“Reflections” Playlist
In this semester’s staff-curated playlist, we’re celebrating all that is reflection. The following is a collection of songs that make us think, evoke nostalgia, relive moments, and see things from new perspectives. Join Flat Hat Magazine staff in our trip down memory lane by scanning the code below.
COURTESY IMAGE // SPOTIFY
“Clean” by Taylor Swift
“Clean” has been by my side since the third grade. As the phenomenal album-closer that it is, this song is instantly reflective and forever nostalgic, continually reminding me that you can always punch a hole in your roof to wash away your problems.
– Audrey Gunnlaugsson ’26
“All My Love” by Noah Kahan
I only started listening to Noah Kahan this year, but he’s already helped me to see the good in the maybe-not-so-good. This song just gives me the “home from school and running into people you used to love being around but never talk to anymore” vibe. Big fan.
– Emelia Marshall ’25
“In My Life” by The Beatles
Perhaps The Beatles’ most sentimental song about life, love, and change, “In My Life” remembers “people and things that went before,” while celebrating new love in the refrain: “In my life, I love you more.” It’s the simultaneous nostalgia for the past and present that makes “In My Life” ever-resonant.
– Mary Beth Bauermann ’24
“Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)” by Van Halen
When I was in elementary school, I made a bet with my dad over something that I have since forgotten. What I do remember is losing the bet and having to fulfill my end, which was to memorize this timeless Van Halen song — his favorite band to this day — and then sing it for him. This song will always get stuck in my head at the most inconvenient times.
– Emma Saunders ’24
“Waterways” by Ludovico Einaudi
This is a new song to me but, after listening, I was so moved by the music that I choreographed a piece called “This is Water” to encompass the tranquility and beauty of water, a theme reflected in the melodies themselves.
– Georgia Thoms ’23
“My Body is a Cage” by Arcade Fire
This song makes you reflect on yourself and what confines you in your life. It can be interpreted through many metaphorical lenses, which makes it interesting to see what each person takes from it — I appreciate the soft yet dramatic music for the listener to wander through.
– Bailey Langhans ’26
“Long Lost” by Lord Huron
“Long Lost” brings up so many emotions for me, as it was a recommendation from my little brother during a time when we were both struggling. Hearing it now makes me reflect both on the power of perseverance and the absolute glory of coming back to yourself.
– Marion Biondi ’24
“Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s
“Hey There Delilah” has enchanted me for 14 years now. A love song so simple, yet intimate. So mid-aughts, yet timeless. So sincere, yet staged — the real Delilah was just some girl who turned him down for a date. If you want to feel old, she’s 40 and married to another man.
– JR Herman ’24
“Self” by Khalid
“Self” simultaneously makes me reflect on how much I’ve overcome and pushes me to continue growing. When Khalid sings “So I’ve been making changes / Been workin’ on my health / No more competition / Can’t compete against myself,” I remember to protect my energy and stay focused on achieving my goals and loving myself.
– Vivian Hoang ’24
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel
There are few things more comforting to hear than someone saying that they’ll stick by you when you’re at your worst. This song has stayed with me over the years through its simplistic yet powerful storytelling of love and friendship.
– Rebecca Altman ’25
“The Lucky One” by Taylor Swift
This song has always been one of my favorites. It has a soft tempo and reminds us of a valuable lesson — being in a position that others admire isn’t always as glamorous as it seems.
– Arianna Stewart ’24
“Difficult” by Gracie Abrams
Revealing her vulnerability through a catchy chorus with lyrics that will hit you like a ton of bricks, it feels like Gracie Abrams understands my innermost thoughts and feelings. This song prompts me to reflect on transitioning into adulthood, and it has quickly become one of my favorites despite its recent release.
– Grace Rivera ’26
“mirrorball” by Taylor Swift
“mirrorball” embodies the feeling of having so many different sides of yourself that you want to reveal while also not having the confidence — which everyone else seems to have — needed to do so. I relate to the feeling of having to try to constantly please everyone.
ーNevaeh Galluccio ’26
“Movin’ Out” by Billy Joel
Besides having a melody that will stick in your head for days, “Movin’ Out” encompasses the internal conflict of a man named Anthony as he questions what his hard work and money are really worth.
ー Andrew Johnston ’25
“Yellow” by Coldplay
I have listened to “Yellow” for years, especially when I miss someone in my life. There is just something about it that captures wanting to make someone you love proud and show how much they mean(t) to you.
ー Inaya Mir ’25
“Cello Concerto in E Minor” by Edward Elgar
This is the song that made me understand what passion meant. Each note is fiery, almost combustible, and brimming with tension. Playing it always feels like a matter of life and death. Even without words, the piece somehow elicits my most extreme emotions. It’s what made me want to be a cellist.
ー Ranjani Krishnan ’25