The Interlude

Many pandemic playlists made in 2020 were defined by grief, loneliness, and attempts to escape through music. These playlists leaned into nostalgia as we turned to our favorite artists to make it through each day, hour, and minute of quarantine.

Those bittersweet collections were necessary, but I feel like it’s time for new playlists marked by unadulterated joy as the U.S. continues to distribute COVID-19 vaccines and we imagine a post-pandemic future. I’m trading my favorite mournful crooners for artists like Lizzo and ABBA as I wait to qualify for my state’s vaccine rollout. Instead of songs meant to combat bad moods, I made this playlist with tunes meant only to elevate the good ones. We’re not entirely out of the woods yet, but these jams are for anyone who sees vaccination day(s) as a time of celebration. There’s something here for pre-appointment jitters, yearning for sweaty dance parties, and every emotion in between.

Scroll to the end to listen to Jab Jams on Spotify.

1. “Good Day” by Nappy Roots
   Sometimes good days have to be willed into existence. But other times there’s no reason to find so-called “silver linings” in a pandemic. It’s okay to root for a future of good days, in which “all we wanna do is get by today.”
2. “Holding Out for a Hero” by Frou Frou from Shrek 2
   We spent the last year waiting for successful vaccines, and now they’re finally here. That means that at some point in the future we can karaoke this song again, horribly out of tune.
3. “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae
   This song almost got cut. But The Interlude’s politics editor, Natasha Roy, pointed out that the “three little birds” telling Rae not to worry are the perfect manifestation of the vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.
4. “Gotta Get Up” by Harry Nilsson
   This song comes directly from Russian Doll, Netflix’s time loop series starring Natasha Lyonne. It plays every time her day restarts. There’s no better way to contrast the lengthy sameness of the past year with a new activity than listening to “Sorry can’t stay, I gotta run, run yeah/Gotta get home, pick up the phone” as you wait for confirmation of your vaccination appointment.
5. “This is the Day” by The The
   “Well you didn’t wake up this morning ’cause you didn’t go to bed,” is the perfect way to explain pre-appointment day jitters.
6. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” by the cast of Mamma Mia!
   You heard them! Gimme, gimme, gimme the vaccine!
7. “I’m Gonna Be (500) Miles” by The Proclaimers
   Walking has become an international pastime since this has all started, but walking to a vaccination appointment definitely strikes a new chord. This song embodies the joy of walking towards something, rather than around the same block every day.
8. “Wake Up” by Hilary Duff
   To the dismay of all cultured people everywhere, the world will not be getting a Lizzie McGuire reboot any time soon. But we still have this absolute banger of a bop. As you plan post-pandemic vacations, consider Duff’s recommendations: “Could be New York/Maybe Hollywood and Vine/London, Paris, maybe Tokyo.”
9. “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas
   Personally, I will not be jumping “out that sofa” any time soon, but there’s no denying the unparalleled vibes of Black Eyed Peas’ early 2000s discography.
10. “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus
    Another ambitious anthem, any modern “Party in the U.S.A’’ will (still) be held over Zoom for the time being. But eventually, we’ll safely leave our homes for long enough to relate to Miley Cyrus singing, “My tummy’s turnin’ and I’m feelin’ kinda homesick.”
11. “Shots” by LMFAO ft. Lil Jon
    Yes, the song’s title alone qualified it for this list. And even if some people won’t be mentally “ready to get fucked up” once it’s safe, shouting along to this might chip away at the sadness in your bones.
12. “Good as Hell” by Lizzo
    Are you ready for your appointment? Double-check with Lizzo’s list: “I do my hair toss/Check my nails/Baby how you feelin’?” Consider joining these other people dressing up for their jabs.
13. “Walking On A Dream” by Empire of the Sun
    Comedian Nicole Byer rightfully demanded we all mask up so she can “fuck so much in 2021.” This song, about how “two people become one,” is for her.
14. “Cheer Up!” by A Great Big World
    Happiness is a strength. Remember that despite everything, “13 billion years and there’s still time” for us to love and grow and experience the better parts of life.
15. “…Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears
    If you receive either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, the impatience of waiting for the second dose is reflected in the eternal words of Britney Spears: “Give me a sign/hit me baby one more time.”
16. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA
    Seventeen is a state of mind in “Dancing Queen,” and no one is immune to the cheerfulness of ABBA.
17. “Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing” by The Magnetic Fields
    The last three songs on this playlist strike a quieter mood, but one that’s still hopeful and sweet. This one, by The Magnetic Fields, is another way to dream of a future in which we can dance together without fear.
18. “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes
    This one goes out to all the graduates of 2020 to whom life feels stuck in limbo. 4 Non Blondes gets it: “25 years and my life is still/Tryin’ to get up that great big hill of hope/For a destination.” Take a moment to scream from the top of your lungs, “What’s going on?”
19. “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes
    The most mellow tune on this list, “First Day of My Life” is the last because it strikes a hopeful note. This has been a time of frequent firsts, few of them positive. Here’s to a future where the lyric “They’re spreading blankets on the beach” doesn’t make us worry about how far apart they’ve spaced the blankets.

Listen to the entire playlist and follow The Interlude on Spotify.

CORRECTION: 3/19/21
A previous version of this article stated that “Put Your Records On” is by Corinne Bailey. The singer’s name is Corinne Bailey Rae, and the story has been updated.