Summer 2022 Feel-Good Playlist
By: Sara Collins and Isabella Atchick
**Content Warning: One photo used contains blood**
If you are tired of being cooped up with your small circle of friends and family because of COVID try listening to this Feel-Good playlist to boost your mood! This playlist includes a variety of genres and artists in hopes everyone will be able to find something they enjoy. While it is mentioned about the current state of the world, this playlist could be used years later on a hot summer day by the pool or in any other condition.
Sara’s Picks
One Dance - Drake, WizKid, Kayla
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
This song is a mixture of genres being: afrobeat, hip-hop/rap, and r & b/ soul. You tend to hear this song at carnivals, festivals, and amusement parks because of it being a feel good song. According to the Billboard charts this song was at number 1 for 8 consecutive weeks after the song was released. As of March 2021, this song was shown to be pass 2 billion streams on Spotify, why not add to those streams this summer while by the pool?
2. Swing, Swing - The All-American Rejects
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
The All-American Rejects band was first formed in 1999 yet their music from the early 2000’s is still very catchy. This song in particular is one of the alternative/indie and pop genres. This song always lifts up on our moods on a bad day and would be great to listen to by the pool or simply to get your mind off of the bad in the world. According to Genius, “The song peaked at #8 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart in the United States and #60 on the Hot 100 chart”.
3. Better Luck Next Time - Kelsea Ballerini
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
Kelsea Ballerini has music in a mixture of genres, whether you like country or pop you should be able to find something you like. This song was created by Darius Coleman and his coach Ryan Tedder to which Kelsa Ballerini made a hit. It is a song that is a mixture of r&b/soul, UK r&b, and pop. Fun fact: Coleman happens to be from the Philadelphia area.
4. Shatter Me - Lindsey Stirling ft. Lzzy Hale
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
The Genre of this song is a mix of dance, electronic, pop, and rock. With the mixture of a violinist (Stirling) and a rock artist (Hale) it is a piece that can be both peaceful but still be something you enjoy even if instrumental or classical music is not typically your cup of tea. According to Songfacts, “The song was inspired by Stirling's days working in a rehab center with troubled teenage women who were battling a variety of issues. She explained in a Reddit AMA: "It was a metaphorical representation of how it felt being trapped inside an eating disorder”. It is an upbeat song trying to show those who are going through something hard to fight back. It is similar to a “fight song” type of vibe.
5. Stick To Your Guns - Kelsy Karter
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
This song also goes along the lines of a “fight song” and to try and find yourself. It is in the pop and rock n’ roll genre and particularly empowers the female voice in the rock n’ roll genres. Some other songs not included in the playlist that I enjoy are “You Only Die Once” which also has the empowering aspect as well as “Liquor Store on Mars”. She even made a song called “Harry” to show her admiration to Harry Styles and allegedly has a song in the works for another member of One Direction, Zayn Malik according to Billboard.
Isabella’s Picks
Funeral Grey - Waterparks
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
The title may fool you, but “Funeral Grey” by Waterparks is perfect for that up-beat summer drive with the windows down. The new single from the genre-defying band comes right in time for the changing seasons. You can catch Waterparks singing in the summer weather (maybe even in sweaters) at Sad Summer Fest, starting on July 8 in Sacramento, CA!
2. Music For a Sushi Restaurant - Harry Styles
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
Summer 2022 was kicked off with the brand new album, “Harry’s House”, from none other than Harry Styles. And the first track, “Music for a Sushi Restaurant,” is the perfect introduction. With a variety of instruments and a chorus that brings them altogether, I couldn’t resist adding it here. And as Styles himself says, it’s “music for whatever you want.”
3. Bleach - Isaac Dunbar
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
Released earlier this year by up and coming artist Isaac Dunbar, “Bleach” is unforgettable. The song was written and produced by Dunbar himself, according to RCA Records. They also wrote that the single is “a euphoric and vibrant tour de force that revels in the act of rebellion,” and I couldn’t agree more. Listen to “Bleach” and more from Dunbar on his brand new EP, Banish The Banshee.
4. Garden - Meet Me @ The Altar
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
Meet Me @ The Altar is the pop-punk band we all need in our lives. When the song came out in 2020, its fast-paced instrumentals and vocals exuded summer fun, and still do now. You can jam out with the band in the coming months at Lollapalooza, Slam Dunk Festival, When We Were Young, and more! In the meantime, I’ll always be right here listening to “Garden.”
5. Cherry - Rina Sawayama
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
Nylon Magazine defined “Cherry” as “a joyful pansexual-awakening pop anthem,” and I love every second of it. While the song has been in the world for almost four years now, its impact continues to shine. This is the perfect track to listen to throughout your summer, and to kick off Pride Month 2022! Catch more from Sawayama on her sophomore album, Hold the Girl, out September 2!
If you are interested in listening to even one of these songs in order to have a joyful summer check out the playlist (Feel-Good Playlist of Summer 2022)!
Sources:
The all-american rejects – swing, swing. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://genius.com/The-all-american-rejects-swing-swing-lyrics
Aniftos, R. (2019, June 12). Kelsea Ballerini releases 'Better luck next time' from recent 'Songland' episode: Listen. Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kelsea-ballerini-releases-better-luck-next-time-songland-8515748/
Drake One dance: Drakes Songs, YouTube Videos Music Songs, music images. Pinterest. (2019, January 15). Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/733312751803740508
Fox, C. (2022, March 11). 12 Kelsea Ballerini songs that prove her pop-country power + songwriting prowess. Wide Open Country. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.wideopencountry.com/kelsea-ballerini-songs/
Graff, G. (2019, January 28). Kelsy Karter pays tribute in style(s) with 'Harry' video: Premiere. Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/kelsy-karter-harry-video-8495187/
Isaac Dunbar releases new single "Bleach". RCA Records. (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.rcarecords.com/news/isaac-dunbar-releases-new-single-bleach/
Russell, E. (2018, August 14). Rina Sawayama's "Cherry" is a joyful pansexual-awakening pop anthem. Nylon. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.nylon.com/articles/rina-sawayama-cherry-release
Shatter me featuring Lzzy Hale by Lindsey Stirling Chords and Melody. Hooktheory. (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.hooktheory.com/theorytab/view/lindsey-stirling/shatter-me-featuring-lzzy-hale?node=1.4.6.5
Songfacts. (n.d.). Shatter me by Lindsey Stirling - Songfacts. Song Meanings at Songfacts. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.songfacts.com/facts/lindsey-stirling/shatter-me
Swing, swing. Spotify. (2002, January 1). Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://open.spotify.com/track/4jVhSbMMHctghoOTFuLPB2
Trust, G. (2016, July 5). Drake's 'One Dance' No. 1 on Hot 100 for Eighth week. Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.billboard.com/pro/drake-one-dance-no-1-hot-100-eighth-week/
