NOTES AND COMMENTARY ON: THE "MEDORA" PLAYLIST
These are detailed notes and commentary on many of the songs. I work to explain in writing why I like those songs so much.
THE “MEDORA” PLAYLIST
LINK TO THE MEDORA PLAYLIST ON YOUTUBE MUSIC
Note: If you build out the playlist on another platform — it will likely miss quite a few of the YouTube-specific songs.
I’ve written about Medora previously. To keep things short – Medora is a small town out West, in North Dakota, where I spent the summer of 2024. It changed me – in many ways. I thought I was already “changed” – by Florida and Brooklyn and Rochester and so on and so on.
But Medora changed me — in new and different ways.
I like to write – and I also like to listen to music. Those are two very strong interests of mine. So I decided to “marry” the two. I decided I would write about music – “The Medora Playlist” – in particular.
I patched together the playlist over the course of the summer. This is the order that I added the songs. I used the YouTube Music platform – which I do recommend over other music discovery platforms.
This playlist has so many “muses’ (if you will). I will keep most of them to myself.
I would wake up from not-really-sleeping almost every morning and leave my room at The Elkhorn Quarters to get my morning 5am-or-so Pepsi from the Life Skills Center and listen to this playlist (and other music as well).
Side thought: That is very, very “North Dakota” to open the central facility (Life Skills Center) so early (at 5am). Very, very Western.
Anyhow, this playlist is muse-based and it genre-jumps quite a bit. I had so much fun building it and I hope you enjoy listening to it, especially with my notes and commentary. It has 43 songs.
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Mercy (Acoustic Guitar) – Shawn Mendes
I decided to start the playlist off by “going for the jugular”. This is a crazy-good track by a crazy-good artist. The way the crowd is going crazy just enhances anything Mendes could possibly compose on his own. Acoustic versions of songs resonate with me in so many ways. But the whole essence of this track is electric – ironically (its an acoustic track).
Shawn Mendes - 'There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back' (live at Capital's Summertime Ball 2018) – Capital FM
More from Shawn Mendes. This is my second favorite Mendes song. I’ve been listening to these songs at like 2am for the past few years, so I think that is why I spilled them onto the playlist right off the bat.
I listen to this song very practically. For some reason – I skim over the lyrics. I can’t figure out why. I think it may be a love song. But I use it professionally and practically. I think sometimes music works better that way. The whole world cannot be a love song.
Valerie (Official Video) (feat. Amy Winehouse) – Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
Where do I even start? Valerie, by Amy Winehouse. One of the all time great songs of our generation. She did a rendition of this at an award show with Bruno Mars that I think is from-another-galaxy, but this is just the standard version.
When I lived in Sarasota, my lanai looked out across “Cimarron Lake”. So on a literal level – “sometimes I go out by myself // and look across the water//” appeals to me on a very literal level.
This song is legendary both lyrically and musically. I don’t believe it was even released as a single track. I may be wrong. But Winehouse fans found it and championed it as a world class piece of music.
Any day – or really, any moment – I can listen to Valerie, by Amy Winehouse is a good one.
Rehab Video – Amy Winehouse
This was the track that put Amy Winehouse on the map. In the United States, at least. Her first album rocked in the U.K. – but not so much in the States.
The underlying beat track is world class – as are the lyrics and concept. Amy Winehouse is a polarizing artist for a lot of reasons, and sometimes people “discount and discredit” pop records or splashy singles – but this was such an important song in the American Music lexicon. It hit right around summer of 2007 – it was a British artist – it rocked in homes and at bars – and it was just a really important song.
Hook Closed Captioned – Blues Traveler
Blue Traveled has such a high aptitude, proficiency, and talent for this type of song. I struggle to put words to what they accomplish musically. “Run Around” – their other really famed song accomplishes it as well. I would have to ask a musician or at least a music aficionado exactly what they do that is so unique. I hope to ask someone – someday – who really knows music about Blues Traveler.
Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh) – Lumidee – Almost Famous
I remember when this song was released in High School. This was one of the biggest, heaviest hitting tracks of my four high school years. Such a pure message. Such a heavy underlying beat. A new artist on the scene. This is such a special song – for me. Chances are you may not know it that well – but I hope you spend some time with it and see how pure and important this track is. Absolutely spectacular.
Umbrella (Radio Edit) (feat. JAY-Z) – Rihanna – Umbrella
Umbrella…. Ella…. Ella…. Ey…. Ey…. Ey….
This was a classic cross-genre track that popped at such an amazing time of my life. I remember going to bars and when this song would drop – people would just go bonkers. I can’t write too much about this song. It is too important to me. But it is world famous and world class.
I won't write anymore.
Shawty is a Ten (Lyrics) – SteelersNSeahawks37
Senior Year. Senior Year. Senior Year. Senior Year. Shawty You’re A Ten. I Won’t Say Who.
Noel Gallagher “Don’t Look Back in Anger” (Acoustic) on the Howard Stern Show in 1997 – The Howard Stern Show
The recording starts with Howard Stern requesting that Noel Gallagher play this song. Stern then says this song is about marriage. I’ve never been married – so I can’t expand upon that. I think this song can be about anything, anyone, any moment, really. The Title of the song is really heavy – and then the song and music outshines the level of excellence that one would expect from an Oasis song.
John Mayer - Wind Cries Mary (Jimmy Hendrix cover) – Brian Styers
I’ve listened to the Hendrix original – and Mayer outshines him on this song/cover. Hendrix purists will throw me off a building for saying that – but I’m allowed to feel that way. The strings, the lyrics, the intonation, the premise – I can feel the music all over my body and my “spirit”. That’s a bold statement and I will stand behind it. I can’t use words to describe the song in any detail. It means too much to me. You should just listen to it.
Wildfire (Lyric Video) – John Mayer
Mayer. Mayer. Mayer. Mayer. Mayer. Mayer. Mayer. Mayer. Mayer.
Flake (Live) – Jack Johnson – Brushfire Fairytales (Remastered (Bonus Version))
I haven’t spent too much time poking around Jack Johnson’s discography – and maybe I should. But I think this is Jack Johnson’s best song. It is so very well done. I am in disbelief every time I listen to it. I get excited before I even press play.
Beautiful People (Club Mix) – Benny Benassi & Chris Brown
I remember I went on a bender with a coworker in New York. We went out drinking too many times. This was the song we would listen to to caption the nights. What a unique time in my life – and what an amazing track.
Yo (Excuse Me Miss) (Official HD Video) – Chris Brown
This is such a good song that encompasses what it feels like to see an amazing woman from a distance and not really being able to do much about it. Or maybe this song is about the opposite – you should pursue someone or something based on that emotion that they are so spectacular that they just change you in a minor or subtle way.
Highway Vagabond – Miranda Lambert – The Weight of These Wings
I requested this on the jukebox in Boots (a Medora restaurant and bar) on multiple occasions. Lyrically – this song just resonated with me on a special level. In most of her music – Miranda Lambert sings about being low-key, low-maintenance, a lady-of-the-people. When I worked at the Sarasota Airport – I met this lady who lived in Nashville and she told me that Miranda Lambert flies commercial out of the Nashville airport – and that it sometimes delays their flights up to forty or so minutes. I was so very impressed and happy to hear that.
“Highway Vagabonds//Living Like Hippies//
Moving Right Along To The Next Big City//”
Miranda is a world class lyricist in the same vein as Taylor Swift. With respect to the range of topics – she might have more range than Taylor. I’ll try not to compare the two. Not my style.
Fitz & The Tantrums - Out Of My League (Lyrics) | 40 days and 40 nights I waited for a girl like you – Cassiopeia
This was the most important song of the summer for me. Musically and Lyrically it just put me into the next stratosphere.
I want to say this was about one of the women I was crushing on, but it was actually about the town of Medora.
That’s all I’m really gonna say. Don’t wanna say too much.
Feeling Good (Live from Madison Square Garden) – Michael Bublé
They used to play this song at The Blakely – the New York City boutique hotel I worked at on 55th street. One of the greatest hotels this country has ever seen. I was very very fortunate to work there.
They would play the jazziest, most well thought out, most Midtown Manhattan classed-up music ever. I don’t know who built the playlist, or what tech or platform they used, or any of that. I would just listen.
Michael Buble leads his genre in my opinion – and this is probably his best song. He has one other that I can’t remember the name of. That is also amazing.
This song ACTUALLY makes me feel good when I listen to it. It ACTUALLY makes my nervous system shake and feel much better. It is that good of a tune.
What Do You Mean? – Justin Bieber
Beiber gets so much slack for “being Beiber”. I kinda get it. But I kinda don't’t. Beiber is a world class musician that puts out incredible hits that the whole country listens to. A Canadian kid at that! This is one of Beiber’s top two songs. Incredibly well done pop record.
That Thing You Do! (Live at the Hollywood Television Showcase) – Wonders
Dancin' in the Moonlight – Toploader
Dispatch - "The General" [Live Acoustic at NPR/WXPN's World Cafe] – Dispatch
He Can Only Hold Her / Doo Wop (That Thing) (Live From Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London / 2007) – Amy Winehouse –I Told You I Was Trouble: Live In London
Riptide – Vance Joy
Musically and Melodically – this song is so unique.
Beyoncé - Drunk In Love ft Jay Z - The Mrs Carter Show (LEGENDADO) – Tati Legendas
Bad At Love – Halsey
Darius Rucker - Let Her Cry HD (Live) – Kingscup20
Mr. Intentional (Live) – Lauryn Hill – MTV Unplugged No. 2.0
What an interesting album full of incredible music.
Adam Lives In Theory (Live) – Lauryn Hill – MTV Unplugged No. 2.0
What an interesting album full of incredible music.
Stronger Than Me No Sick Version - Stereo – Amy Winehouse
Kinfolks (Official Audio) – Sam Hunt
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton – The Essential Dolly Parton
Bulletproof (Intimate Session at Abbey Road) – La Roux – La Roux (Gold Edition)
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton – The Essential Dolly Parton
83 Medley (Live at the Oak Mountain Amphitheater, Birmingham, AL - September 2002)
John Mayer – Any Given Thursday
Flake – Jack Johnson – Brushfire Fairytales (Remastered (Bonus Version))
Something in the Orange – Zach Bryan – Something in the Orange
Thinking 'Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter) – Dustin Lynch – Blue In The Sky
Lost Ones – Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Message In a Bottle (Live at the Oak Mountain Amphitheater, Birmingham, AL - September 2002) – John Mayer – Any Given Thursday
Proudest Monkey (Live at Citi Field, Queens, NY - July 2010) – Dave Matthews Band – Live In New York City
If I Ever Get Around to Living – John Mayer
John Mayer and Sheryl Crow perform “Strong Enough” – Mary Beth Davis
Alicia Keys - Unthinkable (Live at iTunes Festival 2012) – muzic lava