Author page: Madeline Goetz

A Healthy Playlist: “Fruit Salad”

courtesy of Ellen Scott of metro.co.uk / Getty
Listening to this playlist is the equivalent of beaming over a big ol’ fruit salad. (Photo courtesy of Ellen Scott of metro.co.uk / Getty)

For some people, salad–especially fruit salad–is really fun to eat. Just search “person eating salad” on Google and you’ll see that 9 out of 10 results feature inexplicably jovial individuals brandishing a bowl of salad in one hand and admiring a tomato or a tuft of lettuce speared on a fork held in the other.

However, as exhilarating as it may be to eat salad, it’s even more fun to listen to it.

Stressed Out, Snowed In: A playlist to help you survive December

If you can relate to this picture, keep on reading.
If you can relate to this picture, keep reading.

The distress of December is upon us. It’s cold. It’s wet. You have three papers, two tests, and a group project due within the next 4 days. Facebook just notified you about the 11 events you won’t be able to attend this week. To top it off, you might have just found your first gray hair–even though you can’t remember the last time you used a brush, or took a shower for that matter.

It may officially be socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music, but there’s nothing holly jolly about the massive pile of work you’ve got to plow through. Never fear! While I can’t pass your Spanish oral exam for you, do your Chemistry lab report, or help you with your thesis, I can provide you with a playlist to boost your focus and (marsh)mellow your vibes.

One Direction Goes From 5 to 4 Members, 4 to 5 Albums

Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan Courtesy of KEVIN MAZUR/BMA2015/WIREIMAGE and People.com
Courtesy of KEVIN MAZUR/BMA2015/WIREIMAGE and People.com

March 25, 2015 was a tumultuous time in music history—it was the day Zayn Malik left One Direction.

Whether you’ve been a One Directioner since the inception of the band, a casual listener, indifferent towards the group, or a staunch opponent of all things good in life, you probably remember the uproar on the Internet in reaction to the news that Zayn was headed in a different direction. Fans lamented the loss of one of the more favored members, and worried about the future of One Direction. How could the group of boys who had been through the X-Factor, four albums, and world tours suddenly be splitting apart? How could the band possibly go on without arguably one of their strongest singers?

15 Songs by Jason Mraz You Have “Absolutely Zero” Reasons Not to Know

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You’ve heard “I’m Yours” and “I Won’t Give Up,” and maybe you even remember “The Remedy,” but my guess is most of you reading this haven’t truly come to appreciate the musical prowess of Jason Mraz—and trust me, you need it in your life. Exploring Mraz’s lesser-known tracks is the best way to hone an understanding and admiration for his touching, idiosyncratic lyrics and tremendous vocal range.

The gaping hole in your soul shall be no more—I’ve compiled a playlist of 15 songs that will fill the void you didn’t know was there and change the way you think of Jason Mraz, the world, and perhaps even yourself. Most of the featured tracks are recordings of live performances, because Jason Mraz’s music is best experienced live. Since I can’t give you all tickets to his show tonight in Australia, I’m giving you the next best thing. Enjoy!

Aaron Carter to Anchor Down at Vanderbilt University

IMG_2094Only 90’s kids will remember: “hip-hop” heartthrob Aaron Carter was the coolest kid on the block circa 2000, and now he’s going to rock Block Party during homecoming week at Vanderbilt University. That’s right—twenty-seven-year old pop-prince Aaron Charles Carter is making a grand appearance on our campus on October 22 at 7:00pm, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Carter first started performing when he was just seven years old, and he opened for iconic boy-band The Backstreet Boys when he was only ten. Ever since his big musical beginning, he’s been busy making albums, touring, and performing. While we’re all familiar with his famous hits, such as “I Want Candy” and “That’s How I Beat Shaq,” here’s a list of things you might not know Aaron Carter has done:

Pumpkin Spiced Playlist

IMG_1731Lattes, candles, lotions and liquor—as soon as the leaves begin to change, store shelves are mercilessly spiced with the flavors of fall, and we’re all hit with the pumpkin plague, ready or not. To help make the farewell to summer less jarring, I’ve created a playlist packed with autumn aesthetics that is certain to lull you into apple-cider serenity for the next three months—or at least the next 89 minutes.