Jenna Writes:
There are so many songs that make me feel alive, but I narrowed it down to my top five. Each one has that rush that makes the world feel brighter the second it comes on.
The first time I heard “Rollercoaster” by Bleachers, it felt like pure electricity. It’s so upbeat and euphoric, the kind of song that makes you want to throw your arms out the window and just keep driving with no destination. Same goes for most of the ones by GROUPLOVE and Passion Pit. it’s impossible to sit still when it plays. Their energy is contagious in the best way.
All of these songs make me feel like the main character in my life. If these were playing in a movie it would be in the climax. The highlight of my life. Nothing else matters when these are playing, I can’t help but be instantly in a good mood and up out of my seat
Read about the last time Jenna felt fully alive
Otis Writes:
“King in a Catholic Style” — China Crisis
Steely Dan meets Dire Straits with a drum machine and a synth. Walter Becker (on his Steely Dan hiatus) produced the album Flaunt the Imperfection and is even listed as a band member – so a non-Steely Dan band ends up sounding like a Steely Dan record. This track is all stream-of-consciousness lyrics – upbeat, positive, life-affirming. There’s a line, “wake up, wake up, exercise your every right,” and it feels like getting up to go on a trip. When I hear it I feel tuned into my life, like the sun just rose. It’s vibrant – if a fresh glass of orange juice were a song. My optimism goes up a couple of notches every time.
“Two Months Off” – Underworld
One of the two bombastic ones I love most. Underworld is more hedonistic – this is waking up naked, whether it’s raining or sunny. Arms stretched out, having a bit of an emotional moment. That kind of dramatic wake-up – maybe one for my 60th.
“Always Loved a Film” — Underworld
Off Barking. Epic, even though it’s only about six minutes. Starts almost like a mantra – “the rhythm, the rhythm” – then it rolls into those stream-of-consciousness lyrics. The way Karl delivers it makes absolute nonsense sound meaningful. That’s what I love about it.
Read about the last time Otis felt fully alive
Andie Writes:
I just loooove the way these tracks make me feel alive!!! Time to Pretend by MGMT, Safe and Sound by Capital Cities, Changes by David Bowie, and Shot At The Night by The Killers. These all make me feel that life is just so good and that I have to take every chance I can get to reach that feeling. Safe and Sound has that particular intro where you know you’re already in for a ride, I mean – that instant drop? you feel your heart racing already! For Time to Pretend, I found it ironic because of the word “pretend” and this is a song about making you feel alive, but personally, I grew to understanding that sometimes you have to “pretend” about certain things, like distracting your mind to get rid of the bad stuff for a while, if its what it takes to make you feel more alive in that moment and that song perfectly captures it for me. It’s like when you’re daydreaming and it takes you off of reality for a bit! For Changes and Shot At The Night, they have this similarity for me in the intro that starts of slow first, but then hits you with its lyrics. It like creeps up first and then bam! it makes you wanna run on an empty road, just being totally immersed in the music! All these songs will forever make me feel alive and they’re something I definitely have on repeat when I wanna bring back that feeling again!
Read about the last time Andie felt fully alive
Molly Writes:
Hearing Sunflower live at Post Malone’s concert this summer was unforgettable. I was there with my daughters, and for my youngest, it was her very first concert. We first loved the song years ago at an LA Galaxy game when Swae Lee was actually there. Experiencing it live together felt like everything came full circle, and in that moment, we were completely present—singing, smiling, and soaking it all in.
Andrew Writes:
Fuck It, I’m Getting Wasted – Rhythm Sincere
Came across this track recently and it’s just one of those random ones that I can’t get out of my head. Because sometimes one of the joys of being alive is to do such horrendous things to your body that you almost stop being alive. But it is one of those experiences that every now and again is truly one of the advantages of being on the planet: you can go out and get absolutely wasted, forget everything you need to worry about and deal with, and you’re literally trading time. When I listen to it, it just cracks me up. Not that I have any plans to say fuck it and go get wasted any time soon – but I’m not going to rule that out in the future.
You Get What You Give – New Radicals
This was one of those life-changing anthems for me. It was out when I was leaving my retail management job in London to come and join a rock band in America. And you know, the whole refrain – “you’ve got the music in you”. Just the idea of it. I was listening to this a lot, hoping that everything would be okay, and that having the music in me was going to be enough to get me through. Long story, but yeah – ultimately, I think it did.
You! Me! Dancing! – Los Campesinos!
I think this is just one of those mental tracks. It’s got this really obscure long introduction, so it might work well at the beginning of this playlist – or not, right at the end. But yeah, it’s just that typical high-energy, get-up-off-the-floor vibe. It starts off really unassumingly and then it’s just mental. I mean, what about that for a chorus? You! Me! Dancing! Why not? Totally makes me feel alive.
Go Faster – The Black Crowes
Again, similar vein. This is all energy. This is all: okay, I’m flagging, I need to be picked up, I need an energetic input. And this track does exactly what it says on the tin – it helps me go faster. I love it. I love the groove, I love the guitars, I love the rock and roll.
Lux Aurumque – Eric Whitacre
When I listen to this, I get the hairs standing up on the back of my neck. It can take me into an almost ASMR trance. The harmonies on the track as you get further into it – just the sheer beauty of what humans can create when they come together using their bodies to produce sound. The sound makes me feel absolutely here, in the moment, visceral and resonant. Out of all the tracks, if I had to pick one, this is the one. When I create space to listen to it, I know that I’m here. I know I exist. I know that I’m real because I’m experiencing this input – and it’s electric.
Read about the last time Andrew felt fully alive
Track Listing
- Go Faster – The Black Crowes
- Tongue Tied – GROUPLOVE
- Time to Pretend – MGMT
- You! Me! Dancing! – Remastered – Los Campesinos!
- Two Months Off – Underworld
- You Get What You Give – New Radicals
- Getting into Trouble w/ the Boss – White Reaper
- Safe And Sound – Capital Cities
- Shot At The Night – The Killers
- Rollercoaster – Bleachers
- Lost In The Wild – WALK THE MOON
- Take a Walk – Passion Pit
- Always Loved A Film – Underworld
- King In A Catholic Style (Wake Up) – China Crisis
- Sunflower – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – Post Malone
- Fuck It I’m Getting Wasted – Rhythm Sincere
- Changes – 2015 Remaster – David Bowie
- Lux Aurumque – Eric Whitacre
Playlist Image by Knut Troim on Unsplash
This playlist is part of The Human Collective. Each week we take a prompt and create a playlist and accompanying articles. This week we were looking at songs that make us feel alive. Learn more about The Human Collective here.
