By Gigi C. ’23 and Izzy F. ’23

Intro:

Were your Spotify Wrapped hours over 20,000? Are you also unable to perform any single task without the constant drum (get it haha) of music in your ears? Or do you just want to diversify your taste? If you fit all of the above or even none at all, we welcome you with open arms and full hearts to Banner’s “Playlist of the Issue”! Every month we will be releasing a variety of songs recommendations, spotlighting an underrated artist, and incorporating some community specials to get a sense of Winsor’s taste in music. If you would like to suggest recommendations, be a part of the issue’s special (students and faculty), or even just chat about your favorite artists, please don’t hesitate to share your ideas with us at giselle.chu@winsor.edu and isabelle.fan@winsor.edu. We are so excited to be introducing “Playlist of the Issue” and to hear your voices in this community space!

Playlist link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/62WcrjMjtiaMp0z4ikeboY?si=WYPgFAizSgiZ770B8CjaJA 

Gigi:

#1: Edge of Seventeen – Stevie Nicks

• If you have seen the new season four of “The Crown,” you might recognize “Edge of Seventeen” by the legendary Stevie Nicks from an iconic Princess Diana scene. Like many of Stevie’s songs, this piece will be sure to stay in your head all day with its chugging guitar, captivating chorus, and powerful vocals. On a more somber note, she wrote this song in remembrance of the passing of her uncle Jonathan, as well as John Lennon, who we lost 40 years ago on December 8. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, the chorus was inspired by the very same words on a menu from when she flew home from Phoenix, Arizona in 1980.

#2: Let It Happen – Tame Impala

• I once heard someone say that this song was written by an alien. I couldn’t have put it in better words; even though Tame Impala (aka talented one man band Kevin Parker) reigns from Australia and is very much human, “Let It Happen” will open your third eye and transport you to another planet (BEWARE!). This eight minute experience captures the deep feeling that “now” is happening, things are changing, and life continues on, a recurring theme in his album “Currents.” The heavy bass, punctuating electronics, concrete drums, and thick electrics all intertwine to create an out-of-body psychedelic music experience that will suffuse your soul with its colours and textures. I highly suggest you listen to this song at full volume (or as loud as possible without bursting eardrums) and just “let it happen” as it lifts you into another dimension. 

#3:  I Fall In Love Too Easily – Chet Baker

• Nothing says December like some snazzy jazzy tunes. Chet Baker’s “I Fall In Love Too Easily” (originally written by Sammy Cahn and Julie Styne) showcases Baker’s hazy, mellow voice and his crisp trumpet solos, both accompanied by the soft sunken melody of the piano in the background. As fresh, white powder blankets rooftops and streets during this magical time of year, this piece will keep you warm and cozy throughout the evening.

#4: Lovely Day – Bill Withers

• If you need some encouragement to push through this final week of school before break, look no further! The amazing Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day” will be sure to put a smile on your face and a pep in your step as you finish up that last paper. The catchy chorus will get you up and moving and provide some sunshine to your 40 degree December. Withers is also one of the artists behind “Just The Two of Us,” another groovy song that has recently made a reappearance in music favorites today.

Underrated artist: Still Woozy

• In need of a “Vacation” after this crazy year? Do you have a “Habit” of listening to too much music? Excuse these terrible puns, but allow me to introduce the great Sven Eric Gamsky, better known by the stage name of Still Woozy. After releasing his first hit solo “Cooks” in 2017, Still Woozy has continued to be nothing short of amazing, releasing solo after solo and an EP all in lead up to his 2020 tour, which was sadly postponed due to COVID (but stay tuned!). I discovered Still Woozy one crisp winter morning two years and immediately fell down the rabbit hole. His discography is extremely unique, with bouncy instrumentals and vibrant vocals that blend into exquisite songs. The album covers are also truly a work of modern art and are just as creative as the songs themselves.

Izzy:

#1: Roller Coaster – Bleachers

Everyone needs a little taste of summer in December. The pre-break grind is in full swing, the sun sets at 4:13pm, and everything is cold, dull, and grey. Life feels like the last lap of Mario Kart, and you think you’ve hit peak exhaustion. Whether you’re studying for a big test or working on a paper, this song is guaranteed to bring you back to life. “Roller Coaster” captures the rush of adrenaline that accompanies barreling down a highway in the heat of the summer, and absolutely must be blasted at an ear shattering volume. Even if it’s with your car heater on and you’re shouting the lyrics into the cold winter air, this song is everything that makes you feel so alive that your soul becomes bigger than the entire world. 

#2: Beige – Yoke Lore

“Beige” is one of those songs that makes you feel like you’re in a movie. I discovered this song late last fall, and it never loses its magic. I’m not quite sure why it’s called “Beige,” because every time I listen to it, I can almost see the millions of colors emerging from the smooth flow of the song. The constant pulsing thrum of the instrumentals along with the electric sound effects lend to the angelic aspect of its “modern love story” sentiment. 

#3: Turn – the Wombats

This song picks you up and slowly turns you around and around in circles in a way that makes life feel surreal. I absolutely love how the lyrics capture the insanity that almost always accompanies the tendencies of human nature, and the feeling of being truly alive. The dissonant melody and the overlapping instrumentals add to the edge of this song as the lead singer reflects, “they say the best memories are the ones that we forget.” This song really makes you think about the backwardness in the way we live our lives and the beautiful complexity of existing as a human being. 

#4: Youuu – COIN

    Who’s the first person you think of when you hear “you”? In this track, COIN talks about his “you,” and everything else that falls away in comparison. The song starts with a wave of instrumentals that washes over you and carries you straight into the heart of the melody. I associate this song with the certain quality of nostalgia that always accompanies the beginning of the school year. The electric hum has such a fresh, shiny quality, and this song is absolutely perfect for dissolving into on your early morning commute to Winsor (or your virtual classroom). 

Underrated artist: Hippo Campus

Apparently the hippocampus is a small, shrimp-shaped (search it up!) part of your brain responsible for forming new memories. Hopefully sometime within the next few minutes, yours will be blessed by the wonderful music of Hippo Campus! I first discovered this band last fall, and they’ve unsurprisingly evolved into one of my all time favorite artists. Hippo Campus is an indie rock band that formed in 2013 when its members were still in high school. Since then, they’ve gained popularity with the rise of the indie music genre, and the release of their top album “landmark” in 2017. The band members express that they are inspired by deep introspection and authenticity, both of which are thoroughly conveyed in the warm melting vocals that accompany their lyrics. Their songs have such a glowing, colorful ambiance, and are guaranteed to keep you warm all throughout winter. I stumbled upon “Warm glow” while driving into the sunset (very poetic, I know), and after that, it was over for me. I got completely sucked into their music, and it was one of the best things to ever happen to me! Some of my other favorites are Chapstick – Demo, Monsoon, South, and Bambi. Go give them a listen!

Special: Get to know us! Spotify Wrapped 2020

Every year, we wait rather impatiently, a bit apprehensively, and definitely enthusiastically for Spotify Wrapped to come out – and it finally did this month! We are so psyched to share our Spotify Wrapped in the hopes that you will get to know our tastes and tendencies as Spotify fanatics. Of course, Spotify Wrapped always finds its ways to discreetly expose us, so we are just a little bit embarrassed about our recaps. Regardless of our minor flaws and insecurities, we hope that you will join us in celebrating the music that got us through 2020! Without further ado: 

(Gigi)

(Izzy)

*DISCLAIMERS: authors’ notes

Izzy:

• We are not going to talk about my top artists… (okay but ED?? SHEERAN? I am not a sheerio, I swear)
• Gigi come on… gotta up your hours

Gigi:

• If you would kindly stray away from the bottom left corner
• Izzy secretly likes Ed (you can admit it it’s ok)