A year ago, I set about documenting my life in sonic form. I embarked on creating what essentially is a song-a-day challenge-type playlist, but without the Tumblr-era prompts to include a song based upon a brief about an ex-lover or a tear-inducing memory. Not content with allowing myself the freedom of posting whichever song I would like, this challenge did come with certain caveats:
Only one song per artist
Only one song per day
Only one version of any given song
Three very simple rules, but rules that posed challenges no less. With the slight technicality of artists performing under various recording names being seen as separate recording artists, I managed to complete the year (much to my surprise) with only one day where I added a repeat artist. That said, I must also come clean that this was not only a repeat artist but also a repeat song.
So, the question remains: why bother setting about on such a seemingly pointless exercise? Well, I suppose it's a good question. Was it an exercise in memory-building? To track my mood based on prevalent genre? For a blog post one year along the line? To tell you the truth, the deep-rooted rationale is something I am sure I will try to unpack in a form of therapy in years to come, but all I can really confirm is that I enjoyed the process.
It combined many things that I loved. First of all, as someone who has struggled to keep a diary but enjoys photographing and writing about pointless goings-on that I witness in the world around me - this offered an opportunity to go about a similar process in an aural sense: the songs I overheard blasting from somebody's speakers on a sunny day as they drove past, the songs that my co-workers have recommended me that I would usually lose track of or the chronic circus-themed earworm that will never leave.
More than that, I think this has offered me an opportunity to keep a daily log of what I have been doing for a year in a way that I have never had the patience to do. A journalling diary is of no interest to me, as I have such little interest in reading back what thoughts I had or what activities I conducted over a 365-day window. However, to put a playlist on shuffle and allow the song to transport you to a memory from the year that has just passed is something that I absolutely would engage with. Consuming the creations of others removes any underlying uneasiness around the vanity of re-reading your own journals, while still chronicling your time.
With the rationale established, re-visiting this playlist has been an exciting project for me. There was something very satisfying about the fact that the total length of the playlist was pretty much exactly 24 hours, but what was much more satisfying was the process of listening to the songs and re-visiting memories - some to bring a smile to your face, and others a tear to the eye, but all memories of equal value to me and the year that I've just lived.
That said, it would be wrong of me not to highlight 10 standout songs, each of which represent an award-worthy moment within the playlist. So, for your listening pleasure - the entire playlist is available to listen to on Spotify, and the highlights (and 'award' categories) keep on reading.
Biggest Earworm
Entry of the Gladiators - Funny Circus Band (Day 48)
Much to the displeasure of anyone who has spent any time with me over the past year, this has been circling around my head pretty much non-stop. I'm not sure how, or why, this started but it did and it stuck with me for all 365 days of this project. Bizarrely, I'm not annoyed by it, and it continues to lift my mood at points. Big clown energy.
The Accidental Repeater
Odyssey - Going Back to My Roots (Day 227)
There are so many artists I love much more than Odyssey, but somehow they became the only artist to repeat during this project. What makes matter worse is that it was this exact song posted twice - once as the studio version, and once as the radio edit. I can't remember the day on which day the repeat was posted, but I spotted it during a routine check on Day 342 at which point it was replaced by the aptly named Double-Up, Now by Osaka Monaurail.
Most Surprising Day
Future Islands - Seasons (Day 41)
The year in which I've been documenting my time through songs has been an excellent one for seeing live music. An emotional evening courtesy of Phoebe Bridgers on Day 251; discovering the beautiful singing voice of Nell Mescal and Seb Lowe's cutting take on modern living at a gig on Day 360; Days 221 and 225 spent dancing myself clean in the church of James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem. However, in spite of also seeing long-time favourites Future Islands live this year, they were placed on New Year's Eve having provided (via previous Jools Holland performances) a perfect soundtrack to the best New Year's Eve I can remember having.
Most Irritating for Others
Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant Massacree (Day 88)
At just shy of 19 minutes long, it's no wonder that I was greeted with stern looks if ever this came on while my playlist was on shuffle at work. Amazingly, people broadly did find this more irritating than the constant circus-themed earworm, but they need to appreciate this was the exact kind of rambling insanity I needed to accompany my second of three bouts of COVID covered by this playlist.
Most Regretted
Harry Nilsson - Many Rivers to Cross (Day 10)
There are plenty of artists who feature in this playlist that I was infuriated to only be able to include once. However, no other artist crossed my mind as frequently as Harry Nilsson. Very early on, I expressed regret for this song choice. I was left without the silliness of Coconut, the tenderness of Lullaby in Ragtime, and the humourous heartbreak of You're Breaking my Heart. However, looking back, it just makes me appreciate how great of an artist Nilsson is that I could have comfortably slotted his music in so frequently.
Most Literal
Pulp - Mile End (Day 16)
I found out that I was moving to a job in Mile End on that day. There's not much more to it than that. Although I must say that this did become an important part of my commute listening to this on my approach to work every day for at least the first 6 weeks.
Best Overheard Song
George Formby - When I'm Cleaning Windows (Day 168)
The sun was out. The temperature was up. Tops were off, windows were rolled down, and from the speakers of a passing Vauxhall Astra blasted George Formby's When I'm Cleaning Windows. Oh, the Great British Summer.
Best Needle Drop
Daniel Pemberton and Charles Petrescu - I Want to See It All (Day 231)
There are few characters as insanely likeable as Brian and Charles' Charles Petrescu. Those who waited around long enough were treated to this absolute bop, courtesy of Daniel Pemberton (whose work you probably know from playing every time the scenes change in Peep Show). His tummy is a washing machine. What's not to love?
Longest Wait
Flaming Lips - Do You Realize?? (Day 249)
Few bands mean as much to as Flaming Lips, and few songs carry as large a significance as this one. Why, then, it took me 249 days to include them in the playlist I really cannot explain.
Best Memory
Ohio Express - Scooby-Doo (Scooby-Doo Theme Song) (Day 147)
It's always nice to get to spend a day by the sea, with the saltiness of the sea blowing refreshingly across your face. It's even better when the sun is out for you to enjoy after a spell of being cooped up indoors for a little while too long. It's even better when you reach the end of the world's longest pier and delirium starts to set in when a passerby gets a phone call and this is their ringtone. What a day. What a year. What a life.