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NewsvineThe Daily asked eight administrators, faculty members and students what they have on their playlists. Read on for four responses, and look for the continuation of this series.
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Julie Lythcott-Haims, dean of freshmen and transfer students
John L. Hennessy, President of Stanford University
Most of what's on my iPod are books! Currently, Ulysses S. Grant's Memoirs is what I am working on. After that, Walter Isaacson's "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life."
I do have some music, but it's very eclectic: folk (Joni Mitchell and James Taylor), some older rock (Neil Young and Beatles), Sinatra and swing era jazz, and some classical music from Beethoven to Chopin.
Kristine Flaherty '07 ("KFlay")
Lately I've been listening to a lot of Fischerspooner - they've got a crazy electronic vibe going on, and the music is great for relaxing or studying. Ratatat is another band I listen to on repeat. The Lily Allen CD has been in pretty heavy rotation as well, especially the track "Littlest Things." And "Not About Love" by Fiona Apple is still one of my favorite songs, even though her album came out last year. She's such a strong vocalist and it's refreshing to hear a female kicking buttocks all over the place.
Julie Lythcott-Haims, Dean of Freshmen and Transfer Students
I like a song that tells a great story and uses tight harmony to underscore and heighten the tension or pleasure or grief or joy told by the lyrics. My favorite group is the Indigo Girls, who are true masters at both the storytelling and the harmony. Further in both genres would be Crosby Stills & Nash (e.g. Southern Cross). On the pure storytelling side alone I go for artists like Roberta Flack (e.g. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face) and John Mayer (e.g. Daughters). On the pure harmony side, I like the Eagles and Simon & Garfunkel.
Tommy Leep '07 (Stanford Tree)
My weapon of choice right now is Rappin' 4-Tay's Don't Fight the Feelin' album. It's local and classic, like me. I've got Super Dave's debut Rain Like Thunder on party shuffle for the ladies. It goes down especially smoothly when chased with a bucket of Patron, no lime. Sublime's 40oz has been stuck in my head for the past week, thanks to that adventurous night with Miss Lupe. My favorite tracks right now are Ratatat's "Seventeen Years," "The Message" [by] Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, John Mayer's new ballad "Mrazmerized" and everything by the lovely and talented Brodie Jenkins ['09]. But like the caning of Michael P. Fay, nothing explains my angst better than AC/DC's "Thunderstruck."