1. The Civil Wars, “Poison & Wine”
I listen to this song every night before I go to sleep. It has an expressive and lulling quality that helps settle my restless mind. In this song as well as others, The Civil Wars express sentiments that sink deep into your bones and stay with you long after the song is over.
2. Florence + The Machine, “Heartlines”
I love listening to this song when I’m working out. Its steady and fast-paced tempo makes this great for running, biking, or climbing those imaginary hills on an elliptical machine — my personal favorite. The powerful chorus is my favorite part!
3. Stephen Sondheim feat. Bernadette Peters, “Everybody Loves Louis”
This song was one of my first steps into the world of musical theater, and I cannot listen to it enough. Bernadette’s vocals and humor added to Sondheim’s score and lyrics are magical and just make me smile every time.
4. Billy Joel, “Vienna”
This is a great traveling song. I like to make playlists for long car rides, and something about “Vienna” makes it an addition to every travel list I create. In the craziness of life at Lawrence, it is always refreshing to take a step back and enjoy the present, and this song always reminds me that we all need to slow down sometimes.
5. The Weepies, “Gotta Have You”
I love the calm and steady feeling I have when listening to The Weepies, which is why I listen to them particularly when I study. I think I own almost every song by The Weepies, but this one is my favorite.
6. Back Against the Wall, “Cage the Elephant”
I think I love this song because it reminds me a lot of the music I listened to when I was younger. My dad was an early influence on my music interests, so I grew up on a lot of classic rock: Led Zeppelin, The Who, etc. This song gives me a similar vibe, and I love it!