Circus-Loving, Hippie-at-Heart, and Following the Music
From Fleetwood Mac deep cuts to songs that turn strangers into a chorus, Cory's picks reflect a listener who values music not just for how it sounds, but for the experiences it creates.
Cory (@coryclendaniel) approaches the June 5 to 7 prompts as someone who is just as interested in what music does as what it sounds like. His selections move between a sing-along anthem that briefly erases differences, an album cover that reflects the freedom of releasing life's burdens, and a version of Fleetwood Mac whose influence he still hears echoed in today's musical landscape.
The prompts offer a closer look at the different ways Cory connects with music. One asks him to choose a song that brings people together, leading to a track that turns entire rooms into a chorus. Another focuses on an album cover that embodies a sense of freedom, while the final prompt turns toward a group he wishes could reunite, opening the door to a reflection on early Fleetwood Mac and the renewed popularity of blues-rock and jam-band music.
What’s a song that brings people together?
I feel like this is probably different from what most people would think of when they get this question, but the first song that came to my mind was “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie. If you have ever been to a club, concert, wedding, or really any gathering where this song was played, you probably know exactly what I mean. There is something about the silliness of the lyrics and the complete lack of seriousness, combined with the genuine sincerity of the performance, that practically forces everyone to sing along. You can feel the joy and excitement fill the room every time the chorus comes around and the crowd erupts into a chorus of off-key voices, holding absolutely nothing back.
I chose this song as my response to the prompt because it is a great example of music’s ability to bring people together. For a few minutes, people of different generations, backgrounds, political beliefs, and social views can forget about the things that separate them. Instead, they throw their arms around one another, sing at the top of their lungs, laugh at themselves, and embrace being a little ridiculous. In a world that often feels divided, that kind of shared experience is something increasingly rare, and deeply meaningful to me.
Which album cover embodies a sense of freedom?
The cover for the album All That Will by Shadowgrass, is one that I feel embodies a sense of freedom—not necessarily physical freedom, but rather a mental and emotional release from the things in this world that often weigh people down with anxiety and uncertainty.
I don’t know the artist’s actual intentions when designing the album cover; however, this is how I interpret it. The cover shows a hand reaching outward, releasing a variety of items including a newspaper article, a clock, a cup of tea, a bouquet of flowers, and a few other objects. The way I view both the cover and the album’s overall theme is that the path to personal freedom comes from letting go of the things in life that cannot be controlled.
For many people, a major source of anxiety can be traced back to stress and worry over things beyond their control—events in the news, how others perceive social or political issues, past failed relationships or love interests, or even the simple passing of time. There are many things in life we wish we could change, yet there is often nothing we can do about them. This album, I feel, captures the sense of freedom that comes when one finally recognizes this truth and begins to release those burdens.
For those who haven't heard All That Will yet, I'd recommend starting with "Pleasantly Aimless," "Another Year," and "Uncertain Time.”
Which group needs to do a reunion soon?
This prompt was a little tougher for me. I struggled to think of a group that I would really want to reunite because many of the groups I listen to are either still together or have members who are no longer living.
The first band that came to mind was Fleetwood Mac. More specifically, I thought of the five members from the band’s early years—Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Jeremy Spencer, and Danny Kirwan—and the style of their first twelve albums. As much as I love the vocals of Stevie Nicks, the first seven years of the band had such a different sound compared to their later work, and I feel that style would fit perfectly with the musical renaissance I see happening today.
Now, I could just be biased because it happens to be the kind of music I listen to most, but to me, it seems like the bluesy, jam-band style of early Fleetwood Mac is becoming part of the mainstream again. Artists like Marcus King and Gary Clark Jr. are helping revive blues rock, while Billy Strings and Goose are bringing the jam-band style to a more modern, younger audience. However, with Danny Kirwan and founding member Peter Green no longer living, a reunion like this would be impossible.
One of the more interesting things about Cory's answers is how naturally they move beyond the music itself. A song becomes a room full of people singing together. An album cover becomes a reflection on the things people carry around every day. A band reunion becomes a conversation about influence, legacy, and the sounds finding their way back into popular music.
Outside of these prompts, his music taste is just as difficult to pin down. Bluegrass sits alongside Korn. The Grateful Dead shares space with Bing Crosby. Somehow, it all makes sense. Or maybe it doesn't. As Cory puts it himself, his music taste keeps him guessing just as much as everyone else. Either way, he seems perfectly happy to keep following wherever the next song leads.
A circus-loving, hippie-at-heart, family-oriented music fan whose taste stretches from bluegrass and jam bands to Korn, Kanye West, and everything in between.
