"Since time wasn't real this year, you revisited some old favorites."
This year has undoubtedly been a reliably unpredictable rollercoaster that derails itself each day. Like many others, my most prevalent coping mechanism in life involves listening to music and letting my woes drift away amongst the melodies of sonic therapy. I am especially keen on revisiting old songs that both provide comfort and remind me of happier times.
When my 2020 Spotify Wrapped released, I wasn’t at all surprised to find a combination of past year’s favorites and stylistically comparable songs. Between soothing, downtempo tracks and upbeat feel-good tunes, my playlist unveiled a juxtaposed mix that mirrored the ups and downs of the year as a whole. It revealed that seeking familiarity and a sense of ease was not just pervasive, but it was all the more imperative for me.
Relishing in the nostalgia of the past while several aspects of my life seemed to be shrouded in uncertainty granted me contentment. In adolescent fashion, I re-watched Glee with my father, and despite my now more critical lens of the show, the musical performances sparked sentimental joy. I was reminded of family viewing nights and succeeding Facebook chats about the new episodes with my friends. In other difficult moments, I enveloped myself in the ever-optimistic, twinkling harmonies of my middle-school savior, Owl City. To no one’s shock, Owl City and Glee Cast were my top two artists of the year.
Although Spotify said I discovered 266 artists this year, I mostly stayed in a bubble of similar, already-favored genres, giving me a sense of security as 2020 spun out of control. For instance, one of my most adored gems of the year, “Bubble Tea” by dark cat, juu, and Cinders, beckons to Owl City’s magical splendor. Furthermore, the hours spent blasting All Time Low and 5SOS calls to my emo, pop-punk days (that never really went away).
Beyond that, I constantly listened to songs like “Intentions” by Justin Bieber and Quavo, “Thick and Thin” by LANY, and “Warm Animal” by Sure Sure because they were my favorite walking-to-class bops. Despite them evoking flashbacks of my legs nearly giving out on an absurdly steep UCLA staircase, they also flooded me with more delightful memories of my time at school in general. I thought of spending time with my roommates, going to Game Music Ensemble rehearsal, or exploring Westwood—all moments that make feel warm and hopeful.
Music has always been my soothsayer and mood-booster, but those functions were amplified as I dealt with unexpected emotions and challenges throughout the year. Yiruma calmed me down and helped me think clearly; Kero Kero Bonito told me to be bubbly and carefree; and Jhené Aiko healed me.
In 2020, I listened to the music I needed. Whether it was the Glee Cast version of “Shake It Out” or “Some Kind of Disaster” by All Time Low, I prioritized the songs that comforted me. Most of my Spotify Unwrapped didn’t feature fresh tracks, but I welcomed the nostalgia and let the music feed my soul.
Wow!