Above is a playlist of my top 50 songs that I listened to this year, not including selections from Beyonce's "Lemonade" because she refuses to share (her recent music isn't on Spotify where this mix lives)! Many songs are not from this year but I listened to them alot and I like them.
Below are a few more stats of pop culture I loved the most in 2016.
Top 4 Books:
*Jem and the Holograms, Volume 1 -- This book has great art, inclusivity out the wazoo and is super fun and light and colorful.
*Porcelain // Moby -- This was a great portrait of underground dance music in NYC in the '80s. Moby created a
GIGANTIC playlist with all the music he mentions in the book on Spotify in the order he mentions it and I just think that's the coolest thing ever.
*Graceling // Kristin Cashore -- Fun young adult fantasy novel that has a love story element that doesn't piss me off. That's rare. The dude is cute, cool, and respects all boundaries set by chick. The protagonist is badass and not at all annoying. She sort of reminds me of a less-damaged version of Katniss.
*Paid For // Rachel Moran -- This is an extremely painful first-person memoir about the life of a sex worker. While I recognize that her story isn't every sex worker's story, I imagine the anguish she was subjected to in her ten (? it may have been 15?) years on the streets is probably the norm in that industry. This book was really hard to read and I cried a LOT while reading it, but it gave me a perspective I think I needed to be a more empathic human. My full review
here.
Top 4 Movies That Came Out in 2016:
*Deadpool -- This film is snarky, sexy, and full of references to Wham.
*Ghostbusters -- Super fun film from Paul Feig.
*The Huntsman: Winter's War -- I love badass queenly fantasy chicks being evil and this movie has two (Charlize Theron and Emily Blunt, yasssssssss). I also can't resist villains that cause havoc just by gesturing and/or flicking their wrists at things/people. That's literally my favorite method of destruction and this franchise has it in SPADES, children. There's also other chicks! And Chris Hemsworth!
*Sisters -- I was initially underwhelmed by this Tina Fey/Amy Poehler movie but it gets more hilarious with every rewatch. It's funny and weird.
Top 5 Albums:
1.
Drei // EMIKA -- To me, this album feels like a journey through and out of abuse. EMIKA is an artist with a big BIG range through genre. Her talents are immense. This particular album is electronic, dark, melodic, and just fucking gorgeous.
2.
Dream Sequins // NMESH -- This is the ultimate
vaporwave. Get into it.
3.
Hounds of Love // Kate Bush -- This album has been in my consciousness since I was a toddler, but this year I ripped it from my DNA, re-examined it, then stitched it back in with new understandings of its depths. I am the lamenting feminist in "Running Up That Hill". I am the blackbird in "Waking the Witch". I am the spirit in "Watching You Without Me". "Hounds of Love" is finally on Spotify. If you've never experienced this masterpiece, don't go another day without these hounds. They'll haunt you in the best possible way.
4.
Art Angels // Grimes -- Truly her best achievement so far. Danceable, ethereal, dark and ballsy.
5.
Long Ambients: Calm. Sleep. // Moby -- This album is hours of spacey sort-of dark ambient music Moby is giving away for free.
Top 5 Songs:
1.
My Heart Bleeds Melody // EMIKA -- I might get a tattoo based on the title of this song. I had this thought the first time I heard it, which was the first time I heard EMIKA ever. It was love at first listen. I'll let the idea gestate for a couple of years, but I'm pretty sure the words "my heart bleeds melody" need to be on my skin forever.
2.
Waking the Witch // Kate Bush -- This song completely slays me. I'm basing a tattoo idea on the content of this song. I think it will end up covering my entire back with blackbirds and witchyness. It is one of my top 10 songs of all time.
3.
Trust No Bitch // Junksista -- This year our husky broke out of our backyard and attacked a neighborhood dog. She was taken in by the dog police and Michael and I had to go to court on her behalf. One of the things the Animal Control guy told us was that you can't trust your dogs, ever. This song was discovered during this time period thanks to a suggestion from my friend Ruben and well, it seemed fitting.
4.
Iman // Niyaz -- I think this is the most spiritual, meditative song I've ever heard. If I sit zazen/shiva/moderate-meditative-pose while listening to this song, I get real calm, yo. Reallllll calm.
5.
White Pepper Ice Cream // Cibo Matto -- Have loved this song since 1996 but it was only this year that I realized it is my favorite song of all time. I don't know what else to say. It's my jam. Please listen to it if you want to hear a sound landscape that lights up my entire brain with aural nirvana.
