You know the drill, friends. Que lo Kayslee here, bringing you a bundle of new or new-to-me songs, perfect for snow days and cold nights.
“Here Comes a Thought” from Steven Universe
This song was recommended to me by a good friend (one of my biggest sources for new music) for its ability to ease anxiety. The soft drum line is paired with some keyboard, harp, and xylophone with a hint of guitar, altogether very relaxing. The two female voices harmonize so beautifully over the top of the backing track, making this a delight to listen to. Favorite lyrics: “Take a moment to think of just flexibility love and trust.”
“Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet
On the other side of the spectrum, this is a classic rock style song with guitar, drums, and a hint of tambourine. The male lead vocals combine with the catchy “bah, bah, bah, bahbah bahbahbah” for a very playful feel. I also enjoyed that the singer mentions “long brown hair” on the object of his affection as opposed to the more common blonde hair. Brunettes for the win ; )
“Pretty Brown Eyes” by Cody Simpson
“Go to sleep, wake up, pretty with no makeup.” This is another song that represents a less common ideal of beauty, as the title would suggest. Although I don’t 100% approve of the lyrics, it’s still an adorable song about a boy who falls in love at first sight and has to work up the nerve to approach a pretty girl. *squeals*
“Grace” by Lewis Capaldi
Another contrast here, Lewis Capaldi brings a much more mature sound with “Grace.” I discovered this song when I was looking for a sound to use on TikTok (yeah, I know, so stereotypical XD), and was instantly intrigued. The style shares some common “pop ballad” characteristics, but the progressive intervals of the chorus set this song apart. I also have an inkling that there my be a Fandom Nugget hiding in here somewhere, so stay tuned on that. Favorite lyrics: “I was only just a breath removed from going to waste ‘Til I found salvation in the form of your grace.”
“Atlas” by Coldplay (from Catching Fire OST)
I had the privilege to stay in my room for almost three days straight this week, which gave me the perfect opportunity to have a Hunger Games movie marathon. This song shows up at the end of Catching Fire, and it was a big mood this week. Coldplay’s style is so distinctive, you can immediately tell that this is one of their songs. I enjoy the subtle references to Katniss, but the song also does well on its own, with the sweeping vocals and interesting combination of guitar and electronic xylophone (or maybe chimes? Not sure).
“The Valley Song” by Maiah Wynne
This song was written by Suzanne Collins for the new Hunger Games novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Maiah Wynne’s voice and melody bring it to life so beautifully in my opinion. Her voice has just the right amount of breathiness to match the acoustic style of the song, and the emotion is evident in the dynamic changes throughout. Favorite lyrics: “Roses are red, violets are blue, Birds in the heavens know I love you.”
“To The Sky” by Owl City
To wrap up this week’s mixtape, we have the effervescent “To the Sky” from Owl City. This song was featured in the Legend of the Guardians soundtrack, but it blends perfectly with the rest of Adam Young’s music. The lyrics build a magical landscape of forest and flight, inviting us to soar into the sky, call out to the stars, race the wind, and chase our dreams. This comes to life against a backdrop of electronic keyboard, acoustic guitar, and Adam Young’s incomparable vocals, complete with a characteristic “dahdah, dahdah, dahdah dah dah dahdahdahdah.” So beautiful! Here’s an entire post expounding upon the lyrics of “To the Sky”
Hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s new hits. Stay warm as the world begins to get colder :0
Happy Saturday!
