Friday Five: January 14, 2022

brr, it's cold in here

Jan 14, 2022

My friend Joelle recently said we’re “approaching the ‘now why do i still live in New York’ part of winter” and she’s absolutely right. It’s 16°F as I write this. I tell myself walking the dog in the morning that this intense cold air must be good for me, like free cryotherapy or a cold plunge, but I have serious doubts. Anyway, here’s ~~Wonderwall~~ your Friday Five, your weekly roundup of things meant to give comfort or spark joy.

Song: Ronnie Spector, founder of The Ronettes and absolute musical icon, passed away this week. One of The Ronettes’ standout hits, “Be My Baby,” is two and a half minutes of dreamy, perfect harmonies. Billboard named the song number one on its list of the greatest girl group songs of all time, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys called it “the greatest record ever produced” and his biggest inspiration (Wilson’s obsession with the song has its own section on Wikipedia), and a seventeen-year-old Cher (and Sonny!) sing some of the backing vocals. This song is the stuff of legends! Enjoy.

Poem: Wendy Cope’s “The Orange” is so simple yet so stunning. It feels especially relevant now, as little walks and daily oranges are an essential source of joy lately. “I love you. I’m glad I exist.” is a beautifully pure, tender, and gentle ending to a delightful poem.

James Melville on Twitter: "The Orange by Wendy Cope. 🍊 https://t.co/2vqw7lpzaM" / Twitter

Snack: Relatedly, it’s Sumo season!! Sumo oranges are called ‘the world’s most loved fruit’ by their producers, and me. They are full of juicy citrus flavor, seedless, and easy to peel. They have 1.5x your daily dose of Vitamin C and I guarantee eating one will brighten your day. They’re in season through April, so stock up while you can.

TV Show: Abbott Elementary is the one show consistently bringing me smiles and laughter right now… which is fair considering the other shows are Euphoria and And Just Like That... If you’ve ever worked in a school or have a teacher in your life, it will feel very close to home. Quinta Brunson created the show and stars in it, and she manages to create a sharp comedy while shedding light on the struggles our teachers face. The show’s main director, Randall Einhorn, comes from The Office and It’s Always Sunny, so if you like either of those shows you’re guaranteed to love this.

Joyful Internet Content: