Just a few of our staffers’ Spotify picks for the month of August as we head into the last semester of one of the most turbulent years of our lives
this is me trying by Taylor Swift – Brianna Schubert
Honestly, I’d be a bad Swiftie (I am an unashamed, lifelong Swiftie thank you very much) if I didn’t put a song off of her new album on the playlist. This song is not only beautiful and emotional, but it’s also painfully relatable during 2020. We are all trying our best to get through everything that this year has brought us, and Swift captures the complicated emotions that simply trying to get through this year evokes.
personova by austenyo – Adam Kelnhofer
This might not be the most lyrically complex song out there, but not every great tune needs to make listeners page through a dictionary to figure out what the artist is saying. Sometimes it’s just a fluid rhythm combined with fluid lyrics that are universally accessible because this the best kind of English, not the kind of English only a handful of people can understand.
DR. WHOEVER by Animé – Adam Kelnhofer
Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. Therapy is great, but not everyone has the privilege of being able to afford a professional therapist. Talk to your friends. Talk to your sisters and brothers. Talk to anyone who will listen, it’ll help.
Close to you by Frank Ocean – Sophia Roamer
This is a beautiful, modern cover of a Stevie Wonder cover by Frank Ocean. The short song poetically annotates an internal dialogue of growing apart from someone/life changes in a nonchalant way. Frank is good for the soul.
Smooth by Orion Sun – Sophia Roamer
This is a song for when you’re having a picnic with your best friends, on a day where it’s ungodly hot but you forced yourselves to leave the house. It is a relaxing, mellow love song with beautiful vocals.
Immortal by Kid Cudi – Sophia Roamer
“Spent the last month feeling bad by myself” is something I think everyone can relate to right now as quarentinees. Kid Cudi installs hope and comfort with his beautiful voice and powerful lyrics that make everyone feel a little better, just a little.
Go Dumb by The Happy Fits – Jack Fitzgerald
The Happy Fits are a band who as the name implies they are an upbeat and happy group. Go Dumb is a perfect example of the fast paced and exciting music they create. It is also the first song on their new album “What Could Be Better” which came out August 28.
Keep Your Head Up by Andy Grammer – Emily Walter
Keep Your Head Up is one of those songs that I’ve been listening to on repeat this summer. It’s been difficult for so many people, myself especially, to remember to keep our heads up. It seems like every week there’s been something new to worry about in our country, but when I turn on this song I forget about all the chaos for a few minutes. The fun beat, melodies, and lyrics remind me that if we all keep doing the right thing and stay positive, everything will “turn out fine” in the end.
Responsibilities by Thane, Anderson .Paak, BJ The Chicago Kid – Adam Kelnhofer
God damn. Do any of us have enough money for our responsibilities? I know I’m way better at spending money than making it, but that’s not hard being a college student during a global health pandemic and my Adidas’ are still holy.
555 by Jimmy Eat World – Alexis Madson
I honestly don’t know what it is about this song that I like so much, it’s just great. This is off of the 2019 album “Surviving” which contains a lot of other great songs. Jimmy Eat World’s well known song “The Middle” came out in 2001, and even all of these years later they’re still putting out awesome music.
Bonnie & Clyde by Rex Tanky – Grant Sanger
This song is a modern, upbeat tale of heartbreak. The fifth song on Rex Tanky’s debut album “47 Channels,” which released at the end of June this year. “You done stole my heart, you can keep it if you’d like…,” Rex is talking about finding his soulmate – the Bonnie to his Clyde– and is pleading his case to get her back. This track is inarguably catchy, and relatable to people all ages and walks of life.
Comment below with some of your favorite songs to bop along to!
Check out our previous playlist, the UWM Post Pandemic Summer Playlist, for some more melodies.