High School Anthems 

BY JULIA XIAO '24

The end of the school year peeks from around the corner! Even with ups and downs, everyone has made it through! Cue up some epic celebration music! Throughout the year, music helped me get through school, so I’ve decided to share a variety of my music over this past year. You can appreciate me tediously sorting through my Spotify account by reading to the end—enjoy!

Looksim bgm by ROUTELABLE and PixelWave
Lookism is a Webtoon comic series about a high schooler who suddenly gains a second body, and recently, the episodes have involved background music! These songs aren’t the typical soothing nature sounds or waves crashing. Instead, the music ranges from ambient to rock, depending on the tone of the specific story arc. For example, when the main character infiltrates a hotel to search for the answer to the mystery of his two bodies, the song is EDM in order to match the party occuring in the hotel. My specific recommendations are this music for a character, and this music building up to a fight scene.

Left and Right by Charlie Puth featuring Jungkook
This hit was definitely easy on the ears. It fulfills the criteria for a good distraction while working: Catchy? Check. Easy to memorize? Check. Simple? Check.
Overall, Left and Right did its job in getting me through the year. If you are struggling with getting through a task, I recommend finding some songs that keep your spirits up. 

we’re not kids anymore by Cat Burns
“Nothing lasts forever/ But we didn’t know that, did we?” These lyrics bring on memories of our stress-free lives growing up. Yet, this song is powerful not because of the lyrics, which are beautifully nostalgic, but because of its longing feeling. Light piano backing adds on to the quiet and perhaps sad aura. This song made me reflect on changes in my life; no moment lasts forever, so it’s important to savor the present.

Until I Found You by Stephan Sanchez
This song is purely beautiful, with Stephan Sanchez’s voice pulling the listener in. The combination of guitar and vocals stands out. They create a dreamy atmosphere for a pleasurable listen. This viral TikTok tune is perfect, but the only problem is that it’s a little distracting!

Well, did you see anything that you know? I hope you gained something to your taste! Ultimately, school tire everyone, and music is a fine distraction. However, it shouldn’t be a replacement for in person connections, so consider sharing with your friends in real life!

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