Springtime represents new beginnings, rebirth and serenity. Whether you appreciate the calm rains of April or vibrant blooms of May, music is the best way to appreciate all that spring brings.
To usher in the rest of this charming season, here’s a list of 10 songs to add to your spring playlist.
“You and Me” by The Cranberries
A melodically plucked introduction on the electric guitar invites listeners into a trance of sweet melancholy as lead singer Dolores O’Riordan sings about the love she has for her son. Her smooth, sharp voice is a refreshing sound in a world of rock dominated by gritty vocals and lower pitches. It's this light and airy cadence that makes “You and Me” perfect for the springtime.
“Why Are Sundays So Depressing” by The Strokes
With an infectious chorus full of heavy synthesizers and vocal alterations, “Why Are Sundays So Depressing” is the grooviest song from the indie rock band’s most recent album. The Strokes blend a pure rock sound with electronic experimentation while lead singer Julian Casablancas chants about romantic endeavors.
“Sour Flower” by Lianne La Havas
Lianne La Havas embraces liberation on this song about self discovery and newfound courage. The mellow and downbeat introduction that transforms into a blaring sound of optimism wonderfully mimics the transition from winter to spring. With the honey-smooth voice of Havas flooding the airwaves, everything feels peaceful.
“Everybody’s Talkin’” by Harry Nilsson
This one of a kind folk song rose to fame in 1969 as the title song for the film “Midnight Cowboy.” Much like the film, the song tells the story of a man who searches for fame, only to fade into obscurity instead. A frenzy of acoustic strings captures the essence of bliss as Nilsson sings, “Everybody's talkin' at me / Can't hear a word they're sayin' / Only the echoes of my mind.”
“Jonny” by Faye Webster
Alongside strains of folk and R&B, Faye Webster foreshadows the end of a relationship as she embraces vulnerability and her own self interest. With jazzy melodies and poignant horns, “Jonny” sounds like a silky and sensual tune for the spring.
“Playground” by Steve Lacy
This masterpiece of funk breeds positivity as Steve Lacy compares the act of making love to a playground. An array of catchy bass lines wrap the song in a haze of nostalgia as Lacy sings like an ‘80s singer reincarnated.
“Radio Cure” by Wilco
“Radio Cure” is a beautiful yet achingly sad song about a crumbling relationship that finally broke apart for good. A low, pounding bass drum evokes the sound of a steady heartbeat as lead singer Jeff Tweedy blends brilliant lyricism with ambient noise.
“Harness Your Hopes” by Pavement
Pavement is utterly straightforward on this deep cut filled with sarcasm, frank observations and hilarious personification. The repetitive guitar riffs help lead singer Stephen Malkmus blend in and out of streams of consciousness as he sings, “And I'm asking you to hold me just like the morning paper / Pinched between your pointer, your index and your thumb / It's a semi-automatic, believers are ecstatic / You see the way they cling, the cold metallic sting.”
“Blue Sunday” by The Doors
Through bold and lyrically-profound revelations about love, The Doors travel back to an earlier era of blues-rock with “Blue Sunday.” Jim Morrison reveals himself as more tender and romantic than fans ever believed him to be as he croons about finding his one and only girl in the world over an enchanting guitar melody.
“Congratulations” by Mac Miller
With a soothing piano motif and deeply poetic lyrics, “Congratulations” reigns as a supreme love song. Throughout Mac Miller’s vulnerable professions of love, an orchestra of smooth jazz comes alive and establishes this song as the perfect tune for beginning a new season with the one you love.
