Songs I Listened to in January
January Wrapped
I’m fascinated by people’s music listening habits. I love hearing about what people are listening to, and also why—what draws them to a song, what keeps them there, and what parts of it resonate with them. Is it lyrics? Is it music production? Is it the inflection of the singer’s voice during a very specific part of the song? I’m curious!
I’m also curious about music discovery. There’s endless music out there, always a new song going viral on Tik Tok, a random SoundCloud link being dropped in Twitter replies, or a Spotify pop-up that recommends new music through whatever the algorithm deems “correct.” As much as these new tools of music discovery are welcoming, they also feel incredibly overwhelming.
I’ll be honest, I’ve been in a bit of a music slump. During these times, my brain starts to think, wow, what do I actually like listening to? What is my music taste? Am I just listening to listen, to fill the silence? When’s the last time I’ve felt truly moved by a song? Beyoncé was so right when she said people don’t make or listen to albums anymore. Not everything needs to be sped-up nightcore songs!
Whenever I feel like this, I start fiending for new music, but it feels like nothing resonates. There are many songs out there that I think are fine, and listening to them is a fine experience, nothing negative but nothing overly positive either. I miss when a song sparks actual connection and makes me think.
Nowadays, an active effort must be made to find those songs (because who knows why the algorithm pushes out the songs it does), and my goal this year, as it is most years, is to seek out content that’s novel and connective.
That being said, here are some songs I listened to in January and what I like about them.
“Love Me or Leave Me” by Little Mix
A tweet of Perrie Edwards singing “Secret Love Song,” from Little Mix’s third album, Get Weird, came up on my timeline recently, and it reminded me of all the other times Perrie was singing for her life, which led me to think about “Love Me or Leave Me.”
I listened to this ballad on repeat on my train ride one day, alternating between this and the new Twice song (more on that later). “Love Me or Leave Me,” also off that third album, is a break-up song, told from the point-of-view of someone still processing its demise and where it all went wrong. Speculation points to the subject of the song being the break-up between Perrie and Zayn Malik, who dated for a few years (and were engaged) before ending their relationship in 2015. As a Pop Girl™ who was a lover of both One Direction and Little Mix during that timeline, naturally I was invested in any potential references in subsequent released songs. (“Shout Out to My Ex” is also on the Get Weird album).
There’s a fair bit of repetition in the song’s lyrics, with lines like “We used to never go to bed angry / But it's all we ever do lately” and “You can take this heart / Heal it or break it all apart.” And the thing that grips me most about this song is how each member puts their own style and emotion to these lyrics. Perrie’s “You can take this heart” (first and second chorus) is not the same as Leigh Anne’s “You can take this heart” (third chorus). In the bridge, the way Jade sings, “And love me, baby, please,” comes off as a heartbreaking last plea.
I have never been through a devastating break-up, but this song makes me feel like I have, a sense of loneliness and desperation that is all-consuming and settles without respite. Maybe the reason I can’t relate is why I can listen to it so much, devoid of any real relatability. It would be too heartbreaking otherwise.
“Moonlight Sunrise” by Twice
I teared up watching this music video for the first time. I’m not sure why! It is absolutely not a crying song!
This is the second full English track from Twice, and I think the emotion came from thinking about the group’s growth. Twice was formed in 2015, and this song reads more mature compared to their older stuff, a trajectory that makes sense for them as they enter their eighth year as a group, with a newly renewed contract. (Most K-pop group contracts expire within seven years, and members can decide to re-sign with the company or depart. All members of Twice renewed!).
The song speaks openly about want and desire. From “It's ‘I need you’ o'clock right now” to “Got a craving, baby, can you feed it?” to “I'm your moonlight, you're my sunrise, babe,” it fits well as a follow-up to their first English track, “The Feels.” Where “The Feels” follows the heart fluttering emotions of harboring a crush, “Moonlight Sunrise” is about the passion that comes after getting together with them.
My favorite lyric from the song is the more subtle, “I hope this song’s on your playlist.” In the age of Spotify’s Friend Activity sidebar, when making playlists for others is a love language and songs become reminiscent of people, time, and places, doesn’t that line resonate? I hope you’re listening to this song, too. I hope you’re thinking of me, too.
REASON by Monsta X
Monsta X released their latest EP, REASON, earlier this month and I’ve listened to it on repeat.
Composed of six songs and clocking in at just under 18 minutes, all the songs have a captivating quality to them. The group’s two rappers, Joohoney and I.M., have such distinct rap styles that it’s fun to listen to how they balance that within a song. Where Joohoney is all power, I.M. is more controlled, but both pull you in.
The vocals of “Deny” make it my favorite track off the album, followed by “Crescendo” for the rap verses and “Daydream” for how cinematic it feels, reminding me of a daydream turned nightmarish.
“Ditto” & “OMG” by NewJeans
If you listen to K-pop in any way, you’ve probably run into NewJeans, a rookie girl group that debuted in the second half of 2022. Despite their short discography of only six songs, they’ve already made a name for themselves in the industry, particularly with their song “Hype Boy,” which spurred a viral dance challenge done by idols and fans alike (ex. this video of enlisted idols dancing to it in their uniforms).
With every release, NewJeans only seems to grow bigger and bigger, and their two recent songs, “Ditto” and “OMG,” prove that, capturing the attention of those who aren’t the typical K-pop listeners.
And I’m not immune to this! I think their songs are very catchy, with a repeatability that can be attributed to the fact that their songs are on the shorter side (most clock in at around three minutes, only one of them is close to four). It makes you want to listen to it over and over again, never feeling truly satisfied at the end of a listen until you hit replay again.
“Black Eye” by Vernon
There will be a future post dedicated to this song. I am still thinking!
Some recs:
Sorry for the delay. Thank you for reading! Happy belated new year, both Gregorian and Lunar. A small plug that if you’re a K-pop fan, you should come to the cupsleeve me and my friends are planning.
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