The Interlude

Say goodbye to staying up all night, because it’s once again time for school. As much as I disliked waking up at 6:30 a.m. every morning for a 15-minute commute convoluted by traffic, listening to an over-the-top rap lyric or ostentatious ballad always made the transition from summer to fall more bearable for me. Though I’ve graduated high school, I continue to make exuberant playlists any chance I get. 

As you head back to university, pick up a new hobby from TikTok, or reinvent yourself entirely, those classic back-to-school jitters might be resurfacing. To ease your switch into studying mode, I’ve curated this playlist with fun bops like “Be Sweet” and “Dans la Hess,” alongside soothing melodies like “Look At Me Now” and “Are You With That?” Enjoy Educational Earworms before you log into online lectures, during your real-world commute, or anywhere in-between!

Scroll to the end to listen to Educational Earworms on Spotify.

1. “Amoeba” by Clairo
   It’s easy to delve into your academic work and forget everyone around you. Though this song is an unhealthy chastisement, it mirrors the myriad of ways those with mental illness view themselves. As deadlines pile up, this upbeat song with depressing lyrics will give you solace in its relatability.
2. “Ribs” by Lorde
   This classic Lorde melody was one of my favorite songs during my morning walks and runs, mostly because of the nostalgic sentiment baked into the track. More importantly, the sonic landscape of “Ribs” kept me company as the exercises made my own ribs “get tired.” 
3. “Dans la Hess” by Lous and the Yakuza
   French pop music is muscular and dynamic, often riddled with different influences like hip hop, R&B, electropop, and Afropop. In “Dans La Hess,” Lous and the Yakuza manages to incorporate most of these elements while talking about hustling in today’s world. Many of us view education as a way to provide for ourselves, so her sentiment is understandable. Like the title suggests, “get that money,” but please don’t exploit anyone. 
4. “Sundown” by DAISY WORLD
   DAISY WORLD’s vocals, which have been featured in songs by Steve Lacy and Tyler, the Creator, shine in this guitar-heavy ballad. “Sundown” is the perfect song for relishing in the summer sunsets before they’re gone.
5. “Cloudbusting” by Kate Bush
   Listening to this song feels like floating on fluffy clouds with little to no cares in the world, thanks to its light atmosphere. Plus, Kate Bush singing “Ooh, I just know something good is gonna happen” should be a positive affirmation that provides the optimism you need to push forward.
6. “Eden” by Tkay Maidza
   If I was alive during Adam and Eve’s ordeal, I would expect the garden of Eden to sound like this song: lush, boisterous, and full of life. Maidza’s whisper in the beginning adds to this mythical atmosphere, especially when she offers these simple instructions: “Breathe, breathe, breathe.”
7. “Brazil” by Declan Mckenna
   Simple but varied electric guitar riffs rule this song, sending me back to the California sun where I was in the same vicinity as my mom, eating home cooked food with a glass of Minute Maid. “Brazil” makes my time away from home a bit easier, helping me not only savor familiar dishes but the multiple memories made in my home state.
8. “The Big Sky” by Kate Bush
   There’s no doubt “The Big Sky” is a perfect alarm for the morning, especially when everything seems gloomy. Let the track’s title remind you that in anything you do, regardless of what anyone thinks about you, the big blue sky is your limit.
9. “Be Sweet” by Japanese Breakfast
   Zest is the perfect descriptor for “Be Sweet” by Japanese Breakfast. The overarching brightness of this song is contagious, heightening not only your mood but those of your friends and peers.
10. “Are You With That?” by Vince Staples
    Even with its hyperpop flair, Vince Staples delivers some of the most sincere lyrics of his career in this song. The past two years have been a solemn period defined mostly by loss. “Are You With That?” may help you make sense of it all.
11. “The Kiss of Venus” by Paul McCartney ft. Dominic Fike
    Covers of classic songs are usually my least favorite thing, mainly because I like to protect my own nostalgia. Yet, as part of McCartney III Imagined, Paul McCartney’s remixed album featuring a slew of modern alt-rock artists, this one works in terms of functionality and quality. And Fike’s new school-centric lyrics seamlessly blend into the original song.
12. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
    Nirvana has long been a symbol for outcasts, misfits, and mischiefs alike. Kurt Cobain (may he rest in peace) embodied the “I don’t give a fuck” demeanor of a drama enthusiast who seldom cared what the popular kids thought. Let this be your anthem as you walk through the hallways dreading your next class.
13. “Look At Me Now” by Caroline Polachek
    Like anything Caroline Polacheck does, this song puts a new and innovative spin on the traditional acoustic ballad. It’s filled with strength and reassurance as she describes leaving a romantic relationship. Not everyone finds romance between classes, but many of us will be in circumstances we can’t comprehend leaving. Polachek’s lyrics may imbue you with the power to escape these unhealthy situations.

    Listen to Educational Earworms and follow The Interlude on Spotify.