Burn Your Hits: Ben Evangelista

DUH. I'm sorry but this year it's hers. Beyoncé will be in attendance with her children. All 3. Jay-Z will not be there. Miss Tina will. Solange will. Kelly and Michelle will.

Notables if you live under a rock: “II Hands II Heaven,” “Sweet Honey Buckin,” “Riverdance,” “Tyrant,” “Levi’s Jeans” … I’ll refrain from naming them all, of course! I only included “II Hands” on my playlist!

Record Of The Year: Mannequin Pussy (“I Got Heaven”)

I listened to this 3M times and I plan on listening to it 3M more!! Addicted to screaming queer people.

Song Of The Year: Charli xcx (“Club classics featuring bb trickz”)

For me personally?? It’s going to go ahead and be the “Club classics” remix featuring BB Trickz.

This song had me in a chokehold. Charli leaked a snippet of it in february and I downloaded it and obsessed over it. George Daniel, her fiance, produced. I worried SICK for months that it wouldn't be released. It kept me up at night. I contacted friends in the industry. Friends abroad. Family in other galaxies. In October when it was finally released in full, peace was restored.

Best New Artist: Chappell Roan (“Good Luck, Babe!”) / Doechii (“DENIAL IS A RIVER”)

A tie! Both are very much not new artists but both very much received their flowers this year :) Thank you, all.

Producer of the Year: The Dare (Charli xcx - “Guess”)

We will NOT be presenting Jack Antonoff with ANY such award this year.

Songwriter of the Year: Adrianne Lenker (“Real House”)

Tears come ... often … when it comes to AL.

Best Solo “We Are So Back” Pop Performance: Lady Gaga (“Disease”)

My paws are firmly up for what is here and what is yet to come!

Best Pop Duo Performance: Charli xcx (“Girl, so confusing REMIX ft. Lorde”)

Duh.

Best Lesbian Pop Vocal Album: Billie Eilish (HIT ME HARD AND SOFT)

I feel like we need to continue talking about this masterpiece? “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” and “CHIHIRO” were so gorgeous.

Best Dance Electronic K-Hole Recording: Floating Points (“Del Oro”)

Floating Points is a multi-hyphenate mastermind. I heard him for the first time at P*rtola Music Festival but for a second time when he SCORED THE SF BALLET this year? His album that followed was nothing short of trippy but he is a genius.

Best Dance Pop Girlie Death Rock Recording: FKA twigs (“Drums of Death”)

Hey this album is going to be ... AMAZING! Stand by.

Best Dance Electronic Album: Charli xcx (Brat)

Yeah, it’s gonna go ahead and be BRAT for me.

Best Art Rock, Pop, Indie, Electronica Album: St. Vincent (All Born Screaming)

St. Vincent’s album shook me up and down this year. I’ve included “Broken Man” from All Born Screaming on this list because when she released this single I knew we were … as the kids say, “so fu****g” back”

Best Alternative Sad Girl Folk Music Album: Waxahatchee (Tigers Blood)

If there is ever a year without Waxahatchee on a list of mine, there will never be a year. Understood?

Best Alternative Male Indie Rock Album: Vampire Weekend (Only God Was Above Us)

I allow some men on the list and those men are Vampire Weekend!! Thankful for this album and the 2010 nostalgia it brought back in such a uniquely 2024 way. Seeing them live is and was magic.

Best Randomista Pop Song: Caroline Polachek (“Spring is Coming With a Strawberry In The Mouth”)

Somehow in my top 10 Spotify wrapped songs … Spring *IS* coming. With a Strawberry. In. The Mouth. Got it?

Best Movie Soundtrack Song: Sky Ferreira (“Leash”)

There is something about “us” being “so back” that I “can’t stop” “saying” … Understood?

Best Posthumous Release: SOPHIE (“Reason Why” feat. Kim Petras)

RIP Sophie!! Love this song so much.

Best Pop Song For Tiny Girls: Sabrina Carpenter (“Bad Chem”)

Never in one trillion years could you have convinced me 365 days ago that I would make a list with Ms Carpenter on it but here we are.

Best Song From A Girlie Who Was In A Girl Group But Now … She Isn’t!!: JADE (“Angel Of My Dreams”)

My friend played this too many times on Fire Island but I still love the song, so that says something, no?

Best Rap Song: Tie!

We have a 3 way tie ... and again I hope that is ok with my audience … but here we go …

Tyler, The Creator (“Sticky” feat. GloRilla, Sexy Red, Lil Wayne)

Megan Thee Stallion (“Mamushi” feat. Yuki Shiba)

Doja Cat (“URRRGE!!!!!!” feat. A$AP Rocky)

75% of what was in my ears while working out at the gym this year!!

Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar (GNX)

Had a cab driver this year tell me why Drake was in the right … was morally confused for a while … really obsessed with this album ... sigh

OMG She Is A Popstar Now! Award: Addison Rae (“Aquamarine”)

Can you even believe it? I can't, still. But she is on her way to stardom I both know and fear! (in the good way)

The “Damn, Who Is This Person” Award For A Girl Who I Have Also Seen Dance On Tik Tok: Tate McRae (“2 hands”)

Any questions?

Horny Album and Concert Award: Troye Sivan (“Silly")

Figured I’d pick one that was maybe less known but I still played a lot!

Album and tour ... *sweating actively*

I’m Happy For Her Because She’s Right Where She Belongs Award: Maggie Rogers (“It Was Coming All Along”)

I loved this album and I love this song! I got to see Maggie in SF and she was perfect. She seems so happy and in such a good place. She brought out Joan Baez!! I cried.

The Final Award: Taylor Swift (“But Daddy I Love Him”)

Taylor gets the final award out of respect because The Eras Tour is over and I got to see it in Paris!! I hope she takes a break from releasing music soon and relaxes… It's time! That’s all I’ll say. I liked this song and a few others from this album tho!!

Honorable Mentions!

Clario (“Slow Dance”)

Kacey Musgraves (“Deeper Well”)

Faye Webster (“Thinking About You”)

Camila Cabello (“Dade County Dreaming”)

Cassandra Jenkins (“Only One”)

Magdalena Bay (“Image”)

Sunday, January 3, 2021

GLW.20.20: Ben Evangelista

100 SONGS: Aaron Bergstrom

GLW.20.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GLW.20.02: Curt Trnka

GLW.20.03: Remko Van Knippenberg

GLW.20.04: Jem Woodward

GLW.20.05: Erik Kristjanson

GLW.20.06: Marisa Plaice

GLW.20.07: Russell Abdo

GLW.20.08: Garrett Bukunt

GLW.20.09: Megan Swidler

GLW.20.10: Garrett Tillman

GLW.20.11: Scott Lawson

GLW.20.12: Carl Anderson

GLW.20.13: Ryan Joyce

GLW.20.14: Nick Leddy

GLW.20.15: Desa Warner

GLW.20.16: Tony Schoenberg

GLW.20.17: Kim Dickson

GLW.20.18: Lukas Brooks

GLW.20.19: Lucas Posada

GLW.20.20: BEN EVANGELISTA

GLW.20.21: Shay Corbett

***

HELLO BYH FAM!

As some of you may notice, I am one of the later playlists this year ...

Every single year both Aaron and Ilana have to remind me upwards of 5-6 times to submit my year-end list. It's not that I don't want to do it, it's that looking at my year in review of music gives me such crippling anxiety; I don't know where to start or even finish. I want to pay my respects to every song that served me ... and in a year as emotionally destructive as this one? That ask is nearly impossible (for me!)

I have sat staring at my playlist for a total of twenty-four hours and what I have come to realize, dear reader, is that I am much less sophisticated than I allow myself to believe. (Also, I have been learning edibles, so in reality I got high and stared at a blank screen for a few days!)

I pride myself on having a diverse set of ears attached to my stupid little skull but as soon as the 2.5 THC hit I was able to very neatly and uniformly split my soul (Horcrux vibes!) into four categories ...

Take a look? A gander ... Take a listen if you will ...

MY SAD GIRL AGENDA

This year was the year I categorized myself as a lover of the sad girl genre … above all. Don't get me wrong, I have loved these ladies for years and years and years. This year was the year I really embraced their impact on me. I cried when Phoebe Bridgers flew to Ireland to get d*cked down by Paul Mescal! Happy tears of course. But this year was my reckoning: In my inner mantle, I am a sad girl.

It goes without saying that Phoebe Bridgers is my queen of queens. Punisher is an album that I don't think I was personally ready for and one that shook me to my brittle bones! The Haim sisters, Waxahatchee, Adrianne Lenker all soundtracked various portions of my q-tine.

(Special shoutout to songs, the soundtrack to my time spent in Utah this fall. It is the album I played while peering out of my window at the MAGA flags in the neighborhood where we were staying.)

folklore as an album physically, emotionally, spiritually got me through the summer and fall.

I listened to the Lianne La Havas album 1000000x times.

CHEERS TO THESE LADIES (and the James Blake Billie cover because absolutely duh.)

***

Phoebe Bridgers - "I Know The End" & "Kyoto” (Copycat Killer Version)

Waxahatchee - "Can't Do Much" & "Lilacs"

Taylor Swift - "dorothea" & "peace"

HAIM - "The Steps"

Hannah Georgas - "Cruel"

Soccer Mommy - "bloodstream"

Fiona Apple - "I Want You To Love Me"

Adrianne Lenker - "dragon eyes"

Bedouine, Waxahatchee, Hurray for the Riff Raff - "Thirteen"

Lianne La Havas - "Weird Fishes"

Lomelda - "Hannah Sun"

Maggie Rogers - "James"

The Chicks - "Texas Man"

Hayley Williams - "Over Yet"

James Blake - "when the party's over"

M*N THAT ROCK

So in a year that was not devoted to honoring white m*n I do feel like there are a handful of songs and albums that need a giant head nod!

Kevin Morby's quarantine album paired perfectly with Waxahatchee's (thank you Aaron for turning me on to this couple.) The Strokes’ album was an early quarantine vibration for me, sitting in my room staring out my window. The Bleachers x Bruce collab is also something I will never get over, growing up in a Bruce household this was very very special to me!!!

***

Kevin Morby - "Don't Underestimate Midwest American Sun"

Perfume Genius - "Without You"

Bleachers - "chinatown" (feat. Bruce Springsteen)

Bon Iver - "AUATC" (Jenny Lewis and Bruce Springsteen are also on this track!!!)

Bonny Light Horseman - "Deep in Love"

Rostam - "Unfold You"

The Strokes - "Eternal Summer"

MY VIBRATION AGENDA

A humongous part of my personality is loving dj-esque, vibration, synthy, nü-disco, indie-electronic- psychedelic disco. Oh and also rap.

I am a sucker for electronic sounds. I guess if we really want to dig into it we can link this back to my freshman year college days, sitting on my friends' bed refreshing Good Music All Day or whatever variation of house music websites existed for college tweens. I loved and still love electronically created music! I have no way of explaining this to my parents and never will? I kind of hope they don't ever find out.

(Fully realizing RTJ + Megan don't necessarily belong in this category but their music instills the same kind of buzzing in my body that Jamie and Tame do so here we are.)

***

Caribou - "You and I"

DRAMA - "Hold On"

Glass Animals - "Dreamland"

Khruangbin - "Time (You and I)"

Jamie xx - "Idontknow"

Rósín Murphy - "Narcissus"

Run The Jewels - "out of sight" (feat. 2 Chainz)

Megan Thee Stallion - "Captain Hook"

SG Lewis - "Chemicals"

Tame Impala - "Breathe Deeper"

Troye Sivan - "Easy"

MY POP GIRL AGENDA

Something I have always known about myself is my ability to *absolutely unabashedly stan* our pop divas!!! The spring and summer months were overwhelmingly filled with new pop music, and a large portion of those tracks would have been the soundtrack to me standing in the corner of Hi Tops with my friends doing absolutely nothing but drinking vodka sodas and bopping our cute little heads! We did not get the chance to do that, obviously, so hearing bop after bop after continuous bop was almost painful to me and my girlies.

We made the most of it! My roommates and I took "flights of poppers" to Chromatica. We had virtual listening parties for Charli's album. We argued over if we were "Levitating" gays or "Hallucinate" gays. We all watched the BLACKPINK documentary and jumped on the bandwagon (unless you were an Alex Rafter or Clayton Miller and were already on said wagon.)

What I have had to remind myself over and over is that this music isn't going anywhere and maybe just maybe when we are all vaccinated we can go to a club where they will play these songs and forgo the pots and pans we are usually forced to dance to :-D

***

BLACKPINK - "Pretty Savage"

Charli XCX - "anthems"

Chloe x Halle - "Ungodly Hour"

Christine and the Queens - "La vita nuova" (feat. Caroline Polachek)

Dua Lipa - "Levitating"

Georgia - "Running Up That Hill"

Jessie Ware - "Save a Kiss"

Kacy Hill - "Unkind"

H.E.R. - "Hold On"

Kim Petras - "Malibu"

Kylie Minogue - "Say Something"

Lady Gaga - "Babylon"

Miley Cyrus - "Edge of Midnight" (feat. Stevie Nix)

***

I would also like to caveat two things to my dearest readers and listeners.

1. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to rearrange this playlist? I know I work in advertising and I am not a STEM, Gay In Tech, numbers, algorithm hunnie, but surely there is something wrong with my Spotify? Mike Brand? What say you?

2. My Spotify username is forever stuck as "1255253254." Yes we have tried to fix it. No it can never be fixed

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk!!!

Saturday, December 21, 2019

GLW 005: Ben Evangelista

GUEST LIST WEEK

100 SONGS: Aaron Bergstrom
GLW 001: Ilana Bergstrom

GLW 002: Curt Trnka

GLW 003: Remko Van Knippenberg

GLW 004: Saskia Warwick

GLW 005: BEN EVANGELISTA

GLW 006: Marisa Plaice

GLW 007: Megan Swidler

GLW 008: Erik Kristjanson

GLW 009: Desa Warner

GLW 010: Gina Uriarte
GLW 011: Lukas Brooks
GLW 012: Chris Macdonald
GLW 013: Tom Morgan
GLW 014: Shay Corbett

***

I have known our fearless musical leader and ally Aaron Bergstrom since 2017 (which honestly does NOT feel like the correct amount of time associated with our relationship but it is indeed true.) For two years I have heard his requests, his battle-cries for his loved ones and peers to please for the love of god rank their favorite songs of the year. It’s not that hard! Spotify does it for you. .. and yet I’ve avoided avoided avoided until the cows come home. What I’ve gathered is when it comes to making decisions that involve rank, favorites; intense decision-making that could result in forming an actual, solidified, concrete opinion? I am frozen with fear. For that very reason, I present BenE’s Top 45 Songs of 2019, listed alphabetically, for internal reasons that I’ll continue to work on with my therapist in 2020.

Anyways, enjoy! Holler if you want to see a show! Holler if you want to lay on my floor and listen to music!

PS. We miss you Aaron & Ilana.. nobody can get to shows on time anymore.

1. “Basquiat" - Jamila Woods, Saba — I hadn’t heard Jamila Woods until this year and I was blown away by this album.

2. “Borderline” - Tame Impala — NEW ALBUM OUT ON VALENTINE’S DAY 2020! I love Tame. I will always love Tame. Their new singles have me on the edge of my seat for The Slow Rush. I was not able to get tickets to their show at the Chase Center so if there is anyone out there reading this, keep me in mind?

3. “Cash Shit” - Megan Thee Stallion ft. DaBaby — Megan had a summer ... a year ... I’m a Hot Girl. Fav line: “he know he given his money to Megan” 🤪

4. “Cattails” - Big Thief — Big Thief released two albums this year? “Cattails” makes me feel really good. Big Thief also makes me feel really good.

5. “Cellophane” - FKA Twigs — Duh?

6. “The Chain” - The Highwomen — God the Highwomen truly made my year. I saw the four of them perform at Newport Folk Festival w/ a slew of other acts; Dolly, Sheryl, Yola. I heard their cover of “The Chain” for the first time during their set and my body had chills for 3 minutes straight. Brandi Carlile for president!!!!!

7. “Con Altura” - Rosalía, J Balvin, El Guincho — 2019’s biggest regret is having to go on a business trip and not getting to see Rosalía live.

8. “Cruel Summer” - Taylor Swift — I love a Jack Antonoff production which leads me to admit I do, bravely and securely, love “Cruel Summer”

9. “< demons >” - Kim Petras — The TURN OFF THE LIGHT release was the soundtrack to my fall. I kind of loved more electro-beat heavy tracks over some of Kim’s songs. “Demons,” “Transylvania,” “Boo Bitch!,” “Knives,” “Omen.” Kim is my queen!

10. “Don’t Know How To Keep Loving You” - Julia Jacklin — Ugh this song is heart wrenching and beautiful and so is Julia. I love that she got the chance to open for some Lana shows. I saw her at Swedish American Music Hall in a very intimate environment and felt all the feelings.

11. “Dylan Thomas” - Better Oblivion Community Center — Phoebe Bridgers is my most played artist of 2019! Am I a sad white girl? Or an indie gay with a sad girl rock addiction? I am enthralled with every single note of music that comes out of her mouth. And of course, Conor Oberst. More Phoebe in 2020! We BEG. I’m also campaigning to get BOCC to Newport Folk Festival

12. “For Sure” - Carly Rae Jepsen — One of my faves off of her 2019 Dedicated album. The clapping, the drum beat ... a perfect CRJ song.

13. “Gone” - Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens — Fav song off Charli! Amazing beat. Music video perfection?

14. “Hey, Ma” - Bon Iver — I love love love loved I,I which was a surprise and a delight to me because I wasn’t a huge fan of 22, A Million. This album spoke 2 m3 and this song lead the charge.

15. “Hold Me Anyway” - Wilco — I’m getting real Yellow Submarine vibes from this song and a few of the tracks on this album.

16. “Hungry Child” - Hot Chip— Hot Chip Came Back And They Came Back To Play Dot Org! A Bath Full of Ecstasy was a gorgeous summer soundtrack.

17. “Lark” - Angel Olsen — God dammit Angel Olsen’s All Mirrors is a near perfect album. This album felt like a modern day ode to Kate Bush. This song is still on repeat in my apartment, in my office, walking around SF. More Angel, always.

18. “Little Trouble” - Better Oblivion Community Center — I couldn’t pick one

But this release was a WONDERFUL fall surprise.

19. “Lonely Boys Paradise” - DOPE LEMON — I went down a very deep DOPE LEMON rabbit hole this year and I’m very glad I did. Angus Stone’s latest project, Smooth Big Cat rocks. (Thank yew Benjamin Thomas).

20. “Lover (remix)” - Taylor Swift ft. Shawn Mendes —

21. “Love Song” - Lana Del Rey — I use to love Lana ... and then I stopped loving Lana ... and now I’m back to being absolutely obsessed with Lana? This song! Makes me sad! And also happy! NFW album in entirety is a huge highlight for me

22. “Love You For A Long Time” - Maggie Rogers — Release a song after a world tour? Why not? More Maggie Rogers thoughts below.

23. “Motivation” - Normani — NORMANI IS HERE AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE THIS MUSIC VIDEO BROKE ME DOWN AND BUILT ME BACK UP AND SAID LEARN TO DANCE.

24. “My Wing” - Hiss Golden Messenger — My favorite folk kings released an album this year and it’s an album for any and all occasions. If you don’t know Hiss Golden Messenger wake UP because they make your insides feel nice.

25. “NASA” - Ariana Grande— I want to put the entire album on here but I know that’s not realistic? Ariana fed her fans with two amazing back to back albums and for that we are thankFULL.

26. “Next Level Charli” - Charli XCX — another Charli track. This album opener reminded me of Pop 2 and needs to be celebrated.

27. “Norman fucking Rockwell” - Lana Del Rey — I couldn’t pick one! Opening line: God Damn, man child. You f*cked me so good I almost said ‘I love you.’ LOL. Lana ... lyricism!!!

28. “Now I’m In It” - HAIM — They’re back! The sisters we love and adore! I did indeed share an elevator with Alana Haim at the Ace hotel in DTLA and nobody believes me! This music video made me cry cry cry cry CRY! I am the fourth Haim sister! Fight me!

29. “Party For One” - Carly Rae Jepson — Another track off of Dedicated that is so very CRJ at it’s core. It follows the formula and I love.

30. “Pink & Blue” - Tycho, Saint Sinner — I accidentally smoked too much weed at their show at the Greek and thought I *was* Tycho. What a fun album and fun collaboration.

31. “Quiet Light” - The National — ! So sad! I love sad! Great album.

32. “Redesigning Women” - The Highwomen — I had to throw a song from their debut album on here. These women are the future.

33. “Ronin” - Sturgill Simpson —Sturgill’s new rock ballad album (can I call it that?) is incredible. “Ronin” opens the album up and makes me want to flip a car with my bare hands.

34. “Say It” - Maggie Rogers— Ok. Maggie! Maggie dearest Rogers. Heard It In a Past Life made waves this year. “Say It” is my favorite track off the album. It’s like watching a best friend (absolutely do not know Maggie) or sister succeed?

35. “Softly” - Clairo — A Rostam production. Feel good internet girl vibe music.

36. “Something to Hope For” - Craig Finn — Really meaningful, powerful song. A definite favorite this fall.

37. “Stay High” - Brittany Howard — I have a crush on Brittany Howard.

38. “Tempo” - Lizzo ft. Missy Elliot — Absolute favorite track off of Lizzo’s latest. Seeing Lizzo live is ... Church! Run, sprint, sell your belongings to see her live.

39. “Tied Up” - Moon Boots — Unbelievably fun track.

40. “Time To Get Over It” - Anna of the North — “

” —> me when Anna opens her mouth!

41. “True Blue” - Mark Ronson feat. Angel Olsen — Late Night Feelings is such an amazing album with a ton of talented contributions. Obviously I am drawn to the Angel track but King Princess, Lykke, Miley all make gorgeous appearances.

42. “Walking on a String” - Matt Berninger, Phoebe Bridgers — The National + Phoebe… ok! We will take it.

43. “Watermelon Sugar” - Harry Styles — I have finally come around to realizing and admitting that Harry Styles is a babe and he’s also my new boyfriend!

44. “Who I Am” - Toro y Moi — This year I also FINALLY came around to a Toro y Moi obsession and I’m actually devastated that it took this long. Outer Peace is amaze.

45. “Without A Blush” - Hatchie - listen to this song and tell me it shouldn’t be on my list.