Lady Sovereign and Damien Rice as survival tools

by Eliza Varner in Opinion Posts, Song Reviews, Top 10

This past week was finals for Winter Term. After 9 weeks of pretending I could understand inorganic chemistry (i don’t), it was time to lock myself in a study room, not sleep for 30 hours at a time, and drink 97 cokereward points worth of coke zero. To survive this nightmare of a time, I relied very heavily on a playlist which was a combination of breezy folk and femme fatale, Lady Sovereign and Damien Rice, among other artists.

In crafting this essential playlist, I took into account many things. First and foremost I needed songs I would not get sick of. I needed songs that upon the 184th listen, I would enjoy even more, instead of reminding me that I’m still in the same spot, studying the same molecular orbital. Second, I needed a balance between songs that would motivate me and keep me alert (dance-ability here was key) and songs that would be calming that would remind me of better times (re: times like today when my only obligation is sleep and a run with my mom). Finally, I wanted to make it a playlist of only ten songs in a particular order, so that I would never be surprised, and so that music would become familiar (as familiar as backbonding and metathesis soon became)

My list:

1. “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles- This track is moving, haunting, and Sara Bareille’s voice is phenomenal. I sometimes sang along (quietly, of course). A beautiful way to start.
2. “Jigsaw” by Lady Sovereign- Off her latest CD, Lady Sovereign, this track is one of my favorites (along with “So Human”). It is dance-y, fun, and kept me awake and alert better than all the caffeine I consumed
3. “Some Constellations” by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin- Gorgeous, I am currently obsessed with SSLYBY’s newest (maybe it’s not thaaaaaaat new) album, it is 
4. “In the Beginning” by K’naan-Props to my friend, Junine, for introducing me to this. The drumming and handclaps and ‘alalalalas’ were so much fun. Also I felt empowered. 
5. “Syracuse” by Pinback- with lyrics like ‘i stepped down into sand, water carries us from here,’ I kept thinking of an exotic tropical vacation, and the urgency I feel in the melody is very appropriate.
6. “Right Now (nanana)” by Akon- Don’t judge me too harsh, this song is catchy and wonderful and always made me smile with it’s raunchiness
7. “My Date with the Prostitute from Marseille” by Beirut-Beirut is always my go-to study music. Ever since Gulag Orkestar, the instrumentation and Zach Condon’s unique voice has made Beirut irrefutably relaxing.
8. “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver- I always laugh when I am think how Bon Iver, deriving its name from the french for ‘good winter,’ is one of my favorite artists at the moment. Winter term 09 was most certainly not a good term, but this song, “Skinny Love” is so tender and honest, that it makes everything alright. 
9. “I’m a Lady (the diplo remix)” by Lady Sovereign. This song is AWESOME. Remixes from diplo are currently my obsession (check out the one of Kanye’s “Flashing Lights”). I could write another whole post about this, but Diplo takes the best of Santogold’s song, “I’m a lady” and brings it to a whole new level.
10. “I’m not crying, You’re not crying, are you?” by Dear and the Headlights-As of 2 days ago, I was one of LastFM’s top listeners for Dear and the Headlights. This was a source of pride for me all through finals. This song (besides having a great title) was a constant reminder that I just needed to survive, and that ‘even if ain’t what [I] pictured…it sounds about right’