I’m happy to announce the launch of yet another corner of the Daily Planet centered on community connection, Planet Playlist.
Members of our team will be creating a playlist once a month for our readers to listen to, each dedicated to a timely event happening on the planet. Nothing connects people more than music, and our Planet Playlist will highlight 10-20 tracks handpicked by people who love the art form.
This month is our inaugural launch, so I thought it’d be an ideal opportunity to introduce our team of contributors and collaborators. I initially asked them each what their favorite song of all time, or of that moment, was. They had no idea why I asked, but they all happily obliged.
Let me tell you, the results were phenomenal. The diverse perspectives on our team rang through with each choice. I was dumbfounded by the different options, and after listening to our carefully crafted playlist, I felt so proud to have their work featured on our site.
Before I dive into their choices and why they chose them, I want to explain my contribution. I chose “How Far Will We Take It?” by Orville Peck and Noah Cyrus. Besides being my weekday wake-up alarm, this tune moves me like none other. The harmonizing is phenomenal, but the message moves me more. I grew up listening to country music, but it never fully found its way into my heart. Orville’s an openly gay country singer, and his music resonates with me on an ethereal level.
Brianna Taggart, our Executive Editor and Board of Creators Member, chose “Daydream” by The Aces.
“It’s such a fun, flirty pop song to dance around to when I’m getting ready in the mornings,” Taggart told me. “I didn’t know much about The Aces when I saw them open for Louis Tomlinson in Minneapolis, but I immediately fell in love with them. I love their lyrics, production and just overall vibe. I’ve been hooked ever since. The song feels like sunlight.”
Ellie Gerst, our Chief Business Strategist and Board of Creators Member, gave me two options: “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding and “Norman Fucking Rockwell” by Lana Del Rey. I opted into the latter because when I think of music and Ellie, I think of Lana.
“I just think they both have great melodies and poetic lyrics, and a sense of perspective about the world,” Ellie told me.
Contributing writer and reviewer Jainam Turakhia, who’s based in India, shared more than one title as well. Ever the film aficionado, Jainam’s picks were all centered around film, including “Tere Hawaale” from “Laal Singh Chaddha” and “Chaiyya Chaiyya” from “Dil Se.”
“They’re both dreamy and Sufi in tone. There’s a line in ‘Tere Hawaale’ that translates to ‘I’ve seen the entire world and it’s all just a mirage,'” Jainam said. “‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ is just iconic. Every Indian has grown up dancing to that song.”
Brendan Rooney, who joined the team around the same time as Jainam as a contributing writer, told me his favorite tune was “Let Down” by Radiohead, stating that it was his “writing song.”
“I would say [I chose this because of] the calmness of it, but the uplifting background as well,” Brendan told me. “It just came to me one night when I watched a tribute for the bear and I felt the connection of the story and how it relates to being a journalist without my brother, blue collar, struggling to find purpose.”
The next pick should be instantly recognizable for Superman fans, and not a surprise at all when you hear about who picked it. Remy Zero’s “Save Me” has been ingrained in all fans of the Man of Steel since its use as the “Smallville” theme song from 2001 to 2011, chosen by contributing podcaster and sometimes writer Anthony Desiato.
“It’s so intrinsically tied to my ‘Smallville’-viewing experience,” Anthony told me. “[It] got me hyped for the show every week for a decade, plus I listened to the full song countless times separate from the show. It really represents that whole era for me, conjures Superman, and is a banger on its own.”
Speaking of “Smallville” and podcasts, contributing journalist Derek Russell from The House of El shared his preference: Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al.” When asked why, he simply said: “It’s the best song ever written about calling someone Al.”
All Star Superfan podcasters Alan Burke and Rob O’Connor provided their choices next.
“‘Suspicious Minds’ by Elvis Presley,” Rob told me. “I love how upbeat and catchy the melody is, but how bleak the lyrics are. The world is not always as it seems.”
Alan’s choice was “Don’t Go” by Hothouse Flowers.
“Oh Christ, how do you pick just one?” said Alan. “It always makes me think of summer and carefree days, but honestly, I could probably never pick one overall. Depends on my mood.”
Our next playlist contribution comes from Brian Adigwu, another of our longtime contributing writers. His choice was “Keep Ya Head Up” by Tupac.
“It has a quote that goes deep,” Brian told me when explaining his choice. “The quote is, ‘You know it’s funny when it rains, it pours. They got money for wars but can’t feed the poor.'”
The next Planet Playlist item comes from contributing podcaster Luke Bugg, the “Geek of Steel.” After asking if it was Superman-related, because it totally could’ve been, Luke shared that his choice would be “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell.
“Billy Joel once described it as a simple song about an ‘ordinary man thinking extraordinary thoughts,'” explained Luke.
Next came Daily Planet Board Member Morgan Wrobel, who offered up a Harry Styles staple for her suggestion.
“[‘Fine Line’] is truly one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard,” Morgan said. “A very emotionally raw song, and I feel the emotion listening to it every single time.”
Up next is Abbie Wells, big-time contributor, full-time Board of Creators member. Abbie chose “Would That I” by Hozier because that’s her currently most played.
Real-life Superman Daniel Sanchez, who graciously and carefully crafted our phenomenal logo, suggested “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy for his pick.
Fellow Zach, Zach Moore, told me his pick would be “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. “That’s my answer right now, today,” Zach said. “[It] could be different tomorrow.”
Jonathan Tyler Patrick of Krypton Report told me his choice was “Glycerine” by Bush.
“I have a strong core memory of my dad picking me up from soccer practice as a kid, we are sitting in his truck eating McDonald’s, and it’s on the radio,” Patrick told me. “If I were in a coma, this is the song you would play to get me out.”
The next addition is from contributing writer Logan M. Logan chose “American Pie” because he “sang it with my father and I still sing it with him today.”
Fellow University of Minnesota Duluth graduate and recently added contributor Caleb Olson said his favorit song in the moment I inquired was “The Fame,” by Lady Gaga.
“I’ve been really in a Gaga mode since the Meyhem Ball in St. Paul,” he said.
Aspiring Minnesota-based author and recent Daily Planet addition Katie Leibel listed her all-time favorite song, “Pitchfork Kids”
“I’ve always said ‘Pitchfork Kids’ was my anthem,” Katie told me. “It’s spooky but cool, and lyrics feel like me.”
Last to contribute because she focuses so much thought into her artistic choices, and all her choices are artistic, is my Marketing Consultant, Becka Kottke. Her contribution to the Planet Playlist was “The Kite (Campfire Session)” by Luisa Marion.
“It screams summer to me, and the violin is so haunting yet breathy,” Becka said. “It makes me think of summer at dusk and friends chatting around a bonfire. It’s like there’s calm and excitement at the same time.”
Planet Playlist will publish on the first of each month.
