Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Griffin (class of 2027) which features some songs karaoke-d at a recent party.
Karaoke Songs
I recently hosted a karaoke night event, and thought it would make a good playlist as a reference for the future, as well as a memento of the songs that night. Below are the songs that were sung, plus a few more that were queued up, but we ran out of time. Hope you enjoy!
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Griffin (class of 2027) and features some recent Grammy award winners.
Grammy Winners
In honor of the recent Grammy Awards, listen to a playlist of some of the songs and albums of the winners and experience some of the best music released this past year!
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library Associate Melanie and features some music with an Afrofuturism aesthetic.
Afrofuturism
Afrofuturism is a genre that centers Black history and culture and incorporates science-fiction, technology, and futuristic elements into literature, music, and the visual arts. Often using current social movements or popular culture as a backdrop, Afrofuturism focuses on works that examine the past, question the present, or imagine an (often) optimistic future, and are meant to inspire a sense of pride in their audience.
From Sun Ra‘s cosmic jazz to Beyoncé‘s homage to her roots in “Black Parade” to Janelle Monáe‘s sci fi themes of identity and liberation and beyond, afrofuturistic music highlights Black imagination, storytelling, and resilience. So enjoy some out of this world grooves by Black artists!
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Susanne (class of 2026) and features a playlist in honor of Black History Month.
Black History Month Celebration
In honor of Black History Month, this playlist features songs by some amazing, influential Black artists. There’s a variety of genres and styles on this playlist and no shortage of hits – so enjoy and continue to support Black musicians this February and every month!
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features music by and for independent women.
I Can Buy Myself Flowers
This year has welcomed us with remarkable women in music, stepping up to show how much they are worth and how they don’t need no man! For starters, Miley Cyrus has given a new anthem to all women around the world who have ever been mistreated or underappreciated by their significant other, with her new song “Flowers”. This is a playlist for all the single ladies who have felt the need to roll their eyes at relatives and friends asking if they received any flowers for Valentine’s Day. An independent woman can, in fact, buy herself flowers.
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eliana (class of 2024) and features a selection of songs recorded live.
Best Live Performances
There’s an endless number of incredible live performances, but these are some of the ones that top my list. I suppose being able to see the real thing would be better but a YouTube video is a close second, right?!?
Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean” (Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983) – An even bigger cultural reset
Rihanna – “Love on the Brain” (Live at Global Citizen Festival 2016) – Performance I would have traded my left kidney for to see live
Beyoncé – “At Last” (For Barack and Michelle Obama – Inaugural Ball January 20, 2009) – A defining historical moment that never fails to bring tears to my eyes
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features a selection of music featuring songs that mention the color green in their titles curated by our Music Library Associate, Melanie.
It’s almost time for St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) and the first day of Spring (March 20th), so I have had the color green on the brain of late. Herewith, a collection of songs that mention the color green in their titles. Enjoy!
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features music from the 2010s curated by Music Library student manager Deisy (class of 2024).
Remembering the 2010’s
As you drive down the road listening to the radio, all of a sudden that one song comes on! As it plays, memories of the past flood into you as you smile from the past nostalgia. Well this playlist will transport you back to the decade of the 2010’s, what are some good memories that will come up for you?
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
Beyoncé in Formation offers a deep-dive into the lyrics and meaning of Beyoncé’s 2016 album Lemonade through a Black feminist and LGBTQ+ lens, creating a deeply nuanced and complex view of the Billboard #1 album.
Tinsley effectively combines her personal life, renowned Black feminist and LGBTQ+ artists, and Beyoncé’s album into one cohesive story wherein she breaks down the ways in which Beyoncé’s album is not only a Black-empowerment album, but an album that introduces complex feminist and LGBTQ+ ideas rarely seen in mainstream music.
I originally picked up this book because I love picking apart lyrics and delving into hidden messages in songs and music videos, however I quickly realized that it would be about much more than song inspection. I appreciate the way in which Tinsley was able to integrate her life into the greater story of Black feminism in a way that felt raw and real, much like the rest of the book. She doesn’t dance around any subject, and no subject matter is too grandiose to take on. Whether it’s gender and sexuality, racism, or the history of music, Tinsley covers it all.
Of course, this book would be nothing without the album Lemonade itself. The CD is also available at Parsons Music Library — feel free to check out both the CD and the book to heighten your experience!
Picture of the author (Eliana class of 2024) at a Beyonce concert in 2016
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today we’re featuring a collection of popular music from the first decade of the 21st century, curated by Music Library student manager Abby (class of 2021).
Per Abby, here’s some “Popular music from 2000-2009 for all your guilty pleasure jam session needs”:
