Stampede Staff Playlist: December Edition

Not My Weekend creates music that makes me feel alive and happy. “El Camino” is no different. I fell in love with the song because it makes me feel like I am driving with my windows down with my friends. This song is one of those that I blast in my room or my car and legitimately dance to. My favorite thing about the song is how it honestly reminds me of the “Teen Beach Movie” soundtrack. ...

When I first heard “I’m Okay Though” I had to sit back for a minute to process the song. While it is not the most fun song to listen to, it almost perfectly put the silent struggle of anxiety into words. I love to listen to this song because it reminds me that I am not alone with how I am feeling. My favorite part is the ending when the music finally aligns with the lyrics and there is a small...

Happy. has been one of my favorite bands for almost two years now, and the progression of their style has amazed me. “Background Noise” is one of the songs that has impressed me the most. “Background Noise” makes me feel like I am seeing them live, jumping up and down in the pit and just having the time of my life. The vibes of the song make me happy (no pun intended) and it is one of the ...

While I do not often listen to Modest Mouse, this song makes me think I should. With its circular beat, the story gradually becomes more and more clear as the song goes on: It is about a man coming to terms with the loss of his child, and how every human is in a way their world. The title, in this way, becomes a double meaning, as it is not only a reference to Earth but also the child at the heart...

This has been one of those songs that I rediscover every few months, mainly for its simple yet pleasing beat that slowly increases in volume and power just as its lyrics do, and for the lyrics themselves, which are a highlight for both their catchiness and resonation. This song is about a young girl’s romance with an older man who works for the government, told through the lens of her attempts to def...

Bulldog Eyes has been one of my favorite artists for a while now, mainly owing to the overall aesthetic of their songs. If you have ever seen pictures of liminal spaces, those places that feel so nostalgically familiar and yet unknown and haunted, that is exactly what Bulldog Eyes’s music sounds like. It is as if the feeling of being awake at two in the morning was made into a melody.  “Bir...

Christmas is my favorite season and holiday over anything else. Like “Last Christmas,” this song resonates with my childhood. The “Under the Mistletoe” album came out in 2011, and it was and still is a jam. The entirety of the album is great, and the single “Mistletoe” is like icing on the cake. With millions of fans having a huge crush on Justin Bieber, fans went crazy for this song. ...

A Christmas classic! My parents are very into “old” songs, so I guess that I particularly like it too. Throughout my entire life, this was one of the memorable songs from my childhood. Also, this song has many covers done by many other artists such as Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Glee, so it is very versatile in what or who you want to hear. I am sure everyone has heard of this song, but if ...

Steering away from all the Christmas spirit, “Anyone Else” by Joshua Bassett came out on July 16, and to this day, I love it. The acoustic guitar feels mixed with a good beat in the background just hits differently. Joshua Bassett has not produced much music, but with his other single, “Common Sense,” I am in love with him and his music. ...

Billie Elish likes to play with different sounds when it comes to her music, “bury a friend,” “xanny,” and “COPYCAT,”  but with “my future” she is singing a simple song in the indie-pop genre where people can just appreciate how great her vocals can be. ...

This song tells the story of the songwriter Kevin Parker at the beginning of his career falling in and out of paranoia about his life decisions. This especially surrounds his choice to pursue music knowing that there is a chance that he will not be successful. While Parker tells this story, listeners can hear euphoric psychedelic music plays in the background that helps them understand how Parker was ...

“august” is a story about collecting memories over the summer and growing as a person while there is pressure to maintain that maturity as time goes on. The listener can hear the singer reflecting on this period of time as they come to the realization that all of those memories are just a part of the past now. ...