CommRadio Weekly Playlist: Mar. 20

Story posted March 29, 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.

“Boys a liar Pt. 2” – PinkPantheress featuring Ice Spice

Think about the greatest collabs in history: Run DMC and Aerosmith. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers. Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty. PinkPantheress and Ice Spice.

This is the hardest rap collaboration since Drake and Future dropped “Jumpman,” but the female duo brings the spotlight to a whole new subsect of rap.

Ice Spice has become the self-proclaimed Princess Diana of the rap game with a cult following of both men and women on TikTok.

“Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” builds off of PinkPantheress’s original song, but the Ice Spice verse is the catchiest thing to rock the world since Pharell dropped “Happy” and tortured retail stores for years.

But this isn’t a retail store song. This is a song for women who have to leave the men that they are too good for. It’s quite simple: “boy’s a liar, boy’s a player.”

Ice Spice’s verse acknowledges that it’s hard to let people go, and old habits die hard. But in the end, it’s worth it to do what’s best for you. - Adrianna Gallucci

“Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All) - Lorde

Lorde has always written great songs about how it feels to grow up, and this one is no exception.

This song is from her third studio album, “Solar Power,” which came out in 2021. As someone who has the album “Melodrama” in my top  albums of all time, I was not a huge fan of “Solar Power” when it was released, as it is very different from her previous works.

“Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All)” was also based slightly on her song “Ribs,” which is from her debut studio album, “Pure Heroine.” “Ribs” is one of her most popular songs, and will be a classic tune for 17-year-olds everywhere until the end of time.

Lorde said that she wrote this song after listening to “Ribs” and described it at her “talking back” to her past self, saying “it’s going to be okay.”

This song is one of the best tracks on the album, and is just plain fun. It is upbeat, and assures both listeners and Lorde’s younger self that even though growing up can be painful, everything will be alright. – Izzy Charboneau

“You Don’t Go To Parties” - 5 Seconds of Summer

“5SOS5” might have been released half a year ago, but I still have almost every song on my daily rotation. They’re my third most listened to artist on Spotify, and “You Don’t Go To Parties” is an extremely underrated gem on the album.

Part of the reason why I love it so much is that it’s one of my little sister’s favorites on “5SOS5,” so whenever it comes on I think of us singing it together. The beat is methodic and catchy, Calum Hood’s voice shines on the chorus, and the songwriting proves how much the band has grown since the “She Looks So Perfect” days.

My favorite line straight from the chorus– “Everyone I ever knew is standing in my house / Oh, I wonder who I’m looking for / ‘Cause you don’t go to parties anymore.”

The song is about how even though you can be at a party surrounded by hundreds of your close friends or complete strangers, if that one person you’re looking for isn’t there – you feel like the loneliest person in the world.

Hopefully a “5SOS5” tour announcement comes soon because I’m dying to hear “You Don’t Go To Parties” and the rest of the album live. - Kaitlyn Murphy

“Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)” - A Flock of Seagulls

This week is alllll about the throwbacks for me. In this version of “Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You),” the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra has come into play alongside A Flock of Seagulls. And boy, is it an addition.

Although this version is from 2018, the original song was released in 1982 as a single off of A Flock of Seagulls’ second album “Listen.”

This song is absolutely beautiful to listen to and is a pleasure to my ears, it really scratches an itch in my brain. There’s not a ton of changes from the original; the vocals are the same, as well as the synth parts. However, the added orchestra sounds build on the already phenomenal song. Who knew violins and trumpets would sound so good with synths?

This song is perfect for those who feel like they’re wishing for a long lost lover (that possibly never existed, only made up in their head), or wishing for a love in general. If only you had a photograph to remember…  - Chloe Rey

Adrianna Gallucci is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email amg7989@psu.edu.

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

Kaitlyn Murphy is a first-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email kvm6255@psu.edu.

Chloe Rey is a first-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, email ckr5449@psu.edu.