Music Roulette 2 ~ Nevermind the Algorithm

It’s time for another rendition of music roulette and the second uncurated playlist from my life. It’s been a hot minute since the first episode. For those of you just tuning in, there was a time when I made mix tapes. Now I make playlists. There’s a resurgence in the needs and wants to own one’s music. Whether it be in protest of streaming music, or pure nostalgia, the point stands that everyone love music. And I enjoy the randomness of music in my life. Here we go:

1. Off To The Races :: Lana Del Rey

I got into Lana’s music after my divorce. Part of it was timing, part of it was being on my own again, and trying new things. I was really big into borrowing CDs from the library in those pre-Spotify years. That was how I discovered most new music in those days. Her Born to Die album was one of these finds.

2. Candy :: Foxy Brown, Kelis

I can thank TikTok for having this song in my playlist. Not that I wasn’t familiar with Foxy Brown. No GenX with any kind of range in music isn’t going to have some Foxy Brown in their playlist. However, this song is fun as hell for many reasons not related to social media. IYKYK.

3. The Planets, Op. 32: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity :: Holst

First symphony concert I saw at Lincoln Center in New York. I was transported into outer space, and Holst: The Planets is cemented in my brain. My favorite is Mars – unsurprisingly.

4. Little Black Submarines :: The Black Keys

The lyrics appealed to me, even back when this song came out in 2011. Relevant before and after the divorce, so it has remained on my list after all this time.

5. Jane Says :: Jane’s Addiction

I was just thinking about Jane’s Addiction today. Probably because I have been inundated with GenX lamentation TikToks on how our music is what they play on the oldies station. I don’t know how to feel about that. I bought this album on CASSETTE, good grief. I still remember I traded my best friend their Ritual De Lo Habitual CD for his Weezer blue album, since I preferred Jane’s Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking more. In the end, I think I made the better choice. I still listen to Weezer after all.

6. Don’t You (Forget About Me) :: Simple Minds

I was just talking to my BFF about how I was on the prom committee my senior year of high school. I was on it before then, but volunteering to organize my Senior Prom was significant. This song was one of the songs the seniors had to vote for as our song. It was going up against Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin (wtf that would even be a prom song is unknown to me), this was the worst offender. It doesn’t hurt that it’s from the Breakfast Club. That’s what growing up in Connecticut gets ya. Luckily, this is the one that won; therefore, my senior prom is full of great memories. Ones I helped orchestrate (set a precedent for other events I helped organize as an adult).

7. Rim Shot (Intro) ~ Live :: Erykah Badu

I may be biased, but this album is my favorite from Erykah Badu. It is my greatest regret that, despite having lived in Dallas for far too many years, I never caught her live in concert. The one year I had made plans to attend, I had to choose between her concert and a flight to Sweden. Sigh. I’m sure you can guess which one I chose.

8. Where Is My Mind? :: Pixies

This song is reminiscent of high school, and one boyfriend in particular. But that’s a story for another time. There is never not a good time to listen to the Pixies. Hella not surprised that this one popped up on my random playlist.

9. Rape Me :: Nirvana

I can literally remember the day I got this album. It was an adventure with Columbia House. IYKYK lol. However, I also remember the day I first heard Nirvana. I was in my bedroom and Smells Like Teen Spirit came on the radio – the local rock station 99.1 FM, and I was like WTF is this – and how did they manage to capture my teenage angst in the form of a song? I have been a fan ever since. I don’t know how to adequately describe what the grunge movement did for my youth. It certainly cemented that La Llorona did NOT understand me at all, nor did she care to. Lucky for me, when I got this album, I was already away at college, so I didn’t have to be subjected to her opinions on my choice of music, the controversial titles, or lyrics.

10. Undone ~ The Sweater Song :: Weezer

Ha! The CD I was just talking about five songs ago. Does anyone remember those CD cases that attached to your car’s sun visor? Well, if you know, you know. And this CD was permanently in there. Still is. Not many CDs made it with me to Guatemala. This one, however, did 😄.