If you have a Spotify then I highly recommend taking a trip down memory lane right now with your “Year in Review”. It is basically the standard statistics gathering tool that looks at everything you’ve listened to in the past 12 months and packages it all up in a pretty format just in time for Christmas. It’s the perfect way to see how much you truly listened to “Hello” by Adele in the past month since she released it. My “Year in Review” also started some unexpected fights of music snobbery. It was pointed out to me that my top songs only had roughly 35-40 plays and then it was so rudely suggested that I “just don’t listen to music that much.” I scoffed at this and then the next screen showed that I listened to almost 2,000 different artists this past year. *props to me* The musically delinquent adult-child that hinted I was an uncultured swine for my small amount of song plays had only listened to about 500, their top artist being the “Glee Cast” to this they responded “quality over quantity, right?”
The Spotify Year in Review brings out the worst in us. You would think it is just a fun tool to look back on all of the musical deliciousness from 2015, but in reality it is used as ammunition in the war of who is the most indie alt babe (obviously me). I take equal amounts of pride and embarrassment in my Year in Review so this analysis is strictly educational. I also think that the graphics are really kick ass and pretty. Without further ado (or stories of how I fight for being the most pretentious person in the room) I give you my analysis of my year in review.
Strong Start
If you saw my piece about dope cover songs then you know that I love really rad covers and this one happens to be my favorite. There's no surprise here, this is a great song and I am happy to have brought in the New Year with Lo-Fang.
Queen Lana
All hail the queen of my heart, Lana Del Rey. That really made me sound like one of her psychotic teeny bopper fans that has a shrine of Lana in their closet. I just like angsty music. I was surprised by Beyonce because to be very honest I'm not a huge Beyonce fan but I chalk this one up to all of the pre-games where everyone else begs to listen to her. There also was a period of time where I listened to "Schoolin' Life" at least three times a day. Sam Smith has the voice of a golden angel and I have no shame.
Angst Girl
Rhye is amazing. I am the most proud I have ever been of myself when this stat popped up in my Year in Review. Mary Lambert is my favorite female musical artist. I saw her perform live in 2015 and I listen to her album every time I take an airplane anywhere. I also always cry because it's just so damn beautiful.
Jamz
Half of my top songs are all on one of my go-to playlists called "Jamz." This makes perfect sense and also this was the year for Amy because of her movie and the need to recognize how tragic it is that we lost such an amazing voice.
What the hell is indietronica?
I am still confused as to what songs are considered "indietronica".
Facts and Figures
Here's the rundown: music is amazing and I wish I could be streaming it all the time in a tiny microchip in my brain. I love listening to new stuff, but there is so much music out there that I get really overwhelmed and need to lie down and listen to Sam Smith sometimes. My goal for next year is to listen to at least 2,000 artists and over 3,000 new tracks, but that probably means I will be listening to 500 hours worth of music. I am okay with that. Now go and check out your Year in Review and get into a fight with your significant other about who has more indie cred.
