I had never heard of the term “earworm” until one day on the subway my friend attempted to remember exactly what it meant to have a song stuck in your head. Even now, as I write in the confines of my quiet bedroom, songs and tunes blend together forming one interruptive track that plays in my mind.
I’m certainly not complaining though because this infestation of songs looping around my brain contain some of the best beats of 2024 and happen to remind me of some of the best times of my adult life. Here are some of my must-listen-to tracks of the year (so far) that will certainly carry you throughout the rest of the semester.
“Don’t Forget Me” by Maggie Rogers
Everytime I think of Maggie Rogers, I think of that viral video of her and Pharrell Williams listening to “Alaska.” Pharrell immediately recognizes the absolute perfection that is Maggie Rogers, and her new song emphasizes this exact talent. With the line “Oh, but promise me that when it’s time to leave/ Don’t forget me,” Rogers perfectly expresses the desire to be remembered, which is something myself, and I think a lot of other college students are in tune with.
This song serves as a reminder that those feelings of fading away are only natural and that there is a chance to recenter yourself. “I always find my way back to my feet” is a sentiment Rogers shares to listeners too. Maggie Rogers’ third studio album drops April 12, 2024, and if it’s anything like this song, I will be reacting just as Pharrell did.
“Saturn” by SZA
What even is a year of music if SZA doesn’t release something we’ve all been waiting for? “Saturn” is ethereal. It is enthralling. It makes me feel on top of this world… even though the song brings back vivid flashbacks to utter heartbreak. Despite the hysterical undertones of this beautiful masterpiece, I’m reminded that: “There’s got to be more/ Got to be more.”
Hope feels oddly possible despite the nature of this song. Earth might not be such a bad thing actually. I love the lyrics: “Life’s better on Saturn/ Got to break this pattern of floating away.” Come back down to Earth and recognize what is right in front of you. I’m reminded to stay in the present because that’s the only way you can truly see the ones who are there for you.
“Redrum” by 21 Savage
Fire party song. Fire gym song. Fire “I-need-revenge” song. “Redrum” by 21 Savage is my current hyperfixation. Not only does the song pay homage to one of the most infamous horror movies of all time, it has also become a necessary factor in hyping me up.
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining confidently weaves its way through this melody, closing the song with Jack Nickolson’s iconic line: “Here’s Johnny.” “Take my chopper everywhere/ That’s bae” is one line, but for a multitude of reasons, there aren’t many lyrics to this song I can list here. However, that just makes the song even better. Makes me want a chopper I can call bae too….
“Make You Mine” by Madison Beer
Once again, here is a song that can serve as a personal hype man. Madison Beer’s “Make You Mine” surely makes everyone and everything feel like it’s mine. This song has me daydreaming of the weekend in all its celebratory glory. “I wanna feel the rush/ I wanna taste the crush” reminds me that the the stress of the semester will instantaneously be forgotten as soon as the first beat drops in this song.
It’s giving Troye Sivan. It’s giving the perfect song to let loose to. Playing “Make You Mine” as the weekend-track of my life takes me to a whole other level of confidence. Assertiveness currently has an absolute chokehold on me. Now, let me go flirt with my crush real quick!
“Deeper Well” by Kacey Musgraves
I will never be mad at this song for worming its way into my head. “So, I’m saying goodbye to the people that I feel are real good at wasting my time” Musgraves shares. The beautiful aura the lyrics bring to this song make me both happy and sad (Kacey Musgraves fans, I see you). Musgraves writes about the transitions of life and personal growth that a lot of young people can probably relate to.
This song validates every single choice I’ve made to better my life by letting go of the people who no longer serve me, but also validates all of the people who have stayed.
“I just think that maybe it’s natural when things lose their shine/ So other things can glow” is another line I adore. The friends I have now strongly reflect these lyrics as they remain the shining lights of my life. Everything and everyone happens for a reason.
Here’s to discovering more “earworms” in 2024.