For as long as I can remember, music has been a part of my life. Whether it was listening from my mom’s flip phone, jamming out to what was on the radio, watching music video premieres on television or attending any concert possible, music was always around me. Due to my love for the lyrics and tunes, what better way to categorize my life than creating my very own soundtrack to my life ranging from my childhood to now?
Childhood
“All Summer Long” was my first ever favorite song. I remember walking around my childhood home singing “It was 1989, my thoughts were short, my hair was long,” and every other lyric. I had NO clue what they meant, but I did know that I loved singing along. To this day, this song remains one of my favorite songs ever.
I like to say I have been a Taylor Swift fan since birth. One of my first memories is sitting on my trampoline singing “Tim McGraw,” with no care in the world. Every time I hear this song, it takes me back to being 3 years old on that trampoline, and I realize how different my life would be without Swift in it.
While “Tim McGraw” may have been the first Swift song I had ever heard, “Love Story” was my first favorite song of hers. 4-year-old me would sit in my living room watching the music video, enthralled by the music, storyline and cinema. This song will always hold a special place in my heart as it represents the everlasting love I have for Swift and her music.
The “Fearless” album was a staple to my childhood and so was “White Horse” by Taylor Swift. Watching the music video was the only time I remember hearing the song when I was younger, and trust me, I had that music video on loop. Younger me could not wrap my head around the fact that a man cheated on Taylor Swift and begged for forgiveness. Little did I know this song would help instill a sense of independence in me, teaching me that second chances are not always meant to be given. This song is still one of my favorites of Swift’s and every time I listen to it, I hear the music video I watched repeatedly as a kid; the beginning phone call, the cafe chat and the ending breakup.
Middle School
The Chainsmokers were crucial to my middle school years. My mom and I would blast every one of their songs on every car ride. I saw them in concert twice and their “Memories… Do Not Open” album stayed on repeat. “Young” quickly became my favorite song of theirs, blasting on my Spotify throughout 2017 and 2018.
Cornelia Street – Taylor Swift
Going back to my tried and true, “Cornelia Street” by Taylor Swift instantly clicked with me when the Lover album was released. I was in 6th grade when the album was released, and somehow the lyricism still amazed me even though I had no relation to it. This song was the embodiment of the album, displaying her love and fear of losing it. To this day, I am enamored by the lyrics and know that 6th-grade-me made an excellent choice of her favorite song off the album.
Soon You’ll Get Better – Taylor Swift (feat. The Chicks)
In my opinion, “Soon You’ll Get Better” is one of the saddest songs ever created. Swift is describing her fear of losing her mother to cancer. While I do not relate to that aspect, the song is all about praying for someone to get better. I struggled with scoliosis and anxiety throughout middle school, and it seemed like a dark place I would never get out of. My family and I prayed every day that I would be released from the shackles of a curvy spine brace and the antagonizing thoughts of anxiety. This song felt like someone went into my brain and turned my fears into a relatable tune.
High School
“New Year’s Day” is my favorite Taylor Swift song of all time. I have always been a sentimental, nostalgic person, and that is the embodiment of this song. The lyrics “hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you,” resonate with me more than words ever have, so much that they were my senior quote. I loved my high school experience and found myself mourning it while I was still in it. This song and its lyrics reminded me that I will always have my cherished high school memories no matter how long it has been since I lived them.
I know what you are thinking, this song is TOTALLY different from the rest. Yes, I 100% agree, but “Bonfire” is the soundtrack of my upperclass high school years. I played volleyball throughout high school and I was introduced to this song when I made the varsity team my junior year. The instrumental version was our run-out song. Obviously, I had to include the original version on my game day playlist that I listened to before every home game. Soon enough, I was singing along to every word and even found myself listening to it in the off-season. From then on, every time this song comes on when I am around my hometown friends, they all look at me and know this is my song.
Five More Minutes – Scotty McCreery
Like I mentioned before, I adored my high school career. I found myself wishing for five more minutes at every event, never wanting to see the end. “Five More Minutes” by Scotty McCreery brings the emotions behind playing your sport for the last time, going to your last school dance and soaking in every moment to life in a musical way that regular words cannot.
Honorable Mention: Good Old Days – Macklemore (feat. Kesha)
This song was my class’s senior song. It played at every senior event and captured the bittersweet moment of leaving behind something you loved so much, but knowing there is so much ahead.
Present Day
Holy Smokes – Bailey Zimmerman
Right behind Taylor Swift, Bailey Zimmerman is one of my favorite artists. Even before it was released, “Holy Smokes” was such a sentimental song for me. I went to see Zimmerman in concert in 2024, I knew he was going to sing “Holy Smokes” despite it being unreleased. So, I learned the song, made it to the front row and was the only one in the whole arena singing along. Zimmerman noticed and pointed to me while singing (one of the best moments ever). From that moment on, I knew I wanted the words “Holy Smokes” tattooed on me in Zimmerman’s handwriting. I saw him in concert again the summer after my freshman year of college. I made it my mission to have him write “Holy Smokes” so I could get it tattooed. After waiting in line for six hours, I secured a front row spot and got him to write “Holy Smokes” on my sign. A couple of months after the concert, I got my first tattoo, “Holy Smokes,” in Bailey Zimmerman’s handwriting. Safe to say, this song owns a piece of my heart.
Beautiful Things – Megan Moroney
Similar to “Holy Smokes” this song was special to me before it was released. The first time I heard it was on TikTok as an unreleased acoustic version. I remember shedding a couple of tears as the song perfectly—especially the opening verse—captures the feeling of having a kind heart yet losing friends and not understanding why. I always hoped Megan Moroney would release the song, but I was not optimistic. One day, I opened my Spotify, and saw a notification that Megan Moroney released a new song called “Beautiful Things.” I immediately knew it was the song I had been listening to on TikTok, and it has been on repeat ever since.
The Life of a Showgirl – Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter
Of course, I must end my soundtrack with a Swift song. “The Life of a Showgirl” encapsulates my college journey so far. In the song, Swift and Carpenter have had their minds set on their dreams since an early age. They did everything in their power to succeed, and it paid off. Since middle school, I have had my mind set on being a journalist. Since coming to college, I have jumped on every opportunity possible to gain experience and knowledge that will help fuel my future career. Although I am not living the life of a showgirl, I am living out my dreams just like Swift and Carpenter.
While there are an abundance of other songs I could include on this soundtrack, these ones have been pivotal to not only my life but my growth. Each of these songs take me back to a specific time and I could not be more grateful for these melodies.