CommRadio Weekly Playlist: April 22

Opinion/Story posted April 22, 2021 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by CommRadio Arts & Entertainment Staff

The CommRadio Weekly Playlist—here, members of the arts and entertainment department write about the songs that dominated their playlists during the week and what makes them so good.

“Heaven” by Troye Sivan (ft. Betty Who)

Troye Sivan’s debut album, “Blue Neighborhood,” is still one of my favorite albums to listen to. I think he is one of the most underrated pop stars despite releasing great music over and over again.

One of my favorites from the album is “Heaven,” a piano ballad with electropop elements. In the song, Sivan questions his faith because of his sexuality.

The lyrics go from the uncertainty of “Without losing any piece how do I get to heaven” to “So if I'm losing a piece of me, maybe I don't want heaven.”

The song took me on a journey of self-acceptance and all the questions you ask yourself when you feel like no one understands you. Betty Who’s soft and husky voice really compliments Sivan’s deep vocals.

The music video of the song pays homage to LGBTQ+ movements and contains footage from many historical moments in gay rights history to celebrate how far we’ve come as a society.  —Jimmy Lu

“Parachute” by Sean Ono Lennon

Some of the things that comes to mind while thinking about the music produced by the sons and daughters of more famous artists are: “one-hit wonder,” “wannabe” or “oh, they’re just like their mother or father.”

“Parachute,” released by Sean Ono Lennon (son of the famous Beatle John) is far from any kind of “wannabe” or “imitation” music that some presume it to be.
 
Lennon provides his own sound—although his voice is undeniably similar to that of John’s—with the release of “Parachute” on his 2006 album “Friendly Fire.”

If you’re into Radiohead or any kind of alternative rock, “Parachute” is a highly recommended listen, as it astonishes the listener with its brilliant and melancholy sound.  —Jon Mead

“Wild Season” by Banks and Steelz ft. Florence Welch

“Wild Season” is one of my favorite songs of all time. This song, which came out in 2016, is a perfect mix of pop, rock and rap. I love everything about this song! The chorus is perfect. It is insanely catchy, and Banks’ voice sounds amazing. His vocals are very smooth and work perfectly with the more chaotic beat.

RZA’s rap is phenomenal. It is a refreshing verse that complements the chorus. His voice is rough and his lyrics are powerful. He has a great flow that fits the clunky beat.

Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine delivers a phenomenal performance for her verse. She is my favorite part of this song, and her angelic voice is a very nice contrast to RZA’s rough delivery. She shines in this song and showcases her incredible range.

All three acts do a spectacular job on “Wild Season,” and they come together for a final chorus that is absolutely magnificent. This is truly one of my top five favorite songs of all time, and I highly recommend everyone check this one out. Everyone can find at least one thing to absolutely love about this song.  —Jack Freiser

“Pristine” by Snail Mail

My friend and I like to send, over text, our recent music finds. Recently, he sent me “Pristine” by Snail Mail.

“Pristine” is the second track on her 2018 album “Lush.” It is the ultimate vibe song. 
Snail Mail is an indie rock solo project consisting of Lindsey Jordan. She currently has 488,302 monthly listeners on Spotify.

Some indie songs are out there. This one is more relaxed and can be enjoyed by many.

“Pristine” is a simple song. Jordan uses an indie-style guitar with soft drums and has a cool voice. It is a distinctive combination of Patti Smith and Cranberries lead singer Dolores O’Riordan. Jordan’s vocals jazz up the song, and it pleases the ear.

With summer coming up, make sure to put “Pristine” by Snail Mail on your playlist. You won’t want to jam out to anything else.  —Emily McGlynn

 

Jimmy (Chien-Hsing) Lu is a senior majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email jfl5603@psu.edu.

Jon Mead is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jkm6040@psu.edu.

Jack Freiser is a freshman majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email jef5614@psu.edu.

Emily McGlynn is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email at esm5378@psu.edu.

About the Contributors

Jimmy (Chien-Hsing) Lu's photo

Jimmy (Chien-Hsing) Lu

Senior / Telecommunications

Jimmy (Chien-Hsing) Lu is a senior from Taiwan majoring in telecommunications at Penn State. He is a contributing writer for the CommRadio arts & entertainment department. If you’d like to contact him, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Emily McGlynn's photo

Emily McGlynn

Third-year / Broadcast Journalism

Emily McGlynn is a third-year from Birmingham, Michigan majoring in broadcast journalism at Penn State. She is the Co-General Manager alongside Alex Rocco and Dylan Price. She is involved in the news, arts and entertainment, sports and production department. In the news department, she is one of the news producers. She frequently writes reviews for the Arts Department as well. Listening to music, watching movies, and staying updated with news and pop culture are some of her favorite things to do. To contact her, email her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Jack Freiser's photo

Jack Freiser

Third-Year / Telecommunications

Jack Freiser is a third-year student in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State University studying telecommunications. He is very passionate about both music and film. He aspires to impact the music business as a successful A+R by signing artists who will be culturally relevant and will leave an impact on the world, and through keeping a strong relationship with the artist and their team. Email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Jon Mead's photo

Jon Mead

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