The Sounds of Gemini Season
Hi, my name is Abigail, and I love Geminis. Granted, I’m on record as having an Air Sign bias, and my Gemini Mars might have something to do with it, but I could write many many words about this unfairly maligned sign. Fitting, since they’re ruled by communicative Mercury. The bit about many many words is fitting, I mean, not their undeserved reputation as The Worst Sign of the Zodiac™.
For example, I have a Gemini friend I can text about truly anything, at any time of day, and she will absolutely roll with it. I mean, yes I’ve met a chaotic evil Gemini or two in my time (on a D&D alignment chart, 99% of Geminis would fall squarely into one of the “chaotic” categories). But then again, every single zodiac sign can manifest in good, bad or neutral ways. Kind of like terminators.
To get an idea of the broad range of Geminis, just take a look at this playlist. Kanye and Morrissey make an appearance, sure—but so do Kendrick Lamar and Stevie Nicks. In fact, there are quite a few Gemini musicians who didn’t make the cut or else this would have been like 50 songs long. Sorry, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, et al.
Gemini is very much a sign that has a way with words, which is probably why some of the longest individual songs make an appearance here (ahem, “Runaway” and “Champagne Supernova”). But Geminis are also interested in everything, possessors of an insatiable curiosity that can lead to some short attention spans, so there are a handful of songs under three minutes, too. It’s that signature dichotomy of the twins in action.
Anyway, please check out the liner notes on this one. It was really fun and I feel like I learned something along the way. Just like hanging out with a Gemini.
Liner notes:
“Also sprach Zarathustra” by Richard Strauss: Iconically used by Stanley Kubrick in “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and by me to open this playlist.
“Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince: The Artist Formerly Known As? Big Gemini Energy. Also Big Gemini Energy: one of the greatest Super Bowl Halftime shows of all time. Actually, Vulture ranks it as the greatest. As intellectual about his work as he is a charismatic performer, Prince is one of those artists whose songs could have filled this entire playlist.
A personal anecdote: when I saw Beyoncé (a Virgo) on tour in Chicago, she performed “Purple Rain” as a tribute to Prince, and it rained just like at his halftime show. Fitting that Virgo and Gemini share a ruling planet in Mercury, no?
“Dancing on My Own” by Robyn: “Call Your Girlfriend” is honestly probably more of a Gemini vibe … but “Dancing On My Own” is a personal fave.
“King Kunta” by Kendrick Lamar: I mean honestly just throw a bunch of Kendrick Lamar and Prince songs on a playlist and if you still don’t understand or appreciate Gemini after that, I can’t help you. His wordplay is insane; there’s a reason the man won a Pulitzer. My indecisive Libra ass had a very hard time choosing just one Kendrick song to include, but “a rapper with a ghost writer? what the fuck happened?” felt appropriate. This also might be my favorite track off of “To Pimp a Butterfly.”
“All I Really Want” by Alanis Morissette: Holy shit are these some incredibly Gemini lyrics. Seriously, really listen to this song, or just look up the lyrics. This is a Gemini during one of their more nihilistic moods. Don’t worry, they’ll snap out of it. Publicly, anyway. Privately, this kind of thing is always needling at the back of their mind.
Another personal anecdote: Jagged Little Pill was the first CD I ever bought myself. It was from Borders, RIP.
“Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks: I, a Libra with a fondness for Geminis, think that Libra/Gemini can be a beautiful pair. Like my mom and her husband!
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, unfortunately, were not one of those pairs.
“Ni**as In Paris” by JAY-Z and Kanye West: “Prince Williams ain’t do it right if you ask me / cause I was him I would have married Kate and Ashley.”
I love this line so. much. The wordplay! The nod to Gemini Queens Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen! It’s perfect.
“This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race” by Fall Out Boy
“Hey Ya!” by Outkast: Did you know Polaroid had to release a statement after this song came out asking people to please not shake their film? I tell people this every time this song comes on.
“Welcome to the Moulin Rouge!” from Moulin Rouge! The Musical: This is pure Gemini chaos in the best way. Covers “Lady Marmalade” by Patti Labelle (Gemini) and “So Fresh So Clean” by Andre 3000 (Gemini). The “Can Can” was originally composed by Jacques Offenbach—yep, another Gemini. Broadway legend Danny Burstein (“your own beloved Harold Zidler!”) is a Gemini, too. Also, I find this insane spectacle of a musical genuinely delightful.
“Runaway” by Kanye West feat. Pusha T: Okay, yes, this song is nine minutes long but they’re an excellent nine minutes from two Gemini artists at the top of their game. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” is, in my not-so-humble opinion, the last great Kanye album.
“19th Nervous Breakdown” by The Rolling Stones: Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, sure, but drummer Charlie Watts is a Gemini and, well … they can be an anxious, nervous bunch. I say this with love and understanding, but also to tease my Gemini sister.
“Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” by The Smiths: Ah, yes, the dark side of Gemini curiosity and those mercurial moods. See the Alanis Morissette section above re: nihilistic periods.
“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” by The Beatles: And then they snap out of it because they’re Paul McCartney.
“Hypnotize” by The Notorious B.I.G.: “Biggie Biggie Biggie can’t you see? / Sometimes your words just hypnotize me.”
Yet another personal anecdote: we sing this song to my family dog? We also gave her the middle name Alan because of a Jenny Slate video.
“These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” by Nancy Sinatra
“Karma Chameleon” by Culture Club
“Jesus in LA” by Alec Benjamin
“Champagne Supernova” by Oasis
“I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Gladys Knight & The Pips
“Creep” by TLC: I like the thematic transition of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” into “Creep.” Feels like a very natural progression.
“Girls on Film” by Duran Duran
“Can’t Get You Out of My Head” by Kylie Minogue
“Ready or Not” by Fugees, Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean: See, Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean are a good Gemini/Libra pair.
“Buddy Holly” by Weezer
“Paradise” by George Ezra
“Motivation” by Normani: Normani where is the album!
“Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz
“For Our Elegant Caste” by of Montreal
“Good Vibrations” by The Langley Schools Music Project: Originally by The Beach Boys, of course, and written by Gemini Brian Wilson, but this whole album of Canadian schoolchildren singing pop hits in the mid-1970s is so wild.
