Nostalgia in the Notes: Where Would We Be Without Soundtracks to Our Lives?

This article is part of our Spring/Summer 2020 print issue. See the full, digital version of the issue here.

The power of music

Photography by Mel Jones featuring models Maggie Bossalini and Caroline Harty.

Music is arguably one of the most relatable art forms today. Whether it’s the delicate lyricism of Taylor Swift or the hauntingly stunning melody in “Hallelujah,” music can make you smile, cry and even get goosebumps.

Perhaps most incredibly, our ability to associate music with memories means it can transport you back to a specific moment in time, whether that be your first kiss, your high school graduation or your first night away at college. It has the power to unleash emotions from within, sometimes as simple as getting chills when you hear the opening theme song of the Star Wars movies.

Through the highs, the lows and everything in between, music is right there alongside you. Its most important ability is to provoke various feelings from nostalgia to euphoria, allowing you to create the soundtrack of your life.

A personal anecdote
My first semester of college, I decided to make a playlist. It was filled with typical college anthems from “I Love College” by Asher Roth to “All Night Longer” by Sammy Adams. It encapsulated all of the feelings that came with being away from home for the first time.

At the time, I didn’t know compiling songs from each semester would become so special to me. Without realizing it, I created my very own soundtrack to life at Elon.

Through these playlists, I became a witness to my own personal growth. The party anthems slowly came to a stop, and acoustic indie music took over. No longer was Asher Roth crooning, “I wanna go to college for the rest of my life,” rather it was Chelsea Cutler lamenting, “Now I’m just 22 learning how to live with what I’m given.”

Some of these songs became rooted in specific memories: running into the arms of my new sorority sisters, crying during my most homesick moments abroad and mourning the loss of my grandfather, who loved to sing with me.

The close connection between music and life experiences allowed me to create playlists that later gave me the opportunity to retrace the most meaningful times in my life.

The Edge’s favorite nostalgic songs

Fashion and beauty writer Leslie Bond chose “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. “I grew up listening to older rock music since my parents are older, but ‘Landslide’ has always been a song that has stuck out to me. The song talks about change, uncertainty, confusion and nostalgia,” she said. “This song really feels like home to me rather than just another track in my Spotify.”

Emma Trimbur, lifestyle editor, said “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard” by Paul Simon reminds her of when she was younger. “My parents were huge Paul Simon fans, and he’s the first artist whose songs I memorized,” she said.

And my own nostalgic pick was “Cornelia Street” by Taylor Swift. “[It] played on repeat every single day in Florence, Italy, during my 15-minute walk to class. I can’t listen to the song without smelling croissants and seeing the Duomo stand brave and tall over me,” she said.

Our nostalgia playlist

“Ribs” - Lorde

“I Go Back” – Kenny Chesney

“Bottle It Up – Acoustic Mixtape” – Sam Hunt

“The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert

“Castle on the Hill” – Ed Sheeran

“Best Day Of My Life” – American Authors

“half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini

“Fifteen” – Taylor Swift

“Supercut” – Lorde

“Sixteen” – Chelsea Cutler

“Summer Of ‘69” – Bryan Adams

“Song for Another Time” – Old Dominion

“80’s Films” – Jon Bellion