Here's the songs that defined my 2022
Playlist link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4vNLZ1t8w8dFcBpS4s5w4o?si=SSjeGaWTTlizith_2UJa2w
January
“Crushcrushcrush”- Paramore (Riot!)
I started off the year with some nostalgia. I got into Paramore in high school, and while I still love them new artists, releases, and Hayley Williams solo work took priority. However, it was when "crushcrushcrush" came on shuffle that I realized how much I’ve changed since I started listening, and who I was when I first heard this song. I plan to listen to them more this year, and that shouldn’t be too hard considering they’re in the studio recording their next album.
February
“Hot & Heavy”- Lucy Dacus (Home Video)
This song resonated with me more than I thought it would. Thinking about going back to places I haven’t been in a while, wondering how that would feel. And knowing this song describes that feeling. Knowing there's a way to describe that feeling made it seem not so strange.
March
“closure” - Taylor Swift (evermore)
I've had a lot to process this month. And at times it's been overwhelming. This song helped me understand what I couldn’t make sense of and realize what I needed to say. I felt stuck in the same cycle of feelings. This song helped me get out of it.
April
“Speechless”- A Will Away (Stew)
A Will Away would have to be on this list at some point. This month, i found out some true feelings about me from people I knew. But there’s only so much you can do with other people’s perceptions of you. I just keep going back to the lyrics “You let me hear what you thought of me /And that's all you'll ever need to say.” You can't control the world around you. You can only control how you handle it.
May
“Parachute”- A Will Away (Stew)
If you couldn’t tell, I really love this album. But "Parachute" explains every emotion I couldn’t. I graduated college this month, and I wasn’t sure what I was doing next. And the thought of not having academia control my life scared me. This song embodies going through the motions. You don’t know what to do but you just know you have to keep moving. If you keep moving, you’ll end up somewhere. And hopefully it’s somewhere I want to be.
June
“Summer Clothes”- The Wonder Years (Single)
This song encapsulates the summer from the slow start to moving to a full on rock song. To Dan Campbell’s the story telling, where you can see the Ferris wheel he sings about in verse one. Besides being a summer song, it’s a new breath of life into the wonder years. While the inspirations from their 2018 album Sister Cities are easily noted, these time periods are cousins not twins. There’s an apathetic air that is very easy to relate to, especially given the way the world is right now.
July
“Swiped Out”- Future Teens (Breakup Season)
Any repeat readers of my blog know how much I love future teens. I love how their music sounds and I love the relatability. I’ve been told repeatedly that I should go find someone to settle down with. And believe me I’ve tried, it’s just never gone well. But after the worst relationship I’ve ever been in, I have no desire to date right now. A break from that sounds exactly like what I need. And it was hard trying to explain that feeling to my friends. And then this song came up on shuffle. It was a lightbulb moment; I was feeling “swiped out,” that's what it's called. After that, the feeling didn’t seem as isolating anymore. It had a name! I finally felt understood.
August
“State of Grace”- Taylor Swift (Red- Taylor’s Version)
The summer coming to a close should’ve terrified me. I didn’t have the routine college provided. I wasn’t sure what was happening next. Did that job interview go well? Is it weird I’m still single? Does it even matter? But, it didn’t terrify me. I was at peace, oddly enough. It felt like everything was falling into place. Sure, I was a little nervous. But I knew I’d get through it all.
September
“Bury Me in Black (demo)”- My Chemical Romance (Life on the Murder Scene)
A bucket list moment occurred in September. I finally saw MCR live. It was an amazing experience that I am so grateful I got to have. This song was one I revisited, as it made it onto the setlist. It reignited my love for three cheers for sweet revenge. I felt like the 16 year old I was discovering it all for the first time.
“Going pains”- Future Teens (self help)
Future teens released their third studio album self help this month. And while I’ve had the whole album on shuffle since it came out, the song “Going Pains” has stuck with me the most. Looking back on the last year of my life so much has changed. And I’m so glad. I’m so glad I’m not where I was a year ago. At times it was awful and confusing. But now I see that was all to bring me to somewhere better.
October
“Wyatt’s Song (Your Name)”- The Wonder Years (The Hum Goes On Forever)
I’ll be honest, The Hum Goes On Forever isn’t my favorite album from The Wonder Years. However, this is one of my favorite songs off the album. It truly shows how much things have changed for the band. They’re no longer singing about heartbreak and despair. They’re singing with an air of hope instead. I feel that’s the direction my life is going in now. Things aren’t great in the world, but they’re starting to look up.
November
“Don’t Ask Me”- Soccer Mommy (Sometimes, Forever)
I finally gave this album a proper listen. And my only regret is waiting so long to do so. It’s dark and eerie sounding but it’s also oddly nostalgic in the way only Sophia (vocals, lead guitar) knows how to write. “Don’t Ask Me” has got to be hands down my favorite track on the album and I’m so grateful I got to hear it preformed live this year.
December
“If We Make It Through December”- Phoebe Bridgers (Single)
I revisit this song throughout the year, but I especially listened to it this month. In terms of personal relationships, I’ve kept them pretty quiet on here. Maybe mentioning them once or twice at best. But the lack of sharing means I now get to explain the pattern I’ve seen in them. The main one being they all only last four months. For whatever reason. Now with my current boyfriend, even though it’s different, I still wondered if the curse would befall us too. And it truly was me asking myself “are we going to make it through December?” While this isn’t the true interpretation of the song, this is what it’s meant to me this year.