To be completely honest, this quarantine has been rough. Outside of trying to balance my studies with a healthy diet and stable sleep schedule, I have also been looking for more ways to release the pent-up energy I’ve collected as a result of being confined to my small room almost 24/7. One method that I found to be very successful and fun is singing (and sometimes dancing) along to good music. Here are some quarantine bops that are helping me get through the days:
- “Boyfriend” by Selena Gomez
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It is almost an understatement to say that quarantine season has been the thirstiest season. Quite literally everywhere I look online, I see couples going on cute at-home dates, cuddling while binging Netflix, cooking delicious food together and just living their best lives. I am not in a relationship at the moment, so being bombarded by the media (mainly via Instagram and TikTok) with cute couple posts is making me crave a partner more than usual during these lonely times. Selena perfectly captures my mood and desires in this song. She sings about yearning for a partner, but she is conflicted at the same time because she has ended up unsatisfied and let down in all of her previous relationships. I strongly relate to her dilemma in searching for a partner who meets her standards, because we both don’t want to fall for someone who will break our hearts again… but we also both really want an SO.
- “Paranoid” by Lauv
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Quarantine has also been a season of constant stress and paranoia. Lauv sings about the paranoia surrounding a romantic relationship in terms of insecurities, trust issues, the fear of rejection and not being good enough. I have been feeling paranoia in several aspects of my life, but mostly towards school and my plans for the future. With the unprecedented circumstances that COVID-19 has brought upon us, a lot of things are left up in the air. It is hard not to feel paranoid, because there is no definite answer to anything! However, the best we can do is keep a positive outlook and hope for the best.
- “Sweet but Psycho” by Ava Max
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This song perfectly sums up my personality, but it also accurately describes my mental state in quarantine. Being cooped up inside my studio apartment all day everyday is slowly driving me insane. There is nothing to do but study, eat, sleep and watch TV. I occasionally walk outside to watch the sunset, but even that is starting to lose its charm. Not to take away meaning or power from the real message of the song (female empowerment and strength in vulnerability), but I find it extremely relatable and funny at the surface level, too. Just like the girl in the song, I find myself screaming “I’m-ma-ma-ma out my mind” at night because every aspect of quarantine is making me go psycho.
- “Welcome to the End of Your Life” by The Driver Era
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This song is about living your life to the fullest and not having any regrets. The band’s lead singer, Ross Lynch, says to do whatever you want while you are still alive because you won’t get a second chance. I have been playing this song on repeat to remind myself that I still have my whole life in front of me, and that this weird limbo we are all in right now will not last forever. I still have many hopes, dreams and aspirations that I plan to achieve, and I will achieve them. Nothing and no one will stop me from doing what I truly want. This mentality has been really beneficial in keeping me motivated during quarantine.
- “If The World Was Ending” by JP Saxe feat. Julia Michaels
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The name of this song is a little ironic, considering how coronavirus has stopped humanity in its tracks. More specifically though, listening to this song has made me reevaluate all of the relationships in my life. It made me think about who is truly there for me and would be there for me if I needed them to be. I have now realized that some connections that I originally found significant are actually more one-sided and no longer worthwhile. If someone is not willing to maintain a relationship with me (whether it be platonic, familial or romantic), then there’s no reason for me to keep it up either. I think that I’m a genuinely nice person, but I tend to be too kind sometimes and let people walk all over me. However, I am trying to do what is best for my mental health and myself, and this song helped reinforce that decision.
Whether you like these songs or not, I highly recommend making your own quarantine playlist and listening to it whenever COVID-19 has got you in a weird mood. Just get up, shout the lyrics at the top of your lungs and dance like nobody’s watching!