The Scout staff has created a list of its favorite songs to listen to heading into the month of October, along with explanations.
Anaiah Davis:
“Already Won” by Kehlani
This 2017 single is a lowkey, self-assured and celebratory track that highlights Kehlani’s road to fame despite critics’ opinions. With a smoothly delivered rap verse and overall motivational lyrics, “Already Won” is an immediate confidence booster and reminds me to create my own definition of success.
“Be Okay” by Jordan Fisher
Fisher pairs powerful and passionate vocals with a lively instrumental, including a fierce beat drop, for this honest, heartfelt and relatable song. “Be Okay” validates feelings of confusion, sorrow and hopelessness during challenging times while preaching resilience and the importance of living in the moment.
Payton Egnew:
“we fell in love in october” by girl in red
Marie Ulven Ringheim, known as girl in red, talks about how she fell in love with her girlfriend during this fall month which is why she loves fall in the song “we fell in love in october.” This song’s slow melody is comforting to listen to and reminds me of autumn everytime I listen to it.
“Memoirs of a Gorilla” by $UICIDEBOY$
This band has become a new favorite of mine and this song is definitely one of my top listens recently. The fast-paced beat makes this the perfect song to get me hyped in the morning when I’m struggling to get to my 9 a.m.
Rome Tews:
“Fake Out” by Fall Out Boy
Say what you want about these “retired” pop punk and emo bands, you have to admit they are still going strong. Patrick, Pete, Joe and Andy proved this once again with their release earlier this year “So Much (for) Stardust.” The fourth track “Fake Out” is that special concoction of catchy pop feeling with straight to the heart lyrics. For me, the angelic harmonies and vocal reverb really push this title over the edge onto my absolute favorites list.
“My Love Mine All Mine” by Mitski
Another 2023 release, Mitski once again creates a beautiful love song on “My Love Mine All Mine.” She is seizing ownership of her love in a ballad to the moon. She explores feelings of longing, and the desire to protect her feelings and emotions, a common experience in my generation. On top of everything, it is presented with such warm vocals and instrumentation.
Ian Cunningham:
“Finger” by Myylo
“Finger” comes from Myylo’s 2017 album, “South.” It’s a jumpy, indie pop song with a fun country twist. Myylo sings about a relationship that was soiled when the narrator’s partner cheated. He evokes two other classic cheating anthems in Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” and Beyoncé’s “Hold Up.” This track has a great fall-feel with a plucky base line and smooth, reverberated vocals that will surely be stuck in your head by the second listen.
“Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” by Del Water Gap
From Del Water Gap’s self-titled 2021 album, “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” is a groovy, sensual track which imagines a difficult conversation with a significant other. Del Water Gap’s lyrics deal with the internal conflict surrounding a conversation he wishes he could have with his lover about taking their relationship to the next level. The part of the song I enjoy most is the unique sound of the track’s post-chorus where Del Water Gap dips into his lower vocal range to produce a full, interesting sound.
Madalyn Mirallegro:
“National Anthem” by Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey perfectly encapsulates the feeling of wanting to be in a “Great Gatsby” type of film. Her soft tone compared to the hard beat easily draws the listener in and makes it impossible to listen to the song only once. The chorus is one of the best parts as the tempo becomes more lighthearted in contrast to the verses’ dark undertone.
“Dance Laura Dance” by Sleep Walking Animals
I have always liked folk music and after discovering that “House of the Dragon” star Thomas Glynn-Carney was in the band Sleep Walking Animals, I immediately went and listened to their entire discography. This song caught my attention with the loud instrumentals and energetic lyrics that make you want to get up and dance as the title suggests. The vocals blend perfectly together with a distinct rasp in each of the members’ voices.
Rodrigo Perez:
“Show Me How to Live” by Audioslave
If you don’t know who Audioslave is, this song perfectly encapsulates who they are as a band. A hard-rock group that assembled once their original groups went on hiatus. With the prowess of Chris Cornel on vocals and the great guitar riffs of Tom Morello, Audioslave is one of my favorite super-groups of the early 2000’s. It’s a perfect song for driving down the highway and turning up the volume.
“Panic Station” by Muse
Muse singer Matt Bellamy’s signature vocals that front this really groovy track make “Panic Station” one of my favorite tracks by this band. Muse is a diverse group that knows how to have fun with their music.
Mason Klemm:
“Super Bounce” by Duckwrth and EARTHGANG
This song from Duckwrth’s 2020 album “SuperGood” combines the melodic voice of the Los Angeles artist with the lyricism of EARTHGANG to blend into a smooth, wavy sound that makes you want to close your eyes and just vibe. As soon as you hear it, the chorus replays over and over in your head and it becomes impossible to escape, flooding your ears with its effortless refrain.
“WINGZ” by Zaia
Atlanta-based artist Zaia has a knack for mixing meaningful lyrics with hard-hitting instrumentals, and this song off his debut album “VERY ALONE” is no different. He incorporates different sounds to create an uplifting feeling, with it all coming to a head when the drums are introduced. The inspirational lyrics make this a worthwhile listen, as he talks about picking himself up when he’s down and fighting his demons.
Jessica Taylor:
“Thumbs” by Sabrina Carpenter
As someone who (surprisingly) survived AP Music Theory, I can appreciate solid rhythm in a song. “Thumbs” by Sabrina Carpenter follows a clear and even snap pattern throughout. The track can get me bopping my head in time immediately. Lyrically, the song talks about the repetition of life and how the “way of the world” keeps the same patterns with people “twiddling their thumbs.”
“labour” by Paris Paloma
“labour” was briefly trending onTikTok spotlight a while ago, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear the full version. The song refers to unreasonable expectations pushed upon women. As the bridge descends into the last verse, there is a powerful moment of different overlapping lines.
