Songs For A Recovering Music Snob
My Mixtape’s A Masterpiece is a weekly feature in which a guest compiles a playlist around some theme. This week, Jessica Scott assembles 12 tracks from artists she formerly dismissed for being too popular but now she deeply loves. Read Jessica’s thoughts on each song and listen along to the Spotify and YouTube playlists below.
Confession time: I used to be an insufferable music snob. I dismissed anything that was popular or mainstream, assuming that if everyone liked it then it had to be terrible. I missed out on a lot of great years of pop music and, of all the mistakes I’ve made in my life, this stubborn snobbery is pretty high on the list of things I would go back in time and tell my past self to rectify (right after “You have ADHD!” and “Seriously, don’t open those credit cards”). I’ve been making up for lost time recently, discovering my love of pop and emo and anything else that would make my past self cringe.
I’ve decided to embrace my cringe, though, and move forward shamelessly with a life scored by the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen (one of the best songwriters working today—fight me) and Paramore. I decided to group my playlist in twos: two songs off the same album by each of the artists I originally wrote off as “too popular to be good.”
God, I was such a jerk. But I’m not anymore, and I hope you can enjoy this playlist shame-free right along with me!
1. “Misery Business” by Paramore
My favorite genre of song is the bitter breakup song, but I definitely have a soft spot for a “nyah, they’re mine now” song too. This rager is an all-timer, and I can’t believe I went so long without it in my life.
2. “For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic” by Paramore
This title is how I feel most days, and I’m especially optimistic while listening to this playlist. Paramore has become a comfort band for me, and this song is a big reason why.
3. “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen
Other than Lady Gaga, there are few living singers I worship more than Carly Rae Jepsen. “Call Me Maybe” is a perfect pop song, and I let the innumerable parodies and jokes about it mar my perception of this pop masterpiece for far too long.
4. “Turn Me Up” by Carly Rae Jepsen
CRJ strikes again. We all know (or we all should know) that her album Emotion is one of the best to ever do it, but if you’re looking for a bad CRJ album, you’re not going to find one. “Turn Me Up” is one of many, many songs on Kiss that proves she’s no one-hit wonder.
5. “Helena” by My Chemical Romance
The ur-emo song. I don’t know how I avoided it for so long, since it plays over the end credits of the classic horror remake HOUSE OF WAX, but I probably wrote it off as “crappy aughts music.” No more! I now recognize how hard this song slaps.
6. “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” by My Chemical Romance
I’m a sucker for a parenthetical song title, and this song is so bouncy and angsty that I can’t help but sing along with it every time I hear it. Honestly, how could I not love a song that asks me to scream “I’m not o-fuckin’-kay” at the top of my lungs?
7. “Lace and Leather” by Britney Spears
Yes, I even doubted Miss Britney Jean herself for a while. I’ve seen the light, though, and I now know how much her album Circus is filled with bangers.
8. “If You Seek Amy” by Britney Spears
Who doesn’t love a bit of naughty wordplay? If you can listen to Britney and not start dancing even a little bit, I have some questions for you, starting with: how does it feel to count yourself among the undead?
9. “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” by Fall Out Boy
I love a crunchy guitar riff and a soaring chorus, and this song has both. I can’t help it; it’s a damn fun song.
10. “Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn’t Get Sued” by Fall Out Boy
I will admit that the name of this song still makes me roll my eyes a bit, especially with the insistence on capitalizing every single world in the title, but you can’t deny how catchy it is. Fall Out Boy is my most begrudging entry on this list, but I stand by my choices.
11. “Kicking and Screaming” by Miley Cyrus
Yes, Miley is problematic, but I can’t deny the power of her “Party in the USA” era. (And if you haven’t checked out her latest album Plastic Hearts, you really owe it to yourself to do that.)
12. “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus
Speak of the devil! This is a feel-good classic, and I don’t care who knows that I like it. It’s the perfect way to end my “I am cringe and I am free” playlist.
