GL.24.06: Caseysimone Ballestas
GL.24.07: NORA TANG
GL.24.08: Tony Schoenberg
GL.24.09: Ben Evangelista
GL.24.10: Kevin Wyckoff
GL.24.11: Jem Stirling
***
2024 by Month
I’ve chosen 12 artists for the year - and one standalone song - organized by when I listened to them the most. A lot of artists I liked dropped albums or singles this year, but for me, 2024 was a year of pink pop music.
January: saturdays at your place - “tarot cards”
I stumbled upon this band and became obsessed with them the way I did many pop punk bands in middle school (despite the pronunciation of “tarot”). It launched me back 15 years, and I listened to a lot of Something Corporate in January as well as a result.
February: Ethel Cain - “American Teenager”
I showed this song to Jessie shortly after we moved to Lynchburg, VA for a job, and we listened to it so much I started to hate it a little bit. There’s something about electric guitar that can really ruin a song for me, and the riff near the end of this song reminds me of “Don’t Stop Believing.” I noticed it one day and can’t unhear it. Still love the song though, and it’s perfect if you find yourself living in an incredibly conservative small town in February.
March: Ariana Grande - “yes, and?”
The joy when she finally dropped new music! And what a cunty little number - if only there had been a gay club in Lynchburg!
Also March: FLETCHER - “Ego Talking”
March is the one month that gets two songs, because weeks after eternal sunshine came out, FLETCHER dropped her best work yet. It was hard to pick just one because there are so many fun sing-alongs, but this one is maybe my favorite to belt out. It makes me feel unhinged in the best way.
April: Chappell Roan - “Good Luck, Babe!”
I liked Chappell before, but this song turned me into a stan. I truly think it’s the best song that came out this year.
May: Billie Eilish - “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
I loved Billie when don’t smile at me came out, and WWAFA,WDWG, but I never got very into Happier Than Ever. This album brought me back, and while this isn’t my absolute favorite song from the album, I am pretty sure there’s a rule that if you’re between ages of 12-42 and in a lesbian relationship, this song is on your list.
June: Charli xcx - “Apple”
What a month to turn 30 on Pride weekend. I now have a love-hate relationship with this song because I heard so many remixes of it with Kamala Harris’ “you think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” that I was certain she would be president.
July: Sufjan Stevens - “Casimir Pulaski Day”
Always my favorite song of his. In July, my oldest sister and I got tickets to see Illinoise on Broadway, so I listened to the album religiously in anticipation. Unfortunately, my flight was scheduled at midnight the day the worldwide computer system went down, so I never made it to New York.
August: Sabrina Carpenter - “Taste”
Apparently I was in the top .01% of “Espresso” listeners this year, but I’m still choosing “Taste” (the music video is perfect). I had never paid much attention to Sabrina Carpenter before this year, but she quickly rose to the top of my artists for the year.
September: Addison Rae - “Diet Pepsi”
This is the one song I’m choosing for the song alone, not the artist. I have serious doubts that Addison Rae will produce another bop like this, but it’s too good not to include - though I am pretty sure it’s one giant product placement paid for by Pepsi Co. I could be convinced otherwise if it were called Diet Coke.
October: Mon Rovîa - “crooked the road.”
Fell in love with this artist this year, and Jessie and I were so excited to see him in October at my favorite venue in SLC - it’s a room about the size of a three-car garage, with an 8” platform for a stage. In an unforeseen turn of events, we completely spaced this Tuesday night show as we were moving into our new house that week, and I’ll never forgive myself for missing him live in such an intimate venue. I really think he’s going to blow up in the next year or so.
November: Fleetwood Mac - “Silver Springs”
My favorite song of theirs, in part thanks to the live performance in 1997. I finally got around to watching Daisy Jones and the Six, and while I loved the music, it just made me want to watch this live performance over and over.
December: Wicked Soundtrack - “What Is This Feeling?”
We have established I’m a huge Ari fan, but it turns out I’m a big Galinda fan, too. I could have chosen almost any song from the soundtrack, but with the shooting of the United Healthcare CEO, I find myself often stomping around singing, “Dear Luigi you are just too good! … we’re on your siiiiiide, we share your loathing!” Life imitates art.
No comments:
Post a Comment