We are now one year into the coronavirus pandemic. In March 2020, we closed the WGSS office at Stony Brook University and went into lockdown. All classes went online. We started this WGSS blog in order to create a virtual space of celebration for the graduating class of 2020. We will use this space again to celebrate #WGSSGraduation2021.
We decided it would be fun to create a #WGSSPandemicPlaylist that brings together music that has helped WGSS faculty, students, and alums during this difficult time. This will be on ongoing project, so please be in touch should you want to contribute to the playlist (Lisa[dot]Diedrich[at]stonybrook[dot]edu).
Happy listening!
McKenzi Thi Murphy (Journalism/Theater Arts/WGSS (Class of ’21))
I’m Still Here: Elaine Stritch
I’m Still Here by Stephen Sondheim, sung here by Elaine Stritch for Sondheim’s 80th Birthday Concert (the best version). Look, I’ve got a whole playlist with musical theatre songs about women going absolutely feral, but this one seems appropriate given *everything* that’s happened. “I got through all of last year, and I’m here,” indeed. Elaine Stritch is no longer with us, but there’s something inspiring about watching a then-85 year old woman belting out a song and jumping up and down just relishing in the fact that yes, she’s still here.
Mary Jo Bona (Professor of WGSS) and Stephanie Bonvissuto (PhD candidate)
The President Sang Amazing Grace: Kronos Quartet and Meklit
Mary Jo: We talked about Leonard Cohen’s passing and we both later played “Hallelujah” all that month. I was at JFK the day after the 2016 election, off to Montreal for NWSA. We connected by phone. I told you I could hear a pin drop at the gate; it reminded me of being at the airport after 9/11. And then the years after that day in between: poetry, lyrics, and song. And then: listening more, weeping, and healing.
Stephanie: I would not hear Cohen’s haunting anthem again until Saturday Night Live’s cold open a few days later. Kate McKinnon sits at the piano as a white pantsuit-clad Hillary Clinton to play to a hushed audience, giving us permission to weep in and for the moment. As the last note fades, Kate/Hillary faces the camera to say, “I’m not giving up, and neither should you.” Mekit and The Kronos Quartet elicits the same for me, wrapping the ethos of a powerful moment as an ephemeral gift for us to similarly hold and to hold us and our tears.
Nur-E Ferdous (Health Sciences Major, WGSS Minor (Class of ’22))
Fine Line and Treat People With Kindness: Harry Styles
In my opinion, the two songs are like two sides of the same coin. Fine Line is much slower and somber, and to me it kind of recalls the numbness of life in the pandemic but also towards the end the way he almost is begging and reassuring at the same time that “we’ll be alright” helps me think that we will be alright after this and that it’s okay to be scared and sad because of this. Treat People With Kindness is much more upbeat, and it is literally about being kind and generous to others and celebrating each other for being who we are. I linked the music video of TPWK because there’s a lot of analysis of the video and Harry’s gender identity in it. That also kept me patient during the pandemic and also positive because it was difficult many times to handle our own emotions as well as the emotions of others’.
Callias Zeng (WGSS Major, Environmental Studies Minor (Class of ’21))
The Beauty of Being Deaf: Chella Man
I’ve followed deaf, trans, queer activist Chella Man for a few years now. He’s very vocal about addressing ableism and celebrating the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community. He posted a video today called, “The Beauty of Being Deaf.” It is a wonderful video, so I wanted to share it!
Teri Tiso (Associate Professor Emerita of WGSS)
Let’s Talk about Sex: Salt-N-Pepa
We cannot talk about our bodies and health without talking about sex. Our basic understanding of physical characteristics is always skewed by our social and cultural beliefs. When we talk to each other (all of us) about blood, breasts, penis, vagina, sperm, eggs we are able to learn about menstruation, puberty changes, pregnancy, and how we are taught to interact as females, males, intersex, and queer humans.
Julie McGovern Carballo (Biology Major, WGSS Minor (Class of ’21))
Keep It Gold: Surfaces
This song is a reminder to always look at the brighter side of things!
Lisa Diedrich (Professor of WGSS)
Budapest Concert Part VIII: Keith Jarrett
Music has been so important to me during the pandemic. I have really loved that many musicians performed live on social media from their homes to entertain us—a gift that emerged out of isolation and fear. The person I have listened to the most is Keith Jarrett. I love the melancholic virtuosity of his live performances. We also learned this year that because of health issues caused by a stroke in 2018, he may not be able to perform live again. So, this recording of a concert in Budapest released in October 2020 is bittersweet.
Joy-Louise Gape (History/WGSS (Class of ’21))
I Won’t Give Up: Jason Mraz
This song has been in my playlist for years because of how powerful it is. This song is a very strong reminder about how important it is to never give up and always look up as well as look to those around you. It also reminds you how necessary it is to adapt to the surrounding circumstances and how much stronger that can make you. Most importantly, this song reminds the listener that you are worth it. Given the times that we all have been through recently, I think that this a powerful reminder about our inherent worth and strength as well as the power we can draw from those around us.
Victoria Hesford (Associate Professor of WGSS)
Honey: Robyn (on Later…with Jools Holland)
I chose this song because, first of all, it’s just a great pop song. But I also chose it because Robyn explained in an interview that she wanted to create a song that didn’t end. So, it seemed a fitting song for the pandemic. You really don’t want this song to end, unlike the pandemic, which has already gone on too long.
Nicole Vion (English/Studio Art/WGSS (Class of ’22))
Salt in the Wound: boygenius
Boygenius is a collaboration of the artists Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus (I love this album so much). This live performance is one of my personal favorite versions of the song:
It’s Okay to Cry: SOPHIE
The artist SOPHIE was a trans woman who recently tragically died and the loss of SOPHIE has impacted a lot of people, especially in the LGBTQ+ community. This is SOPHIE’s song titled “It’s Okay To Cry” and the visual that went along with the track:
A Pearl: Mitski
Mitski’s lyricism really solidifies her as one of my favorite artists, and this song definitely falls under that category.
Jackie Donnelly (WGSS ATC & GPC)
Coldplay: Everyday Life (Live in Jordan)
Jackie added to the playlist on Twitter with this comment: I’m late to this party, but I’m posting a live album here by Coldplay performed at a citadel in Jordan at sunrise & sunset that I stumbled upon. I gravitate back to it over and over to listen & watch. Beautiful guest vocals, instrumentals, & views. [Editors note: No one is late to this party!]