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1. Femininomenon – Chappell Roan
This song is one of my favorite lead tracks for an album. It encapsulates how it feels to get out of a long slump and I thought that really fit the vision of this playlist.
2. Solar Power – Lorde
“Solar Power” is a bit on the nose, but it was too perfect to pass up. The song starts with “I hate the winter/Can’t stand the cold” which fits the “winter blues” part of the title. As the song progresses, it starts to get more upbeat, and more instruments join in until the big finish of getting out of these winter blues.
3. Diet Mountain Dew – Lana Del Rey
This playlist could also be titled “Pretending it’s summer to stop being depressed” and who’s more summer than the queen herself, Lana Del Rey?
4. Silk Chiffon – MUNA (Feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
Phoebe Bridgers is mostly known for making sad girl music such as “Waiting Room” and like, the entirety of the record, but a nice break in her discography is her collaboration with MUNA. “Silk Chiffon” is the pinnacle of fun vibes, with the most iconic line being “Life’s so fun, life’s so fun, got my mini skirt and my rollerblades on.”
5. Soak up the Sun – Soccer Mommy
Continuing with the pattern of summer energy, Soccer Mommy’s entire discography is summer. Her cover of “Soak up the Sun” by Sheryl Crow has been on repeat for me since it came out and is similar to “Femininomenon” and “Solar Power” in how it’s about leaving a slump and appreciating the good things in life.
6. I Wish You Would (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
No playlist is complete without at least one Taylor Swift song, and there’s nothing more upbeat and lively than 1989. “I Wish You Would” has always been my personal favorite from 1989 and it’s one of the most underrated songs on the album, which is why I felt like it belonged.
7. HOT TO GO! – Chappell Roan
Similar to “Femininomenon”, this song gives the “Girls Night Out” energy that I wanted to be a part of this playlist. With Chappell Roan opening for Olivia Rodrigo at the beginning of her GUTS World Tour, she’s hitting her popularity and deserves a few spots on this list.
8. Ecosystem – Small Crush
Though not very popular, all of Small Crush’s discography gives happiness. Their latest album, Penelope, has made this winter more joyful.
9. Ladies – Fiona Apple
The (wo)man, the myth, the legend, Fiona Apple is incredible. All of her songs have remarkable lyrics while still keeping great production that’s fun to listen to; it would be a disservice to not include her in this list.
10. Hand in my Pocket – Alanis Morisette
Jagged Little Pill is one of the most iconic albums of the 90s. Though overshadowed by “Ironic”, “Hand in my Pocket” is still a big hit from this album and fits that message of “sure I’m sad but like, it’s okay!”
11. Wide Open Spaces – Soccer Mommy
This song is another great cover by Soccer Mommy. The song fits perfectly since it’s about yearning for your dreams, or in the case of this playlist, the end of winter.
12. You Belong With Me (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
This is the energy of Wide Open Spaces and Hand in My Pocket put together: nostalgic country pop. I don’t think you could find a single person in this school who didn’t hear “You Belong With Me” at least once during their childhood and I had to include it because of how joyful yet nostalgic it is.
13. Walking Back Home – Vira Talisa
I’m very particular about the order of the songs in a playlist, so you’ll see that the next few highlight a more positive part of winter, Valentine’s Day. “Walking Back Home” has obvious influence from older artists like Frank Sinatra and Lesley Gore while maintaining that modern sound, which matches the Valentine’s vibe this section is going for.
14. The 2nd Most Beautiful Girl In The World – Snail Mail
Despite having an entire album titled Valentine, this song is 100% Snail Mail’s most romantic; it always makes me feel like I should be skipping down the sidewalks of a suburban neighborhood on a sunny day.
15. North – Clairo
Clairo’s Immunity is full of hits like “Bags” and “Sofia.” However, these big songs overshadow how great the entire album is, with songs like “Softly” and “North” still having the same energy in the production and lyrics. “North” specifically has more of the winter-y vibe that other songs from this album lack which is why I feel it belongs.
16. Dream Boy – Beach Bunny
Nothing is more Valentine’s than Honeymoon by Beach Bunny, as it came out on February 14th. Though it’s more well-known for “Cloud 9,” “Dream Boy” is my personal favorite from this album and deserves more recognition.
17. Honey, Honey – ABBA
Whether it be publicly or secretly, everyone loves ABBA. A joyful playlist like this one would be incomplete without them due to their wide variety of hits.
18. Glue Song – Beabadoobee (Feat. Clairo)
“Glue Song” is one of Beabadoobee’s biggest hits, but the Clairo version is iconic in its own way. With it trending during Spring last year, this song has that perfect nostalgic sound to ignore the treachery of winter.
19. All You Gotta Be When You’re 23 Is Yourself – Free Cake For Every Creature
Though it has a ridiculously long title and band name, this is the most spring song you will ever come across. It’s calm but somehow upbeat, and the lyrics are all about not putting too much pressure on yourself.
20. “Slut!” (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault) – Taylor Swift
When 1989 (Taylor’s Version) came out, this song was on repeat for many people including myself. It fits that feeling of early fall where the weather starts to get less unbearable and has earned itself a spot on this list, despite its cold weather vibe.
21. Secrets From a Girl (Who’s Seen It All) – Lorde
I love a good closing track to a playlist, so what better than one of Lorde’s best from Solar Power. As said by Lorde, “This is future me talking back to her sort of saying ‘It’s going to be okay’” and I feel like that sums up this playlist as a whole.
