Spring Into New Music: April Music Suggestions
Pop in your earbuds, especially those with senioritis, and get motivated to finish the last few months of school with a stride in your step.
- “Morning” by Beck – I loved Beck in the 90’s with his pop punk vibe, but since his complete 180 into indie/blues, I have appreciated his style even more. While the rest of the songs in this playlist will get you pumped, prepare to be calmed to the point of sleep with this one. A mainly instrumental song, “Morning”’s constant acoustic guitar blends in with Beck’s occasional soft and drawn out vocals, and is a must listen.
- “This Is What Makes Us Girls” by Lana Del Rey – Move over Beyonce, I have just proclaimed Lana as my queen. I have recently started listening to her thanks to the suggestions of my friends, and I have loved every minute of it. Her sultry voice amplifies her dark lyrics which is a refreshing touch compared to today’s pop music.
- “You & The 6” by Drake – Take an emotional journey with Drake’s lyrics. If you don’t want to feel worse about your current situation, you’ll be able to relate your struggles to those of “You & The 6” in a catchy, almost fun way.
- “Strange Town” by The Moderates – Back in 2013 when I was an emo teen, a band called the Moderates followed me on Instagram. I really didn’t care for the small indie band as I was immersed into the whole Bring Me The Horizon/My Chemical Romance phase, but I have recently refound them on Spotify and fell in love. The lead singer’s vocals are spotty with his limited range but is saved by the amount of passion expressed in “Strange Town”. Matched with a rocking guitar solo at the beginning, this song gets you hyped for any occasion.
- “Renegade” by Styx – If you are a fan of Queen or 70’s pop, you will definitely enjoy the style of Styx. Take a flashback with soft lyrics that slowly builds you up to a roller coaster of loud and soft vocals blended with the use of electric guitar.
- “Times Like These” by the Foo Fighters – Spring break just ended, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with friends on the weekends. The lyrics make you want to grab all of the people you love and hug them because everything is just going so great. “It’s times like these you learn to live again.” Thank you, Dave Grohl. It sure is.
- “Gotta Get Away” by the Black Keys – “Get away” from school with this bittersweet ballad about traveling the world (well at least that’s the song meaning for me). Although those AP exams are creeping up, sometimes teens just need a break with some modern rock music.
- “Castle” by Halsey – “Castle” by Halsey, appropriately featured in the upcoming movie, “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” gives a sense of power and rebellion. Even though it feels more like a “Hunger Games” song to me, Charlize Theron’s character, the evil queen Ravenna, is a good fit for the aggressive pop anthem.
- “No Rain” by Blind Melon – Three words: California’s theme song. Though people say, “April showers bring May flowers,” in our drought-ridden climate, that really means, “dry all year.” Blind Melon’s lead singer, Shannon Hoon, has a grunge-style voice that dominated the 90s and influenced modern bands such as Cage the Elephant.
- “Underneath it All” by No Doubt – No Doubt was all about my two favorite things: the 90s and the beach. “Underneath it All” is symbolic of both of these things, with a beachy guitar-bass combo and a verse from Jamaican singer Lady Saw. Though Gwen Stefani’s new album “This Is What the Truth Feels Like” is killer, No Doubt will forever be my favorite Gwen era.
Check out last month’s playlist.
Graphic by Angela Swartz/Prowler
