Tuesday, Feb. 17 marked the first new moon of the lunar calendar and the return of the horse in the Chinese zodiac — not just any horse, though. Every 60 years, the five-element cycle lands on Fire, producing a combination charged enough to warrant its own reputation: the Fire Horse. While we were all alive to witness the last Year of the Horse in 2014, which ironically coincided with a resurgence of the viral horse head mask meme, such energy pales in comparison to that of the Fire Horse. A symbol of strength, motion and independence, the Horse, when combined with the intensity and passion of fire, suggests a year of breakthrough and unprecedented change. The last Fire Horse year was in 1966, in the throes of China’s Cultural Revolution; the next won’t come until 2086. In that spirit, this week’s playlist is all about fire and horses, literal and otherwise, to welcome whatever this year may have in store.
1. “Wake Up” — Arcade Fire (2005)
What better way to ignite the new year than with a “Wake Up” call? This indie rock track of grand proportions by Arcade Fire surely has that effect. No wonder it soundtracks one of the most inspirational movies of all time: “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”
2. “100 Horses” — Geese (2025)
Geese, a Gen-Z band headed by Cameron Winter, has recently galloped to the forefront of our generation’s online discourse. While it remains difficult to discern the true Geese lovers from those who turn the band into memes, only one thing remains true of “100 Horses:” “That’s a lot of horses” (note: their live performance on BBC Radio 1 is insane).
3. “Kerosene!” — Yves Tumor (2020)
“Kerosene!” is not a combustible hydrocarbon petroleum derivative, but what one listener calls “a slow-burn odyssey that just gets better and better.” The chemistry between Yves Tumor and Diana Gordon is, quite literally, explosive — hard not to become obsessed.
4. “Fire Fly” — Childish Gambino (2011)
Off Childish Gambino’s first major label-signed album, “Camp,” “Fire Fly,” featuring Janet Leon, is an upbeat, catchy track from his earlier, more hip-hop-leaning days. It’s even more awesome live, where Donald Glover raps with his eyes practically popping out of his head: “Fire like I’m third degree.”
5. “Midnight” — Horsebeach (2014)
In a “Metropolis Japan” interview, Horsebeach revealed that they chose their band name on a whim because they just so happened to be into the Beach Boys at the time. While I am saddened by their lack of horse elucidation, their mellow, jangly pop sound makes up for it.
6. “Wild Horses” — The Rolling Stones (1971)
Sincere, majestic and achingly real, “Wild Horses” is a rare deviation from the Rolling Stones’ signature swagger and rock and roll bravado, perhaps making it all the more special. Few songs capture both what it means to be a wild horse and what it means to be human. The world is better off with songs like these.
7. “Burn, Burn, Burn” — Zach Bryan (2022)
Zach Bryan’s heartfelt country hit, “Burn, Burn, Burn,” is directly inspired by Jack Kerouac’s novel, “On the Road,” an ode to those who live each day with a passion for life, who “never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn.”
8. “Fire on the Mountain” — The Marshall Tucker Band (1975)
A song that tells of the perils of heading west to pan for gold, “Fire on the Mountain” is warm and laidback. Its blend of blues, rock and a twanging pedal steel guitar promising a welcome comfort in these late winter months.
9. “A Horse with No Name” — America (1972)
In the desert, all that is simple becomes prominent — the sky, the sun, the sand. There is no room for excess, for noise, for naming horses or remembering your own. Originally titled “Desert Song,” this folk rock classic truly captures the quintessence of the desert, of home, in all its peaceful, quiet glory.
10. “Pale Horse” — mewithoutYou (2015)
Philadelphia has a rep for its DIY ethos — home to the likes of Alex G and Joy Again, where music is strange and scrappy, but entirely its own. mewithoutYou is no exception. “Pale Horse” is hard to explain, and even harder to stop listening to.
11. “Chariot” — Beach House (2017)
Named after a two-wheeled open carriage of Greek combat and Roman spectacle, Beach House takes the word somewhere darker and dreamier — the music video is a haunting compilation of footage from the day of JFK’s assassination. While not one of their most popular tracks, it is surely one of their best.
12. “Fire for You” — Cannons (2019)
Cannon’s electro-pop banger, “Fire for You,” captures the essence of an impassioned romantic connection. While it garnered much trendy attention back in 2023 for its placement in the comically painful Netflix Original romance series, “Never Have I Ever,” the song speaks for itself.
13. “gallop” — 800 cherries (1999)
“gallop” is bright, eclectic and of the Shibuya-kei sound, a pop microgenre and aesthetic that circulated in Japan from the mid to late 90s, characterized by saturated colors, retro-modern graphics and music that perpetually feels like a sunny day.
Happy Lunar New Year!
