The Plymouth Playlist October 2018

Tired of bumping the same music over and over again while waiting for Kanye to drop yet another delayed album? So are we. That’s why The Clock is proud to introduce a brand new column to the Arts and Entertainment section: The Plymouth Playlist. Here we will be providing a list of seven songs, chosen for their seasonal and topical significance, to recommend for people to listen to in order to add a wider range to your music library. The genre’s and artists will be completely mixed. 

We would also like to open up the playlist to ONE pick from a Plymouth student. Send your choice of a song to the e-mail mtm1027@plymouth.edualong with a short summary of why you chose this song. The Plymouth playlist will appear in the first issue of every month right here in the A&E section. Without further ado, here are our seven picks for October 2018.

1. This is Halloween, cover by Jonathan Young: 

How can one go into October and not blast the music of the season? With Christmas a full two months away, Halloween is the Holiday to embrace. The classic song from Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), which is actually celebrating its 25^thanniversary, is a must. However, as good as the original from the film is I would like to suggest hopping onto YouTube, Spotify, etc., and giving the heavy metal cover from Jonathan Young a shot. It provides a bass filled screamo fusion that is perfect for a harder hitting song. It maintains the same spookiness of the original; yet adds a more creative tone that ranges from creepy to outright terrifying. Be careful with your volume when playing this one; and try not to hear it in your nightmares.

      2. Boys of Fall, by Kenney Chesney:

Now I am not a big country person. Not at all in fact, but this song gets me. Growing up playing football in middle school and later high school this was my town’s football song. Introduced to me by an awesome coach and mentor, this one can reach anyone who had positive experiences on youth sports teams. With football season in full bloom now and the autumn season upon us, I felt that Kenney Chesney’s Boys of Fall was an ideal pick to bring back the memories as the leave and rain continue to fall.

     3. Thriller, by Michael Jackson:

I mean, come on. How does this not make the list? The 1982 song from the King of Pop still remains one of the greatest Halloween songs ever. No list would be complete without it, and no pumpkin season should pass without revisiting the iconic music video. Watching a Michael Jackson in his prime, marching around in the streets with the ghosts and ghouls of Thriller Night, is always a positive experience. That ending laugh, and Jackson’s terrifying smile at the camera is sure to kick the season off the right way.

     4. Drink the Water, by Justin Cross:

This is a weirder one to put on the playlist for sure. This dark country work from Justin Cross addresses the effects that charismatic leaders and exclusionary ideas can have on influencing the masses. With the elections in November rapidly approaching, and tensions in D.C. continuing to boil over, this felt like an appropriate choice. If one isn’t really into feeling a political message it’s a great song to enjoy regardless. The sound is both classic and haunting, possibly making it a cool background song to play with the upcoming release of Red Dead Redemption 2. 

     5. Forever, by Kanye West (Ye?):

Even though his new album has been put off for a little while for perhaps questionable reasons, you can get in the spirit by listening to the old Kanye classics. While he’s only one of a few names on the track, it’s one you surely know. Honestly, any Kanye song can fit on this list but it was just one of the first ones that came to mind. Also, Eminem is on the track and arguably owns it.

     6. Dog Days Are Over, by Florence + The Machine:

As a resident English major here at PSU, you’d think I would be above such direct references with such blatant disregard for the content of the song. Summer ended quickly and fall came on fast is the idea here. Get it? Dog days? Anyway. As we get into the swing of fall and Spooktober, as much as it pains me, we have to hang up the summer songs and dust off the fall and winter tracks. But this track is somewhere in the middle of the seasons, somehow. But if you don’t like (or know) Florence + The Machine, please feel free to start listening to them with this song because they’re beautiful. 

     7. Ribs, by Lorde:

Whether you’re a new student just finally getting into the swing of things or a return student back for another year of wholesome education, you likely know what goes on on the weekends here. “Ribs” by my girl Lorde is a feel-good song about the good times. Now while I am a strong supporter of good fun and revelry, college is more than just that, most of the time and this song is emblematic of just that. That being said, Pirate Party is this weekend, so… revel on, friends.