music that got me through my 20's
Mac edition
A little something different this week!
I write a lot about my tumultuous twenties, the heart break and yearning, the low self esteem and the directionless wandering. Every once in a while, I’ll get a “you good?” text after a particularly harrowing piece. But the truth is, despite my twenties being messy, it was also a time of great joy and celebration, dancing, eating well and loving hard. I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite music consumed over the past decade. I don’t think anything encapsulates a particular memory better than a song you loved during that period.
It was challenging to make this list concise. Going back into my Spotify archives, there are endless options to choose from, so I decided to keep it short and sweet with my three favorite Macs. If people are into the recs (and I feel like it lol), I might make this a regular series along with my usual essays, poems and food related posts, so let me know if you dig it. And without further ado, here are the tunes.
Starting strong with Mac Miller’s 2018 iconic NPR tiny desk concert. I never really listened to his music before I saw his tiny desk, but once I did, I had it playing on repeat. It’s heartbreaking because he left this world way too soon, but damn, what a beautiful memento of a man who had so much soul and talent.
Never Going Back Again. Someone told me that all Libras pick this track as their favorite Fleetwood Mac song which I kinda love if it’s true. It really tugs at the heartstrings so it does seem on brand, but I would be so curious to know in the comments what your astrological sign is and your correlating favorite Fleetwood Mac song (for research!). I listened to this one a lot when I was a sophomore in college. My stoner boyfriend back home used to play the album on his record player in his little tapestry covered bedroom with the back door open to the yard where his dog Bam Bam and my sweet girl Honey (who was a puppy back then) would play.
I can’t think of a contemporary artist that makes music with a more quintessential California easy living vibe than Mac Demarco (who is from Canada and previously lived in Queens before moving to LA). I saw him live twice in my twenties. Once on a third date with a guy who made me watch his stand up comedy on the second date. That relationship didn’t last long but the show converted me into a serious Mac fan who is utterly goofy and out-there in his performances considering how mellow his tunes are. The second time was with Max after we got back from spending two weeks in Kauai last Summer at a small amphitheater in the Hollywood hills that was one of the best shows I’ve been to in a long time. Afterwards Max and I ate pasta and drank martinis at Jone’s Hollywood and boy was I happy to be home.
Thanks for tuning in! You can also find me on instagram. See you next week <3
i’m a gemini and my fave fleetwood mac songs are everywhere, sara, and you make loving fun but they’re my favorite band so my favorite songs change by my mood (which feels very gemini)
Love this. My husband is a libra and loves Fleetwood Mac. I will be asking later his favorite and will report back.
I love Mac but had never listened to the Tiny Desk. Thank you for sharing that. I’m saving it for later when I can cry.