With fall turning the corner, students are starting to settle into their classes and daily routines. Here’s my back-to-school playlist to commemorate the new school year (#GoHop!).
1. “We’re Going to Be Friends” by The White Stripes
“Fall is here, hear the yell
Back to school, ring the bell
Brand new shoes, walking blues
Climb the fence, books and pens
I can tell that we are gonna be friends”
It’s a classic back-to-school anthem. Like all other freshmen, I’m settling into college, navigating fresh starts and making connections. In this song, The White Stripes capture the vibe of starting a new year perfectly.
2. “400 Lux” by Lorde
This dream-pop-esque song makes you feel genuinely alive. College is the formative years where you’re not quite a kid but not quite an adult, and “400 Lux” captures this feeling perfectly. It’s great to listen to when getting ready to go out at night.
3. “Love Songs on the Radio” by Mojave 3
It’s the best study song. Its calming melody is beautiful to listen to, and it captures a peaceful fall day perfectly. Fun fact: the members of Mojave 3 also wrote songs for the Shoegaze band Slowdive.
4. “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins
This list wouldn’t be complete without (what is in my opinion) one of the best alternative rock bands ever. The Smashing Pumpkins is actually coming to Baltimore on Oct. 3! “1979” is a coming-of-age anthem that correlates with the end of summer, perfect for listening to while walking around campus watching leaves fall.
5. “Young Dumb & Broke” by Khalid
The title says it all. "Young Dumb & Broke" is a song about lacking experience and maturity (along with all the other pitfalls of youth) but possessing an indomitable and carefree spirit, which we should all aim to have.
6. "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys
It's a feel-good song. Known for being in the hit rom-com Love Actually. It's a good reminder that love is all around, and it's overall very pleasant to listen to.
7. "Let it Happen" by Tame Impala
Life is full of deadlines, relationships and responsibilities, which can cause a lot of stress and uncertainty. "Let it Happen" is about surrendering dependency to things out of your control: what’s meant to happen will happen! Try your best and don’t be hard on yourself — a good notion for the upcoming academic stress that is bound to occur.
8. "These Days" by Nico
It's a peaceful and nostalgic anthem to listen to, and a reminder to slow down and appreciate everything because life moves fast.
9. "Thats No Fun" by Steve Lacy
It's a contemplative reflection on the idea of change, the only constant variable in life. Learn to connect with everything in life while accepting that nothing lasts.
10. "Meet Me At Our Spot" by The Anxiety, Willow and Tyler Cole
It's a song about escaping stress or a heavy heart with a dear friend. As stated by President Ronald J. Daniels at convocation, college is a place where many people find lifelong connections. Imagine all the people in your life you will love who you haven’t even met yet!
11. "Summers Over Interlude" by Drake and Majid Jordan
Majid Jordan has done several collaborations with Drake, most notably on "Hold On, We’re Going Home," "Stars Align" and "Summers Over Interlude." Serving as a peaceful tune amid several rap songs on the transformative album Views, it captures the transition phase of summer into fall.
12. "Icarus" by Fana Hues
It's a very soulful song, and Fana Hues is very underrated. She was featured on Tyler, the Creator’s "SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE," which is how Idiscovered her in the first place.
Thank you for reading through my comprehensive list! Best of luck to this new year!
