Is it safe to say that spring has sprung? Maybe not. Mother Nature certainly has not made up her mind in the last few days. Either way, the Fringe staff recommends seven songs that should be on your Spring playlist.
Pursuit of Happiness – Kid Cudi, MGMT, Ratatat by Katie Swick
In 2009, Kid Cudi was a master at creating feel-good songs with easy-going lyrics, adding more punch than fluff. Pursuit of Happiness was a blessing to my young, 14 year-old self. Released in the winter of ’09, listening to it reminds me of hanging out doing hoodlum things with my closest friends as the snow melted and signs of life were coming back to our small town.
Bloom – The Paper Kites by Rebecca Otis
The Paper Kites, an Australian folk band, released their debut single “Bloom” in 2010. The lyrics of this song reveal the sweet ramblings of someone in love, while the presence of banjo adds nicely to a bright harmonic blend. By mixing these whimsical vocals and gentle acoustics, The Paper Kites have created the perfect song to listen to while laying in the grass on a warm spring day.
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Part 1 – The Flaming Lips by Sarah Thomas
Beaches, broken flip-flops, sunshine and robots. This is how I envision the perfect Spring Break. The song that combines all of these elements is Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part 1 by The Flaming Lips. Although it’s release date of 2002 puts this song dangerously close to the “oldie” category, it’s electronic rifts and faint Japanese speech makes this song a classic that has hold up well over time.
The beginning is all gentle guitar strumming, cross fading into the voice of a Japanese woman before the lead singer, Wayne Coyne starts crooning about Yoshimi’s battle against, “those evil natured robots”. This Neo-psychedelia, space rock song was one of the factors that helped The Flaming Lips break into the main stream. Listen to the epic tale of Yoshimi as you temporarily forget about classes while lounging poolside, or when robot battles seem simpler than finals.
High of 75 – Relient K by Xi’an Williams
For this spring’s Spotify pick, I chose an old (enough) favorite. High of 75 by Relient K is off of their 2004 album, “Mmhmm,” and it still holds up. This whole album reminds me of the spring and summer time, but this one in particular is indicative of that time (“Sunny with a high of 75”). I mean, come on. Even the album has a flower on it. This pop punk jam is just what you need to get pumped for the warm weather.
Rock With You – Michael Jackson by Jack Fennimore
“Rock With You” is by far my favorite MJ song. It has everything I look for in a good dance song: a funky baseline, a smooth melody, punchy drums and sugary sweet lyrics about romance. And that key change at the end is sublime. Whenever I’m feeling down, I always count on this song to help me get my groove back.
Oh, and my favorite comedy band, “Ninja Sex Party”, recently did a killer cover of this song. The cover is a bit more synth-flavored but still retains the spirit of the original. I might actually prefer their version, as bold as that sounds.
Never Be Like You – Flume feat. Kai by Bo Bayerl
If you’re into vibey beats, Flume is your guy. It basically screams Spring, with Kai’s high pitched vocals that will have you singing along in a matter of listens. The backing synth in the song reminds me of grass becoming greener, flowers blooming, and everyone heading back outside from their winter of hibernation. Listen to it while driving with the windows down or during a grueling outdoor workout
WildFlower – Mitis by Dayton Hamann
With his melodic, piano-driven style, MitiS is perhaps one of the most underrated electronic artists working today. His relaxing 2015 tune “WildFlower” is a bittersweet rainfall incarnate and simply perfect for a lonely spring day inside. For me, the song’s melancholy pace and swelling synthesizers instill both contentment and yearning, bringing back memories of a friend of mine who passed away last spring. For a song without lyrics, the song’s mood is remarkably distinct and overwhelming. I hope the next time a day becomes dreary, MitiS’ “WildFlower” can provide a new listener with an outlet for the cloudy feelings gray skies often bring.