Be Gone, 2016

2016 is almost over and I feel pretty apathetic about it.  If this year were a song, it would be “Dark Necessities” by Red Hot Chili Peppers.  It’s an okay song; it’s fine but you don’t really need to listen to it that much or feel compelled to buy the album.  This year was very “Dark Necessities,” very meh.

There were some highlights.  I started the year with a job that I hated and ended it with one that I love.  I saw my relationship hit two years.  I voted for a female presidential candidate. 

But overall, 2016 felt like the appetizers you have at Thanksgiving—you just eat them to get to the meal.  I see 2017, for me at least, to be a real MEAL year.  I expect great things to happen. 

Music is such a huge part of my life that I can recall, for the most part, what songs were major players at certain times of my life.  I do remember some highlights from this year.  Below I have listed the highlights from my year.  Below that, I am including a playlist of what I deem to be the best music of 2016.

So, getting back to “Dark Necessities” being the most representative song of this year, if I were to pick a 2017 anthem, what would it be?

So I did.  I opened my iTunes collection and hit "Shuffle All" and went with the first song played.

Next year’s anthem is “Sunspots” by Nine Inch Nails.  Ok, I can work with that (after all, we are ending the year with new NIN music, finally). “My life it seems has taken a turn, why, in the name of God, would I ever want to return.”  Great things will happen in 2017.  2016 was the appetizer, the set up, the precursor, the Phantom Menace, of a really epic year.  No need to turn back, we can only move forward.

“I think I have to be someone, now I just stare into the sun.”

My Year in Music

January:

“Know Yourself” by Drake

“Big Rings” by Drake & Future

“Jumpman” by Drake & Future

February:

“The Vengeful One” by Disturbed”

“The Sound of Silence” by Disturbed

“Foolish” by Superchunk

March:

“Third Day of a Seven Day Binge” by Marilyn Manson

“All or Nothing” by Elliphant

“Too Original” by Major Lazer

April:

“Lazy Eye” by Silversun Pickups

“When I’m Small” by Phantogram

“Anti-Summersong” by The Decemberists

May:

“Sorry” by Beyoncé

“Freedom” by Beyoncé

“All Night” by Beyoncé

June:

“The Light” by Disturbed

“Wrong Side of Heaven” by Five Finger Death Punch

“Asking for It” by Shinedown

July:

“November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses

“Estranged” by Guns N’ Roses

“The Loa’s Crossroad” by Volbeat

August:

“16 Dollars” by Volbeat

“Heaven Nor Hell” by Volbeat

“For Evigt” by Volbeat

September:

“Bloody Creature Poster Girl” by In This Moment

“We’re An American Band” by Rob Zombie

“Closer” by Kings of Leon

October:

“The Blacker the Berry” by Kendrick Lamar

“Banana Brain” by Die Antwoord

“Beleiver” by Major Lazer

November:

“Angel Down” by Lady Gaga

“I Can Only Stare” by Sleigh Bells

“I Just Wanna Know” by NF

December:

“Intro 2” by NF

“Leave a Trace” by CHURCHES
“Truffle Butter” by Nicki Minaj