Spotify Just Released My 2020 Wrapped Playlist.
By: Stephen No
Tags: Spotify, Get Cultured, Songs, Mental Health, Music

#62: BENEE, Gus Dapperton — Supalonely

I know I fucked up, I’m just a loser

Shouldn’t be with ya, guess I’m a quitter

While you’re out there drinkin’, I’m just here thinkin’

‘Bout where I should’ve been

I’ve been lonely, mm, ah, yeah

“Supalonely” became one of the many songs that rocketed into the top of the charts due to the meteoric rise of TikTok. The new social media platform’s influence became very apparent this year as smaller artists and overlooked tracks gained fast traction on the app due to popular dancing trends and memes. BENEE’s viral song initially seems like another meaningless pop hit, but the happy-sounding beat masks what are otherwise sad and relatable lyrics.

There’s a lot of things that I had initially planned to do this year, such as travelling across the country or transferring to a university earlier. Yet, in true 2020 fashion, none of these things ended up happening; unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get the units I needed in time, and the pandemic erased any hopes of vacationing. I still remember back in the early stages of lockdown, when we clung onto the hopes that it would be over in a few months. BENEE sings, “I knew this would happen… still hard to believe it.”

#54: Chet Porter — Bummed (feat. Alison Wonderland)

I know that I need help, I know I do

But I can’t afford a therapist these days

So I just sit alone in my room

And keep hoping that this feeling goes away

Here’s another one of those upbeat songs that mask its sad lyrics. Producer/songwriter Chet Porter explained in an interview that he wrote

the lyrics to “Bummed” after learning about how dolphins commit suicide by holding their breath until they die. The track is about dealing with depression and how some people aren’t really as happy as they may seem.

Mental health has been a key conversation piece as a result of 2020’s crazy year. As we approach nearly 10 months of lockdowns, many people are suffering from loneliness and depression — U.S. adults were reporting levels of depressive symptoms more than three times higher during the pandemic than before it, according to a survey study in the JAMA Network Open. I’ve been fortunate enough to keep up with my therapist through telehealth services, but it’s still difficult to stave off the depression most days. Socialization is an integral part to my life, and I’ve lost so many outlets for human interaction as a result of the stay-at-home orders. Sure, it’s been nice to call friends and catch up with loved ones online. But with seasonal depression (earlier sunsets, colder weather, etc.) on the way, it looks like I might be ending the year on a very cold note.

#3: Porter Robinson— Get Your Wish

So tell me how it felt when you walked on water

Did you get your wish?

Floating to the surface

Quicker than you sank

Idol, idol

When the most promising artist in the EDM world released a solo track for the first time in three years, I was more than elated. Porter Robinson had clearly struggled with his musical identity after releasing multiple hits in the past, but “Get Your Wish” proved to be an immediate favorite for both himself and his listeners.

For me, Porter Robinson’s comeback song (which was released in January) gave me a sense of hope and optimism for the new year. And even though 2020 proved to be an incredibly difficult one, I was able to make strides in ways that I never could have imagined. From career advances to achieving personal goals, I’m proud to be able to look back and see my growth in what has been an incredible series of trials and tribulations. Porter Robinson even released two more singles throughout the year, “Something Comforting” and “Mirror”, proving to the world that he was back to making music for good.