During this time of uncertainty and hardship, many are unable to attend concerts or events that had been planned prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. However, this does not mean that you cannot create a concert from the comfort of your living room or bedroom. This is the perfect time to discover new music and jam to old favorites. Recommended by some lovely friends and some editors at WKU’s Her Campus chapter, here are a few albums for your quarantine listening pleasure.
- For the classics lover
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“Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac is a staple for everyone with a love of not only ‘70s fashion, but soft-rock and classic sounds. Songs topics range from the beauty of love and the pain of heartbreak to the atmosphere of Los Angeles. It is one of the most helpful albums to put on to encourage productivity while also being reminiscent of simpler times. The classic tunes make you feel groovy and positive — a perfect juxtaposition of what is going on in the world right now. If you want a pop of ‘70s fun with all the feels, this album is perfect for you.
- Missing the Great White Way?
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“Six: The Musical” is a musical about the six wives of Henry VIII … OK, stay with me here. The wives are singing and talking about how he ruined their lives in the form of a girl group rock concert! How cool is that? While there are only a handful of songs on this album, these queens will make you want to get up and dance. It elicits a feel-good mood and is ideal for shower singing. The best part of this album and its story is the emphasis on how amazing and powerful it is to be a woman no matter the time period. These women were empowering in a time when women weren’t likely to be heard, and with the addition of some catchy tunes, their spirit rings loud and true on this album.
- Possibly some childhood nostalgia
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When 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) came into the music scene in 2014, the debate between them and One Direction sparked many Tumblr arguments and fanfictions. Despite my indifference to these bands (so sorry), they have both put out strong albums that bring back a lot of nostalgia and happiness for many people. “Calm” is the newest album by 5SOS, and in the words of my best friend, “the album is super rad.” 5SOS said this album focuses on positive things and more of the happier sides of life — something we could all use right now.
- K-Pop interlude
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K-Pop has taken the world by storm and has become a major part of the music industry since its emergence in the 1990s. NCT 127’s album “Neo Zone” holds a special place in the heart of Erin Horton, WKU Her Campus’ social media director. This album has helped her through this unusual time. This album is a perfect mix of upbeat and slow tunes with an R&B and old hip-hop vibe. She said that it has inspired her to be creative and focus on things that make her happy during a time when all that we see is negativity. Additionally, the importance of friendship is mentioned throughout this album and keeps the spirit of being close to friends alive even when we can’t be right now.
- My guilty pleasure
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OK, we all know that Alanis Morissette’s song “Ironic” does not demonstrate irony at all, but the album it’s on has been my personal go-to for the past three months. “Jagged Little Pill” captures the grunge of the ‘90s while simultaneously promoting empowering messages to listeners. She delves into raw, unfiltered anger and heartbreak and gives advice to those going through self-discovery and all the feelings that come with it. The trend with these albums seems to be the desire to just get up and dance, and I can assure you that this is true for this album, too. Perfect for jamming in the car (for the one time a week you may get out of the house) or during your at-home exercise regime.
- Editor’s pick
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One of our editors-in-chief, Annalee Hubbs, has chosen *drumroll please* “Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa as her quarantine jam. Inspired by classic divas such as Madonna and Gwen Stefani, this new album has the energy of a jazzercise class and the nostalgia of the ‘80s. The positive, upbeat tones of the album are perfect for boosting moods and fostering at-home productivity. Give it a listen if you want to feel the vibes of decades past while still curling up with modern technology.
Well, that’s it! As we all know, music makes the world go round, and it may just make us all feel a little bit more normal in quarantine. If you listen to these albums or want to give us all some more recommendations, tag us on Instagram to let us know!