
Inspired by the December 27 birthday of Paramore’s Hayley Williams; the December 26 birthdays of The Shins/Broken Bells’ James Mercer, Uncle Tupelo’s Jay Farrar, The Hues Corporation’s Fleming Williams, and producer Phil Spector; and Boxing Day.

Inspired by the December 27 birthday of Paramore’s Hayley Williams; the December 26 birthdays of The Shins/Broken Bells’ James Mercer, Uncle Tupelo’s Jay Farrar, The Hues Corporation’s Fleming Williams, and producer Phil Spector; and Boxing Day.

I’m not going to write an essay about 2020. That’s been done elsewhere and I have nothing to add to the conversation. Though the three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote, “stink, stank, stunk,” there were some bright spots. Here are 85 things that brought me joy. Happy New Year, everyone!

Inspired by the season and the December 23 birthdays of Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder, The Chi-Lites’ Eugene Record, Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes, Esther Phillips, Tim Hardin, Chet Baker, Harold Dorman, Johnny Kidd, Rainbow’s Graham Bonnett, and Harry Shearer.

Inspired by the season and the December 9 birthdays of Donny Osmond, Portishead’s Geoff Barrow, The Rutles’ Neil Innes, Joan Armatrading, Dan Hicks, Donald Byrd, Uffie, Sylvia, Jessie Hill and Cybotron’s Juan Atkins.

Inspired by the season and the December 7 birthdays of Tom Waits, All Saints’ Nicole Appleton, Louis Prima, and Harry Chapin.

Inspired by the season and the December 4 birthdays of Jay-Z, The Beach Boys‘ Dennis Wilson, The Byrds’ Chris Hillman, Pansy Division’s Jon Ginoli, Freddy Cannon, Dionne Farris, Anna McGarrigle, Adamski and Southside Johnny.

Inspired by the November 8 birthdays of Bonnie Raitt, Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace, Eric B., Rickie Lee Jones, Sam Sparro, Wizzard’s Roy Wood, Minnie Riperton, The Manhattans’ Gerald Alston, Leif Garrett, Khia, J.J. Jackson, Diana King, Patti Page, Icona Pop’s Caroline Hjelt and Glass Tiger’s Alan Frew.

Inspired by the November 7 birthdays of Joni Mitchell, Shamir, Johnny Rivers, Lorde, The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon, Toro y Moi’s Chaz Bear, Dee Clark, Jellybean Benitez, David Guetta and Texas’ Sharleen Spiteri.

Inspired by the November 2 birthdays of k.d. lang, Nelly, Maxine Nightingale, The Cadillacs’ Earl Carroll, Mobb Deep’s Prodigy, J.D. Souther, Keith Emerson and Jay & the Americans’ Jay Black.

Inspired by the October 26 birthdays of 10,000 Maniacs’ Natalie Merchant, David Was, Girl Talk, ScHoolboy Q, Maggie Roche and Bootsy Collins.