Weekly Track Roundup #37
three track roundups in a row who’s gonna stop us ??
the theme for this week is IM🍑MENT !! it’s happening and it’s happening very soon. With this cause célèbre dominating the news cycle, this is what we’re listening to …
“Bye Bye Bye” by *NSYNC
Need I say more?
-Liz Colannino
“Skanilla Ice” by Sada Baby
If we can frame this particular impeachment (or any presidential impeachment for that matter) as an act of subversion against an annoyingly present white man, then let me direct your attention to something that is both similar to impeachment and the greatest thing to happen to music in the last week. The most exciting new voice in rap, the gleefully malicious Sada Baby, has released a song that subverts white hack rapper Vanilla Ice and his annoyingly present calling card “Ice Ice Baby” by turning it into a raucous and extremely danceable piece of Detroit street rap. This song contains, among other wonders, Sada Baby comparing an enemy’s jewelry to a porta potty while the iconic “Under Pressure” sample plays in the background.
Even if Trump does get impeached, this will still be one of the best things to happen this year. If you are a human that exists, “Skanilla Ice” is a must listen.
-Asa Levite
“Get Lost” by Washed Out
Washed out meant for you to get lost in a vibe... I mean get lost!!! Get lost!
-Meredith Olin
"Peaches and Cream” by John Butler Trio
On "Peaches and Cream," John Butler (perhaps better known for songs of addiction and struggle like "Used to Get High") sings a lullaby of how the birth of his daughter has changed him. Over a simple musical track featuring little more than his guitar and light percussion from Nicky Bomba in the latter half, Butler tells the tale of a melancholy wanderer finally grounded by family - "For so long I've sang this sad old song/And it feels like my time is up/For she came and landed in my arms/And she filled my half empty cup." The love in his new life and the previous weariness of his existence are both palpable in his voice, particularly as he hits a high note (literally and figuratively) singing "All I know is I love you." It is a beautiful voice singing a beautiful song about a beautiful thing. How much better does it get?
-Samuel Marcus
“We didn’t start the fire” by Billy Joel
Oh boy! Here we go! Obviously most of us reading this weren’t alive during the last time a president was im🍑ed! But we are left with lots of music that talks about it! We Didn’t Start the Fire talks about a lot (and I mean a lot!) of history, but reflects on a large era of uncertainty in American history. There’s plenty of terrible 2000’s version parodies out there on YouTube, but I wonder what events we’re gonna use in parodies throughout the next year besides “perfect emails” and “so-called Whistleblowers.” Like I said… here we go.
-Jacob Maren
“Swim and sleep (like a shark)” by UMO
I feel so overwhelmed by the political climate in the world that all I want to do is to swim and sleep.
-Tim White
“Play god” by Sam Fender
It is difficult not to think of Sam Fender when speaking of politically-laden lyrics. The young Brit has just released his first album, which entered the UK charts at number one this month. One of the most prominent songs featured is “Play God”, a groovy rock masterpiece. Nervous guitar picks and angry treble set the tone – Fender sings about a dystopian alternative reality where “no matter who you are or where you’ve been” an Orwellian leader “is watching from the screen.” A whistle-blowing tune?
-Charles Klafsky
AMY TRACK ELLA LOUIS
