It’s 65 degrees and sunny in Bloomington, which can only mean one thing — it’s time to ditch the dreary winter songs and start curating your spring playlist.
As a passionate winter hater, I am overjoyed to feel the sun on my skin again, freed from the neeed to pile on the clothing layers just to walk to class. To celebrate this glorious spring weather and the sun setting later, I’ve been going on longer walks and taking my lunch outside for a picnic. Accompanying me, as usual, are my Spotify playlists.
Here are five songs that have made their way into my spring playlist this year.
“Prom” by SZA
“Prom,” off SZA’s debut studio album,“Ctrl,” will always remind me of the May of my senior year of high school, driving with the windows down to get Orange Leaf frozen yogurt with my friends.
“Fearin’ not growing up. Keepin’ me up at night. Am I doin’ enough? Feel like I’m wasting time” is the opening line to the song and it made me feel nervous yet hopeful that I was about to graduate.
When I listen now, it always takes me back to the feeling of spring, back to my coming-of-age emotions.
The entire album is a masterpiece and, in my opinion, SZA’s best project. The lyrics are honest and raw, with vocals and melodies that get better each time I listen. I highly recommend adding every song off “Ctrl” to your spring playlist because it’s easily a no-skip album.
“Time” by Free Nationals, Mac Miller and Kali Uchis
I consider any musical project involving Mac Miller to have been touched by gold, and “Time” is no exception. Even though listening to him posthumously is bittersweet, his music is still uplifting and always puts me in a better mood.
Kali Uchis’ flowery vocals and Free Nationals’ groovy instrumentals embody sunny spring energy. Mac Miller’s verse reminds me of spring as well, with lyrics such as, “Look at me watering seeds, it’s time to grow,” which reminds me of literal flowers blooming for spring, as well as people metaphorically growing and maturing through their lives.
I view spring as a transition stage: winter is finally over, but it’s not quite summer yet. The seasons are in limbo. “Prom” and “Time” are both songs about being in a transitional period of your life, which is probably why I associate them so heavily with the springtime.
“Orange Blossoms” by Goldford
“Orange Blossoms” feels like the first hot day after a long, cold winter. This song has such a warm and timeless feel to it; when the song was released in 2023, I listened to it daily for weeks. Goldford’s soulful vocals and introspective lyrics still resonate with me today.
In an Instagram post, the artist said that “Orange Blossoms” is “a song about love, patience and slowing down to appreciate that everything I’ll ever need exists in the present moment.” Since the weather has gotten warmer, I have taken this sentiment to heart and have been more grateful for what I already have in front of me.
“I Think I Like When It Rains” by WILLIS
It also rains a lot in the spring, so this peaceful song by WILLIS is for those rainy days inside. I’ve recently been getting back into painting, and this song is ideal to put on in the background while painting or doing any sort of hobby.
“I Think I Like When It Rains” conjures up a sentimental feeling, with lyrics like “And all that I can do is stop. And think about the days. When all we used to dream about. Was meeting after school,” that capture the nostalgia of youth.
Lyrics aside, the 2017 song is mellow and relaxing in a similar way to “Orange Blossoms.” One writer from Neon Music wrote, “The sound —melodic with a surf-rock undertone — lends the song a soothing quality, making it an excellent accompaniment for rainy-day introspection.”
“Pasture Child” by Dominic Fike
“Pasture Child” from Dominic Fike’s 2023 album “Sunburn” is the perfect 75-degrees-and-sunny song, a song that you can listen to while walking across campus or when hanging out with friends.
I love the simple yet effective storytelling in this song, as Fike describes a “half Dakota, half Louisiana pastor child” who grew up to write a book and become an “all-American mastermind.” The catchy chorus and classic guitar pair wonderfully together, and it’s a song that’s bound to get stuck in your head. I’ll be listening to “Pasture Child” on repeat all spring and summer.
With the first official day of spring approaching on March 20, I encourage you to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and add these songs to your playlist.
