Six songs for your autumn playlist

“1979” received two Grammies for Record of The Year and Best Rock Performance. (Kelly Park)

1979 - The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins’ classic hit, “1979” makes an essential addition to my list this year. It sparks nostalgia for my parents’ generation and brings them back to their youth. In 1979, songwriter Billy Corgan, then twelve, considered the year as his transition into adolescence. The track evokes sentiments of his youth for both Corgan himself and his listeners. If the song had a scent, to me it would smell like a faded photograph in a vintage album, full of the sweetness of reminiscence. Additionally, Corgan’s airy and light vocals enhance the wistfulness, which complements the piece’s theme.

“I said I love the Smiths,” said Summer Finn. That quote lays the foundation for the entire movie “500 Days of Summer”. (Kelly Park )

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths, featured in the iconic rom-com 500 Days of Summer, serves as a fall staple that centers around main characters Tom Hansen and Summer Finn. Tom, an aspiring architect, meets his co-worker Summer at a greeting card company. The film explores their on-and-off relationship through Tom’s idealized perspective of a relationship; while Summer, on the other hand, doesn’t want the burden of it. Later, Tom reunites with Summer, this time engaged, contradicting her previous beliefs against marriage. The movie ends with Tom as he meets another woman, Autumn.

As the epitome of the jangle pop subgenre, this hit elicits feelings of a small vintage record store in a city. Like the featured movie, “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” evokes a romantic yet sad piece of music that, once added, takes a significant part in your autumn playlist.

Green Day’s biggest hits include “Basket Case and Holiday.” They tour worldwide riding the coattails of their ’90s and ’00s fame. (Kelly Park)

Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day

The perfect background track for admiring the fall vista, “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day starts with a fan-favorite instrumental. Green Day, the apogee of pop punk, slowly seeped into my autumn playlist. Honestly, I don’t know much about this group, but maybe because of the title or the general mood, the track draws out the sorrow of the harvest season.

On top of that, this timeless track is commonly associated with mourning and grief. As the season of major tragedies in the US such as the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina, the song provides a safe space to commemorate those deaths for the left behind.

Taylor Swift was inspired to write this song by the freeing yet terrifying feeling of isolation. (Elisa Triolo)

Cardigan - Taylor Swift

Don’t hold it against me Swifties, but Taylor doesn’t really do it for me. Yet, “Cardigan” is one of the few tracks that I enjoy. It somewhat abides by the stereotypical Taylor Swift formula with typical, repetitive lyrics and similar chord progression she always employs, but adds a twist of a calm yet subdued mood. It takes me back to a rainy day inside a bookstore with a comfy cardigan.

During the initial release back in the pandemic, “Cardigan” brought life to the cottage core aesthetic. In the music video, Swift explores a magical moss-covered forest, which slathers another layer of whimsical charm onto the rustic vibe.

“Dark Red”, has Lacy posing in a dark red checkered shirt and guitar, hence the name. (Kelly Park)

Dark Red - Steve Lacy

A funky and groovy track by Lacy, “Dark Red” perfectly captures the hidden melancholy of autumn. It reminds me of a sunset by the shore, with radio static in the background. Despite the soulful exterior, it possesses uncertainty and a sort of anxiety that predicts a bad omen.

As an avid fan of R&B, “Dark Red” immediately popped into my mind when I sat down to curate this playlist. The album cover, a deep burgundy hue, points to fall leaves. This track symbolizes metamorphosis, just as the transition from summer to fall.

“Dark Red”, has Lacy posing in a dark red checkered shirt and guitar, hence the name. (Kelly Park )

Get Free - Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey, the messiah of modern alt-music, enchants listeners with her warm, alluring voice. Rich tones evoke crimson, brown and orange. As the final track of her fifth studio album, “Lust for Life”, “Get Free” symbolizes transition for me. I first sat down with Lana with her most well-known record, “Normal F Rockwell.” Rockwell centers around summer — seagulls, the ocean, and coastal landscapes, and “Get Free” ends with seagull cries. This reflects the shift from summer to autumn. In addition, the chord progression reminds me of Radiohead’s “Creep.” Due to the alleged imitation, Lana quarreled with the producers of “Creep” to gain credit for the song.

As a longtime listener, I know a decent amount of her catalog. But for newcomers, “Get Free” serves as an easy introduction to the cult of Lana Del Rey.

So put these songs on blast while you commute around this fall. By the way, if Lacy or Lana’s tracks hit the way they do for me, I recommend you take a full album deep dive into Lacy’s Gemini Rights and Lana’s Rockwell from start to finish.

Jets Flyover

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