Recently, I’ve been obsessed with Waterparks. No matter how I’m feeling or what I’m doing, I’m always in the mood to listen to them. They masterfully juxtapose a hyper-pop-rock sound and thoughtful, often grim lyrics for the perfect balance of light and dark in every song. With prominent drum beats, heavy guitar riffs, tech-y synth, fast-paced rap verses, and catchy pop choruses, I would categorize them as being in the same “trash pop” genre of artists like Simple Creatures. Their unique combination of so many different sounds and genres is what makes them appealing for everyone and every occasion. I’ve picked a few of my favorites that are perfect for whatever you’re going through.
For When You’re Falling In Love
Starting off on a sweet note, Waterparks has some really sappy love songs. Some are more subdued while others maintain the band’s usual high energy, but they all encapsulate that butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling.
“Lucky People” – This song is much softer than most other Waterparks songs and is actually acoustic for its entirety. The simplicity adds to the sweetness, as the lyrics are really what carry “Lucky People.” This song ranges from appreciating the small things in a relationship to the big decisions you make for someone you love. For fans of AJR, “Lucky People” reminds me of “Christmas in June.”
“I’ll Always Be Around” – The final track on their first album, “I’ll Always Be Around” is a sappy song about completely devoting yourself to someone else and promising to always be there for them. This song is a little grittier than “Lucky People” and incorporates some of the band’s signature synth-pop sound.
“Telephone” – “Telephone” is about falling and falling fast; it’s about when you feel the spark when you first meet someone and want to get to know them better right away. This song is what you write in your diary after your first date when you can’t stop smiling and replaying the day. It’s a cheesy, pop-y song that’s great for when you’re developing a crush.
“Stupid For You” – Another track from their debut album, “Stupid For You” is super upbeat and catchy. It’s the song that got me into Waterparks, and it’s hard to describe it in any other way than just plain old fun. This one details the course of a relationship, from pining after someone to finally getting together. Overall, it’s got great energy and tells a sweet love story.
For When You’re Irritated
If you’re not feeling so lovey-dovey, then maybe these songs are a better fit for you. Perfect for screaming in the car, sweating out a bad mood with a workout, or simmering while doing homework, these angry songs will match your mood.
“Plum Island” – The chorus of “Plum Island” is great for letting out your feelings singing along, and the instrumental break following it is begging for some aggravated headbanging. The punchy drum beats, spoken and almost-screamed vocals, and heavy techno synth really set the mood.
“Worst” – This song is best for when your anger is directed toward someone in particular; it’s literally about someone being the worst. While technically a breakup song, the chorus really fits any situation and the overall vibe is undeniably bitter. Although the energy level is lower than “Plum Island,” this is still a perfectly good song for any bad mood.
“TANTRUM” – Waterparks’ lyrical niche is discussing the pressures of being famous and how fans treat them, which is what this song is about. However, on a surface level, it’s easy to apply the chorus to a wide range of situations: being overwhelmed, being mad at a person, or being frustrated with a particular circumstance. Additionally, the song also employs screamed vocals, crunchy guitar riffs, and distinct drums, perpetuating an angry sound.
“Watch What Happens Next” – “Watch What Happens Next” also discusses the struggles of success, but similarly to “TANTRUM,” the general mood overrides the specific context which allows it to be a great song no matter what the reason for your anger is. No matter why you’re fed up, stressed out, or flat out mad, you’ll be able to let it all out singing along to this banger.
For When You’re Heartbroken
On the flipside of their sweetest songs are Waterparks’ most heartbreaking. Whether you’re looking to feel sad and lean into nostalgia or you’re thinking about cursing out your ex, give these songs a try.
“We Need To Talk” – This song is a happy-medium of the anger and wistfulness that arrive in the wake of a breakup. While most of the lyrics reminisce about a relationship, the song slowly transitions from nostalgic to straight-up angry, wrapping up with an aggravated bridge putting down his ex. “We Need To Talk” is all about watching the magic disappear right before your eyes and realizing that someone isn’t really who you thought they were.
“Easy To Hate” – “Easy To Hate” is a great song to let out all your frustration and irritability. It’s not a soft or sad breakup song, but more of a raging anthem against your ex. There are touches of sentimentality throughout the lyrics, but the good memories are quickly canceled out by chants of realization of the other person’s flaws. The beat is super catchy and there’s a rad guitar solo towards the end of the song that fits really well with the overall vibe of the song.
“Never Bloom Again” – If you’re looking for a typically quiet and sad breakup song, “Never Bloom Again” is the perfect match for you. It’s the complete opposite of “Easy To Hate,” acoustic and soft and lacking any trace of anger. The lyrics are desperate and defeated, and the simple instrumentalism suits the dejected, somber mood.
For When You’re Feeling Gloomy
These songs are for when it feels like everything is going wrong, you’re overwhelmed, and you just want to sit and feel that feeling. If you’re looking for something to cheer you up, this is not the category for you.
“Dizzy” – Although the beat is heavy and determined, the lyrics take a much bleaker perspective than the energy of the song would suggest. All about feeling too much and wishing you could just ignore it, this song emanates that drowning feeling you have when things just keep going wrong and you don’t have the mental capacity to handle it anymore.
“Lowkey As Hell” – This is another song that falls into Waterparks’ lyrical niche of struggling as a famous person. That being said, it can be applied to a more general audience. Overall, I interpret it as craving human connection while feeling like you’re completely alone in your struggles.
“Snow Globe” – “Snow Globe” has a wide range of musical vibes, starting with an unexpected piano intro and transforming into a tech-y repetitive beat. It doesn’t have the same rock band instrumentalization as most other Waterparks songs, and the vocals are unique as well. Most of the vocals are relatively monotone, and there’s a good amount of auto-tune employed. The monotonous, flat sound lends itself well to a crappy mood.
For When You’re Moving On
So at this point, you’ve fallen in love and been heartbroken, but now you’re moving on to better times with better people. No one said it would be easy, but here’s to moving on.
“I Miss Having Sex But At Least I Don’t Wanna Die Anymore” – You can imagine with a title like that, this song is pretty self-explanatory. It’s all about finding the silver lining and convincing yourself that everything is going to be okay in the end. The music is perky and the chorus is super catchy, putting you in a good mood as you keep on movin’ on.
“I Felt Younger When We Met” – “I Felt Younger When We Met” also gives a pretty good idea of what the song is about just from the title. The song talks about missing someone and losing sleep over having feelings for them, but then quickly switches to admitting that the love isn’t there anymore and the idea of the relationship makes you sick. The tone is a sort of angry regret, wishing things had gone differently to prevent the relationship from happening at all. It’s a great balance of feeling pulled back into wanting someone and remembering why things didn’t work out.
“High Definition” – I think “High Definition” had a much sadder tone than the other songs in this category, but the message remains the same: something in the relationship was off, it was unhealthy, so you’ve got to remember why you made the decision to move on. It’s also a great song to remind yourself that it’s not unusual to feel lonely after a breakup, but being lonely is not a good enough reason to start messing with an ex.
For When You Feel Like Dancing
These songs are light-hearted and full of good vibes. I’d go so far as to say they’re practically guaranteed to put a smile on your face, give you an extra boost of energy, and lift your spirits. Get ready to jump around your room and pretend you’re rocking out on stage to these bangers.
“Hawaii (Stay Awake)” – Musically, “Hawaii (Stay Awake)” is super peppy and bright. There’s never a dull moment in this song, with punchy lyrics and upbeat instrumentalization; even the dreary lyrics sound cheerful in “Hawaii (Stay Awake).”
“You’d Be Paranoid Too (If Everyone You Knew Was Out To Get You)” – Stomp, scream, headbang, jump around — this song has its subdued moments, but just wait until the chorus hits and you’ll know exactly why it made the list. Just try to listen to this creepy bop without moving around.
“Take Her to the Moon” – This song has a super pop-y beat and an even snappier chorus with fun vocal runs, making it perfect to live out your rock star performer fantasy (even if you have no audience). “Take Her to the Moon” is high energy with a dramatic, mellowed-out bridge that perfectly builds up to a dance break during the final chorus when the beat drops again.
I hope these song recommendations have piqued your interest for Waterparks! While I did discuss an impressive number of their songs, be sure to check out the rest of their discography wherever you stream music. Happy listening!
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