#XPN5050: 2016

For fifty weeks this year, we’re celebrating the music of a specific year every Saturday on WXPN. We’ll be choosing the years randomly; for this week’s #XPN5050, Eric Schuman is putting the musical spotlight on the year 2016.

From the release of David Bowie’s Blackstar, to Margo Price’s debut studio album, Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, and Chance The Rappers third mixtape, Coloring Book – get ready to revisit great records from the not so distant past.

On a sad note, we lost too many incredible people in 2016. David Bowie, Prince, Gene Wilder, Muhammad Ali, Leonard Cohen, Alan Thicke, George Michael, and Carrie Fisher, to name a few.

In other 2016 news, the first season of Stranger Things Season 1 dropped on July 15.

https://giphy.com/gifs/netflix-season-2-trailer-3ohzAjnOlP4zz8dyco

Millions took to the streets, fixated on finding Pikachu in Pokémon Go.

https://giphy.com/gifs/pikachu-pokemon-go-JHkX4GbZBMpvG

Leonard DeCaprio finally won an Oscar for his performance in The Revenant.

https://giphy.com/gifs/happy-leonardo-dicaprio-cheers-QMkPpxPDYY0fu

Below, listen to a playlist of songs from 2016.