Background image: “stillness” by hnt6581 via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
The days are getting shorter. The signs of crumbling and chaos are all around us. We are ready for the not yet.
That must mean we’re ready for Advent—and an advent playlist.
A big thanks, as always, to everyone who contributed selections for this liturgical season mix. We’ve been at this almost a year now (get ready for Christmas picks!), and the practice continues to be deeply meaningful for me. I hope you’re finding something similar.
Surrendering to mystery: An Advent playlist in three acts
Spotify link | YouTube link | Purchase* links:
- These Days by Nico
- Palm of Your Hand by Cake
- Ghost of Tom Joad by Bruce Springsteen (thanks, Jim Naughton)
- You Haven’t Done Nothin’ by Stevie Wonder
- Dancing on My Own by Megan Hilty (thanks, Jonathan Elliott)
- Circles by Soul Coughing
- Where Will I Be by Emmylou Harris (thanks, Emily Guffey)
- Climb by Mos Def feat. Vinia Mojica
- One Voice by The Wailin’ Jennys (thanks, Anne Jolly)
- Something’s Coming by Oscar Peterson Trio (thanks again, Jim, and for bearing with my musicals philosophy)
- Home by Natalia Zukerman
- Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall (a cool music video to boot!)
- Did Ye Get Healed by Van Morrison
- Faded Photographs by Ed Harcourt
- All Will Be Well by The Gabe Dixon Band (thanks, Randall Curtis)
- Cold War by Cautious Clay (thanks, Chris Hamby)
- River in the Rain by Alison Krauss
- Don’t Worry Baby by The Beach Boys
- Moraleja by juracán
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston (also wish this mashup were on Spotify—thanks, Jimmy Nagle)
- I Shall Be Released by Nina Simone (thanks again, Emily)
- Breathe (Live) by Willy Porter
A couple notes:
- I’ve tried in this list to listen to the voices of people of color who have called out that much of our light=good / darkness=bad Advent imagery is super problematic.
- I couldn’t quite make the advent playlist work with the (nevertheless stunning) Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap (remember this digital short?), but definitely wanted to pass on this video I found of her doing the song live at a TEDx.
- If you listen on shuffle, Santa moves you to the naughty list.
- If you don’t see your pick, it’s probably in the (unsequenced) supplemental list, “More Advent 2018.”
Want more liturgically themed playlists? Here’s Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. I find they’re good for targeting a certain moods, whatever the season. For example, the Easter playlist is great for running, I’ve learned.
* I usually keep Amazon Affiliate links out of the first two sections of the post, but it seemed needless long to repeat the list below. Thanks, as always, for supporting the site.
Related Prayers
Collect for Advent III (BCP, Public Domain)
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Lamentations 3:25-26 (WEB, Public Domain)
The LORD is good to those who wait *
to the soul who seeks for God.
It is good that a person should hope
and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Related Media
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The Broken Earth Trilogy by N. K. Jemisin
A stunning work of fantasy, with strong resonances of many important advent themes: apocalypse, waiting, hope, and a family destined to make a difference.
Laudamus Te by Taizé Community
Includes the thematically appropriate favorite “Wait for the Lord,” for your less dogmatically anti-liturgical advent playlist.