Destress from Finals with This 60s-80s Throwback Playlist

Rock, disco, jazz, funk… all the best genres sprung to life in the sixties, seventies and eighties. Something about the simplicity and the originality of the music, at least personally, always evokes a lot of emotion.

A lot of modern pop is ridden with heavy beats and vocal gymnastics, and while I appreciate this as a form of artistry in and of itself, it takes the emphasis away from the artist. The phrase “beauty in simplicity” is very applicable to the musical world. Most of the old-school classics have a basic tempo, with a melody that is pure and untouched, accompanied by few external elements. Take for example Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven.” It consists solely of a classical guitar and one man’s voice. Bob Dylan was able to move so many people with just his voice and a harmonica (and of course, inspiring lyrics).

About four years ago, I began to compile this sort of music into this playlist, which I have been adding to ever since with songs I pick up from vinyl records, radio stations, etc. Nowadays, the playlist has about 600 songs across five languages all strictly within the 60s to 80s time frame.

You’ll find a complete mixture of songs from the explosion of country music in the 60s, the birth of rock n roll in the 70s, Italian soul, Portuguese Jazz, the incongruousness of bands like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, to the peculiar classics of the 80s. A lot of the artists you’ll be familiar with, but there are some lesser-known artists that I strongly recommend you check out, like Sandie Shaw, Giorgio Gaber, and Smokey Robinson (to name a few). At the same time, some artists are the author of close to thirty songs on the playlist, so you’re bound to stumble across pieces sung by familiar artists that you never knew existed! Happy listening and good luck on your midterms!

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Fall Quarter Playlist 2017

Start your quarter off right with the latest MODA Blog playlist, featuring all of our favorite songs. Whether you're soaking in the last rays of sun, looking for something to jam out to while you polish up that P-set, or you're simply in search of your next go-to jam, check out our playlist!

 

2000s Nostalgia: A Playlist

Remember when it was 2000 and you were in elementary school? When the most stressful part of your day was a hard tie between nap-time and trying to get the good markers for colouring? Or when you'd groan at having to read a picture book or practice your handwriting for homework? Maybe you remember listening to dialup for what felt like years just to search specific keywords that ads told you to use when you were on AOL or Ask Jeeves. Or trying to co-ordinate all of your limbs to get the perfect radio recording of "Waterfalls" on an old cassette.

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Well now you can relive all those memories while trying to juggle psets, finals, and fitting in all your core classes before you graduate. Lean back and try to remember how to relax while sipping your almond-milk cold brew iced coffee. You deserve it.

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Spring Sound

Spring has sprung, or at the very is is springing - lots of rain, lots of sun, and lots of sounds. Sounds of things waking up. These sounds are sometimes dreary and cloudy - the drone/ambient part of the playlist. And sometimes they are upbeat and bright - which takes up the rest of the playlist but doesn't fit into exactly one genre. And sometimes they are in between!

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Spring Quarter Playlist

We've crafted the perfect playlist for spring quarter, whether you're chilling on the Quad with friends, picnicking on the Point or studying abroad, keep listening for MODA Blog's favorite songs of the moment. 

Feature image via Olivia Jia

Spring Break 2017 Playlist

Finals are finally over, so its time to let go of any residual winter quarter baggage you may have held onto and let loose for spring break. Whether you plan on sipping mojitos poolside, bundling up with your favorite movies or taking some time to explore your hometown, we've created the perfect spring break playlist to suit your newly found freedom! Perfect for road tripping, vegging out or getting in the right groove for a night out with friends, we hope you enjoy our favorite songs of the moment! 

Feature image courtesy of Olivia Jia

MODA Blog Playlists: Finals Week Tunes

A little mix of easy background music, sprinkled with a few upbeat tracks, to get you studiously pumped to ace your exams and write like the wind. 

  1. Hallucinate - Oliver Riot
  2. Take Me - The 3am
  3. Sleep Alone - Black Coast
  4. Loot - Club Kuru
  5. Rainclouds - Boxing at the Zoo
  6. I Might Be Wrong - Andrew Judah
  7. Alcatraz - Oliver Riot
  8. Ivory Black - Oliver Riot
  9. Share Your Love - TRACES
  10. Believer - Myzica
  11. This Burden - Camikaze
  12. Figurine - Henri Bardot
  13. Do You Love Someone - Grouplove
  14. Up All Night - Kid Freud
  15. All I Know - Noah Kittinger
  16. Monsters - Taylor Phelan
  17. Heir to the Sugar Honey Queen - Ehiorobo
  18. Patience - Josh Cashman
  19. Overnight - Chroma Bay
  20. Like a Balloon - Motel Raphaël 
  21. Home - Nick Wilson
  22. Harder - Ames
  23. Afterglow - Speakrs
  24. Ghost - Matt Gresham
  25. Suitcase - Cheers Elephant
  26. Where You Came From - East of Here

Find the playlist on Spotify: 

Songs of the Season: MODA Blog Playlists (Fall 2016)

If you're like me and in constant pursuit of new and fresh tunes, look no further than our collaborative MODA Blog Playlists. Created quarterly and curated by your very own MODA bloggers, these playlists will be sure to energize, relax, or help with procrastination as first week undetectably and inevitably becomes midterm season. 

Check out Fall 2016's hits on Spotify! 

Let us know of your favorite jams and any musical suggestions!