Tag Archives: Eliana C

Arachnophonia: Michael Jackson “Thriller”

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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.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eliana (class of 2026) and features MIchael Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller. Thanks, Eliana!

Michael Jackson

Thriller

Michael Jackson - Thriller album cover

Michael Jackson is one of those timeless artists that crosses generations of listeners. There are few people that I have met that say they have not listened to him, and if they say they are unaware what songs he has made, it is likely they just had no idea who wrote the song. Winning 13 Grammy Awards over his lifetime, Michael was widely recognized as the “King of Pop.” 8 of those Grammy Awards went to his album Thriller in 1984, and to this day he remains one of the record holders for most Grammy Awards won in a single night.

Thriller is Michael’s 6th studio album, and it remains the best-selling album of all time to this day. One of its tracks, “Beat It,” won Record of the Year in 1982 alongside his other awards. This album contains many fan favorites, including the well-known “Thriller” and “Billie Jean.” One of my favorites is “The Girl is Mine” featuring Paul McCartney. This soft pop ballad reminds me of Michael’s early Motown era, serenading the world with songs of love. Michael’s passing in 2009 shook the world, but his influence continues to live on through his music. The Thriller album is sure to get you bobbing your head without you even noticing, so be sure to take a listen to the vinyl (or on CD) at the Parsons Music Library!

Arachnophonia: “The Musical Temperament” by Anthony E. Kemp

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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.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eliana (class of 2026) and features a book about music psychology as it relates to musicians. Thanks, Eliana!

The Musical Temperament: Psychology and Personality of Musicians by Anthony E. Kemp

The Musical Temperament: Psychology and Personality of Musicians by Anthony E. Kemp

If you are interested in psychology and music, I recommend reading Anthony E. Kemp’s The Musical Temperament: Psychology and Personality of Musicians if you need some help understanding how research concerning the personalities of musicians has progressed over the years. Though it is heavy in research jargon, this book alerts the reader that this is a growing field that gives insight into how the different paths that musicians choose to take can influence their personality traits.

Published in 1996, The Musical Temperament: Psychology and Personality of Musicians is the first book to address connections of personality traits and psychological states with various types of musicians, including composers, teachers, and many more. The author introduces personality theories that have emerged over the decades and addresses the traits of anxiety, independence, sensitivity, introversion, and gender issues through the lenses of research and scholarly articles. Kemp also considers different forms of musicianship, such as singers or conductors, to demonstrate the impact that different skill sets have on personality and the predisposed path a musician may take in relation to these skills.

Parsons Playlists: Malcolm Todd

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Eliana (class of 2026) and features songs by singer-songwriter Malcolm Todd.

Malcolm Todd

One of my favorite artists right now is Malcolm Todd, an up-and-coming American singer and songwriter whose music is a blend of alternative, pop, and R&B. His music creates a unique sound and heavily uses elements of electric guitar, violins, trumpets, layered vocals, and more, telling stories of love, insecurities, and self-discovery.

Malcolm first gained popularity after two of his songs, “Art House” and “Roomates,” gained a lot of traction on TikTok in 2023. At the time, Malcolm had only released a few songs, such as an EP (extended play) called “Demos Before Prom” and a few singles. Since then, Malcolm has released a number of singles and a couple of albums, including “Sweet Boy” and “Malcolm Todd.” One of my favorite things about Malcolm Todd is his music videos. In some, like “Roomates,” he is just messing around with friends, while others, like “Cheer Me On,” contain just a single shot of Malcolm showcasing his emotions.

Malcolm Todd – “Chest Pain (I Love)”

Malcolm Todd – “Sweet Boy”

Malcolm Todd – “Original”

Malcolm Todd – “You Owe Me”

Malcolm Todd – “Roommates”

Malcolm Todd – “4Me 4Me”

Malcolm Todd – “Walk to Class”

Malcolm Todd – “Earrings”

Malcolm Todd – “Art House”

Malcolm Todd – “Florence”

Malcolm Todd ft. Omar Apollo – “Bleed”

Malcolm Todd – “Cheer Me On”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:

Arachnophonia: Joe Hisaishi “A Symphonic Celebration : Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki”

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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.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Eliana (class of 2026) and features a vinyl record of music from the films of Miyazaki. Thanks, Eliana!

Joe Hisaishi and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Symphonic Celebration : Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki

Joe Hisaishi - A Symphonic Celebration vinyl album cover

Joe Hisaishi is a Japanese composer, music director, pianist, and conductor most known for his collaboration with Studio Ghibli and its creator, Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese animator and filmmaker. Together, they have created a number of brilliant films, including Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, and Howl’s Moving Castle (my personal favorite!), with amazing musical scores. Through this album, you can experience the movies without even seeing them!

This is an album that I have experienced in both a film concert and through vinyl, and in my opinion, I believe it is an amazing score no matter how you listen to it. If you are a fan of that fairytale feeling you get from watching animated movies made by companies such as Disney or Pixar, there is a chance you will love Joe Hisaishi’s music. Even without knowing the movies associated with each of the songs on this vinyl, the songs can tell you exactly how each movie will make you feel. For example, when listening to “Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea,” I can tell that the movie will give me a joyful feeling; however, do not be fooled by its childlike tone. These songs, and their respective movies, can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and they serve as background to the deep and rich stories created by Hayao Miyazaki.

This album may only appeal to specific audiences, and you might have to watch the movies to truly understand where I am coming from; however, I believe that Joe Hisaishi is a brilliant composer that conveys many feelings and emotions through music. And remember, this is only a taste of what Hisaishi has to offer! I recommend exploring his other work as well, and maybe even take a look at Miyazaki’s films so you can see the songs in action!

Parsons Playlists: Wasia Project

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Eliana (class of 2026) and features the English pop duo Wasia Project.

Wasia Project

Wasia Project

Wasia Project is an up-and-coming English sibling alt-pop-duo created in 2019 by Olivia Hardy and William Gao. The name “Wasia” comes from a mix of Chinese and English, reflecting the backgrounds of the two artists. With Olivia on vocals and guitar and William on vocals, keyboards, and piano, the two have made a name for themselves. They released their first track called “why don’t u love me” in 2019 and later released the EP “how can i pretend” in 2022. I personally saw Wasia Project when they opened for Laufey in DC, and even though I had listened to them previously, I fell even more in love with their music after seeing them. Some of my favorites are “ur so pretty,” “impossible,” and “Remember When.” The songs give me a nostalgic and longing feel through the different use of vocals and instrumentals.

Wasia Project – “why don’t u love me”

Wasia Project – “Is This What Love Is?”

Wasia Project – “Remember When”

Wasia Project – “My Lover is Sleeping”

Wasia Project – “Petals on the Moon”

Wasia Project – “ur so pretty”

Wasia Project – “impossible”

Wasia Project – “Takes Me Back Home”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zez30OwOKuoVYTWm_LS3hc-r&si=3X0WcyV9kheSFun4