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(01/24/22 6:00pm)
It all began with “Couer D’Alene” by The Head and the Heart, at the start of my most transformative year of high school. I didn’t quite know what I was in for, but I found optimism in my uncertainty within and through these lyrics: “There’s no use knowin’ / Which way the wind is blowin’ / My mind’s made up, I‘m doin’ this, I’m doin’ this.” On Sept. 7, 2018, I added “Couer D’Alene” to a Spotify playlist that I later labeled “September ‘18.” After the September playlist came an October one, and not a month has passed since without a corresponding monthly playlist.
(01/29/22 4:19am)
Without a doubt, K–Pop is more omnipresent in pop culture than ever before. Peruse on Twitter and you will find millions of K–Pop fancams of all kinds. K–Pop fans may have even played a part in inflating attendance numbers for a rally for then–President Trump, leading to a mostly empty stadium. Considering all this and more, it’s safe to say that K–Pop has firmly entered the American public consciousness.
(01/18/22 12:33am)
All signs point to 2022 being a big year for music. January tends to be a quiet month for releases, but we've already seen The Weeknd’s blockbuster Dawn FM dropping on the first Friday of the year, plus other albums from Earl Sweatshirt, Band of Horses, and FKA twigs. Although some of the names floating around in the discourse have yet to make any official announcements, here’s a list of some of the projects that are expected to make an impact on the music industry.
(01/20/22 5:00am)
In a TikTok video amassing 1.4 million views and counting, fashion analyst and forecaster Mandy Lee, also known as @oldloserinbrooklyn, predicted the return of Twee to the fashion community in 2022. In the video, Lee describes the Twee aesthetic as “an offshoot of hipster indie–style music” that inspired film and style in the early 2010s. However, it’s impossible to remember Twee through only the familiar fashions of knit cardigans, ballet flats, and polka dot patterns; the Twee Revolution was also a movement fueled by music.
(01/17/22 5:00pm)
The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, has had a great past two years. After Hours was one of the best–selling albums of 2020 and 2021, and spawned the number one greatest single of all time, “Blinding Lights.” Just last year, Tesfaye headlined the Super Bowl and released the follow–up single, “Save Your Tears,” a duet with Ariana Grande and one of the best–selling songs of 2021. It would be an understatement to say that the Canadian artist is at the top of his game, even if Grammy voters said otherwise.
(12/10/21 2:25am)
It’s been an odd year for music.
(12/09/21 7:19pm)
On Nov. 26, 2021, legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim passed away. The quintessential voice of the American musical, the 91–year–old writer had seemed like an impenetrable force. Nobody was prepared to lose one of theatre’s most revered figures, and he left Broadway devastated in his wake.
(12/07/21 1:47am)
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: that’s right, December, the month of being assaulted by Spotify Wrapped Instagram stories from every single person you follow. Since I have Apple Music, I thought I’d toss my own music taste in the ring, relating each song to the impact it's had on my life this past year. Feel free to judge my taste, ignore it, or take it as a recommendation.
(12/09/21 5:00pm)
In Oct. 2012, when I was 12 years old, my aunt gave me a gift: a copy of Red by Taylor Swift. By late Nov., my mom had limited the amount of times I could play it in the car during the week, leaving me no option but to download it on my iPod and replay it incessantly. I’m not exactly sure why I treasured it so much at the time—I definitely couldn't relate to many of the experiences she sang about. Nevertheless, I lived vicariously through her music. I listened and daydreamed about being “happy, free, confused, and lonely in the best way.” Now that I’m actually 22—well, almost—listening to Red (Taylor’s Version) feels like a gift all over again. It allows me to relive the emotions I once experienced nine years ago—backed by an arsenal of new memories and life experiences.
(12/05/21 6:28pm)
CDs and cassettes are quickly going out of style, but vinyl sales have skyrocketed. Resurgence in this music format seems at odds with the simultaneous explosion in streaming service popularity, but vinyl holds a special place in the hearts of music enthusiasts and represents a nostalgic artifact from the twentieth century. The combination of renewed interest and supply chain issues resulting from the pandemic has led to demand far exceeding supply. As a result, major artists have a monopoly on vinyl supplies, resulting in limited opportunities for smaller artists.
(12/11/21 5:00pm)
There is great debate on Twitter about who the biggest girl group is right now. For some, it's the K–Pop giant BLACKPINK, who captivated the world following their 2019 Coachella set and 2020’s THE ALBUM. For others, it might be the British group Little Mix, who has had consistently solid showings with their past few albums and is arguably at the height of their fame.
(11/28/21 10:18pm)
Most artists might not be compelled to change their approach to music right after earning a Grammy. Adam Granduciel, the frontman of the band The War on Drugs, didn’t follow this notion—opting to depart sonically from the band’s last project, the award–winning A Deeper Understanding. Instead of moving their style forward into new territory, however, he decided to scale it back, shedding modern and neo–psychedelic elements and further embracing the sounds of heartland rock. While the aged genre has always been on the periphery of the group’s direction, it comes into clear view on I Don’t Live Here Anymore. The result is an album that, despite its cold and snowy cover, is warm and uplifting.
(11/28/21 10:30pm)
Let me set the scene: It’s a November morning, and after a candy high, you get out of bed and head towards class. You stop by a coffee shop, in need of caffeine, and patiently wait in line for a peppermint mocha latte when you hear the speaker playing that oh–so–familiar song, with its diva vocals, jingling instrumental, and never–ending sense of Christmas joy.
(12/05/21 6:38pm)
For three nights on the first weekend of November, PDGC (Penn Dance and Glee Club) filled the Iron Gate Theater with spectators for their 20th annual collaboration. The Penn Dance Company, Penn’s premier performing modern dance company, and the Penn Glee Club, the longest continually running glee club in the country, joined forces to present their fall show, “Are You Watching Closely?” The two–hour show alternated between dance numbers, covers of songs with an accompanying live band, and a cappella.
(11/08/21 4:27pm)
“Before we begin, I just wanted to let you know my [friend] told me that your music got her through her break–up, and she’s very grateful for it and for you.”
(11/15/21 5:00pm)
When I think of Ed Sheeran, I think of my thirteen–year–old self scrolling through tumblr. I think of warm drinks and cozy blankets, listening to the soothing guitar strings that defined his debut album + (Plus). I remember listening to “The A Team” and “Drunk,” pretending I could relate to the lyrics despite my limited life experiences. In my head, the image of Sheeran and his music had remained pretty stable since then—even through his new albums and newfound status as one of Gen Z’s big inside jokes.
(11/14/21 9:23pm)
JPEGMAFIA traveled to Philadelphia on Halloween night to perform old and new songs at Union Transfer. After the opener—Detroit–based rapper Zelooperz—got the crowd going, an audience of costumes and complimentary masks (featuring 8–bit art of JPEGMAFIA) awaited the rapper. When he finally arrived, he gifted the fans with a lively and aggressive performance.
(11/20/21 5:29am)
On Oct. 29, JEON SOMI dropped XOXO, her debut album after two long years since she emerged on the scene with her first single, 2019's “Birthday.” This eight–track album has a mixture of up–tempo pop anthems to mid–tempo R&B–inspired love songs, yet SOMI struggles to find her voice throughout the album. On top of that, the record deals with themes of love, romance, and relationships, well–worn subjects in the music industry—but XOXO doesn't add anything particularly new.
(11/14/21 8:14pm)
By now, ABBA owns the number 17, just like Taylor Swift’s association with 13 and 22. But their chokehold on the music industry is more than the resurgence of “Dancing Queen” on birthdays. No other act comes close to ABBA’s role in shaping the pop music we know and love today, and it’s not hard to think that their legacy will continue for decades to come.
(11/12/21 8:59pm)
“I’ve always felt like I have no room to fail,” Sean Lawrence says to me. It’s a fear that’s worked in Sean’s favor, who has one of the most polished discographies of any rising artist I’ve discovered. Known professionally as sectiontoo, who prefers to go by his stage name, masterfully produced his first album Portrait with the lyrical maturity of an experienced artist. sectiontoo’s commitment to his craft is minutely eclipsed by his talent, and he’s not shy about taking credit where it's undeniably due.
