Parsons Playlists: Best Album Art

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Brianna (class of 2023) and features some music from albums with cool cover art.

Best Album Art

In keeping with my last playlist, here is a collection of my favorite songs from albums with some of my favorite album art, as well as some albums whose covers have become iconic! Enjoy.

Tame Impala – “Borderline”

Palace – “Live Well”

blink-182 – “All The Small Things”

Harry Styles – “Late Night Talking”

My Chemical Romance – “Welcome To The Black Parade”

Green Day – “Basket Case”

Childish Gambino – “Redbone”

Weezer – “Say It Ain’t So”

Collective Soul – “Run”

Nirvana – “Come As You Are”

Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zeybnb59dYL0axiA4iCUAB4B

Parsons Playlists: 1 Hour Walk

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Xipeng (class of 2024) and features some walking music.

1 Hour Walk

This playlist is from one of my favorite producers for his one-hour walk in Seoul city. It is also the playlist I listened to when I was taking a walk by the Thames River in London.

Antonio Carlos Jobim – “Arpoador”

Electric Light Orchestra – “Mr. Blue Sky”

Corinne Bailey Rae – “Do You Ever Think Of Me?”

Michael Franks – “All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go”

Jeff Cascaro – “The Sun Is Shining For Our Love”

Jordan Rakei – “Wind Parade”

Deborah Bond – “stride”

Mamas Gun – “This Is The Day”

Light & Salt – “아카시아 아가씨 (Lady Acacia)”

Steely Dan – “My Rival”

Tomita Lab feat. Isono-kun – “Flavor (7+ Version)”

Stevie Wonder – “Never In Your Sun”

D’Sound – “I Can Get Over You”

Andrew Gold – “Never Let Her Slip Away”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZexmFFjw0DzFEFRo_13odUcu

Parsons Playlists: I Love Hip Hop and R&B

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Deisy (class of 2024) which features hip hop & R&B tunes from the 1990s.

I Love My 90s Hip Hop/R&B

sade_001

Sade – “Is It A Crime”

Sade – “Your Love Is King”

Nas – “It Ain’t Hard To Tell”

Eve ft. Gwen Stefani – “Let Me Blow Ya Mind”

Ashanti – “Foolish”

Baby Bash ft. Frankie J – “Suga Suga”

Alicia Keys – “If I Ain’t Got You”

Brandy & Monica – “The Boy Is Mine”

Minnie Riperton – “Inside My Love”

Tupac Shakur – “Can U Get Away”

SWV – “Rain”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewZqAt6TdvmpxUhB06ZykkX

Parsons Playlists: Best Band Names (and their best songs)

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Brianna (class of 2023) and features favorite songs from bands whose names she enjoys.

Best Band Names (and their best songs)

This playlist is made up of my favorite songs from the best band names out of the artists I listen to. Some of them are clever, some are funny, some make no sense, but all of them earned a place in my hall of fame. Enjoy!

band names

Peach Pit – “Figure 8”

Hippo Campus – “Ashtray”

Ritt Momney – “Paper News”

The Thing With Feathers – “Figure It Out”

Pearl Jam – “Even Flow”

My Chemical Romance – “Helena”

Nirvana – “In Bloom”

Lime Cordiale – “Country Club”

French Cassettes – “Dixie Lane”

Magic City Hippies – “Champagne on the Rider”

Trash Panda – “Heartbreak Pulsar”

Vista Kicks – “Gimme Love”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zew6vMK6_SANyMQpnfy22MX2

Parsons Playlists: Classical Crossover 2

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Wonyoung (class of 2023) and features songs from a Korean classical singing crossover tv program.

Classical Crossover 2: Phantom Singer

Lately there has been a trend of mixing old classical orchestral music with more modern pop or other genres of music. This is called crossover where you crossover classical music with modern pop music. When opera and classical music become dry for me, I like to refresh myself with some crossover music. Here is some well known modern music which you may recognize that have been crossed over.

Editor’s Note: Phantom Singer is a Korean music television program which aims to pick a male crossover vocal quartet. The selections on this playlist are from various seasons of the show.

Phantom Singer

Gil Byeong-min · Kim Min-seok · Kim Seong-sik · Park Hyeon-soo – “You and I (Vincermo)”

Yoon Seo-jun · Choi Min-woo · Kim Min-seok – “D’Amore”

Gil Byung-min · Jonno · Park Hyeon-soo · Kim Min-seok – “Senza Luce”

Phantom Singer Quartet – “Il Libro Dell’Amore (The Book of Love)”

Son Tae Jin – “Desperado”

Kwak Dong-yeon · Son Tae Jin · Yoon So-ho · Lee Dong Shin – “Halo”

Go Hoon-jung, Lee Dong-shin, and Lee Jun-hwan – “Luna”

Kim Min-seok · Kim Paul · Park Hyeon-soo · Choi Seong-hun – “You”

Koo Bon-soo · Park Ki-hoon · Choi Seong-hoon · Yoo Chae-hoon – “Requiem”

Yoo Chae-hun · Park Ki-hoon · Jung Min-seong · Kim Paul – “Falling Slowly”

Kwak Dong-yeon · Ryu Ji-kwang – “I Dreamed A Dream”

Yoo Chae-hun · Park Ki-hoon · Koo Bon-soo – “Angel”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHE2uJabYdvbXnPzbWCYrUwcs_zham0oK

Parsons Playlists: Spring-Themed Classical Music That Isn’t Vivaldi

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Amy (class of 2025) and features spring-themed classical music.

Spring-Themed Classical Music That Isn’t Vivaldi

When many think of spring, Vivaldi’s Spring movement of his Four Seasons violin concerto is often what comes to mind. However, there is a plethora of spring-themed compositions from other artists across music eras, including Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring.”

Spring anime background art

Ludwig van Beethoven – Violin Sonata No. 1 Spring Movement (Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy)

Igor Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring, Pt. 1: Adoration of the Earth (Teodor Currentzis, musicAeterna)

Edvard Grieg – Lyric Pieces, Op. 43, No. 6 “To Spring” (Lang Lang)

Christian Sinding – Frühlingsrauschen (Rustle of Spring) for Piano, Op. 32, No. 3 (Dubravka Tomšič)

Claude Debussy – Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun (Orchestra National de Lyon)

Camille Saint-Saëns – The Swan, Carnival of the Animals (Yo Yo Ma, Kathryn Slott)

Florence Beatrice Price – Juba Dance from Symphony No. 1 (Akiko Fujimoto, Minnesota Orchestra)

Alexander Borodin: Quartet No. 2 in D major for Strings, I. Allegro moderato (Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center)

Bedřich Smetana – The Moldau (Polish National Radio Symphony)

Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring – 1945 Suite – 1. Very slowly (LA Philharmonic)

Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring – 1943 Suite – 7. Doppio movimento (New York Philharmonic)

Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring – 1945 Suite – 2. Allegro (LA Philharmonic)

Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring – 1945 Suite – 8. Moderato: Coda (LA Philharmonic)

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qizSgHRRbEo&list=PLSwAwMtTLDwitnvD5pQ8hTur4eSlqiamO

Parsons Playlists: Pantone “Viva Magenta”

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Amy (class of 2025) and features songs inspired by Pantone’s 2023 color of the year.

Viva Magenta

It’s a new year which means that Pantone, a revolutionary color-matching system, has released their color of the year. 2023’s color is Viva Magenta, which is described as a symbol of new strength, bravery, and joy. Pantone Color Institute’s executive director describes Viva Magenta as a color to reconnect us to our spirit and nature. You can find the Viva Magenta phones from Motorola, Spoonflower and Pantone created six different Viva Magenta-themed fabrics. Cariuma, a skate shoe brand, created six different shoe styles that are all Viva Magenta. Here are 12 songs that remind me of Viva Magenta:

Viva Magenta - Pantone Color of the Year 2023

SZA – “Kill Bill”

Taylor Swift – “Vigilante Shit”

Dominic Fike – “She Wants My Money”

Declan McKenna – “Beautiful Faces”

Declan McKenna – “British Bombs”

Cage the Elephant & Beck – “Night Running”

Pearl Jam – “Dance of the Clairvoyants”

Frank Ocean – “Swim Good”

Cold War Kids – “Hang Me Up To Dry”

Hippo Campus – “boys”

Maggie Rogers – “Want Want”

SZA – “Shirt”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSwAwMtTLDwjXclKN2XlaDxiB0kNq1Hl3

Parsons Playlists: “Very Peri”

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Amy (class of 2025) and features a playlist inspired by Pantone’s 2022 color of the year.

Very Peri Playlist

Songs that I associate with Pantone’s color of the year for 2022, Very Peri!

Very Peri - Pantone Color of the Year 2022

Lana Del Ray – “California”

Gracie Abrams – “Long Sleeves”

Taylor Swift – “Wonderland”

Tame Impala – “Eventually”

Conan Gray – “Astronomy”

Taylor Swift – “august”

Lana Del Ray – “Watercolor Eyes”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Friday I’m In Love”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Garden Song”

Mitski – “First Love/Late Spring”

The Neighbourhood – “The Beach”

Salvia Palth – “I Was All Over Her”

The Smiths – “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSwAwMtTLDwhUUa5MDIWAzH5pyakXPRsm

Parsons Playlists: Studying in the Parsons Music Library

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features a selection of music for a Music Library study session curated by Music Library student assistant Amy (class of 2025).

Studying in the Parsons Music Library

Study music

Frederic Chopin – Waltz No. 19 in A Minor, Op. Posth.

Camille Saint-Saens – The Carnival of the Animals The Swan

Rachmaninov – Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor Op. 18 – II Adagio sostenuto

Bach – Cello Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010: 1 Prelude

Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker Op. 71, Act 2: No. 13, “Waltz of the Flowers”

Dvorak – Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op. 22, B.52 – II Tempo di valse

Dvorak – Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op. 22 – I Moderato

Ravel – Ma Mere L’Oye, M. 60 – I Pavan de la Belle au bois dormant

Piero Piccioni – Amore Mio Aiutami (Main Theme)

Dvorak – “Song to the Moon” Rusalka, Op. 114, Act 1

Respighi – Pini di Roma, P. 141: III I pini del Gianicolo

Borodin – Nocturne

Beethoven – Lenore, Op. 72, Act I “Mir ist so wunderbar”

Debussy – La Mer, L. 109, II Jeux de vagues

Lavinia Meijer – Dances for Harp and Orchestra, L. 103, II Danse profane

Shostakovich – Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Faure – Pavane, Op. 50

Gershwin – The Man I Love

Debussy – Deux Arabesques, CD 74: I. Andantino con moto

Liszt – Liebestraum

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSwAwMtTLDwjK99x65ClwlqXWXG6vyGRP

And here it is on Spotify:

Arachnophonia: Alan Menken Songbook

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Danny (class of 2023) and features a collection of Alan Menken songs for piano, voice and guitar. Thanks, Danny!

Alan Menken Songbook

Alan Menken Songbook

If you’re any fan of Disney, or of musicals, there can be a 95% guarantee – if not 100%, that you have heard of Alan Menken. Menken, born in 1949 in Manhattan, is a composer and songwriter who has worked tirelessly since 1972 to give the American public and worldwide audiences the pleasures of listening to his incredible musical abilities, writing songs for some of our favorite Disney movies, musicals, and shows.

After graduating from New York University in 1971, Menken’s musical career took off. To name some of his most famous works, he was a songwriter for Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Rocky V, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Enchanted, Tangled, and a variety of their stage adaptations.

Just the sheer variety of different types of films/musicals and the musical talent to be able to write completely original songs with varying styles is incredible. And all of them were absolute hits. This incredible discography is beyond fascinating. Just imagine – currently in New York, Little Shop of Horrors is playing again Off-Broadway. Aladdin is on Broadway. The Little Mermaid live action remake is coming out in 2023. The Hunchback of Notre Dame’s live-action remake is in the works. That is four – yes four – pending or active projects that have Menken’s name attached to them.

Parsons Music Library has had the privilege to house the Alan Menken Songbook, with scores for piano, voice, and guitar. Some of his most popular pieces are held in this 188 page score.

Songs that are included are “Sante Fe” (Newsies), “Somewhere That’s Green” (Little Shop of Horrors), “Proud of Your Boy” (Aladdin), “Go the Distance” (Hercules), “A Change in Me” (Beauty and the Beast) and a variety of other classics.

As you play, listen, or read the scores for all 28 songs included in the songbook, you can feel the different styles and the creativity needed to write songs for such Disney-esque plots. Nothing Disney has come out with has ever been less than imaginative – it takes an even more imaginative person to bring those creative tales to life through song. And that is all achieved through Menken’s song writing abilities.