“Towers” by Bon Iver
Admittedly this is less of a current fixation and more of a constant one. Bon Iver is one of my all-time favorite artists, and this album “Bon Iver, Bon Iver” is a work of art. For me, what makes this song so incredible is the bridge. The background vocals combined with the instrumentals are what, in my opinion, distinguish it from any other song Bon Iver has released. “Towers” is about reminiscing on a past love. On the surface it seems like a sad song, but I always end up feeling happy when it ends. The music video for this song is really interesting as well, give it a view!
“Death With Dignity” by Sufjan Stevens
I recently fell in love with Sufjan Stevens after binge-watching The Politician on Netflix, which uses Stevens’s song “Chicago” as the theme (another great song by the way). “Death With Dignity” opens his album Carrie & Lowell, which is a heartbreakingly beautiful analysis of grief and childhood. The song starts on a peaceful note, but ends with Stevens’s devastating goodbye to his late mother, Carrie. Even though I get a little teary-eyed every time, I just can’t help but listen to it again and again.
“It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be” by Olivia Dean
The first time I heard this song was when I watched Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy on Valentine’s day. It’s such a fun, catchy song that helped pick me up after I was in shambles over the death of beloved Mr. Darcy. Even though my life isn’t quite like Bridget Jones’s, this song reminds me to keep pushing forward through rough times.
“The Hardest Part” by Olivia Dean
“The Hardest Part” is another Olivia Dean track from her debut album Messy, which I would strongly suggest listening to. Her jazzy, soulful sound is a unique breath of fresh air among today’s new generation of artists. Dean’s lyrics about changing and growing up are especially meaningful to me at a time in my life where I’m preparing to become an adult and go to college. If you haven’t checked out Olivia Dean, do it! She’s quickly become one of my favorite artists.
“R.E.M.” by Ariana Grande
I’ve known this song since I was deep in my Ariana Grande phase during the thank u, next era, but I just recently fell back in love with it. Even though Ariana Grande is extremely well-known, I still feel like her discography is consistently underrated. In my opinion, Sweetener is one of the best albums of the 2010s, and it perfectly mixes Grande’s vocal talents with Pharell Williams’s stellar production. “R.E.M.” is such a nostalgic song for me, and it’s a perfect listen anytime I want to get in a good mood.
“Landslide” by The Chicks
Though the original by Fleetwood Mac is amazing in its own right, I just love the country spin and raw emotion that The Chicks give their cover of “Landslide.” I first heard this version of the song years ago because it was covered on Glee, but like Olivia Dean’s “The Hardest Part,” I’ve been relating to this song now more than ever when my life is rapidly changing. I love how The Chicks made this song their own instead of becoming a stereotypical “bad” cover.
