CommRadio Weekly Playlist: Sept. 5

Story posted September 6, 2022 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by CommRadio Arts & Entertainment Department

Here, members of the Arts & Entertainment Department will talk about the songs that dominated their playlists during the week and what makes them so good.

“Head Over Feet” - Alanis Morissette

Over the summer, I was blessed and cursed enough to work a 9-to-5 every weekday for an internship. Unfortunately, my commute was extended thanks to the I-95 traffic, accidents and other nonsense. After the first week, I wanted to make the most of my commute, so I decided to listen to a new album or podcast every day.

The first album I put on was Alanis Morissette’s breakout 1995 album, "Jagged Little Pill." This record is a rare case where I enjoy every single song on the tracklist. Although plenty of tracks are still in rotation, my current favorite is “Head Over Feet,” the album's fifth single.

With Morissette’s unapologetic angst and realness dominating the album’s themes, "Head Over Feet" is arguably the most positive on the entire record. Here, she is finally in a good spot in her relationship and examines the healthier and happier side of love. She seems very excited, yet a little nervous, to explore this new romance.

The instrumentation on this track especially stands out. From electronic drums to an incredible build-up leading to the chorus, to the harmonica solo, there is so much to love. Her voice also compliments the emotional buildup well, even as unconventional as it might be.

Overall, there is much to love about this track and the record as a whole. As someone who is big into '90s music, I cannot believe that I hadn’t checked Morissette out sooner. I could not recommend this song enough as I believe it can resonate with nearly all audiences.

- Caelan Chevrier

“New Year's Day” - Taylor Swift

Due to my overwhelming excitement for Taylor Swift's new album, “Midnights,” I have been re-listening to every song where the singer-songwriter says the word "midnight."

While Swift mentions late nights in an abundance of songs from her nine albums, it's the closing track of “reputation” that I keep revisiting.

Swift is obviously a talented lyricist, and I believe she is often at her best when she uses simplicity to her advantage. The pure bluntness in her song, “New Year’s Day,” makes the piece so memorable.

Abandoning the EDM and hip-hop-inspired pop used for most of “reputation,” this song just features a piano backing Swift’s vocals.

Throughout the track, Swift voices her anxieties and fears about losing her newfound love.

The hook, “and I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day,” perfectly encapsulates the feeling of loving being around a person and not just their lifestyle.

The lyric, “please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere,” is genuinely one of the best sentences ever written.

“New Year’s Day” is the perfect mixture of romantic and agonizing. It illuminates how talented Swift is at putting the most complex feelings into simple but heartbreaking lyrics.

- Sophia D’Ovidio

“Something In The Orange” - Zach Bryan

This song is simply beautiful.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have been anti-country music for all of my life. However, one listen to this song while in the passenger's seat of a friend's car changed my music taste. “Something In The Orange” became my gateway to country music.

Flash forward about two weeks of blasting the songon retreat and it seems everyone that I know is doing the same thing.

Ignoring the personal meaning behind this choice, the ballad is an emotional number that brings a somber feeling out during every listen. Bryan does a fantastic job portraying the stress in his voice, with every line showing a different emotion in the track.

The backing track of an acoustic guitar, with an electric feature and some digital effects perfectly emulates the feeling inside the head of a man in Bryan’s position.

“Something In The Orange” is a master-class in emotional music.

- Evan Smith

 

“Feel No Ways” - Drake

This past summer, Drake's newest release, “Honestly, Nevermind”, was met with mixed reviews from fans and critics everywhere.

Although this album was the hot topic of the summer, it was Drizzy’s past work that caught my attention.

“What makes Drake so great anyway?” is a thought that crossed my mind everytime I would hear people rave about his new releases.

For so long, I’ve referred to Drizzy as overrated because of how overplayed some of his most popular hits have been on the airways.

Play “Controlla” or “One Dance” for anyone, and without a doubt they will instantly recognize either song.

The track that commenced my journey into digging for gold within Drake’s past work was “Feel No Ways," which was one of several songs that earned a spot on my summer playlist album.

After listening to this song on repeat, I’ve realized it's the versatility of this track that caused it to be so appealing to the ear.

In fact, it’s the way Drake can change up his style so effortlessly within tracks and albums that make him such a great artist.

That being said, I must admit that Drake is, in fact, not overrated, but is — and will probably continue to be — a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.

- Abby Chachoute

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 communications. To contact her, email sgd5184@psu.edu.

Evan Smith is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ers5828@psu.edu.

Abigail Chachoute is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email axc6070@psu.edu.