Spotify Wrapped is way outta hand this year
This is the Rubesletter from Matt Ruby. I’m a comedian, writer, and the creator of Vooza. This is a paywalled newsletter. If you’re on the free plan, you’ll still get to read plenty of good stuff, but if you’re a paid subscriber you’ll get exclusive content sent only to those who support financially. Sign up here. Thanks! Spotify Wrapped is way outta hand this yearVibe check? Skincare routine? Two truths and a lie? 2021 Wrapped is bonkers. Also: A lengthy interview with moi, a killer app idea, and a great parody.Wow, Spotify is really feeling itself. Below is the story of my year via #spotifywrapped… 2021 Wrapped on SpotifyThis year was a real ding dong bing banger. Ready to get all piggy with it? Oink oink! 🐽 Your Wrapped is here. And…action! Let’s roll! Or to our Hispanix friends: Vámonos! If 2021 was a movie, you were the main character because you’re a big ol’ narcissist and it’s all 👏 about 👏 you 👏. It’s okay, we’re a multinational corporation seeking to maximize profits yet here we are acting like this is a group text between old friends so, y’know, l’chaim! (And Happy Kwanzaa and Indigenous Peoples' Day too. #corporationsthatlove #stophate ✋🏾✋🏼) And what’s a movie without a soundtrack? It’s art house crap for dorks who enjoy subtitles. Screw that. The opening credits theme: An anti-vaccine rant by some guy you met at a conference once who does his “research” on YouTube and now hosts a podcast. 🎙 The song playing as you face-off against your rival dance-crew: Something by Taylor Swift, probably. Also, why are you in a dance crew? 👯♀️ And why does your dance crew have rivals? Maybe tone down your aggro moonwalk moves, playa. The song playing as your proclaim your love in the rain: “Back That Ass Up (Remix)” 🔙 🍑 by Juvenile Feat. DMX, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, Missy Elliot, and Elon Musk. In 2021, you did what you had to do. You became a shut-in with two jobs who loves wearing sweatpants all day. Wait, let’s reframe that: You’re now a remote worker with a side hustle who loves wearing athleisure! Way to go! We lululove it! You got really into essential oils and composting and taking Lexapro. 💊 Completely normal. You spent 27,558 minutes listening to The Voices in Your Head. That’s more than 80% of other people who hear Voices in Their Heads in the United States. 🗣🧠 This section is where we make fun of NFTs even though we’re totally the kinda people who are into NFTs. You’re broke though so let’s just move on. You had one song on repeat. Your top song of the year was “Masters of War” by Bob Dylan. ⚔️ Ugh, you’re such a bummer. You played it a very reasonable 653 times. As is your right. But honestly, lighten up. But that wasn’t the only thing rattling around your mind… Here were your top follows on social media based on the cookies we use to follow you around the internet: #1 Your ex (They seem really happy now, don’t they?) #2 Your therapist #3 Some girl in a bikini 👙 who wants to “sex you” on WhatsApp #4 That guy you met at a wellness event who’s either extremely enlightened or suffering from severe trauma #5 A pair of Oakley sunglasses 🕶 You deserve a playlist as long as your skincare routine. Because your skin is awful! Have you considered a dermatologist? It could be time for some Botox. Click here to receive a Groupon deal on a dermatologist close to you. In a year like 2021, even your mind gets a vibe check. It’s time to unveil your mind aura. Entering Wrapped: Multidimensional Mode. What’s that mean? No one knows. Just go with us. It’s a VR/AI/gaslighting-your-cerebellum kinda thing. Your mind aura is Prince Harry Talking To Oprah. Your top moods are angry and desperate. (All the better to monetize you with my dear. 💰) You always understood the assignment. You follow orders. Good soldier! You’ll be an excellent Manchurian candidate once we start telling you whom to assassinate, but haha we’d never do that (until Palantir finalizes the contract). ☢️ You listened to 118 different genres this year. But we would’ve been proud even if you exclusively listened to Construction Jackhammers. Your favorite genres: #1 Weird Jungle Animal Sounds 🦎 #2 Crypto bros telling you to HODL #3 TikTok teens lip-syncing scenes from Gilmore Girls #4 AMSR readings of Harry Potter #5 Butt-dial voicemails from your dad How well do you know you? We’re talking the 3am, popped a couple Vicodins, covered in a weighted blanket, music with no lights on you. Let’s play two truths and a lie. Tap the false statement.
Share this story to see if your BFFs actually exist and so we can map your social network. There was one podcast that lived in your head, rent free, all year long. Your top podcast was Steve Bannon's War Room Recaps HBO’s White Lotus. 🧘 You listened to 38 episodes for a total of 4,634 minutes And yes, it’s totally normal to think of podcasters as members of your family. They are whispering in your ear constantly and that’s as close as you get to intimacy nowadays. Wait, where were you on January 6? J/K, we know because we track your whereabouts. Don’t worry, it’s our secret. 🤐 You listened to 1299 artists but things got pretty serious with one… Your top artist was Omicrom. You spent a total of 308,445 minutes worrying about it and just couldn’t get enough of asking, “Will This Ever End?” You were in the .5% of their listeners this year. 💉 In fact, you found a lot to love this year. You can’t stop thinking about: #2 Impostor Syndrome #3 Our Slow Descent Into Authoritarianism #4 Guys Wearing Necklaces 📿 Who Talk About Art Basel #5 Repressed Childhood Trauma How do we know all this? Don’t worry about it. Thanks for making us a regular part of your descent into madness. Did you know that any pregnancy over the age of 35 is considered a “geriatric pregnancy?” Wild! 🐣 No go forth and proudly share your top-tier taste with your fake followers on Instagram. Before we go: Are you a robot? 🤖 Which of these images contains a train? Do you accept the terms and conditions of this 35,034 word licensing agreement? Please confirm you think artists should be paid $0.00318 per stream. Actually, just click Yes on whatever we say. We got you, bruh. #thatsawrap #swedenrulez Media📺 “Get to the Joke” interview: "Standup comedians and lawyers have a lot in common. We're getting up there and giving closing arguments, but our conviction is a punchline." This might be the best interview I’ve ever done. Marc Staudenmaier did a ton of research and asked some great questions. If you want to hear my explain my comedy philosophy over a two hour Q&A, check it out.
📺 “Suggested Selling” joke A clip from my “Feels Like Matt Ruby” special/album. ![]() 👨🏻🎨 Just sold this for $75k at Art Basel! Up ahead for paid subscribers:
On the fence? Here’s a link that gets you 20% off for 1 year! Subscribe to The Rubesletter • By Matt Ruby (creator of Vooza) to read the rest.Become a paying subscriber of The Rubesletter • By Matt Ruby (creator of Vooza) to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content. A subscription gets you:
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15 lessons on creativity (and life) from The Beatles
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
"Get Back" shows what the creative process really looks like. Also: Jack leaves Twitter, why good moms are the worst audience members, superhero movies, why doxxing is weird, and more.
Give the gift of The Rubesletter
Friday, November 26, 2021
Black Friday means bring on the email shilling so…
America's new game show: “Tribalist or nah?”
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
What your take about the Rittenhouse case reveals. Also: Buddha, Jesus, Lin Manuel, eclipses, fedoras, WWII, weed, Lennon/McCartney, comedy pitches, David Sedaris, Milton Glaser, & Bob Dylan.
Q&A about my comedy journey, creativity, standup advice, and more
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Also: My Korean Dad, jean style, the black lady therapist trope, David Byrne, etc.
Attacking the "woke mob" is getting tiresome. Here's a better way.
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
On Aaron Rodgers, the anti-woke brigade, and how to discuss cancel culture and young people in a way that offers aspiration instead of condemnation. Also: Web3, NFTs, mission statement creep, etc.
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