Music That Gets Me Through Quarantine

Some happy tunes to get you through this time. I’ve linked all Spotify tracks to the corresponding images.

Already Gone by NONEWFRIENDS.

“Don’t try to make amends / Don’t wanna hear you talk”

I discovered this song while sitting alone in my room in December, desperately waiting for winter break to end. This is a small band from Syracuse University who has only released this single, so I was really happy to hear something stylistic and original. When I got back to campus, the chorus was constantly stuck in my head and I played it for many friends. I don’t know if they liked it, but I loved sharing the song nonetheless.

I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston

“Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody / With somebody who loves me”

This is just a happy song that never grows old in my mind. Even though it’s not in the traditional pop style of today, it carries you to a carefree place where all you want to do is jump around your room while getting ready for the day. At least that’s what I did every single morning of winter quarter.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Live at the Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA by Sara Bareilles

“Oh I’ve finally decided my future lies beyond the yellow brick road”

This isn’t a super upbeat and happy song like the last one, but there’s a certain element of nostalgia that goes along with it that always draws me back in. I’m a huge fan of the original Elton John version, but the emotional drive behind Sara Bareilles’s live rendition gives the proper outlet for the return to a simpler life beyond college, even though my departure was a little more unwilling. Her riffing towards the end is like the scream we all want to let out, just a little better sounding. Quite a bit better.

Light On by Maggie Rogers

“If you keep reaching out, then I’ll keep coming back”

If you know me, you already knew this song, or at least this artist, would be on this list. I’m still kind of sad she didn’t win Best New Artist, but oh well. This song has so many unbelievable good memories attached to it. It’s the song that my best friend and I always played when we went on small road trips together and the last song we listened to together before we both departed for college. It’s the song that I listen to when I’m feeling lonely and need to remind myself of the love from my friends that I’m surrounded by every day. Even though we are all in social isolation in this time of crisis, I’m using this to keep my spirits up and stay sentimentally connected to my communities even when we’re not together in person.

Ordinary Love by Park Kyung and Park Boram

Now, full disclaimer: I have absolutely no clue what they’re saying in this song because I don’t speak Korean. But to be quite honest, the reason why I’ve never looked up the translation is because I just like how the song sounds. I discovered it in a Korean chicken shop in New York City before it closed down. It’s been in my favorites playlist ever since then and has never been taken out. It just makes you feel cute. That’s all. We need that when we’re sitting at home by ourselves.

New Light by John Mayer

“Oh, I want a take two, I want to breakthrough / I wanna know the real thing about you”

I don’t know if this song is from the point of view of a playboy or a genuine honest boi but boy, this song got me through senior year and maybe it will get me through this pandemic as well. It puts you in a calm place and has vibes reminiscent of early John Mayer and 80’s beats. If you want to have some fun, you can sing along to the electric guitar solo. No one can really hear you anyway.

If you want even more entertainment, check out his music video:

I’m just going to leave you on that *note*.