As I am sure many can relate to, after a year of being on my couch for the majority of the time, I have really missed traveling. The itch to be basically anywhere else was driving me crazy. So, I decided to create a Spotify playlist with songs that reminded me of different places I’ve been, want to go, or just remind me of pre-covid times. You know that feeling when you’re on a plane looking out at the blanket of clouds through the window? This playlist kind of takes me back to that moment. Make sure to check out the whole playlist but in the meantime, here are a few favorites:
- “West Coast Love” by Emotional Oranges
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I think I must have played this song every day over the summer and never got tired of it. Spotify did its magic, and one summer day, I found this tune on one of my “Your Daily Mixes” playlists. It was love at first listen. Definitely brought me back to the warm California air, driving along the ocean with the windows down. I swear to you after listening once, it might just become your summer anthem.
- “Baby Blue” by Rence
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This song has been constantly queued on my Spotify since early 2020. Its mellow and dreamy tone makes me become completely lost in the song every time. Although it is not about traveling or a specific location, it makes me think about being on a flight, 35,000 feet up in the air. Until it is safe to travel on a plane again, I will continue to play this song. Over and over.
- “Australia Street” by Sticky Fingers
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To be honest, I found this song after celebrity Jacob Elordi, born and raised in Australia, posted it on his Instagram. The tune is fun and uplifting yet relaxing and perfect for those who are getting tired of this cold weather. If I close my eyes, I swear I am transported to the beach. Australia continues to stay at the top of my travel bucket list, so this song was a must-add.
- “Cigarette Daydreams” by Cage the Elephant
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Remember when I said some of these songs made me think about looking out the window on a plane? This is one of those. The title pretty much speaks for itself—it’s a perfect song for a daydream.
- “Barcelona” by Ed Sheeran
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There was no chance of me making a travel playlist and this song not being on it. I have been a fan of Ed Sheeran since he opened for Taylor Swift back in 2013. He is an incredible songwriter and has a song for every mood, event, and phase of your life. I went to Barcelona once when I was two years old, so I have no memory of it, but this song gives me a pretty good idea of what the energy of the city feels like. A good song to dance around in your room and dream of the days when a trip could be possible.
- “Saturday Sun” by Vance Joy
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Vance Joy, mostly known for his 2013 hit “Riptide,” has definitely perfected the kind of music that is soothing and calming yet is perfect to sing along and dance to. “Saturday Sun” is definitely my favorite of his. Whenever I am having an “I feel extremely stuck in a pandemic” kind of day (which happens quite a bit), this song instantly helps me take a breather. Wholesome and calming, this song has been a staple to get me through this past year as it transports me back to a time when the world didn’t know what Zoom was.
- “Location” by Khalid
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Throwing it back to the summer of 2017 with this one, but it deserved a place on this playlist. Khalid has come out with quite a few hits over the years, but this is one of the OGs. Although it was extremely overplayed on the radio, it has made its way back into my heart. I love a song that is easy to sing along to and this one definitely checks that box.
- “Vienna” by Billy Joel
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This classic was a necessary contribution to the playlist. I grew up listening to Billy Joel because of my parents’ musical selection, and this song was always a favorite. Although it might not totally match the other songs, the mix of nostalgia I feel when I listen and the fact that the title is a location gave me as much as an excuse as I needed to add it. It never goes out of style.
- “Summer in Paris” by Hope Tala
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“Summer in Paris,” both the song and the place, sounds like a complete dream. I have never been to Paris, but this song seems to encapsulate everything it would be. I stumbled across this melody not too long ago and instantly fell in love with the soft tune and beautiful lyrics. Also definitely on my travel bucket list.
- “Coastline” by Hollow Coves
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I saved the best for last and could not think of a better song to end this list with. In fact, this specific song is what inspired this whole playlist. If you can’t tell, I really am missing the warmth and sun, and this is just another song that reminds me of that sunny place. It is so serene sounding and the lyrics are so perfectly written, I can never seem to get tired of it. A must-listen!