What We Listening To? Spotify Wrapped Edition

Spotify Handle @racheljason

On Wednesday, November 29th, I woke up to more notifications and phone activity than usual. Most mornings, the only notifications are a snapchat from the boy I should not be talking to, a Facebook video from my mom, or a fitness app notification reminding me to move my body. However, this morning was different–it was a big day. It was a day a certain group of people waited for, but never knows when it will arrive. 

Spotify released “Wrapped 2023” at 8 am. I received texts from friends and group chats asking me about my Spotify Wrapped, “send me your Spotify Wrapped! Who are your top artists? How many minutes have you listened to Spotify?” Each Snapchat and Instagram story I clicked on displayed a Wrapped. I analyzed every single one; thinking about if their music taste matched the idea of them in my head or their vibes as a person. I scrolled through many TikToks that dissected people’s music taste: “What Your Spotify Wrapped Says About You.” 

“Wrapped” is a viral campaign by Spotify since 2016. It recaps an individual’s listening experience in one year, including top artists, songs, albums, genres, and podcasts. Similar to the TikTok trend, I will be analyzing my Spotify Wrapped. I am an avid music listener–I listen to music while having a good cry in the shower, while going on long drives, or while walking to the worst class of the semester. Music is my love language–I send songs to people that I think they would appreciate, and listen to every song that people send me. Music is a huge part of my identity (which you can read about in my published article, The Connection of Music); it represents stages in my life or my emotional experience. So, let’s dive into my Spotify Wrapped for an insight into a year in my life. 

Top Genres

1. Rap (lots of Drake, Mac Miller, and Gunna)
2. R&B (this is my #1 genre forever and always) 
3. Pop (s/o SZA, Rihanna, and Adele) 
4. Alternative R&B (Steve Lacy and Clairo, my lovers)
5. Pov: Indie (listen to Antidote, by Orion Sun) 

Top Song

Let ‘Em Know, by Bryson Tiller 

• This is my no-skip song. If this song plays and I am mid-conversation, even if it is a mid-heated rant, I will stop speaking. If I am listening to this song and receive a phone call, I will not answer until the song has finished. My roommate and I will sing this song, word-for-word, at the top of our lungs whenever it plays. Honestly, I am surprised that I have only listened to it 97 times. 

Top Songs 

1. Let ‘Em Know (once again, this is my song!) 
2. Kill Bill (my mom and I sang this song at the top of our lungs when it was first released. I don’t know what trauma she’s carrying, but this was my outlet.) 
3. From Time (I rediscovered this song after listening to it every day during the summer of 2018. This is the first Drake song that I was able to rap word-for-word, bar-for-bar.)
4. Low (this year, I was in a situationship for 6 months.) 
5. Jackie Brown (my love for this song runs deeper than the TikTok trend, trust.)

Listening Time

44,999 minutes

Top Artist 

Drake, top 0.5% fan spending 5,267 minutes together 

• After rediscovering Jungle, From Time, and the release of For All The Dogs, I reentered my Drake phase. Today, I consider Drake one of the GOAT artists in our generation; he is a performer, a lyricist, a rapper, and singer. He is my spirit animal, and I am patiently waiting for the day where we can party together in Turks & Caicos. 

Top Artists 

1. Drake (Current song on repeat is: Shot For Me or Fair Trade – guess what era I’m in lol)  
2. SZA (In the beginning of this year, I screamed her lyrics even when I was in the healthiest era of my life. However, as the months went on, I definitely related to her lyrical music. Far, Special, and Normal Girl play on repeat.) 
3. Brent Faiyaz (This year, I was in my certified lover girl era, then my certified hater girl era… and lately I’ve been in between both. Brent is the perfect combination of a toxic lover; from What You Heard to Poison to Care to WY@.)
4. Lauren Daigle (I am Christian, and Lauren Daigle is my favorite Gospel artist. In the Summer, my mom and I attended her outdoor concert; and her energy was so beautiful and full of love. When I was 16 years old, and began practicing how to drive, I only listened to Lauren Daigle in the car. Her voice, and the lyrics, reminded me of my courage and strength from the Lord. To this day, whenever I feel anxious while driving, I listen to Your Wings and Valuable. 
5. Bryson Tiller (Sorrows has been my song this year. I’m forever a Bryson Tiller girl, especially during my lover girl era. Currently, I am mourning the fact that I cannot attend his concert because it is during finals week.) 

Characters: Vampire

According to Spotify, “When it comes to your listening, you like to embrace a little…darkness. You listen to emotional, atmospheric music more than most.” I believe all the baddies got “vampire” (and all baddies are also in therapy!) 

In previous years, many people around the world (including myself) have found many faults and inaccuracies in the Wrapped results. However, I strongly agree with my Wrapped this year; unlike in 2021… Spotify Wrapped said my top artist was Johann Sebastian Bach. To top it off, I was in the top 0.005% of his listeners. This may seem confusing or ridiculous to most; however, it made a lot of sense for my life. Every night, I played Bach/calming jazz music for my dog who had anxiety. Bach relaxed his nerves and helped him sleep. Although I love my dog very much and care about his well-being, I will never make this mistake again (I bought him his very own “Calming Music for Dogs” CD). 

Here’s to another year of songs, artists, and podcasts that reflect every part of my life–from my emotions, experiences, and teenage phases. If you still do not use Spotify, what are you doing? I am here to let ‘em know that it is a rite of passage, a way of life, and simply an exciting tradition to look forward to each year!

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