Take It Easy

The First Single

Take It Easy by the Eagles

Recommended by Lisa

"I love that song. It’s happy and brings back memories of my youth when it was popular in the '70s (RIP Glenn Frey)."

I have so many emotions attached to this song. You know how that happens sometimes? When a certain sound or smell is inextricably linked to a specific time in the past?

I was first exposed to the Eagles during a trip out west, fittingly. In fourth grade, my family flew out to Vegas and took a road trip down to the Grand Canyon, and all we listened to in the car for a week was Hell Freezes Over. 

Then I didn't listen to the Eagles extensively for a long time, so every time I hear them, the memories are super vivid. I'm back in the car staring out the window at the Hoover Dam and red, red rock and too much sun and miles of nothing. Or I'm back in the hotel room waking up at 4am because of the time difference and looking out the window at stars that go on to infinity. 

Or, like, maybe I'm standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona. It's hard to say.

Anyway, I would probably consider myself to be an Eagles fan. I like the country-rock thing they've got going on, and I love all their harmonies. It's a pleasing sound.

Overview:

Genre:
Soft Rock

Favorite Lyrics:
Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.

Verdict:
Easy listening.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Congrats, Leo! Dreams Really Do Come True.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole

Recommended by Irene

"This was my wedding song."

What a beautiful wedding song. What a beautiful song in general! Might I also suggest this mashup that he did of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World. It's almost too beautiful.

One of my favorite things is when someone covers a popular song and makes it entirely their own, to paraphrase the American Idol judges. No disrespect to Judy Garland because she is a legend and the way she sings this song is iconic, but there's something special about this version with nothing but Iz's warm vocals and the sweet, mellow ukulele accompaniment. It's, like...pure.

I love everything about this version. The liberties with phrasing sound so natural, and the way he says chim-uh-ney tops is perfect.

You're always gonna end up a little happier after listening to this song. There's this warmth that starts right in your heart and ends up spreading all throughout your body and you can't help but smile.

Overview:

Genre:
Traditional / Folk

Favorite Lyrics:
Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly.
And the dream that you dare to...oh why, oh why can't I?

Verdict:
Takes you somewhere...

Work

Turn Up

Work by Rihanna ft. Drake

Recommended by Anon

"I've been listening to this on repeat like all day. I just like the upbeat tempo, and it's pretty catchy. Also, Drake is bae."

This is fun.

Y'all, I love Rihanna. I think her voice is great, and her usual mix of urban and Caribbean sounds is so sick. This one has less of a tropical vibe, but I still feel like I hear it. Maybe that's wishful thinking, but I like it.

There are also TWO music videos, and that has to count for something.

I mean, is this a masterpiece of production and lyrical value? Perhaps not. But you can't tell me you wouldn't love to hear this downtown at a club. Or at a house party. Or at the gym, even. I will get down to this song, whether I'm dancing or grinding out that last half-mile.

Plus, honestly, this song is legit. If you want a relationship, you gotta work work work work work work. It's real stuff. My favorite line: Please recognize, I'm tryin' Babe!

Let's go.

Overview:

Genre:
Reggae-Pop

Favorite Lyrics:
Who am I to hold your past against you?

Verdict:
Works for me.

Better Days

You've Heard of Iris, Now Get Ready For

Better Days by the Goo Goo Dolls

Recommended by Monica

"That's my mantra right now."

And what a great mantra it is.

Better Days was initially a Christmas song, and this becomes immediately clear if you dig into the lyrics:

You ask me what I want this year.

I don't need boxes wrapped in strings.

The one poor child who saved this world.

The message of this song is a fairly common one to hear around the holidays, and it's my favorite. It's the same idea as Grown Up Christmas List, if you know that one.

As much as I like this type of song, I've always thought it was kind of funny that the singers act as if they're asking for so much less when they choose to focus on the ills of humanity instead of material goods. It's always like, "I don't want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing I need...World peace. Definitely world peace. That's easy - world peace."

This song falls into that category when it asks for faith and trust and peace while we're alive, but it also reigns it in during the chorus:

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days.

Overview:

Genre:
Alternative

Favorite Lyrics:
I wish everyone was loved tonight.

Verdict:
Great to sing out loud.

Dang, I should have saved this for December.

Awoo

Meow Meow

Awoo by Lim Kim

Recommended by Sara

"You have a cat. Just watch the music video."

Okay, so I tried to understand this song, but I couldn't quite wrap my mind around the lyrics. Is she making fun of this guy in the beginning, or is she actually saying she thinks he's gay?

Anyway, I like all the animal imagery, both in the video and in the lyrics. Then you've got the awoo like wolves howling. Good stuff.

I'm thinking the best way to appreciate this song, especially for non-Korean-speakers, is to just enjoy the bubble-gum beat and catchy tune. That part, at least, I get. Dancing around your bedroom by yourself is truly universal.

Overview:

Genre:
K-Pop

Favorite Lyrics:
Awoo

Verdict:
I'm lost, but it's fun.

It's Only Natural

The Holy Spirit

It's Only Natural by Lior & Emma-Louise

Recommended by Eleanor

"It's only natural to listen to this lovely song."

I agree, Eleanor. "Lovely" is probably the best word I can think of to describe this song. 

Starting with the very first notes, the delicate interplay of notes on the guitar, a "lovely" tone is established. Lior, I assume, comes in with this warm, gentle voice singing the sweetest little melody I've ever heard. Then when Emma-Louise enters, she has a soft, pure voice to match.

The mood darkens a bit when the vocals come together. There's something eerie in the harmonies, something that, ironically, feels a little unnatural...but not in a bad way. It's haunting, but hauntingly beautiful. I'm imagining mist rolling in over a mountain. It's ethereal.

This song, for me, is really about the scene established by the music. The flowering meadow painted by the sweetness of the melody and the beauty of the voices. The shimmering sunlight of the violins. The light drizzle of the guitar - doesn't it sound like raindrops?

The lyrics are "lovely," too, but the music speaks for itself in this one. Close your eyes and see where it takes you.

Overview:

Genre:
Singer/Songwriter / Pop

Favorite Lyrics:
Read me like a book
That's fallen down between your knees.

Ready or not, here comes the drop.

Verdict:
As Eleanor said, "It's only natural to listen to this lovely song."

P.S. I know I've been saying this a lot lately, but oh my God, this is one of my favorites.

It Ain't Over Til It's Over

This Week Ain't Even Close to Over

It Ain't Over Til It's Over by Lennie Kravitz

Recommended by Michelle

"Today would be my husband's 51st birthday but unfortunately due to crippling addictions, he died a few weeks shy of his 37th birthday. I played this song almost daily for a few years before he died because as sad as it is....it always left me with hope. It still does in a different way even though he's no longer here."

I believe I'm a touch late getting to this, but thank you for sharing your story with me. I'm so sorry for your loss.

This song really does sit right on the line between sadness and hope. Even before those honest, plaintive lyrics come in, the music is already sounding wistful for some reason that I can't place. It's not super slow, and it's not in a minor key. It should just sound relaxed, and yet...

I think it's the tone of the string section. Violins are always sad.

Even the lyrics kind of play with your heart a little bit, but in the opposite way. For me, I listen to the instrumentals and think, "This is pretty upbeat; why am I crying?" But then I hear the lyrics and think, "This is so sad; why do I feel like everything is going to be okay?"

I get the feeling that this guy is spending sleepless nights suffering, trying to save a sinking ship. I get the feeling that this isn't going to end well, and he knows it. 

But I also get the feeling that he's alright. He doesn't regret any of the tears [he's] cried or the pain inside. Sure it hurts, but it would hurt worse to look back and think you could've done more. There's beauty in the determination. There's poetry in the idea of putting everything you have into something you believe in.

If this couple were so in love that it was worth fighting for over several years, then that's pretty amazing, and you can't help but look back at that fondly. Plus, as much as this song is lamenting the end of a relationship, it's also celebrating the love for what it was. 

Or what it is. Because a love like that is never completely gone, even when the relationship is over.

Side note: I was surprised to see that this song came out in 1991. It sounds like it should've been out a decade earlier. Or maybe even earlier. When were the Bee Gees popular? The '70s?

Anyway, thanks again. This is a great song for my collection, and knowing of your connection with it can only increase my appreciation. Isn't it incredible how music can affect our emotions? But how our feelings can also affect our interpretation of music? Truly amazing.

Overview:

Genre:
Soul / Funk

Favorite Lyrics:
All my doubts and fears
Kept me wondering
If I'd always, always be in love.

Verdict:
Never want it to be over.

Runnin'

(Interlude)

Runnin' by Kehlani

Recommended by Me (not me)

"It's lit."

Another great recommendation! We're on a roll with the catchy sounds and messages of girl power, keep 'em coming.

I love the way she glorifies confidence. Not only is she confident in herself, but she's also only messing with this guy because he's confident in himself and he appreciates a strong-minded woman. AKA: this chick.

I always said I'd be the one to do it.
I change the way they lookin' at us women makin' music.
Go put back on the crown; stop makin' us look so stupid.

Yeah, girl. Tell 'em.

And she sounds good saying it, too, which is always a plus.

I get why it's called Runnin' (Interlude) since it's a pretty short piece that's just kind of all in one section, not really divided into stanzas or anything. No verses, choruses, repetition. I wonder how it fits into the album....

Overview:

Genre:
R&B

Favorite Lyrics:
'Cause I know every man has a fear of a strong-minded woman,
But I say she's a keeper if she got it on her own and keeps it runnin'.

Verdict:
It's lit.

Girls Like Girls

Boys Have Cooties Anyway

Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko

Recommended by Your Local Bi Girl

"Because heterosexuality is overrated."

Fair.

This is one of my favorite songs that's been recommended so far. It sounds like something I would've listened to even before I set out to expand my musical tastes, but I never came across it before now.

I really enjoy Kiyoko's voice, and the catchy melody is super accessible. It's soft and gentle and pretty but not delicate. The tempo isn't that fast, but the song is still lively and, like, spirited. I dare you to listen without tapping your foot or drumming your fingers.

Kiyoko said in this article that she wrote Girls Like Girls because there are a bunch of songs about guys stealing other guys' girls, but "there's no anthem for a girl stealing another guy's girl, and that is the coolest thing ever." This is true.

Representation, by the way, is extremely important. Hayley Kiyoko is out there doing God's work (is it inappropriate to use that idiom in this context?) by giving little lesbian and bisexual girls a chance to see another girl who's just like them.

Not only does the music video show an actual f/f kiss (that's loving, not sexualized for the male gaze), but the song also explicitly states that it's okay for women to love women.

Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new.

It's 2016, people. Love wins.

P.S. Hayley Kiyoko's music video for Cliff's Edge also features ladies in love.

Overview:

Genre:
Pop

Favorite Lyrics:
I'm real, and I don't feel like boys.

Don't tell me, tell me what I feel.

Verdict:

The Moon Represents My Heart

Going Global

The Moon Represents My Heart by Teresa Teng

Recommended by Anon

"Absolute classic."

Sometimes it's nice to listen to a song when you don't understand the lyrics so that you can focus on the melody and the overall emotion. Instrumental music allows for a similar feeling, but there's nothing like the human voice, you know?

And, wow, this woman's voice is beautiful. Her wikipedia page describes it as "simple and sincere," and that's perfect. I love the pure tone, especially for this traditional kind of music. Old school.

Like her voice, the song itself sounds simple and sweet. The instrumentals sit comfortably in the background, complementing the vocals. It never really builds or surprises you, but it's very nice.

Once you do get into the translation of the lyrics, this message isn't complicated, either. It's simple, and there aren't  a whole lot of words in the whole song.

I was surprised by the line, My feeling does not waver. My love does not change. followed by the title phrase the moon represents my heart.

The moon has phases. The moon is always changing.

But if you think about it, the moon itself isn't doing anything. The light from the sun affects how much of the moon we can see at any given time, but the full thing is always there. It's kind of comforting to think of it that way.

The song starts out You ask me how deep I love you, as if this guy has been feeling nervous or something and worries that she doesn't love him enough. And she's like, "Hey, it's okay. Sorry I haven't been shouting it from the rooftops, but I do love you. My love is like the moon; even if you can't see it, it's there."

Plus, honestly, what's more romantic than the moon?

Overview:

Genre:

Traditional Pop

Favorite Lyrics:

Yue liang dai biao wo de xin.

Verdict:

This song represents my heart.

Mother's Garden

Truth Tea

Mother's Garden by Michael Tolcher

Recommended by Uncle Manny

"You know I love Michael's music. He wrote this song about the Chattahoochee River back in the '80s, or maybe in the '90s, when the river was having problems with pollution. Also if you look up the history of the Chattahoochee River in the Atlanta area it's very interesting. Back in the '70s there were ties to a child serial killer who used to dump bodies there."

I have to say I was distressed by the quote from my uncle for this song. It's not often you get a song with mother in the title and murder in the description.

But I'm relating the song more to the pollution than the child serial killer. As far as I can tell, "Mother" is referring to Mother Nature. Sometimes she weeps, weakened with disease. Silently she screams, "Rescue me."

That's pretty powerful imagery, and if it's not a metaphor for planet Earth, I'm gonna peace out.

In all seriousness, it's a good, important message that I think comes across really well because of the simplicity of the melody and the lyrics. The fully-produced version is my favorite because it's beautiful, but I kind of like the intimacy of the video I posted above, too. Just Michael and the guitar. It feels like it could be a little concert at an environmental charity event.

Key Moment: Each time Michael throws it up into falsetto on the word screams. It's like a little scream in itself. I get chills. Guy's voice is bomb.

Save the planet, y'all.

Overview:

Genre:
Pop Rock

Favorite Lyrics:
We are alone; it's you and I in this whole galaxy.
We can't survive without each other - are you listening?
I need your help to heal myself when I am suffering.

Verdict:
Mother's Garden is precious.

If the link to the proper version doesn't work, you should probably go buy the album because it's really worth hearing I swear.

Living/Breathing

Nice

Living/Breathing by Mesita

Recommended by Kim

"This is just the ultimate feel good song. It never fails to cheer me up! Even if the lyrics are simple or sound silly, it's something I'd want my friends to tell me when I'm feeling down about life or whatever. It's like fuck all the negative shit! We're unstoppable; we can do anything!"

Ok, listen. The part between the intro and the entrance of the lyrics (0:25 to 0:52) sounds like it should be in Wii Fit. I want to virtually bike along grassy mountainsides to this song.

It also feels very "morning." I'm not really a morning person, but if I actually make myself get out of bed, I actually enjoy the way it feels to be outside at 8am. The sun feels different at that time. Gentle. And the air is always crisp and refreshing. That's what this song feels like.

I don't think the lyrics sound silly! They are kind of simple, but they're true and good.

The lyrics are simple, but for some reason I don't think things like that too often. Why not? Why not wake up in the morning (the morning, not the afternoon) and think I'm in love with the world today?

Simple pleasures, guys.

Overview:

Genre:
Indie Pop

Favorite Lyrics:
I'm in love with the world today.

We are beautiful, and we are worth it all.

There is something magical here, even if we don't believe.

Verdict:
Makes me want to wake up before noon.

Angel

Who Hurt Her?

Angel by Sarah McLachlan

Recommended by Lissell

"This was my 'divorce song.' I like the part that says in the arms of the angel may you find comfort here. It helped me a lot knowing that I wasn't alone and that there's always help from above."

You have a beautiful connection with the song. Thank you for sharing.

My main association is that ASPCA commercial. You know the one. With the really sad animals, injured in cages. All the guilt.

But there's a reason they chose it for that commercial - it's an incredibly evocative song. The lyrics, the vocals, the instrumental line...all of it comes together to build a melancholic and haunting piece.

Sarah's voice is so, so beautiful. She sounds ethereal and fragile and soothing, which is perfect for this song. Weightless, perhaps, but not empty. Her voice is filled to the delicate brim with emotion. She could probably sing nothing but "ahh" and I would still cry.

But she doesn't sing "ahh." She sings these lovely and eerie lyrics that simultaneously bring you down and lift you up. Deeply melancholic, but comforting. Sympathetic, even. When you're in pain, it helps to know that others have suffered through the same thing.

It achieves much of this depth through beautiful imagery. Sarah McLachlan wrote this song about the keyboardist for Smashing Pumpkins who died of a heroin overdose, and I think you can gather this from some of the pictures it paints:

I need some distraction; oh, beautiful release. Memories seep from my veins.
Let me be empty.

Fly away from here,

from this dark, cold hotel room.

When she says, You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie. You're in the arms of then angel; may you find some comfort here, I can imagine someone being taken by the angels to finally, finally find peace in Heaven.

But that's kind of a downer, and I'm partial to Lissell's interpretation that the angel is here holding us on Earth, even as we live.

And finally, there's the piano accompaniment under all of that. Melodic, consonant chords softly supporting the other elements of the piece. If Sarah's voice and the lyrics portray the suffering, then the piano represents the angel, crying for you - with you - but also raising you up.

Overview:

Genre:
Pop (this feels wrong, but idk)

Favorite Lyrics:
There's always some reason to feel not good enough.

In the arms of the angel, fly away from here.

Verdict:
Misery loves company.

Okay, wow. I had a phase with this song in 10th grade, but I haven't really listened to it since then. I forgot how sad it was. Look at this, I'm crying.

Houdini

Don't Mix Up Your Magicians

Houdini by Foster the People

Recommended by Bella

"I can remember hearing this song for the first time when I was a freshman in high school and loving it. It was my jam...and honestly it still is. It's incredibly catchy and can automatically put me in a good mood, but it also tells a personal story of fear of failure, not rising to one's full potential, and how pressures can make you want to run and hide...which is something I think everyone can relate to (or at least I can)."

Okay so when I hear this song, I really want to get up and dance. I don't know why I'm imagining a guy in high tops break dancing on a floor of multicolored light-up tiles, but it's a fun time. I see why this song puts you in a good mood.

I also agree that it's relatable. Sometimes I wanna disappear is such a simple line, but it's important. It must be important to the song because that's where the title comes from. Harry Houdini was the escape artist, right? Sometimes I get my magicians mixed up.

It's also important because I'm sure everyone's felt this way at some point. Like that time you accidentally called your sixth grade teacher "Mom" or that time you screamed so loudly about a bug that everyone in the Walton cafeteria looked over. (Oh wait, that wasn't you? Maybe it was me.) I still feel that way for a minute anytime I answer a question wrong in class.

Or it could be more than embarrassment. Sometimes I wanna disappear when I feel overwhelmed by classwork or when I think too hard about the future. When I feel stressed or when I feel alone.

Or because my life's a wreck. Another relatable lyric :')

I get a little lost at the end because Mark Foster gets really into it and I can't really tell what he's saying. The diction of the chorus isn't much better. But it's okay to leave the lyrics behind so you can lose yourself in the melody and kind of...disappear.

Overview:

Genre:
Indie Pop / Alt Dance

Favorite Lyrics:
What you want, what you need, what'd you come here for?

Verdict:
Dance even if you don't think you have the ability.

Flamingo

You Do You

Flamingo by Kero Kero Bonito

Recommended anonymously

"It has a really catchy tune with lyrics that seem pretty 'random.' The cute-pop voice is definitely something we do not get to hear frequently in our daily lives."

This song surprised me in several ways. I don't know what I was expecting, but...it wasn't this.

As far as overall sound, I love the contrast of that airy, pan-flute-sounding melody playing over the really low, dissonant synth noise. I think electronica is growing on me.

The vocals were all over the place, in a weirdly good way. I wasn't expecting the vocalist to have a British accent. (Fun fact: Kero Kero Bonito is a British band made up of two white dudes and a Japanese expat.) I really like the way she says the Ohs after Flamingo. And I definitely wasn't expecting rap. It's kinda cool to hear someone speaking rhythmically like that in another language. I also wasn't ready for the lyrics to alternate between English and Japanese so often. Bilingual songs aren't super common.

Speaking of the lyrics, I didn't think the song would be so uplifting. I mean, it's called Flamingo, which didn't give me a whole lot to work with as far as building expectations. But no, dude, it's a positive song about acceptance.

I mean, it's not deep about it or anything (If you're multi-colored, that's cool, too. I mean, it's whatever. Keep it casual.), but it's nice.

You gotta smile.

Overview:

Genre:
Pop / Electronic

Favorite Lyrics:
You don't need to change.
It's boring being the same.

Verdict:
Cute.

Love Yourz

Positive Self-Talk Works

Love Yourz by J. Cole

Recommended by Deja

"Great message...love your life."

I like the way No such thing as a life that's better than yours is repeated like a mantra. That's the way you have to tell it to yourself, too. Because sometimes your life may not feel so awesome, but it's still the only one you have, and it's beautiful in it's way.

This song isn't just about one aspect about your life; it's about the whole damn thing. It's beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success, and you have to love all of it. Take whatever lemons life throws at you and suck it up.

J. Cole talks about how most people fantasize about a life with no stress, expecting wealth to bring some kind of fulfillment. Then he talks about the opposite, Think being broke was better / 'cause what's money without happiness? Or hard times without the people you love? The point is, of course, that the grass is always greener on the other side. But J. Cole says it better.

Okay, so I love pretty much every line in this track, but there was this one thing:

Long as the people in that motherf****r love you dearly.

I mean this s**t sincerely.

This been some legendary s**t, man. Until the next time, goddammit. Peace and love.

Like...variety is the spice of life. His vocabulary is different from mine, and as long as he loves his, that's cool, man. Express yourself. But it was kind of funny.

Anyway, I loved this rec. Thanks, Deja!

Overview:

Genre:
Hip-Hop

Favorite Lyrics:
You ain't never gon' be happy 'til you love yours.

I'm tired of living with demons, 'cause they always inviting more.

Verdict:
Legendary s**t, man. Goddammit.

Georgia On My Mind

Go Dawgs!

Georgia On My Mind by Ray Charles

Recommended by Kim's dad

"Ray sings it best, and it's one of those songs where it comes on and everyone knows it and wants to sing along."

I have a story about this song actually. Some of my family and I took a vacation to Paris one summer. We had some struggles with the language barrier, but luckily this song is universal. Our first cab driver that took us to the hotel tried to make some conversation even though he didn't speak English that well, and we spoke zero French. Naturally, the question came up, "Where are you from?"

When we told him we were from Georgia, his eyebrows went up and he actually smiled as he said enthusiastically, "Ray Charles! Ray Charles!"

So yes, Mr. Crine, I would agree that yes, "EVERYONE knows it and wants to sing along."

As for the claim about Ray singing it best...of course. The song was written in 1930 but didn't become popular until Mr. Charles covered it in 1960. That about sums it up.

I'm from Georgia, born and raised, so I admit that I am biased, but this is the best possible state anthem. Sure, Sweet Home Alabama is an awesome jam, but that song has been used so often that it doesn't even remind me of the state anymore. New York and California have some nice tunes written about them, but that kind of dilutes it, you know?

When it comes to my home state, Georgia On My Mind is THE anthem. It's timeless and perfect, and I love it. 

What's not to love about that sugary intro? Those piano chords? Ray Charles's smooth voice?

The lyrics say it best: Just an old, sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.

Overview:

Genre:
Jazz / Soul / Blues

Favorite Lyrics:
A song of youth comes as sweet and clear 
As moonlight through the pines.

Verdict:
Forever on my mind and in my heart.

Ode to My Family

Don't Watch the Music Video - You'll Cry Forever

Ode to My Family by The Cranberries

Recommended by Mayla

This women's voice is amazing. That's the standout piece of this puzzle for me. It honestly...I can't describe it, but it's beautiful. The way it's breathy at the beginning of every note before settling into a warm, rich tone. And then the way the pitch falls off and kind of swerves before the final consonant. Kills me.

There are also some lovely, haunting harmonies. They are well-suited to the mood of the song, which is melancholy in kind of a wistful way. Nostalgic. I think we can all relate to that feeling, when we think about the carefree gaiety of childhood. Things were easier, and - through the lens of time - happier.

I don't think it does anyone any good to dwell on the past, but it happens sometimes. And when it does, it's hard not to think about how much things have changed. And, for some reason, it's hard not to imagine that things used to be better.

This song juxtaposes the safety and comfort of childhood with the uncertainty of the present reality. It's especially poignant for me as a college student because I feel like I'm teetering on the edge of "real life," poised to take off but unwilling to leave the nest for the last time.

We've got images of my mother and my father holding me in their arms and loving me unconditionally back when I was young. Then there's the present, where I'm an adult and it's just these repeating lines of, Do you like me? and Does anyone care?

I'm fortunate because I have a loving home to return to, where I can lay in my childhood bed and pretend I have nothing to worry about. My heart go out to anyone who's alone in the real world. It can be a pretty harsh place.

Growing up is hard.

Overview:

Genre:
Alt Rock

Favorite Lyrics:
We were raised to see life as fun and take it if we can.

Verdict:
I have a lot of feelings.

Kokomo

Why Am I Not On Vacation?

Kokomo by The Beach Boys

Recommended by Babsh

"John Stamos is in the music video, and he's my first true love. Uncle Jesse is the best uncle."

This song is the epitome of vacation.

You get tropical vibes immediately. The vocals are relaxing, and I love how the harmonies add a nice texture. Also the steel drum is probably my favorite sound in the entire world.  

I love how the lyrics come out and just list a whole bunch of places where you'd rather be right now. Aruba, Jamaica...Bermuda, Bahama...Key Largo, Montego...Yes please. 

I'm sitting here in my heavy winter pajamas, under piles of blankets, checking the weather for tomorrow morning: 28 F. It's fine...But then listening to this song, I swear my lukewarm coffee starts to taste like pineapples and coconuts.

The imagery is honestly perfect. If you close your eyes, you can feel sand under your toes, the heat of the sun and a tropical drink melting in your hand.

Ugh, I'm making myself upset. How many weeks until spring break?

But seriously, I love this song. It has a really cool sound, and it takes me to my happy place. Thanks for suggesting it and bringing a little bit of sunshine to the dead of winter.

Overview:

Genre:
Pop / Tropical

Favorite Lyrics:
We'll be falling in love
to the rhythm of a steel drum band.

We'll get there fast,
and then we'll take it slow.

Verdict:
Take me now.

P.S. Did you know the Kokomo mentioned in this song isn't a real place? There are various places in the world called Kokomo, but none of them are in the Caribbean. The point is that Kokomo could be anywhere that makes you feel good. Everybody knows a little place like Kokomo.

P.S.S. Valentine's Day is coming up; you gotta play this song on your date night, come on.

Blood on the Leaves

I See You, Kim

Blood on the Leaves by Kanye West

Recommended by Kim K.

"Yeezy demands that you listen."

This song is a lot.

It's almost six minutes long, and it's full of these crazy sounds.

So the first of these "crazy" sounds is the sample of Nina Simone's version of Strange Fruit. On the first listen of Blood on the Leaves, it was kind of painful and gave me a headache. After going back to the source and listening to Strange Fruit, it's more tolerable. (That song is incredibly powerful, by the way. Real stuff.) Still piercing and strident, but I've got a new sense of respect.

Having heard the original Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday and the version by Nina Simone, both raw and emotional, dealing with lynchings and the general oppression of black Americans throughout U.S. history...I have to question why Kanye decided to sample this song and feature it so prominently. As far as I can tell, Blood on the Leaves is...not that deep? It's a break-up song, isn't it? Maybe you could take it to betrayal.

Still not sure if it warrants the use of Strange Fruit, but you do you Kanye. He also compares the separation of your wife and side pieces to apartheid, so...

Anyway, I like the general sound of this track. The beat that kicks in at we coulda been somebody is solid. Plus, I've always been a fan of that synthetic filter thing on Kanye's voice that you can hear in the outro that starts at That summer night. The outro is actually so good.

Unlike my outro...uh, bye. Until tomorrow.

Overview:

Genre:
Hip Hop

Favorite Lyrics:
She Instagram herself like #BadBitchAlert.
He Instagram his watch like #MadRichAlert.

Verdict:
It's a lot.

I Melt with You

This One's for Ethan AKA Popsicle

I Melt With You by Modern English

Recommended by Tracy

"It's from the movie Valley Girl, and it's near and dear to my heart because I'm from southern CA."

So I've never seen Valley Girl, but I would say I have a special connection to this song because it was used in Sky High (full disclosure: the version in this film was a cover by Bowling for Soup, but Modern English does it better).

Good jam, questionable lyrics.

I'm going to ignore the fact that the singer Robbie Grey said the song is about having sex as nuclear bombs fall. I mean, I'm as much a fan of post-apocalyptic stories as the next gal, but that's really just the surface level. Like, okay, sure, they're shagging while the world ends. But I'm not letting go of the interpretation that this is a super romantic love song about getting lost someone else's eyes.

Also...mesh and lace. It's a reference to the band's first album, but like...what?

Anyway, the upbeat vibe and catchy melody make this song crazy fun to listen to. I dare you to sing along without adopting that British accent. 

You've seen the difference, and it's getting "bettah" all the time.

I'll stop the "weld" and melt with you. (Let's stop the "weld.")

The best part, though, is when it slows down and it's a little bit of guitar and these quiet hums. It's like we're given a moment to breathe before it launches into the most energized repetition of the chorus that let's us have one more killer flailing dance session before it does that casual fade out.

Overview:

Genre:
New Wave / Post-Punk

Favorite Lyrics:
Dream of better lives, the kind which never hate.

The future's open wide.

Verdict:
Never second best.

Coming Down

Closing Time

Coming Down by Dum Dum Girls

Recommended by Mary

"I really love this song and can listen to it on repeat. I love the emotion and the slow build-ups. I feel like it's the type of song that would be playing in the background as I sit in an almost empty bar, stirring my drink, and listening to cue balls clanking against one another and darts thumping against the wall."

Beautiful imagery! A casual night out, thinking about life, telling the bartender you don't want to talk about it. That's my ideal setting for listening to this song.

I had forgotten that this was used during the ending credits of an episode of Orange is the New Black (that episode was actually so upsetting). That makes sense, because this show always has the best music. It's funny, even before I looked into the pop culture history of this song and realized it was in OitNB, I thought to myself that it reminded me of "You've Got Time" by Regina Spektor, especially the tone quality of DeeDee's vocals during the Here I Gos.

For the record, they both have spectacular voices.

This song is loaded with emotion, from the slow tempo to the faraway vocals to the bitter lyrics that slice through the dreamy haze of the musical elements to deliver a sharp dose of reality.

It's about the feeling you get when a good time in your life comes to a close. The most obvious interpretation would be heartbreak, when you think back to the high points with your significant other and can't remember why or how you were ever that happy. But it could also be about the end of any important chapter in your life. Moving out of your parents' house. The death of a relative. The loss of a friend. Friendship break-ups are honestly underrated on the pain scale. That s**t hurts.

This song makes me just feel, which is kind of ironic since it's about drowning out your feelings at the bottom of a bottle. Or, I guess, it's about the emptiness that follows when they cut you off.

You can't even appreciate it properly unless you close your eyes, because everything about it screams at you to look inward. Reflect, you know? You'll get through this.

Overview:

Genre:
Indie Pop Rock

Favorite Lyrics:
I close my eyes to conjure up something,
but it's just a faint taste in my mouth.

Verdict:
Feels like the high before you're "coming down."

Sunday Candy

Way Better Than Monday

Sunday Candy by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment feat. Jamila Woods

Submitted by Anon

"because it's Sunday."

Thank you for your insight.

I'm really into this song. It's more than just the title that makes you think of a Sunday morning, with rays of golden sunlight pouring through the window, nothing on the agenda except church and chilling with the family. The beginning especially, with just the piano, has that lazy Sunday vibe.

I love the jazzy feel, which only intensifies when they add the trombone. The texture just keeps getting thicker until it reaches its deliciously dense climax at the end when an entire choir join in.

This is the second time I've written about Jamila's silvery voice, and it's been honey both times. I'm becoming a fan.

Speaking of voices, Chance the Rapper kills those verses. I particularly like the way he delivers the lines You singing too, but your grandma ain't my grandma and You look so good with that hat on.

The lyrics in the verses are such lovely tributes to Chance the Rapper's grandmother. It's not hard to relate to that deep familial love. Sure, my grandma isn't his grandma, but I know what it's like to love a grandmother.

When I first heard this song, I didn't realize it was about someone's grandmother. I focused on the hook which, on a superficial level, sounds incredibly sexual.

You gotta move it slowly.
Take and eat my body like it's holy.

I'm just saying.

It's better if you think about the song as being about love in general. The verses represent Chance the Rapper's love for his grandmother, the woman who kept him safe and loved him throughout his childhood. The chorus is more about the romantic love you would feel with your partner.

Despite its seemingly sexual nature - and I have no doubt that it was meant that way on some level - the text of the chorus is definitely biblical. When you look at the song as a whole, there are religious themes winding throughout all of the lyrics.

The verses mention prayers and Jesus Christ and church and Zion and Christmas and gospel choirs.

With that mindset, you can go into the chorus and see Take and eat my body as a reference to Communion. I'm not saying that's all it is, but it's definitely a valid interpretation.

In any case, it's a catchy hook, and I'm about it.

Genre:
Hip-hop / Neo Soul / Jazz Fusion

Favorite Lyrics:
You're my dream catcher, dream team, team captain.

Verdict:
Yum.

Sober

Best American Idol Winner Ever

Sober by Kelly Clarkson

Recommended by Gina

"You know I'm Kelly's obsessed #1 fan and EVERYONE should go see her perform. This has always stuck out as one of my favorite Kelly songs ever. This came from one her most emotionally raw albums, and you can feel it in this ballad. The build-up is haunting, and it really starts around the 3:00 mark of the song. I dare you not to feel it when you listen to it."

Yo, I would love to go see her perform. Hit me up next time she's in town.

I embedded a live performance because she doesn't have a music video for this song, and I'm glad that's the case. She gives the song a little intro and says that the entire thing was based on a single line: Pick the weeds and keep the flowers.

I like the simplicity of Kelly's voice paired with just an acoustic guitar. (Although, let's be real, you can't really call these vocals simple. When she starts belting it out? Nice.) It sounds great, and it drives home the message of shedding everything that's extra.

Of course, that's easier said than done. It's hard to let go of people who have been an important part of your life, even if you know the relationship isn't healthy for either of you anymore. You just keep remembering what you used to have. The song opens with this could break my heart or save me, but I argue that it's bound to do both.

Did you know dandelions are weeds?

I'm about to take this metaphor too far, but listen...that's how it is. Dandelions are pretty and golden, and they actually do a lot of great things. They add minerals and nitrogen to the soil. They attract pollinators.

...But they can also cause allergic reactions. They can irritate the skin. They've been known to infest fields and cause major problems with crops.

Likewise, I think most relationships have a lot of good qualities. But you have to be able to get to the root of it and decide whether the good still outweighs the bad.

Overview:

Genre:
Pop Rock / Alt Rock

Favorite Lyrics:
Picked all my weeds and kept the flowers. Obviously.

I could crash and burn, but maybe
At the end of this road I might catch a glimpse of me.

Verdict:
This is a flower.