Welcome back to Brew Hoop, Etc, where we ask that everybody get comfortable and please don’t feed the pugs from the table, thanks. Today, we take a quick break from Milwaukee Bucks coverage to talk about something non-basketball. The topic of choice is music! Let’s go!
What’s your favorite (and least favorite) genre of music?
Mitchell: Hip hop, now and forever. I grew up listening to whatever my parents were listening to, so when I hit my “rebellious youth” phase, rap was the furthest thing from that, and I basically stuck with it. I don’t listen to anything else enough to have a genre I favor less.
Adam: Synthpop is very pleasing and makes up most of my Spotify starred songs. I can’t handle heavy or death metal much at all. Something about the idea of someone repeatedly shouting incomprehensible stuff into my ears repeatedly just doesn’t do it for me.
Eric B: I can’t say for sure that I have a favorite genre. A lot of what I’m playing is based on the mood I’m in or want to get to, honestly. I’ll agree with Adam on not being a fan of heavy or death metal unless it’s a cover of something. It’s just not for me, but please continue to enjoy it if that’s your jam.
Rachael: My favorite genre is a tie between rap and R&B. As for least favorite, I hope I don’t cause too much controversy by saying this but.... country music. I’m sorry, it makes me feel depressed and annoyed at the same time.
Dylan: Indie and alternative rock is definitely where my heart truly lies, but I dabble in synthpop, rap and hip hop for sure. I used to adamantly despise country, but I’ve discovered it has a time, place and vibe where it’s welcome. So heavy and death metal can sit on the sideline.
Gabe: The music I listen to the most nowadays is rap, so I'd have to pin that as my favorite. I like some alternative and classic rock as well. I pretty much will listen to anything except country and death metal (I'm one of those people who think every song in today's country is the same). Old country is great though, especially Marty Robbins.
What’s your favorite song, or your favorite artist?
Mitchell: I am a huge Kendrick Lamar fanboy and will shamelessly worship any track that he’s on. I am also partial to each installment of Run The Jewels. However, I think my all time favorite song has to be “Ruby ‘81” by Aesop Rock. Every time I listen, it’s 2:33 well spent. Good dog.
Adam: I really like the Scottish band synthpop band Chvrches. I’ve listened to their catalog an embarrassingly large amount, and they’re tops on my list of bands I still need to see live.
Eric B: I don’t know if these are my favorites, but they have both never left me feeling anything other than fantastic. These songs are “Pony” by Ginuwine and “Love On Top” by Beyonce.
Rachael: I’m with Mitchell on the Kendrick love. I’ve had “Humble” on repeat since it dropped. I know I’m going to get some crap (excuse my language) for my other favorite artist. Alas, I have been a fan of J Cole since Friday Night Lights; after which I went back and listened to The Come Up and The Warm Up and fell in love. Judge away.
Dylan: The Killers are the nostalgia band I’ve loved and still love since I was a kid, but now my favorite band might be Joyce Manor, an indie rock band I found last year and I couldn’t stop listening to their latest album. Honorable mentions to Korean-American Indie folk rock band Run River North and Childish Gambino on the rap side.
Gabe: I don't really have a favorite song, by the first one that comes to my mind is “Bus Stop” by The Hollies. The change in keys and the harmony is what makes it so unique and it tells a really good story doing it. If you've never listened to it, I suggest you do so! My favorite artist is probably the rapper Vince Staples.
What is your go-to karaoke tune?
Mitchell: Confession: I have never done karaoke. If I did, it would have to be a song that I knew fairly well, while also being a song most hold in relatively high regard, while also being a song that I could appropriately edit on the fly. Since I don’t mind imposing my lack of vocal talents upon others, so my choice would have to be “Forgot About Dre.” Just like this guy.
Adam: Yikes. I am tone deaf, and been told many, many times that I’m completely incapable of singing notes correctly. As such, I have rarely subjected others to my karaoke wailing, but if I did, I’ll go with Forget You by Cee Lo Green.
Eric B: I have never done solo karaoke because I am a coward, but if I had to it would be World’s Greatest by R. Kelly. I’m about bringing the crowd together, y’know?
Rachael: I’ve never done karaoke as an adult, and this greatly saddens me. If anyone can suggest a bar in downtown Milwaukee that has karaoke, please let me know in the comments so I can publicly humiliate myself.
Dylan: It’s been a couple years since I’ve done actual karaoke, but my staple has to be the much-maligned-but-dearly-beloved-and-memorized-by me “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice. You can’t deny it slaps in all the right ways and I’ve been known to perform it acoustically at random.
Gabe: I have two of them. First, “Africa” by Toto. I love that song. Gets everyone in the bar going! Second, I'd have to say “Down Under” by Men at Work. Rock songs with flutes in it are the best and this song might take the cake for me in that category. It seems to be a love/hate with most people and I love that song, especially in karaoke (but trust me, you do not want to hear me sing).
Picture this: you just hit a three-pointer in a big game. What do they play over the PA system?
Eric B: “Knuck if you Buck” by Crime Mob. Duh. They should play this when any current player scores, in my opinion. It’s very #onbrand.
Mitchell: Eric made the correct choice, so I’ll go with a timely reference/my current track-played-on-repeat and have them play the chorus from “Humble.” And if I can’t have that, then I want the Inception noise.
Rachael: This was really hard for me to choose, but for some reason I keep coming back to “All Day” by Kanye West.
Adam: I would probably have “Close Your Eyes (And Count to *&^!)” by Run The Jewels play. That hits all the notes I want for an outro song.
Mitchell: Oooooh, that’s a good choice, Adam.
Dylan: Since my game is so smooth and jazzy, obviously, I don’t need anything too in your face. I’ll go with a mellow but powerful jam like “Redbone” by Childish Gambino.
Gabe: “Hercules” by Young Thug! Something that gets the crowd fired up. If I make consecutive threes, “Back to Back” by Drake.
What song are you scared to admit that you love?
Mitchell: I will crank up Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood,” and I will confront you online if you don’t like it.
Eric B: I’ll defend One Direction’s music. Whatever.
Adam: “Run Away With Me,” by Carly Rae Jepsen is one of the finest songs ever created, and anyone turned off by “Call Me Maybe” should listen to her last album.
Rachael: I can’t think of an individual song I’m particularly scared to admit liking. However, I will say I’m ashamed of the fact that I enjoy Chris Brown’s music so much, considering he is an awful human being.
Dylan: I could listen to Avril Lavigne’s first two albums for the rest of time. There’s some real good angsty stuff on their that fills me with nostalgia. Or this all-time classic.
Gabe: “Love Me Harder” by Ariana Grande. That song is GREAT.
What’s the best slow jam of all time?
Eric B: “U Got It Bad” by Usher, the star song of my grade school dances where a lot feelings were felt. Sigh.
Mitchell: I’m sorry, there is no other slow jam quite like “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo. And like Eric, I also have distinct memories of this being played in middle school.
Adam: I think “Time After Time” is a good track that people can also slow dance too.
Rachael: I’m not sure if it is considered a slow jam, but “Kiss From a Rose” by Seal is my JAM!
Dylan: As I recall from my high school dance days, the acoustic version of “Three Cheers for Five Years” by Mayday Parade was considered a slow jam that really got the hormones pumping and awkward swaying started.
Gabe: I'm gonna have to go with “Endless Love” by Lionel Ritchie. A guaranteed song that will get you nice and cozy with your significant other. "For Happy Gilmore, anything!" (You probably won't know that quote if you've never seen Happy Gilmore.)
Feel free to answer the same questions, or ask your own, in the comments! The SB Nation Community Guidelines still apply, even if basketball isn't the topic at hand. Have at it!