Maybe it’s the promise of a much-awaited cool breeze, the beautiful variation in colors of changing leaves, or even looking forward to cinnamon chai lattes that makes me declare fall the best season of the year. Autumn even makes me want to change my music tastes to better fit the more intimate and comfortable mood. If you’re like me and adore everything fall has in store, here are some songs I highly recommend listening to within the comfort of soft blankets and a cup of warm tea.
1. “Roslyn” – Bon Iver, St. Vincent
The colder months are incomplete without Bon Iver, and in this track, he’s accompanied by pop-alt singer St. Vincent to produce a beautiful duet. “Roslyn” is among many underrated songs from The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack. Perfect for the start of our playlist, this song embodies all the feelings of fall and even winter, which Bon Iver has proven to have mastered if you’ve heard his first couple albums (For Emma, Forever Ago and Bon Iver).
2. “Six” – Sleeping At Last
“Six” is part of Sleeping At Last’s amazing, intricately-designed album dedicated to the nine Enneagram personality types, with each of the songs related to or inspired by a type. This song incorporates elements of jazz in a similar style to what you might hear in the background of popular Christmas songs, which is probably why I find it a perfect listen for colder seasons like fall. If you want a deeper look into the meaning and production of “Six” and other songs on his Enneagram-inspired album, Sleeping At Last has created a podcast that explains every detail of each song. Also, if you’re curious to know your Enneagram personality type, you can take the test here.
3. “I Can’t Seem To Make You Mine” – The Clientele
This song also contains jazzy elements, which will surely be a frequent theme on this list. Relaxing during the fall is truly the best when accompanied by jazz. “I Can’t Seem To Make You Mine” paints a sad but common tale of unrequited love. Despite its meaning being melancholic in nature, the song still holds weight in containing a beautiful melody that is probably best enjoyed in the quieter nights of the season.
4. “Para Qué Sufrir” – Natalia Lafourcade
“Para Qué Sufrir” was a hard decision to make when I was trying to choose which of Natalia Lafourcade’s songs to place on this list. Honestly, all of her songs from her album Hasta la Raíz are very fall-appropriate, but this particular song takes the cake for being the one I can really imagine people would enjoy listening to with their friends or lovers on a cozy night. It gives off such a content and relaxed vibe, reminiscent of carefree evenings spent at home.
5. “Dreams – Take 2” – Fleetwood Mac
While the popular, master-produced version of “Dreams” never fails to be iconic year-round, “Dreams – Take 2” deserves some time to shine. This intimate and much simpler version can only be found on the Rumors (Super Deluxe) album, along with many other live and early recordings, which I recommend checking out whether you’re a fan of Fleetwood Mac or simply interested in listening to how finished songs that end up on albums can turn out so differently from their first conceptions.
Enjoy the rest of this amazing season by remembering to pause, relax, and enjoy your favorite comfort activity every now and then… hopefully with some of these songs playing in the background!