Angelina’s Corner: Roundup
Words by Angelina Singer
This quintessential pop-punk track is all kinds of 2000s glitter-pop with a deeper meaning baked in. The central message is how dating culture is largely focused on meaningless hookups instead of a healthy and sustainable long-term relationship. The drumbeat? Driving. The guitars? Laying down the rhythm perfectly. Big thumbs up from me about the truth in this song that’s so relatable, while also drawing attention to a bigger societal problem that actually could change if enough people speak up about it. If you’ve got a loud emo side but are really just a cinnamon roll sweetheart on the inside, this song will hit all the right notes for you.
My Mom is Here and Jake E. Lee
Smashing Pumpkins fans are going to eat this one right up — and once you listen to it, you’ll see what I mean. It’s got that fuzzed-out, slice of life lyricism that transcends decades, with undeniable truths that anyone can relate to. It’s a great song to get emotional to, but that’s not to say it’ll make you cry — instead, I would say that it would make you feel seen. The soaring guitar chords build up into an exuberant chorus that will be the perfect addition to your personal soundtrack if your life was a movie. At its core, this song is a great reminder that you’ll be okay eventually, even if you don’t feel okay just yet.
This singer-songwriter track has all the hallmark moments you would expect from a song like this. It’s got a strong vocal presence, and light, jingly percussion that makes it feel homespun and cozy. Written about all the dynamic emotions that come with missing someone who’s no longer in your life, it’ll comfort anyone who’s thinking of someone. Or, maybe it’ll inspire you to go after what you really want in life, whether in relationships or in general. Listen to it with a warm cup of tea and your fluffiest blanket while rain falls outside your window.
This song is so poetic and beautiful, and I can’t get over the gorgeous vocal harmonies. I’m not really sure how they made this song sound like an evening at the beach, but they did. And it’s incredibly soothing and lovely, which is apropos because this song is all about love. Whether you’re in love currently, or just want to be soon, this song will show you what passionate romance can feel like in the most poetic way. Light guitar articulations build the ambient space as waves crash on an invisible shoreline.
This inventive track uses earrings as a metaphor to describe her pitfalls in the romance department, and it’s so slick and hilarious. Sure, she’s talking about retrieving earrings from someone’s place, but it could also be the tongue-in-cheek idea of managing regrets from past one-night-stands. It’s lighthearted and bouncy, but the message is a real one that a lot of people will connect with. Bordering the line between a joke song and something a bit more serious, this artist shows that big feelings and deeper meanings can coexist if you’re creative enough to dream up a way for them to blend.
This one feels like an outtake from the coziest Muppets movie — in a good way. My first thought when re-listening to it, was that it has this nostalgic, stripped-down flair that feels like coming home. A beautiful song about love and the way it can transcend time and space is no less powerful despite it mostly just being the artist’s smooth vocals and a bright acoustic guitar in the spotlight. I really enjoyed the peacefulness this song offers, and unlike a lot of other romantic tracks that have an undercurrent of lust and desperation in the messaging, this one could almost be a platonic love. It’s admiration, and care, shown in song form, which would make it a beautiful track to tell literally anyone in your life how much you care about them.
Can’t Find My Way Home covered by My Mom is Here and Jake E. Lee
As I don’t typically feature cover tracks on this column, this one must have slipped through the cracks — but honestly, I’m glad it did. I haven’t heard the original but this one has this delectable mix of lead guitar, a feisty wind section, and a refusal to be anything but ordinary. Sonically, there are so many dynamics that keep things interesting and I know my readers will absolutely love that lead guitar solo too. It’s all very cinematic and special, so don’t hesitate to listen to it the next time you want to feel excited about a brand new day on the horizon.