Best of 2016: Music

So much happened during 2016 but I didn’t write a single word about it. I was living life. I admit to not listening to much radio this year, opting for podcasts and music, the latter mostly through Spotify. This year, I managed to listen to about 36 full albums of new music, less than last year and less than my goal of at least 52 albums. But still, I feel good about it. In June, I was on track but I think with the addition of going back to school threw me off track. No complaints here. Stuff was happening: I started school, I ran a half marathon, I published a story, and was in an art exhibition. 2016 was not so bad.

Things that surprised me about my playlist:

How my list transformed throughout the year with negative songs at the beginning of the year (“Misery,” “Burn the Witch” and “Beautiful Lies”) to what it is now.
The number of songs from soundtracks (3) must have meant their were several movies with good soundtracks with original songs.
The lack of local music means I didn’t get out as much as I would have liked this year.
The number of radio hits (1) means I hardly listened to radio this year. Not terrible, but a shift for sure.

Without further ado, here are my favorite songs of 2016 (in optimal listening order):

Lin-Manuel Miranda & Opetaia Foa’i, “We Know The Way” (from Moana soundtrack)
The Struts, “Could Have Been Me”
Gwen Stefani, “Misery”
Birdy, “Beautiful Lies”
Sia, “Bird Set Free”
They Might Be Giants, “Got Getting up so Down”
David Byrne, “Everyone’s In Love With You”
The Prettiots, “Boys (That I Dated in High School)”
Benjamin Scheuer, “Cookie-tin Banjo”
Gillian Welch, “Orphan Girl”
Nada Surf, “Cold To See Clear”
The Kills, “Hum for Your Buzz”
Pixies, “Um Chagga Lagga”
Radiohead, “Burn the Witch”
Leonard Cohen, “You Want It Darker”
Tegan and Sara, “100x”
Hans Zimmer, Camille!, “Suis-moi” (from The Little Prince soundtrack)
Regina Spekor, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (from Kubo and the Two Strings soundtrack)