CommRadio Weekly Playlist: Oct. 31
Here, members of the Arts and Entertainment Department will talk about the songs that dominated their playlists during the week and what makes them so good.
“I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" - Arctic Monkeys
The lead single from Arctic Monkey’s debut album remains one of my favorites to this day. After the release of their seventh studio album, “The Car,” I knew I had to go back and relisten to their discography.
What I find myself listening to most is their major label debut single, “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” released back in 2005. It is apparent that the band has evolved exponentially after their almost two-decade career, but it is hard not to love their audacious beginnings.
What’s even crazier is that this single dropped when the lead singer, Alex Turner, was only 19 years old. They had the British rock scene in a chokehold, noted by various thrilling performances at venues at such a young age.
From the guitar solo in the intro of the track to the relatable chorus, there is a lot to love about the song. It is one of the first songs I had ever tried to learn on guitar before I regrettably gave it up. “Do I Wanna Know” was also one of these songs, and it was also much simpler.
To this day, I still believe that the band’s first album is their best. Although I am appreciative of the lounge act that they put on now, I sometimes long for the raw and youthful energy that helped blow them up in the first place. - Caelan Chevrier
“Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve” - Taylor Swift
I was sound asleep when Taylor Swift released her 3 a.m. version of her recent release “Midnights,” with seven additional tracks.
It was the last time I’d been able to sleep without being haunted by Swift’s “Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve.”
Swift's ability to craft music this powerful is incomparable. She perfectly captures the anger that doesn’t come with spite or heartbreak but a deep regret and loss of innocence.
“Midnights” is a collection of songs inspired by Swift's sleepless nights. This relationship from when Swift was 19 is still something she is so achingly troubled by, even as a 32-year-old.
The lyrics paint the picture of the relationship where Swift, in some capacity, was taken advantage of. You can feel Swift’s anguish, wishing she could tell her naive self to run away.
Swift mourns her innocence “god rest my soul, I’m not who I used to be. The tomb won’t close, stained glass windows in my mind. I regret you all the time.”
Those are lyrics that you can’t just listen to; they demand your full attention and stick with you hours after hearing them.
The song is so relatable and borderline triggering that I can’t help but get mad at Swift for even writing this down.
The rich and sorrowful songwriting, paired with striking and articulate instrumental, creates one of Swift's most profoundly painful songs. - Sophia D’Ovidio
“You’re On Your Own, Kid” - Taylor Swift
I have yet to listen to anything besides “Midnights” by Taylor Swift this week, and I do not plan on changing this any time soon. With that being said, my most listened to track this week was the album’s fifth song, “You’re On Your Own, Kid.”
Swift demonstrates her spectacular songwriting skills and wide-stretching vocabulary in this song. With lyrics like “I searched the party of better bodies/ just to learn that my dreams aren’t rare/ you’re on your own, kid/ you always have been,” there is no denying that Swift is a lyricist first and a singer next.
As the queen of immaculate bridges, Swift’s unrivaled ability to tell a detailed story in just a few simple lines is showcased in this song. Swift references moments from her past such as struggling with an eating disorder in order to hammer home the song's message of facing fears and overcoming obstacles on one’s own.
While the song is simple and quick, the music and lyrics come together and create a tune that I just can not get out of my head. - Rachel Newnam
Caelan Chevrier is a third-year majoring in marketing. To contact him, email cjc6789@psu.edu.
Sophia D’Ovidio is a second-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email sgd5184@psu.edu.
Rachel Newnam is a second-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email ren5102@psu.edu.
About the Contributors
Caelan Chevrier
Third Year / Marketing & Journalism
Caelan Chevrier is a third-year student in the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University studying marketing and broadcast journalism with the goal of graduating with a bachelor’s degree in four years. His career goal is to spread informative, meaningful, and entertaining content across various platforms and to be a positive impact on the community. He has also spent time working at WWE in the communications department and writing for The Westport Local Press in his hometown of Westport, CT. If you’d like to contact him, email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Sophia D'Ovidio
First-Year /
Sophia D’Ovidio is a first-year from Allentown, New Jersey. She is now a communications (undecided) major at Penn State University. Sophia intends on pursuing a career in journalism. Sophia writes for the CommRadio Arts department.
Rachel Newnam
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