When I first came to Monmouth College, the only thing I knew I wanted to do was write about music. Really, as long as I can remember I’ve known that is what I want to do for the rest of it. Coming here gave me a place to start. I started writing for the Courier my first semester here as a freshman. Originally the music editor position did’t even exist, but I expressed interest in the idea to student media advisor Chris Goble. He said, “I don’t see why not,” and the rest is history. I’ve had a lot of fun and feel really lucky to have had this experience. For my last page as music editor here, I’ve decided to compile my top ten favorite songs ever. Each of these have soundtracked various times in my life so far. They have all evolved with me over the years and continue to do so. Growth never ends.
10. “The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows” by Brand New
Pop punk perfection from Brand New’s acclaimed 2003 record Deja Entendu. An insanely catchy chorus that’s bound to get stuck in your head, not to mention it’s way too easy to shout along with each word. I still get chills every time I sing along to that final bridge: “I lie for only you/ and I lie well, hallelu’”.
9. “Champagne Coast” by Blood Orange
Whenever I hear this song, I feel like I’m in a movie. I listened to it so much when I was a freshman it was my most streamed track that year. Something about it is familiar, like you’ve heard it before and it makes you kind of sad for that time. You’re not sure why, but it’s enough of a feeling to make you get up and dance around your room.”
8. “I Want You” by Third Eye Blind
When I was younger, I used to burn CDs on the computer. Third Eye Blind was an album my mom had downloaded and so I would always see the art for it. It used to unsettle me. As I got older and more interested in exploring various kinds of music, the title “I Want You” struck me. Something about it was so romantic. In it, I found one of my favorite set of lyrics ever: “There will be no regrets when the worms come/ And they shall surely come.”
7. “Off to the Races” By Lana Del Rey
This is the song that introduced me to Lana Del Rey at the ripe age of 11 years old. She opens with, “My old man is a bad man/ But I can’t deny the way he holds my hand.” It’s a little unsettling to look back on and think about, but man, this song has followed me for over a decade. There’s so many layers to it that I still find myself hearing new details. For example, lately its been the horns and strings I’m obsessed with. An earworm chock-full of swagger.
6. “Sea, Swallow Me” by Cocteau Twins
For the longest time this song was nothing but a dream to me. I first heard it when I watched White Bird in a Blizzard sixth grade. I was too young to understand then that this was music I wanted to listen to. Years went by, and the app TikTok eventually became popular. It was on there that I finally learned the name of this song I’d only ever heard in what felt like a dream. It’s just about impossible for me to skip this one because of the melancholy feeling it gives me.
5. “Flashlight” by The Front Bottoms
In middle school I listened to a lot of The Front Bottoms. For a long time I chose to forget this (if you’ve ever heard their music you will understand why.) “Flashlight” is a song about a man with a girlfriend who is addicted to drugs, presumably meth. I’ve also loved someone with an addiction to this drug. It ends with probably the most relatable words of my life: “When I am sad, oh god, I’m sad/ But when I’m happy, I am happy/ And there’s just no place inbetween for us to meet.”
4. “Love Galore” by Sza
CTRL by SZA is, I think, one of the best records of all time. “Love Galore” was the track to introduce me to it. It’s meaning is constantly changing to me, but what remains the same is that there is no stronger emotions than love and hate. Sometimes it’s impossible to tell the difference, but we need them to survive. “Love Galore” keeps me grounded.
3. “Don’t Delete the Kisses” by Wolf Alice
This might just be the most unconventional love song and that is exactly what makes it my favorite. An old best friend of mine sent me this track in eighth grade and ever since then, it’s been with me through first loves and heartbreaks. The unsure question of “What if it’s not meant for me?/ Love,” and the seemingly inevitable acceptance of solitude are things I’ve grappled with. I know I will continue to do so for probably as long as I live. All I have to do is remind myself of the way it ends: “Me and you were meant to be/ In love.”
2. “Hard Feelings/Loveless” by Lorde
“Please could you be tender?/ And I will sit close to you/ Let’s give it a minute before we admit that we’re through,” Lorde begins with a whisper. Melodrama has been my favorite breakup album since high school. I still remember the first time I heard this track on my first full listen through and it brought me to tears. When I’m going through some kind of romantic strife, I put this on. Sometimes when I just need to cry I put this on. The bridge consists of synths that sound like out of tune strings being plucked every which way and it is the single most heartbreaking sound I’ve ever heard. It never fails to give me chills. I could cite so many lyrics from this track alone and say they’re the best, but the set that will always stick with me without a doubt is: “I light all the candles/ Cut flowers for all my rooms/ I care for myself the way I used to care about you.”
1. “God is Fair, Sexy Nasty” by Mac Miller (ft. Kendrick Lamar)
The first time I listened to The Divine Feminine front-to-back was my junior year of high school. I remember it vividly because it was the middle of the winter and our heater was broken; It was so cold in my bedroom I could see my breath. To take my mind off of that, I pressed play on this album not knowing that by its end I’d have heard my favorite song ever. Something about “God is Fair, Sexy Nasty” almost makes you feel like time has slowed or stopped completely. It is so unbelievably sexy. Not to mention, Kendrick Lamar appears to sing its chrous: “Sexy nasty/ Have no guideline/ One day, four times/ You don’t mind that/ I don’t care, God is fair.” To this day none of my playlists contain this song because it’s too good to expect. For me, it’s a treat and I want to savor it as such. Whenever it happens to come on it’s like a reward.