The Quarantine Thirteen: Songs of Social Distance and Solace
I’m starting to hear music differently. I’ve been in quarantine for over a month now with absolutely no idea when things will go back to “normal,” if such a thing even exists anymore. Lately, I’ve been trying to find the good in this—in the extra time to listen and think. Songs I’ve known my entire life are starting to sound new. I read an article recently where Jayson Greene referred to music as “recorded air.” It captures a moment in time, a feeling. Music creates comfort by triggering the part of the brain where we recognize things. It is, without a doubt, the closest thing we have to time travel.
I’ve almost developed a slight aversion to new music. My brain does not want to hear it right now. Instead, I’ve been revisiting old favorites that have taken on new meaning for me in the past few weeks. These aren’t the most high-brow choices or obscure deep cuts, but they are the little comforts that are helping me navigate all of this.
“Ribs”—Lorde
Like so many others, I’ve been quarantined in my parent’s house and living in my childhood bedroom. Between having to ask for permission to go anywhere, and drinking my parent’s alcohol, my brain can’t help but regress to my teenage self. It’s not surprising to me that I can’t stop listening to Lorde lately, who pretty much scored the soundtrack to my senior year. If Pure Heroineis my high school yearbook then “Ribs” is my favorite autograph.
“Retrograde”—Maggie Rogers
I live under this delusion that Maggie Rogers and I are friends, and I partially blame this song for making me feel that way. “Retrograde” effortlessly dances on the line between breakdown and breakthrough. It feels even more poignant now when each day brings new hurtles and unknowns. I’ve decided this whole thing comes in waves; some days I’m at the crest with everything figured out, and others I’m swept right back beneath the surface. I’m starting to become ok with all cycles of this wave. This is the sonic embodiment of that.
“I Know What I Know”—Paul Simon
To me, Paul Simon is the equivalent of putting on your favorite sweatshirt. It’s the right fit every single time. Graceland will always be one of my most cherished albums, so it was extremely difficult for me to just pick one song from it, especially when I’ve been listening to it in its entirety at least once a week. I settled on “I Know What I Know,” because it is the perfect anthem of the times. It’s a sort of surrender to what you can’t control and finding security in what you can. It’s also worth mentioning that this song is perfect for dancing around in your kitchen
“Finder”—Cyrus Reynolds
I discovered this just before quarantine was enforced (shout out to Little Women) and it immediately worked its way into my list of best songs ever. It’s this beautiful dissonance of vocals and instrumentals that makes your heart swell with optimism. I hear this song and see my life cut into a movie trailer, showcasing the most important moments and people. In a weird way, it has really helped me gain a perspective on quarantine and know that it’ll be a part of my life but won’t define it forever. This is just one scene out of my film.
“Adore You”—Harry Styles
There is something that feels so damn goodabout listening to this song on full blast at the end of the workday and allowing myself to revisit my middle school fangirl persona for a few minutes. I think it has to be some form of therapy to sing very loudly along and stop taking yourself so seriously.
“Married Life”—Michael Giacchino
Being socially distanced from the people I love has had me thinking a lot about the relationships in my life. This is the song that gave life to one of the most emotional and beautiful scenes in cinematic history. It captures the purest form of love we have for one another. I can’t help but feel lucky for all of the people in my life when I hear it. I think about all that is ahead for me with my friends, my family and my boyfriend. We all could not get through this without the help of one another, and our relationships will all be better for it. Having someone who is worth missing is a privilege that I think we can sometimes lose sight of.
“Harry’s Wonderous World”—John Williams
I’ve spent the majority of the past month rereading the entire Harry Potter series (follow-up post to come) and have found an incredible amount of comfort revisiting my favorite fictional world. The music is just as timeless. John William’s score for the first movie is a masterpiece, but this song in particular seems to soar. It captures the sheer joy and innocence of my childhood and stands as a piece of magic all on its own.
“Shooting Stars”—Bag Raiders
This is embarrassing to admit, but I never actually knew the title of this song until quarantine. Although I definitely was not old enough to experience the early 2000s indie pop explosion in New York City, this song lets me imagine I was. It makes me want to be dancing with my best friends in a giant warehouse party at 3AM, but until that happens again (and it will), my bedroom is a pretty good alternative.
“Private Radio”—Vanessa Carlton
If there is one thing I have learned in the past few weeks, it’s that sometimes you just need to go for a walk. Turning this song up loud in your headphones doesn’t hurt either. I’m spending more time than ever in my own head and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This song helps recall old memories I haven’t addressed in a while and navigate a solitude I’m not used to. There’s an unspoken excitement and restlessness to this that makes me want to continue growing and facing things head on.
“Vienna”-Billy Joel
The classics are classic for a reason, and I feel like every time I listen to this song, I learn from it. Lately, it has been a gentle reminder to heed Joel’s advice and “slow down.” I am definitely guilty of giving into the underlying pressure to be “productive” with this newfound time, but lately I’m realizing there is also something to be said about cutting ourselves some much needed slack. This song means staring out of your window for a while and not worrying if it was a waste of your time.
“Baba O’Riley”—The Who
There are some days where I need a bit more motivation than usual, and this is that song for me. There is a certain monumental sound to the surging intro of this song that makes it one of the most iconic soundbites in the history of rock. It makes you feel like you’re just on the brink of achieving something great and its chaotic ending provides some kind of cathartic release. It’s only teenage wasteland after all.
“Moon River”—Frank Ocean
This song is the closest you can get to a hug right now. That’s pretty much all you need to know.
“Emoji of a Wave”—John Mayer
Picking a favorite John Mayer song is what I imagine picking a favorite child must feel like, but this song has always spoken to me. He takes stock of our world and relationships in a way that’s sharply honest, but graceful. When everything else feels so heavy, this song provides some much-needed weightlessness. Also thinking about what John Mayer must be doing in quarantine definitely makes me smile.