Winter in Colorado can be an awfully wonderful or wonderfully awful time. For some, ‘tis the season for snowy adventures, ski resorts and adorable cuddle sessions by the fireplace. For others, it’s a time of bitter cold, accidents-waiting-to-happen-on-unsalted-ice and post-blizzard drabness. Winter has its ups and downs; its merits and its horrors. One way to cope with it all is through the majestically FDA-approved healing power of music. Here’s a quick playlist to boost any kind of wintry day.
Australian pop band Sheppard burst onto the American music scene with this infectious, uplifting song about taking a chance on a new love. Replace the cliché of “new love” with a lesser clichéd idea of a new year full of endless possibilities, and “Geronimo” becomes an anthem for hope on the gloomiest of days. It’s a song sure to be stuck on endless repeat thanks to its thumping beat, stirring acoustics and soaring vocals. Sheppard’s “Geronimo” EP is available now.
Young Rising Sons is a hipster boy band daydream. Unlike other boy bands, these guys are a little older, a little wilder and very talented. The hit single “High” sums up their carefree, rebel attitudes with a tune full of foot-tapping beats, whistling melodies and some signature boy band falsetto. “High” is a song about contradictions, ultimately offering a message of surrender and living in the present. The self-titled EP is available now.
This Michigan-born band caught the attention of superstars Taylor Swift and Sam Smith with “Electric Love,” their debut single. The song’s haunting melody and truly electric production tells a tale of love and desire. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, “Electric Love” is a great date night song for swooning, spooning and smooching. “Candy,” their debut EP, is available now; see BØRNS live at the Bluebird Theatre on Mar. 9.
New Zealand up-and-coming artist Ezra Vine truly delivers on “Celeste,” his first single. While it is another love song, its peppy simplicity is endearing and adorable enough to melt the iciest and bitterest hearts this winter. Be sure to check out the song’s music video as well: it is all things charming, quirky and cute. His accompanying EP, also titled “Celeste,” is available now.
“Bremen” by PigPen Theatre Co.
For those looking for something a little folksy, PigPen Theatre Co.’s “Bremen” is the ideal song for a drive through the mountains, a hangout session in a ski lodge or just a cup of tea by the fire. It’s a song of adventure and escapism. PigPen Theatre Co., a bluesy Mumford & Sons descendent, is not just a band; as their name implies, the group had their beginnings as a theatre company, staging original plays and musicals. Their debut album, also called “Bremen,” is out now; their second album, funded via KickStarter, will be released later this year.
“Friday I’m in Love” by the Cure
An oldie but a goodie, this classic song by the Cure epitomizes the weekly (and sometimes daily) struggle of just being a human. Everybody is certainly working for the weekend, and “Friday I’m in Love” is a celebration of making it through another week. Winter can be a tough time, but it can also be quite magical.
So at the end of (or in the midst of) a hard week, dance it out to the Cure or any of these other songs to help make winter feel a little brighter. Tweet @DUClarion to share your favorite wintry tunes, and for all things music, check out the Clarion’s Tasty Jams blog.
