Welcome to the 2025 edition of Songs of Our Year! This assignment asks each staffer to write a short essay celebrating a song that has felt important to them during the 2024-25 school year. This song didn’t have to be a “favorite,” just one that was in frequent rotation, whether in the car or before a big game. Writers didn’t review these songs. Instead, they wrote about why they’re good and why they matter, whether on a personal level or for artistic quality or both. Enjoy the mini-essays and the accompanying playlist!

Note: Because Spotify is blocked at San Rafael High School, you will only be able to see/access the embedded and linked playlist if you are off the school internet.

“Gunshot Glitter”
Jeff Buckley
Sketches for my Sweetheart the Drunk
1997

“Gunshot Glitter” by Jeff Buckley is truly a hidden gem. Why it never became a hit, I couldn’t tell you. Perhaps it’s the aggressive intro; the rough, angsty chords of an electric guitar that suggest a darker tone to follow. Maybe it’s that the song feels unfinished, because Buckley tragically drowned before he could complete it, the post-mortem track releasing a year after his death. But if you embrace these musical impurities, you’ll understand why it’s so special.

At the height of college application season, I felt like I was teetering on the edge of a cliff that overlooked every possibility for my future. I would often go on late night drives to try and escape this feeling of uncertainty, and one night, after my queue of music had finished and Spotify began recommending new songs, I discovered “Gunshot Glitter.” I was captivated first by the gritty instrumentals that perfectly illustrated the moment, as I watched the pearly lights of passing cars speed by. Buckley’s strained, muffled vocals filled the car: “Don’t you wanna let go of your heart? Or you’ll resist the beds of bliss.”

He sings to a past love, urging her to let go of their relationship and pay him no mind. “There’s room for us both to fly,” he sings, “I really wanna see you shine.” He wants her to realize her potential without worrying about their past.

The heartfelt, almost desperate delivery of these lyrics combined with the bright reverb in the background creates an inspiring tone. Buckley encourages his audience to live their best life and let go of past ties, to move forward and embrace possibility. At that time, when I would do anything to avoid moving forward, it was exactly what I needed to be told.

Entering my senior year has swept me up into a storm of self-reflection and pressing questions with impossible deadlines for my answers. But I have learned that hesitation and worry will always hold you back from what could have been, and the longer you wait at the edge of that cliff, the more daunting the jump will feel.

– Ruby Lacerda

“Champagne Coast”
Blood Orange
Coastal Grooves
2011

Every once in a while I rewatch Euphoria out of boredom. 3 years ago I decided to rewatch the first season before the second season aired to refresh my mind. Season 1, episode 3, “Champagne Coast” by Blood Orange played in the background during the scene when Rue was falling in love with Jules. I liked the dreamy tones, and felt like it was wrapping me in a haze. I played the whole song on Spotify and completely forgot about it. 

The song started going viral again last summer due to the craze of Love Island. I heard it while scrolling through my fyp when edits of Miguel and Leah started to pop out with each scroll using the song, it gave me the same exact feeling. This song feels like a sun-set drive through the coast, where it brings me to a romantic, cinematic daydream. Dev Hynes uses his soft vocals and it sounds as if he’s whispering throughout each beat which gives it an intimate listen.

 My favorite time to listen to this song is driving through the windy roads of Tiburon before picking my mom up from work, looking out the window to admire the beautiful houses. Driving with all the windows down, sunroof wide open, and “Champagne Coast” on full blast. 

 I realized that it’s also my comfort song. Whenever I feel overwhelmed I put my airpods on, with the song blasting that I can’t hear my mom screaming my name. I either dance carelessly (which I learned from Grey’s Anatomy, where Meredith and Cristina “dance it out” whenever their problems are too big to work out) or I lay on bed with my fluffy blanket under me and close my eyes. I feel like closing my eyes connects me to song more imagining myself levitating. In some ways it gives me a euphoric feeling. Like nothing is around me. Just me and the song, alone.

-Kelly Lopez

“Desert Theater“
Kikuohana
Act 1.
2016

I don’t remember when or how I stumbled upon “Desert Theater” by Kikuohana (the collaboration between producer Kikuo and singer Hanatan), all I know is when I heard it I felt like I’d ascended to another plane. It was some years ago, maybe in 2020, probably in 2021. All I’d been listening to then was Vocaloid music, hypercore, and some alternative and emo bands. Basically, the pandemic mental illness starter pack. I knew of Kikuo from his Vocaloid work, his music sounding like his studio consisted of an industrial factory and a steel pan, with high-pitched, edgy Vocaloid lyrics thrown in. I hadn’t heard of Hanatan before.

While the lyrics match their aesthetics (at the time), being about longing, “Desert Theater” doesn’t sound like the music either of them previously made. The song starts with a bang, giving a second of some indiscernible percussion instrument before blasting the listener with the most un-brass sounding brass stabs I’ve ever heard. The stabs are then repeated with upper strings and cymbals, leading into the singer, Hanatan, belting out “la la la” over and over again, only to hit the listener with deep, emotional vocals. The emotion and darkness in her voice only builds up over the course of the song, filling with more and more despair and desperation. She occasionally is cut off by piano chords or Spanish guitar, before starting up again. The entire song is stuffed with perfect, complicated percussion.

Since their two-album collaboration, Kikuo has gone back to making his clanky whimsical Vocaloid music (still fire, though), and Hanatan sings mostly j-pop, which I usually find unlistenable. It’s hard for me to find songs that I enjoy as much as this one, because I can’t stand music with either a weak instrumental or bad voice.

-Fi Krefting

“Somewhere Only We Know”
Keane
Hopes and Fears
2004

Listening to Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” brings me a wave of nostalgia as I reflect on the simplicity and blissfulness of my childhood. The song’s soft melody along with Tom Chaplin’s emotional vocals create a sense of longing, which reflects my own feelings as I look back on my early years.

Growing up, I remember always being eager to reach the next milestone. Whether it was starting high school, learning to drive, or becoming independent, each stage seemed like the key to freedom and fulfillment.

As a child, I had a Dora kitchen playset that was the heart of my imaginary world. I remember carefully arranging all my stuffed animals in a row, pretending they were my loyal customers at a restaurant I proudly owned along with Dora’s family. However, my imagination didn’t stop there. On other days, that same kitchen set transformed into a doctor’s office, where I became the most dedicated pediatrician using my Doc McStuffins kit. Looking back, I realize how limitless my world felt back then, considering a playset could be anything I wanted it to be simply by using the magic of childhood creativity. These are memories I now cherish deeply.

I feel connected to the line “Oh simple thing, where have you gone? I’m getting old and I need something to rely on” because now that I’ve gotten a bit older, I find myself looking back at my childhood with a sense of yearning. I’ve come to realize that the things I once saw as limitations, were actually the things that made me feel secure.

The line, “Is this the place that I’ve been dreaming of?” resonates with me as I navigate early adulthood, questioning whether the reality matches the dreams I once had. The responsibilities, the uncertainty of my future, and the pressure to make all of the “right” choices at the age of 17 make life feel much more complicated than I had once anticipated.

I fear that I take most moments in my life for granted but this song really helps me appreciate the present. The same way I reminisce about my childhood, I hope one day to look back at these years with the same nostalgia. I hope to one day realize that every stage of my life has something worth holding onto before it becomes a simple memory.

-Leslie Aguilera

“3005”
Because the Internet
Childish Gambino
2013

“3005” by Childish Gambino (a.k.a. Donald Glover) is one of those songs that can stay timeless. Even after a decade, it’s still a song I circle back to. On the five minute rides home from elementary school, my mom would blast R&B music which has a hand in my music taste today. It wasn’t until over the summer of my Sophomore year that I fully understood what I was listening to.

I had just gotten home from hanging out with my friends and wanted to post the pictures I took that day on my Instagram story when this song popped up as one of the suggested songs. When I clicked the play button I was like, “hey this song sounds familiar.” Later on, I realized that it was one of the songs my mom played on the car rides home from school when I was younger.

This song captures the value of friendship with one of the first lines being “I’ll be right by your side, till 3005.” Glover puts lyrics like, “No matter where all of my friends go, Emily, Fam and Lorenzo, all of them people my kinfolk,” into the song that really show how strong friendships can be. That verse alone is one of the reasons why this song has been on a repeat this year. Friendships are always important but I think they’re especially important now as seniors in high school. We’re about to graduate and go onto different paths as our friends and are likely to lose contact with them.

However, if the bonds are strong enough, they’ll last no matter what happens, which is something that I think everyone needs to remember.

Because I rediscovered this song over the summer of my sophomore year, I associate it with summer. It’s one of those songs that you can blast while driving with friends on a summer night. In the music video Glover made for the song, it shows him on the ferris wheel the whole time, which reminds me of going to the county fair with my friends every summer. Especially when me and my friends try to go on the ferris wheel while the fireworks are going off (we never time it right).

I am thankful for my mom, not only for the car rides home from school but for teaching me the importance of friendship through this song at a young age.

-Sarah Chatman

“El Motherf*****”
Los Amos De Nuevo León
El Hyphy (jai-fi)
2008

As a little girl, I was full of energy. I would constantly sing and dance to any music that was playing. But I developed a deep love for hardcore corridos and the groups that made that music, like Los Inquietos del Norte, Los Amos de Nuevo León, and more. The beat, the strong language, and the sound of the instruments always gets me excited and really hyped up. There’s just really something about the energy and attitude in the corridos that boosts up my energy. Whether it’s the bass, the accordion, or the bold lyrics, it all puts me in the right mood. I always play this music while getting ready and heading to parties.

“El Motherf*****” was a song my dad introduced me to when I was really little, probably before I even turned five and, crazy enough, I already learned the lyrics really quickly. My dad is such a wild character. You could say he’s your typical Mexican tío, always blasting his corridos and drinking beer. Being real, there’s no surprise that I developed that craziness and turned out just like him, listening to “tío music.”

It might seem like a weird song to have sentimental value, but it always brings my dad and me closer and makes our car rides so much fun. I always feel like such a daddy’s girl whenever we bond over these hardcore corridos. Our favorite part is: “I don’t know who you are, I don’t make business with you, so get the f*** out of here before I kick your a**, motherf*****, c*********, b****.”

I don’t know. We’re always laughing while my mom just looks really disappointed and scolds us. But honestly I’m glad my dad and I get to have fun and match each other’s energy.

-Liliana Diaz

“Fresh Out The Slammer”
Taylor Swift
The Tortured Poets Department
2024

The wind coming from the open sunroof blows my hair, the smell of sex wax fills my nose, two triangles on my chest, and the sound of “Fresh Out The Slammer” playing in the background like there is no care in the world. My favorite time of the year is when I can drive on the highway with my sunroof down and listen to songs that make me feel like I’m in another world. That’s exactly how this song makes me feel. 

As soon as this song turns on I can’t help but have a smile on my face. My mind and soul feel like they are beaming with sunshine.

The first time I heard this song I felt like I was walking into the gates of heaven. The opening starts off with a sort of haunting-sounding instrumental. Then her soft voice carries on throughout the entire song. The song also brings comfort because I can relate to the lyrics, like: “handcuffed to the spell I was under, just for one hour of sunshine.” Where she is describing how she was trapped by the love she felt, even when only small parts of it were good. The happiness always seemed like more because there was so little of it. 

The song has such deep meaning that listening to it I can feel the freedom the song brings me. No longer having only small bits of happiness to hold onto, the song reminds me of the great amounts of it I now have.

This song rejuvenates me and as I listen, it brings me to great memories of summer and when the weather is warm. As soon as I want to go on a drive to just think, this song will definitely be played. It brings so many emotions to me at once that are hard for me to find elsewhere. This song truly is a masterpiece.

-Adelaide Gaw

“Blow the Whistle”
Too Short
2006

“Blow the Whistle,” written by Bay Area legend Too Short, is and will forever be engraved into my mind with fond memories of late night sports games with my family. If you ask me, this is the song of the Bay. If you want a Bay Area crowd to get up and move, this is the first song you play at any event. It’s one of those songs that you just somehow know the lyrics to, and feel the need to sing at the top of your lungs whenever it comes on.

The song takes me back specifically to late nights at the Oakland Coliseum with my parents. When I hear this song, I can smell the mixture of beer, cotton candy, and popcorn in the air approaching me from every angle. In my memories, I have my big A’s jersey on that was once my dad’s, and my pink A’s hat he just bought me. There are people smiling and enjoying themselves everywhere. And of course, there are people on the jumbotron dancing to “Blow the Whistle.”

I feel a pit in my stomach, both from the excitement and anxiety of possibly being on the jumbotron. However, my dad and I keep dancing together as I eat my basket of chicken tenders and fries, with a Sprite on the side.

This song takes me back to my dad clapping, screaming, and encouraging his team. Meanwhile, I’m copying his every move and my mom is taking one too many pictures. I was once annoyed at the amount of pictures she took, but now wish there were more. As I look back at them now, I can already hear this song blasting through the speakers as a crowd of fans goes wild. That’s the Bay pride.

-Arlin Guzman

“Starting Over”
Chris Stapelton
Starting Over
2020

I have dove more into the genre of country music over the last year and have discovered some great songs. I don’t confine myself to a certain genre of music, but I have found country music to be the most relatable to my life experiences over the past year.

For me, music is about emotion; expressing your emotions and your experiences as well as having the ability to make you feel certain emotions. Some music makes you happy, some makes you sad, and some music makes you reminisce. The reason that I picked this song in particular is because I feel a deep connection to the lyrics.

The title itself is a precursor to my life in a few months. For the past 16 years I have been developing friendships, making memories, and living life in the same place with the same people. And now, for the first time in my life, I will be moving away from that place and those people and living on my own, starting over.

In an interview with CMT talking about his song “Starting Over,” Chris says, “We tried to write a song that reflected hope in large life changes.” The song starts off with the lyrics: “Well, the road rolls out like a welcome mat, to a better place than the one we’re at…but I’ve had all of this town I can stand.”

Now don’t get me wrong, I have had some amazing experiences during my time here, but I am ready for a fresh start, and to move somewhere new.

In that same interview with CMT, Chris expresses that his favorite lyric in the song is “nobody wins afraid of losing.” The second part of the song talks about how taking the more difficult path, although it can be scary and more painful, is worth it in the end. Some of the later lyrics go: “And the hard roads are the ones worth choosing, someday we’ll look back and smile, and know it was worth every mile.” College is a new experience that I will be having soon, and it comes with a lot of opportunity. If I make the right choices at a school like Babson, stay focused on learning how to become the best businessman I can be, hopefully I will be able to look back in 10-20 years and be happy with the sacrifices I’ve made.

-Dexter Jackson

“De Que Se Puede Se Puede”
Los Inquietos del Norte
De noche Enfiestado
2015

As a young Latina with a single mother who has always had to go through challenges in life, this song is relatable because I’ve always been able to persevere through difficult obstacles. Obstacles my mother has had to overcome on her own. She has not had it easy and doesn’t want the same life for me.

This song tells the story of many immigrants who come to America with a mindset to achieve the “American Dream” at any cost. The title translates to “That It Can Be Done, It Can Be Done,” meaning that any goal someone is trying to achieve can be accomplished, no matter what. Although it is an unrealistic saying because you never know what life throws at you. However, you always have the ability to keep trying.

Despite this group being from an older generation, their music is still very popular and well-known. The loud bass and their powerful voices are what they are known for. If you’re trying to get “turnt up” in the car or lift up your spirits after a really hard day, this group is the one to play.

“Voy a triunfar venga lo que venga” translates to “I will succeed no matter what comes my way,” which is the type of motivation I need knowing other people are able to succeed after facing so many obstacles and challenges.

I have hundreds of songs I could’ve chosen but this song makes me feel a stronger connection with music.This verse makes me feel a sense of comfort and happiness because the message it delivers is strong and powerful. It reassures me that everything you do in life is worth it in the end no matter how difficult it may seem.

-Astri Morales Santos

“Fishtail”
Lana Del Rey
Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd
2023

Over the past couple years I’ve spent my time consuming music like water. I’ll listen to almost anything you show me and more than likely, I’ll enjoy it. My thousands of liked songs on spotify can attest.

However you will more than likely find me enjoying the toxic melodies of Lana Del Rey, well known for her melancholic, dark love songs. To most it may seem really depressive, but when I need a spark of creativity Lana Del Rey is my go to. I love to listen to the emotions she portrays through her music.

“Fishtail” has been an active listen of mine since the beginning of senior year. I don’t have any experience with romance, but to me the overall theme of feeling unimportant is something I resonate with.

The line, “Lately I’ve been thinkin’ about how things used to be,” brings me back to a time when I didn’t really fit in with anyone I was around. I lost a lot of friends sophomore year, looking back at it I think it’s a good thing that I did.

“Almost Victorian with you, you can talk to me.” To be “Victorian” at least in this context means to me a mutual development between Lana and her lover. To me the lyrics resonate with how much I’ve grown and changed, at least emotionally since then.

Those losses formed the amazing friendships I have now. I’ll mourn those times where I didn’t belong because I’ll always wish those bonds lasted longer, as unhealthy as that is.

The title of the song has a double meaning, one is that her lover tends to flop through showing affection like a fishtail. The other being the “fishtail braid”; both have the same theme of care.

The song itself is about the narrator’s lover who makes lots of false promises, breaking even the smallest promise of braiding her hair. She looks back on earlier stages of their relationship still longing for that connection with her lover but he doesn’t notice it. At the end of the song she tells her lover to stop making false promises if he isn’t going to keep them.

With the theme of sadness and the line “you wanted me sadder.” It makes the outro of the song more meaningful when she ends it with “you want someone sadder.” Telling her lover she cannot be that sad person for him.

“Some jokes and lines are drawn directly from conversations with her girlfriends, like on ‘Fishtail’ when a friend’s date promised he would come over to her house to braid her hair, but he never did,” Del Rey tells RollingStone UK.

The story told in the song itself is very sad, but when you look at the inspiration behind it, it’s almost bittersweet.

-Madeline Velasquez

Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now”
The Smiths
Hatful of Hollow
1984

I always get a feeling of nostalgia when I smell a specific perfume or when I rewatch a specific movie that brings me back to the era with which I associate it. This song does the same and reminds me of my sophomore self going into my junior year. I recall listening to this song in the summer many times. 

My friends hate that I listen to “sad music” and force me to change my songs but this is one I can’t ever skip. I like to think It’s an upbeat song and a happy one, although the lyrics contradict this. In the chorus, Morrisey sings, “I was looking for a job and then I found a job and heaven knows, I’m miserable now.” I think this line is humorous in the sense that a lot of people can relate or have felt that way at one point in their life. However, I also think that this line really resonates with the way I grew up having to work and find jobs constantly to contribute to my family.

 Then the singer adds: “In my life, oh, why do I give valuable time to people who don’t care if I live or die?” Coincidently during the summer I played this song, I began to realize a lot about the friendships and people in my life. I started to distance myself from others because I finally understood the effort I put into evolving my relationships compared to those who showed no effort in doing the same. This lyric highlights the transition from depending less on others and more on oneself. 

Although I don’t listen to The Smiths all that often, I still put on this song when I need to remember the feeling of summer. Listening to it now reminds me of how much I have grown and how much more is waiting in the future. 

-Jacqueline Poroj

“Devil’s Advocate”
The Neighbourhood
Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones
2020

During my senior year of high school, I often found myself driving home late at night from night classes or work. These late night drives always included a playlist that I had created for myself, filled with a myriad of different songs from different artists, all with a similar vibe to them. “Devil’s Advocate” most accurately describes the feel that I wanted the playlist to have, with the lulling bass line and relaxing vocals. 

Driving has always been a way for me to relieve stress, whether cruising down the coast on the weekends, taking in the ocean breeze or speeding down the highway late at night. The scene of nodding my head to the music, where I feel all of my stress melt away as the wind blows through my hair, has always been something that helps me get through the day. 

It has always been a challenge to find the best music to accompany my stress-free driving, but finding songs like “Devil’s Advocate” helped me form a playlist that perfectly emulates the feeling that I get from driving with no one else on the road. 

Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones is a very different tune than many of The Neighbourhood’s albums, and it is not as popular as many of their other pieces. Their top song, “Sweater Weather,” has over 3.5 billion streams on Spotify alone, while Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones has just over 5 hundred million streams. 

I was drawn to the almost futuristic sounds of “Devil’s Advocate,” with the song blending sci-fi-like sound effects mixed with their traditional guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. With a catchy beat, the song is easily one of my favorites from The Neighbourhood. 

While there are a plethora of songs that I enjoy listening to while cruising down the highway late at night, “Devil’s Advocate” has remained one of my favorites and will always be a part of my late night drives playlist.

-Aidan Felgen-Taylor

“Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy”
Elton John
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
1975

When I press play on “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy,” I am taken back to the countless times my mom and I would sing this song together. Whether it was chores around the house or aimlessly driving around to get one more listen in, this song was a staple of my youth.
As I was growing up, I don’t think there was ever a time where my mom wasn’t introducing my brother and I to the music she loved when she was younger, and Elton John’s music makes constant appearances in many of my childhood memories.

Not only is this a great song, but it was also the first song and album I learned by heart. This song’s storytelling reflects John’s early days in the music industry, along with that of Bernie Taupin, his writing partner. John, being Captain Fantastic, and Taupin, the Brown Dirt Cowboy, both shared doubts of what their careers would become. One lyric goes, “Are there chances in life for little dirt cowboys?” This question symbolizes the internal conflicts they were facing, wondering if their talent would be enough to secure a spot in the music industry, as well as in their regular lives.

The memories I made of this song with my mom came full circle when we went to see Elton John at Levi’s Stadium in 2022. I still remember the eruption of the crowd when he took the stage, and the sequin outfits I could shimmering all the way from my nosebleed-level seat. That night was a celebration of the memories we’ve made, and gave me yet another one to treasure.

-Aly Seater

“Girl With the Tattoo (Enter.Lewd)”
Miguel
All I Want is You
2010

The song is simple but powerful, using Miguel’s voice and gentle music to create a sense of intimacy. To me it tells a story of love, pain and self discovery. I love it because it feels like a deep conversation that’s filled with emotion and honesty. 

This song describes a girl with a tattoo, but the tattoo is more than just ink on the skin. It is a symbol of her struggles, dreams and the layers of her personality. Miguel starts by admiring her “innocent eyes” and “smile” which makes her seem easy to trust. But as the song continues, he shows that there’s more to her than what we see. She is strong and carries her own stories like everyone else. 

One part of the song that really stands out is when Miguel sings: “Doing what you’re doing/Just to get to where you’re going.” 

To me this means working hard for your dreams, but gently warns you not to lose yourself along the way of doing so. This line makes the song relatable, especially for anyone who is chasing something really important in life. 

Miguel’s repeated “yeah, I see you baby” feels like a warm acknowledgement. It’s his way of saying that he truly understands and appreciates her. 

The ending line, “I used to know,” adds a bittersweet feeling. It reminds us that people do change and life moves on, but the connection and memories stay with us. 

This song matters to me because it’s thoughtful and heartfelt. It shows how music can tell a story that feels personal. Miguel makes you feel seen, and that’s what makes this song unforgettable.

– Katleen Santos

“Scars To Your Beautiful”
Alessia Cara
Know It All
2015

Growing up plus size, I struggled with bullying, self-harming, mental health problems, and insecurities. Society made it seem as if beauty had a specific look, a look that I didn’t fit. There were times I felt like I had to hide my pain from the world. Alessia Cara sings, “So she tries to cover up her pain and cut her woes away.” This line resonates with me deeply because it perfectly describes what I was going through at that time.

One thing I noticed about Alesia is that she doesn’t dress up like other singers do (all in their expensive outfits and accessories), no makeup, nothing. She is naturally beautiful in all aspects of herself.

The song began to be my anthem as it delivered a message I needed to hear at the time. “You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are,” she sings, and for the first time, I actually started to believe it. The way she sings those lyrics feels as if she is reminding me that real beauty of a person is not what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside. Her voice is powerful and full of emotion as she’s telling a story that so many women, including myself, have lived.

The soft beats of the piano playing is what lets her voice shine, making sure the audience hears her strong lyrics while making a statement. Not only does this song help me heal from childhood trauma, but I love how she implements everyone including men, children, and even very old people. We all have insecurities and that’s okay, It’s not something we have to hide from. The important thing is to remember that we’re all unique, beautiful stars, and we don’t need to listen to what others say.

Even as the years go on, and I am continuously growing, I still hold onto this song. It reminds me of how far I have come in self-confidence and how I overcame all the bullies who have tried to bring me down. This song is a representation of my self-acceptance and how I want to help other girls to feel the same. We all have scars, but that doesn’t mean we’re broken. If anything, they make us stronger.

-Edith Romo

“Brillas”
León Larregui
Solstis
2012

A road trip calls for a musical exploration, especially if you’re trapped in a car for 9 hours. When I discovered this song, I was instantly entranced by the soft guitar melody and ethereal instrumentals. The repeating chord progression reminded me of running through a field of flowers (I’ve never ran through a field of flowers). Larregui’s voice has a sweet, tender tone that makes the song all the more cherishable.  

The song picks up with a tambourine and a more full chorus. The ad libs sound like angels singing in heaven. The little build-ups to the choruses mimic the feeling of childlike adventure. From a lyrical standpoint, the song is a declaration of deep appreciation for someone else. It describes a mutual love that shares everything in life: “Nos damos todo eso y mucho más,” which translates to “we give each other everything and even more.” The singer sings fondly of his partner as someone who shines brightly with their divine smile. Their love, allowing both of them to shine even brighter together, is what he means when he sings “y brillamos juntos, entre pestañas.” The phrase “abrazo de luna, de luna llena” references how their love is as whole and complete as a full moon. 

The song encapsulates the experience of living wholeheartedly with your significant other, thus: “juntitos los dos.” They have the liberty of doing whatever they want together, giving and receiving equal amounts from each other in life. 

León Larregui is known for his Spanish indie, dreampop, and soft rock genre and for being the lead singer of the popular neo-psych rock band Zoé. Larregui’s style blends acoustic instruments and electronic elements to create organic electronic music.  

When listening to the song, you either feel hopeful and jittery for an experience that parallels this song or you dedicate it to your special person. I thoroughly enjoy the song because it gives me good feelings all out and makes me yearn for a connection this special.

-Michelle Rodas

“Pearls”
Sade
Love Deluxe
1992

At the start of my freshman year, I started listening to Sade. I discovered her while listening to R&B radio on Spotify. I am starting to understand music and the power that it has on a person. Sade was one of the
first artists that I loved to hear over and over again. Her lyrics and voice are stunning.

“Pearls” is a song about a Somali woman who is on the side of the road looking for Pearls for her daughter, which are grains of rice. She calls them pearls because they are as valuable to her as expensive jewelry is to other people.
They are valuable because food is scarce due to famine and war.

Just listening to her makes me feel slightly guilty because there is always food on the table for me, while there are others with little to nothing scavenging for food through no fault of their own. I say slightly guilty, because I have no reason to be more fortunate than being born in a different place other than my parents having the ability to leave a similar situation.

Sade speaks about and wants to relate to the Somali woman’s pain by singing, “and hurts like brand-new shoes.” New shoes give you blisters or feel stiff, but that doesn’t come close to how the Somali woman is feeling.

She sings, “She lives a life she didn’t choose,” meaning that people don’t choose where they grow up or their struggles but she is in a better position compared to the Somali woman who starts to pray for her struggles, praying for help that will never come for her.

The song “Pearls” resonates with me because it gives me a reminder that not all people have it the same and that everyone goes through their own struggles. It’s important to stay humble and to remember what you have that maybe other people don’t. It reminds me to be thankful for my parents’ struggles and their love for me, like the woman struggling for her child.

-Magno Rivas

“Getting Older”
Billie Eilish
Happier Than Ever
2021

Growing up, listening to music has always been shunned by my family who believes any kind of music is satanic. I didn’t start to listen to any sort of music until the era of Covid-19. Billie Eilish was the first real artist I had ever encountered, and the deep, emotional lyrics have resonate with me to this day. 

Getting older was one of the first few songs of hers that stood out to me because of the emotional impact of how growing older makes me feel. The composition of this song tells a sort of story inviting the listener to be able to see bits and pieces of her life through every lyric. 

In the chorus of “Getting Older”, Billie Eilish sings: “Things I’m longing for, Someday I’ll be bored of,” which has a powerful connotation, that things we used to wish and want as kids will be nothing but pure childhood fantasies that we forget about as we grow older. 

When I was in elementary school, I would constantly wish to have magical powers and be able to resolve any problem I had with the snap of my fingers. I would always have this constant daydream, but as I grew older and began to enter the “real world,” it began to disappear. 

Change is something that I have always been afraid of. Listening to this song makes me realize that I’m getting older and there’s nothing that I can do about it except grow up and accept that that’s how life is. 

This song resonates with me today as it brings back these old memories and life events. Making decisions for myself, like listening to music for the first time, is a part of growing up and getting older. The soft vocals backed by the rhythmic sounds of a heartbeat brings me back to my childhood and relive my life once again.

– Eduardo Reyes Rodas

“SuperCut”
Lorde
Melodrama
2017

Every song I listen to sticks to a memory, like an album of moments I never want to forget. Supercut is tied to one of my favorite memories, driving through the Alps from Austria to Milan in the middle of July. The sunroof down, sunglasses on, mountains stretching around us, and goats right and left. It was a long drive, the kind of drive where the hours melt together. However, I remember the song “Super Cut” by Lorde. I remember realizing that this drive would stick with me forever, not wanting it to only stay as a memory. It was something I would replay in my mind over and over, just as Lorde sings.

“Supercut” walks you through nostalgia hitting before something is gone, trying to hold on to a feeling that you know won’t last forever. The fast pace feels as if you are trying to hold onto something as it slips away. Then, the song slows down as Lorde sings, “In my head, I do everything right.” This is something we all do. We take the best parts of something, put them together, and make them more perfect than they were.

My memory of the drive has now become a supercut. A six hour drive cut into short clips forming one perfect memory. “Supercut” makes me feel as if I’m back in that car, wind in my hair, sun in my eyes, in the moment knowing it will be a memory soon. Everytime I listen to the song I am there again, in my own supercut.

-Stella Pisaturo

“I Wish You Sweet Dreams”
DVRST
Echoes of Childhood
2024

Growing up, I’ve always been into electronic music. As I got older, this interest quickly developed into a fascination with phonk music, which consists of old Memphis rap mixed with cowbells and EDM beats. Aleriy Zaytsev, under the stage name DVRST, plays the crucial role of a producer and DJ in the phonk genre. Through the album Echoes of Childhood, he depicts the universal desire to be forever young. But growing up is inevitable, and time always ticks forward. Most of the songs don’t have lyrics, and it is up to the audience to decode. Therefore, my personal interpretation of the album connects to a sense of longing for the past.

I Wish You Sweet Dreams mirrors a flashback that gives you a glimpse of nostalgia. A bitter-sweet feeling goes over you, but as you are about to shake it off and forget, you start to remember more than you expected. The song’s start introduces you to innocent, slow-moving reminders but then dips into a heavy, overwhelming beat. 

DVRST samples what most likely are lyrics from Project Pat’s album, Mista Don’t Play: Everythangs Workin, and intertwines them with the background sound. The rap that can’t really be made out symbolizes the faded memories of a past friend you so desperately try to hold on to. The song is all over the place. The beat stays slightly behind the lyrics, and the only way to follow the song is to allow the cowbells to guide you. Passing it back to the beat, the lyrics stop.

It continues back and forth, like a neverending duet of two childhood friends. The two lives can only align in the right place but only serve as a reminder of life’s temporary nature. It starts again with a gradual crescendo of the rap. Climaxing, it quickly descends again, and the tempo changes. The only way for the lyrics and the beat to be in tune with one other is to make the lyrics stuck on repeat. You grow and change, but the memory of them stays still, stuck forever in a time loop. 

The unstable duet starts again, running to the very end, thus allowing the friendship to burn brightly one last time. Suddenly, the song stops in some trance, where the close relationship is only kept alive in the memories of two people, forever parted. Wishing each other sweet dreams as the day ends, they enter the quiet nighttime, where everything is at a standstill and finally at peace. The song rushes to transition to the next in the album, leaving the journey permanently in the past.

-Suri Pham

“DTMF”
Bad Bunny
Debi Tirar Mas Fotos
2025

As regret always lingers on one’s mind, mine is full of it. Regret especially hits when you lose someone dearest to you.There’s always the question of what if we would’ve done this or what if we didn’t say this but at the end of the day all that’s left is memories.

 When hearing “DTMF” for the first time I felt interlinked with the song. The way the song flows, the nostalgia it brings, the lyrics, all come together to activate my brain’s emotions and memories. When hearing Benito’s (Bad Bunny’s) voice as he repeats the lines “I should’ve taken more pictures when I had you, I should’ve given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could,” triggers something in my brain. It sets off an instant replay of all the memories and things that I could’ve done or taken advantage of in the moment.  

This song has become my go-to song whenever I miss a certain person or whenever I feel regret and guilt for taking something for granted. It has become a comfort song that brings me back to great memories when I had everything I could have asked for. As the beat drops the tone of the song brings me peace, as the melody flows, it heals a part of me and brings me interpeace.

The song reflects on looking back on life and realizing all the little things you took advantage of: the photos you didn’t take, the hugs you didn’t give, the words you didn’t say and memories you couldn’t keep creating. This song is a constant reminder to never take things for granted when you have the opportunity to live in the moment. Appreciate what you have and who you have because at the end of the day, we don’t all live forever and it eventually comes to an end. 

-Estefani Gonzalez

“See You Again”
Tyler, the creator
Flower Boy
2017

At the start of my seventh grade year, Covid-19 hit worldwide, forcing everyone to quarantine inside of their homes, away from the rest of the world.

This era of my life forced me to gain new hobbies, as I spent hours of my long weeks doing nothing productive until school started up again. I became interested in complex art projects that required me to have music playing in the background so I wouldn’t have to sit in silence.

I have always been interested in music, but I was never interested in making playlists. I would usually search a song I knew up on YouTube and let the songs play as they wished. Maybe this was because I didn’t have a music subscription back then. I also ever really cared enough to organize my music genres. I ended up creating a Spotify account and because TikTok was very popular throughout the pandemic, I would move the songs that I liked onto my playlists. It wasn’t until I ran into “See You Again” by Tyler, the creator that I began to like his music.

The album Flower Boy was released in 2017 and I discovered it three years later. I was more familiar with Kali Uchis, a feature in this song. After listening to more songs on the album, I have stayed updated with Tyler, the creator’s music, also recently going to one of his concerts.

Getting to see him perform the song live was something incredible to me as his songs have always stuck with me. To me, “See you again” is about the longing for a relationship with someone that you’ll never know if you’ll see them again, outside of our fantasy dreams of the real world.

I am really glad I got to go see Tyler, the creator live as it brought back the feeling of creativity and an odd comforting feeling of loneliness that I had felt during the pandemic.

-Daana Ordonez

“Lady Hear Me Tonight”
Modjo
Modjo Remixes
2001

“Lady Hear Me Tonight” by Modjo was released in 2001. It is not a lyrically deep song: a few words repeated with a relatable message. It is a love song and a feel good song, it’s nice and carefree. It is a song that I have known for as long as I can remember, but I gained a true appreciation for it the summer of my sophomore year. That was the summer I met a great friend of mine, Vladimir. Vladimir lives in Switzerland, but over the summer he comes to California to visit family. We met in LA at a party a family friend was hosting and quickly became good friends.

He reintroduced me and others to this song that night by playing it constantly, basically on repeat with small breaks for other songs. Surprisingly it didn’t get old. The song is simple. After one listen you could probably sing along and get every lyric, but that is part of the magic of the song. Easy lyrics, a bouncy beat and bass, with synthetic keys, and guitar, all characteristic of French house music, which leads to an upbeat and fun sound that is great in group settings. Every time it comes on people start dancing.

This song seemingly followed Vlad and me for the rest of the summer. We would hear it everywhere we went (mostly because Vlad was playing it). The song is filled with lots of fond memories. As time has passed, I have started listening to the song less and less but every time it’s on there is a smile on my face.

-Luke Murphy

“Happy Birthday”
Stevie Wonder
Hotter Than July
1980

Every family has their own unique traditions. For mine, and in all the past years my siblings and I have grown up, we have kept one tradition that has become a symbol of joy and connection for our family. This of course, is the playing of “Happy Birthday” by Stevie Wonder on every one of our birthdays. Something about waking up and hearing the first words begin knowing my whole family was waiting downstairs, was the best feeling in the world. On this day, hearing this song, I felt special. As I have grown older I continue to appreciate this tradition, as it represents somewhere more than just the feeling of happiness I get every year.

Hearing Stevie Wonder’s bright vocals, lyrics like “Happy birthday to you” sound so simple, but mean much more. Sung with so much energy I feel honored, and the playing of this song allows our family to not only come together to celebrate another year, but to spotlight that unique member of the family. It’s astonishing how such basic lyrics translate to feelings of inclusiveness and collective joy. In a way, his creation mirrors our family’s evolution, with each birthday hinting we are all getting older, yet we continue to celebrate. It gives us hope as we know that time will distance us, but each year becomes that much more meaningful. It allows us to cherish the time we get together as a family, listening to the same song, for the same occasion, every time. 

 His upbeat version reminds me of the importance of family, and connects all of us together in the rare time we have. As it plays throughout our surrounding speakers, it feels more than just a birthday song, but a moment of solidarity. Everytime I hear it I am brought back to all the special moments my family share together, and it brings me a sense of comfort reminding me of all the laughs we have shared and memories we have created.

-Asher Urban 

“Slow Down”
Bobby V.
Bobby Valentino
2005

It was the sound of the angelic instrumental intro of “Slow Down” that caught my attention when I heard it for the first time. I was shopping at a mall on a hot summer day in 2023 when “Slow Down” came up, and I instantly fell in love with this song. I had never heard this song before so I quickly pulled out my phone to Shazam it and there it was, Slow Down by Bobby V.

I recognized his name because of a different song that he was featured in, “Mrs. Officer,” by Lil Wayne and Kidd Kidd but I hadn’t looked into his own songs. I’ve always liked R&B music and melodies similar to this song such as “You” by Lloyd ft. Lil Wayne or “Sexy Love” by Ne-Yo, which is why I was so drawn to it.

The way Bobby V. sings this song and how his vocals mix in beautifully with the melody makes this such a perfect song. Lyrically, “Slow Down” is a reflection of the excitement and vulnerability that comes with falling in love. He sings about wanting to take things slow in a relationship, and speaks to the importance of cherishing moments and truly connecting with someone special. His lyrics remind me of some of my experiences, where the rush of emotions can sometimes overpower the beauty of taking time to understand each other.

“Slow Down” can be a reminder to slow down and enjoy the little things in life, especially when it comes to relationships. This is more than just a song. To me it’s a celebration of love, patience, or just happiness.

-Martha Gomez

“Careful”
The Expanders
The Expanders
2011

On July 11, 2024, this song helped save my life. Although I had heard this song many times before, already enjoying the smooth, up-tempo reggae style, this day was special. Without going into detail, this song helped me come to accept a very scary moment in my life.

As I sat down, grounded to the granite earth, I listened to this song while looking at the endless mountains and seeing the trees make rough edges on the silhouette. Tears filled my eyes as the orange and pink sky peeked through the valley. If I hear this song ten years from now, no matter what person I become, I will remember this day. Never have I felt more connected to not only myself but also the earth. I was happy to be alive, happy to be experiencing this sunset, as it could’ve been my last. “Just take it easy, and be careful,” the lyrics reassure.

The Expanders, a band heavily influenced by classic 1970s reggae, truly captures the feeling of harmony. As the drums drop, the guitar riff begins, the offbeat rhythm and the comforting lyrics surround you. You feel contentment.

I was introduced to The Expanders the summer going into my sophomore year. Hearing songs like “Evilous Number” and “Too Late,” I felt connected to them. After listening to reggae for most of my life, hearing a new and somewhat local band from L.A. made me immediately enjoy them. The Expanders are not the best reggae band of all—they don’t make the best music, they don’t have the best vocals, and they especially aren’t my favorite band. But music isn’t about that; it’s how it makes you feel, how it holds your memories, and how it can connect you to either yourself or others.

I have probably listened to music three hours a day, every day, for as long as I can remember. Every genre, every type, all having their own touch on what music is. As an amateur guitarist and songwriter, I have some understanding of what good music is. Although biased, I believe reggae is one of the greatest genres of music. Historically, figures like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff addressed the spiritual and political movements during their time while also portraying peace, love, and unity.

Now, the nostalgia of it is being 80 degrees and sunny, driving in the car with the windows open, feeling the slight summer breeze on your sun-kissed skin. No stress, no doubts, just being with friends and enjoying life.

-Torin Pilla