Music has the ability to bond people together and create memories. Maybe there’s a song you associate with your childhood friends from when you dressed up together to put on a fashion show. Maybe there was a song that played while you had your first slow dance at a school event that brings you right back to your middle school gym. Maybe a song was popular during your first breakup, so you still feel that twinge of heartache now when it comes on in the car. Music has the power to etch itself into memory.
And while we associate certain songs with distinct memories, artists themselves create songs that resonate with listeners’ own emotions and memories — and especially how they connect to our besties. Maude Latour, the Her Campus fall cover star, is just one example of an artist using their platform to create music about friendship that speaks to others. Her song “Lola” is an endearing track about her relationship with one of her best friends, and “Walk Backwards” explains the depth of friendship and how profound that connection can be. Just as Latour shows, music can be associated with some of the most important people in our lives.
To understand how music goes far beyond just a song to sing to, Her Campus asked 14 college students what songs remind them of their friends. Be prepared to reminisce on your most precious moments with your besties — awkward high school memories, sunny days spent driving around town, and nights out together that you never want to forget.
- “California Friends” by The Regrettes – Bailey*, 18, Florida State University
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“Last December, my two best friends and I went to a music festival and were able to hear The Regrettes perform this song live. It was such a fun and special experience that now whenever I hear it, it makes me think of them and that day.”
- “Heat Above” by Greta Van Fleet – EMMA, 20, GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY
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“It reminds me of driving down the road with [my friends with] the windows down. Just screaming and singing!”
- “YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME” BY RANDY NEWMAN – Paige, 18, Florida State University
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“While this answer may be totally basic, this song is truly one of the warmest and most heartfelt songs I know that reminds me no matter how far away friends may seem when you are miles away in college, or how long you may have gone without talking, you will always have a friend in one another and a friendship that will never die. Seriously the best song ever, always brings tears to my eyes!”
- “Ribs” by Lorde – HALLE*, 18, BARNARD COLLEGe
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“During high school, I felt like I was floating into the unknown of college admissions, career decisions, and soul-searching, and my friends were what kept me grounded. I associate relief with them; they were the ones that reminded me to live as I grew older.”
- “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae – HAILEY, 20, UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
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“This song is just so soft and sweet, and it reminds me of a relaxing day with my friends. During the ups and downs of sorority recruitment, we found that putting on this song brought us all joy and put a smile on our faces. We will all sing it at the top of our lungs any chance we get. This song reminds us to truly be ourselves and that we’re all beautiful in our own ways.”
- “Let’s Get Married” by The Bleachers – VICTORIA, 18, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
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“One night we watched Perks Of Being A Wallflower and drove around the town with our heads outside the windows blasting this song, and we just felt so giddy and happy. It was our best moment together.”
- “Harlem Shake” by Baauer – ABBY, 20, UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
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“At one party, my roommates and I decided it would be funny to queue the ‘Harlem Shake’ song (you know, the one from, like, 2014) and go all out with the classic dance moves that go along with the song. It’s become a hilarious tradition to queue the song at many parties we go to, and watch people’s confusion as we do the dance from several years ago. Any time there is a ‘Harlem Shake’ reference or I see the song on my phone, it always reminds me of them.”
- “Best Day Ever” by Mac Miller – STEVEN, 20, UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
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“[This song] brings me back to sweet memories of my childhood days. I can vividly recall moments and conversations that took place while listening to this song.”
- “Doses & Mimosas” by Cherub – KATIE, 21, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
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“This song reminds me of my friends and us getting ready, putting on mini fashion shows, and driving with the windows down. ‘Doses & Mimosas’ immediately puts a smile on my face every time I hear it, and I reminisce on all of the laughter and memories my friends and I share.”
- “All Your’n” by Tyler Childers – MADDIE, 21, COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS
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“This song is a late-night, after-the-party type of song for my friends and me. After a long night, we all sit on our couches together and play music. Often we all sing this song together since we all know the lyrics.”
- “Best Friend” By Saweetie – CASEY*, 21, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
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“The true story behind this song is that I was obsessed with Teslas at the time, and my best friend always jokingly said, ‘Is that my bestie in a tessie?’ Since then, this song and those lyrics have turned into an inside joke between the two of us.”
- “Home” by Phillip Phillips – NIKKI, 21, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY
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“I associate ‘Home’ by Phillip Phillips with my best friends, specifically my hometown friends, because it was the song we sang for our baccalaureate [service]. It reminds me of my senior year of high school and all the great memories from that year.”
- “Yeah!” by Usher – DILYN, 20, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
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“My best friend and I were waiting out a rain delay for our high school baseball team and this song came on shuffle. It immediately became our song. [We’d play it at] our homecomings and proms. You could always find us singing this song anywhere we were. Any time I hear this song I think of my bestie!”
- “I’m Only Me When I’m With You” by Taylor Swift – JILL, 21, TRINITY COLLEGE
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“The title speaks for itself! Not to sound cheesy, but I feel [more] comfortable with my best friends than when I’m around anyone else.”
*Names have been changed.
Check out the rest of the Her Campus Music Issue here.