This year’s Apple Music Replay has finally been released to the public, so let’s look at my top three songs from this week.
“Black and Blue” – Gregory Alan Isakov
“Black and Blue,” written by Gregory Alan Isakov, currently has the top spot on my Apple Music Replay. While the playlist in question updates every Sunday, this track has been lingering near the top for quite some time, finally taking its rightful place in the number-one slot this past Sunday.
Although “Black and Blue” is known widely for being the third track on Isakov’s 2007 album That Sea, the Gambler, my favourite version of the song must be the version released two years earlier on his debut album Songs for October. This version of “Black and Blue” is completely stripped back, featuring only Isakov’s gentle guitar licks and the emotion-inducing drone of a scratchy fiddle.
In contrast to the studio-recorded re-release of That Sea, the Gambler, the 2005 version of “Black and Blue” is sonically imperfect, yet so much better for it.
Reminiscent of long summer afternoons spent strumming guitars on back porches with friends, this track expertly conveys nostalgia in all its forms. While the studio version is beautifully mixed without any flaws, this original take on “Black and Blue” is far superior, making it the top song on my Apple Music Replay.
“Red Wine Supernova” – Chappell Roan
Massively contrasting “Black and Blue,” the second song on my Apple Music Replay is Chappell Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova.” This is a relatively new addition to the list, but the song’s fun, upbeat and catchy nature quickly shot it to the very top.
Released on Oct. 28, 2022, in the lead-up to the singer’s debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, “Red Wine Supernova” is a raunchy and playful take on being young, queer and in love. One of the first songs of Roan’s that I heard, “Red Wine Supernova” has been like a gateway drug, pulling me into the colourful world of Chappell Roan head over feet.
While “Red Wine Supernova” is a favourite, “HOT TO GO!” and “Pink Pony Club” have also made their way into the top 20 ranking with a likelihood that they will reach a higher slot by the end of the week.
“The Secret Life of Daydreams” – Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Finally, in the third slot is “The Secret Life of Daydreams,” composed by Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Widely different than either of its predecessors, “The Secret Life of Daydreams” is a part of the Pride & Prejudice (Music from the Motion Picture) album.
Released in 2005, this song is by far my favourite from the movie’s soundtrack, easily becoming my go-to track to listen to while studying. The quiet hum of a stand-up bass is layered with the delicate dancing notes of a piano and a graceful waltz of violin, coming together to produce one of the most beautiful tracks in a motion picture soundtrack.
Perfect for reading classics and writing intellectual literature reviews, “The Secret Life of Daydreams” is on the roster every day of the week, easily allowing it to live permanently in my top three tracks on Apple Music Replay.
