I was initially going to make a playlist post because I feel like I haven’t done that in a while, but I was inspired by a Quora post (hi Jenny, thanks if you’re reading this) to do my favorite songs from my favorite artists. These are all artists you’ve heard about before, but these are all of my favorite songs from them, which may or may not be your favorite songs. If you don’t know these songs, then great, you’re welcome for the recommendations. If you do, then you’ll find out why these songs mean so much to me. Happy reading!
Note: I tried to choose artists that have a whole bunch of songs to choose from, but I’m planning on doing another post on underrated songs that have a special meaning to me.
Taylor Swift
The queen herself. Nine (NINE) studio albums and these are the best in my opinion. Of course, there are so many more songs that are absolutely amazing, but these are just the ones that have a special meaning to me.
“gold rush”: My favorite song from evermore has to be this one. It’s so catchy, and I love the line “What must it be like to grow up that beautiful? With your hair falling into place like dominos”.
“champagne problems”: Another favorite from evermore. This song is really fun to play on the ukulele, and I think these lyrics are so moving.
“betty”: I love this one because of the story behind it with the teenage love triangle. This is why Taylor is the queen.
“illicit affairs”: This might be my favorite song from folklore. I also covered this song for my old music Instagram, which is very special.
“Paper Rings”: This one I started liking because of booktok (book TikTok). There was this specific TikTok I remember about book guys the creator would marry with paper rings, and that lives in my mind so rend free. The line “I love shiny things but I’d marry you with paper rings” is forever ingrained in my memory. I’d marry any of my book boyfriends with paper rings. Someone get me a minister.
“Holy Ground”: I distinctly remember the moment I first heard this song. My sister shared her earbuds with me on the car ride down from Lake Louise in Canada, and every time I hear this song I remember that trip (might be my favorite of all time) and my sister (hi again Jenny).
“Mean”: This was Danielle Bradberry’s audition song on The Voice Season 4, which was the first season that I watched. The Voice was my thing back in elementary school, so this song has some huge memories associated with it.
“Everything Has Changed”: I heard this song first when Madilyn Paige and Tanner James did a duet to this during The Voice battle rounds. I watched that video more times than I can count. This is one of my favorite duet songs of all time.
“Love Story”: Don’t get me wrong, I hate Romeo and Juliet with a passion since ninth grade English class. But this is such a bop and has been for so long. All my friends love it.
“You Belong WithMe”: I heard this song over ten years ago when my sister and her friends listened to it, and I would belt my heart out in the shower to this song. Six year old me had no idea what the words were, but I know them by heart now. This song lives as prime nostalgia in my brain.
Ed Sheeran
Taylor’s the queen, Ed’s the king. When he releases a new album (subtract?!), it will be on loop. I’m so ready.
“Supermarket Flowers”: This one was my favorite song for a long time in middle school. It’s so sad, but I think the meaning is so special.
“I’m a Mess”: This song was my “sad boi hours” song in middle school. It’s also extremely catchy, so I still remember the chorus even now.
“Castle on the Hill”: This song is my favorite to sing in the shower. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard myself sing it more than I’ve heard Ed.
“Hearts Don’t Break Around Here”: There’s a reason why almost all of the songs on this list are from Divide because of the memories associated with it and the way the album pretty much makes me cry. The memories = early morning drives to club volleyball tournaments.
“Photograph”: I had to include one of Ed’s biggest songs on this list. “Photograph” is just a classic.
Shawn Mendes
The young heartthrob himself. He was my world in middle school.
“Roses”: This song is my favorite Shawn Mendes song of all time. The lyric “I got you this rose and I need to know / Will you let it die or let it grow?” was the deepest thing ever when I was in middle school. Gold.
“Memories”: There are four songs from Handwritten that exemplify both “sad boi hours” and middle school morning bus rides at 6am. “Memories” is one, and “Imagination”, “A Little Too Much”, and “Running Low” are the others. I just live for sad songs.
“Mutual”: The distinct memory I have of listening to this song is driving through Seattle while making bad decisions regarding guys. Love that for me!
Lauv
His songs are solid gold.
“The Story Never Ends”: Lauv has a pretty unique sound, and this was one of the slower songs on his first album. This song reminds me of freshman year, specifically when Lauv songs were stuck in my head during freshman bio class.
“I Like Me Better”: This one is the classic. It reminds me of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Pinterest couples, and hopeless romantics. Of course, these are all some of my favorite things.
“Julia”: This song was one of my top from 2020, and it might be my favorite song from ~how i’m feeling~. I listened to that album from start to finish way too many times, especially during long car rides after school. I also have a couple friends named Julia, but I haven’t lied to them.
“Sweatpants”: I love this song because it’s so catchy. The beginning is great. So great.
One Direction
The OG kings and my favorite British men.
“Girl Almighty”: I think I explained why I love this song before, but basically, for my birthday a while ago, my sister made me a video with this song playing in the background. The video made me cry. Multiple times.
“History”: You gotta help me; I’m losing my mind. (I’m funny, please appreciate me). The music video to this is really sentimental, and it brings back great memories of all of 1D.
“Night Changes”: Even now, I always sing this song (again: shower tunes). I have a big thing for catchy songs, as you all can see, and “Night Changes” is definitely one of those.
“Nobody Compares”: When I was at a restaurant in Orlando in 2017, I had the chorus for this song stuck in my head but didn’t know where it was from. Now I know where it’s from. Again: CATCHY.
“Kiss You”: The music video for “Kiss You” was the first music video I’ve ever watched, so of course this song is on the list.
5 Seconds of Summer
I started listening to 5SOS in seventh grade when my friend suggested “Heartbreak Girl” to me. Still love 'em.
“Heartbreak Girl”: Again, this is the song that got me into 5SOS in the first place. 5SOS is just the king of catchy songs and especially catchy choruses that make you so hyped. Hopefully, I never have to exactly relate to this song, but this one is a special one.
“Good Girls”: This is just all of the nostalgia. Good girls are bad girls that haven’t been caught.
“End Up Here”: This song is so unbelievably catchy that I had it stuck in my head for the longest time. I love it.
“Not In The Same Way”: This is the only newer 5SOS song on this list. It was my alarm for a little while, and my favorite part is the opening.
So that was a boatload of songs, but I hope you liked that. See you next time!
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