Playlists that Have Me Obsessed: Infernal Tunes, Nordic Ballads, and Moscow Rooftops

Since the start of summer break, I have been jumping between different playlists on Spotify, not committing to any — because there are just too many — and telling myself that I should start to advertize some of my favorite ones. Well, today is that day. Let’s begin!

P.s. If you have seen my Spotify, it is very clear that I prefer collecting these little packets of imagination and soul from other users’ accounts to spending the time and effort to create my own, but I recognize my failings, so there we are.

I mean, need I say more? This one gives me some 3 a.m. on a Moscow rooftop in the summer vibes. I feel like I want to look out at the city lights AND close my eyes to vibe on my own at the same time. The struggle. And all for a choice that doesn’t even exist during my Turkish pandemic lockdown. 😷

Intense, I know. This is what I listen to when I want to build up a tragedy in my head.

PRO TIP: When you feel down in the dumps about one thing or another, just blast some *infernal tunes* (Carmina Burana heavily recommended) and the burden of everyday inconveniences will begin to lighten, either because the music is a caricature of your pain and you can’t help but chuckle at your overreaction, or because the voices in the music are so despairing that the voices in your head cannot get a word in. Win-win, either way!

This one had to be on here because I just finished the second season of the show, and BOY was the soundtrack on point. Some of my favorite songs, which I listen to constantly, came out of the first season when I watched it during senior year of high school. My on-repeats from that season of my life included such Umbrella Academy hits as: “Picture Book” by The Kinks, “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany, “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” by They Might Be Giants, “False Confidence” by Noah Kahan, “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Toploader, and “One” by Three Dog Night.

The next ten episodes did not disappoint. My top recommendation would have to be “Sunny” by Boney M. Also, it’s funny that the scenes where I first hear a song have such a big impact on how much I like it. Klaus’ little montage during this particular song hit home for me. I just appreciate Klaus so much, and want him to be okay so desperately. “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers is also a bop, although I didn’t like any of their other music. Maybe if those were picked for the show, I would have inevitably liked them as well… 🤷🏻‍♀️

“Major Tom-Coming Home” by Peter Schilling comes in third, purely for its chorus, which is SO good. I feel like I’m floating. The rest of the song gives me Doctor Who vibes (especially “The Doctor is Dying” by Chameleon Circuit) but I definitely love Doctor Who more than this song. The chorus is just too short for it to get anything higher than third place.

These songs made me appreciate the guitar more, which is great because that instrument is truly everywhere. There are some predictable classics, such as hits by The Beatles (which I actually need to listen to more––I just learned recently that they have 213 songs, which I would never have guessed) and Queen, but there is also a Scandinavian ballad that I have had on repeat: “Balladen om Fredrik Åkare” by Cornelis Vreeswijk.

“Segra Eller Dö” by Stefan Andersson is another surprise on there. I don’t really know how to describe this song, except to say that I don’t understand it, but it hypes me up, and the beginning feels like a Swedish soldier retelling a Norse myth in semi-song form to his little sister while resting up by the fire before another day of battle. That is a very specific but definite mood.

P.s. I actually put the lyrics into Google Translate after I wrote this bit, to see how wrong I really was, and it turns out that I was pretty much spot on! I have never been prouder.

I could go on for a LONG time, but I have decided to stop here and save my archives for another article with brand new recommendations. In the meantime, have fun exploring these playlists, and try to venture into some unfamiliar waters, at least for a couple of songs!