By Kaitlin Dunn
Elm Staff Writer
As the weather gets colder and the days get longer, it can be hard to keep your spirits up and not get bored with your routine. Luckily, the end of 2020 is seeing some new music releases by several artists, each with a different sound to offer, from pop, to rap, to rhythm & blues.
From Ariana Grande’s recent album release offering both traditional pop sounds and R&B influences to Julien Baker’s mellowed, stripped-down acoustic release, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Here are some new releases to check out and potentially add to your own playlists.
“Positions” – Ariana Grande
“Positions” is the first single and title track of Ariana Grande’s newly released album. The pop song offers Grande’s traditional high notes as she sings about her relationships.
“Faith Healer” – Julien Baker
Faith Healer is the single accompanying Julien Baker’s upcoming album “Little Oblivions,” which will be released Feb. 26, 2021. Baker’s song is a stripped-down acoustic telling the tale of addiction.
“Put most simply, I think that ‘Faith Healer’ is a song about vices, both the obvious and the more insidious ways that they show up in the human experience,” Baker said in an interview with Vulture.
“Miracle of Life” – Bright Eyes (ft. Phoebe Bridgers)
“This song should not exist in 2020. […] Hopefully, if we all work together and vote, it will make this song sound as irrelevant and outdated as it should,” Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst said in an interview with DIYMag.
A protest song concerning the recent changes to the Supreme Court — particularly the possibility of a rollback in reproductive rights — all proceeds from “Miracle of Life” will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
“Can’t Put It in the Hands of Fate” – Stevie Wonder (ft. Rapsody, Cordae, Chika and Busta Rhymes)
“Can’t Put It in the Hands of Fate” is a commentary on the current political climate in America. Wonder sings about being frustrated with the lack of political progression concerning racial justice in the United States, claiming that “ain’t nobody got time to wait,” indicating the urgency we must acquire to continue the movement, rather than — as the title suggests — place it solely in the hands of time to accomplish that for us.
“Actually Vote” – Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer’s song “Actually Vote” does exactly what it says in the title — it is an anthem encouraging young people to go out and exercise their right to vote. Considering that youth voter turnouts have been the lowest historically, Palmer’s song offers encouragement to go to the voting booths.
Featured Photo caption: From R&B-infused pulses to classic pop tunes, these recent singles promote entertainment alongside an urgent message that audiences need to hear. Photo Courtesy of Saso Tusar.