Today’s March 1st, and while it’s still cold out and doesn’t feel anything like spring, I always attribute the start of March as the prelude of spring. Spring technically begins on March 19th this year, so right about now feels like the appropriate time to start crafting your spring playlist. To aid you in that task, I’m giving you 25 song recommendations that’ll elevate your spring listening experience.
If you’re looking for song recommendations for spring break, you’ve come to the wrong place. I won’t give out spring break recommendations for two reasons. One is that with Mass Maritimes schedule, I’ve never experienced a spring break. And two is because I’m bitter that I never experienced a fun spring break. I’m bitter so the readers suffer. The recommendations I’m giving serve more for spring kickbacks, driving in the spring, or just lounging and you’re looking to brighten the vibe to fit the spring season.
Spring Has Sprung by Skegss
With spring in the title of the song, you better believe I’m adding one of my favorite Skegss songs to the spring playlist. The surf rock jam hits the notes of what spring is through its writing: “I was plannin’ on just chillin’ out, now I wanna have some fun“. When I think of a spring weekend hanging with my friends, maybe we were thinking of doing a quiet little kickback, but then one of us suggests playing beer die or pong. We were going to chill. Now we’re going to have some fun.
Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads
My favorite song from the Talking Heads is Road to Nowhere, and for some reason, it feels like there’s a personification of spring in both the rhythm and writing. The usage of Jerry Harrison on the organ and adding a washboard, tambourine, and accordion make for an upbeat anthem style song. Plus, the song being named Road to Nowhere makes for an awesome song to play when you’re going on an aimless drive in the nice spring weather.
Sunny Boy by Ritt Momney
Ritt Momney is usually a group I’ll listen to when I’m unwinding, but Sunny Boy is a jovial joint that’s perfect for when you’re hanging out, maybe on the back deck or front porch, but definitely outside. I like the idea of playing it on a spring morning while you’re making your daily coffee, then stepping outside into the warm, but still somewhat brisk, spring air. It’s a specific scenario, but one I’ll be trying out this year. I’ll let you know how it is.
Valerie by Amy Winehouse
I love Amy Winehouse. She’s my favorite female musician ever. Even though a lot of her songs are about heartbreak and won’t boost your spring spirit, I find that Valerie is great for the spring. Valerie, the version from Mark Ronson’s 2007 album Version, feels like you’re literally walking on sunshine. Whenever I hear it, I bob my head and smile. If I’m walking and it comes on, I straighten up and start walking with more of a purpose. A happy purpose.
Murder on the Dance Floor by Royel Otis
Murder on the Dance Floor garnered buzz after Barry Keoghan flaunted his hog and danced around in Saltburn while it played. While the song does bang, I’m not picking the Sophie Ellis-Bextor version. I’m rocking with the Royel Otis version (shoutout Hugh Wells for turning me onto Royel Otis) this spring. Their version is very raw, which I love, and more indie, which I love even more. Plus, Royel Maddell’s voice is so soothing. Play this at a kickback and watch the vibes rise.
Look Out! by Peach Pit
Whether it’s the spring or summer time, you know I’ve got Peach Pit in the rotation. In the summer, I love their upbeat stuff like Vickie or Chagu’s Sideturn. And while those would be good additions to your spring playlist, my Peach Pit recommendation is Look Out! The light guitar and deep lyrics about trying to get someone to notice them make for the perfect solo driving song this spring. If you aren’t well versed in solo drives in nice weather, take this spring as an opportunity to learn about them. As someone who takes them often, I can say they are killer.
pool by Still Woozy and Remi Wolf
One of my favorite music projects from 2022 brought Still Woozy and Remi Wolf together. That of course is pool. A lot like Look Out!, pool is a tad somber, but you can easily vibe to it. It’s far from a tune you’d bump at a kickback or get together, but one for when you’re by yourself and enjoying the spring air. There’s a lot of Still Woozy I could’ve put on here, but I’ll save my cavalcade of Still Woozy recommendations for the summer.
Imported Goods by Action Bronson
Did you think I’d just give you indie rock and pop this whole time? Of course I’m showing love to the king Action Bronson. When you’re listening, the beat will make you hit the stank face. It’s elegance coupled with Bronson’s elite level bars will make you feel on top of the world when you’re driving around this spring or when you throw it on at the get together and everyone loves it. “Bronson love a freak bitch, dining on that Greek dish, That’s the a-hole, all my people AWOL, Cash inside the case and now the judges want to play ball.“
Davy Crochet by The Backseat Lovers
I fell in love with Davy Crochet this winter. It was always a song I’d skip over when listening to When We Were Friends, but it caught my ear one day. Since then, it’s been on repeat. Even though it does reference snow a time or two, Davy Crochet has the usual killer guitar riffs from Jonas Swanson that make you want to relax in nice weather. Honestly, any song from The Backseat Lovers works for the spring, but my recommendation is for Davy Crochet.
New Girl (Tom’s Song) by The Walters
The Walters are new to my rotation and I love their love-centric writing. New Girl (Tom’s Song) has no shortage of that loving sentiment. It may be in a somewhat negative tone because a new girl is entering the picture, but that’s neither here nor there. I would categorize New Girl (Tom’s Song) as a spring driving song. You can get the lyrics down easily to sing loudly, and if you’re not in a singing mood, just hum the catchy beat.
Birds Don’t Sing by TV Girl
While TV Girl’s album Grapes Upon the Vine was one of my favorite projects of last year, I’m going back to 2014 for this recommendation. Birds Don’t Sing is a groovy jam from TV Girl that personifies the majority of their music, which is intriguing background vocals, unique beats that break the mold of what they do every time, and lyrics filled with romance. Of all their songs, I think Birds Don’t Sing is the best for the spring.
Take Me Home by Bryce Vine
The same way I’ll always have Peach Pit on repeat in the spring and summer is how I feel about Bryce Vine, especially anything from the EPs Lazy Fair and Night Circus. It’s a song about two strangers meeting and maybe falling in love. But the beat that he uses is what makes you buy in to the song. Even with its sentiment of falling in love, it still serves as a great song for the kickback. I mean, really any Bryce Vine song would fit the kickback.
Late Night Talking by Harry Styles
I’ll say it and I don’t care who knows: I’m a Harry Styles fan. And his album Harry’s House rocks. This spring, you could go with the super popular As It Was, but if you get high off people asking “Yo, what song is this?” like I do, then throw on Late Night Talking. It almost has a poppier R&B feel to it that makes you want to dance a little. Something more than tapping a toe, but less than full on cutting a rug.
I. Pink Toes by Childish Gambino and Jhene Aiko
Just off the opening bird chirps in I. Pink Toes, you know this is an awesome song to play on a spring morning. Maybe I’ll queue it up after Sunny Boy? Let me write that down. Okay, back to what you’re here for which is spring recommendations. I. Pink Toes is great for the spring because it’s one of the most talented artists of the 21st century, Childish Gambino singing about rainbows and sunshine. But what really sets it over the top is the feature from Jhene Aiko who has a beautiful voice.
Piledriver Waltz by Arctic Monkeys
I’ll never leave certain artists off a recommendation list because I want more people to hear them. While the Arctic Monkeys need no help from me promoting them, I’ll always do it. My spring recommendation from the Arctic Monkeys is Piledriver Waltz. It bangs. That’s the best way to describe it is that it bangs. It starts off with a beachy sounding guitar riff, but then Alex Turner’s distinctive voice hits and the song is nothing you expected it to be. But you’re fine with it because, guess what? It bangs.
Tangerine by Noah Richardson
Sometimes Tik Tok throws you great song suggestions. That’s where I found Tangerine by Noah Richardson. It’s a quaint love song that’s been on repeat for me the past few weeks. Richardson’s writing has a stylish nature to it that I find intoxicating. And while all of that is great, it’s getting thrown onto the spring playlist because a tangerine is vibrant. I attribute vibrancy with spring.
Fifa by JR Specs
The charming pop beat supplemented with claps that JR Specs uses is the embodiment of spring. He has a lot of joints you could listen to this spring, but Fifa flaunts his vocals while mixing in his impressive bars. I’ll be honest though, when I was a kid, I had Fifa 14 for my Wii and can distinctly remember getting home from school in the spring and immediately playing it. So if he can help me remember nostalgic moments like that with a song title, it gets the nod of approval.
She Moves In Her Own Way by The Kooks
I find that The Kooks are more of a summer band, but She Moves In Her Own Way falls into the spring morning category. The very light guitar strumming paired with lyrics about a girl that you care about radiates a spring cheeriness you won’t find in most songs. When I do my summer recommendations, don’t be shocked to see two or three songs from The Kooks. For now though, I’ll give you one for the spring and it’s She Moves In Her Own Way.
Harness Your Hopes by Pavement
Does Harness Your Hopes by Pavement really feel like a spring song? I’m still wrestling with that question, but I’m still recommending it. For some reason, when I hear Stephen Malkmus’ writing like “Well, show me a word that rhymes with pavement, And I won’t kill your parents and roast them on a spit And don’t you try to etch it or permanently sketch it“, I get cheerful. That’s how I want to feel during the spring time. This isn’t a kickback jam, but maybe one that’s good for the car because it’s fun to sing along to.
Heart Don’t Stand A Chance by Anderson .Paak
Not many artists exude the effortless cool vibe that Anderson .Paak has. It’s impressive. If you want to try to embody that swagger as the weather warms up this spring, there’s only one thing to do. You need to play some Anderson .Paak. Heart Don’t Stand A Chance is super groovy and lends itself for the casual head bob while you’re driving to a party. Whenever I’m going out and need my vibe to be picked up, I’ll play music from artists with a cool aura. That includes Anderson .Paak.
Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks
I got into The Kinks big time last year and after listening to them extensively, I came to the consensus that my favorite song from them is Waterloo Sunset. The way that Ray Davies acoustic guitar blends with Mick Avory on the drums is beautiful. You might be wondering where you’d listen to this, though. My recommendation is to stick with the song title. Listen to it while you watch a beautiful sunset consisting of reds, oranges and purples.
Good Grief by Bastille
There’s a Don Diablo remix of Good Grief that fits the summer vibe perfect. But there’s no need to go further than the original for the spring. It’s got enough of a pop vibe for a kickback, and usually, everyone knows the lyrics. Or at least they know the chorus which is big if you want to keep controlling the aux cord.
Out In The Street by Bruce Springsteen
I’m giving you a Bruce Springsteen recommendation that isn’t Dancing In The Dark or Born To Run. Out In The Street is a song about blowing off steam after working hard all week. This song should be played on Friday when you’re leaving work or finishing classes and you’re ready to crack a few beers with friends on the weekend and soak up the spring sunshine.
Cocoa Butter Kisses by Chance The Rapper
While I think Chance The Rapper’s newer work stinks, there’s no denying that Cocoa Butter Kisses is a hit. I’ve had Cocoa Butter Kisses in my nighttime drive playlist since high school for good reason. The beat is mellow, but the bars that Chance and Vic Mensa spit are far from mellow. It’ll make you try to rap with them while you drive around admiring a sunset and there’s no better feeling.
Modern Love by David Bowie
I’ve written about it to the extent that people are probably sick of it, but the scene from Frances Ha where Greta Gerwig is sprinting as Modern Love plays is a great vibe. That’s the vibe I want to feel this spring. Pure joy while running with out a care in the world. That’s how I feel when I hear Modern Love.
