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EARWORM: Spring Break Edition!

March 21, 2023

This week, my friends and I whipped up an eighteen-hour long collaborative playlist to perfectly curate the vibe of our week in Florida. Here are some of my personal favorites and observations about songs on the playlist. 

 

“Summerboy” by Lady Gaga is an underrated hit from her 2008 album, The Fame. Summerboy took a backseat to songs like LoveGame, Paparazzi, and Poker Face on Gaga’s powerhouse debut album, but it is worthy of the same attention. The song sounds more like Gwen Stefani than Gaga, which essentially means it has a very y2k vibe. It is a classic summer love song: Gaga compares her lover with themes of warmth and fun, referencing bikinis and sunglasses frequently. She sings in falsetto for much of the song, which pairs well with the claps and cheery guitar riffs. Summerboy is the perfect tune for a car ride or sunset dance party.  

 

“Everyday is a Winding Road” by Sheryl Crow came on while we were driving over a causeway to the beach on a sunny morning. This song smells like salt air and warm winds. Crow incorporates elements of her country tendencies with pop and rock here, which makes for the perfect beach song. She alternates between speaking and singing her lyrics, which creates an interesting dichotomy between traditional and modern composition. A listener could never get bored of this song.

 

The playlist carries an overarching theme of 90s/early-2000s alternative rock. One hit wonders like Amber by 311, No Rain by Blind Melon, and My Own Worst Enemy by Lit sponsored many a trip to Publix. The eight of us would pile into the car and blast these songs at a concerningly loud volume. I would argue that this particular genre of music is one of the best to ever exist. It could be the nostalgia of hearing these songs on the radio at a young age, but they have stood the test of time. Everyone knew every word, which bound us together in a trashy alt-rock haze. 

 

I would not identify myself as a country music fan, but when “Drunk on a Plane” by Dierks Bently or “When It Rains It Pours” by Luke Bryan came on at the beach, I was definitely singing along to every word. When in Florida, am I right? 

 

We listened to hours of Grateful Dead, as well as seventies rock sensations like Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan. I’ll admit, I’m a deadhead. Name five songs? Easy. Ripple, Fire on the Mountain, Cosmic Charlie, Sugar Magnolia, Ship of Fools… need I continue? My mother raised me to believe that Stevie Nicks is God, and Steely Dan are the holy trinity. Aside from my personal connections, the music of the 70s is simply unmatched. I’m a sucker for a long guitar riff. 

 

Whether you believe that these choices are questionable or not, I had the time of my life singing along to Green Day in a car full of my best buddies. To me, music is about the experience. I’m glad my friends and I could share in the joy that was spring break, and I firmly believe that we could not have soundtracked it any better. 

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