I love music. Music fills my car and my daughter bounces and sings in the back seat. Music fills my home, especially in the mornings when my son isn’t around to wake up. Music is frequently in my head as I wake up in the morning. I tap my feet to a tune in my head as I make coffee. I shake my backside a bit while I lather shampoo through my hair. I almost always have a tune bouncing through me.
In my opinion, 2012 was a good year for music. Maybe it’s because I was ready for some new sounds. Some of the tunes I love are upbeat and make me move. Others are stripped and authentic. And some, I could swear the songwriter was spying on my life, stealing bits of my soul.
Some of the artists I found on my repeat cycle this past year: The Lumineers, Grouplove, Ed Sheeran, Alabama Shakes, Trampled By Turtles, Passion Pit, The xx, Ellie Goulding, Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, Metric, Alex Clare, Lavender Diamond, Devil Makes Three, Of Monsters & Men, Black Prairie, The Head and The Heart, The Naked and Famous, Walk the Moon, along with long loves Elbow, Muse, Rachael Yamagata, Ben Folds, NIN, The Black Keys, Jack Johnson. My secret guilty pleasure: Fun. Don’t judge.
I plucked some songs that grabbed me this past year. I know most are well-known, but here they are nonetheless:
Young Blood by The Naked and Famous. I adore their original version, but this stripped-down version is gorgeous.
Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran. His music is lovely. I sink right into it.
Anything Could Happen by Ellie Goulding. Empowering.
How Do You Ruin Me by Black Prairie. Just listen.
Little Talks by Of Monsters And Men. They are going to be huge. ”Mountain Sound” is another great song, but I posted this one because it’s the first I heard. Plus, it’s one of Maya’s favorite songs.
Stubborn Love by The Lumineers. I was going to post Ho Hey, but I already did in a different blog entry, so how about this simple, beautiful tune that I frequently listen to…
Anna Sun by Walk The Moon. The lyrics remind me of a crazy night in Iowa City long, long ago. Oh, the story I could tell. Great night. Great song.
Everybody’s Heart’s Breaking Now by Lavender Diamond. Ethereal sound. I can’t stop listening to this song.
Tongue Tied by Grouplove. Just a fun, fun song.
I Ain’t The Same by Alabama Shakes. Hells yeah.
Home by Phillip Phillips. I like it. I just do.
I would have to say this is my pick of the year:
Madness by Muse. I’ve loved their music for nearly a decade, and this song completely sums up a relationship I had with someone.
Those days have passed and now we’re rolling steady into a new year. I’m excited to see what rolls out in 2013.
Did you have a favorite from 2012? A new band you stumbled across and now love?
Thanks for posting these. I’m so out of touch with music, it isn’t funny. So, seriously, thank you for putting these up.
You’re welcome. I hope you found a couple of songs in the mix that you liked. Lord knows we all have different tastes in music.
Michelle,
Le Clown knows music, at least he thought, for a 107 year old man. However, he knows none of these bands. He brought his earphones to work, and he is getting to know newer bands. Thank you, and merry 2013.
Le Clown
Wonderful. I hope you discover something that flips your switch.
I must admit, I’m sometimes a tad reluctant to share music I like because I had an old boyfriend who chided me for liking music he disapproved of. Shortly after I broke up with him, I met an incredible man whose playlist mimicked mine. Nice little ego boost.
Michelle,
Being that he chided you for your music taste says a great deal about him, no? Like, he probably likes sucking on chodas. That’s just an educated guess. Don’t quote me on this.
Le Clown
I just laughed so hard that I snorted. You’re bringing out the not-so-attractive qualities in me.
Michelle,
Black Prairie is quite nice. Your music makes me think of the last songs that used to play at the end of House, songs that would make me cry as I am one emotional wreck… This is how I discovered Ben Howard, and this song that makes L’Éric cry. Not Le Clown, as Le Clown is one tough mofo.
Le Clown
Oh, that is nice. Choked me up a bit. I’ll have to further investigate this man.
Thank you.
I’m with you on Of Monsters And Men. Those guys wreck me.
Yes!
Love Of Monsters and Men, Mumford and Sons and Ed Sheeran. Agree that 2012 was a good music year
Gosh, Madness by Muse is so addictive, thank you for sharing it with us!
I love it. Love.
thanks for the intro to a diff type of music !