Rocking Away the School Year: May Music Suggestions
Missing the beach? Crying over final exams? Don’t worry; we’re in the same boat. Try to ease your conscience with these songs as summer is just around the corner.
- “Lonesome LA Cowboy” by New Riders of the Purple Sage – New Riders of the Purple Sage borders on country music, a genre which I am not a fan of, yet they make it work as their style is a softer blues style. “Lonesome LA Cowboy” makes a satire of the shiny surface of the LA scene, making it one of my favorite songs.
- “Novacane” by Frank Ocean – I have heard a lot of hype about Frank Ocean and wanted to see if it was true. It was. “Novacane” is smooth and silky, which is ironically contrasted with its lyrics about the hardships of making it through life.
- “Views” by Drake – Drake has just been releasing a tsunami of new music these past few years and his most recent new album, “Views”, is spectacular. The album has a “Life of Pablo” vibe where Drake features other types of music and artists from non-hip hop genres on his tracks. “Views” is innovative with its multi-faceted music types while retaining Drake’s original style. The title track was actually dedicated to a cancer patient, Megan Flores, making it even more special.
- “Bob” by NOFX – Probably the most memorable old school punk rock band, NOFX has been around for ages. Prepare to get your anger out by headbanging to “Bob”’s harsh drum beat and messy lyrics. If you feel like starting your own mosh pit, NOFX is the way to go.
- “Bam Bam” by Sister Nancy – Plot twist, I found this gem featured in Kanye’s new song “Famous” and I am glad I did. Sister Nancy, an iconic figure who was one of the first women on the Jamaican music scene, uses Jamaican instruments in a upbeat pop type of beat for this hit song. All the lyrics are in Jamaican Patois so I have no idea what she is saying, but it is still a beautiful song.
- “***Flawless” by Beyoncé – Sadly, “Lemonade” is not yet available on Spotify, but we can always enjoy Beyoncé’s artistic genius with “***Flawless,” a masterpiece dedicated to feminism and loving yourself. If you like “***Flawless,” check out its remix with rap legend Nicki Minaj, who’s guaranteed to drop a bomb-ass verse.
- “Dark Necessities” by Red Hot Chili Peppers – This brand-new Chili Peppers song has no California references, but it’s nice to see the band change it up. The bassline in this song is absolutely killer, and though the Red Hot Chili Peppers introduced a new style to their discography, “Dark Necessities” still has that bouncy alternative rock vibe unique to the band’s style.
- “Bored to Death” by Blink-182 – Though Blink-182 basically consists of San Diego dads now, “Bored to Death” is a fresh take on the band’s appeal to “young” audiences. Blink-182 recently hit a rough patch with losing its iconic drummer Tom DeLonge, and the song is highly reflective of that loss. Not that the drumming is bad (thanks Matt Skiba!), but the song’s meaning envelopes the nostalgic glory days of “crappy punk rock.”
- “Formation” by Beyoncé – May is the month to keep on drinking lemonade. Beyoncé’s feminist anthems are worth mentioning more than once, because they are all the more relevant. Beyoncé embodies the #blacklivesmatter and modern feminist movements, simply because she has the starpower to do so. “Formation” debuted as controversial and impactful, which makes it an even more meaningful and legendary song to listen to.
- “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz – Despite the rather dark songs on this playlist, “I Won’t Give Up” is a sweet song to share with any lover, friend, or family member.
