Comb My Hair by Pretty Boy Aaron – Adam Kelnhofer
I listened to this song every day as my hair grew longer by the month because my barber and best friend closed his shop to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. My hair was never shimmering down my back, but singing along definitely helped me feel good about having hair longer than it’s been in years. I know when I feel like I look good, I also feel good.
After the Storm by Kali Uchlis (feat. Tyler, the Creator and Bootsy Collins) – Adam Kelnhofer
I know this song is very centered on he/him/his pronouns, but if you can replace those words as you sing along in your head, the story remains true. Many of us have seen the darkest days of our lives this summer and faced isolation that sometimes seems never ending. But we’re still here, fighting for better lives for each other and ourselves. When you’re feeling low because everything is bringing down, remember to look in a mirror and show yourself who got you through all those hard times to where you are now.
i don’t really like your boyfriend by Avenue Beat – Emily Prochaska
This song is for when you just need a good bop. It helps when you’re in a bad mood, when you need something that’s easy on the ears, or if you’re trying to survive a global pandemic. This song is delivered from the perspective of a friend telling their friend x, y, z why their boyfriend is a “piece of human trash.” It’s an empowering song with a catchy chorus and relatable verses; something that’ll definitely raise your spirits during this trying time. It’s the type of song that will elevate your emotions when you’re happy and dig you out of a funk when you’re not.
Keep on Dancing by Oh Wonder – Brianna Schubert
This song, off of Oh Wonder’s recent EP, “Home Tapes,” was written by the duo during quarantine, making it extremely relatable. It is about finding the joy in this weird time and dancing through that weird. It’s hard for me to listen to this song and not want to move my “hips from left to right… from day to night,” because the uplifting and swinging vibe of the song moves for me. I can’t control these circumstances and I certainly can’t control the future, but I can keep on dancing in the meantime.
Think about Things by Daði Freyr – Brianna Schubert
All I can think of when I listen to this song is walking down either a city sidewalk or down a runway. It is an all around bop and I am forever grateful that my internship director played it one groggy Wednesday morning for all of the interns. It is different from the songs that I usually listen to, but different is this season’s normal (*Insert hands up shrug emoji*). The music video is also quite entertaining, so if you have time, look it up!
Intolerant by Ylvis – Alexis Madson
One listen to Ylvis’ 2013 hit “The Fox (What Does The Fox Say)” will send you running away from the band as fast you can. So most people don’t venture deeper into their music. Don’t give up yet. This song has all of the elements, a catchy tune, a cohesive story, and hilarity. Whenever I’m feeling down, I turn on this song. It not only brings a smile to my face, but a pep in my step. Also look up the music video if you can, it’s worth a watch.
Iridescent by Linkin Park – Emily Walter
This song is all about everything going wrong and not knowing what’s coming next or how to get through it. Sound familiar? There’s been a lot of things going wrong in the world lately, so whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed I like to listen to this song. In a mix of beautiful melodies, it commands the listener to let go of all of their problems. And I do. Every time I listen to it, I feel my troubles melting away and I feel lighter.
Where’d All the Time Go? by Dr. Dog – Adam Kelnhofer
But really though, where did it go?
I don’t know about everyone else, but this summer certainly flew by for me. We got a bit done, but there’s still a lot to accomplish.
Chicken Tenders by Dominic Fike – Zoë Brown
This song is a lot of fun and can serve as a nice break if you just want to listen to something a little ridiculous. Just listening to it makes me crave chicken tenders, and it’s a great song to play if you’re one for long drives with your windows rolled down. It’s perfect for a cliché summer experience.
A Rose for Emily by The Zombies – Zoë Brown
This serves as the theme song for a podcast I listened to earlier in the summer called S-Town, which I’d also highly recommend. I found myself constantly getting the song stuck in my head, and I was even happier when I found out it was The Zombies. It’s a wonderful song, especially if you like 60s and 70s sweet rock.
The Spins by Mac Miller – Zachary Semancik
You can never go wrong with Mac Miller. You can never go wrong with his iconic K.I.D.S. album. You can NEVER go wrong with the Spins. Give it a listen and thank me later.