Playlist for Mid-November 2024
Even in non-election years, mid-November can be a tricky time. In my neck of the woods, it finally feels like the end of the year has arrived. The weather has recently dramatically changed from the highs in the 70’s to highs in the low 50’s and 40’s. Where once we had only sunny weather, the skies have turned overcast.
Music can be a great comfort during times of upheaval. Music can help us feels get in touch with our feelings.
Here are some songs that I have been listening to or come to mind when I think about the general vibes of the atmosphere right now.
- “Hard Candy” by Counting Crows: The line “Certain Sundays in November, when the weather bothers me” makes this an almost yearly staple for me. It captures the moody atmosphere of the month.
2. “Hands Clean” by Alanis Morissette: Perhaps for me, this song is specific to November 2024, but maybe not in the way that the artist intended. Probably like most people, I feel that I voted with my conscious so to me my hands feel clean. I also like the refrain “This could get messy but you don’t seem to mind”.
3. Before heading to the polls I listened to “I’m Not Ready to Make Nice” by the Chicks
4. Mr. Man is a November baby. When he was just a tiny baby I decided that “Sloop John B” by The Beach Boys was his song. I think it is a fitting song for November because it is very catchy but also there is so much tension in it. The chorus of “Let me go home, I wanna go home, yeah yeah, I feel so broke up, I wanna go home”
5. Perhaps, this is because I purchased a Simon and Garfunkel greatest hits CD in November 1997 and I have a very clear memory of listening to it in my dorm room during my first semester of college, I feel “The Boxer” and “America” should be tied for the number 5 slot on this list. To me they go with the transitory feeling of November. In my estimation “The Boxer” is a song about fighting the fight day in and day out. “America” is a song about falling in love while riding on a bus around America. They both feel very American.
Here are some honorable mentions:
- Guns and Roses “November Rain”
- “You Will Be Waiting” Barenaked Ladies
- “Alice’s Restaurant” Arlo Guthrie
- “Harvest Moon” Neil Young
- “Stick Season” Noah Kahan
- “This Time of Year” Better Than Ezra
- “The Mountains Win Again” Blues Traveler
What Music Have You Been Listening To?
