Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Isaac (class of 2025) and features songs he listened to on walks around Westhampton Lake.
Walks Around The Lake
Like most, my first semester of college was a lot rougher than I imagined. I was confused, lonely, stressed, and honestly, I just missed my mom’s cooking. I would take walks around the lake to help ease my mind. Cold or hot, wet or dry, these walks were a necessary part of my routine, and I allowed the music I heard take me where they pleased. A few more semesters in, I’m loving college in a way that shocks me considering how miserable it was at times in the past, but I still take these walks occasionally. Here are some of the songs I listened to on these walks:
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Danny (class of 2023) and is called “I Must Be Dreaming.”
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:
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features music from the 2010s curated by Music Library student manager Deisy (class of 2024).
Remembering the 2010’s
As you drive down the road listening to the radio, all of a sudden that one song comes on! As it plays, memories of the past flood into you as you smile from the past nostalgia. Well this playlist will transport you back to the decade of the 2010’s, what are some good memories that will come up for you?
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia 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.
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student worker Gabi (class of 2020) and features Frank Ocean’s 2012 debut album Channel Orange. Thanks, Gabi!
Pitchfork recently released one of their most famous lists, “The 200 Best Albums of the 2010’s.” Although these kinds of lists and rankings are subjective, and can even be controversial at times, they open up conversations about the cultural relevance of albums, and how they may shape and define a generation. While several artists appear multiple times throughout the list, the only artist with two albums to appear in the top 10 of Pitchfork’s list is Frank Ocean. Ocean scored the number one spot with his most recent full-length album, Blond (2016), and the number 10 spot with Channel Orange (2012). As Ocean has seen additional media coverage lately for hinting at new music releases coming soon, and opening an ongoing queer nightclub event in New York City, I wanted to revisit his first release, Channel Orange, available in the Parsons Music Library.
Channel Orange was Ocean’s debut album, and his firm establishment as one of the most prominent figures in the R&B genre. Days prior to its release, Ocean posted a note on tumblr revealing that stories told through the songs on his album were about a boy, and took public ownership of his sexuality in a manner that also established him as a queer icon in the music world. The rawness and personal tone of the tumblr note is reflected in the tone of the album itself. After the album’s intro, “Start”, its first full-length song is “Thinkin ‘Bout You,” Ocean’s most famous single to date. This song evokes the emotions of longing for someone, and a lingering, unrequited love, in a simple way. Ocean sings that he’s “lyin down” thinking about this person, and creates a relatable image for the listener, who’s probably been there before. My best friend says that this song reminds her of Christmas-time, and sounds how winter weather feels.
My two other favorite songs on this album are “Super Rich Kids” and “Pyramids“. “Super Rich Kids” evokes a sense of nostalgia for me, as it reminds me the type of culture that surrounded me at a private high school in a big city growing up, and that continues to surround me at a private university. Ocean talks of materialism, and how it can cloud real emotion and “real love,” and lack of parental supervision for coming of age children that leads them to live dangerous lifestyles. As I came of age, I watched certain people around me live this kind of life, and in a strange way, this song reminds me of home. “Pyramids” is an epic standout as it is the longest song on the album, coming in at 9 minutes and 52 seconds. In this song, that can work well as a casual listen or a dance-floor hit with its electronic breakdown, Ocean uses ancient Egyptian imagery and figures like Cleopatra to depict the view of black women throughout history. As they were once appreciated as African queens, they are now objectified by pimps, which is the point of view Ocean takes on the second half of the song. The second half of the song drastically juxtaposes the first, being more rhythmic and hip-hop-esque, which reflects the pimp character’s attitude that Ocean is portraying. To me, this song is to Channel Orange as “Nights” is to Blond; a personal favorite with dynamic mid-point switches that take the listener by surprise and keep them interested the entire way through. Channel Orange remains a modern classic even 8 years after its release.
