I’ve had a long, busy week. So I present my most-listened songs from 2021, with commentary, sometimes.
- Cuando Suba La Marea (Acoustic) by Amaral
- This song played during a sad scene in Money Heist. It now conjures up so many feelings.
- Another Sunny Day by Belle and Sebastian
- It sounds peppy, but the lyrics are actually so sad. It’s also from the Money Heist soundtrack.
- Broken Coastline by Down Like Silver
- This one sounds sad and is sad. It’s also from the Money Heist soundtrack.
- Pongamos Que Hablo De Madrid by Joaquín Sabina
- I felt like the coolest person ever listening to Joaquín Sabina as I walked the streets of Córdoba in the spring.
- Days Like This by Van Morrison
- A classic, brought to me by the Money Heist soundtrack.
- Zeugaz by Patagonia Revelde and Ingot
- My celebrity crush, Itziar Ituño slash Raquel from Money Heist, is the singer for the Basque band Ingot. I love this song because she sings part of it and it’s in Spanish, so I can actually understand it.
- Delicate by Damien Race
- I can’t believe I’m saying this again, but yes, it’s from the Money Heist soundtrack.
- Drivers License by Olivia Rodrigo
- Hate all you want, but this song is a banger. I want to start singing it every time I hear the beep-beep-beep of an open car door.
- Janice at the Hotel Bar by Hailey Whitters
- This song feels so comfortable. “Stay off the pills / but get on the pill if you ain’t ready to start a family / and pay all your bills / but give some away; all that money won’t make you happy.” It’s co-written by my favorite songwriter, Lori McKenna. Here’s me with Hailey Whitters after she opened for Lori McKenna in 2019, just for funsies:
- This song feels so comfortable. “Stay off the pills / but get on the pill if you ain’t ready to start a family / and pay all your bills / but give some away; all that money won’t make you happy.” It’s co-written by my favorite songwriter, Lori McKenna. Here’s me with Hailey Whitters after she opened for Lori McKenna in 2019, just for funsies:
- Your Next Lover by Lori McKenna
- A classic. I always chuckle at “you think she’s about five foot three / that makes her taller than me.”
- Nothing On You by Sean McConnell and Lori McKenna
- The harmonies! Ugh. Sean McConnell grew up a couple towns over from me.
- More Hearts Than Mine
- This song should’ve won a Grammy.
- The Balladeer by Lori McKenna
- Just go listen. No excuses. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EvGDTHizfY
- Witness to Your Life by Lori McKenna
- Another classic.
- Miami 2017 (I’ve Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
- Released in 1976. Still fantastic. Thanks, Billy Joel.
- Un Beso y Nada Más by Despistaos
- A cute Spanish song from my language immersion days in the spring.
- Bill Murray by Izal
- I discovered this one in a Spanish romance novel. The vibe changes completely halfway through. I love both sides.
- Till You’re Grown by Lori McKenna
- I heard this one at a concert before she released it. The album version didn’t disappoint.
- Bill Murray by Matt Nathanson
- It has nothing to do with the Izal one.
- Good Red Wine by Stephen Kellogg
- Came for the Lori McKenna harmonies, stayed for the incredible shift halfway through.
- Betty by Taylor Swift
- By far the best album on Folklore or Evermore.
- American Scandal by Ashley McBryde
- Starts slow, but believe me, it turns into a jam. Just ask anyone on the crew team.
- Fat Kid by Austin Jenckes
- Came for the Lori McKenna harmonies, played it on my Ecuadorian radio show during my gap year, stayed for nostalgia.
- Drunk Girls in Bathrooms by Caroline Watkins
- “Wouldn’t the world be nice if we were all more like drunk girls in bathrooms?” I don’t know. Probably not. But the thought is nice.
- All Your Favorite Bands by Dawes
- This has been one of my favorites since 2017. It’s so sweet.
- Speed Trap Town by Jason Isbell
- I first heard this one on an episode of This American Life (629: Expect Delays). There’s a second of steel guitar that makes me swoon every time.
- Party of One by Brandi Carlile
- Brandi is great.
- All It Takes by Lori McKenna
- The whole song is a list, and it all comes together at the end. It’s got a great beat. It’s so good.
- Lorraine by Lori McKenna
- One of her best.
- I Took a Pill in Ibiza by Mike Posner
- I taught myself the intro, and now it’s one of my favorite songs to play on guitar.
I think we all need a good meme in our lives. Here’s my current favorite.