My favorite things of 2024
5 Songs I loved
Minutes of Spotify listened: 24,680
Goose's Dream by Insooni
Years ago, a friend who studied in Korea showed me a PSY concert on YouTube to prove that, actually, the guy is a really good singer! The standout song for me was Goose's Dream, a beautiful song about chasing your dream, and overcoming the obstacles in your way, that sounded unlike any other PSY song I'd heard. Turns out, that's because it's originally a song by a singer called Insooni. The song finally made it onto Spotify this year, making it that much easier to work it into my daily playlists. It's also worth watching PSY's rendition, and seeing him get emotional as he soars dozens of feet over a crowded stadium singing the song back at him.
Hypotheticals by Lake Street Dive
Extremely catchy song that snuck into my standard rotation via Spotify's discover playlist, and then never left.
Stayin' Alive by Scary Pockets
I'm a huge fan of both Scary Pockets (and found out this year that frontman Jack Conte also founded Patreon??) and Lizzy McAlpine. I absolutely love how they funked up an already groovy song, it makes me smile every time I hear it.
这样很好 (Isha’s Song) by Eason Chan
In a soundtrack full of straight bangers, this is the one that stood out most to me. It shows up during one of the show's most emotional moments, and is a testament to the way Studio Fortiche has managed to flawlessly integrate the soundtrack with the visuals, often riffing off each other and always perfectly in synch.
Here I Go - The Lonely Island ft. Charli xcx
I have a weak spot for everything The Lonely Island does. And while Sushi Glory Hole was funny mostly because of the ludicrous concept, this song is both funny AND a legitimate banger. Extra points for working in the phrase "copity-cops".
5 Movies and shows I loved
Movies/TV show seasons watched: 57
One Cut of the Dead
This might be one of the most brilliant films I've ever seen. Without spoiling anything, all you need to know is that this is a Japanese comical zombie horror movie that is shot in one take, which they manage to take in some incredible directions. Laugh out loud funny.
Shōgun
Fantastic period drama based on the famous book of the same title. Everything about this show spot on, from the acting to the cinematography to the [xxx] is spot on, presenting a perspective on feudal Japan that highlights both its barbarism and its sophistication.
Arcane
I avoided this series for a while, thinking it would only make sense to fans of League of Legends... Boy was I wrong! The animation on display here is incredible, and somehow every single shot looks good enough to print out and hang on your wall. The story is equally strong ... [ something something how they resolve everything], and perfectly supported by the soundtrack.
Scavenger's Reign
Scavenger's Reign asks the question: what if your spaceship crashed on a planet where all of the flora and fauna wants you dead? The best thing is how they present this alien world as a complex ecosystem in its own right, showing the various approaches different survivors take to surviving and thriving in such a hostile environment. It's a brilliant show, and the fact that it was not renewed is a crying shame.
The Wild Robot
Beautifully animated story about a service robot that ends up on a remote island, where it finds a place living among its wildlife and adopts and raises a baby goose. It's a wonderful examination of what it means to be a family, and what we'll do for those we love.
Runners-up: Oppenheimer, Talk To Me, True Detective: Night City, From, and Dan Da Dan.
5 Books I loved
Books read: 21
Sales Pitch by April Dunford
Great and straightforward method for building your sales pitch on your positioning (which was the topic of her first book). This one really helped me hone my sales pitch, making it feel less like overt "selling", and more like I'm just telling someone why I believe my stuff works.
Poor Charlie's Almanack by Charlie Munger
A classic by Charlie Munger, famed business partner of Warren Buffet. Munger is well known for his infallible intellect, specifically the way he leverages different mental models to make sense of both investments and the world at large. This book is the most comprehensive record of his way of thinking, comprising a series of talks and articles he wrote.
A Prayer for the Crown Shy by Becky Chambers
Solar punk book about a tea monk that finds a robot in the woods that wants to know what humans want. It's a brilliantly philosophical perspective on what it means to be a person, while at the same time presenting a future where humanity has managed to find a much more balanced place in nature.
No Rules Rules by Erin Meyer & Reed Hastings
I finally gave this one a chance when I realized it was co-written by Erin Meyer of Culture Map fame. It's a much more balanced examination of the Netflix culture than I originally feared, and actually presents a lot of solid management principles and the way they tie into Netflix's culture.
BE 2.0
I'm a huge fan of Jim Collins, and this might be the most comprehensive overview of his concepts. It captures pretty much everything he's ever written and captures everything in one framework for managing a company.
5 Games I loved
Games finished: 27
Alan Wake II
Brilliantly inventive horror masterpiece that clearly deserves all the praise it's gotten. It's incredibly atmospheric, and incorporates a ton of fantastic ideas that keep you at the edge of your seat. Loved the TV show part, and loved hating the jump scares.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Arguably the best thing Atlus has ever done. Building on the familiar framework of the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei games, Metaphor is a distinctly political game that follows its protagonist on a quest to unite an utterly divided and unequal kingdom. More than anything, it's a story about hope, which right now feels like something we could all use.
FFVII Rebirth
It's Final Fantasy VII but much, MUCH more of it. It's way too big, but I actually enjoyed (and finished) all of it, clocking the platinum trophy at a little over 90 hours. I'm very excited about the direction they're taking the story in, can't wait for the finale in part 3.
Astro Bot
If I had to describe this game in one word, it would be "joy". Everything in this game just radiates joy, and you can really feel the love that went into the creation of this adorable playstation homage.
Balatro
This game is genius. I'm not nearly clever enough to hit some of the high scores I see on YouTube, but every once in a while you'll get a glimpse of what's possible. I got so hooked I spent hours and hours during lunch watching youtube runs of 60+ minutes just to understand the underlying mechanics better. Everyone I know who played has gotten hopelessly addicted, so proceed with caution.
I hope you enjoyed reading about the things that made an impact on me this year.
Next week I'll share my full annual review.
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Right Now
Playing - Metaphor: ReFantazio
Okay don't tell anyone, but I haven't quite finished it yet. I'm in the last dungeon, grinding to take care of the final boss.
Reading - Smooth Scaling by Rob Bier
Someone posted a page from this book on blueskey, and I know I had to read this one. It's a principled take on what is needed to scale a company, and I've been nodding along since the very first page. Will definitely be working some of his ideas into my own coaching.
Watching - Dan Da Dan
Just finished up the first season of this zany supernatural anime. It's incredibly animated and lots of fun, if you can stomach the fan service.
See you next week!
Martijn
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