Growing up, I found that watching those romantic Hallmark movies was essentially the equivalent to switching on a comedy flick. It merely seemed like a joke to watch an actor drive across my screen to their non-existent workplace with their coffee in hand, while overly dramatic elevator music played in the background. Like every cliché, lovey-dovey tale, the protagonist always seems to enjoy the commute a little more than any average person would. From personal experience, my drive to work involves a little less singing, not much smiling and zero running into potential love interests. It’s a lot more of me trying to cram my water bottle into the cup holder and swearing at drivers who travel at 15km/hr.
I could never bring myself to understand what the appeal was. It’s ridiculous to romanticize such small aspects of your life…right? I mean surely there was no glamour or sentiment found in picking an outfit to wear, or eating a usual morning bowl of cereal. No matter how hard I thought about the subject, I just couldn’t get on board…until the year 2020 arrived.
When the pandemic first emerged, it was almost impossible for me to find the silver lining in any situation. I felt defeated doing what were usually easily done tasks. The notion of our ‘normal’ changing took a toll on my productivity and my overall motivation. Soon enough, I found myself turning to exaggerated storylines (via teen-targeted Netflix originals) for comfort. By this point, I knew that I had reached rock bottom. Although pretend, I became intrigued with the immensely overstated pep and happy-go-lucky attitude that every single bubblegum character possessed. Already having lost my mind due to quarantining, I tried to put two-and-two together to figure out the secret formula for their hoaxed liveliness; it was the background music. It simply had to be! Imagine watching To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before without the upbeat pop tunes enhancing Lara Jean’s every move.
Not wasting another second of my social-distanced life, I wore my headphones religiously. Day and night, I tirelessly worked, wearing out my phone’s battery and exhausting my thumb by excessively clicking the ‘shuffle’ button, until I formed a playlist that held as much power as any ‘coming-of-age’ movie carried. Now, to pass along my research and give you the chance to feel like you’re in a music video for exactly twenty-three minutes and thirty seconds, I present to you five songs that will remind you that you’re the main character in your own life.
1. “Drive” by Ashton Irwin
Just released, this track is the epitomized addition to any ‘roll your windows down and drive through the night’ playlist. It truly embodies the feeling of being young and careless, whilst setting the scene to fulfill every ‘city lights’ aesthetic that you have ever wanted.
2. “Pink Lemonade” by James Bay
Do you know that feeling that you get when you’re at a concert and the lights go down seconds before the artist hops on stage? That split-second of pure bliss that engulfs you just as the first guitar chord is strummed? This song is that, except the feeling never has to end, (as long as you keep restarting the song after it’s over). Tiring out my finger by pressing the repeat button, this track instantly became my anthem to cheer me on during everyday tasks, from running to dancing in the mirror while I blow-dried my hair.
3. “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” by Del Water Gap
There are simply no words to properly describe the feeling that this song will give you; no review can do it justice, so I’ll paint you a picture instead. You’re driving down the highway, the warm sun glowing against your cheek and your best friend is in the passenger seat. Suddenly, this track comes on and you turn the volume up. Before long, you two are singing every last note and smiling more than you ever thought possible; everything is perfect and all worries are put to rest. This song is that beautiful moment.
4. “Like You Do” by Joji
Before a happy ending, it is common for the main character to hit a low along the way. No matter the reason, we have all experienced ups and downs throughout our lives. It is completely normal and perfectly valid to not be okay sometimes. We often stigmatize the feeling of loneliness and denounce the idea of needing help which is simply not right. To me, this song is a warm hug on a cold day and is a continuous reminder that I’m not alone in the things I face.
5. “Golden” by Harry Styles
I mean come on, nothing compares to Harry Styles telling you to be yourself for 3 and a half minutes. Ever since I could remember, I was always the shy kid and still am to this day. I have always been quick to hide behind anything I could, not wanting to stand out from the crowd, until I heard this song. This record never fails to put a smile on my face and it has almost become an instinct to start dancing in place whenever the first beat hits. Walking around the city with my headphones in, this tune makes me feel confident as ever, even if I’m not exactly the best dancer.
So, why is it that we wait for big things to happen? What are we really waiting for? There’s no better time than now to treat yourself the way you deserve to be treated. So maybe you won’t fall in love with Noah Centipede (sorry), or you never got to have that over-the-top high school prom when you were younger, that doesn’t mean a thing. You need to start romanticizing the small aspects of your existence. No matter what stage of life you’re in, you need to stop treating it as if it’s transitory. Cherish every last sip of your morning coffee, treasure every last song that plays through your speaker and don’t neglect any seemingly unembellished moment because the moment that you start living for yourself, is the moment you truly start living.