This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Mt Holyoke chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
When I can’t look at my paper a second longer, when I feel like my mind can’t possibly remember another vocabulary word, it’s music that keeps me going. Music can make me feel like a boss and give me the confidence to carry on through finals. Below are songs I’ll be listening to to get me ready for the long haul, to help me recover and recharge, and to celebrate after this is all behind us.
To Get Pumped Up:
This is the moment before you start working, when you need that extra push to get you started.
Heart of Courage – Two Steps from Hell
Listening to this makes me feel powerful, confident, and regal. When I am listening to this, I feel like I can epically conquer any challenge that comes my way. Just imagine, as you take your final, the camera makes a sweeping pan of the room, everything’s in slow-mo, and you smirk as you realize you’re going to ace this test.
Alexander Hamilton – Hamilton
Where better to draw inspiration than from real life? Alexander Hamilton was incredibly perseverant. He worked incredibly hard despite personal setbacks. This song reminds us that “he got a lot farther/ by workin’ a lot harder/ by bein’ a lot smarter/ by bein’ a self-starter,” because even when he lost all his family, “he started retreatin’ and readin’ every treatise on the shelf.” He exercised his agency to make his situation better; he did not give up his fate to circumstance. I want to have the spirit of Hamilton when facing my final challenges this semester, and also the spirit of Lin-Manuel Miranda who worked hard for years to make this amazing play.
Ta Fete – Stromae
A little pessimism, a pop anthem, and clever lyrics – it’s like coffee. Some dance music can fall flat on content, but Stromae rarely disappoints. Wordplay abounds in this song as “faire ta fete” can mean to party, or to get on someone’s case. You want to have your party, the song says, but the world also wants to get on your case. While I don’t agree with all the connotations this could have, the thought-provoking music video adds a third layer of meaning. In the video, a player on the field fights to survive in a maze filled with assailants. At the very end, he escapes only to realize the whole world is a maze. For me, this song becomes a warning that the world is more than simply the world wanting to keep you from partying. I use the catchy beat and the genius of Stromae’s writing to urge me on to be clever, thoughtful, and hardworking as I navigate the stress of finals.
Go the Distance – Hercules
Ok, after a dose of pessimism, I need some good ol’ disney optimism. This song from the classic Hercules is all about striving for your goals. This song encourages me to go the distance during finals. It reminds me that every paper, every test will be worth my while. I will be strong. Although Disney movies rarely, if ever, show the actual work it takes to go the distance, except in a montage, they do the build up and inspirational “I want” song marvelously well.
To Work:
This is like fuel for the engine. Music soundtracks like these often help me to focus because they don’t have lyrics to distract me. Hopefully, you will find them just as helpful.
To Relax and Maybe Cry:
These are for the moments in between the feverish frenzy when the worry begins to creep in and you begin to break down.
Back to You – Twin Forks
You worked hard, so you deserve to dance. This song is great for getting up, skipping, and bouncing around the room. I can’t help but smile and feel an infusion of sunlight and joy when I hear this song. So let’s smile, grab a friend, and enjoy the last moments we have with each other this semester on campus.
Carry On – F.U.N // Firebird Suite – Stravinsky
Both of these songs remind me of the same thing: to keep moving forward. There is life after death, and beauty can come after tribulation. These are my anthems that keep me hanging on when I feel at the end of my rope. They both acknowledge that things can suck and carry a message of hope. That’s just what I need during finals.
Home – Gabrielle Aplin
This song encapsulates the college experience for me. It chronicles the pain that comes from moving on from familiar places and growing up in new roles. In college some us are away from home for the first time. For some of us, it’s the first time we’re making a new home for ourselves. Between the chaos of finals I like to think on this: all these papers and all this stress are not all there is to college. What I value most is the home I have made here.
To Party:
This is the song for you if all went well, or maybe didn’t.
Sing – Pentatonix
When it’s all over, SING! Well maybe not if you don’t like to sing, but either way celebrate the incredible work you put in and the fact that you made it! Put your hands in the air and leave your cares behind.
Whether these songs help you get through finals or not, I wish you the best of luck and a wonderful break!