It was really hard for me to stop adding to this list, as I’m sure you can tell by its length. I definitely believe that music is food for the soul, and once I start listening to a few good songs I realize how hungry I am. I cannot take credit for discovering all of these on my own, there’s been a lot of influence from my sister and a few friends. I tried to include a range of moods in this list. For example, “Where’d All the Time Go?” by Dr. Dog is pretty melancholy, “Sunny” by Boney M. is a song I cannot sit still for, and “Time Is Now” by Moloko is inspiring.
I started off with some lonely, searching songs. Then I moved into some songs about love because you can’t avoid them. Next I added songs that make me think of change both literally (Tame Impala’s “Yes I’m Changing”) and atmospherically. Lastly, I wanted to end with some songs that I love dancing to and singing along with (although let’s face it – I sing along to all of these because it’s fun, even if just humming passionately along with instrumentals).
As you might see from this playlist, I tend to jump between genres when it comes to music, otherwise I get bored. I know music taste is subjective, but I hope you enjoy at least some of these songs as much as I do. During this crazy time (or any time really), it’s nice to listen to music to make a mandatory or tedious task less boring, or maybe to take half an hour to just lie down, turn the volume up, and savor each beat.
- “I Can’t Stand the Rain” by Ann Peebles
- “Where’d All the Time Go?” by Dr. Dog
- “Arrow Through Me” by Wings
- “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by Nina Simone
- “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
- “Help!” by The Beatles
- “Fortress” by Pinback
- “Are You Bored Yet? (feat. Clairo)” by Wallows and Clairo
- “Heart of Gold” by Neil Young
- “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac
- “Remember My Name” by Mitski
- “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac
- “I Don’t Know” by Beastie Boys
- “Snow Flower” by Ananda Shankar
- “Washing Machine Heart” by Mitski
- “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” by Chet Baker
- “One Day” by Sharon Van Etten
- “Didn’t I” by Darondo
- “Is It Any Wonder?” by Durand Jones & The Indications
- “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young
- “What You Won’t Do for Love” by Bobby Caldwell
- “Love Has Come Around” by Donald Byrd
- “Lovers Rock” by TV Girl
- “Anchin Kfu Ayinkash” by Hailu Mergia and Dahlak Band
- “Prospect Hummer” by Animal Collective
- “Landslide” by Beirut
- “Yes I’m Changing” by Tame Impala
- “Starchild – Edit Album Version” by Level 42
- “Cloudbusting” by Kate Bush
- “Time Is Now” by Moloko
- “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
- “Boogie Nights” by Heatwave
- “Embuwa Bey Lamitu” by Hailu Mergia and Dahlak Band
- “Sunny” by Boney M.
- “Comb My Hair” by Pretty Boy Aaron, Bruhnice, and Tesia
- “Chala Vahi Des” by Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood, and The Rajasthan Express