T-shirts are turning into hoodies, the sun is setting earlier, and pumpkin spice has become a daily necessity. As we transition out of summer and into fall, many of us find ourselves shifting the kind of music we listen to from fun and bubbly to chill and mellow.
Every year when autumn rolls around, I find myself constantly shuffling through different fall-themed playlists to find a mood that matches the vibe of crisp air and changing leaves. While I have found some really good playlists in the past, I’ve never found one that was exactly what I needed. So I decided to take it upon myself to curate what I feel to be the perfect fall playlist, because what else is better than wearing a big, cozy sweater while listening to some music that matches exactly what you’re feeling?
Here are three categories I think compose the greatest fall playlist there ever was.
Fall Me By Your Name
The songs I grouped into this category are songs that have something fall-oriented within the title. This could be anything like a fall month, a holiday, or a particular fall buzzword. Each title, alone, is powerful enough to elicit beautiful fall imagery so it seemed like a no-brainer to group them together. Here are the selections in no particular order:
“Halloween” – Phoebe Bridgers
“we fell in love in october” – girl in red
“Drunk on Halloween” – Wallows
“September” – James Arthur
“Pale September” – Fiona Apple
“Autumn Leaves” – Ed Sheeran
“Pumpkin” – The Regrettes
“Coffee Cups and Cigarettes” – TOMO
“willow” – Taylor Swift
“warm glow” – Hippo Campus
Pumpkin Spice Sadness
The cool, crisp air in fall tends to bring about feelings of yearning and reflection. While this can feel like a bit of a bummer, it’s important to recognize how necessary those emotions are and allow ourselves to rejoice and embrace the change. One of the best ways we can reflect on and feel more in tune with our thoughts and feelings is through music. Here are the selections for this category in no particular order:
“Meet Me in the Hallway” – Harry Styles
“Kyoto” – Phoebe Bridgers
“Somebody Else” – The 1975
“Rosyln” – Bon Iver, St. Vincent
“Cardigan” – Taylor Swift
“Cinnamon Girl” – Lana Del Rey
“Holocene” – Bon Iver
“All Too Well” – Taylor Swift
“Shades of Cool” – Lana Del Rey
“if this was a movie..” – Kacey Musgraves
“amoeba” – Clairo
Catch Flannels and Feelings
The name of this category was inspired by how there are few feelings better than falling in love in the fall. This kind of love isn’t limited to a romantic relationship; the feeling of blooming friendships and blossoming self-worth are perfect indicators of such. In this category, I included songs that evoke similar emotions like love, self-discovery, growth, change, and more. Paired with songs in the previous categories, these songs can help lift the mood without straying too far from the fall vibe we’ve been looking for. Here are the selections for the final category in no particular order:
“Bad Love” – The Aces
“The Only Exception” – Paramore
“cowboy like me” – Taylor Swift
“Like Real People Do” – Hozier
“Gypsy” – Fleetwood Mac
“Vienna” – Billy Joel
“Wasteland, Baby!” – Hozier
“gold rush” – Taylor Swift
“Friday I’m In Love” – Phoebe Bridgers
“Sweater Weather” – The Neighborhood
Whether it’s reading in a coffee shop, curling up on the couch with a cozy sweater and blanket, or taking a walk outside to hear the leaves crunching under your feet, this playlist is here to match and vitalize your mood. Fall is often used to symbolize change and new beginnings. Consider this playlist a new beginning in your listening journey.
If you like these selections and are interested in giving it a listen, the Spotify link is here. I hope you love it!