One of the most anticipated times of the year came in late 2019: Spotify Wrapped season. Spotify tracks the data of your listening habits and gives you playlists "wrapped" up in a little bow in time for the holidays.
At the Echo, we have decided to embrace more data-driven analysis and Spotify Wrapped seems perfect to start with. Some of our writers have sent in their most-listened-to song of the year, hand-delivered to them by the streaming service.
The format of their picks is Song - Artist - Album (Year). Some writers have included a statement on why they enjoy their top pick so much.
Rocket Man - Elton John - Honky Château (1972)
“I only just started listening to Elton John this year and that’s basically all I listened to this summer.”
-Austin Elliott, Editor-In-Chief
Runnin’ (Interlude) - Kehlani - You Should Be Here (2015)
“It’s all about strength and empowerment for women and it centers around keeping focus on your goals.”
-Ally Graham, Managing Editor
Josie-O - Adam Hurt - Earth Tones (2010)
-Dan D’Introno, Assistant News Editor
Whip a Tesla - Yung Gravy & bbno$ - Sensational (2019)
“Honestly it's just a bop. I couldn't think of a song that was my favorite for the year but I like this one.”
-Riley Pond, Design Chief
Tender - Feeder - Pushing the Senses (2005)
“This song is probably my favorite of 2019 because it was featured in one of my favorite TV shows and it helped me through a pretty rough time. The lyrics 'the loneliness is gone' are echoed throughout the song and the instrumentals are beautiful.”
-Heather Weigel, Opinions Editor
The Trapeze Swinger - Gregory Alan Isakov (Iron & Wine Cover - 2015)
-Fenrik Goerlitz, Assistant Opinions Editor
Can’t Believe The Way We Flow - James Blake - Assume Form (2019)
-Charles Post, Sports Editor
Stand Out Fit In - ONE OK ROCK - Eye of the Storm (2018)
I started to value my biracial identity more because of “Stand Out Fit In” (and its music video.) As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that I’m fairly detached from my Filipino half. Growing up in the States didn’t leave me much room to grow a connection with that identity. I never really felt like it belonged to me. One OK Rock’s song reminded me that my Filipino half is something to truly cherish. This song also influenced me to start learning more about the Philippines and Filipino culture.
-Sheryl Norris, Copy Editor
Almost (Sweet Music) - Hozier - Wasteland, Baby! (2019)
“I can’t not move to this song and there’s been a lot of reasons to dance this year.”
Ronia-Isabel Cabansag, Podcast Editor
Almost (Sweet Music) - Hozier - Wasteland, Baby! (2019)
“Hozier is one of my favorite artists overall - his vocals are extremely moving and powerful, his lyrics are incredibly poetic and his politics outside of music (wanting to legalize safe abortion practices for women in Ireland, support of the LGBT community, his recognition of how Black musicians have shaped the music industry and by extension his own music) are ones that I find admirable. The whole album ‘Wasteland, Baby!’ is one of my favorites because of the overall tone of each song and the sheer romance in every lyric. ‘Almost’ is a song that I can’t help but sing and dance to when it comes on - it’s happy and bright and just the song I needed in 2019.”
-Rylee Barnsdale, Podcast Producer
Antisocial - Ed Sheeran & Travis Scott - No. 6 Collaborations Project (2019)
“It’s just a bop.”
-Jenna Robinson, Student Govt & Ypsi Govt. Beat Writer (News)
Sucker - Jonas Brothers - Happiness Begins (2019)
“I’m not entirely sure how this song made my number one spot, especially since it was released around June. I guess it’s a fun song and kinda reminds you of happier times.”
-Liz Erne, Content Creator (Digital)
Make Believe - Juice WRLD - Death Race for Love (2019)
“[This song] helped me through a really bad breakup and I played it nonstop for maybe two weeks.”
-Caleb Burlingame, General Columnist (Opinions)
The Archer - Taylor Swift - Lover (2019)
-Kassandra Olschanski, General Columnist (Opinions)
Love You Anymore - Michael Buble - Love (2018)
“I've been working on an arrangement of the song for my A Cappella group, so I've easily listened to this song over 30 times. It's also a pretty neat song.”
-Parker Lazar, Politics Columnist (Opinions)
Too Deep - Kehlani - While We Wait (2019)
“I could relate to the feeling like a relationship with someone is getting “too deep” and getting scared about that. I love this mixtape and every song on it.”
-Layla McMurtrie, Reviews Columnist (Opinions)
Baby I’m Yours - Breakbot ft Irfane - By Your Side (2012)
-Cameron Redburn, Freelancer (Opinions)
COMMANDO - Logic ft. G-Eazy - Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2019)
The song means flexing or achieving what you want to do to the best of your ability. Song has two of my favorite rappers that flex their lyrics into an upbeat, spacey track.
-Curtis Dinwiddie, Reviews Freelancer (Opinions)
Logical Song - Supertramp - Breakfast in America (1979)
As a country, we are in a bit of existential crisis stuck between who we are now and who we want to become. With the two sides (Democrats and Republicans) having two utterly different ideas of what we want America to be, we are literally tearing ourselves apart calling the other "radical fanatical criminals" without looking at our own part in the problem! Now what's the logic in that?
-Patti Mulroy, Freelancer (Opinions)
Click this link to listen to our Spotify Wrapped 2019 Playlist.
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