Sebastian
- Seem an I – PJ Harvey
- Begin Again – Jessie Ware
- One of Your Girls – Troye Sivan
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My Top 100 Songs Of 2021
Prince, Elvis Costello, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Kool & the Gang. It must be my list of favorite songs of 198-, uh, 2021. The aforementioned veterans rub elbows with Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Wet Leg, serpentwithfeet, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, The Avalanches, Adele and Little Simz.
Here are my top 100 songs of 2021:
- Same Size Shoe – serpentwithfeet
- Love Again – Dua Lipa
- Body – Megan Thee Stallion
- Black Like Me – Mickey Guyton
- Easy On Me – Adele
- Thot Shit – Megan Thee Stallion
- Up – Cardi B
- Save Your Tears – The Weeknd
- Good Days – SZA
- Under the Table – Fiona Apple
- Wet Dream – Wet Leg
- Rumors – Lizzo & Cardi B
- Find My Way – Paul McCartney
- Levitating – Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby
- Chaise Longue – Wet Leg
- I Love You, I Hate You – Little Simz
- Best Friend – Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
- Brando – Lucy Dacus
- So I Lie – Miguel
- We Go On – the Avalanches feat. Cola Boyyy & Mick Jones
- Twerkulator – City Girls
- MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X
- Butter – BTS
- Cold Heart – Elton John & Dua Lipa
- Therefore I Am – Billie Eilish
- Your Power – Billie Eilish
- INDUSTRY BABY – Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow
- Point and Kill – Little Simz feat. Obongjayar
- Scratchcard Lanyard – Dry Cleaning
- Security – Amyl and the Sniffers
- Puppy and a Truck – Jenny Lewis
- Don’t Judge Me – FKA twigs, Headie One, Fred again…
- Pursuit of Happiness – Kool & the Gang
- Savage Good Boy – Japanese Breakfast
- Pay Your Way in Pain – St. Vincent
- ARE YOU WITH THAT? – Vince Staples
- Hot Summer – Prince
- Diamond Studded Shoes – Yola
- Solar Power – Lorde
- chinatown – Bleachers feat. Bruce Springsteen
- The Divine Chord – the Avalanches feat. MGMT & Johnny Marr
- Don’t Go Yet – Camila Cabello
- Strong Feelings – Dry Cleaning
- Rainforest – Noname
- Working for the Knife – Mitski
- Take My Breath – The Weeknd
- Boomerang – Yebba
- ooh la la – Run the Jewels feat. Santa Fe Klan & Mexican Institute of Sound
- Candypaint – Joey Purp
- Free from Gravity – Django Django
- Spanish Doors – Liz Phair
- Roaring 20s – Flo Milli
- Rhetorical Figure – John Grant
- THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X
- The Doll – Audiobooks
- Strange – Celeste
- WUSYANAME – Tyler, the Creator feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again & Ty Dolla $ign
- White Dress – Lana Del Rey
- family ties – Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar
- Starlight – Yola
- The Melting of the Sun – St. Vincent
- Pick up Your Feelings – Jazmine Sullivan
- I am not a woman, I’m a god – Halsey
- Hertz – Amyl and the Sniffers
- Please – Jessie Ware
- The Adults Are Talking – the Strokes
- Got Me – Laura Mvula
- We’re Good – Dua Lipa
- Kiss Me More – Doja Cat feat. SZA
- I Don’t Live Here Anymore – The War on Drugs feat. Lucius
- Magnificent Hurt – Elvis Costello & The Imposters
- 34+35 – Ariana Grande feat. Doja Cat & Megan Thee Stallion
- Just One Sec – the Antlers
- Love Is Back – Celeste
- Let Me Love You Like a Woman – Lana Del Rey
- Down – St. Vincent
- Amoeba – Clairo
- Don’t Forget Your Neighborhood – Cola Boyy feat. The Avalanches
- All My Favorite Songs – Weezer
- Sober & Skinny – Brittney Spencer
- Unblu – Jenny Lewis/Serengeti
- Living Proof – The War on Drugs
- Prisoner – Miley Cyrus feat. Dua Lipa
- NDA – Billie Eilish
- In His Arms – Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
- Walking at a Downtown Pace – Parquet Courts
- Lost Cause – Billie Eilish
- Dancing with the Devil – Demi Lovato
- Hope – Arlo Parks
- Oh My God – Adele
- My Path – Raphael Saadiq
- Unsmart Lady – Dry Cleaning
- t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l – Willow feat. Travis Barker
- Reason to Believe – Vagabon feat. Courtney Barnett
- Paprika – Japanese Breakfast
- Thumbs – Lucy Dacus
- Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
- Be Sweet – Japanese Breakfast
- Hurt – Arlo Parks
- More Life – Cordae feat. Q-Tip
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (9-19-20)
Inspired by the September 19 birthdays of Chic’s Nile Rodgers, Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, Tegan and Sara, Mama Cass Elliot, The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley, Teddybears’ Patrik Arve, Skepta, Rex Smith, The Springfields’ Mike Hurst, Brook Benton, Lol Crème, Austin Roberts, Eamon, Marshall Jefferson, Adam West and Frances Farmer.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (9-8-20)
Inspired by the September 8 birthdays of P!nk, The Cars’ Benjamin Orr, Patsy Cline, Aimee Mann, Neko Case, Peter Sellers, The Beau Brummels’ Sal Valentino, Wiz Khalifa, Slim Thug and Bob & Earl’s Earl Nelson.