For my first playlist, I wanted to help kick off the new semester the right way! Here’s a list of ten songs to get you pumped to get back in the swing of life on campus.
1. Crazy Beautiful Life – Ke$ha
Ke$ha released this song in 2010, on the follow-up EP to her platinum album Animal. Upbeat and catchy, you’ll want to blast it with your girls when you’re all moved in and reunited.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS2h-DPHtMI
2. Opposite of Adults – Chiddy Bang
“Oh yeah, we’re back…and we’re pretty much amazing,” the song starts, the perfect lyric to sing along to on your first nights back at school. And if that’s not enough to get you into the song, the hook samples MGMT’s “Kids,” making it impossible to resist playing on repeat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN346fQTEu4
3. Stacy’s Mom – Fountains of Wayne
A throwback to our middle school days, this is a classic reminder of those days of locker combinations, rushing to homeroom, and watching music videos after school. Also, who doesn’t love this song?
4. Home (RAC Mix) – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Up From Below
Even though for most people, coming back to school means leaving home, I’ve found that I’ve built a home of my own on campus too. A celebration of finally being surrounded by everyone you’ve missed over the summer, this remix makes the song even more irresistible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yJGMK8clxk
5. Dog Days Are Over – Florence & The Machine
The dog days of summer are over, and it’s time to dive back into the rush of class, meetings, and homework. Even though this song is a couple years old, it’s great to play on those slow-moving days or mornings you just can’t seem to wake up (8 a.m. classes, anyone?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny4deVFsYuo&feature=related
8. Young Folks – Peter Bjorn and John
From the whistling to the lyrics about youth, this song is upbeat and fun. It gained popularity after being posted on YouTube and later ranked on the website Spinner’s list of “10 Best Whistling Parts in Songs,” which is pretty awesome – although I doubt that I could even name 9 other whistling songs…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51V1VMkuyx0
9. Jack and Diane – John Mellencamp
An American rock classic, this was all my roommate and I listened to when we first moved in. It’s an oldie but goodie and always reminds me of the end of summer, but also of the good days to come in the school year ahead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uq-Pf13HQo
10. Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
Maybe best known for being played at the end of the 1999 movie Cruel Intentions (kind of a precursor to Gossip Girl, for anyone who hasn’t seen it) this song is epic and dramatic enough to be a stellar soundtrack. Another plus? It’s a classic 90’s anthem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9u9mZz-o-g