Surrendering to the Mystery

As I said in my last subscriber-only post, we've got all we can handle and more going on right now in the Saylor-Oliver household. Thankfully it's Advent, a season of waiting that can turn anxiety into something else.

The change of season also reminded me of a little fun content I could share here with minimal creative brainpower. It will be new to at least some of you.

I forget if I've mentioned here that I'm going to be at the Forma Conference with a session on play. As I was pondering how to kick it off, I realized the story of the Creative Commons Prayer liturgical playlists, to which several of you contributed, were a good exemplar of what happens when play intersects with media intersects with unexpectedly poignant spiritual reflection.

So in the event that you need the spirit of Advent distilled down to some ballads and bangers, I've got you (and me) covered. Enjoy!

Surrendering to mystery: An Advent playlist in three acts

Spotify link | YouTube link | Purchase* links:

1. These Days by Nico
2. Palm of Your Hand by Cake
3. Ghost of Tom Joad by Bruce Springsteen (thanks, Jim Naughton)
4. You Haven’t Done Nothin’ by Stevie Wonder
5. Dancing on My Own by Megan Hilty (thanks, Jonathan Elliott)
6. Circles by Soul Coughing
7. Where Will I Be by Emmylou Harris (thanks, Emily Guffey)
8. Climb by Mos Def feat. Vinia Mojica
9. One Voice by The Wailin’ Jennys (thanks, Anne Jolly)
10. Something’s Coming by Oscar Peterson Trio (thanks again, Jim, and for bearing with my musicals philosophy)
11. Home by Natalia Zukerman
12. Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall (a cool music video to boot!)
13. Did Ye Get Healed by Van Morrison
14. Faded Photographs by Ed Harcourt
15. All Will Be Well by The Gabe Dixon Band (thanks, Randall Curtis)
16. Cold War by Cautious Clay (thanks, Chris Hamby)
17. River in the Rain by Alison Krauss
18. Don’t Worry Baby by The Beach Boys
19. Moraleja by juracán
20. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston (also wish this mashup were on Spotify—thanks, Jimmy Nagle)
21. I Shall Be Released by Nina Simone (thanks again, Emily)
22. Breathe (Live) by Willy Porter

A big thanks, now as then, to everyone who contributed selections for this liturgical season mix, including the dearly departed Jonathan Elliott.

A couple notes:

• I tried in this list to listen to the voices of people of color who have called out that much of our light=good / darkness=bad Advent imagery is super problematic.
• I couldn’t quite make the advent playlist work with the (nevertheless stunning) Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap (remember this digital short?), but definitely wanted to pass on this video I found of her doing the song live at a TEDx.
• If you listen on shuffle, Santa moves you to the naughty list.
• If you want more picks, check out the (unsequenced) supplemental list, “More Advent 2018.”
• If you want more liturgically themed playlists, here’s Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. I find they’re good for targeting a certain moods, whatever the season. For example, I've learned the Easter playlist is great for running.

See you when I see you, friends!