The 2023 TQ Music Awards

Welcome to my 13th annual Music Awards / year in review post.

[Previous Year End Reviews: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011]

Last year I said I was officially over the hill because both my annual playlist and that my minutes on Spotify were less from the prior year. Sadly, that trend has continued in 2023. However, there is another metric that has increased for two years now, which gives me hope... the increased influence that the Eurovision Song Contest has in my annual post!

Song of the Year: “Tattoo” by Loreen

[runner up: “Cha Cha Cha” by Käärijä]

Yes - my top two tracks of the year are the top two vote getters in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. I had a blast watching Eurovision live (on Peacock!) this year and have had both songs in my Best Of playlist ever since. If I ever find myself in a karaoke bar in Sweden - I'm going with "Tattoo!"

Album of the Year: That! Feels Good! by Jessie Ware

[runner up: My Soft Machine by Arlo Parks

Jessie Ware has had a handful of albums, but her latest effort is arguably the best.  At first she was positioned as the next Amy Winehouse - but I think she's more a hybrid between Winehouse and Janelle Monae. That! Feels Good! is a timeless pop album that feels at home in a speakeasy or junior high dance. 

Concert of the Year: Explosions in the Sky at Ryman Auditorium

[runner up: Adam Pally at The Den Theatre]

More than a decade after I wrote down "See a show at the Ryman Auditorium" on my Bucket List - I crossed it off in September! My wife and I had a great long weekend in Nashville that was punctuated by seeing one of my favorite bands: Explosions in the Sky. It was perfect. Even my wife was "having a great time" at it.

Song of the Summer: "Cha Cha Cha" by Käärijä

[runner up: "Slut Me Out" by NLE Choppa]

Song Discovered Thanks to a TV Show / Movie of the Year: “Like An Eagle” by Dennis Parker (used in The Curse on SHO)

Regret of the Year: Missed shows

2023 is a year I'd like to forget, full stop. My concert going this past year is in line with that sentiment. I had tickets to as many acts (LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx, Phoenix, Beck) as I saw (Explosions in the Sky, The National, Soccer Mommy).

Best Decision I made in 2022: The Nashville Weekend

Thank you very much for reading (or listening).

TQ's Year of TV (2023)

Because I tried something new this year by splitting (1st thrirdly checkin) & 2nd thirdly checkin) my review into three posts, here are the shows I've watched the final four months of the year:

Billions (SHO) - Did a great job landing the plane with its final season

Telemarketers (HBO) - A very entertaining documentary in less than 180 minutes

Welcome to Wrexham (FX) - The best sports documentary you can watch

How To With John Wilson (HBO) - An awesome documentary that can't be replicated

The Curse (SHO) - Nathan Fielder until I die

What We Do In The Shadows (FX) - One of the most consistently funny shows 

Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix) - A very dark concept exceptionally executed

For All Mankind, Monarch, and Slow Horses (Apple)  - I'm in the middle of each of these's current seasons

Best Shelter In Place Show:

Succession (HBO) 
Runner-up: Jury Duty (Prime)

It's old news by now, but the final season of Succession was perfect in terms of plot pacing and mystery. Most of these high-end shows are about who will not get killed at the end... This show was about who's career would end. I loved it. Please watch Jury Duty. I think James Marsden should win the Emmy for his performance.

Best TV Show That Has Recently Completed / All Seasons Watch Recommend:

How To With John Wilson (HBO) 

Runner-up: Billions (SHO) 

I can't wait to see what John Wilson does next. It also helped to have NYC's How To compared with Jersey's Telemarketers at the same time. Somebody make a Succession + Billions crossover movie! 

Best TV Show That Is Seriously Great:

The Bear (Hulu)

Runner-up: Beef (Netflix)

I said it before and I'll say it again: season two is worth the hype. The Richie-centric episode is the best, but the "Seven Fishes" hour needs an entirely new category on its own for the Emmys. Beef isn't a spin-off of The Bear, but is almost just as good.

Best TV Show That Is Bonkers:

Paul T. Goldman (Peacock)

Runner-up: Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix)

Paul T. Goldman would tell you truth is stranger than fiction, but he doesn't know the difference between the two. If you watched and liked Squid Game, give the game show based on it an attempt.

Best TV Show That Needs To Get Resurrected ASAP:

Mythic Quest (Peacock)

Runner-up: Cunk On Earth (Netflix)

As with the case with both the winner and runner-up, I don't know if they've been cancelled or renewed. All know is that I hope they both get more episodes for their stories.

Best Limited-Run Anthology Series:

Class of '09 (Hulu)

Runner-up: Telemarketers (HBO)

If you were a fan of Damages (the Glenn Close & Rose Byrne are lawyers show), you'll enjoy Class of '09. If you've ever received an unwanted call from a telemarketer, you'll enjoy Telemarketers.

Best TV Show That Had a Disappointing Recent Season:

Ted Lasso (Apple)
Runner-up: Barry (HBO)
This sounds too harsh for these two shows because even at their worst, they are better than many, many other shows.

Best TV Shows That I Quit:

Foundation (Apple)
Lucky Hank (AMC)

The Crown (Netflix)

Corrections, Omissions, and shows from older years got might have been award snubs

Killing Eve (Hulu)

I likes season one, thought season two was taking it too far beyond realistic, and watched season three for completist reasons... Whole show left Hulu before I got to see its final season (I'm okay not ever seeing it).

STILL IN THE QUEUE:

Fargo (FX)

Reacher (Prime)

Reservation Dogs (Hulu)

Only Murders In The Building (Hulu)

The Diplomat (Netflix)

Poker Face (Peacock)

Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

Under the Banner of Heaven (Hulu)

The Old Man (Hulu)

See it soon,
TQ

My Dad (1937-2023)

The first obituary I've had the honor to write.

* * *

Dan dancing was once described by his mother-in-law as a "potty dance"

Daniel Joseph Quiery passed away peacefully in his sleep last Saturday at the age of 86. He is survived by his wife Patricia (Plouff) Quiery, daughter Maureen Quiery, son Thomas (Jennifer Kelly) Quiery, sister Margaret (Quiery) Dittmann, and 21 nieces and nephews. The family is comforted that he will be reunited in Heaven with his parents, five siblings, and his infant son Kevin.

November 2021 with his sister

Born and raised in Milwaukee, he graduated from both Marquette University High School and Marquette University. After graduation, Dan met Patti and began a relationship that would see seven different decades.

A salesman to his last day, his career took his newly pregnant wife to the Chicago Suburbs, where they welcomed Maureen, Kevin, and Tom. He served on the parish council of St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish - a church that would barely contain his emphatic voice from the Lectern or his boisterous singing from the pews. Dan’s civic passion led him to proudly represent Prospect Heights on the Commission of the Palwaukee International Airport, to run a dramatic race for Alderman (in which he received the second most votes out of two candidates), and to routinely make a mockery of himself on a high dive to entertain fellow citizens at the park district pool.

But during his first meeting with his future daughter-in-law, he would boast his most prized accomplishment: 2011 Escort of the Year. This was obviously referencing his volunteer work during his retirement driving people to doctor's appointments who were unable to drive themselves. There is no hardware to document his other titles:

• Most Likely To Give The Postal Worker, Snowplow Driver, or. a Garbageman a Bottle of Water
• Best Retail Customer in a Supportive Action of Calling Strangers by The Name They Chose (or asking them how to pronounce a name)
• Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to the Practice of Therapy as Administered by Retired Patrons Drinking Coffee in McDonalds

2011 "Escort of the Year"

Dan Quiery was a funny man. He dabbled in both intentional and unintentional humor with material that earned laughs more for its delivery than quality of punchline. You didn’t need to understand his joke, but you couldn’t doubt his intention to entertain. His specialty was storytelling, which would lead to closing sales and fostering friendships.

As a Father, he would attend every Daddy/Daughter Dance, shoot free throws in the driveway, and always be THERE. Nothing was ever prioritized over his focus of loving and supporting the mother of his children. 

The services will take place on Friday November 10. Visitation is at 10:00 am preceding a Funeral Mass at 11:00 am - both at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church in Prospect Heights. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to The Beloved Retreat at Old St. Pat’s Church.

February 2023 with his daughter

* * *

So that's what I pasted into Legacy.com (minus the pics)... Some additional context to the above references:

• 

  January 2023 with his family

  My dad had tons of affinity for Marquette University High School. He spoke fondly of his time as a "player" in the theatre department and his unexpected induction into its Sports Hall of Fame (for what we know was a water boy his freshman year for a State Champion Football Season). He donated every year to the school until his death.

• 

  March 2021 at a Marquette game

  He also went to Marquette University. The youngest of six siblings, his parents retired and moved to Florida was he was 18. Left alone in the city, he lived off campus with three roommates to take classes in the morning and work second-shift at a canning plant. He was on academic probation the entirety of his enrollment and had to ace the last class he took (Christian Family & Marriage). Of course I went to school there too and I loved bringing him to as many basketball games as I could.



February 2015 in a Culver's

• I'm forever curious what my dad was like between 1960 (when he left Milwaukee for his first job selling paint in Minnesota) and 1970 (the year of his wedding). It's impossible to frame a perception of him that wasn't motivated by the love he had for his wife. My mom says, "there may be men as good as Dan, but nobody is a better man."
• The bulk of his career was selling law books (Matthew Bender, later purchased by the Tribune Company), a job made obsolete by computers. Perhaps that's why my two parents never aligned on a vote for President - because changing laws was good for business. I know he was great because he was awarded "President's Club" status that got my parents reward incentive trips to Aspen, Maui, and more. He said his favorite job was working for a taxi company getting hotels and retirement communities to hire their drivers. It was a perfect mix of a workplace full of characters, a community that needed engagement, and a showcase of his most underrated skill (driving a car).

  

  November 2021 with his wife

  
  
• During 4th of July holidays, our small suburb had a festival that included suspect tilt o whirls and a park district pool. For a few years in a row there was some sort of informal "diving performance" in which my dad wore a funny hat and performed various "comedic dives." One in which he would feign incredible nerves from the 20 foot high dive which would cause the board to shake wildly. Another bit included waving his arms like a windmill until his hand would eventually smack his own butt propelling him to the water.
• Palwaukee International Airport, later named Chicago Executive Airport (the Willis Tower of Airport Names), is jointly owned by the village of Wheeling and the city of Prospect Heights. A Commission (that acts like a Board of Directors) comprised of ten citizens (five from each municipality) manage it. The Chairman of this Commission changes every year to have its leader rotate annually between Wheeling and Prospect Heights, which meant every other year my dad was the Chairman of the Commission.
  

• 

  March 1998 in politics
  

  My dad got absolutely destroyed in his one and only attempt at formal politics.This is likely due to his disdain for yard signs (too braggy) and to his refusal to say one bad word about his opponent. I am dying to tell you more here - expressing my true disappointment in Prospect Heights - but I know my dad wouldn't want it.
• There's a detail in the above obit that might catch some people who know me off guard. Kevin Quiery was born in July 1976 and passed away due to liver disease in April 1977. The horror of knowing an infant is ill and flying across the country searching for care is something I'll never experience and can't bear to imagine. Kevin's experience on Earth forever changed our family for the better.
• Finally, my sister and I were never "bad kids." Neither of us saw the inside of detention hall and we acted so beneath the law that we didn't even have curfews. But we were high maintenance. It demanded that our parents were always there and they WERE. I appreciated his guidance on everything and will recall my memories to aid in any future decision I'll ever make. I had 44 years with the guy and I was thankful the entire time. I'll never stop being thankful. He was the best.
  

  

  My role model

TQ's (2nd thirdly checkin for 2023's) Year of TV

Trying something new this year.

If people are like me, they use year-end TV Show lists to build their watchlist, but by the times these lists are posted - there's no time left to watch. It's also a lot easier to rembember the shows I watched if I write a couple checkin posts before December. (the 1st thrirdly checkin)

PAST YEARS AWARDS

[2022 / 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 LT / 2014 NLT / 2013 / 2012 / 2011]

THIS YEAR's EARLY RETURNS

I Think You Should Leave (Netflix) - Best two sketches were "Egg Game" & "Pay It Forward"

Succession (HBO) - It's awesome when great shows have a great final season

The Bear (Hulu) - The second season is worth it's hype

Justified: City Primeval (Hulu) - A much welcome return all fans of the 1st series should watch

The Other Two (HBO) - Saw most of it before the reality of how truly lifelike it was for the creators

Barry (HBO) - A show that started fun weird and ended scary fun

Ted Lasso (Apple) - Whatever this "final" season tried to accomplish, IMO, failed

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) - The true Cal Ripkin Jr of comedy

Class of '09 (Hulu) - A single season mini-series that nobody else saw, but should consider

Beef (Netflix)  - A "single?" season mini-series that everybody saw, for great reasons

Yellowjackets (Sho) - A sophomore slump

Silo (Apple) - Give me any Future Sci-Fi World Builder and I'll watch it 

Black Mirror (Netflix) - Only one episode qualified as a "Black Mirror Ep"

Full Swing (Netflix) - I'm not sure I'll watch the second season

Extrapolations (Apple) - Worst show I completed

Lucky Hank (AMC) - Couldn't even finish the first season (sorry, Bob)

Winning Time (HBO)  - watching now

Billions (Sho)  - watching now

2022 Corrections, Omissions, and shows from older years got might have been award snubs

Atlanta (Hulu)

I agree that s3 & s4 should've been flipped, but all seasons were great

The Offer (Paramount)

Who knows how much of that was true, but still very enjoyable if you like The Godfather

Drive to Survive (Netflix)

I watched all the seasons of this show and got caught up in these past few months

STILL IN THE QUEUE: (order of wife-approved wife priority)

Reservation Dogs (Hulu)

This Fool (Hulu)

Foundation (Apple)

The Diplomat (Netflix)

Poker Face (Peacock)

Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

Under the Banner of Heaven (Hulu)

The Old Man (Hulu)

Rami (Hulu)

and there might be another season of Jack Ryan out there somehow?

See it soon,
TQ

TQ's (thirdly checkin for 2023's) Year of TV

Trying something new this year.

If people are like me, they use year-end TV Show lists to build their watchlist, but by the times these lists are posted - there's no time left to watch. It's also a lot easier to rembember the shows I watched if I write a couple checkin posts before December.

PAST YEARS AWARDS

[2022 / 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 LT / 2014 NLT / 2013 / 2012 / 2011]

THIS YEAR's EARLY RETURNS

Jury Duty (Prime) - Ronald is an early front runner for hero of the year

Paul T. Goldman (Peacock) - Paul is an early front runner for villain of the year

Cunk on Earth (Netflix) - Philomena is the early front runner for Nathan Fielder of the year

Mythic Quest (Apple) - Brad is the only nominee of character I've seen in person this year

Swarm (Yellowjackets) - Dre needs to set her sights on Taylor Swift for a second season

The Last of Us (HBO) - Joel & Ellie reunited on HBO's Sunday night

Jack Ryan (Prime) - Jack is the reason why others created the dadcore genre

The Mandalorian (Disney) - Din's new season was a dim season

The Consultant (Prime) - Regus may be the most overrated character all season (I do not recommend this show)

Succession (HBO)  - watching now

Barry (HBO)  - watching now

Beef (Netflix)  - watching now

Ted Lasso (Apple)  - watching now

Yellowjackets (Showtime) - watching now

2022 Corrections, Omissions, and shows from older years got might have been award snubs

Yellowjackets (Showtime -watched in 2022) 

Can't believe I forgot that I watched s1 as it was released in early 2022, especially because I really liked the whole "Lost: Soccer Season" of it all.

Reacher (Prime- watched in 2022) 

I liked the Tom Cruise movie based on this character and really liked this prime dadcore show.

Welcome to Chippendales (Hulu) 

Kumail Nanjiani is one of my favorite people in entertainment and was perfect in his role. A great true-history-is-stranger-than-fiction tale.

Physical (Apple) 

Speaking of WtoC, Murray Bartlett was in that too. Barlett was also in in Physical. A show I also watch because I like supporting my fave stand up comics (Rory Scovel plays Rose Byrne's husband).

Reservation Dogs (Hulu) 

Got completely caught up this year. It was very much worth the wait. Get to it everybody else.

The Dropout (Hulu) 

Amanda Seyfried deserves the awards she won for this - and it's another good true story on Hulu.

Shaq (HBO) 

How did I miss this fun dunk?

STILL IN THE QUEUE: (order of wife-approved wife priority)

The Other Two (HBO) NEW SEASON SOON

I Think You Should Leave (Netflix) NEW SEASON SOON

Atlanta (Hulu) FINAL SEASON DELAY

Lucky Hank (AMC)

Extrapolations (Apple)

Silo (Apple)

The Diplomat (Netflix)

Poker Face (Peacock)

Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

Under the Banner of Heaven (Hulu)

The Old Man (Hulu)

Rami (Hulu)

See it soon,
TQ

POST SCRIPT 

SORRY, IT'S NOT GONNA WORK OUT (barring another worldwide lockdown, I won't get to these)

Tulsa King

The English

Trainwreck (Woodstock '99)

Reboot

The Sandman

She-Hulk

The Resort

The Man Who Fell To Earth

Interview with the Vampire

Dark Winds

Angeylne

Human Resources

Paper Girls