Monday, December 17, 2018

GLW 001: Ilana Bergstrom

GUEST LIST WEEK

GLW 001: ILANA BERGSTROM
GLW 002: Curt Trnka (coming Tuesday)
GLW 003: Marisa Plaice (coming Wednesday)
GLW 004: Megan Swidler (coming Thursday)
GLW 005: Dionicio Solano (coming Friday)
GLW 006: Erik Kristjanson (coming 12/24)


I’ve been working on my Favorite-Songs-of-the-Year Google Doc since January, so coming up with my final "Top 40" list for the year was relatively easy. But when I sat down to work on a cute little write-up for each of the tracks, I had two important realizations:

(1) Wait a sec … I don’t have a singular “favorite” song from 2018.* Whoooaaa.

and

(2) Oh shit, I’m moving to Amsterdam in a month. I actually don’t have time for this right now!!!**

In his annual essays, Aaron articulates his thoughts on the intersection between music and the state of the world much better than I could. We share a very similar worldview (and similar taste in music, for that matter), so fortunately I don’t feel obligated to write an 11,000 word rebuttal. 

What I will say, however, is that I truly appreciated music in 2018. 

I went to more concerts, read more music blogs, fought more with my beloved “Music Fights” text thread, and was just generally more excited about music this year than ever before. It was pretty great.

I also want to use this opportunity to show some gratitude towards everyone who’s helped make San Francisco my home for the past 12 years. To everyone who’s gone to shows with me, sent me links to their favorite new songs, and asked me about set times for concerts I wasn’t even attending — thanks. Listening to music in solitude certainly has its benefits, but sharing musical experiences with all of you is so much better.

As much as I love it here in SF, I’m ready to embrace the major changes heading my way in 2019. And I'm ready for so many Robyn performances. In Europe. Because I’m moving there. 

*This year I’m bestowing my top honors on Janelle Monáe for the first two singles from her album Dirty Computer. When these songs (and their brilliant music videos) were released, I loved them immediately, and watching Janelle bring them to life at The Masonic later in the year made me appreciate them, as well as the other tracks on the album, even more. 

**Expect 4000-5000 words from me about my favorite songs from 2018 in mid-February 2019 when I suddenly have LOTS of free time and the same amount of opinions.

Ilana’s Favorite Songs of 2018

1. Janelle Monáe - "Make Me Feel"
Also 1. Janelle Monáe (feat. Grimes) - "Pynk"
3. The Wonder Years - "Sister Cities"
4. Ramin Djawadi - "Runaway"
5. boygenius - "Me & My Dog"
6. Bad Moves - "Spirit FM"
7. Kacey Musgraves - "Space Cowboy"
8. Kim Petras - "Heart to Break"
9. Robyn - "Missing U"
10. Drake - "Nice For What"
11. Hatchie - "Bad Guy"
12. CYN - "Alright"
13. Kendrick Lamar (feat. ScHoolbyQ, 2 Chainz, Saudi) - "X"
14. Twin Shadow (feat. HAIM) - "Saturdays"
15. Ariana Grande - "No Tears Left To Cry"
16. Mitski - "Geyser"
17. Christine and the Queens - "Doesn’t Matter"
18. Petal - "Better Than You"
19. EASYFUN - "Be Your USA"
20. Kim Petras - "Close Your Eyes"
21. Maggie Rogers - "Fallingwater"
22. Illuminati Hotties - "Paying Off The Happiness"
23. Sigrid - "High Five"
24. SOPHIE- "Immaterial"
25. CHVRCHES - "Get Out"
26. Charli XCX - "No Angel"
27. Poppy - "Time Is Up"
28. Troye Sivan - "My! My! My!"
29. Lil Wayne (feat. Kendrick Lamar) - "Mona Lisa"
30. Silk City (with Dua Lipa) - "Electricity"
31. Hayley Kiyoko - "Curious"
32. Lizzo - "Boys"
33. Ariana Grande - "thank u, next"
34. Let’s Eat Grandma - "It’s Not Just Me"
35. Kendrick Lamar (feat. SZA) - "All The Stars"
36. The Carters - "APESHIT"
37. Jade Bird - "Lottery"
38. Wet - "You’re Not Wrong"
39. Soccer Mommy - "Your Dog"
40. Phoebe Bridgers - "Christmas Song"

Oh, and the five best music videos of the year are:

1. Drake - "I’m Upset"
2. Janelle Monáe - "Make Me Feel"
3. The Carters - "APESHIT"
4. Jake Shears - "Creep City"
5. Phoebe Bridgers - "Scott Street"

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