05 Dec Spotify Wrapped 2019
I spent 160,226 minutes listening to music on Spotify last year (down from 205K minutes in 2015), and what the heck do I have to show for it?
People think that playlists are cool. Playlists are good background music, but they do nothing to improve musical literacy and they are a one way street to dementia. Playlists tell your mind that you don’t need to bother paying attention.
Spotify brought out their Wrapped lists this year. And I am disappointed to learn that my top five artists were Sara Bareilles, Monarchy, Lizzo, London Grammar and Diplo, When did I even listen to those artists?
Even now, as I scroll through my artists’ searches to find the perfect music for an enlightened summer evening, there is barely anything there that inspires me.
And so, I think I am going to turn away from playlists and try to find new artists in their own right. I don’t know what the fuck I am doing, but I listened to a lot of music in 2019, and my top 5 was not it.
It actually seemed more compelling over the decade, with The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, Sara Bareilles, Eliza Doolittle, and Regina Spektor perhaps because I only really started listening to playlists this year.
To be honest, it actually makes me hate Spotify, as much as I hate to say it. It makes me feel like I listened to <nothing> this year! Drats!
Sarah A James
Posted at 23:02h, 30 OctoberWell wasn’t I a bit of a bitch back on September 12, 2019!?
Listening back to the playlist today tells a different story. If you are interested here is the playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4IW40bDc8A5cCiat9yreU9?si=9bb3a91195a84933
I am listening from top to bottom right now, because I wanted to get a sense of the songs I listened to most (and that is how Spotify Wrapped playlists work).
It is not heartbreak in the first instance, although I can see some of that on the musical horixon of this playlist.
I wonder what this year’s Wrapped will be like. I attached to a few different songs this year and played them like my life depended on it. As well as my Soul Gardening playlists (2025 and 2026). I also came to understand what it is like to have a dysregulated nervous system – and not able to listen to music at all, unless it is very, very chill like Late Night Chill or some such.
Listening back, there was evidently a bit of joy in my life in 2019. Life felt sweeter and lighter before COVID in 2020-21, and, I am expecting that my playlist is going to be a bit more depressing this year given the year that I have had – but we will see.
I hope they give a minute count. I would like to compare my listening habits with 2015-2019. Interested to see your Wrapped someday!!