Part 1: Songs That Defined 2019

When I’m up late at night, I dance to music on my phone to get my mind off of things or burn off a few calories. Sinc I’m feeling both generous and guilty for not writing recently, here’s some of my favorite songs from 2019 in no particular order.

“%% (Eung Eung)” by Apink

One of my New Year Resolutions was to listen to more k-pop songs by girl groups. So when 2nd generation k-pop group Apink made their comeback around January 7th, I immediately jumped on watching the music video and comeback performances for “%% (Eung Eung)” by Apink.

The song and video are connected in that they describe the kind of woman they are and the ideal kind of guy they want. To paraphrase, the woman Apink describes themselves to be are cold like ice cream, lonely but kind of enjoys the melancholy. And the guy they prefer should be confident and sincere in their first impression or else it won’t work for them.

I like the video overall. It’s pink throughout the video. There’s a set with cars and fog in the background as Apink dances their routine. And they symbolically build the ideal man using a heart, an ear, lips, a hand, a pair of sneakers and a suit.

“Juice” by Lizzo

I have listened to Lizzo’s music a good while before she began breaking into mainstream music — as in on the Billboard charts. Since I stumbled across her music video for “Scuse Me” I have been enamored and soothed by the self-love, self-acceptance and body positivity she displays in her music.

Watching her perform on television, at award shows and win awards for her musical work has been a dream. It’s like watching a flower bloom in real time. 2019 has been the year she’s proven she has the juice.

“Gotta Go” by Chunga Ha

Korean solo artist Chungha had a pretty good year. During her “Gotta Go” comeback, she won first place 7 times on various Korean music shows. And she deserved it too. She’s getting recognition and it isn’t hard to explain why.

Her voice is sultry and she has smooth dance moves. And she’s a gorgeous person. She’s just ugh! The was one of the most cool songs I’ve listened to this year.

“Cellophane” by FKA Twigs

In the midst of my awkward dancing in my room, this song would slow everything down. I interpreted “Cellophane” to be about a significant other who Ms. Twigs felt she couldn’t be enough for. Naturally, a lot of fans and I took this as her discussing her relationship with actor Robert Pattinson. And though I ignored this relationship out of this weird respect for Twigs’ privacy, I assumed that fans of Pattinson and more tabloid-like media attention probably strained the relationship and Twigs’ self-image a little. It’s only an assumption; I can never be FKA Twigs. I’m not that flexible.

Everything about the video is remarkable. From the audience’s applause to just how her heels click and scrape across the floor. Never have I felt more soothed by a pole dance. And when she begins to fall, that was one of the best sequences. Then finally with those masked women finding her and gently caking mud on her felt like such a healing, phoenix rising from the ashes moment.

Take it a step further, the MAGDELENE album is worth a good listen. There are a myriad of good songs like “holy terrain” and “home with you.” My personal favorite is “sad day.”

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Thank you for reading this post! “Songs that Defined 2019” is going to be about a six-part post series I’ll be posting nightly through Christmas and up to the night before New Year’s Eve.

Until then, I hope you’re finding ways to calm your brain and give yourself a good night’s sleep.