Open Doors, A 2016 Playlist

I’ve prepared a taste of my past year through the music that has moved me through an adventure-filled 2016.

This is a little annual tradition that has swung me into the past four new years: making a playlist to tie up the stories of my year. 2016 has added up to a generous helping of 31 songs. (My longest end-of-the-year playlist so far!)

You can also check out the playlist here: “Open Doors // SpeakSoon’s 2016 in Music”. A list of songs/artists also at the end of this post.

This year, I’ve added a new challenge. As a final piece and creative writing exercise, I borrowed words from all the songs of my 2016 and built a poem. You’ll find lines from all the different songs strung together with a bit of play from me. Does my year sound a lot like yours?

Open Doors

In these moments, I lose focus.
I don’t remember when we decided we could fly.
Put your head on my shoulders,
If you’re lost and you’re lonely, go and figure out why.

How do we mend a million pieces
strung out across the ground?
Hear the healing in your bones,
Sit in stillness for the silence of this sound.

Cry, my friend, no more,
you’ve seen your stars aligning I’m sure.
We all fear the sound of a closing door,
only your faith will prove to bring a cure.

All these vultures that surround you,
with cowardice speak their lies out loud.
Take my hand, I’ll give you strength,
just when you think all the streets have emptied out.

La soledad viene sin patria, have you missed the lonely call?
Leave what’s heavy.
Leave what’s heavy behind,
but I keep running for a soft place to fall.

A light against a darkened sky,
your truth must outshine all the lies,
You let your feet run wild and try
to tell the world that fiction is falling from up high.

The cross we bear is all we’ve got
para você vem dançar,
It’s like a bit of light in a touch of dark,
do you dare to look your losses right in the eyes?

While you were sleeping, I thought of you.
We might make it further if we learned to stay.
We’re here, eyes open, catching and releasing
what builds up throughout the day.

Live to dance in a hurricane,
find your heart standing in the eye,
I just hope you’ll stop me
before I build a world around me.

We are waiting on their sunshine and the morning dew,
for we live where the war is raging and where we miss the moon,
We’re all lonely together, no matter what we choose to do.
We can tell each other secrets, til we remember how to love.

I was listening to the ocean. I was dancing in the rain.
Words are so easy to say, we speak as though nothing could fall,
Slow down when you can, we’re not exempt from all pain,
This story’s a long one, take a deep breath, then five more. Stand tall.

Throw your arms in the air tonight. I won’t be no runaway.
I’ll go braving everything through the shine of the sun.
Darling, don’t be afraid when it’s time to stay,
but the doors are open. Run!

Playlists from previous years:

I’ve also just realized that I never shared 2015’s playlist, now also public on Spotify: “SpeakSoon: 2015 in Music”

Here are links to posts on past year’s playlists: 2014, 2013 and 2012.

And finally, a simple rundown of my 2016’s lovely playlist:

1. Run – Lost Frequencies Radio Edit // Emma Bale
2. On Our Knees (Feat. R.O) // Konoba
3. I’ll Move Mountains // Roo Panes
4. Tomorrow’s Song // Olafur Arnalds
5. Tightropes // Robyn Sherwell
6. Gorgeous // X Ambassadors
7. Falling Faster // Andrew Ripp
8. Moments – Acoustic Live // Kidnap Kid
9. Spaceship – Popvilla Sessions // Comet Blue
10. You’re Mine – Radio Edit // Raving George
11. Deep End // Birdy
12. No Angel // Birdy
13. We Can Be Heroes // Ozark Henry
14. The Eye // Brandi Carlie
15. I Need a Forest Fire – feat Justin Vernon // James Blake
16. Friends feat Bon Iver // Francis and the Lights
17. Summer’s Almost Gone // The Temper Trap
18. Lost // The Temper Trap
19. New Afro Spanish Generation // Buika
20. Light it Up (feat Nyla & Fuse ODG) // Major Lazer
21. Dark Necessities // Red Hot Chili Peppers
22. Sunset Lover // Petit Biscuit
23. Way Down We Go – Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC // Kaleo
24. Para Voce // Gregor Salto
25. Forever With You // Nathan Roberts
26. Heavy // Birdtalker
27. Good Together // HONNE
28. Catch & Release – Deepend Mix // Matt Simons
29. Show Me Love // Sam Feldt
30. Runaway // AURORA
31. Runaway // The National

2017, I’ll be listening for you!