Bring Back the Whimsy: 20 Songs to Romanticize Your Day
Source: YouTube
Somewhere along the way, we traded daydreaming for doomscrolling. We sit at lunch hunched over our laptops, walk to class glued to our phones, and treat every ordinary task like a chore to get through instead of a moment to savor.
So, where did all the whimsy go?
There’s a certain kind of confidence that comes from strolling through the city before class with the perfect song playing in your headphones. Suddenly, your 45-minute commute becomes the part of your day you look forward to the most, and gazing dramatically out of the subway window is totally justifiable.
Whether your feet just graced the bedroom floor, you’re sprinting to catch the 6 train, or you’re simply in need of something new to listen to, here are 20 songs for when you want to make the mundane feel a little more cinematic.
Getting Ready
Every great teen movie of the ’90s and early 2000s has an iconic getting-ready montage, and it always follows the same sacred formula: the initial wardrobe crashout, the bedroom fashion show, a hairbrush lip-sync, and, of course, the slow-motion reveal. Somewhere between then and now, some of us swapped the art of getting ready for a quick shower, a 10-minute makeup routine, and a dream. Let’s bring the montage back; your bedroom is your styling studio, your closet is the wardrobe, and your playlist is what sets the scene.
This is the perfect song to start your day with. It’s a dreamy, floaty trip-hop track that feels like waking up in your childhood bedroom on a sunny summer morning. It has the perfect amount of optimistic nostalgia to ease you into the day.
Some songs are meant to be sung in the mirror with a hairbrush microphone, and Audrey Hobert’s debut single “Sue Me” is the song for that. Equal parts catchy and chaotic, it’s a cheeky confession about wanting to be wanted. Sue her!
No getting-ready playlist is complete without a little bit of Britney. “Lucky” is pure Y2K magic that’ll have you longing for the days of frosted lip gloss, butterfly clips, and flip phones.
If you’ve seen “GIRLS,” you already know this song was made for dancing around your apartment like no one’s watching. Although this is technically a breakup song, this synthy, 2010s anthem is proof that a sad song can still be the best dance break of your morning.
Commuting
Commuting gets a bad rap, but it’s secretly one of the best parts of the day. When else do you get 30 minutes of uninterrupted daydreaming and people-watching? Put your headphones on and let the music do the rest.
Natasha Bedingfield, “Unwritten”
We all know and love this one, so including it felt like a true no-brainer. There are very few songs that capture the optimistic chaos of an early 2000s montage the way “Unwritten” does. Put it on as you head out the door and use your morning commute as an opportunity to think about all the things not yet written for you.
Jae Stephens, “I Miss the City”
Whether you're heading to work on a brisk morning or heading back home after a long day, “I Miss the City” is the perfect track for gazing out the window like you’re in a moody 2000s music video. Jae Stephens blends soft, dreamy vocals with a beat that's full of nostalgia and yearning.
Corinne Bailey Rae, “Paris Nights/New York Mornings”
If your morning needs a little extra charm, “Paris Nights/New York Mornings” is playful, bright, and just flirty enough to put a little extra swing in your step as you head out the door.
Peter Bjorn and John, “Young Folks”
One whistle and you’re instantly transported to Grand Central in 2007, when it kicked off the first episode of “Gossip Girl”. Since then, it’s kind of become the unofficial soundtrack for strutting through the Upper East Side.There’s nothing like slipping your headphones on and letting everyone else fade away. “Headphones On” is the hazy, daydreaming song of my dreams, with whispery, slow vocals and a moody groove made for cold mornings.
Midday Pick-me-up
Ah, yes, the 2 p.m. slump. Your last two brain cells are fighting for their lives, your iced matcha's run dry, and somehow, you still have three classes left. Before you doomscroll your lunch break away, here’s a little something to wake you back up.
“Blade Bird” has the freshness of stepping outside after a three-hour lecture in a stuffy Maxwell Hall classroom. French singer-producer Oklou layers soft, airy vocals over a delicate, floating indietronica beat that clears your head in under four minutes. Consider it your musical palate cleanser.
PinkPantehress, “Take Me Home”
PinkPantheress has made a name for herself by bringing back 2000s drum and bass with a dreamy modern twist. “Take Me Home” is the kind of song that makes your hour-long break between classes feel like a mini adventure. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or people-watching in midtown, it’ll have you heading back to class with some extra pep in your step.
It’s currently the only song out from OKAY MICKEY, but it’s already a keeper. “gay allegations” is the perfect mix of soft acoustic guitar with bubbly electronic touches that create something that sounds both lighthearted and goofy in the best way.
Troye Sivan, “Troye Meets World”
If the 2 p.m. slump hits you as hard as it hits me, leave it to Troye to pick up the pace. “Troye Meets World” is a playful, flirty, dance-pop track with an energy that’s impossible to sit still to, and perfect for powering through your last few classes.
Post Class
There’s no feeling like booking it out of your last class of the day. The pressure’s off, the daylight is quickly fading into darkness, and the rest of the evening is yours. Whether you’re meeting friends for happy hour or taking the long way home, these songs are made for the in-between.
As the sky fades from pink to purple, there's only one person who can capture my vibe walking out of class. Off her 2014 album, “Ultraviolence,” “Brooklyn Baby” is hazy, sultry, and pokes fun at the too-cool-for-school Brooklyn girl while making you secretly want to be her.
Some songs are best saved for after dark, and Kim Petras’ “Autobahn” is one of them. Moodier than her usual pop, it simmers over a heavy bassline before flipping into an electronic sound to remind you the night is still young.
Sade always finds a way to make every song feel like a warm blanket and a glass of Merlot on a chilly fall night, and “Kiss of Life” is no exception. Smooth, silky, and endlessly elegant, it’s the perfect excuse to slow down after a long day.
Pet Shop Boys, “West End Girls”
Moody, mysterious, and undeniably chic, this 1985 hit is basically a love letter to late nights in the city.
Billy Idol, “Eyes Without A Face”
There’s something about this one that just makes sense here. Billy Idol’s 1984 hit “Eyes Without A Face” is the epitome of late-night yearning; it’s wistful and a little bit lonely in the best way. This is the kind of song that hits the hardest when the rest of the world is asleep.
Cocteau Twins, “Rilkean Heart”
This is what I hear when I close my eyes. Shimmering guitars and Elizabeth Fraser’s ethereal voice blur together into something soft, mysterious, and hypnotic.
Solange, “Bad Girls – Verdine Version”
Last but certainly not least, Solange closes the night out with this smooth, slow-burning track off her 2012 album, “True”. With funk bassist Verdine White and her vocals floating on top, it’s laid-back, groovy, and the type of song you’ll be playing long after midnight.
What song makes you feel like the main character? Leave a comment below!