With the closing of the year 2024 comes the annual Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay. Have you ever wondered what the teachers you interact with everyday listen to in their free time? We interviewed some of the staff at Baruch to hear their top songs, artists, and got some insight on their opinions on the concept as well.
Forman’s music has changed a lot this year which she describes is from her recently having a baby.
March was her Chill Baby Sleep Lo-Fi phase. “That was my phase because I had a baby,” she said. Taylor Swift was also her top artist of the year.
“Honored. We’re hearing a lot of Taylor Swift here,” Forman said.
“My top songs are Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac and Nothing Really Matters by Madonna,” said Sanchez.
“My top artists: Kendrick Lamar, shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody that knows me, Childish Gambino, Amine, Teezo Touchdown and Tyler the Creator. I love music, that’s why I got it all over [my classroom], surrounding me! Hip hop’s my favorite genre. Hip hop saved my life in a lot of ways– I know it sounds super extreme– but it really did. In highschool, being exposed to a lot of rappers, they seemed to talk about stuff more directly than other artists would. It would be speaking to stuff that I related to, and I hadn’t heard music that did that until rap. So, that’s why I really love hip hop. But I love all music! But that’s my favorite genre.”
“Our Sonos at home are hooked up to my Spotify account, and I think my wife uses my Spotify account too. My daughter happens to really like Queen– my daughter is one and a half but really likes Queen! So my wife will just play Queen while they’re hanging out at home, that is why Queen is my number one. My second is Willie Colón– the rest of them make sense. It’s mostly jazz music, but then, Queen. Don’t share your Spotify if you want an accurate Spotify Wrapped.”
“I don’t hate it [Spotify Wrapped], but I think it puts a lot of pressure on people to be accepted by society. In AP Psychology we talk about the social desirability bias– like everyone wants to conform to societal expectations. And that is what I think it is about” – Ms. Kilic
“Agreed.” – Ms. Hunter
“I’ve never been a big enjoyer of Spotify Wrapped. I think a lot of the time it is used as– especially when it’s posted on Instagram– it is used as a way to try to make yourself feel proud. ‘Oh my music taste is better than your music taste,’ which in my opinion is not the point of music. It’s all supposed to be enjoyed, either together or with others. You shouldn’t be using it as a way to feel better than somebody else– I think that’s wrong– and that is one of the reasons I dislike Spotify Wrapped.”
“I share my account with my 12 year old son and my husband. Kanye West was the number one artist of the year. Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Drake, NLE Choppa– for whom I don’t even know anything about. Our top songs are Notice, Ten Freaky Girls, 90210, and Prove It. That’s my son.”
