Stampede Staff Playlist: December Edition

Snoh Aalegra’s 2017 album “FEELS,” proved that soulful R&B is still alive and popular on the music scene. When listening to “Fool For You,” you can hear the influences of R&B legends like Stevie Wonder, Whitney Huston, and Amy Whinehouse having a subtle impact on the way Snoh projects her voice throughout the song. R&B lives off of the ability to project the emotion of a story ...

This song is for everyone who has ever cared about someone who really never felt the same about you. The musician, Palmertrees, usually writes about falling in love and how complicated it can be, so it was no surprise that he came out with a song that will genuinely leave the listener broken. The vocals are so powerful and are truly able to overpower the acoustic guitar played throughout the whole son...

Kacey Musgraves proved to be able to bring a popular song in the latin community and mainstream it. The original song, sung by Mercedes Sosa, is both nostalgic and loved by an entire community, so when Musgraves added her cover to her newest album, “Starcrossed,” people were extremely skeptical about it. The song is about giving thanks to life and everything you are blessed with and appreciati...

Ricky Montgomery is able to make a gut-wrenching song irresistible, even if it is only going to make you feel worse. The periodic repetition in the background vocals along with the instrumentals is utterly beautiful. There is not one part of the song that makes it what it is, it is all of it. Every strum of the guitar and each way Montgomery delivers his lyrics makes this song wonderful. The meanin...

Mitski has a relentless ability to write exactly what the listener needs to hear in every song she releases. There is something remarkable about the way she is able to take, what seems like simple lyrics, and make them some of the saddest words the listener has ever heard. The lyrics “I am a forest fire / and I am the fire and I am the forest /and I am a witness watching it” contradict each other per...

I contemplated for a while which Phoebe Bridgers song I wanted to choose as the saddest, but in all honesty they are all sad. However, I was unable to stop thinking about the lyric “when you saw the dead little bird, you started crying / but you know the killer doesn't understand.” Earlier in the song Bridgers sings about returning to the door of someone she cares about like a dog giving its own...

With the cold months upon us and more days spent inside looking out at the gloomy sky, Mac Demarco's music has been on rotation for me. But more so specifically his song “She’s really all I need.” This song is a beautiful portrayal of a love story and wanting a perfect life with this one person. In the song, Demarco says “Up out of bed at three, and I feel like I am dying, but if she's there ...

“Hate CD” is a song off of Steve Lacy's debut album “Apollo XXI.” This song is a story of Lacy’s addiction to another man and how he so badly wants this man but knows he is no good for him, just like a lot of things in life. In the song, he sings “You are my addiction” as in referring to this person being his craving, the thing he wants so desperately but knows is bad for him. This song...

I recently rediscovered Paris Texas which is a hip hop duo who go by Pseudonyms louie pastel and felix. “Boy anonymous” took 2021 music by storm. The first time I listened to “A quick death” I immediately fell in love with the duo's music style. Going along with my theme of love, this song can be analyzed as explaining what it is like to find someone who fills the emptiness in your heart wit...

I am so glad I found Demian! It is a breakup song, but if you do not pay attention to the lyrics it is really mellow and relaxing. Also the music video is kind of funny because the drummer plays with roses which was unexpected at first but greatly appreciated. Roses are a classic staple of romantic music videos, so I think I am happy about it. It is cheesy, but in a good way. Bring it on Demian! ...

This song has nothing to do with blacking out that I can make of, but I really like listening to it. It plays during the credits of a Japanese drama called Life: Love on the Line and I do not want to spoil anything, so I will just say that the lyrics fit perfectly with the story of how the two main characters meet each other. Watching the show will change your perspective on the song's meaning, hopef...

I would sell my left arm for Eric Nam because his podcast, Daebak Show, is so funny and he's unusually active on TikTok. His vocals are *chef's kiss* and it is really nice to do homework to, because it is light and breezy and reminds me of summer. I like the beachy/farm/nature vibe the music video has, and I  hope that I am not the only one that was kind of confused by the horse at first. ...