We have all been at home for almost a year now, with pretty much nothing to do besides binge-watch Netflix, bake banana bread, and oh yeah – listen to music. I don’t know about you, but music has been one of my saving graces during quarantine. It has also been a time for me to find new artists to listen to. Listening to music can be super helpful when it comes to taking care of our mental health and coping with stressful times (like the one we are all living in). So, below are my 5 favorite songs at the moment that I have been playing non-stop!
- “Be Myself” by Why Don’t We
-
This first song is by Why Don’t We, a band that I have been listening to while I have been waiting for One Direction to come back (hint hint). I found Why Don’t We while scrolling through Spotify playlists. I played a few of their songs and instantly fell in love with their music. Their song “Be Myself” is about the feeling and struggle of anxiety, and it perfectly describes how one with anxiety feels. Whenever I find myself about to fall into an overthinking cycle, I put this song on and it makes me feel understood. Why Don’t We truly put into words how a lot of us have been feeling. The subtle and calming music behind the lyrics also provides a sense of relaxation. The song gives a lot of comfort and honesty when it comes to mental health struggles.
- “Chinatown” by Wild Nothing
-
The next song I discovered while watching the first of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” movies a few years back. The song can be heard in the background of the first film while the main character, Lara Jean, is cleaning her room. Ever since I heard this song, I’ve been playing it constantly while I’m doing homework or cleaning my room, pretending that I am the main character in a rom-com (don’t judge). This song seriously makes you feel like you have been immersed in an early 2000s high school romance movie, and I love it.
- “Shining Star” by The Manhattans
-
This song was introduced to me by my mom later into quarantine. While clearing the table after dinner, my family and I like to take turns playing music on our Alexa. My mom played this song by The Manhattans, a classic R&B group from the ‘60s. This song is so magical (and honestly the perfect wedding song)! The lyrics are sweet, comforting, and combined with the music, gives the listener a feeling of classic, timeless romance. It’s the perfect song to listen to while relaxing or while hanging out with your favorite person to remind them that they are your shining star.
- “Time Will Tell” by Blood Orange
-
Blood Orange is a band that I have been following and loving for a few years now. I heard them first, coincidentally, also in the first “To All the Boys” movie through their song “You’re Not Good Enough” (I clearly love the music from those movies!). “Time Will Tell” has an unusual, hooking vibe to it that is not found in other songs. It has a retro flair that makes one feel nostalgic for a time they weren’t even alive for. This song is great to jam out to in the car and pretend you’re the star of an ‘80s rom-com.
- “Music Sounds Better With You” by NEIL FRANCES
-
Last but not least, NEIL FRANCES’s “Music Sounds Better with You” is the ultimate retro workout song. This song was introduced to me by my brother during one of our family after-dinner-dish-washing-jam-sessions. This song is a mix of ‘80s and electronic music in a subtle way. It combines the best components of music into one song. It is a great song to work out to, to leave on in the background while working at home, or to play while baking or cooking. It is a song that will be stuck in your head and have you dancing at random times for days .
I hope my 5-song playlist introduces you to some artists and songs that you may not have heard of or may not have listened to otherwise! Music is a great way to understand how we feel and also a great way to cope with how we are feeling. The songs on this playlist are fun, uplifting, and comforting for me and I hope they are for you too! Happy listening!