The Scout staff has compiled a list of its favorite songs to listen to as we welcome March, along with explanations and descriptions.
Latif Love:
“Run A Train” by J. Cole
“Run A Train” is one of my favorite songs off of J. Cole’s latest album, “The Fall Off.” It’s a song about the tension created by growing up in a poverty-stricken neighborhood and making it out but not wanting to forget where you came from. Cole’s rapping is sharp, highlighted by his use of a basketball scheme to depict what growing up in the hood is like. Future delivers a great hook to keep you engaged in between verses, and the beat doesn’t overtake the bars.
“Safety” by J. Cole
On “Safety,” Cole cleverly raps from the perspective of an old friend who went to jail and, trying to reach out and catch up, tells Cole he’s proud of him for all he’s accomplished. Cole isn’t answering, so he’s essentially leaving voicemails, filling Cole in on how drugs and violence have ravaged the community, how the women they used to want are doing and how much he’s missed in his hometown. It’s not something out of the ordinary for Cole; like most of his work, it’s done to perfection.
Scarlett Rose Binder:
“Thinking of You” by Katy Perry
I will not tolerate any “Thinking of You” slander, even though, not so long ago, my “for you” page was full of people ridiculing the song. Perry’s over-enunciation of certain lyrics makes the 2008 pop-rock ballad what it is, and it’s beautiful, complete with poignant lyrics and a masterful music video. On a road trip last weekend, I played this song three times in a row, and I belted every line. “Thinking of You” haters are not welcome in my car.
“Proud Mary” by Tina Turner
This is a classic from the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll that everyone should be familiar with – and if you are not, it’s an issue you should remedy right away. Although the song came out in 1970, it was featured on Just Dance 2 in 2010. I remember practically forcing my best friend to dance to “Proud Mary” with me until our sides were splitting and our feet were about to fall off. I recently pulled the 16-year-old Wii game back out, found the song, and felt like a kid again.
Celine Lamirand:
“Pray” by Vana
“Pray” is a more recent discovery that was sent to me by a friend. At first, I wasn’t too convinced the song would be anything special. I thought, “Who is Vana?” I had never heard of her before. But the second it started playing, I was amazed. Vana is a truly iconic female artist within the metal genre. “Pray” perfectly blends industrial metal with R&B-inspired melodies, which is just about all it takes for me to fall in love with a song. Adding a female vocalist who has perfected the art of metal screams is really the cherry on top for me. I will always be an advocate for female vocalists in metal. It’s unfortunate there aren’t more of them.
“SHALLOW” by Magnolia Park
Metal and rock fans, feel free to call me a poser here. I do not care. I strongly believe “SHALLOW” is Magnolia Park’s most popular song for a good reason. “SHALLOW” debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Hot Hard Rock Songs chart in 2025 – as it should. One thing I appreciate about this song, similar to “Pray” by Vana, is the blending of genres. In this song, Magnolia Park blends their typical alternative rock with a trap sample. Like I said before, blending two genres and doing it well makes me instantly fall in love with a song. But “SHALLOW” is honestly so much deeper than that. If you really pay attention to the lyrics, they delve into unhealthy relationships and how difficult it can be to let them go. “SHALLOW” proves the genre isn’t always about who has the sickest guitar riff. It’s about life, passion and art too.
Paul Swartz:
“The Getaway” by The Strike
Pop-rock outfit The Strike ventured into 80s-inspired, synth-heavy instrumentation on this single, and it’s one of their best. The drums are muted until the chorus, giving it a bombastic explosion of energy. The wailing electric guitar provides excellent layering to the verses, and the saxophone solo in the song’s final verses is a massive highlight. “The Getaway” is a catchy, anthemic ballad and a perfect driving song.
“pray 4 me” by redveil
Following his 2022 masterpiece “learn 2 Swim,” up-and-coming rapper-producer redveil dropped a jazz-rap showcase at the end of 2025. “Pray 4 me” is the record’s strongest track. Rapping over a soulful looped sample accentuated by gorgeous string passages, Redveil gives maybe the best performance of his career, delivering an infectious, passionate flow that builds across the track. By the end of the song, his pain is clear, reaching a point of nearly screaming with a cracking voice. “Pray 4 me” is a gorgeous display of his rapping and production prowess, and it cements him as one of the most exciting voices in hip-hop today.
Jordan Jones:
“Virginia Beach” by Drake
I’ve had “Virginia Beach” on repeat since it was first released. It’s got this slow vibe that feels perfect for zoning out with headphones on. The song is reflective and a little moody, which makes it one of those tracks that’s easy to come back to. Drake will never fail to consistently put out songs for late-night listens.
“Sunny Day” by beabadoobee
“Sunny Day” has been one of my feel-good songs lately. It’s super mellow and easy to listen to, with that soft indie sound that beabadoobee does really well. It’s the kind of song that I throw on when I want something comforting and uplifting. It’s perfect for walking to class, with the weather changing from awfully cold to generously warm.
Ethan Diamond:
“Red Button” by Drake
I remember the first time I heard “Red Button,” when Drake dropped the deluxe to “For All The Dogs.” I immediately knew this song was a vibe and would become a favorite in my rotation. The soft, laid-back instrumental sets the mood, with Drake touching on his legacy and the industry. This song is one I really enjoy at night; it just has that calm, late-night drive energy.
“Tuscan Leather” by Drake
I’ve been on a big Drake kick lately, as evidenced by both of my picks. “Tuscan Leather” is my personal favorite intro on a Drake album. I really love the instrumental and how Drake flows over it, not to mention the vibe the song provides is elite and can really hit at the right moments.
Mark Wagner:
“Reverse” by Vic Mensa ft. G-Eazy & Marshmello
Unsurprisingly, a good portion of the songs I listen to are from video game soundtracks. I can still remember when MLB The Show 19 released and I heard “Reverse” for the first time. It brings me back to a simpler time of rap with an instrumental that rarely ever appears in hip-hop songs, not to mention the fantastic masterpiece that is a G-Eazy feature. This song will be stuck in my head for the whole of March, and I’m okay with that.
“These Days” by Rudimental ft. Jess Glynne, Macklemore & Dan Caplen
My recent column talks a lot about nostalgia and memories, which reminded me of this song. When I first heard “These Days” on the radio, I didn’t really think anything of it, but after listening to it more and more, it quickly grew on me. It has that EDM feel I love, while also blending pop into the verses and chorus. And just like G-Eazy, Macklemore can easily (no pun intended) steal the show on whatever track he’s on. You can listen to this song anywhere at any time, and it will hit the same, no matter what.
Davis Kinch:
“Pour It Up” by Rihanna
I recently decided I was gonna go back and listen to artists I used to listen to a lot when I was younger. Among those artists is Rihanna, so why not put one of her songs on here? “Pour It Up” in particular is a longtime favorite of mine from her, in large part because of the vibe you get from it.
“Supermodel” by SZA
“Ctrl” will likely forever be one of my favorite albums from SZA. “Supermodel” particularly sticks out to me, as SZA lets everyone know how she feels about being cheated on and left only for her partner to get with someone new. Aside from the lyrics, the instrumental, combined with SZA’s vocals, makes for a soothing listen.
Jessica Taylor:
“complex” by Katie Gregson-MacLeod
I love slow music, and a friend recently introduced me to “complex.” It works really well. The lyrics are about the difficult balance between feeling too much and not enough. It’s both longing and reflective at the same time, capturing the complexity of being human, how things are always more tangled than they should be.
“iloveitiloveitiloveit” by Bella Kay
I’m a sucker for a good TikTok audio; they get popular for a reason. I started listening to “iloveitiloveitiloveit” for its iconic “we don’t have to get into what that says about me” line, but now I can’t stop putting it on repeat. It’s about not being able to stop loving something that hurts you, being stuck falling back into a bad idea over and over again. Bella Kay’s vocals are raw and easy to sing along to. The whole tune just scratches something in my chest perfectly.
