Busybee's Playlist

In short, my 2021 was a very depressing dance party.

The long-awaited Spotify Wrapped has finally arrived. Your feed is now flooded with updated stories of people, showcasing what they listen to on a day-to-day basis. This time of year is akin to a Christmas miracle, as the normally silent follower you have in your list (you know, the one who posts a picture once every two years) comes out of their shell to share their music taste. My personal opinion, it’s the most wonderful time of the year … for a mating call.

Listen, don’t deny it, it’s an attention-seeking tactic. And it is OKAY. I am not big on critiquing attention seekers, because lo-and-behold, I am one. We love a self-aware queen, amiright? Embrace your flaws, and turn them into a weapon.

Alright, that was unnecessary, moving on.

Truth be told, 2021 was a year to which I clung to music more than I usually do. Heck, it even rivals 2020, when lockdowns upon lockdowns were called, and people were dying by the thousands. The return to a semi-normal lifestyle was quite overwhelming, to be honest, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. Mostly because, a number of things have changed, and my need for music increased.

The “vibes” as Spotify dubbed it, were:

Truly, most of my time was spent pondering the days of yore. And also wondering why people couldn’t just get their shit together, and treat one another kindly.

When it comes to my listening habits, I’m afraid my favourite music genres never change:

Can we talk about Spotify’s choice of WordArt, I feel like I’m witnessing a middle-school presentation. Nostalgic for the early 2000s are we, darling?

And lastly, the statistics have culminated to give me a full summary of my listening habits:

Each and every single one of those artists will received their own love letter, as they have helped me through a wretched year. I have quite an eclectic taste in music, and refuse to snub popular artists just because they are popular, and what we call “mainstream.” Or, and I say this with hopes that we renounce the title, “Basic Bitch Music.” But today, I want to focus on the artist who won the crown:

Little Mix. I have never witnessed a talented girl-band being internationally underestimated as much as they have.
Formed on the X-Factor in 2011, they were the first girl-band to ever win this competition. Originally, the bandmates were Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall. In late 2020, however, the foursome became a trio, as Nelson left the band after struggling for 9 years with the pressures of being in a girl group. She is currently pursuing a solo career, and has released her first single “Boyz” ft. Nicki Minaj in October 2021. The song is not without its share of controversies, from its lyrics and music video, to the backlash it has caused.
For the last ten years, these women have been relentless in their hard work, and while many seem to catch on their talent, they remain understated and undervalued. Which begs the question: why are boy-bands such overnight sensations, and girl-bands remain under the radar until one of them wears a racy dress, and suddenly they’re scrutinized by the media? Rather than fixate on the way their harmonies flow so perfectly together, their ability to cover a song and make it their own, their dream-like acapella and acoustic chants, most of the media fail to recognize what these women are capable of. Especially when it comes to expressing their encouraging feminist statements through their songs. Whilst Shout Out to My Ex put these women on the map, one can equally argue that Woman like Me and Woman’s World deserve as much recognition. You know, if people bothered to give them a listen.

As for me personally, I have followed these women’s careers from day one. I have watched them mature alongside their sound, almost as if we were growing up together. I have felt them sing me through becoming a woman more times than I can count, and I will forever be grateful to them.

At times, because of the catchy tunes pop music is known for, we fail to realize that music, regardless of theme, can touch souls.