For certain college campuses, the temperature dropped by maybe half a degree, and I could just smell it in the air. “Smell what?” you may ask. None other than the best season of the year: fall.
Now, I know some of you may completely disagree and think another season takes the cake, but riddle me this. Football games, Harry Potter, Thanksgiving, iced pumpkin chai, changing leaves, and the best day of the year: my birthday. Just kidding! For real, though, fall wins.
With that being said, every good fall season needs a soundtrack. I put together my own fall playlist, and I took inspiration from the Gilmore Girls soundtrack, my personal favorite songs, and the obvious owner of sad girl autumn, Taylor Swift. Here are a few must-haves for your playlist this fall.
- “evermore” by Taylor Swift (feat. Bon Iver)
-
I couldn’t make a fall playlist without Taylor Swift, and clearly, I couldn’t stop at one song. I ended up putting almost all of evermore, folklore, and Midnights on it. “evermore” is one of my favorites, especially when I’m having a bad day!
- “Vienna” by Billy Joel
-
This is definitely one of the slower songs on the playlist, but I think it fits. This song is like an advice blanket when I’m feeling like I’m doing too much yet not enough at the same time, which is something most college students can probably relate to. Also, Billy Joel just belongs on a fall playlist.
- “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood
-
Obviously. If you’re making a fall playlist and don’t have “Sweater Weather” on it, what are you doing? I remember when this song became popular on TikTok during quarantine, and it’s been in at least one of my playlists every year since.
- “Starman” by David Bowie
-
I had to throw a little David Bowie in here. “Starman” gives off a Harry Potter vibe (if you know, you know). I always include it in my playlists so I can keep the magic going after I finish my yearly rewatch of all the Harry Potter movies.
- “Where You Lead” by Carole King
-
If you’ve watched Gilmore Girls, you already know this one had to be on the list. For the past couple of years, I rewatch Gilmore Girls every fall. Naturally, after hearing this song every episode for seven seasons straight, you learn all the words by heart.
- “O Children” by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
-
If “Starman” gives me Harry Potter vibes, “O Children” takes it to another level. I first heard this song in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, so I automatically associate it with fall. It’s definitely one of the darker songs on the playlist, but I think it fits.
- “There She Goes” by The La’s
-
This is an extension of the Gilmore Girls vibe that I feel every year. I channel Rory Gilmore herself whenever I hear this song, which is helpful when I’m trying to study for midterms.
- “Everything Is Embarrassing” by Sky Ferreira
-
This song has been my anthem since starting college. For me, college often feels like one big humiliation ritual. My first week, I slipped and fell in the dining hall in front of everyone. Just today, I ran into a tree when I was on the phone with my dad. I’m constantly embarrassing myself, so I try to embrace it as part of college (please tell me I’m not alone in embarrassing myself on the daily; I’m far too clumsy).
For some of us, fall may not come with crunchy leaves and freezing mornings, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it feel like fall. So, grab your headphones, put on your favorite sweater, and press play.
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest!