Hello, my name is Carolina, and I am a junior. Growing up, I’ve had a very diverse and unique music taste thanks to my parents. They introduced me to everything under the sun, ranging from Motown and David Bowie to Sade and Dean Martin. 

In this column, I’ll create monthly eclectic playlists full of genres from classical to ’70s rock and R&B to pop with the intention to connect students in the Westridge community through music.  Consisting of 15⁠–20 songs, there will be a brief history of two highlighted songs and their creative significance to me. Additionally, each playlist will revolve around the time of year—for example, a fall mix or a playlist full of study favorites to get you through exam season. Maybe you’ll listen on your way to school, while you study, or just for fun! Mixed with Taylor Swift and 70s rock, my eclectic playlist may strike a chord with fellow Westridge students, get their toes tapping, and teach them a little about what they are listening to. 

Daisy: Carolina’s April Edition playlist

Listen here: Apple Music & Spotify

Happy April! Spring is finally here (hopefully less rainy than last year). In this edition of my playlist, I included some songs that remind me of flowers blossoming, the warmth of the sun, and the vernal road leading to summer.

Perhaps my favorite song on this playlist is “Done For Me” by Charlie Puth featuring Kehlani. Video clips of Charlie Puth asking “What if there was a song that started off like…?” is a window into the songwriter who has music from the last seven decades (and every genre) in his musical repertoire, and a facility for creating a catchy melody on the spot. Pop music can often seem simple on the surface, but Charlie Puth’s sophisticated lyrics and melodies reveal depth and influences beyond the Top 40. Born in New Jersey in 1991, Charlie Puth was introduced to classical music by his mother. At age ten he began studying jazz, an experience that changed his musical world forever. In his work, you can hear the jazz influence in the complex chords, polyrhythms, and swing and blues notes. “Done For Me” is no different: it blends R&B, jazz, and the Fender Rhodes keyboard style of Michael McDonald in the early 80’s, creating a simultaneously modern and nostalgic sound. This soulful track conveys themes of devotion and desire of one who feels his sweetheart has one foot out the door.  My favorite part is when Kehlani begins to sing. Her vocals add the partner’s perspective to the song, defending her position and the steps she has taken to reassure her love. Their voices blend together smoothly over the fantastic synth riff.

I have always admired Charlie Puth. I remember when Voicenotes was released in 2018, my dad bought me the CD, and I discovered that this album was written and produced by Puth. It was recorded intimately, using only an MIDI keyboard and a microphone, and engineered entirely by Puth utilizing his phone. This important tool is the reason the record has its title: every song was made from a voice note on his iPhone. I listened to this album everywhere, loving every song. I still do. His music was so new and yet it sounded familiar. Could I hear Billy Joel or Wings or the work of Jimmy Jam? Before I read anything about Puth’s songwriting I could hear his influences. His genius is evident, and his songs are like an old friend. I hear his music and I am once again a middle schooler in my highlighter yellow hoodie with the word PUTH and a red exclamation point on the back amazed to be watching him on stage.

An additional favorite from this playlist is “Coffee & TV” by Blur. Blur, a group established in 1988, consists of (from left to right) drummer Dave Rowntree, Frontman Damon Albarn, bassist Alex James, and guitarist Graham Coxon. They achieved mass popularity throughout the 90s and their battle with Oasis, another britpop group of that era helped fuel the britpop craze of that decade. Combining sounds of bands like the Kinks, the Beatles, and genres like madchester and shoegaze, Blur evolved into a band that stood firm during the rise of grunge bands like Nirvana. (They were even told to consider hiring Nirvana’s producer Butch Vig!). In 1993, their album Modern Life materialized as a quintessential basis for the Britpop genre. Their next albums Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995) secured their status as one of Britain’s biggest bands. Although Britpop made them popular, on their 1997 self-titled album, they pivoted back to alt-rock underground, which earned them a breakthrough in the US. Their 1999 album 13, showed us a more electronic side of Blur, which you can hear in “Coffee & TV.” Blur continues to flourish, and you may know them from solo/side projects like, Albarn’s Gorillaz, or their more recent album, The Ballad of Darren.

I first heard “Coffee & TV” when I watched Cruel Intentions back in February. Watching movies is a great way to discover new music as soundtracks are synchronized with the picture’s mood.  I was immediately drawn to the music chosen by Marc Ferrari for the movie, and I made a playlist of all the songs immediately. When I was creating this month’s playlist, I spent some time browsing through all of my music. My Cruel Intentions list stood out: I knew I could find a song there. I listened to the whole playlist maybe three times all the way through before I decided “Coffee & TV” was the one. This song interestingly incorporates every genre that Blur has dabbled in, which is perhaps why it’s regarded as one of Blur’s most signature songs. Its fusion of alt rock, indie, and britpop, plus the lyrics of melancholy and loneliness, establish the narrative of a mundane life just waiting to be more meaningful. That contradictory upbeat tempo makes me want to make like Reese Witherspoon in the final scene of the movie, put the top of my car down, and smell the fresh spring air as I drive down the highway.