Now that it’s November, the anticipation is high for the upcoming Spotify Wrapped—a virtual marketing campaign that gives a listener all the stats they need from their listening habits over the last year.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Spotify Wrapped, and it’s something that I look forward to seeing every year. Who are my top artists? Are they different from last year? What’s my top song? And how many times have I listened to it? What crazy comparison are they going to make this time?
Just like I do for award shows like the Oscars or the Emmys, I decided to make a predictions list for my own listening taste, along with some explanation of why.
My top artists:
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift was my number one most-listened to artist last year, and I think she’s going to pull through again for a second year in a row. I listened to Taylor Swift non-stop at my job in the spring semester, along with most of the summer getting ready for her concert in July. Although I’ve barely listened to her since (except for the re-recorded “1989” release…), I still think that she’ll end up on top.
Richy Mitch and the Coal Miners
This is the artist that I HOPE is actually my most-listed to artist. My friend introduced me to this band in early summer, and it’s been one of my favorite artists to listen to since. I liked every single one of their songs but one, and I seriously considered going to their concert in Germany if it weren’t for my mandatory classes. If this band somehow manages to beat Taylor Swift, that would be my best-case scenario.
SYML
I’ll be genuinely surprised if SYML doesn’t end up on my top artists again. They’ve been on it for the past two years, both in the third position as well, so I think the tradition needs to continue. The artist released a new album in the spring semester, which was all I listened to for a month, and I always come back to this artist.
Mt. Joy
I’ve listened to a lot of Mt. Joy this year, really gaining an appreciation for all of their music rather than just the newest album. I think that this band is a perfect artist for late summer and early fall, and it’s become a fun tradition to go to all their Colorado concerts with my roommate.
Gracie Abrams
Gracie Abrams has the best songs for a sad, rainy day or a breakup. This year, there had been both of those things, hence the heavy listening. I think that Gracie Abrams might even be higher on the top five, but I’m putting her as fifth because maybe I didn’t listen to her as much as I thought I did.
Other front runners:
Spacey Jane
Metro Boomin
Lana Del Rey
Noah Kahan
My top songs:
“3DB” by Richy Mitch and the Coal Miners
I will be very surprised if this isn’t my top song. Ever since my friend showed it to me in May, I’ve been listening to it pretty much non-stop. The piano solo in the middle of the song is one of the best things I’ve ever heard.
“Monsoon” by Hippo Campus
This song came at the best time. It’s quite sad but with great instrumentals, and it’s become one of my favorite songs of all time. It has me yearning for something I don’t have yet or missing something from my past. It is SUCH a good song, and there is a possibility that it tops “3DB.”
“Love Like Ghosts” by Lord Huron
I went to see Lord Huron in concert this year, and this was the only song that I really wanted them to play, but didn’t. It’s so beautiful and haunting; I listened to it non-stop after the concert to make up for my sadness, and I think that did damage to my Spotify stats.
“Aimless – Demo” by Richy Mitch and the Coal Miners
Ah, it’s not an Anna Spotify Wrapped without an instrumental song. Whether it be for studying or something to fall asleep to, this happened to be my chosen song for the year. It’s calm and peaceful, and it just so happens to be by one of my favorite artists.
“Feel Your Pain” by SYML
This is a very sad song—like all these other songs—but it’s amazing. It came off of the artist’s new album from the spring, and it was easily my favorite song from it. Despite the sad vibe, it’s also a little hopeful and comforting.
Other front runners:
“ROLLERCOASTER” by The Lumineers
“Honeylight” by Amber Run
“I know it won’t work” by Gracie Abrams
“Feels Like” by Gracie Abrams
“the grudge” by Olivia Rodrigo
“Meet Me in the Woods” by Lord Huron
Minute Count:
107 thousand minutes
I believe that I’ve listened to Spotify more than last year since I’m always listening when I travel from place to place in Europe, along with during my remote job this summer. Last year, I had around 94 thousand minutes of listening time, so I think that this is a good guess.
Top genre:
Pop, Indie, and Bedroom Pop
There’s not much to say about this since almost all the artists I listen to fall into these categories of genres. I’d be surprised to see anything else in the top three.
The Lost and Forgotten
These are artists that have been in my top five artists in previous years, but I don’t think they’re going to make the cut (or even become a consideration). That doesn’t mean that I don’t like the artists anymore; I would still consider Ritt Momney to be my favorite artist of all time. I just think that my taste shifted a little and that I always listen to these artists little by little over the years, but not enough to make it on the list.
Ritt Momney
Genevieve Stokes
BBno$ and Yung Gravy
The Neighbourhood
Dayglow
Billie Eilish
Other Regular Additions
These are artists that I started listening to a lot this year in my usual repertoire, but they haven’t even been on the radar until this year. Palace and Flipturn are regular favorites, while SZA and Frank Ocean are perfect for the summer.
Palace
SZA
Flipturn
Frank Ocean
Funny random
These are just some random songs and artists I’ve been listening to a lot this past year, with very few similarities. I guess my music taste isn’t ALL sad stuff.
Bad Bunny (“Me Porto Bonito” especially)
For King and Country
Spider-Verse Soundtrack
“Part of Me” by Katy Perry
Stay tuned for my yearly Spotify Wrapped article, where we see how correct the predictions have been and if there are any standout surprises.