Flee the country: Sixteen Songs for sunny mistakes
By: Mia Romanoff
The creation of my favorite playlist came from the absolute worst morning of my university career. Picture this: it’s Saturday morning. Last night you saw the lights go on at Molly’s, texted the guy who ghosted you, and told your whole life story to your flatmate's academic brother. If you’re anything like me, your first thought is I’m going to have to flee the country. I had been joking, of course, and yet when I repeated this sentiment to my friend over the phone, he jumped on the bandwagon. Through a haze of headaches and hangxiety we emerged with Ryanair flights for the very next day. Even if it wasn’t warm in Portugal it would at least be sunny (and far, far away).
In the hours I had to prepare for this trip, I sat down and got to work on the playlist, the top priority for any journey small or large. I needed songs that would get me through the airport, and songs that would help me find peace while laying on the beach. Given the rapid nature of its creation, the playlist is not the most cohesive body of work, but it is a solid collection of songs, roughly split into three sections.
There are the fast songs, all drums and quick steps. Optimal for soundtracking the hasty and clunky speed walk down the moving walkway at the airport (‘Hitchhike’) or searching for the Airbnb key in a key locker hidden on a different road from where you’re staying (‘Norgaard’).
The second type of song is best saved for drives from the airport (‘Smile Like You Mean It’) and getting ready for nights out (‘Sex – EP Version’). These are the ultimate songs to help you photosynthesize in limited time and soundtrack the A24 movie montage that will pop into your head when the trip is done. With simple verses and sweeping choruses, you could even feel the wind rushing through your hair even in the library.
The last type of song on the travel playlist toes the line between dreamy and nostalgic. From sitting on the balcony with sangria (‘Trouble on Central’), to laying on a beach that’s too cold (‘Easy’), to reading at a cafe in the square (‘North American Ride’). These songs help fill in all the small, sunny moments while traveling.
So whether you need a travel playlist or just a sonic, sunny escape from your own regretful weekend, here’s Flee the Country: Sixteen Songs for Sunny Mistakes:
Hitchhike – Chuckamuck
Norgaard – The Vaccines
Hummingbird – Born Ruffians
It’s Perfect – Bay Faction
Smile Like You Mean It – The Killers
Button on your Blouse – Drowners
Samviktor – The Aftercare
Sex (EP Version) – The 1975
Fluorescent Adolescent – Arctic Monkeys
Trigger Bang – Lily Allen (ft. Giggs)
Trouble on Central – Buddy
Reality Check – Noname (ft. Akenya, Eryn Allen Kane)
Westcoast Collective – Dominic Fike
North American Ride – Mallory Merk
Today (Can’t Help but Cry) – Gretel Hänlyn
Easy – The Smokin’ 44s