The Soundtrack to Your Life
We’ve all, at some point, succumbed to the occasional self-indulgent fantasy of popping our earbuds in on a long trip and pulling up that one playlist or song that would be the soundtrack to our movie. These are the songs I love best for a train ride or a particularly long Uber; they vary in sound and connotation, each one a different scene. Music has the unique power to take us away from our physical lives; whatever your flavor, I hope reading this inspires you to put your earbuds in, close your eyes, and imagine your movie.
Graphic by Gabriella Silva (Photos via Getty Images)
1. Whatever, Dad, “Death Of The Phone Call”
At this point, this song is as well-worn and familiar to me as a favorite sweater. It’s a compact one minute and thirty five seconds of pure dreamlike crooning. The earthy slide of fingers on guitar strings and the serious-sounding French countup in the first few seconds is immediately paralleled by a dreamy singing voice and background vocals that make you feel like you’re floating. If you don’t speak French, the entire song is pretty nonsensical; if you do speak French, this fact does not change. The translated lyrics involve swordfish losing telephones in fields of flowers. However, the illogical lyrics delivered with the romantic flair of the French language make you want to be that swordfish, if only so that gentle voice would be singing about you. Listen to this song on rainy days or in a cafe while looking extra mysterious for maximum effect.
2. Sweet Trip, “Milk”
This is probably one of my favorite songs of the year. Sweet Trip is unique for their blend of techno, indie and dream pop, and glitch-heavy experimentation — Milk is one of their most popular songs, and for good reason. Singer Valerie Cooper’s dreamlike voice paired with the wavy electronic effects in the track bring the listener to an otherworldly kind of high. To put it in the song’s own terms: “and it’s true / you will drift away.” As to what you’re drifting away from, that’s up to you and your own personal movie.
3. M.I.A, Timbaland, “Come Around”
Listen. I can’t skateboard for shit. But if I could, it would be to this song. The tambourine, the intermittent techno, the backing track that vaguely sounds like sexy spy music; writing it out, it seems like it shouldn’t work, but God, it does. M.I.A’s flat, unaffected delivery of vocals paired with the funky backing track makes it three minutes and fifty-four seconds of pure energy.
4. Duran Duran, “Girls On Film”
This song sounds exactly like the first thing you hear in an edgy, throwback teen coming of age movie; you know, those iconic montages where the main character is throwing on clothes, realizes they’re running late to school, and passes a full breakfast table only to grab an apple. Duran Duran is known for their unique synth-pop backing tracks and the use of unique sound effects in their music. This song is no exception. The camera flash sounds in the beginning, the funky bass line and thrum of electric guitar, and lead singer Simon Le Bon’s unique wail as he delivers the bridge make the perfect soundtrack for your morning commute.
5. Lamp, “For Lovers”
Lamp is probably one of my favorite artists I started listening to this year; they take influence from soul, soft rock, Brazilian music, and Western pop from the 60’s and 70’s, all on a foundation of Japanese pop. “For Lovers”’s sound is ethereal and nostalgic; the soft guitar, angelic backing vocals, and quiet crooning of lead singer Sakakibara Kaori bring the listener to a place where romance is possible at any time, if only you look for it. It’s also more of an interlude, lasting a mere one minute and fifteen seconds of beautiful sound. This song sounds like a secret smile across a room or a fleeting kiss under an umbrella — it’s quiet, lovely, and true to its name. If you’re a romantic, this one’s the perfect backing track to your daydreams.
6. The Cranberries, “Linger”
Words cannot describe my love for the intro of this song. I truly believe it is the most perfect first fifty seconds of a song to ever exist. The soft plucking of the guitar, Dolores O’Riordan’s soft intermittent hums, the unassuming yet powerful swell of the strings, the buildup surprising you when it ends in a quiet guitar strum, only to be picked right back up by another swell of strings — I could write poetry about it. O’Riordan’s voice has a dreamlike quality that floats and grows with the strings, an instrument in itself; her layered harmonies punch through the lyrics of the hook, supported by the wavy plucking of electric guitar. Though the lyrics are beautiful, it’s the instrumentals of this song that define it; they truly transport you to another state of being. One summer, I drove into the sunset with all my windows down to this song and came out a changed woman. I highly recommend listening with your eyes closed to fully appreciate the instrumentals (unless, of course, you’re driving).
7. Phoebe Bridgers, “I Know The End”
This is probably the most cinematic song in the masterpiece that is Bridgers’ sophomore album, Punisher. In the age of the internet, it’s easy to get numb to the seemingly constant tragedies happening around us; Bridgers’ light soprano voice juxtaposed with the heaviness of the lyrics acts as the perfect microcosm for our reality. The buildup to the outro is probably one of the most unique I’ve ever heard — the steady beating of the drums, the horns, and the layered vocals make you feel like you’re at the climax of some sort of apocalyptic alien film and you’ve finally accepted your fate. The past year has honestly felt like that kind of movie anyway, so there’s not a lot of imagining necessary for this one; if you’re feeling particularly existential, just close your eyes and scream along with Bridgers until you know the end.
To listen in playlist format, scan or click the code.