Arachnophonia: Bob Dylan “100 Songs”

Posted on October 19, 2022 by marmstr3

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 Eliana (class of 2024) and features a collection of 100 lyrics by Bob Dylan. Thanks, Eliana!

Bob Dylan

100 Songs

Bob Dylan is one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of the 20th century. He has written over 500 songs throughout the span of his career, both for himself and other artists. His most famous works include “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” which became civil rights and antiwar anthems following the frustrations many Americans were facing in the 60’s. He has received a plethora of awards, including ten Grammys, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, and the Nobel Prize in Literature.

His book, 100 Songs, is a self curated collection of 100 of his most profound works. His lyrics adorn the pages, underscoring their poetic nature. If you’re a fan of Dylan’s work, the book is a must read. For me, seeing his lyrics sprawled across 200 pages deepens their significance and allure.

You can check out this book, along with over 100 other Bob Dylan-related materials, from Parsons Music Library. Maybe grab a CD or two to enhance your reading experience!

Parsons Playlists: “Best Live Performances”

Posted on September 23, 2022 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eliana (class of 2024) and features a selection of songs recorded live.

Best Live Performances

There’s an endless number of incredible live performances, but these are some of the ones that top my list. I suppose being able to see the real thing would be better but a YouTube video is a close second, right?!?

Kelly Clarkson – “A Moment Like This” (American Idol winning performance from 2002) – A true cultural reset

Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean” (Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983) – An even bigger cultural reset

Rihanna – “Love on the Brain” (Live at Global Citizen Festival 2016) – Performance I would have traded my left kidney for to see live

Miley Cyrus – “Heart of Glass” (Live from the iHeart Festival 2020) – The rockification of Hannah Montana

Soshana Bean – “She Used To Be Mine” from Waitress (From Club Broadway.com 2019) – The storytelling makes this a 15/10

Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Live Aid 1985) – No description necessary

Beyoncé – “At Last” (For Barack and Michelle Obama – Inaugural Ball January 20, 2009) – A defining historical moment that never fails to bring tears to my eyes

Keala Settle – “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman (2017) – BTS you need to see

Ben Platt & Broadway Cast – “You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen – (From The Today Show April 2017) – Best of Broadway off of Broadway

Ariana Grande – “One Last Time” (From One Love Manchester June 2017) – Bravery and resilience highlighted in a single performance

Olivia Rodrigo & Joshua Bassett – “Just For A Moment” (Live Performance Vevo 2020) – Didn’t age well but the irony only adds to the heartbreak of the performance

Bruno Mars covers Adele’s “All I Ask” (The Live Lounge BBC Radio 1 November 2016) – Fun fact, Bruno wrote this song. And he kills it.

Here is a version of the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZexFIivdsXLUDb4weJss_Niy

Arachnophonia: In The Heights

Posted on March 28, 2022 by marmstr3

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

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eliana (class of 2024) and features the musical In The Heights. Thanks, Eliana!

In The Heights

Before the critically acclaimed film of the same name, In the Heights had a 3-year run on Broadway. In that time, it was nominated for 13 Tony Awards and won 4.

The musical, written by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, centers on a group of Dominican American young adults living in Washington Heights, NYC.

The story centers around Usnavi, a young bodega owner with the dream of returning home to the Dominican Republic. It’s summertime, so his neighbor Nina comes back from Stanford University with the unsettling news that she’s feeling out of place and wants to drop out, in turn disappointing her family. To make things even worse, things aren’t going great with Vanessa, the object of Usnavi’s affection. When there’s a city-wide blackout, chaos ensues.

The score features upbeat, energetic songs like “96,000,” “Blackout,” and “In the Heights” and slower, emotional numbers like “Breathe” and “It Won’t Be Long Now,” providing a myriad of entertainment for all types of listeners.

You can check out both the score and original Broadway cast recording here at Parsons Music Library!

Parsons Playlists: Disney Tears

Posted on March 23, 2022 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features a playlist of tear inducing Disney songs curated by Music Library student manager Eliana (class of 2024).

Disney Tears: Disney Songs That Make Me Cry

Sometimes, you just need a good cry. What better way to do it than by listening to Disney movie hits? Curl up, grab a box of tissues, and get your cry on.

“Go The Distance” from Hercules

“Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto

“Remember Me” from Coco

“The Next Right Thing” from Frozen II

“Can You Feel The Love Tonight” from The Lion King

“I See The Light” from Tangled

“Beauty and the Beast (Tale As Old As Time)” from Beauty and the Beast

“A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” from Cinderella

“Reflection” from Mulan

“Just Around The Riverbend” from Pocahontas

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zez8MPSzhhLbHR1OEA3Mup4k

And here is a version on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Spring Break 2022

Posted on March 4, 2022 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features a selection of music for your Spring Break enjoyment curated by Music Library student manager Eliana (class of 2024).

SPRING BREAK 2022

After a semester of long nights, impossible exams, and a few too many tears, it’s finally time to decompress on the beach of your choice. Here’s the playlist to sing your heart out to while you forget you’re failing orgo.

Wes Walker & Dyl – “Jordan Belfort”

Rascal Flatts – “Life Is A Highway”

RL Grime ft. 24hrs – “UCLA”

Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo – “Time Of Our Lives”

Pitbull – “Hotel Room Service”

Kid Cudi ft. MGMT & Ratatat – “Pursuit of Happiness”

Social House ft. Lil Yachty – “Magic In The Hamptons”

A$AP Ferg – “Plain Jane”

Roddy Ricch – “The Box”

Grouplove – “Tongue Tied”

BØRNS – “Electric Love”

Mac Miller – “The Spins”

Bryce Vine – “Sour Patch Kids”

Drake – “Nice For What”

Lil Tecca – “Ransom”

Kid Cudi – “Day N Nite”

Miley Cyrus – “We Can’t Stop”

blackbear – “hot girl bummer”

Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland – “Promiscuous”

Gwen Stefani ft. Akon – “The Sweet Escape”

Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY”

ABBA – “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”

T.I. ft. Rihanna – “Live Your Life”

Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”

DJ Khaled ft. Ludacris, Rick Ross, T Pain & Snoop Dogg – “All I Do Is Win”

The Black Eyed Peas – “Imma Be”

Nicki Minaj – “Starships”

Pitbull ft. John Ryan – “Fireball”

ABBA – “Take A Chance On Me”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZexCk3FuauVJE0ZUlQww8CIL

And here it is on Spotify:

Arachnophonia: Live Aid

Posted on February 9, 2022 by marmstr3

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 Eliana (class of 2024) and features the Live Aid concert film. Thanks, Eliana!

Live Aid on DVD

Deemed by many “the greatest show on earth,” Live Aid was, and is still to this day, the largest benefit concert of all time. On July 13th, 1985, the biggest names in Pop and Rock music joined together at both Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia to raise money for the famine that left ⅕ of Ethiopia’s total population without food.

Huge stars including, but not limited to, Queen, Elton John, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, and Sting were all present across the two locations. In total, they raised more than $127 million towards famine relief – almost $330 million by today’s standards.

The four-disc DVD set of the event is available at Parsons Music library. In its case, you’ll see photographs from the concert, as well as a pamphlet that contains the first draft of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” two pages from the original Live Aid program, and various facts about the significance of the event.

Don’t have a DVD player? Have no fear! At Parsons Music Library, you can check out portable disc drives or visit study spaces with DVD players inside. If you have any questions, someone behind the front desk will always be available to help.

Arachnophonia: Beyoncé in Formation: Remixing Black Feminism

Posted on December 6, 2021 by marmstr3

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 assistant Eliana (class of 2024) and features a book that takes a deep dive into the 2016 Beyoncé album Lemonade from a feminist/LGBTQ+ perspective. Thanks, Eliana!

Beyoncé in Formation: Remixing Black Feminism
by Omise’eke Natasha Tinsley

Beyoncé in Formation offers a deep-dive into the lyrics and meaning of Beyoncé’s 2016 album Lemonade through a Black feminist and LGBTQ+ lens, creating a deeply nuanced and complex view of the Billboard #1 album.

Tinsley effectively combines her personal life, renowned Black feminist and LGBTQ+ artists, and Beyoncé’s album into one cohesive story wherein she breaks down the ways in which Beyoncé’s album is not only a Black-empowerment album, but an album that introduces complex feminist and LGBTQ+ ideas rarely seen in mainstream music.

I originally picked up this book because I love picking apart lyrics and delving into hidden messages in songs and music videos, however I quickly realized that it would be about much more than song inspection. I appreciate the way in which Tinsley was able to integrate her life into the greater story of Black feminism in a way that felt raw and real, much like the rest of the book. She doesn’t dance around any subject, and no subject matter is too grandiose to take on. Whether it’s gender and sexuality, racism, or the history of music, Tinsley covers it all.

Of course, this book would be nothing without the album Lemonade itself. The CD is also available at Parsons Music Library — feel free to check out both the CD and the book to heighten your experience!

Picture of the author (Eliana class of 2024) at a Beyonce concert in 2016

Parsons Playlists: 25 Under 25

Posted on November 19, 2021 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today we’re featuring a selection of 25 songs by artists under the age of 25 as curated by Music Library student assistant Eliana (class of 2024).