{"id":25363,"date":"2020-12-29T16:37:55","date_gmt":"2020-12-29T21:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/?p=25363"},"modified":"2020-12-29T20:05:21","modified_gmt":"2020-12-30T01:05:21","slug":"christian-jaeger-the-music-of-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/2020\/12\/29\/christian-jaeger-the-music-of-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Jaeger: The Music of 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>By Christian Jaeger<\/em><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>2020 was a ridiculous year. And ridiculous years call for especially good soundtracks. Here are this year\u2019s most iconic and influential artists sharing their sounds and recent creations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Jorja Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jorja Smith - Rose Rouge\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lH6RyVirWcg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>If someone were to ask what musical gold should sound like, they could easily find Jorja Smith\u2019s \u201cRose Rouge\u201d as an answer to that question. Smith released her 2020 cover of French-musician St Germain\u2019s \u201cRose Rouge\u201d as a sleek, jazzy form of social commentary regarding this year\u2019s protests and global racism. Smith has captivated the world for years <\/span><span>\u2014 and she\u2019s only 23 \u2014 with her powerhouse voice, classic style, and cultural relevance; this year means no different.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Grimes<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Grimes &amp; i_o - Violence (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/M9SGYBHY0qs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>It\u2019s eerie how close the release of Grimes\u2019 latest album <\/span><span>\u2014<\/span><span> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/1ZKbjlrUC5REoa13uSH5KL?si=DFBDeGJvQT-tFanLHSXHRw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Miss Anthropocene<\/span><\/a><span> (2020)<\/span><span> <\/span><span>\u2014 was to the surprises that would await only weeks later. We knew Claire Boucher was fascinated with aliens, AI, anime, and other futuristic fields; she just had a child with tech-billionaire Elon Musk. But, we didn\u2019t know how relevant and real <\/span><span>Miss Anthropocene<\/span><span> would be, depicting the fantastical that might not be so fantastical after all. Boucher is incredible at world-building, and it seems she\u2019s finally achieving total, worldwide recognition for her art.<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cSo Heavy I Fell Through the Earth (Art Mix)\u201d is about her pregnancy with Musk \u2014 a topic of seemingly everyone\u2019s conversation sometime throughout the year; \u201cDelete Forever\u201d powerfully and personally addresses drug addiction, including her own; \u201cViolence\u201d is one of the best musical treasures of the year \u2014 of many years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>The Weeknd<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Weeknd - Blinding Lights (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4NRXx6U8ABQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>He\u2019s done it again: Abel Tesfaye, known internationally as The Weeknd, added a gritty, melancholy mood to the already wild world when he released <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/theweeknd.co\/afterhoursWe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>After Hours<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) in March. The Weeknd created more dance anthems with \u201cBlinding Lights\u201d and \u201cIn Your Eyes,\u201d while \u201cAfter Hours,\u201d the album\u2019s title track, returned to his oldest sounds \u2014 haunting and hot. Tesfaye also re-released \u201cKing of the Fall\u201d this year, a single he released to streaming services in 2014 to promote his <\/span><span>King of the Fall Tour<\/span><span> (2014). The Weeknd is one of the many performers who had to cancel a world tour \u2014 <\/span><span>The After Hours Tour<\/span><span> (2020) \u2014 because of the Coronavirus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Billie Eilish<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Billie Eilish - my future\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Dm9Zf1WYQ_A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>She\u2019s done it again: Billie Eilish pleasantly surprised the world with \u201cmy future,\u201d an ode to herself; given the global success of the song, it\u2019s fair to say that it\u2019ll go down as a defining, unifying track for the modern generation. Other groovy hits she released this year include \u201cTherefore I Am\u201d and \u201cNo Time To Die,\u201d the latter to be used as the title track for the upcoming James Bond film.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Childish Gambino<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Childish Gambino - Time (Audio) ft. Ariana Grande\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5D8m_uBu9mk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Childish Gambino introduced <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/smarturl.it\/3152020CG4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>3.15.20<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) to the world in March, only days before the United States and the world would go under \u201clockdown.\u201d The swagger that illuminates from Donald Glover\u2019s latest work is brilliant and apparent. He collaborates with Ariana Grande on the groovy and touching \u201cTime\u201d and with 21 Savage, Ink, and Kadhja Bonet on the psychedelic \u201c12.38.\u201d His solo songs are equally delightful, and the album is a work of true artistic production.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Dua Lipa<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dua Lipa - Levitating (feat. Madonna and Missy Elliott) [The Blessed Madonna Remix] (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/E3tCHMagPOY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>It didn\u2019t take <\/span><span>too<\/span><span> long for Dua Lipa to gain international fame and prove she\u2019s a generational icon, and if you\u2019re new onboard the Dua train, welcome \u2014 it\u2019s a fun ride. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/5SWCH8JoA3iIsDGQxKEJ2Q?si=-vQOeB6BTDS01Vufiwwqfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Future Nostalgia<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) is pure fun fuel: \u201cDon\u2019t Start Now,\u201d \u201cPhysical,\u201d \u201cHallucinate,\u201d \u201cLove Again,\u201d \u201cBreak My Heart,\u201d and \u201cGood in Bed\u201d are sure to be blasting in bars and clubs once the COVID-19 plague is over.<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Just as the world was getting to know the hits on <\/span><span>Future Nostalgia<\/span><span>, Dua Lipa and The Blessed Madonna \u2014 an American DJ, producer, and musician \u2014 released <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/3W04W2HfQ5kVeByxfjbu2C?si=gK8xO0coR8imJ5Yxf4kSbw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Club Future Nostalgia (DJ Mix)<\/span><\/a><span> (2020). The record is a remix edition with a wonderful array of samples and collaborators: Jamiroquai, Yaeji, BLACKPINK, Zach Witness, and many more. Missy Elliott and Madonna assist on \u201cLevitating (The Blessed Madonna Remix)\u201d and Gwen Stefani and Mark Ronson add to \u201cPhysical (Mark Ronson Remix),\u201d producing the grooviest songs on the album.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Gorillaz<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Gorillaz - Strange Timez ft. Robert Smith (Episode Six)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bbA5p54Rw2M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Music mastermind Damon Albarn presents multiple musical perspectives and interpretations of this historical year on Gorillaz\u2019 album <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gorillaz.lnk.to\/SongMachine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez<\/span><\/a><span> (2020). His project features a star-studded cast: Robert Smith, Beck, Leee John, ScHoolboy Q, St. Vincent, Elton John, 6LACK, Peter Hook, EARTHGANG, Goldlink, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and more. It certainly does depict the \u201cStrange Timez,\u201d as suggested by the title track.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Phoebe Bridgers<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Phoebe Bridgers - Kyoto (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Tw0zYd0eIlk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Proving to be one of the most sincere songwriters of recent years, Phoebe Bridgers can make you tear up and then smile again only moments later. Her pop-folk, alternative album <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/2xECuqnvvmVktV7UO8Dd3s?si=yENth74fTsGaK-H7hGLO0w\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Punisher<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) is forty minutes of pure emotion. \u201cKyoto\u201d is the hardest and fastest song on the record, while \u201cPunisher,\u201d \u201cHalloween,\u201d \u201cMoon Song,\u201d \u201cSavior Complex,\u201d \u201cGraceland Too,\u201d and nearly all the rest are wonderful pieces of popular, modern folk. Perhaps the most memorable \u201cGarden Song\u201d is dreamy like a fairytale and depicts manifesting things we want and getting those wants in completely different ways than expected.<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Bridgers recently released her heartfelt EP <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/7xoBevaHIAcXvYiLdqhQMC?si=Txo9v4L5SfOoxjgyj04ATQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>If We Make It Through December<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) <\/span><span>\u2014 a compilation of Christmas covers. She so brilliantly curates the EP to fit the confusing, melancholy mood of 2020, and she does so given her source material of choice: Christmas carols. Fiona Apple and Matt Berninger join her on the eerie \u201c7 O\u2019Clock News \/ Silent Night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Mac Miller<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mac Miller - Good News [Official Music Video]\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aIHF7u9Wwiw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>This next one surprised us all: Mac Miller\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wr.lnk.to\/circles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Circles<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) \u2014 released more than a year after the artist\u2019s unexpected death \u2014 was introduced to the world in January. Jon Brion, who collaborated with the artist, put the final production touches on <\/span><span>Circles<\/span><span> before releasing it to the world. We may find it some of Mac\u2019s most personal work, and, unless or until more surprise work is released from the vault, we may find it\u2019s the last time we hear from Malcolm James McCormick.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Kali Uchis<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sin Miedo Trailer \u2013 la luna enamorada\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/49qnOZNuUmo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Whether she\u2019s crooning with her full, deep voice or using her unique falsetto, Kali Uchis sounds like the most seductive angel to ever exist. The Colombian-American artist has not been shy in 2020: she unleashed her EP <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/2qn5Z50z9x2qAIyWV5lt9E?si=bp8uINBVQj6LLuPUlCoLEw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>TO FEEL ALIVE<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) in April and recently released her album <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/smarturl.it\/KaliUchisSinMiedo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Sin Mie<\/span><span>do (del Amor y Otros Demonios) \u221e<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) in November. Both deserve to be listened to in full, cover-to-cover; it\u2019s hard to decide what\u2019s more impressive: her songwriting or her sound.<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The title track off of <\/span><span>TO FEEL ALIVE<\/span><span> addresses many of her then-current emotions: sensuality, sass, sadness, loneliness, and longing. From <\/span><span>Sin Mie<\/span><span>do (del Amor y Otros Demonios) \u221e<\/span><span>, Uchis gives a rich range, open to close <\/span><span>\u2014<\/span><span> from the enchanting \u201cla luna enamorada\u201d to the trippy \u201c\u00e1ngel sin cielo.\u201d Good luck getting the melodies of \u201cfue mejor\u201d and \u201ctelepat\u00eda\u201d out of your head.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Tame Impala<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tame Impala - Breathe Deeper\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UTwlmgV3pEI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Kevin Parker is one of the hottest acts out there, so the release of his latest album <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/smarturl.it\/TheSlowRush\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>The Slow Rush<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) has been highly anticipated. Good thing Tame Impala\u2019s next project pleased many of those who were patiently awaiting. The album is psychedelic paradise in its entirety, with many notable tracks including \u201cOne More Year,\u201d \u201cBorderline,\u201d and \u201cBreathe Deeper.\u201d Parker is yet another artist who had to cancel his 2020 world tour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Sofi Tukker<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SOFI TUKKER &amp; Gorgon City - House Arrest (Official Video) [Ultra Music]\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kFeZdHBKFhI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cSofi Tukker! Oh, I love her,\u201d said too many people ever. Sofi Tukker is the best-friend, DJ duo <\/span><span>\u2014 Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern \u2014 <\/span><span>who can go hard as hell with their electric EDM, cool down with their latinx-inspired house rhythms, and ascend into the sounds of angels as Sophie sings in Portuguese. They created perhaps the most fun song of the year <\/span><span>\u2014 <\/span><span>\u201cHouse Arrest\u201d <\/span><span>\u2014<\/span><span> directly inspired by the strange new times; the track features electronic duo Gorgon City. It\u2019s a defining song of this era, and it\u2019s pure dance heaven.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Kid Cudi<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kid Cudi - Mr. Solo Dolo III (Official Visualizer)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8kUNIXRY9io?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Scott Mescudi \u2014 known globally as \u201cKid Cudi\u201d \u2014 pleased fans with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kidcudi.lnk.to\/motm3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Man on the Moon III: The Chosen<\/span><\/a><span> (2020), the the third chapter to his <\/span><span>Man on the Moon<\/span><span> series. One of the most respected rappers in the industry and a genre-bending artist, Mescudi continues his story of self-discovery on the record. \u201cMr. Solo Dolo III\u201d is the moody and honest third edition of his beloved \u201cSolo Dolo\u201d tracks, describing his mental health journey. \u201cElsie\u2019s Baby Boy (flashback)\u201d has a gorgeous range of instrumentals and depicts his relationship with his mother. On \u201cLovin\u2019 Me,\u201d Mescudi and Phoebe Bridgers collaborate, addressing their \u201chell that lives inside.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>The Strokes<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Strokes - The Adults Are Talking (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ewOPQZZn4SY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The Strokes pleased the ears of rock fans with their release of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/smarturl.it\/TheNewAbnormal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>The New Abnormal<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) this year. Frontman Julian Casablancas and the band formed an album full of hits: \u201cThe Adults Are Talking,\u201d \u201cSelfless,\u201d \u201cBad Decisions,\u201d \u201cEternal Summer,\u201d and \u201cWhy Are Sundays So Depressing.\u201d The New York band references their home \u2014 New York City \u2014 plenty on the album, with \u201cBrooklyn Bridge to Chorus\u201d and \u201cOde to the Mets,\u201d but they also capture the sounds of the West; famed producer Rick Rubin assists, putting some California touches on <\/span><span>The New Abnormal<\/span><span> at his Malibu recording studio, Shangri-La.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Chloe x Halle<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Chloe x Halle - Forgive Me (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Bc9Y58TeZk0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Meet Chloe and Halle Bailey, the sister <\/span><span>duo known as Chloe x Halle. Their album <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/chloexhalle.lnk.to\/UngodlyHour\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Ungodly Hour<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) is R&amp;B bliss, and it\u2019ll surely get you grooving. Here, their sound and story are personal enough to appreciate alone, but their bass-heavy rhythm is loud enough to enjoy with company, especially on the dancefloor. \u201cForgive Me,\u201d \u201cDo It,\u201d \u201cUngodly Hour,\u201d \u201cCatch Up,\u201d and \u201cLonely,\u201d naming just a few, are songs our generation will be playing for years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Phantogram<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Phantogram - Dear God (Audio)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VTp8WQiGz08?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>You can feel the pain that went into \u201cCeremony,\u201d Phantogram\u2019s title track off their latest album; <\/span><span>it starts soft and beautifully minor before spiraling into something much more harsh, chaotic, and destructive<\/span><span>. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phantogram.lnk.to\/CeremonyYD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Ceremony<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) shows it\u2019s creators <\/span><span>\u2014 Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter \u2014 getting even louder and harder than we\u2019ve seen or heard from them before. And that\u2019s saying a lot, given their diverse collection, including a collaborative album with Big Boi (of Outkast) under the pseudonym \u201cBig Grams.\u201d<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The material is heavily inspired by Barthel\u2019s sister\u2019s suicide, and that\u2019s present and clear on <\/span><span>Ceremony<\/span><span>; the album title says it all. Though the prime source material is dark and devastating, Phantogram still somehow finds a way to keep us dancing. A certain swagger that Phantogram\u2019s so brilliant at achieving shines from \u201cDear God\u201d and \u201cLove Me Now,\u201d but the coolest sounds arguably come from \u201cMister Impossible\u201d \u2014 the darkest dance track off the album.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Victoria Mon\u00e9t\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Victoria Mon\u00e9t - Jaguar (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/unniQzo65W8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Victoria Mon\u00e9t McCants <\/span><span>\u2014 better known as Victoria <\/span><span>Mon\u00e9t <\/span><span>\u2014 delivered some of the year\u2019s most sleek sounds on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/platoon.lnk.to\/jaguar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>JAGUAR<\/span><\/a><span> (2020). The album\u2019s title track is fierce fun by a fierce female: she collaborated with a range of musicians to create the \u201cmagic\u201d that is \u201cJaguar,\u201d she describes. \u201cMy music is a form of protest,\u201d she tells the <\/span><span>Associated Press<\/span><span>, when asked about racial discrimination inside and outside of the industry.<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The album is loaded with hits we\u2019ll be singing and dancing to for years: \u201cMoment,\u201d \u201cExperience,\u201d \u201cAss Like That,\u201d \u201cTouch Me,\u201d and of course, \u201cJaguar.\u201d It\u2019s hard to imagine the record becoming any more smooth or sexy; it\u2019s an album about approval, pride, and love \u2014 but, coming first and foremost from ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Little Dragon<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Little Dragon - &#039;Where You Belong&#039; (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lB_VTqaPC08?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>If you haven\u2019t yet heard of Little Dragon, welcome, though you\u2019ve probably heard plenty of their music; their past collaborators include Mac Miller, Gorillaz, KAYTRANADA, Tinashe, and Flume, to name a few. The Swedish group has created a diverse blend of dance tracks and experimental, electronic sounds. This year\u2019s release of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/littledragon.lnk.to\/new-meAP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>New Me, Same Us<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) is no different. The album opens with the immediately groovy \u201cHold On\u201d and doesn\u2019t stop grooving until the record\u2019s end. Here, Little Dragon does what they do best: create chill, funky tracks <\/span><span>\u2014 like \u201cAnother Lover,\u201d \u201cEvery Rain,\u201d and \u201cWhere You Belong\u201d \u2014 that are just about as fun to consume alone as they are with company.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Lady Gaga<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lady Gaga - 911 (Short Film)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/58hoktsqk_Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Gaga\u2019s back, and she brought quite the festive soundtrack with her. After her very personal <\/span><span>Joanne<\/span><span> (2016) and the emotional <\/span><span>A Star is Born Soundtrack<\/span><span> (2018)<\/span><span>, Stefani Germanotta returns to her dance roots on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/smarturl.it\/Chromatica\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Chromatica<\/span><\/a><span> (2020)<\/span><span>. \u201cStupid Love,\u201d \u201cRain On Me,\u201d \u201cSour Candy,\u201d and \u201cBabylon\u201d are all hits meant for the dancefloor, but Gaga\u2019s most unique track is perhaps \u201c911\u201d \u2014 sure to go down in pop history. She features a wide range of collaborators on the album: Ariana Grande, BLACKPINK, and Elton John.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Black Eyed Peas<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Black Eyed Peas, Maluma - FEEL THE BEAT (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iksKHSl6dwY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>That\u2019s right \u2014 they\u2019re back. Well, minus one very important member, but we won\u2019t talk about her. Actually, they\u2019ve been back for a while; after nearly a decade-long sabbatical once Fergie departed from the group, the Black Eyed Peas returned with more fantastic music. This year\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/black-eyed-peas.lnk.to\/Translation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>TRANSLATION<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) fits right into the equation.<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span><a href=\"http:\/\/Will.i.am\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/Will.i.am&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1609352142495000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHP9BQ0WQ509CNhANHdh0UHbG8NTg\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Will.i.am<\/a>, Taboo, and apl.de.ap are the Black Eyed Peas, and they\u2019re doing just fine by themselves. Nonetheless, why not have a few more friends? They invite a heap of artists to join them on <\/span><span>TRANSLATION<\/span><span>: J. Rey Soul, Maluma, Shakira, J Balvin, Tyga, Nicky Jam, French Montana, and plenty more. \u201cRITMO (Bad Boys for Life),\u201d \u201cFEEL THE BEAT,\u201d and \u201cMAMACITA\u201d transition from one to another like a rave queen\u2019s wet dream. The record is jiggy fun, and the Peas even get sentimental on the final \u201cNEWS TODAY.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Hayley Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hayley Williams - Simmer [Official Music Video]\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8lSj5k2K7w0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>This solo release pleased the eyes and ears of many this year. Paramore\u2019s Hayley Williams came out with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hayleywilliams.lnk.to\/PFAAW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Petals For Armor<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) <\/span><span>\u2014 the pop-rocker\u2019s first album independent of her band. Williams is fantastic at playing with sound, and she\u2019s capable of all kinds: the swift record-opener \u201cSimmer\u201d plays with many vocals, instruments, and uses of the word \u201csimmer,\u201d while the next track \u2014 \u201cLeave It Alone\u201d \u2014 is slow and beautifully somber. Her whole album\u2019s very much like that: brilliantly vibe-changing almost every other song to tell her whole story and reveal a range of emotions.<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Williams was a mid-teenager when Paramore began, and the rest is history. It\u2019s fair to say that a national spotlight at age 16 and an international spotlight shortly after would have quite an impact on one\u2019s heart and soul, and that\u2019s excluding all of life&#8217;s surprises since. You can just tell by listening to Williams that she\u2019s real and she\u2019s sincere \u2014 nonetheless exceptionally talented.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Bebel Gilberto<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bebel Gilberto: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uEK-6cHmmZI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>One of the more moody, experimental gifts of the year came from Bebel Gilberto <\/span><span>\u2014 a Brazilian-American artist who masterfully fuses bossa nova with Latin-pop, creating trippy jazz for our ears and feet. Her new album <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ffm.to\/bebel-agora\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Agora<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) has a gloomy glow throughout the entire record, but in the most marvellous, mysterious way p<\/span><span>ossible. A lot of feeling went into <\/span><span>Agora<\/span><span> <\/span><span>\u2014<\/span><span> much of it inspired by the loss of her music-legend father, Jo\u00e3o Gilberto. Some of the most interesting notes and melodies appear on \u201cT\u00e3o Bom,\u201d \u201cAgora,\u201d \u201cClich\u00e9,\u201d \u201cEssence,\u201d and \u201cDeixa,\u201d but Bebel\u2019s whole album is brilliant and should be experienced cover-to-cover.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Ty Dolla $ign<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ty Dolla $ign - Ego Death (feat. Kanye West, FKA twigs &amp; Skrillex) [Official Visualizer]\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ik4USIChrkY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cEgo Death\u201d was undoubtedly one of the biggest songs of the year, and arguably one of the coolest. Music played a little louder in the world when Ty Dolla $ign released his track on July 1st. \u201cEgo Death\u201d features Kanye West, Skrillex, and FKA twigs, all bringing their own element: Kanye West\u2019s rap was instantly iconic and immediately famous; Skrillex adds to the electronics and production of the piece; FKA twigs takes us on a direct flight to dance paradise that concludes the song; and, the host of all this fun <\/span><span>\u2014 <\/span><span>Ty Dolla $ign <\/span><span>\u2014 delivers 100 percent.<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The rapper released his record <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dollasign.lnk.to\/featuring\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Featuring Ty Dolla $ign<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) in October; \u201cEgo Death\u201d <\/span><span>\u2014 rightfully so \u2014 <\/span><span>concludes the album. Ty Dolla $ign gives us hits \u201cSpicy,\u201d \u201cBy Yourself,\u201d and \u201cUniverse,\u201d and he collaborates with an impressive range of performers: Kid Cudi, Post Malone, Anderson .Paak, Thundercat, Nicki Minaj, Jhen\u00e9 Aiko, Kehlani, Musiq Soulchild, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Fiona Apple<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Fiona Apple - Shameika (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yM63Tzv-uZg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Similar to the buzz that came from Ty Dolla $ign\u2019s \u201cEgo Death,\u201d Billie Eilish\u2019s \u201cmy future,\u201d or Childish Gambino\u2019s <\/span><span>3.15.20<\/span><span> (2020), <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fionaapple.lnk.to\/FetchTheBoltCutters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Fetch the Bolt Cutters<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) was an international sensation. Fiona Apple\u2019s very creative craft is beautiful, and it shows her \u2014 as always \u2014 honest and raw. We\u2019ll be singing \u201cI Want You To Love Me,\u201d \u201cShameika,\u201d \u201cFetch The Bolt Cutters,\u201d and \u201cUnder The Table,\u201d for generations, and we\u2019ll be stomping around to the rest. Apple\u2019s album is brilliant, and it\u2019s clear she\u2019s a pioneer in the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Jhen\u00e9 Aiko<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveVideo responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jhen\u00e9 Aiko - 10k Hours ft. Nas\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UUditTGPLOI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>A queen of the modern R&amp;B scene, Jhen\u00e9 Aiko brings badass and beauty to her most modern work. Her record <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/jheneaiko.lnk.to\/ChilomboDeluxe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Chilombo<\/span><\/a><span> (2020) <\/span><span>\u2014 the artist\u2019s last name \u2014 sounds like zen<\/span><span>; that sort of serenity carries from track to track, but it\u2019s not the subject matter that\u2019s serene <\/span><span>\u2014 it\u2019s Aiko\u2019s accomplished attitude.<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cLotus (intro)\u201d is a gorgeous introduction to the chill <\/span><span>Chilombo<\/span><span>, though she\u2019ll sing of life, love, and loss only several tracks later. The album\u2019s most fun moments are on \u201cB.S.,\u201d \u201cP*$$Y Fairy (OTW),\u201d \u201cHappiness Over Everything (H.O.E.),\u201d \u201cTryna Smoke,\u201d and \u201cParty for Me.\u201d Aiko\u2019s soft side <\/span><span>\u2014 and a soft side is apparent throughout \u2014 <\/span><span>shines best on \u201cTriggered (freestyle),\u201d \u201cNone of Your Concern,\u201d and \u201cLightning &amp; Thunder.\u201d She collaborates with Big Sean, H.E.R., Future, Miguel, MicahFoneCheck, Nas, John Legend, Ty Dolla $ign, and more. \u201c10k Hours\u201d <\/span><span>\u2014 featuring Nas \u2014 <\/span><span>very well could go down in the books as song of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Christian Jaeger 2020 was a ridiculous year. And ridiculous years call for especially good soundtracks. Here are this year\u2019s most iconic and influential artists sharing their sounds and recent creations. \u00a0 Jorja Smith If someone were to ask what musical gold should sound like, they could easily find Jorja Smith\u2019s \u201cRose Rouge\u201d as an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17168,"featured_media":25365,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1523,15,1],"tags":[890,50],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25363"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25363"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25366,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25363\/revisions\/25366"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}