My life has always been filled with music. Growing up, I experimented with multiple instruments, including piano, flute, and trumpet. In high school, I was active in my school’s band program. All of my favorite memories are attached to melodies. Even though my life isn’t as enthralled in music as it used to be, it’s still an incredibly important part of my life. When I’m walking to class, studying for tests, or reading on Landis, I always have my AirPods in, blasting whatever song or album is on repeat at the moment.
College has ushered in a new era of my life and of course, music to go along with it. Whether it’s a tried and true comfort album or a new release, the music that I’ve listened to in college has grounded me, provided me with comfort, and given me moments of peace in the midst of my hectic college life. Here are some of the most notable albums that have provided the soundtrack to my FSU experience.
the major hits
These are the albums and songs I go back to repeatedly, no matter the season or mood that I’m in. They’re evergreen in that way; no matter what is going on in my life, I can put on these albums and instantly be reminded of a simpler time or dance alone in my dorm room.
After Laughter by Paramore
After Laughter came out in 2017 when I was just 13 years old. Despite the fact that this album is over six years old now, I find myself returning to it often. Anyone who knows me well knows that Paramore is my favorite band of all time, and this album is the reason why I became such a big fan of theirs. Somehow, Paramore is able to make songs about depression and anxiety that you’re still able to dance to. Whenever I’m getting the back-to-school blues and missing my family, or just feeling nostalgia for my angsty middle school years, this album is my go-to.
After Laughter is my favorite Paramore album, so it’s hard to choose a favorite song. “Caught in the Middle” and “Idle Worship” stand out mainly because the guitar parts in both of these songs are absolutely amazing, but also because I’ve always been able to relate to them. I connect to them in different ways than I did when I was 13, so listening to these songs makes me conscious of just how much I’ve changed in the six years since this album was released.
Cinema by the marĂas
The MarĂas come at a close second to Paramore. Whenever I listen to their music, I’m entranced by their soulful, psychedelic style and their lead singer’s ethereal vocals. Cinema is The MarĂas first album, and as a long-time fan of theirs before it was released, it has quickly become a classic in my book. I often listen to this album when I’m walking to class or need to wind down.
As someone who’s trying to learn to speak Spanish, I really appreciate the fact that The MarĂas are a bilingual band. Singing in different languages is said to help with pronunciation and vocabulary for language learners, and The MarĂas make wanting to sing along with them easy. Songs like “Little by Little” switch effortlessly from English to Spanish and manage to make you fall in love with the music even if you don’t understand what’s being said. Other personal favorites from this album are “All I Really Want is You” and “Calling U Back.”
Gemini Rights by Steve Lacy
As a lover and defender of Geminis, Gemini Rights is one of my absolute favorites. Steve Lacy’s style and unmatched talent really shine in this album, and every time I listen to his music I hear something new. Gemini Rights was the unofficial album of the summer of 2022, so I found myself listening to it a lot in the fall of 2022 and reminiscing on my last summer at home before starting college.
My favorite song off of this album hands down is “Sunshine” featuring another favorite artist of mine, Fousheè. Lacy and Fousheè’s vocals meld together perfectly in this song and it is absolutely beautiful to listen to. Since I listened to “Sunshine” so much in the fall of my first semester of college, this song is also associated with the optimism and hopefulness I had when I started school at FSU. Whenever I need a little motivation, I can easily turn to this song and be reminded of how much hope my 18-year-old self had for success. It’s gotten me through some tough assignments and all-nighters.
everything is love by the carters
EVERYTHING IS LOVE is a relatively new addition to my playlists, but I love it all the same. BeyoncĂ© and Jay-Z are iconic enough on their own, but when they come together it’s absolutely magical. Aside from having multiple bops, I love how vulnerable this album is. Vulnerability is something that I struggle with, and listening to The Carters fearlessly talk about their lives inspires me to do the same.
My favorite songs on this album are “SUMMER” and “NICE.” They’re very laid back and easy to listen to, and as someone who gets jitters before class, I need music like this to calm me down. This album is also great for walking around campus and studying.
ctrl by sza
Ctrl will always be one of my favorite albums, and I’m sure that I’ll find myself relating to it even more than I already do as I get older. I collect CDs, and Ctrl is one of my favorite albums to put in my CD player when I get home after a long day. I can’t listen to it when I study though; I know all the lyrics, and I find myself getting distracted by singing along rather than doing work.
My favorite songs from this album are “Broken Clocks” and “20 Something.” They are able to calm me down in a way that not many songs are, and since I have such a special love for them I also find them comforting.
honorable mentions
Although these albums aren’t major hits, they’re still incredibly special to me. I find myself turning to these albums when I’m tired of my regular playlist and need to hear something new, or just want to shake things up a little bit. A lot of the artists from these honorable mentions are ones that I listened to in high school that continue to be my favorites today.
Rufus and Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan is an absolute icon, and as someone who loves the sound of guitar riffs and jazzy bass, I find myself listening to the Queen of Funk often. Her music also reminds me of my mom, who also loves artists like Prince and Chaka Khan who have a lot of instrumentals in their music. Listening to Chaka reminds me of weekends at home when I would run errands with her and listen to this type of music in the car. When I miss my mom at school, I turn on this album for nostalgia.
My favorite songs from Rufus and Chaka Khan are “Sweet Thing” and “Tell Me Something Good.” Sweet Thing was originally written by Prince, and you can clearly hear his influence on the composition. Chaka’s vocals add an extra layer of sweetness to it that I love. “Tell Me Something Good” has an amazing bass line and I find myself dancing to it no matter where I am.
headroom by men I trust
Men I Trust is an underrated band that I love, and as much as I want to gatekeep them, they’re too good not to share. Their instrumentals are absolutely incredible and their lead singer has such a delicate voice; it’s easy to want to drown out the world with their music. Headroom is not my favorite Men I Trust album, but it is my go-to study album. The songs are familiar and I can listen to them without getting too distracted.
My favorite song from this album is “Break for Lovers.” If I do get distracted from my studying, it’s probably because this song is on. I love the lyrics and the easygoing bass line.
Atlanta Millionaires club by Faye webster
Every so often, I am reminded of just how much I love Faye Webster. Atlanta Millionaires Club has hits like “Kingston” and “Flowers” that make me feel so at peace. Webster’s vocals are phenomenal because they’re never too overpowering but just impactful enough to give you the feels. The last time this album was on constant repeat was towards the end of the fall of 2022. This is definitely a cold-weather album and now that the weather is turning again, I look forward to reintroducing it to my regular playlist.
petals for armor by Hayley Williams
Ending similar to how we started is Petals For Armor, a solo album from Paramore’s frontwoman Hayley Williams. Whenever I need a boost or a reminder that everything is going to be ok, this is the album I turn on. Williams’ lyrics for both Paramore and her solo projects have impacted my life in immeasurable ways, but I think that this album shows her writing prowess at its finest. Songs like “Crystal Clear” and “Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris” are not only beautiful compositions but have very clever lyrics that I love singing along to.
Throughout the highs and lows of my college experience, I’ve been able to lean on music to ground me. Music is linked to so many aspects of my identity, and I’m glad that it continues to play such a significant role in my daily life through these albums and artists. I can’t wait to see what music the next two years of my college experience will be filled with.
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