Playlist of my Life, 2021 Edition

5 songs. I'm one of those girls that's all about new music and hearing what's been put out to analyze immediately, however if you made choose 5 songs to listen to, I could manage to pick a few that put a smile on my face. Buckle up, keep your Apple Music or Spotify app opened, and fingers ready to add some new music.

1. Southern Comfort Zone (Brad Paisley)

The lyrics state:

When I miss my Tennessee home.

And I been away, way too long

I can't see this world unless I go

Outside my Southern Comfort Zone

I first heard this song my freshman year of high school and I liked the acoustics (Brad Paisley and his guitar, I mean good god) and I loved a good heartwarming country song, but it wasn't until I left Oregon and moved to California for college that I truly appreciated this song. I realized that if I had stayed inside my comfort zone and never left Oregon, I wouldn't have experienced a new place, new faces, and a brand new person that I grew to love: myself.

2. Back In My Body (Maggie Rodgers)

This song became a new love for me recently, but as soon as I heard it I instantly felt connected to it. The lyrics that got me go as follows in the first verse:

Crashing all around me with a great triumphant sound

Like the dam was breaking and my mind came rushing in

I'm always in awe of good song writing, and Maggie Rodgers incapsulated exactly what I felt and needed in that moment. I had just been through a break-up, I was feeling really down, and I needed something to bring me back to my old self - Rodgers, you did me good.

3. Sweet Disposition (Temper Trap)

I don't even want to put lyrics to this, because I'd write down the entire song. Planning on getting a tattoo of this solely for the lyricism and mood that this song encapsulates. This song for me is more of an experience. This is a song that I wish I had on vinyl (everything sounds better on vinyl, convince me otherwise). I dare you: go for a drive by yourself, roll the windows down, play this song as loud as your speakers will allow and then you'll know what I'm talking about.

4. An American Symphony (Mr. Holland's Opus)

This movie has a special place in my heart for all eternity. I have many CDs from childhood, but only one of them is constantly being played in my car's deck - the soundtrack from Mr. Holland's Opus. I played this final number whenever I had a big test, a stressful day, or I just needed to listen and not talk. So, you got a double whammy on this one: a new song and a new movie to add to the cue. You're welcome.

5. Supercut (Lorde)

Have you ever had a just heartbreaking moment happen in your life that you don't think you'll ever move past and just when you need it an album drops that just gets you through the entire experience? This album got me through my sophomore year of college, when I at the time believe I'd never get over it. Spoiler: I did. I got over it. This song specifically really hit me. And Liability - two for one. The song begins slow, and builds. This is another one I dare you to listen to with the windows down, you won't regret it. It begins:

In my head, I play a supercut of us

All the magic we gave off

All the love we had and lost

And in my head

The visions never stop

These ribbons wrap me up

But when I reach for you

There's just a supercut

There's your 5, folks. I could dissect every playlist that I have and give you the reason I listened or downloaded every song on it, but now what you get is these five gems. What are your five?