music makes moments
By Bulldog Beat Staff
2020 was a year amplified by music. Music is what helped us cope. It helped us through the tough moments and the vast changes this year amid the pandemic. We agree that despite the tragedies of this year, music has been deeply understood more now than ever. It is what connects us, a way to say, “I see you.” Read below for each of our top five tracks of the year. We encourage you to listen along and comment your top songs of 2020, too!
By Nele Langhof
The bathwater stands lukewarm and rippling behind me as I rise from the confines of my ceramic bed. The flames of the tea lights lining the threshold of the tub stand erect and unwavering, yet one cinnamon stick falls into the water from the bench where my head was resting as my hair falls from its loose bun. The curls which land around my shoulders bring with their fall the smell of fresh spice, heralding in the beginnings of fall. Just as summer seems to have come to an end, I notice my wine glass is empty. The soft crackling of my vinyl player foreshadows the beginning of a new track.
By Luke Guillroy
It’s a Tweet brought to life. Two of Twitter’s premier personalities, singer/songwriter Phoebe Bridgers and comedian Zack Fox, joined forces to launch Bridgers’ new album, Punisher. Fox’s influence on the 90-minute Twitch livestream is obvious. It’s an extended interpretation of his absurdist humor. Bridgers, who has become a must-follow Twitter comedian in her own right, raises the audience interest in the stream with her live performances. The show was … rough. In terms of plot, it’s an acid trip idea that never got a sober revision. There are awkward silences, talking roaches and spiked punch. It certainly should not work. But I loved every second.
By Takunda Mafundikwa
Aminé makes amazing music. “Burden” is currently the theme song of my life right now. “This the shit you pick your homie up from jail to” is the opening line that sets the stage. There’s so many things I can relate to in the song from the lyrics, to the visualization to the topics he’s discussing.
By Jacqueline Reynolds
On a summer night in 2016, I stood among a crowd of over 55,000 strangers in a sea of lights, sounds and colors. It was Coldplay’s “A Head Full of Dreams” tour, and the large stadium was vibrant. The British rock band is notorious for their energetic, passionate performances, and their music has connected people across countries, genres and generations. They ended the show with “A Sky Full of Stars.” Visuals of space and shooting stars spun across the large screens above the stage and thousands of little cutout stars fluttered from the ceiling, dancing across the crowd. There is something intimate about feeling so small and so full of life at the same time.
Photo from johnnyswim.com By Southern Britt Married singer-songwriters Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez make up an American folk duo formally known as Johnnyswim. The two took their songs from cross-country tours to their own backyard on August 11, 2020 when the two longed for community and the community longed for song.
Photo from cholianglin.com By Jostlyn Lord Picture this: you’re at a concert in an intimate performance hall. You’re in the first row, and you look lovingly into the proscenium stage in front of you. You can see the sweat on the brow of the violinist on stage and the passion in his eyes as heContinue reading “Even a Pre-Recorded Livestream Lacks the True Concert Experience”
Photo from Post Malone on YouTube By Korey Elliott Post Malone paid tribute to Nirvana on a YouTube livestream the night of April 24 to help raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts. The rapper shows off his impressive widespread genre range with this spot-on grunge performance, alongside notorious Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, producer BrianContinue reading “Post Malone x Nirvana Tribute – Livestream”
Photo from digboston via Wikipedia By Abigail Chasteen Nic0 blue: “this is the best thing of the lockdown, thank u Kristian” Nic0 blue, I think I agree with you. The Tallest Man on Earth might have the biggest heart for his fans. His quarantine live stream concert series, consisting of seven Youtube videos and goodContinue reading “The Tallest Man on Earth’s Livestream Concert Helps Me Stand a Little Taller”
Photo from mtjoyband.com By Katie Fugett Unlike the 2019 Philadelphia Music & Arts Festival, which boasted 3 independent music venues and thousands of cheering fans, the 2020 Philly Music Fest was smaller and more intimate — a result of the new normal for concerts and music festivals during COVID-19. Headlining band Mt. Joy’s performance wasContinue reading “Mt Joy Performs Energetic Livestream Show”
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