Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. ― Plato
Darren is doing a 30 songs in 30 days music challenge which he got from clever Sarah, and they inspired me to do it!
I decided though to share my YouTube playlists. Originally, I created ‘Lani’s playlist vol. 1‘ so that I had something to play in the classroom that wasn’t:
- K Pop.(My students commandeer the remote and play BlackPink, GOT7, and the like as it is.)
- Popular songs with R rated images (usually super sexual and so not appropriate for the classroom).
- Taylor Swift (I’m well-versed by now, thank you).
To be clear, I’m fairly tolerant and curious about what younger people like these days, and unlike the other teachers, I play music that they like, but I want to share my music, too. Yo.
My ‘inspiration’ for ‘playlist 1’ was modern music that had an ’80s vibe, and then I inevitably added songs from the ’80s, and then some.
Some quick notes about the songs + players:
- I found The Shins while looking for new music on YouTube’s Sub Pop channel, and I really dig this song.
- Laura Veirs’s best song, discovered through the BF
- Strong Asian Mother’s – discovered them via younger brother
- Ninja Sex Party (NSP) is known for their covers, but they are a comedy duo which I find cringe worthy hilarious. I love that the keyboardist, Brian, is a retired theoretical physicist, and that Danny is one of the sexiest men alive with an AUH-mazing voice.
- Twin Shadows, Bleachers + Kravinsky – from baby brother
- Spandau Ballet and Aeroplane from a friend (Aeroplane is my favorite DJ who I usually listen to on Soundcloud)
- The Instant Crush song has got the auto-tune on 11, but love the video, and the electronic-overdrive on the vocals works for me.
- Pepe Deluxé – a Finnish electronic group. Enough said.
- First Aid Kit (love these girls) + Owl City (underrated! positive, talent)
- Fischerspooner (yes, please!), New Order (classic), and Patrick Wolf is pure dreaminess, slated as the next Bowie, and then fell off the radar. I hope he comes back soon.
- Hans Zimmer’s Beach Song – quiz time! from what movie?!
- Neko Case and Metric, I learned about from my Canadian friend (well, one of them); everyone should have a Canadian friend or two, or three.
- Tame Impala should be on the map now that he played at Coachella. Please tell me you’re already a fan.
- Rounding off the list (so far) is the Beastie Boys (RIP), Flight of the Concords (because), and Simple Minds (from one of my favorite movies of all time), Bat For Lashes (she’s got a new album!), and Ladyhawke (because Kiwis need love too)…
If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. ― Albert Einstein
Now, I won’t go into as much detail with my other playlists, but I still want to share them. ‘Lani’s playlist vol. 2’ (just so you know I named them so it would be easy for me to search them on the school’s Smart TV) is filled with old school classics like the Bee Gees (respect!), Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters, and The Moody Blues.
Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness. ― Maya Angelou
I have a heavy rock playlist, a ‘I love the Beatles’ playlist, and a bluegrass and country playlist, too. Whew.
Sometimes I listen to nothing but great rock guitarists, I watch with the attention of a child on Saturday morning cartoons, then my BF catches me and says, “There’s she goes again.”
I heard that whatever music you listened to when you were a teenager is the stuff you’ll love forever. (Ah, here’s an article on the science behind this. Worth reading.) So that’s why ROCK ‘N ROLL is my true love (amen) that I return to again and again, and again. (Can I get a hallelujah?)
Okay, I fear I can keep talking about this subject for longer than you might be interested (tooooo late).
Hope you join the challenge! and Happy listening!
Life, the Universe, and Lani 
Enjoyed that Shins track — I have one of their albums somewhere. Great melodic pop band that deserves more love
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I find that is always the case with modern music. It’s the good ones that don’t get the attention, so we’re stuck with the same 5-8 popular brands that keep recycling over and over again.
Glad you liked it 🙂
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I’ve been investigating your lists during my lunch break Lani. There is so much on them that I love!
So nice to see the Bluegrass list – Man of Constant Sorrow is one one of my Spotify lists too.
The Beatles one is an obvious thing we have in common.
Bat for lashes are one of those bands who played in my local library before becoming famous (as did Adele, Florence and the Machine and others) but I sadly missed them.
Surprisingly I have not heard anything by Tame Impala but I will rectify this straight away!
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Awww, your comment made my morning sing 🙂 I’m so glad you like the list. Sharing music is sort of terrifying because tastes are rather personal.
A friend told me about Bat for Lashes, and then I forgot about her. Then, YouTube told me that she had a new album out, so that was cool.
I love Tame Impala! I think they just played at Glastonbury.
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I feel the same way. This is very exposing. When I get to know new people music is one of the very last things I will talk about as it is indeed very personal.
Yes, Tame Impala did just play Glastonbury. The set is on youtube I think.
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You’ve got some great stuff here. You reminded me I need to dig out my Shins album as I haven’t listened to it in ages. Also my best friend’s sister is friends with Laura Viers and sings backup on one of her songs!
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That’s so funny because my boss walked into my classroom the other day and I had Lenka playing for the students. He said, “one of my childhood friends has played with her”. Isn’t that interesting? I know people that know people. Hahahaha. Thanks, Heather. I’m glad you like the playlist!
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Six degrees of separation…
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😂😃
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I didn’t know Ninja Sex Party and I checked them out (I have to confess what made me do it was the comment about the singer being very sexy hahahaha). They are hilarious, hahaha. The singer definitely has sexy features but his general style (and hair) is too 80s for me xD I guess you know The Lonely Island, they’re also a parody band and also hilarious.
I mostly listen to the music I discovered when I was in college. After I started working I simply don’t have the time to look up interesting underground bands anymore, like I used to do. Sigh. I’m old!
One recommendation for when you have time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JODaYjDyjyQ
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I wanted to get back to you when I had time to listen to your recommendation. I love her! You’ve inspired me to start a ’round the world’ music list because I do enjoy listening outside of my native language. She’s really lovely. Thank you!
Yeah, NSP, so 80s. I’m an 80s child so I love the 80s. I used to love the 60s and 70s and I still do, but it wasn’t until we left the decade that I appreciate the one I grew up in.
And yes, Lonely Island, genius. Besos.
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Oh, let me know how that goes! It would be fun to have a list with one song per language and try to get as many languages as possible 😀
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OoOoOo. Crazy idea!
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Hi Lani! Sooo awesome that you join the challenge, and I’m just listening in to your playlist vol. 1 and love it!!! 😀 Lots of new artists for me to discover which is just about the best thing happening to me since I started blogging (I’m still patting my own shoulder for having had the idea for this music challenge 😉 ). 😀
I’m definitely a child of the 80’s too! The other decades were great, of course, but the 80’s? Well, you know what I mean, right? 😉
It’s so great to get to know people better by their choice of music which I, like Darren, find a very personal thing to do, sharing your music that is.
As to that idea of yours about a “round the world” music list: Su from over at Zimmerbitch and I are currently working on a prompt list to include music and inspire people to do the same, and yours sounds great for a prompt!! Would you mind if we used it? Another one – Darren’s – is: “Songs I always wanted to learn how to play on the guitar” 😀
Wishing you a beautiful day and thanks again – I’m still listening to your playlist and am singing along in my head while writing this comment! You made my day! 😀
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Awww, thanks! Yes of course. I’d love to contribute to the list, too.
the 80s…YESSSS…it was so surreal when artists started to create 80s sounding music. I was like WHAAA??? This is a thing? Rock on. Hahahhahaa.
Wishing you a beautiful day back.
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Thank you!! 😀 I know, right?! I’m so glad I was born in the 80’s, makes me feel ridiculously proud since it wasn’t actually me creating all that music! 😂
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Always glad to meet another proud 80s childhood cohort 🙂 And you should take full credit for your hashtag idea, it was brilliant! xo
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😀 ❤
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