As I was wrestling with the fact that my days of listening to my Happy Holigays playlist are now over since Christmas is a few days passed, I wondered why aren’t there more songs related to New Year’s Eve?
Sure there’s the classic Auld Lang Syne … or if you’re a little more hip you think of 1999 by Prince… or better yet if you’re around my age you think of that one song Will Smith dropped, Will 2k. You know back when we thought the world would suddenly shut down during the “y2k” craze the minute the clock struck midnight as we entered the year 2000.
When we all should’ve clearly been more fearful of 2020….and as we are about to enter the year of 2020, too.
Anyway, as I was trying to find some NYE songs to create a playlist, I noticed during my search that there were many repeats of songs and some that I hard-pass disagreed with being able to acknowledge them as NYE songs.
So, even though I had no intention of writing another post before the New Year – I figured, why not spread some musical cheer before we enter another year of the unknown.
Now, I will preface with saying don’t get your hopes up (similarly to how we are not getting our hopes up too high, if at all, for 2022) – but brace yourself for at least stumbling on a few solid gems you may have not heard of or considered taking the time to listen to:
NYE – Missy Higgins
This is one of my favorite songs that I discovered quite a few years ago when I lived in Philly. It’s actually a cover of the Perry Keyes song, but Missy Higgins version is my absolute favorite. It’s so delightful that I don’t limit myself just to the NYE holiday – I listen to it all year long. For all the repeats that come up when looking for NYE songs, I was especially disappointed to see that this track didn’t make any of the lists. For that reason, it’s the first one on mine (even though I have no ranking order).
1999 – Prince
Because what would a playlist about NYE music be without the artist formerly known as?
Auld Lang Syne – Marzipan & Mistletoe
Listen, yes Mariah Carey is the Queen of Christmas and I in fact love her version of the song. However, anytime I hear this song now I see instant flashes of that one scene from the Sex and the City movie where Carrie runs to Miranda’s in the snow. That image in my head is what New Years and this song look like for me, and the two shall never be separated in my brain.
Will 2K – Will Smith ft. K-Ci
Hello to my childhood, it’s nice to indulge in nostalgia of being nine years old and thinking it only gets as good as the Willennium.
Kiss Me at Midnight – N*SYNC
This was lowkey my favorite song off of their Christmas album and I’d like to make a point that it doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Everyone is singing Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays ignoring what a bop this NYE song is.
Bringing in a Brand New Year – Charles Brown
I didn’t know this song before I did my research of trying to find NYE music. This did feel like a classic that needs to be played more often around this time of year. More so than most that get played, that’s for sure.
New Year’s Resolution – Otis Redding, Carla Thomas
A classic for the holiday that once again doesn’t get the hype it deserves.
Made for Now – Janet Jackson ft. Daddy Yankee
Is it exactly a NYE song? Maybe not. Does it make you want to get up and dance? Yes. Does it remind you to celebrate being in the present? Sure does. Doesn’t every playlist deserve to have a Janet Jackson song on it? Absolutely, always.
2012 – Jay Sean ft. Nicki Minaj
Okay, I just needed to add this to see if anyone else remembered this song? Do you remember when we AGAIN thought the world was going to end in 2012? We really had no idea what was coming in 2020.
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? – Mary Lambert
I adore Mary Lambert and I think that’s enough reason to suggest this song.
I’d like to leave you all on the last day of 2021 with the energy that Ayanna brought in the latest episode of The Challenge All-Stars 2. Don’t let anyone try to swindle you into an apology they do not deserve when you had to clean up their mess. Go boldly into the New Year as Ayanna did with eating Jodi’s Greek salad and admit it with pride when anyone does you wrong. You let them know that you in fact did eat their Greek salad without regret.
Traci Tay 