I sought out change and positivity in 2021, according to my Spotify Wrapped report
December is officially here, and so are Spotify users' Wrapped reports.
The reports detail Spotify users most beloved songs, artists, genres and podcasts, for a zany trip down memory lane to close out the year. For some, the Wrapped report offers a look into their mindset over the past 12 months, for others, it reminds them of their ever-evolving taste in music.
I come from a family of musicians, and I married one, too. Music is such a large part of our lives, that my second COVID wedding was music themed. Our programs featured a QR code that brought guests to a carefully-curated Spotify playlist, and each one of those songs were used as table numbers.
From USA TODAY: Spotify Wrapped 2021 is available now: Here's how to find your top artists and songs
Naturally, I was excited to open my Spotify Wrapped report when I saw it available this week. If you're curious, check out my "Top Songs 2021" playlist here on Spotify.
My Wrapped offered a lot of surprises: my top artist listened to in 2021 was an independent electronica guru that goes by the name Macross 82-99. The artist is known for mixing American disco classics from the 70s and 80s with Japanese classic pop songs and oldies, making for a sparkly, synthy, buffet of sound that can only be described as "city pop."
The report also brought back memories.
My no. 2 artist was John Legend, someone I had only recently rediscovered. I had seen him live at a free concert held at Coney Island when I was a teen, and a cousin and I had bonded over a mutual love of the album Get Lifted. I re-listened to the record this past summer, and just like that, Legend returned to my daily listening ritual, after more than a decade without the musician on my playlist.
I am proud of my eclectic tastes— other top artists on my Wrapped report included avantgarde rapper Childish Gambino, post-hardcore group Dance Gavin Dance, and Shakira (of course).
In addition to those top artists, a few songs lived in my head rent free in 2021: Cupid by pH-1 and PENOMECO (a chill, Korean hip hop tune with a mesmerizing hook), Pisces by Jinjer (probably the Ukrainian metal band's most loved track, with powerful clean vocals and otherworldly guttural screams by frontwoman Tatiana Shmailyuk), and Casi un Hechizo by 90s salsa it-boy Jerry Rivera (everything comforting about 90s salsa in just over 4 minutes).
Most of the songs on my top list were in every other language besides English: there were a few Korean hits, a Chinese surf rock song (Wonder Why? by Anatomy Rabbit), and a selection of Spanish-language tracks from artists like Kali Uchis, Jerry Di, Rosalia, Bad Bunny and others.
Besides the welcome dose of worldly music, Big Pun, Tribe called Quest and Snoop Dogg provided me with the dose of rap I needed over 2021, as did plenty of dance and hip hop hits from the 90s and early 2000s. The second half of 2021 saw me introduced to other artists like BJ the Chicago Kid, Roy Woods and the collaboration I didn't know I needed: Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak with Silk Sonic.
In all, each song and artist presents a different facet of who I am: someone who loves music, and listens to just about every genre. A typical gemini.
I lean into the songs to express my emotions: when I'm feeling down, I might work out my frustration with some Alice in Chains, Tool or Killswitch Engage. When I'm looking to cheer up, I'll likely put on some Candi Stanton or another disco track. If I'm cleaning my house, any salsa will do. If I'm feeling nostalgic or romantic, I throw on Incubus (any track reminds me of my husband.)
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When I compare my 2021 Wrapped to 2020, there's one thing that's clear: my music habits were distinctively different. I listened to a lot more metal that year.
While Dance Gavin Dance was a staple in 2020 (and in 2019) Ghost was my top band, and while I still love them, for those in the know, Ghost is the "darker" choice (my husband and I danced to "Life Eternal" for our first dance at our second COVID wedding this year.)
2021 saw me seeking out a brighter, joyous and powerful sound. The female vocalists on my rotation were empowered and inspiring forces of nature. The dance music was unique and impossible to resist. I was attracted to thoughtful and clever bars when it came to the rap I listened to. My hip hop choices were independent and experimental.
It's clear to me that in 2021, I was looking for a change. I was looking for something brighter at the end of the pandemic tunnel. And while 2021 was, in many ways, even more personally difficult, I turned to my playlists for strength.
Did your Spotify Wrapped report hold any surprises or point to something more sentimental? I'd love to hear from you. Email me at afontones@poconorecord.com.
Ashley Fontones is the Managing Editor at Pocono Record, and enjoys writing about arts, culture and local folklore from time to time.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Fontones: Spotify Wrapped offered a trip down memory lane
