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Pink Floyd Courtesy photos | Scissor Sisters. As students prepare for finals and gear up for the summer, the right music selection is vital. |
Lisa Lewis and Austin Porter
Entertainment Writers, ocolly.com
It’s the time of the semester when frustration and stress run high among students, when finals are too close for comfort and the summer is just out of reach.
Some students party as the weather begins to get nicer, while others choose to use their spare time hitting the books for finals.
As a wise person once said, “Music soothes the savage student,” (or something like that).
Here’s a list of 10 songs to download to your mp3 player to get you through the stress of the last week of classes and finals week, and to get you mentally ready for the summer:
“Float On” by Modest Mouse
It’s obvious why this song is on the list. It’s all about not letting things get to you and maintaining a state of tranquility at all times. Plus, it’s just catchy! “I drove my car into a cop car the other day/ Well he just drove off sometimes life’s okay.” Who can argue with that?
“School’s Out” by Alice Cooper
This one’s probably better known as a high school summer rock anthem, thanks to the movie “Dazed and Confused,” but that doesn’t mean it rings any less true for us college folk. Youngsters supplement the chorus, but that doesn’t take away from the true rock-and-roll edginess of the song. If anything, it makes it more relatable. This one’s just as much of a rebel statement as it was way back when.
“Take Your Mama” by Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters has become known in the past couple of years for its poppy-percussion, dancehall-style/glam rock, with Bee Gee-style vocals supplemented by singers Jake Shears and Ana Matronic. The lyrics, “If the music ain’t good, well it’s just too bad, we’re going to sing along no matter what,” pretty much sum up the idea behind the song.
It’s all about going out, getting drunk, forgetting about troubles and having a good time. Word of warning: May cause an irresistible urge to don a brightly-colored, glittery one-piece jumpsuit and bust some embarrassing disco-style moves.
“Some Beach” by Blake Shelton
This one’s for you country music fans. The song is about having pretty much the worst day anyone can have, with the most irksome, unlucky things happening, but being able to retire to a blissful corner of the mind, where a beach chair on the warm sand and cold margaritas await (and hot senoritas, if that’s your thing). It’s a mellow, acoustic guitar-driven country track that even people who aren’t particularly fond of country music can enjoy.
“Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” by Pink Floyd.
This king of ’70s anti-establishment tunes pretty much says it all in its paltry-yet-powerful six lines of lyrics that virtually everyone knows by heart: “We don’t need no education/ We don’t need no thought control/ No dark sarcasm in the classroom/ Teacher leave them kids alone/Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone/All in all you’re just another brick in the wall.”
“My Own Summer (Shove it)” by Deftones
What’s better than a little heavier-style music to let us get out our frustrations? Plus, the chorus lyrics are so simple that even non-Deftones fans can scream them right along with Chino Moreno. The words to this song can help listeners reminisce to the days of ’80s anthem-oriented rock.
“My Own Summer” has great riffs that make fans of nasty distorted guitar tones want to give a standing ovation, or at least tear the room up a little.
“I Remember You” by Skid Row
Sebastian Bach is a talented singer and uses his oddly high-pitched voice to dazzle any listener’s ear. Usually Skid Row is known for more of the louder ’80s heavy metal songs, but “I Remember You” could be sung by a southern church choir and convince the congregation of a new gospel.
“Nuthin’ But a G Thang” by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg
Two of the best rappers connecting the East and West side of the California hip hop scene combine for one of the most laid back songs that preach the basics of great classic hip-hop. The song is smooth with a funky bass line that makes listeners want to roll their car windows down and cruise residential areas as if there is nothing better to do.
“Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” by Rick Derringer
The words in Rick Derringer’s masterpiece put this song in the top rankings of southern rock. Any fan of bands similar to Skynyrd or Molly Hatchet can’t help but want to enjoy the summer party scene of gathering in the middle of nowhere to enjoy a decent get-together. Southern rock is accepted by even the most diverse groups of party-goers, and so is this song.
“Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts
”Summer Breeze” is the true definition of relaxation, not subject to any rules others could put on us.
This song has the potential to entertain whether relaxing in a lawn chair or hanging around with friends. Seals and Crofts were one of the best soft rock groups in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Soft rock has never been the same since similar bands have disappeared through the years.
Honorable mentions: “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett, “Summertime” by Sublime, “California Love” by 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre, “Karma Police” by Radiohead, “Thunder Kiss ’65” by White Zombie, “Last Dance with Mary Jane” by Tom Petty, “Free for All” by Ted Nugent, “B.Y.O.B.” by System of a Down, “Aeroplane” by Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” by Jay-Z, “Come Out and Play” by The Offspring, “Ten Years Gone” by Led Zeppelin.
Some students party as the weather begins to get nicer, while others choose to use their spare time hitting the books for finals.
As a wise person once said, “Music soothes the savage student,” (or something like that).
Here’s a list of 10 songs to download to your mp3 player to get you through the stress of the last week of classes and finals week, and to get you mentally ready for the summer:
“Float On” by Modest Mouse
It’s obvious why this song is on the list. It’s all about not letting things get to you and maintaining a state of tranquility at all times. Plus, it’s just catchy! “I drove my car into a cop car the other day/ Well he just drove off sometimes life’s okay.” Who can argue with that?
“School’s Out” by Alice Cooper
This one’s probably better known as a high school summer rock anthem, thanks to the movie “Dazed and Confused,” but that doesn’t mean it rings any less true for us college folk. Youngsters supplement the chorus, but that doesn’t take away from the true rock-and-roll edginess of the song. If anything, it makes it more relatable. This one’s just as much of a rebel statement as it was way back when.
“Take Your Mama” by Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters has become known in the past couple of years for its poppy-percussion, dancehall-style/glam rock, with Bee Gee-style vocals supplemented by singers Jake Shears and Ana Matronic. The lyrics, “If the music ain’t good, well it’s just too bad, we’re going to sing along no matter what,” pretty much sum up the idea behind the song.
It’s all about going out, getting drunk, forgetting about troubles and having a good time. Word of warning: May cause an irresistible urge to don a brightly-colored, glittery one-piece jumpsuit and bust some embarrassing disco-style moves.
“Some Beach” by Blake Shelton
This one’s for you country music fans. The song is about having pretty much the worst day anyone can have, with the most irksome, unlucky things happening, but being able to retire to a blissful corner of the mind, where a beach chair on the warm sand and cold margaritas await (and hot senoritas, if that’s your thing). It’s a mellow, acoustic guitar-driven country track that even people who aren’t particularly fond of country music can enjoy.
“Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” by Pink Floyd.
This king of ’70s anti-establishment tunes pretty much says it all in its paltry-yet-powerful six lines of lyrics that virtually everyone knows by heart: “We don’t need no education/ We don’t need no thought control/ No dark sarcasm in the classroom/ Teacher leave them kids alone/Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone/All in all you’re just another brick in the wall.”
“My Own Summer (Shove it)” by Deftones
What’s better than a little heavier-style music to let us get out our frustrations? Plus, the chorus lyrics are so simple that even non-Deftones fans can scream them right along with Chino Moreno. The words to this song can help listeners reminisce to the days of ’80s anthem-oriented rock.
“My Own Summer” has great riffs that make fans of nasty distorted guitar tones want to give a standing ovation, or at least tear the room up a little.
“I Remember You” by Skid Row
Sebastian Bach is a talented singer and uses his oddly high-pitched voice to dazzle any listener’s ear. Usually Skid Row is known for more of the louder ’80s heavy metal songs, but “I Remember You” could be sung by a southern church choir and convince the congregation of a new gospel.
“Nuthin’ But a G Thang” by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg
Two of the best rappers connecting the East and West side of the California hip hop scene combine for one of the most laid back songs that preach the basics of great classic hip-hop. The song is smooth with a funky bass line that makes listeners want to roll their car windows down and cruise residential areas as if there is nothing better to do.
“Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” by Rick Derringer
The words in Rick Derringer’s masterpiece put this song in the top rankings of southern rock. Any fan of bands similar to Skynyrd or Molly Hatchet can’t help but want to enjoy the summer party scene of gathering in the middle of nowhere to enjoy a decent get-together. Southern rock is accepted by even the most diverse groups of party-goers, and so is this song.
“Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts
”Summer Breeze” is the true definition of relaxation, not subject to any rules others could put on us.
This song has the potential to entertain whether relaxing in a lawn chair or hanging around with friends. Seals and Crofts were one of the best soft rock groups in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Soft rock has never been the same since similar bands have disappeared through the years.
Honorable mentions: “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett, “Summertime” by Sublime, “California Love” by 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre, “Karma Police” by Radiohead, “Thunder Kiss ’65” by White Zombie, “Last Dance with Mary Jane” by Tom Petty, “Free for All” by Ted Nugent, “B.Y.O.B.” by System of a Down, “Aeroplane” by Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” by Jay-Z, “Come Out and Play” by The Offspring, “Ten Years Gone” by Led Zeppelin.
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