This month has felt like a coming back into myself. I got abroad for the first time in over a year. Exploring new streets, soaking in new seas, irritating Italians when they saw my last name and then realized I didn’t speak Italian. I’m getting back into a routine with my aerial and HIIT classes. I started a new book, and it gives me such a nostalgic glow to be known as the “book girl” when I work election days. (Made it to 6:05 am before someone came over to ask what the book of the day was.) I’m learning—or at least trying—to sit with my unpleasant emotions, to probe their roots instead of fleeing from them. And I’m reminding myself, it’s perfectly fine to run away with happiness and joy. It’s a process, a tricky one, but the hardest part is always starting the attempt.
That’s the Way It Is - Celine Dion
Don’t ask me how, but this somehow became the official song of my Amalfi trip. Cue the three of us responding to almost any statement with “well, when you want it the most, there’s no easy way out,” or “that is the way it is.” Makes me miss the late 90’s era when all pop songs were written by Max Martin.
Year 3000 - Busted
Okay, this came up the other evening when a friend told me that they just learned this song was NOT written by the Jonas Brothers. No!!! It’s by Busted, and this entire slaps!!! I listened to it a ton in High School, and I got into it via this song. To be honest, I started listening to it as the big Futurama nerd I was/am, which, of course, begins with Fry ending up in the Year 3000.
Young Folks - Peter Bjorn and John
It’s that hipster song with the whistling. (Which originally was added in as a placeholder for another instrument, but ended up fitting so well they left it - and the whistling on the album was done by Bjorn!) It’s so upbeat and perfect for strolling on a summer weekend. Of course, had to listen to it a ton back when I traveled to their native Sweden as well.
Usually when things has gone this far
People tend to disappear
No one will surprise me unless you do
I can tell there's something going on
Hours seems to disappear
Daylight - Matt and Kim
And in that same vein as above is Daylight. This song was my JAM in college. I listened to it a ton, working on art projects my freshman year. This is probably in the top 5 of “upbeat summertime jams.” Right when the piano starts you’re like ohhhhhhh and by the time the drums kick in? Perfection.
I will never not regret them tweeting that they were filming part of a music video on the Brooklyn Bridge, which I lived directly next to, and not showing up for it.
And in the daylight I don't pick up my phone
'Cause in the daylight anywhere feels like home
Let’s Make Love and Death From Above - CSS
The music that came preloaded on my Zune was transformative to my music tastes. This is one of them. I recently heard it at a Sake bar in Industry City and was zapped with nostalgia. It’s the first international single from this Brazilian band. The music drop after the chorus? Chef’s kiss.
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
Yes, this song has always been a banger, and yes, I did see Kinds of Kindness last night, and now I can’t get that movie or this track out of my head. Can’t discuss this too much further without spoilers, but DM me if you want to discuss this film, I was blown away.
In 2020, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2023, it was selected by the US Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry. Also…I am just realizing that one of the duo that is Eurythmics is Annie Lennox?! What?!
(And can’t forget this involvement in The Simpsons)
Don’t Move - Phantogram
Probably my favorite psych-pop band. For a while, I’ve realized I’ve become a catastrophizer. When will the other shoe drop? This goodness has to be false. I’m trying to teach myself, sometimes, there is no other shoe to drop. Happiness can be happiness. But the anxiety, the paranoia, the struggle to remain in control of one’s emotions - telling myself the stories in my head are just that, stories. Some days are easier. Others, I just tell myself I am not my nervous feeling, I am not that paranoia, I just need to keep my mind still when it’s all starting to fuck with my head.
Radio - Lana Del Rey
And in complete opposite to the above, there have been several times this month when I am just having a blissful time, and the only thing that pops into my head is this chorus. There’s a melodic, atmospheric wistfulness that goes perfectly when say, cruising on a boat, or the breeze in the street hits just right.
Now my life is sweet like cinnamon
Like a fucking dream I'm living in
Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
Welcome to Yacht Rock season, baby. Hope you’re as happy to be here as I am. Written about a spiritual experience atop Solsbury Hill after Peter’s departure from the band Genesis, he says it’s “about being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get ... It's about letting go."
Vienna - Billy Joel
This song has been haunting me for months. I keep hearing it in bars, on my Spotify DJ, a few weeks ago my friend put it on in an uber and claimed it was the only Billy Joel song she knew. I’ve always loved Billy Joel - I have to, it’s a requirement to growing up on LI. When I was a teen and my parents had a boat, we’d go out on the 4th of July to watch his private fireworks show.
Joel said in a 2008 interview that it conveys "you don't have to squeeze your whole life into your 20s and 30s trying to make it, trying to achieve that American dream, getting in the rat race and killing yourself. You have a whole life to live. I kind of used 'Vienna' as a metaphor, there is a reason for being old, a purpose" It’s a song I listen to when I need to remind myself to slow down, stop worrying about the future, and enjoy happiness in the present.
Hats off to him for dropping the music video for this 2 months…over 40 years after the song was released.
Slow down you crazy child
You're so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you're so smart tell me
Why are you still so afraid?