Ok, so here’s the deal. I’ve been wanting to do a playlist post for a while now relating to what I’ve listened to on some of my travels. Obviously, like most people, I love music, and I think it’s a great way to get to know someone.
I listen to it, and I’ve played it for as long as I can remember – violin from the age of 5 (because I’m super cool like that), a stint of piano and now I try to teach myself guitar, which currently isn’t going well as one of my tuning pegs broke. Possibly most proudly, I taught myself the recorder when I was little just because. Yeah, right? Impressive.
Anyway, music’s important to me, and one of the things I love about it is how it can transport you to a different time and bring back a rush of feelings. Some songs I sadly can no longer listen to, and there are some, like the ones on this playlist, that bring back a severe case of happy but emotional nostalgia.
Studying in Melbourne, Australia, was certainly one of the happiest times of my life. It was the first time I lived abroad, a dream I had for a few years that I was finally fulfilling. I was scared but excited, made friends for life, met my boyfriend, had great adventures, travelled around, and grew as a person. These songs encompass all those feelings, and even if I do say so myself, I think they’re pretty awesome songs anyway. Credit goes to my boyfriend, Alan, for thinking of doing an Australia playlist – an idea I’m all too happy to steal.
Foxes – Youth
I discovered this song through two people whose music taste I always admired in Australia. Foxes has become a lot bigger since then, but it’s this original version of Youth that I liked listened to again and again, not the version Foxes released as a single recently.
“Don’t tell me our youth is running out, It’s only just begun”. Lyrics to live the start of my time in Australia, for sure.
Allo Darlin’ – Tallulah
Happy and plucky, Tallulah simply reminds me of having fun and meeting fantastic people. “I really love my new friends, I feel I’ve known them a long while”.
Youth Lagoon – Seventeen
There’s one line in this, “Don’t stop imagining, The day that you do is the day that you die”… As cheesey as it sounds, I was out in Australia following my dreams and this airy, dreamy song resonated. Whenever I listen to it now, an incredibly happy feeling washes over me and reminds me to never stop thinking about what I want and what keeps me feeling alive.
Youth Lagoon – Afternoon
I would say sorry for another Youth Lagoon song, but I’m actually holding back on YL in this list to keep the variety for anyone reading this! The whole album Year of Hibernation essentially reminds me of my time in Australia. It reflects the freedom and happiness I felt, one of the best feelings I can possibly imagine.
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
In my halls of residence, we had a ‘talent night’, and my boyfriend Alan (although at this time we were only just starting up) and my best friend Allie sang/played this together. It still sticks in my mind so clearly as two of my favourite people performing such a beautiful song.
Snow Patrol – Take Back the City
I remember sitting in my room listening to Snow Patrol a lot. Chilled out but meaningful music was a big thing for me in Australia, and this song made me feel like I never wanted to leave Melbourne.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Home
I thought I had been original in attributing this song to saying goodbye to Australia and all my friends there, but apparently it’s quite a big thing! Oops. Regardless, for me this song just shows how Melbourne is my home from home, and reminds me of the people I love there.
Frank Ocean – Strawberry Swing
I can’t listen to this song without tearing up. It just perfectly sums up loving the time you’ve had and saying goodbye to it.
“I’ve loved the good times here…”
(I still have to mention the awesome Coldplay here as Frank Ocean did sample their Strawberry Swing!)
And a bit of a special/silly mention for…
The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna be (500 Miles)
This is just a sampler of all the silly ones my lovely best girl friends out in Australia – Allie, Rhian and Ashleigh – would have some sort of ridiculous story behind or sing in a stupid way. This one was a big theme on our Sydney to Melbourne road trip, channeling How I Met Your Mother.
Other songs include Enrique Iglesias’ Hero, stemming from when Allie and I decided to have an Enrique night. Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody, because I sang it weirdly infront of Allie on the Great Ocean Road. Basically, we were typical university best friends and didn’t spend much time apart so a lot of music was involved!
Do certain songs remind you of some of your travels, or a certain period in your life? Which ones and which places?
