playlist

2008- 

Most people call it a throwback, while I call it a Wednesday. American Boy has this sweet little charm brought to you by Estelle, Kanye, and the mind of Black Eyed Pea’s Will.I.Am. Think about that opening’s energy pushing and pulling like elastic just waiting to be released. Then you’re met with this biting melodic entry coming from Kanye West. This song is such a fun role-play about a flirtatious yet seductive relationship between two people from different countries (US & UK) as if this difference adds a layer of curiosity that draws them together. What I like about this song is that it puts the women’s perspective on centerstage while Kanye takes a seat back. In many early 2000′s- 2010’s love songs, this was rarely the case. The R&B/Hip hop formula often called for over-sexualized verses by men while the woman’s input (also credited by men) arrived at the chorus. I’m not turning my back on love songs that followed that collaboration formula because everyone has access to those emotions, but Estelle was seductive while being classy as fuck! For example, this song is all about foreplay! When a female perspective is illuminated in her control, it gives us women power. It gives us an anthem!

This track originated in the studio when a comment from John Legend landed, “Why don’t you write a song about an American boy?” Estelles resonation with her London-born self taking on New York City led her to write these lyrics. This song won a grammy for best Rap/Sung collaboration in 2008. I remember being young and dancing to this funky, disco, dance beat, and I think it has aged very well. It’s danceable AND singable because there’s so many interesting cadences that are happening within the spaces of their words which gives it so much chemistry. It combines so many things I enjoy in music: synths, keys, drums, back up vocals OOOWEEE! This is a staple of mine because it’s a playful pick-me-up. I felt it was warranted after the heavy thesis’s I wanted to establish in the beginning of this playlist. This is just a great argument that escapism is important in surviving and this song was designed from and for creative expression.

Here is the timely music video:

2013-

When talking about a song that takes you back in time, I think about Glowing. It was produced in 2013, but to me, his voice glows as well like a combination of John Lennon, Elton John, Billy Joel, and The Carpenters. Coincidentally, he has an album titled Time Machine (2015) that came out two years later. Only traditional instruments are used and they are utilized very well- a grand piano, an orchestra, a bass, and himself. Wallach’s nostalgic vocal talent completes this track while some really smart decision-making came into play. Its build up to include a mono-track, then he doubles the same tones, and then a harmonic symphony of himself. His lyricism continues the first blatant introduction to the theme “Love And The Apocalypse” which is a dramatic holding of universal suffering and belonging. This is a theme that bleeds. It will appear in my 100 multiple times. Frankly, the song speaks louder than I could.

This song became in arms reach when I saw the music video premiere. It was directed by Wolf Haley, an alias for Tyler, The Creator. His manager played it for him and it led to this film. Just like in the song, the video nurtures imagery of natural disaster, war, and protests as two beautiful people age. By Tyler’s nature, the colors are astounding. I think the video leans into his dark underbelly of escapism and the privilege of safety, while the song is more simply a rescue of a darker world through love. See for yourself!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoMvhEBj2GU

I absolutely think this artist is underrated. His album Time Machine is absolutely beautiful. If you like this song, I highly recommend checking it out because it is deserves more play. Here are some highlights of the album:

1. Every Time You Walk Away

2. Long Way Down 

2009-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjecYugTbIQ

There are some songs in this life that reappear when you least expect them to, a song you need to hear at that moment right there and then, knowing it could just complete an idea that you were thinking––or a feeling you were knowing. Two Weeks by Grizzly Bear represents the idea of synchronicity-meaningful coincidences- to me. It is a kinetic landmark that was built on the foundation of a pounding piano. The way these staccato chords jump through you to send a minty chill through your skin, as its paired with an underlining leapfrog melody assigns two tasks that are produced for creative interpretation. The point is, it makes you move. The harmonious echo of “oh”s and toy-like drums proposes acceptance and gathering into the atmosphere. It feels like light. You have these trippy synths that convey speed, but as you travel through time it’s all very clear. It terminates fear by walking through it blind. A common theme in my life, that might as well be its thesis, is the relationship between aesthetic facades and unstable armatures. Two Weeks is about a loving relationship coming to a close. When things end, you’re left with questions. When you sing these, the temporary answer is to ask them.

Let’s take a look at the lyrics

BUT

a * * * is in place for “oh oh ohhhh”

I want this to be read as a poem, so this is to visualize a sound rather than to read it as words.

* * * * * *

Save up all the days

A routine malaise

Just like yesterday

I told you I would stay

* * *

Would you always?

Maybe sometimes?

Make it easy?

Take your time

* * *

Think of all the ways

Momentary phase

Just like yesterday

I told you I would stay

Every time you try

Quarter half a mile

Just like yesterday

I told you I would stay

* * *

Would you always?

Maybe sometimes?

Make it easy?

Take your time

Would you always?

Maybe sometimes?

Make it easy?

Take your time

Always

Sometimes

Easy

Time

* * *

* * *

It is poetry. It has the perfect amount of vagueness, but when you have such gorgeous music happening in the background, you are factoring in sounds into the interpretation of its lyrics. Most of the lyrics repeat, but they have weight. They have a plea. The lyrics are open-ended. The music is certain.

P.S I almost forgot-but I believe I have a strong association with How I Met Your Mother with this song in the perfect ‘when one door closes another one opens’ scenario.

P.S.S The chick from Beach House, Victoria Legrand, is a feature on the “oh”’s

P.S.S.S Do not talk to me about rap covers of this song they don’t do it justice lmao

1967-

It’s one thing to hear the unifying voices of The Beatles in the early 60’s and wanting to feel the need to join in on the ultra-recognizable lyrics that echoed throughout your childhood, but to hear the psychedelic rock period of the Beatles is transcendental. It doesn’t sound like the same fuzzy voices and four chords we were so familiar with before. They might be the most accomplished and popularized band in the world by redefining rock along this vast spectrum of tenderness to rigidness. Comprehending that is like riding a roller coaster. Experiencing a song like A Day In The Life for the first time is a parallel to the comprehension of the Beatles as a whole. it requires you to take a journey within that journey. Unlike most Beatles songs, you have to find this one. It won’t find you. For example, Hey Jude will chase you from the band at a wedding, a song in a movie, a karaoke machine, or perhaps a radio, but you will not run into A Day In The Life unless someone around you has found it too. It’s different.

For the rest of my life, I can make a case for A Day In The Life to be the best Beatles song because it captures the identity of so many different ambiances and narratives that it doesn’t fall into any known category. It’s peculiar, yet genius. It is an un-replicable artifact. It contradicts itself in an infinite loop.

Having the most entropy, it feels like the song is so damaged yet it’s not out of place. It feels angelic, nostalgic, then chaotic, and then ditsy, and then dreamlike. I just remember hearing that for the first time and thinking, wow I want to feel this emotion. I want to bring myself to feel this emotion. It is called A Day In The Life but it has decades of time embedded in its instrumentation. 

Once you’ve got the rhythm, the song throws you off again, and you’re left with the unpredictable. The Beatles were capable of that, and they performed synchronously. The screeching orchestra creates rising action, and the resolution is shared with its climax. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thats art. It disguises format. I see a different visual upon each listen, but I never see myself. I don’t think this song is for me to relate to- which is why it’s so odd. I think it’s just your rowdy yet wholesome uncles Lennon and McCartney telling you about their fucking day. It’s that simple yet it’s THAT complicated. Notes: 

- This song ends one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band” that should say a lot

10 Facts About A Day In The Life

Takes: 

A Day In The Life (Take 1 With Hums) A Day In The Life (Take 2)

A Compilation of 100 Favorite Songs By Rayna Hugo

These songs are either hits for a reason, or they hit for a reason:

As a compilation of Rayna’s top 100, the music within this playlist are pieces of art that accomplish different successes amongst 

complex lyricism/ poetry

harmonic and supporting vocals

danceable drama

Add theatrics (landing on the spectrum of making a place more beautiful or transporting you somewhere that actually is) 

Each piece has re-listenability, meaning over the time spent after my discovery of them, I have watched myself share these experiences with those that have inspired me to my core. Because of this fact, many songs will appear familiar in relation to how long I have known you, how much time I spent with you, and the consideration that some tunes might not even exist in this playlist if it weren’t for our paths crossing. On the other end, some songs are uniquely mine and CLAIMED. My criteria for a song’s inclusion answered “no” to the questions: 1.) Does anybody love this song more than me? (no)

2.) Will the people I share this with disagree of its greatness even if someone argues yes for question one? (no)

Thus, constructed this idea of 100. Often the top 100 implies a quantitative popularity, but this is not the case here. If these were the only songs I were limited to experience for the rest of my life, there are many versions and subdivisions of this collection that could establish a common thread of construction, genre, and themes, while maintaining individual integrity. In other words, I could learn from them infinitely. The process of this was quite difficult! It required me to strip down sonic aesthetics to origin stories- maybe I like this song because I loved this song. Which is better? A new age development or a song before that mastered it better? Truthfully, the underrepresentation of more contemporary influences contribute to a legacy i haven’t made my mind up on yet. My music taste isn’t limited to this playlist of course. You will notice that in other playlists I have made. If I had considered the people who might view this playlist, maybe It would be different, but i believe this playlist performs objectively as “very Rayna”. It was important for me to have songs that did not just sound good, but were great. The songs needed to be life-changing rather than just enjoyable or easy to listen to.

Why this song after that song? :

The order of these songs is INTENTIONAL. I will elaborate on this in a separate note that will suggest trivia, notable moments, honorable mentions, and reason for inclusion for EACH song as an extra resource if any of the songs puzzle or intrigue you.

A note for my friends and family: