My top 10 teen jams

Like most teenagers, much of my teen years were spent evolving my identity and expressing myself through questionable fashion and of course, music. On my quest to find myself I had a number of music phases (don't tell my mother I admit it was a phase) that helped shape who I am today. In this list I am going to let you delve into my past and reveal to you my top 10 songs of my youth and the part they played during my turbulent teens.

#1 Welcome to the black parade - My chemical romance

Ah yes, the anthem of my youth and a song any 00's emo kid will know, welcome to the black parade. Legend says just a single note of this classic tune will turn the heads of any emo kids within a half mile radius. Okay, so maybe that's a tad dramatic but if any teen emos are reading this, I know you heard that piano. This song is still a firm favourite of mine and reminds me of simpler times hanging out with my friends fighting over who got to marry Gerard way and singing at the top of our lungs (and we obviously sounded EXACTLY like them, right?)


#2 Jamie all over - Mayday parade

This song has a place in my heart for simple reasons. No, it's not the angelic sound of Derek's singing as you imagine him serenading you to sleep. No? Just me? Well anyway, as a young teen with a love for singing and a best friend that was great on the guitar, we spent many evenings gracing his mother's (and probably most of the streets) ears, performing covers of pop punk songs in his room. This song was a favourite duet of ours and still it still makes me smile and reminds me of some of my fondest memories with one of my oldest friends.

#3 Ignorance - Paramore

What non-mainstream teen could resist the allure of Hayley Williams' carefree attitude and amazing voice? As a rebellious teen I loved paramore and this song was always top of my playlist on my Sony Walkman phone (ah the good old non smartphone days). These days I don't listen to much Paramore but every time an older song by them plays, I get a pang of nostalgia that takes me back to the day I saw them perform live with a friend at my very first rock concert.

#4 Ribena - Pegasus bridge

I discovered this band through a friend whilst going through an incredibly embarrassing indie phase (all photographic evidence of this was sadly eaten by my pet dog, or something like that). I'm not fully convinced any of us ever truly liked their music but rather found it highly amusing to imitate the singers very pronounced Manchester accent. Either way, whilst this song is now hidden deep in the depths of my pre-2011 YouTube library, It reminds me of some of my most fun times with my friends and that lands it a place on the list.


#5 I write sins not tragedies - Panic! At the disco

P!ATD during my teens were one of those bands that were so quirky you either loved them or you hated them. Personally, I loved them. So much so, in fact, that I formed a band with friends halfway through secondary school and we covered (or rather attempted to cover) this classic song - much to the dismay of anyone that had the pleasure of sharing the school music block with us.

#6 Dear Maria count me in - all time low

All time low were my all time (pun intended) favourite band during my teen years and many of my favourite memories revolve around this band. From seeing them live on my 16th birthday (even if I did eat too much Chinese food and vomit right in the middle of the crowd), to meeting them for an album signing at my local HMV. This song in particular makes me remember sunny days with my friends singing in public like nobody was watching (if only that were actually true)

#7 Numb - Linkin Park

Like any teenager, I had my fair share of struggles. Although I had friends I was bullied throughout school and I went through a lot in my personal life that resulted in bouts of depression and anxiety. I was so stubborn and tried so hard to be cool that I never opened up to anyone through fear of not fitting in. There were many times I felt alone despite being surrounded by friendly faces and hearing Chester Bennington be so open about his mental health through his music, made me feel like I wasn't alone and got me through some of my darkest days. I learned to open up by being inspired by his strength to speak out. For this, Linkin Park will always have a place in my heart.


#8 Like it's her birthday - Good Charlotte

My teenage years sparked my love for pop punk music and Good Charlotte were no exception. Imagine my joy when I discovered they were touring right on top of my 14th birthday (MAJOR fangirl moment). Of course, I jumped at the opportunity and went to see them perform live to celebrate turning 14 with my best friend. When Joel and Benji performed this song, it felt like it was being performed especially for me. For a 14 year old girl it was a dream come true and it's a memory I still hold dear almost a decade later.

#9 Lego house - Ed Sheeran

This one stands out from the crowd as it's the only song on the list that isn't some form of rock music. Coming from a musical background I've always had a passion for singing and I am quite drawn to acoustic style songs that I can sing along to. When this song came out I instantly loved it and having the advantage of attending a performing arts school with weekly one to one vocal coaching, I often performed it whilst my coach played the piano. Years later, I still find myself singing along to this beautiful song.

#10 Wait for you - Atreyu

Sorry people, this last one's a little soppy. In my second to last year of secondary school, I met a lovely young man through mutual friends. I was 15 and he was 17 and we quickly fell in love in a typical childhood sweetheart fashion (I know what you're thinking - cringe) He chose to show me this song as a tribute to our relationship, something that reminded him of me and every time I listen to it I get tears in my eyes thinking about how much I mean to him. 9 years and 2 children later I am happy to report that we are still together and I plan to walk down the aisle to a piano rendition of this beautiful song.


So there we have it, my top teen playlist and a lovely (albeit somewhat cringe-worthy) trip down memory lane. It's a good reminder that many of my dearest memories would never have happened if it weren't for music. Music can unite and connect so many people. It's this that keeps my passion for performing alive.


Written by Natasha Davison