By Bo Schneider
From the moment many wake up until they go to bed, Spotify is streaming. Music can help you to relax, can help you stay focused while studying, or just to fill the time when you are bored.
In a recent survey of 81 McNicholas students and with Spotify wrapped coming in December, McNicholas faculty, staff, and students’ favorite musical artists ranked Taylor Swift in first place, Zach Bryan in second place, and Noah Kahan in third place.
The top artist streaming on Spotify for Rockets is Taylor Swift, the 34-year-old pop/ folk-indie artist from Pennsylvania that is one of the best-selling music artists of all-time, both from her music and her tour, ‘The Eras Tour’, which has grossed over $1 billion.
Faculty/ staff member Anne Herrmann and junior Alli Hannah, chose Taylor Swift because of her beat and lyrics and her beliefs. Herrmann said, “I like her not only for her music but for what she stands for.” She added, “She’s also about taking up causes for those who might be marginalized like the gay and lesbian community; she supports them.” Hannah said she likes Swift because she can, “feel her anger and sadness” in her lyrics and that Swift is a strong role model for women. Herrmann started to listen to Swift after she attended the Eras Tour concert in Cincinnati and more recently, in Indianapolis. Herrmann’s favorite song by Swift is “Holy Ground” from the Red album and Hannah’s is “All Too Well” (the 10-minute version).
In second place from the survey is Zach Bryan, a 28-year-old country artist that is known for his raspy voice and his mix of folk and outlaw country music.
Freshman Olivia Simms and sophomore Maycee King chose Zach Bryan because his songs have good meaning and good lyrics, and because Bryan has the ability to evoke emotion in the listener. Simms said, “I think his songs have a lot of meaning behind them that I really relate to, and they’re just calm songs.” Simms favorite songs by Bryan are “I Remember Everything” and “Burn, Burn, Burn.” King said her favorite song is “Hey Driver.” Simms started listening to Bryan last year when he announced he was going on tour, and she attended a concert.
Vermont native, Noah Kahan ranked third place overall in the survey. This 27-year-old folk country artist is known for his third album, Stick Season and songs such as, “Call Your Mom” and “Dial Drunk.” Freshman Annie Moss, senior Kennedy Dehner, and sophomore Charlie Bellissemo all said they chose Noah Kahan because of his beat and lyrics. Moss said Kahan is “intentional with his music,” and added, “His songs make me think about life.” Moss’s favorite song by Kahan is “Call Your Mom” but she also likes “Stick Season.” Bellissemo and Dehner’s favorite songs were “Maine” from the album Stick Season.
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