rainy days: YOUR WEEK SIX PLAYLIST |

Better than a drought though, right?

COCONUT RECORDS — “West Coast” — as described by kelsey dayton
PHILIPP POISEL — “Froh dabei zu sein” — as described by som-mai nguyen
ETTA JAMES/BEYONCÉ — “At Last” — as described by elisabeth dee
BRIGHT EYES — “First Day Of My Life” — as described by alejandra salazar
JACK JONES — “‘Over the Garden Wall’ Theme” — as described by jackson wiley roach
PRINCESS NOKIA — “Dragons” — as described by oscar lee
MY BLOODY VALENTINE — “Sometimes” as described by frederick robson
CLAUDE DEBUSSY — “Clair de Lune” — as described by nishant karandikar
LABRINTH — “Jealous” — as described by claire kim
SZA- “Sobriety” - as described by taylor litchfield
JUNGLE — “Drops” — as described by eugenia puglisi
STEVIE WONDER- “Don’t You Worry bout A Thing” — as described by tara mccullough
THE PAPER KITES — “Tenenbaum” — as described by siena streiber
SUFJAN STEVENS — “Romulus” — as described by alex cheng
DARK DARK DARK — “Daydreaming” — as described by alec glassford
THE SHIVERS — “Beauty” — as described by editor bojan srb
THE TEMPTATIONS — ¨I Wish It Would Rain¨ — as described by editor lawrence neil
BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH — ¨Atlas Hands” — as described by e-i-c katharine schwab

COCONUT RECORDS — “West Coast” — as described by kelsey dayton

This song goes out to all my fellow seniors nervous about leaving but ready to try something and someplace new.

PHILIPP POISEL — “Froh dabei zu sein” — as described by som-mai nguyen

“Glad to be here”—a sentiment relevant to a rainy winter quarter midterm week. Ed-Sheeran-esque, except slightly folksier, and the guy never doesn’t sound like he’s about to cry.

ETTA JAMES/BEYONCÉ — “At Last” — as described by elisabeth dee

Start listening 50 seconds in to hear Beyoncé’s short tribute speech to the original queen, Etta James. When Bey describes James as “a force of nature, music’s original bad girl, with platinum hair, wild cat eyes…”, remind yourself that being a force of nature with wild cat eyes is in fact in line with your goals for the day. SO GET OUT OF BED, THE RAIN ISN’T THAT BAD. Then hear Bey belt out her own version. The rain pounding against my window, the gale forcing the glass open and dumping water all over my desk, nothing can throw off my steady groove. There’s even a glimmer of hope for the future: “at last, the skies above are blue”.

BRIGHT EYES — “First Day Of My Life” — as described by alejandra salazar

The rain makes me think of tea and candles and blankets. It makes me think of acoustic guitar and old song lyrics. It makes me think of snoozing my alarms and wearing oversized sweaters and having an excuse not to do my hair for the day because, hey, it’ll end up looking crazy anyway. It makes me think of taking the time to breathe a little bit, of calling home every once in a while because maybe hearing their voices is just what the doctor ordered.

JACK JONES — “Over the Garden Wall Theme” — as described by jackson wiley roach

This is the theme from Over the Garden Wall, which is a cartoon miniseries on Cartoon Network. The show is really really bizarre and also the ending snuck up on me and made me cry. Seriously: watch it (ten ten minute episodes, perfect for a rainy afternoon when you should be studying). Sorry for sneakily recommending a show along with a song. The song is incredible too: lyrically and musically weird and sad and beautiful, and also sung by a piano playing frog. Very few songs really earn the adjective “haunting.” This one does.

PRINCESS NOKIA — “Dragons” — as described by oscar lee

There’s something sad about rain, but sad but in a happy way - like the nexus between ecstasy and anxiety - a perfect kind of lull. I wish it rained more often.

MY BLOODY VALENTINE — “Sometimes” as described by frederick robson

The start of any My Bloody Valentine song sounds just like noise. Hidden, though, there is something surprisingly melodic. Alongside the soft vocals, it makes this song perfect for watching a rainstorm out of the window.

CLAUDE DEBUSSY — “Clair de Lune” — as described by nishant karandikar

When water heaters run cold and radiators don’t radiate, put this song on. Feel inspired. Then strip, towel off, change into your PJs, make yourself some cocoa & schnapps, and open up your worn copy of A Storm of Swords. This is the week you finally find out what happens to Daenerys in Pentos.

LABRINTH — “Jealous” — as described by claire kim

I’m jealous of the rain
That falls upon your skin
It’s closer than my hands have been
I’m jealous of the rain.

Let your rain fall.

SZA- “Sobriety” - as described by taylor litchfield

I can listen to SZA bout any time anywhere, but something about ‘Sobriety’ fits the rainy day fuck it all vibes. Your soul kinda smiles cynically a bit and snaps along to her smooth vocals and bitterness towards humanity.

JUNGLE — “Drops” — as described by eugenia puglisi

Jungle is very important to me. But, more notably, this song is just the right combination of melancholy and fresh: I like to think of it as the musical equivalent to the lovely, sweet, and somewhat indescribable scent of the wet grass of our front lawns in the morning. Breathe in deep.

THE PAPER KITES — “Tenenbaum” — as described by siena streiber

Pair this song with a good book and a rainy day, and tell me you aren’t set for life. Easily one of the most mellow songs I’ve have the pleasure of hearing, it is the perfect compliment to any rainy day. Trying to avoid a wet butt seat from biking? “Forgot” you had class so you stayed in bed instead? This is the song for you.

STEVIE WONDER- “Don’t You Worry ’bout A Thing” — as described by tara mccullough

Take a moment, sit in your jammies, (find a fireplace?!) and sit by a fireplace. Close your eyes during these hectic weeks, and let the sultry, fun sound wash over you. Even with that rain you can’t help but smile. We need these reminders- that life is going to be ok and that dancing, dancing is perfect in this moment.

SUFJAN STEVENS — “Romulus” — as described by alex cheng

Sometimes, it’s raining outside and you just need to fucking cry. Turn to this song. Listen, I know Sufjan Stevens isn’t cool any more. The dude is too white for 2015; we have bigger fish to fry. And crying is not cool, no matter what people try to tell you. But: “She smoked in her room and colored her hair.” I fall apart at that line every time.

(P.S. All you false Sufjan-ites who come at me trying to say “Casimir Pulaski Day” is sadder, get that The-Fault-in-Our-Stars shit the fuck out of here. I cry to “Romulus” and to no other.)
DARK DARK DARK — “Daydreaming” — as described by alec glassford

Let the beating of the bass drum pull you in all gentle.… The piano wraps you in a quilt.… Wandering.… Somewhere else.… You stare at the greyness outside your window. The raindrops are accompaniment now. Why would anyone ever want to do anything other than stare out a window?

THE SHIVERS — “Beauty” — as described by editor bojan srb

This one goes out to all my self-identified sapioromantic meteopathic sometimes-demi-but-oftentimes-pansexuals who found way more thrill between their sheets than the outside of their room.

THE TEMPTATIONS — ¨I Wish It Would Rain¨ — as described by editor lawrence neil

I think the subtext of this song is that it’s always snowing in Detroit and the Temptations just wished the sub-freezing temperatures would subside, as would be evidenced by a milder form of precipitation. ¨I Wish It Would Sleet¨ just didn’t have the ring they were looking for. Man, I hate winter.

BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH — “Atlas Hands” — as described by e.i.c. katharine schwab