Grace’s Playlist

These are my favorite feel-good songs for when you need a little extra push to finish that assignment, or study for that test, or just want to music-out your stress. Start the school year off right!

SUPERBLOOM – MisterWives

Mood: When You’ve Overcome A Struggle

We start off with an upbeat song with a sassy undertone, all about coming back from challenges that seemed impossible to overcome (*cough* spring 2020 *cough*). It’s all about resilience, and you’ll come back bigger and stronger, burning brighter than before,  after all, “it is darkest before sunrise”

Best Lyrics:

I deserve congratulations / I’d never thought that I’d survive / If you tell me I won’t make it / that’s when I, that’s when I / Superbloom

Brand New – Ben Rector

Mood: Winding Down After School

This song is all about, well, feeling brand new. It’s a light, happy, easy listen that’ll remind you of when you were a little kid without a care in the world, or when you’d drive around with the music all the way up and the windows down. 

Best Lyrics:

I feel a lot like seventeen / I feel like windows rolled down / New city, streets and cabs / I feel like anything can happen 

End of the Day – One Direction

Mood: Getting Over Something You Can’t Change

Before you skip this song because it’s by One Direction, hear me out. This song is all about how at the end of day (hence the title) what happened, happened, and you can’t change it. The chorus is powerful and loud, but the verses jump to a softer sound, and the end climaxes to an electric guitar riff with Harry Styles’ ad libs over it. It’s the perfect song to listen to when your day just does not go the way you want it to.

Best Lyrics:

All I know at the end of the day / Is you want what you want / And you say what you say / And you follow your heart / Even though it’ll break sometimes 

Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Ray

Mood: When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

This is a smooth, soft, soul song about just relaxing and knowing it’ll be okay in the end.  It’s about listening to music that perfectly describes how you’re feeling in order to let out that overwhelming feeling, no matter what it is. Just let your hair down, be you, and you’ll survive.

Best Lyrics:

You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow

Glorious – Macklemore ft. Skylar Grey

Mood: When You’re Feeling Good 

This is another song about feeling like a new person once you’ve reached the other side. A mix of light rap and emotional singing, this track is the perfect mixture of pumped excitement and the feeling of freedom to take on the world. The most sonically important part of the song is the bounce in the piano heard under every line of the song.

Best Lyrics:

Another day, another breath / Been chasing dreams but I never slept / I got a new attitude and a lease on life / And some peace of mind

Don’t Let It Break Your Heart – Louis Tomlinson

Mood: Overcoming Struggle

A recurring theme you may have noticed is songs about overcoming obstacles in your life. This track features the soft electric guitar and catchy hook that One Direction fans have come to love, with Tomlinson reminding you to stay strong and you’ll come out the other side a better person. 

Best Lyrics:

Don’t you let it kill you / Even when it hurts like hell / Whatever tears you apart / Don’t let it break your heart

Thunder – Imagine Dragons

Mood: Hyping Yourself Up

Taking a turn from the last song, this is the ultimate hype-up song that I know you’ve heard on the radio thousands of times. It might be a little overplayed, but its low beat, and confident lyrics can give you that push you need.

Best Lyrics:

You’re always riding in the backseat / Now I’m smiling from the stage while /  you were clapping in the nose bleeds

The Middle – Jimmy Eat World

Mood: When You Feel Stuck

Have some patience. This song reminds you that you have so much time, whatever you’re going through is not the end, and that you gotta do you no matter what. It’s literally the epitome of early 2000’s pop rock songs, complete with electric guitar riffs, acoustic sounding drums, and that very distinctive vocal sound of the early 2000’s alternative genre. You’ve probably definitely  heard this song multiple times on either The Blend or  Pop2K.   

Best Lyrics:

Just try your best / Try everything you can / And don’t you worry what their bitter hearts / Are gonna say

Shake It Off – Taylor Swift

Mood: Shaking Out A Bad Day

If you don’t think this song is an ABSOLUTE CLASSIC…..no. Anywho, if you don’t know this song I guess you’ve been living under a rock, and if that’s the case, I’ll give you the rundown. Swift single handedly brought back 80’s pop influence in modern music with this song and the rest of her album. Filled with brass and a upbeat drum line, it was a cultural reset that defined the rest of pure 2010’s pop.

Best Lyrics:

But I keep cruising / Can’t stop won’t stop grooving / It’s like I got this music / In my mind saying it’s gonna be alright

The Greatest – Sia ft. Kendrick Lamar

Mood: Getting Ready For A Test

This power anthem is all about seeing the mountains you have to climb, and knowing you can do it. Sia reminds you that after that push, you’ll be stronger. It’s another song to give you that extra push to get you to the finish line, and with Kendrick Lamar on a verse, you’ve got the ultimate hype up song.

Best Lyrics:

Let downs will get you / And the critics will test you / But the strong will survive / Another scar may bless you

September – Earth, Wind, and Fire

Mood: Putting Yourself In A Good Mood

This song is a classic feel good song, and arguably one of the universally most like songs in history. The trumpets give it that get-up-and-dance feel, the lyrics are reminiscent of better times (relatable), and the “ba-dee-ya-dee-ya’s” sound like happiness. All this creates the perfect song to put you in a great mood.

Best Lyrics:

Love was changing the mind of pretenders / While chasing the clouds away / Our hearts were ringing / In the key that our souls were singing / As we danced in the night

Best Day of My Life – American Authors

Mood: Getting Ready In The Morning

This track simultaneously looks back and looks forward to good times. It’s filled with the optimism of tomorrow fueled by the good times of yesterday. Sonically, the song sounds like happiness and hope through the ad libs and the raw harmonies and melodies. It’s an easy listen to put you in a good mood.

Best Lyrics:

I stretched my hands up to the sky / We danced with monsters through the night

Walking On Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves

Mood: When You’re Happy

Honestly when I hear this song all I can hear is Rachel Berry’s shrill yet dulcet tones, which kind of annoys me, that being said, this song instantly puts me in a good mood. It’ll build a bubble around you and make you feel like you’re floating, and nothing can put you down.

Best Lyric:

I’m walking on sunshine, baby, oh!

no tears left to cry – Ariana Grande

Mood: Picking Yourself Up

Sweetener, while I think it could be a better album, certainly delivered BOPS. This song is one of them, and while it may be basic and not sonically or lyrically groundbreaking, it makes you feel like you’re ready to kick butt and take names. You’re done feeling sorry for yourself, you’re done feeling bad, and now you’re ready to do. 

Best Lyrics:

Ain’t got no tears in my body / I ran out, but boy I like it, I like it / Don’t matter how, what, where, who tries it / We’re out here vibin’, we vibin’, we vibin’

Good As Hell – Lizzo

Mood: Feeling Good

Girl, you are OVER it. This song has been grossly overplayed, but it still reminds you to relax because you deserve it. Kick back, and feel good about yourself and what you’ve done. You have to take control of your life, and know when to let go, you are a priority, so act like it!

Best Lyrics:

Boss up and change your life / You can have it all, no sacrifice / I know he did you wrong, we can make it right . . . / ‘Cause he don’t love you anymore / So walk yourself out the door

Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

Mood: When You Need A Serotonin Boost

The sweet lyrics of George Harrison remind us all that the summer only comes after winter. The soft acoustic plucking is easy on the ear, and the words are reassuring all listeners that after struggle, there’s a light.

Best Lyrics:

Little darling, the smile’s returning to their faces / Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been here / Here comes the sun, doo, doo, doo, doo

Nothing to Regret – Robinson

Mood: When You Need Reassurance That You’re Doing Okay

To finish my playlist, I chose this carefree and buoyant song about being young and free. It’s about having nothing figured out, but there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s all about still finding yourself, and with the loud and boisterous chorus, it sonically reflects that feeling. Overall, it’s just such a fun song, and it makes me feel ready to just have a good time and not take life too seriously.

Best Lyrics:

Start a party in the living room / Turn it up until we feel it boom / Baby, let’s get, let’s get crazy and lose track of time / Why we always got to fret about it? / There’s nothing to regret about it