CommRadio Weekly Playlist: Feb. 12

Story posted February 12, 2023 in Arts & Entertainment by Arts & Entertainment Staff.

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.

“Carolina” - Harry Styles

I actually very vividly remember hearing this song for the first time in the summer of 2018 and how it sort of changed my life.

Styles is probably the most famous person to come out of One Direction, which disbanded following the departure of Zayn Malik in 2015. Since then, Styles has released three albums, the most recent of which, “Harry’s House, was released on May 20, 2022.

“Carolina” is the third track on Styles’ self-titled album, which served as the debut for his solo career. It was released on May 12, 2017. This album is arguably his best work post-One Direction, even though this isn’t really a popular opinion among many of his super fans.

With this album, Styles leans heavy into the pop-rock genre, something he didn’t continue to do in the other two albums he’s released since then. On December 13, 2019, Styles’ sophomore album “Fine Line” was released, and his relationship with the pop-rock genre ended, but he did win a Grammy so maybe he was onto something. – Izzy Charboneau

“Jersey Giant” - Elle King

In my opinion, there is no question that Elle King’s cover of “Jersey Giant” is better than the Tyler Childers original. While Childers’ version features his prominent accent and twangy, conventional country background music, King makes the song more modern and puts her own spin on the tune.

Part of her newest album, “Come Get Your Wife,” King’s cover of “Jersey Giant” displays her musical ability as well as a new spin on her vocal talents. While King is known for belting rock and roll power ballads, this song is much softer and fully brings King into the country genre, a genre that she has only lightly dabbled in prior to this album.

King has been classified as blues rock, alt rock, punk and more, but it was not until she collaborated with Miranda Lambert in 2021 that King began to enter the country music scene. This led to “Come Get Your Wife” being released as a full country album in January 2023.

Because “Come Get Your Wife” was released as a country music album, King had the opportunity to experiment with different types of country music, which is how the “Jersey Giant” cover came to be. Containing a mix of folksy Appalachian music and modern country, this cover is absolutely beautiful. We as fans are lucky that King took the time to record and release this song. - Rachel Newnam

“AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM”- Beyoncé

Even in my worst moods, biggest slumps and intense fatigues, “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM” by Beyoncé gives me more energy than anyone could believe is possible.

From the first second the song starts, it demands your attention. Immediately being told that America has a problem and then getting a beat bursting with energy, you’re going to stick around for the rest of the song.

This song is an adventure to listen to and beyond captivating; Beyoncé’s performance on this track is a reminder of just how great she is.

The beat is addicting; so many moments make you want to go back and play it again. From the sternness of Beyoncé’s “No” in the pre-chorus or the swiftness in her delivery of the chorus, you can’t play this song more than once.

Topically, it isn’t exactly the song you would think would be named “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM,” but that’s maybe the only complaint anyone with ears could have about this track. - Sophia D’Ovidio

Izzy Charboneau is a second-year majoring in digital and print journalism and political science. To contact her, email ijc5186@psu.edu.

Rachel Newnam is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email ren5102@psu.edu.

Sophia D’Ovidio is a second-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email sgd5184@psu.edu.