Singles of the Week: October 24

Pop: Taylor Swift – “Back to December”

Princetonians, I urge you to think back to the time that you had a soul. You remember, before midterms and theses and labs sucked out all your emotions. I know, it’s tough, but that’s what Taylor Swift is for. On her newest single, “Back to December” Swift returns to her brilliant formula: simple sugary lyrics, that cute country twang, and a sense of melancholy that no 20-year-old should have. You don’t even need to understand what the song is about to love it. Sure it may be tacky, but Swift proves she can make any grade-grubbing hermit remember that people exist.

-Michael Becker ‘14

Hip Hop: Big Sean- “Fat Raps Remix”

Big Sean gained a lot of press when he signed with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label. The result of that press? Songs like Fat Raps Remix. As if Big Sean’s laid-back delivery wasn’t enough to attract listeners, the roster of featured artists reads like a whose who of up and coming artists. Cool Kids’ emcee Chuck Inglish eases into the song, then hands it off to one of the West Coast’s rising stars, Dom Kennedy. But the fun doesn’t end there. Asher Roth and Chip tha Ripper arrive to drop verses to close out the track over a noticeably uncluttered Don Cannon beat. Long and short: Young emcees get together and have fun rapping over a beat that threatens to blow out your system. What else do you need? Cop the song, along with the whole mixtape, right here from Big Sean’s website. http://uknowbigsean.com/music/

-Trap Yates ‘14

Indie: Belle and Sebastian “Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John”

It’s difficult to tell if this track ought to be called “Belle and Sebastian feat. Norah Jones” or “Norah Jones feat. Belle and Sebastian,” but you can essentially think of it either way. This poignant slow-jam is saturated with Jones’ own musical sensibilities, an utter anomaly to the majority of Belle and Sebastian’s lighthearted pop tunes. But whether or not you’re a Norah Jones fan, you’ll appreciate Stuart Murdoch’s contributing solo and harmonies that showcase the softness and flexibility in the voice. As it is midterm week, consider this the perfect lullaby to cap off a long day of work.

-Lisa Han ‘13