A 3 Song Rewind of 2020 — With Songs From 1964, 1994, and 2020

Folk, experimental rock, and pop — let’s do this

I went a little off road and got in my time machine to incorporate the radio hit “Zen” by X Ambassadors, the experimental rock and music video of Ween, and the folksy lyrics of Bob Dylan.

The following 3 songs and videos speak to the year we’ve been through in 2020. There’s anger, pep, resilience, social criticism, and the soothing lyrics of folk.

Disparate? Disconcerting? Well…That’s 2020.

X Ambassadors, K. Flay, grandson — “Zen” | 2020

A few weeks ago I was driving home from a socially distanced park date with a friend. I hardly go anywhere anymore which means I hardly listen to the radio anymore. I turned on the radio and by the time I got home, I’d heard X Ambassador’s and K Flay’s song “Zen.” I stayed in the driveway grinning and then found it on Spotify. Yep yep. This is a good summary of 2020, for sure.

The video is illustrated with additional thoughts to the lyrics popping up on the screen. Very meta. I love it. Also, the happy, angry mood of the song with the refrain “Give me f*cking zen” is very 2020.

“Give me groceries and booze, give me Facetime with my friends Give me intravenous news, little drips of CNN Give me meditation apps, text me pictures of your dog Just give me life, give me peace, give me noise” — Sam Harris

“Gimme space, at least six feet Dig my grave just as deep I got sex on my mind all the time, fuck Scrollin’ through the internet, time suck “— Kay Flay

Ween — “Freedom of ‘76” | 1994

I saw Ween in OKC in the 90s. They put on a damn great, high energy show. I was in the front row with my bestie and we were crushing hard on the band members, Deen and Gene Ween. It was a packed venue.

There’s social commentary in the Ween video. Check it out and share what you think they’re trying to say in the comments down below. I’m not sure I get it, aside from America was founded on systemic racism and oppression and it’s still effed up today (which was 1994 then — and is still relevant in 2020).

And holy, smokes that guy (I think it’s Gene singing in this one) has a sweet high voice. Yummmm…..Is that falsetto? Yeah. Something yum about that.

Ween is more expressive in their video, instrumentation, and passion singing in this one than they are with their sparse lyrics. True to form they put together disparate elements that catch us off guard.

Wastee little weasel Wants cheap tricks Liberty Bell cracked in half A bacon steak, a perfect match — Ween

Bob Dylan — “The Times They Are A Changin’” | 1964

Released in 1964, “The Times They Are A Changin’” is genius in that times are always changing. This song has felt particularly relevant in 2020 as we embark on the uncertain challenge of a global pandemic in our lifetime.

My husband and I saw Dylan in the early 2000s at the OKC Zoo Ampitheatre. I was enchanted. David was disappointed — the years had taken a hit on the singer’s voice.

Dylan has been in the news recently for selling his entire songwriting catalogue to Universal Music Publishing Group. The price is undisclosed but estimates speculate the sale was over 300 million. The deal doesn’t include future songs Dylan may write. What’s your take on that? Smart business man? Hypocrite? Somewhere in between?

He’s a poet and I’ll always love his music. It’s timeless.

“Come gather ‘round people, wherever you roam And admit that the waters around you have grown And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone If your time to you is worth saving Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone For the times, they are a-changin’” — Bob Dylan

Name 3 songs in the comments that you think speak to the year 2020. We’re wrapping it up and music is a great way to process what we’ve been through.