Teen angst a playlist

Hide and seek - Imogen Heap

It’s 2005, I’m 15 and it’s the season finale of season 2 of The OC, There’s a struggle between Ryan and his brother, Marissa try’s to break it up with words. Cut to a sound of a gun shot, and the song hide and seek. Dramatic. Teenagers across the country in their lounge rooms crying and singing along hoping Ryan isn’t dead. I continue to play to song on repeat reenacting in my head my own heartbreak patiently waiting for season 3.

Fuck you- Cee Lo

You’re 16, your mum hates swearing but your favourite breakup song comes on the radio uncensored and there’s no stopping you. It gets to the chorus and you’ve just been dumped for the 3rd time by your secret high school girlfriend so with a deep breath you scream ‘I see you driving round town with the girl I love And I'm like, "Fuck you" (ooh, ooh, ooh) And then your mum looks and you and joins in with I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough I'm like, "Fuck you and fuck her, too”. Made me question does she know, or is she trying to be cool?

Cry me a river - Justin Timberlake

I hit puberty, my annoying teenager years and in typical bratty behaviour I decided I just wasn’t speaking my dad anymore. So he came home one day with a new stereo and Justin Timberlake’s first solo album Justified. Still annoyed I reluctantly thanked him for the present closed my bedroom door, set up the stereo and began blasting Cry me a River on repeat while I danced around my room and sang into the mirror. I can’t say I had experienced heart break yet but listening to this song sure made me feel like I had.

Complicated - Avril Lavigne

Starting a new school is always scary. Starting at a new all girls school is scarier. Having to make new friends, trying to fit in with the ‘cool’ girls but overall hating your parents for making you leave your old friends. So I straighten my hair, put some eyeliner on and mope around my room and wonder why my life is so complicated.

Just like a pill - Pink

Missundaztood had to be one of my most played albums of my teens filled with songs that made me feel ironically understood. Wanting to escape my picture perfect life, blasting this song and feeling like finally she gets it, life sucks, it’s hard, I’m 13 no one understands me get me out of here. Overall the best thing about this song is the mix of language, rhyme and how much better is makes you feel yelling it at the top of your lungs.

Cleaning out my Closet - Eminem

I grew up in a loving family. With two loving parents who never said no. Yet rapping these lyrics to myself I couldn’t have felt more alone, more angry and more ridiculous. Angry yelling at the mirror is one thing, angry yelling at the mirror and your mum walks in on the lyrics ‘I said I'm sorry mama I never meant to hurt you’ not fully understanding what the fuck is going on and what you’re sorry about is just embarrassing.