Friday, December 22, 2023

GL.23.08: Jem Stirling

 



100 SONGS: Aaron Bergstrom

GL.23.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GL.23.02: Curt Trnka

GL.23.03: Marisa Plaice

GL.23.04: Isabel Vermaak

GL.23.05: Raffa Pantaleo

GL.23.06: Erik Kristjanson

GL.23.07: Lukas Brooks

GL.23.08: JEM STIRLING

GL.23.09: Max Einstein

GL.23.10: Tony Schoenberg

GL.23.11: Gina Uriarte

GL.23.12: Ryan Joyce


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Wow, this year’s gone quickly! Looking at my list, there are songs I’d added at the beginning of the year, promptly forgot about, and have been rinsing the past week like a little present from the past. 


My musical year in review summary: old favourites were releasing new music (Highlights: Smashing Pumpkins, Blink 182; Lowlight: Paramore … I really wanted to like the new album as it felt like something a bit different. I listened to a Song Exploder episode about one of the tracks, which was interesting, but I’m still just not feeling the feelings which is a shame.) 2023 turned out to be the year I dabbled with the inescapable T. Swift (beyond the pub jukebox circa 2008). Turns out, she’s not as sickly-sweet as I remembered, and while an album probably isn’t going to be a go-to for me, I can get on board with the hype. 


BBC Radio 6 has done an excellent job of serving me music I really like, from artists I’ve never heard of before this year (especially The A’s and Jorja Smith)! Spotify has done an average-at-best job, but I think that’s more on me not manipulating the AI, mental note to tinker with that more in 2024.  


I saw more “live” music this year (Highlight: Fatboy Slim; Medium-light(?): “Ministry of Sound CLASSICAL” (sounded way cooler than it was); Lowlight: a croatian wedding band). It’s been a really fun reminder that while there might not be as many opportunities to see touring artists here (and when there are, it’ll be pricey), it’s more than likely going to be worth it for the shared experience with friends (& lovely strangers!).


My special non-2023 mention goes to the song I picked when we were asked to submit a song for our office Christmas party. The decisions! The debates within our team! Q: What’s going to get people moving? What won’t be picked by anyone else (around 100 people)? What’s going to appeal to a wide audience (think, too many Gen-Z for my liking, a smattering of elder millennials and plenty of Gen-X). Something that won’t be cringy, and in an ideal world would maybe show a little bit of personality …? Interested to hear what y’all would pick? 

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