A20!

Jamaica Ska -- by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

With how much I've listened to and become a fan of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (abbreviated to TSPO from now on,) I had to make it the first. Additonally, this was the first year I've started going by Skaggls, and I wanted the first song to really say SKA.

Ostrich Bananza -- by Naoto Kubo

Although this one is outside of Spotify, imma still include a short description. While I didn't play Donkey Kong Bananza, I did watch a playthrough, and the music was fantastic.

Free Free Free -- by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

Another TSPO song lol. This one is the song that made me really explore their discography. I loved it so much, I considered creating an animation to be played over it, but got caught up with other projects.

ソングオブザデッド -- by KANA-BOON

Not much to say about this song, just the fact that it's the opening for an anime I really enjoyed that I watched (twice) this year (the anime is called Zom 100.) Super upbeat, with some really cool lyric rhythms.

Kat Fight -- by Ridiculon

A song from the game Mewgenics. Very fun game, even though I'm awful at it lol. Anyway, this song is probably my favorite from the game, and it's true shame it's only in the tutorial.

Black Crayon -- by Dog Water

A song that I actually had the opportunity to make animations for the music video! Besides that, though, I just really enjoy this song. Very catchy.

Down In The Mines -- by Sandwyrms

A video called "1000 Players Simulate Civilization: Rich & Poor" by the youtuber ish was released this year, and man it's got to be one of the greatest youtube videos ever made. This song was used in one of my favorite segments of the video.

Dance with STEEL BALL RUN -- by Yugo Kanno

Steel Ball Run (part 7 of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure,) came out a few months ago (or at least, episode 1 did.) My best friend and I binged the entirety of the show last year, and so we were both incredibly excited that the next season of our favorite show would be releasing right after that binge. While I didn't quite vibe with this theme at first, I still decided to but it in here for the representation of part 7. However, as I listened to it more, I grew more fond of it.

On The Way -- by AiNA THE END

This song is one of the openings to another anime that I enjoy (DanDaDan,) which released season 2 this year. Idk, just something about the way this singer sings is really satisfying to me. And fun fact, this artist also did a collaboration with TSPO, but decided against putting it in because I already have 5 TSPO songs in this playlist. That's an entire fourth of the playlist already.

abracadabra -- by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

Speaking of TSPO, here come 3 songs in a row by them! Abracadabra is one of their most unique, and in my opinion, straight up awesome sounding songs. Super great vibe, and the horns work really well with the other, more "exotic" instruments, which I find kinda surprising.

the PIRATES -- by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

If I had a nickel for every pirate themed ska song I've heard, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice. And just like Captain Hampton by the Aquabats, this song rocks.

Small White -- by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

OK, I promise this is the last TSPO song in the playlist. I didn't put this one in for any particular reason other than it's one of my favorites. The others are all pretty unique, but this one has the same (ish) vibe as most of their discography.

Killer

As I mentioned before, my best friend got me to rewatch Jojo's with him. I hadn't really paid attention to this theme on my first watch, but I definetly liked it better on the rewatch. It's just so uneasy, and the full band coming in at just the little bits makes it one of my favorite villain themes of all time (my favorite is later in this playlist lol).

Accomplished -- by Jung Jaeil

Speaking of rewatching shows, I also did a rewatch of Squid Game with my mom. And with the rewatch, I definetly gained an appreciation for the soundtrack. This song is 100% my favorite from the show, because it blends the two main themes of the show beautifully. It being played at the end too is just an incredibly satisfying conclusion.

Wind Dragon Hunt -- by Jay Vincent and Micheal Kramer

Another one that's not on Spotify, sorry guys. I started watching Ninjago from where I left off many, many years ago (some might even say, before time had a name...) mostly because my two little siblings started watching it, but also because Ninjago was like my single passion back in elementary school (it's actually what I drew when I first started drawing!) The themes occasionally hit so hard, and this is one of them that just had me waiting for it to show up in the show or at the end of episodes. It got me to watch the opening of this season too, even though I don't vibe with any of the openings themselves.

Skeletons On Parade -- by LUDO

Getting a CD player last year let me listen to some of my CDs more, and this song I guess I always skipped past in my childhood because it was too scary. And I am so sad I missed this song for years because of that. It's got some jazz at the start, it's got some piratey feels in the middle, its kinda spooky (idk I found I like spooky tunes,) it's almost perfect for my music taste. Ska might be the center of my music taste, but honestly this vibe is a more niche feel that for whatever reason lands a bullseye on where my taste lies. It's a shame LUDO hasn't released an album in 16 years, though.

A Spider in the Sink -- Random Hand

As I went for another journey looking for punk/ska music, I found this song that just... feels awesome. Super catchy, and the beat feels great throughout. Idk, harder to explain my enjoyment of this song.

壊し屋 -- by Asami Tachibana

Another song from an anime I really enjoy (Haikyuu!!), I just really like the crazy trumpet part. Like, what is even happening here lol. It totally matches the vibe of the scene when it plays, and elevates the scene 10 times.

The Skull Sorcerer

Not on Spotify, sorry. But this is my favorite villain theme of all time. Very chilling, very spooky, but also incredibly epic and vast. Peak Ninjago music. I even made fan art of this villain just because the theme is so good (which says something, cuz I almost never do fan art.

Enter Pharloom

So, I haven't actually finished Silksong. And while I do like the music a lot, it's not my favorite. I mainly put this here because ending on The Skull Sorcerer wasn't quite the vibe I was going for, and this song blends pretty perfectly from that song into a nice finish. So yeah. I have played a bit of the game, and this song is great, but not any crazy connection for this one.

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A19!

The Rain Formerly Known as Purple -- by Chris Christodoulou

I’ve started a trend in my playlists where the first song is a little slower / more cinematic to open, and I’ve chosen my second favorite song from Risk of Rain 2 because of how much my brother and I played the game this year.

Carp Diem (Spit Valve) -- by Christoph Jakob and Tyler Mire

A fan-made Splatoon song with extra funkiness, I put this one second in the playlist to signify how much I’ve been into Splatoon lately. I’ve joined a competitive team and finally reached X rank. Shoutout to my team, Shooting Starfish!

オトノケ - Otonoke -- by Creepy Nuts

Alright, here’s the first anime song. Dandadan was alright, but the opening song is fantastic. Probably my favorite OP of all time (so far.) (Also, not counting Jojos OPs cuz it's in a league of its own.)

The Space Between -- by Koethe

Gildedguy #8 came out this year, and this was my favorite of the two songs featured. This also caused me to listen to a lot of Koethe’s music, but this one remains one of my favorites. (Here's the link to the video.)

Energia -- by Russkaja

Ska! Russian ska! I tried to listen to a little more ska this year and found some great new songs, including Energia. I really love the chorus switching between that almost metal sound to pure ska; it’s great.

Gestapo -- by Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards

Here’s another song from my ska search, but I love this one for the awesome solos in the middle. More jazzy, and I do enjoy me some jazz.

Uragirimonono Requiem - Giorno Ver. -- by Yugo Kanno

I love Jojos, and part 5 is my favorite, so I had to put this one in. I didn’t like it at first, but after watching and getting to listen to every version, this one really does hit different (and better.) Although my Jojos phase was last year, I do still enjoy it.

Raven's Tutorial - Part 2 -- by Foreign Gnomes and Cazok

Everhood 2 was a new game I bought to get over boredom, and the soundtrack is so good. I had a lot of trouble picking which song to put in here.

Nella cerniera -- by Yugo Kanno

More Jojos! Bruno’s theme is one of my favorites, and I didn’t look into the side characters’ themes until this year sooooo… Here it is.

Brain Problem Situation -- by They Might Be Giants

I’ve listened to some more They Might Be Giants this year and I’ve found a couple more favorites. I really enjoy the opening lines, it fits TMBG perfectly.

After - School Job Infomercial! -- by The Aquabats!

The Aquabats released a new album, and while it wasn’t their greatest, there were some good songs. This one seems the most Aquabats, though.

Banana Man -- by Tally Hall

I added this one because of an animation I found. (Here's the link)

ワールドイズマイン -- by ryo and Hatsune Miku

Rocket League (one of my favorite games) had a Miku event, and of course I got the Miku player anthem for the memes. I enjoy this specifically because of the super high “screams”; they sound a lot like a trumpet showing off how high they can go.

When Will You Die? -- by They Might Be Giants

More They Might Be Giants. Yup, that's all.

Great Days -- by Karen Aoki

I only put this in here because I wanted to have a song with the kazoo version right after, and this one blends the best from the end to the kazoo start. (The kazoo version isn't avaliable thru Spotify, it's there from an mp3 I have downloaded and idk how to add downloadable files here yet so sry)

BIGSHOT -- by Jhariah

Randomly found from a short animation on discord, and I liked it.

Creator -- by Lena Raine

And the final song of the playlist ends on a sorta epic, sorta calm note. I’ve started a Minecraft Realm with my friends, so I listened to the new music and… Steampunk??? In Minecraft??? Yes, thank you.

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A18!

Arrival -- by Hans Zimmer

I've started off this playlist with a song that I think not only is really good but does a great job at making an entrance. I've been appreciating more cinematic music this year, and also I just really like Dune & its soundtrack.

Too Big to Fail -- by The Glass Pyramids

This one is my absolute favorite from this year, and also my fave from Hi-Fi Rush, which I enjoyed enough to not only finish but also do some post-game stuff (which, wowza, I never do that kinda thing.) I love the drums especially.

Spin Eternally -- by Jaroslav Beck, Boom Kitty, and Camellia

Boom Kitty makes some really good stuff, and this song just hit a lil different. I couldn't stop thinking about animating a fight scene over this song, and eventually mapped out a storyboard (which I never used.)

AIN'T NOTHIN' LIKE A FUNKY BEAT -- by Hideki Naganuma

I don't even remember how I found this one, but I instantly added it to my big playlist. It's sooooo funky and hits so many weird beats.

Walk Like and Egyptian -- by The Bangles

I watched Jojo's this year (if you couldn't tell from the playlist cover art,) and this is my favorite EP by a long shot. Not to mention, it's popular enough to be played in supermarkets (imagine my suprise as it started playing while I was at work.)

Discombobulate -- by Hans Zimmer

Really, really good steampunk music. That's all, I just like the steampunk vibe and couldn't believe I actually found good music for the genre.

Jort Storm - Radio Edit -- by Slimecicle

I really enjoy Slimecicle as a streamer, and the fact that he made a song that's not only really funny but ridiculously good forced me to put it in here.

241 -- by Reel Big Fish

I stumbled across this song, and remembered it from listening to it years ago. But it's some really good ska and I still enjoy it a lot, so here it is.

We Are Number One - Remix -- by Dunderpatrullen

I like this song normally, but Dunderpatrullen just has this great way of remixing sound bits in the best way possible (like with Tumba Ping Pong in A16.)

Through the Halls of History -- by REO

More music from Hi-Fi Rush, and this time it's JAZZ! I've grown to appreciate jazz music since joining the jazz band two years ago, and the cymbal work in this song is just crazy.

Arnge Drank -- by BC bOp!

Speaking of jazz band, this is my absolute favorite song that we've played, and it's one of the last as well. I like to think of this song as the representative of all of my work learning the drumset and how much I've improved.

Let's Dance, Boys ! -- BAYONETTA

Sticking with the jazz theme for this portion of the playlist, I found this song through a medley of SSBU songs. I immediately liked it, and it's stuck as a staple of this year's music taste.

Diamond is unbreakable - Main Theme -- by Yugo Kanno

So Jojos has got to be my favorite show of all time so far, and Diamond is Unbreakable might be one of my favorite themes, mostly because of how it's also used in the OP, which is super cool. (Also, all of the themes are really good, but this one is one of my faves.)

Electroman Adventures V3 -- by Waterflame

Electroman Adventures is one of my favorite original Geometry Dash songs, and this remix does all the justice it needs.

...con lentitud ponderosa -- by Chris Christodoulou

SO EPIC. After actually playing Risk of Rain 2 and listening to the soundtrack, this song is by far the best. In fact, it was so good I learned the base chords for piano, which I literally never do (I just play the melody usually.)

Goodbye -- by Ramsey

Arcane was really good, and it was nice to see something with that quality that wasn't anime or a cartoon (not to say those are bad or anything, just that a refreshing change of style was nice.) Also, I really like the music of season 1, and this song fits with what I wanted to play afterwards perfectly.

BLOODY STREAM -- by Coda

I mainly just put this here because the transition is so funny, but it still is a Jojos OP which means it's good enough to put in regardless.

Impact Man Stage -- by Marika Suzuki

I do love me some good anvil noises in a song. My brother and I played Megaman 11 a little bit, but this song really stuck out to me.

Climb the Tower -- by Masatoshi Yanagi

More Hi-Fi Rush. I just really like the texture of the drums here.

The Rocky Road to Dublin -- by Dropkick Murphys

Another song uncovered from my past CDs, I really only put this here for the transistion to the next song, but the next song was deleted off of Spotify, so that sucks.

Pepsiman Theme -- by Man on the Internet, Unirob, Emily Go VO, Alex Beckham, Daby Cupit, and Uprising Attorney

Idk, funny and jazzy I guess. And really good, too.

Medic! -- by Valve Studio Orchestra

After watching the TF2 character intros, this song stuck out immediately. It has no business being this good, but sure, I'll take it.

Deadshot -- by Boom Kitty

I really wanted to use this for a Geometry Dash level when update 2.0 came out, but quickly lost motivation. (And I never made a GD level again.) However, the song is still good and represents the last time I really made anything in GD. o7

Route 66 -- by Derek Duke

For whatever reason, Spotify reccomended this one to me on my steampunk music search... but it's a great western song and fits well with Deadshot so I put it in.

Cat with 2 Heads! -- by The Aquabats!

Gotta include an Aquabats song, and I chose this one because I had to basically do a study on it for a class. (It quickly became my favorite song of all time a couple months after making this playlist.)

Across the Spider-Verse (Start a Band) -- by Daniel Pemberton

Across the Spiderverse came out this year, and it blew me away, especially since I was really starting to get into animating this year.

Stardust Crusaders -- by Yugo Kanno

Ending with my favorite Jojo theme, this one just feels the most battle-theme ish. Idk, kinda hard to explain.

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A17!

Rush E -- by Sheet Music Boss

Starts off slow, so I put it at the start (there wasn’t really a competing starter) also, I learned to play this on vibraphone and it’s just a good, little bit goofy, song. Also a Minecraft club classic.

A Real Life -- by Greek Fire

Gildedguy #4, I loved the song’s start, along with the recurring “hey hey hey”, plus the instrumental section is really cool. (Video link)

BIG SHOT -- by Toby Fox

Fun little glitchiness, bit of a meme song but also has a nice catchiness.

Synopsis for Latecomers

After hearing this in the concert I went to, I loved the beat and the humor to it. I also felt that I needed to put this a couple songs in because yea. It was also a contender for last song, but the need to put it up front plus other last songs led to it being where it is.

Desolation -- by Mike Geno

While my liking of this song was near the start of this past year, I was absolutely obsessed with this one (probably because it was really fun to drum the triplet-feeling parts) so I just had to put it in.

Solar Soda -- by JayMoji

Some cool music by a cool YouTuber that I listened to because I wasn’t finding a lot of other music

Never Gonna Give You Up -- by Rick Astley

Listened to on repeat for 15 hours over the span of 48 hours.

The Chicken -- by Alfred James Ellis and Orquestra de Jazz do Douro

While I played this in Jazz band last year, I only really started appreciating it this year and I still enjoy the tune (even though it ends really suddenly which throws me off every time.)

End of the Universe -- by Gooseworx

Very fun little animation, and I consider this the theme even though it really isn’t, it’s just a cool, catchy song. Probably took a lot of inspiration from this song to make one of my own but it wasn’t necessarily based on this one. Also, I hoped the suddenness of the transition between the last song and this would be a bit better but. (Video link)

We Will Fall Together -- by Streetlight Manifesto

I found this one going through some Spotify-recommended ska (most of which I didn’t actually like that much) and for some reason I remember it from a long time ago and I still enjoy it.

A Happy Jam -- by Fries On The Side

The humor contrasting with the tune is perfect, and also this song somehow always wakes me up, so I have listened to it on the bus quite often in the morning (Also,an animation.)

The Basement -- by Eric Hutchinson

Gildedguy #3, this one is just an absolute bop (so I put it with the similar previous song) and the animation is different from any of the others, which I enjoy as well. (Video link.)

Brand New World -- by D-51

An opening from One Piece which I liked (...honestly not much else to say) Also I considered taking this one out but the transition to the next song was what kept it in.

The Wither -- by T_en_M

I found a music creator of not insane skill but still makes some really nice melodies. This one is probably the most varied throughout the song.

The Darkest Lord (From "Miitopia") -- by GaMetal

The final boss from Miitopia, very epic, also put next to The Wither cuz similar feel.

City Lights

My favorite Tetris Effect level (mostly because of the music added from the gameplay but the song is still nice) Drum solo to end this one, drum fill starting the next song.

Splatoon 3 (Clickbait) - Metal Version -- by Lame Genie and LongestSoloEver

Pretty much the only other Splatoon 3 song that I could find (that was good and not Lofi [which is weird because Sploon 3 is rock/metal based so]) I also realized after listening to the OST that this is the only song I actually like, so that’s lucky that it’s on Spotify.

ココロのちず -- by BOYSTYLE

My favorite One Piece opening so far, the animation with the music just adds so much.

Rock Ain't Dead -- by Onlap

Gildedguy #7, the first one that I saw (definitely the most confusing but after watching a bit more about stick fighting animation it made a bit more sense) (Video link.)

General Nausea -- by Gooseworx

Great beat, possibly the only march that I have in my playlist despite being a drummer, perfect tempo to walk to in the hallways.

Lancer's Theme -- by The Musical Ghost and Orenji Music

Awesome swing that Spotify recommended me, in my opinion better than the original.

Gold Rush -- by Emma Stevens

Gildedguy #0, this one after watching the first time made immediate sense to me, and while sure the song isn’t really my style, the metaphor of the Gildedguy story is enough to make it listenable (well, better than listenable [it’s in my yearly playlist after all] but you get my point.) (Video link.)

Salmon Run -- by Kamex

More Splatoon music, this time I thought it was cool how they put the song into 4/4 time (because it’s usually in 12/8 or something wacky) and overall just made it more enjoyable to listen to.

Would You Be Impressed? -- by Streetlight Manifesto

After reminding myself constantly and then forgetting, I finally looked up Streetlight Manifesto, and I found that I just love their music. The absolute best thing about it is definitely the horns coming in at just the right spots, and this song (my favorite of theirs) really reflects that.

Battle Cry -- by LUDO

I found LUDO after listening to a CD and I completely forgot about this song but it’s pretty darn good. Also a Minecraft club classic, we listened to this one for pretty much the whole 5 hours one time.

Alien Victory

Gildedguy #6, my favorite so far, obviously doesn’t have lyrics, and the animation is just amazing. Plus, the guitar part is so insanely epic I cannot put it into words. (Video link.)

紅蓮華 -- by LiSA

The opening to Demon Slayer which I binge-watched because I had been hearing a lot about it and I have to say, the opening is pretty cool.

Overtaken - Epic Version -- by Samuel Kim

A great battle theme (that’s all I have to say.)

Song That Might Play When You Fight Sans -- by Gooseworx

While just repeating over and over, this song somehow manages to make it different every single time and it’s just a fun one to listen to.

STONE OCEAN -- by ichigo

After watching the Jojo openings (I’ll probably get around to watching the actual show when I finish One Piece) this one was by far my favorite, there’s a part (I can’t explain where exactly) that feels - again - just epic.

Oh Me, Oh My -- by Streetlight Manifesto

Listening to this the first couple times, I wasn’t a super big fan, but I think it’s grown on me and is much chiller. One of the candidates for last song, it was a close call but I think it still works being second to last

LC Full Blast -- by Lucky Chops

I also looked up Lucky Chops after listening to them in the car a bit, and while I didn’t find a lot of songs that I liked, this was one that I did (although I don't especially enjoy the shoutouts/audience[???] bits of it) this one officially took the spot for final song because the ending just ends a little bit better than the others.

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(There are no explanations for the earlier playlists.)