I’m Graduating College: My Semesters Defined By A Song With Minimal Explanation

By Lucy radocha

I remember my life better not by how I felt, what I said or the things that happened, but rather, by the way it sounded, by the song I was humming in that moment or by the music playing on the drive home from that day. Every sweet, sour, sappy, serendipitous memory from my experiences in college can be tied to a song and every song I've ever loved or hated or screamed or hummed can be tied to a person, place or moment.

​Fall 2020
"Flow" - Cage The Elephant
I remember seeing the beautiful, dying leaves in Forest Park for the first time. This song was playing in the car while that happened.

Spring 2021
"Bizarre Love Triangle" - New Order
This song was on my playlist from this semester twice. I think that says enough.

Fall 2021
"Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" - Adele
Oh, the drama of being young.

Spring 2022
"Lost Track" - HAIM
I always wished I loved HAIM more than I did…

Fall 2022
"Human Shape" - Mindchatter
I remember someone special at the time asked for my favorite song. This is what I sent.

Spring 2023
"Warm Winds" - SZA
I wondered why no one else talked about this song back then. I wonder if there really was no one talking about it. (The song I really should have put is "Swish Swish" by Katy Perry.)

Fall 2023
"just like heaven" - The Lumineers
I always tried (but I never tried hard enough) to learn how to play this on the piano.

Spring 2024
"List Of People (To Try And Forget About)" - Tame Impala
A dear friend sent me this. Now this song is dear too.