Photo by Richie Oliver
Written by Richie Oliver
It's no secret that everyone in the world is going through a weird time. While we transition from February to March, this weather change brings a mix of new emotions.
Change, rebirth, and growth are among the multitude of feelings felt during this time. I know I’m feeling it.
Like a lot of people, I turn to music to relate to what I’m going through, so here’s what’s on my season-changing playlist. Maybe you can put some of these songs on yours!
To me, this song screams rebirth, but not lyrically. On this track, the vocals blend into the impressive instrumentation.
Fresh out of the gate, this song sonically conveys growth and the jubilant experience it can bring. With straightforward but wandering melodic lines, it inspires, emboldens, and confides in the listener, taking them through a journey.
The final song from the band's eponymous 2020 release, “Laylo” tells the story of someone waiting for the right time to be married. This acoustic song really plays into the introspection aspect of this time, and what it can bring out in both the singer and subject.
“Let’s sink inside this bottle of tequila”, sings Alex Magnan in this song, asking to stray from the questions and subjects at hand. While introspection can be great at this time, be prepared to face some things about yourself that might not be the best.
From the 2012 release “Skeptic Goodbye,” this song from You Won’t tells us that “It always ends the same.” A poignant piece from the band, “Television” teaches us that no matter how hard we try, no matter how long we live, that love is something we will never fully realize.
The band says “remember, dear, this too shall pass,” which really hits home at this time of year. So much change is happening, and while it may be daunting, just know that it's only temporary.
Off the 2020 EP “Beatdown Generation,” Millington’s ska influence is definitely different from the rest of the songs on this list. Coining their own genre of "brass-emo", the band perfectly encapsulates the feeling of moving on, a feeling shared by many during this time.
Finding out what works and what doesn’t is a part of the rebirth cycle, and making the difficult decisions to move on and start anew is a big step in finding oneself. “Don’t forget to leave a message when you’re moving on,” sings Cody Okonski on this track, making it a perfect anthem for the changing of the seasons.
My favorite song by James Taylor, “Carolina in My Mind” talks about how homesickness and grief can hit almost unexpectedly, causing us to create escapist fantasies in our heads. Taylor talks about how his home is halfway around the world from where he is, and how he yearns to be back there with the people and places that offer comfortability, assurance, and love.
I think during this time of year, we all could use a place to escape to. Change is scary, and we long for the comfortable.
We long for the things that give us assurance and love. Taylor’s song exemplifies that sentiment beautifully and offers a great bit of advice to people who are struggling with similar things.
Winter’s end and spring’s beginning is a time of change, a time of rebirth, and a time of growth. What was not there suddenly is, and what is already there could be gone in an instant.
Music is a way to express the feelings we all face during times of growth, crisis, need, want, anger, love, and sadness. Hopefully, these songs can help you in the same way that they have helped me during this time.
Let us know what's on your springtime playlist on Twitter at @lgndsoftmrw. You can see Richie’s full playlist here!
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