Aside from listening to audiobooks, I’ve been relying heavily on the “offline mixtape” that the YouTube Music app generates automatically. I’m sure there’s some sort of complex algorithm involved based on my music listening habits within the app, as well as my activity on YouTube (and elsewhere?) in general. It saves about 100 songs on my phone for offline listening. I’ll go in and remove some songs from the music playlist every few weeks so it can curate some new ones for me.
There are some familiar songs in there, like HUMBLE by Kendrick Lamar and Down With the Sickness by Disturbed, as well as several new discoveries that I may not have found on my own. If you’re looking for some new (or new-to-you) tunes for your own music playlist, maybe a few of these songs will make it into regular rotation on your listening device of choice. Fair warning that some of these contain mature themes and adult language. Listener discretion is advised. 😉
(Side note: Remember when I shared five random songs on my iPod? That was 2008. Twelve. Years. Ago. Wow.)
“Algorhythm” by Childish Gambino
I’ll admit that, broadly speaking, I’m not really a fan of Childish Gambino. To me, Donald Glover will always be “that guy from Community.” At the same time, I thought “This Is America” did everything that Kanye West thought he was doing, and it did it much better. “Algorhythm” isn’t the same kind of instant hit that makes you think, but it’s got a sick beat.
“Battle Cry (Kenny Omega’s AEW Theme)” by Little V
I haven’t watched professional wrestling for years. Curiously enough, I first learned of Kenny Omega because of Street Fighter of all places. I love how he is a creative, entertaining and talented wrestler… but he’s also unashamedly nerdy and his AEW theme song clearly reflects that. Oh and his finishing move, the One-Winged Angel, is a Final Fantasy reference.
“Losing My Life” by Falling in Reverse
Speaking of something that’s unabashedly nerdy yet totally awesome as a song in its own right, “Losing My Life” borrows some inspiration from the “tech noir” vibes of a Ready Player One, Kung Fury, or Gunship and combines it with some slick rap skills and a pop-alt-rock kind of vibe for the chorus. I dig it, and other Fallen in Reverse songs follow a similar mashup style.
“Save Your Tears” by The Weeknd
Don’t be turned off by that rather garish image on the cover. This is thoroughly the kind of sing-songy ballad you’ve come to expect from The Weeknd. And it’s super catchy, because of course it is.
“Hi-Lo” by Evanescence
Looking up and down the music playlist in my YouTube Music app, I can’t help but notice there’s a lot of Evanescence and Amy Lee. I’m not entirely sure why I’ve really been digging their unique kind of rock vibe lately. Maybe it’s all the doom and gloom with the current pandemic and it’s helping me cope with all these feelings. All the feels.
“Toss a Coin to Your Witcher (Rock Cover)” by Violet Orlandi
Violet Orlandi is a Brazilian artist, and her vocal style reminds me a lot of Amy Lee from Evanescence. Powerful and full of emotion. This rock cover of the now iconic song from The Witcher Netflix series is utter perfection. Her metal cover of “No Time to Die” by Billie Eilish (for the James Bond soundtrack) is even better.
“Can’t Be Happy All the Time” by Tones and I
When I heard Tones and I for the first time, I found her singing voice slightly irritating. And then, before I knew it, “Dance Monkey” made it into regular rotation at the Kwan residence and we were dancing daily to it. “Can’t Be Happy All the Time” is, understandably, not nearly as cheerful but perhaps more reflective.
“Judas” by Fozzy
Yes, that’s professional wrestler Chris Jericho. I had known about Jericho’s band Fozzy going all the way back to his early WWF/WWE days. I just never really listened to their music until now. “Judas” currently serves as Jericho’s AEW entrance music and fans enthusiastically sing along every time as he heads toward the ring. This is not the “paragon of virtue” we knew from his stint at WCW!
All the Things She Said (Metal Cover) by Leo Moracchioli
Metal covers don’t get any more epic than Frog Leap Studios and Leo Moracchioli. And I find they’re way more enjoyable when he applies his over-the-top metal treatment to songs originally performed by female vocalists. His cover of “Zombie” by the Cranberries was good. But his spin on Russian duo t.A.T.u., who were teenagers when this song first came out in 2002, is on a level all its own.
Intro by The xx
Okay. Maybe it’s a little weird that this music playlist ends with a song called “Intro.” I don’t care. It’s also a little odd that my favorite song by The xx is “Intro” from 2009 and it’s got practically no lyrics. Go figure.
What’s on Your Music Playlist?
I’ve always been interested in music. During school, I tried my hand at the recorder, ukulele, guitar, and keyboard. More recently, I tried learning how to play the ocarina. Despite my skills in Rock Band, though, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’ll never be a real musician by any stretch of the imagination. Thankfully, I don’t need to be a musician to enjoy music, and music will continue to play a big role in my everyday life and wellbeing.
My taste in music has grown more eclectic as I’ve gotten older. There’s definitely more of a rock slant to my music playlist these days compared to my teenage and young adult years. And so, I turn to you. What have you been listening to lately? Anything you think I should check out and add to my offline playlist?
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