By Olivia Turner | Arts & Life Editor
This week’s selection of Tunesday songs are not exactly cheery, but they are worth a listen. We’re switching over to a more glum, acoustic vibe with tunes from Bon Iver and Lizzy McAlpine, and sorrowful reflection to a beat from Bad Bunny. Perhaps this week is a chance to slow it down and wallow for a while, and that’s okay.
“Una Velita” by Bad Bunny (September 19)
With a name the translates to “a little candle,” “Una Velita” sings of faint hope in the midst of treachery. Here, Bad Bunny tells the story of Hurricane Maria, which wreaked havoc on his home country of Puerto Rico. The track seems to honor those who passed during the terrible storm seven years ago by surrendering to the despair his people experienced and the hope they had in God to protect them.
Once I did a deep dive into the story behind the song, what was an ear-catching chorus turned into meaningful remembrance. I’ve always enjoyed Bad Bunny’s storytelling in his songs and this is one of them.
“S P E Y S I D E” by Bon Iver (September 20)
This apology anthem has got me wondering what Bon Iver vocalist Justin Vernon did to be so sorry. In my mind, he’s always been a member of the tortured artists club, but this song has reached a new level of misery. Somehow, Vernon seems to have a way of making sorrow sweet, and this song is no exception. With lyrics like “it serves to suffer, make a hole in my foot,” all to the tune of an acoustic guitar, I hope Bon Iver is able to make amends through his seeming sincerity. Be expecting more from Bon Iver soon, as this is the first of three songs in their upcoming EP, “Sable.”
“Pushing It Down and Praying” by Lizzy McAlpine (September 20)
I appreciate McAlpine’s brutal honesty in this single. She sings about being in a situation many listeners can likely relate to, but that not many are brave enough to admit — that she is yearning for someone she doesn’t have, while being embraced by someone else. The music video features Tucker Pillsbury, aka Role Model, who joins McAlpine in a romantic dance scene on a stage in the second verse, playing the crush she’s pushing down. If you’re currently pining for someone, this tune is calling your name.
